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CSC 2005-04-19RICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION AGENDA Tuesday, April 19, 2005 7:00 p.m. Richfield Community Center (7000 Nicollet Ave) Commission Members Staff & Others Liaisons Anna Berend Barb Kritzman Ron Schwartz Jim Topitzhofer (Staff Liaison) Fred Wroge (Council) Michael Christian (VChair) Gary Ness Linda Slocum John Evans (Secretary) Kyle Hartnett (PC) Gloma Hamernick Catherine Peloquin Gordon Vizecky (Chair) Dean Johnson Rodney Schmidt 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of Minutes ❑ Regular Meeting: March 28, 2005 3. Public Comment ❑ Opportunity to discuss items not printed on the agenda 4. Park Reports ❑ Madison and Jefferson Parks (Peloquin) 5. Staff Reports ❑ Recreation Services (Topitzhofer). 6. Discussion Items ❑ School Facility Taskforce Recommendations (Topitzhofer) ❑ Ballfield Improvement Taskforce Recommendations (Topitzhofer) ❑ Loaves and Fishes Proposal (Topitzhofer) 7. Action Items None 8. Committee Reports ❑ Ballfeld Improvement Task Force (Christian/Topitzhofer) ❑ Golf Practice Facility Task Force (TopitzhoferISchwartz) ❑ City Hall Task Force (SchmidWVess) ❑ Transportation Committee (Ness/Kritzman) ❑ Family Friendly City Task Force (Vizecky) ❑ FOWL (Katzman) ❑ Planning Commission (Peloquin) ❑ Richfield Community Human Services Planning Council [RCHSPC] (Hamemick) 9. Other 10. Next Meeting Regular Meeting Tuesday, May 17, TOO pm, Community Center 11. Adjournment DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE, March 28, 2005 RICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION JOINT MEETING wlPLANNING COMMISSION AND ® REGULAR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING Tuesday, March 28, 2005 Richfield City Hall Commissioners Gordon Vizecky, Michael Christian, Ron Schwartz, Barb Kritzman, Anna Berend, Gloma Hamerick, Catherine Pelo uin Staff Jim To itzhofer, John Evans, Tom Fole (Transportation En ineer Planning Commission Liaison Kyle Hartnett Council Liaison I Fred Wro e Commissioners ABSENT I Gary Ness, Linda Slocum, Rodney Schmidt, Dean Johnson Call to Order The joint CSC/PC meeting was called to order at 6:02 pm. 2006 CIB/2007 2010 CIP The group discussed the details of the 2006 capital improvement budget, 2007-2010 capital improvement plan. Adjournment The meeting adjourned by consensus at 7:40 pm. Call to Order The regular CSC meeting was called to order by CSC Chair Vizecky at 7:50 pm. Approval of Minutes Christian moved, seconded by Berend, to approve the minutes of the regular January and February meetings. Approved, ayes all. Kritzman moved, seconded by Schwartz, to nominate Vizecky as Chair. Approved, ayes all. Kritzman moved, seconaeo by Berend, to nominate Christian as vice Chair. Approved, ayes all. Trke Fnlln,.,inn liaiennc \Nara nnnnintEd by consensus: GROUP Liaison Communi Human Services PlanningCouncil Hamemick Plannin Commission Pelo uin Mogabonabon Committee Kritzman & Ness f Wood Lake BoanForceChristian ors Kritzman m rovement Tasistian ask Force Schmiend: Ci Task Ftice Facili Taskartz lan Task Force Ntian Ballfield Improvement Task Force No report was given. Golf Practice Facility Task Force Topitzhofer reported that the Council approved the contract with the architect, who will assemble a feasibility report. City Hall Task Force Wroge said that the group has arrived at a recommendation and Chair Tom Rublein will be giving a report soon. Transportation Committee Kritzman provided the report. She reported on preliminary plans for a north -south pedestrian corridor east of France Avenue that would connect Fairview Southdale Hospital to Southdale and areas farther south. Richfield would have opportunities to link to this. .,arch 28, 2005 Family Friendly City Task Force Topitzhofer said that the group has hired a marketing consultant who will be working with the group on strategies to the oup at upcoming meetings. FOWL Kritzman said that the FOWL Dinner will be held on April 22 at the Holiday Inn on 34th Avenue and encouraged all to come. Planning Commission No report was given. RCHSPC Hamernick provided the report. Staff Re orts Recreation Services Topitzhofer reported on the following: • Wood Lake Nature Center Prairie Project: Housing Developer Kensington Park is giving $60,000 to Wood Lake to develop native prairie where the dredging spoil is currently piled. • The Perfect Show: AR&LE presented a variety show starring many of our adaptive program participants: • Senior Tax Assistance: Vizecky said that accountants at Best Buy are seeking volunteer work and may be able to help. • Neighborhood Party Pack: Residents will be offered free use of the park buildings, shelters and picnic kits to hold neighborhood parties this summer. Other Wroge asked about the work that will be done by the Bike Trail Plan Task Force. He wondered if dedicated bike trails would get a great deal of usage in Richfield and commented that, with sidewalks being off-limits to bicyclists, biking is dangerous on busy streets. Berend and Christian talked about commuter biking and how striped bike lanes make it much easier. Next Meetin Tuesday, April 19, 7:00 pm, Community Center Adjournment Kritzman moved, seconded by Hamernick, to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned by consensus at 8:27 pm. .MAN RICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION rRywriffliril ME EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Meeting Date: April 19, 2005 Agenda Item Agenda Section Park Report.- Madison and Jefferson Parks Park Reports Attachments Contact Park Photos Catherine Pelo uin MADISON PARK 6244 Knox Amenities: • Shelter • Basketball court • Playground, painted games on cement • Jungle gym, swings • Baseball field • Tennis court • Bike path User comments: • Uses swings with son, works in Richfield • "its in my neighborhood" • "I used to play on the wooden playground, they keep this park up nice" • "Something for everyone of all ages" • "Set up is nice, use the space wisely" Observations: • Basketball court and playground are popular (tournaments) • Wide diversity of users, teens, children Suggestions: • Dunking/lowered hoops • More water fountains (outdoors) • More picnic tables • Repave sidewalks (not observed) Recommended Action None JEFFERSON PARK 6500 Upton Amenities: • Shelter • Jungle gym • Tennis courts • Basketball court • Bike paths • Baseball field User comments: • Great paths to walk and bike around • Close for our family • Lots of open space, not compact Observations: • Slide is very popular • More family oriented than Madison • Softball field always in use • Ice rink surprisingly not heavily used, but well maintained Suggestions: • Wildflowers, gardens to attract wildlife • Fix rubber slide on jungle gym RICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Meeting Date: April 19, 2005 Agenda ItemI Agenda Section Portion of Executive Summary Relating to Community Use Jim Topitzhofer Facilities, SunCurrent Article — 3131105 The Richfield School District recently completed a study to review all school facilities; to establish needs of the district and how to better serve students. A committee was formed, including school staff, board liaisons, parents and City representation. A report was presented to the School Board on March 21, 2005. Included in the report were recommendations to contact the City of Richfield to consider joint use of facilities. The attached portion of the Committee's executive summary outlines two shared community use recommendations. The recommendations are driven by the School's need to replace two existing pools with one new pool. The Committee recommended that the City considerjoint use of a new indoor pool to include other community center amenities such as exercise facilities and meeting rooms. The committee proposed this new community center to be located at Richfield High School. To allow for additional parking for the community center, the Committee recommends razing Central School and possibly the bus garage. Another suggested shared use was joint repair facilities for buses. The entire recommendation is summarized in the -ittached SunCurrent article. The purpose of this agenda item is to inform the Community Services Commission that there may be future review and discussion of joint use of school facilities, which may include the construction of a new community center. Recommended Action None — Discussion only Richfield Public School District Study Executive Summary 4/12/200S Lyndale fields are in satisfactory shape and are heavily used by the district and city throughout football and soccer seasons. The ball field at Centennial and Sheridan are small, used primarily by the school on site, and do not have irrigation systems. The committee's recommendations are to maintain the current format in which the district conducts its athletic programs. Bartholomew House The Bartholomew House and adjacent structure are owned by the school district and leased for $1 per year to the Richfield Historical Society. The Historical Society has renovated and preserved the Bartholomew House, and the adjacent structure has been converted into a History Center to display artifacts from Richfield's History and provide a learning space for students and the community. The Barthlomew House is on the State Historical Register and can not be relocated. The adjacent ball fields are not affected by the presence of the Bartholomew House or History Center. However, these fields are in high demand by the school district and the community, and it is not recommended that the remaining field area be further diminished. Community Use Facilities It is highly recommended that more discussion occur with the City of Richfield to provide joint -use facilities. Meetings have begun with the city regarding joint - use vehicle repair facilities. The high school with pool(s), exercise facilities, and classroom/large group spaces could all be considered joint -use opportunities. With the City of Richfield building a new maintenance garage, there is interest in city and school joint operation of the facility. This may provide bus maintenance to the district at a reduced cost. The future looks bright for this option; however, bus -parking issues are still being investigated. Each building will have space available for community uses as they have in the past. The committee felt it is increasingly important that the facilities serve as a magnet for families and better meet community needs. This generated suggestions for a joint -use facility adjacent to the high school that would include a new pool for public use as well as a pool for competition swimming along with an exercise area and possibly a walking track. In addition, it is recommended that 20 of 27 Richfield Public School District Study 4/12/2005 Executive Summary the joint -use facility include large and small group gathering spaces for meetings, community education classes, adult literacy classes, etc. The Level IV Extended Campus program could also be located within this facility. Many of the media centers and computer rooms are on second levels of the Intermediate, Middle and High School buildings. The committee agrees, if the media centers were relocated to the first floor, they would be more conducive to school and community use outside the school day. In addition, rooms adjacent to the media centers would be made available for teaching parents of English learners along with their children. It is recommended these be addressed in the near future. This may require a vote by the taxpayers for referendum dollars. A recommendation of the committee is to co -locate space at one or more of the learning centers for social services. If the community center/pool is built at the high school, the recommendation is to provide a separate entrance for the public and add parking for the users. This would require the razing of Central and possibly the bus garage facilities. Maintenance Recommendations As mentioned earlier, all of the buildings in the Richfield School District are aging and some have maintenance needs. Approximately $?? Million in maintenance and deferred maintenance costs have been identified. With an annual maintenance budget of $400,000, the district may not be able to maintain the pace with the rate of the requirements. Project recommendations include: • Consider the selling of the Lincoln Hills facility • Reducing the use of Central as soon as possible and razing of the building for future parking on the high school site • Installation of new mechanical systems at Centennial Elementary and Elliot • Maintain deferred maintenance budgets for repairing of the building components for watertight exterior systems. • Explore feasibility of relocation of the bus garage/maintenance facility 21 of 27 MNSUN - News Archive Page 1 of p 41locaLwmmunitynew papers-�P'tiiil 1 Select a Town: Select a Town GO! MNSun t Archives Classifieds __- Candidates 2004 Financecalc Facility panel recommends Nutrition Calc reconfiguring elementary Weather Contact Us schools, building community How to center Advertise Ad Rates By Seth Rowe Jobs At Sun Sun Newspapers (Created 3/31/2005 9:06:05 AM) r A school district facilities task force recommended restructuring the grade levels at Richfield elementary schools, as part of its Special Sections report released last week. Bride's Guide. That recommendation was one of several suggestions given to Forms the Richfield Board of Education by members of the advisory Art & Education committee at a March 21 work session and board meeting. In Memory Of Let It Be Known Under the proposed school restructuring plan, Sheridan Hills Private Party Ad Form Elementary, Centennial Elementary and Richfield Intermediate would all house students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Sport Shots Stork Report Currently, Sheridan Hills and Centennial serve kindergarten Search The Web through second grade students, while RIS serves students from Powered by: third to fifth grade. The plan, if adopted by the school board as the committee recommended, would be implemented in the summer of 2006. Search Mechanical upgrades would need to be made at Centennial Elementary School that summer in order to continue using that building for instructional purposes, according to the committee's executive summary report. The committee also recommended that mechanical upgrades be made to Elliot Education Center, which would continue to house Early Childhood Special Education, Head Start, New Horizon, Family Center, Fun Club and Community Education programs. Together the mechanical upgrades at the two school buildings would cost $4.8 million, which would be paid through alternative bonding, which does not require voter approval. The committee did not provide a detailed implementation plan for �tttCllpittt http://www.mnsun.com/archive.asp?display=story2&year-2005&storyID=155098 4/12/2005 ,INSUN - News Archive Page 2 of 4 restructuring grades but members said the costs would be "minimal." The committee recommended remodeling RIS in order to bring the administration offices closer to the front entrance. The new administration area would be built in the existing mini - theater and in special education classrooms, which would be moved, under the recommendation. The existing administration area would be converted into classrooms. The cost of such renovations is estimated at $1.5 million. However, the committee's executive summary indicates relocation of the administration is preferable but would not be required initially. Committee members said they recommended the restructuring plan in order to keep student transitions from one school to another to a minimum. "We wanted to try to keep students in the same building longer as a way to build a sense of community among those students, the idea being that some of the transitions we're having between grade two and grade three is an opportunity for a family to move out of the district and that if we can minimize some of those transition, we can keep families in the district," said Peter Toensing, a member of the Facility Study Advisory Committee. He and fellow committee member Kate Trewick also noted that third -grade students take state standardized tests. "Students can put their energy into academics instead of adapting to a new school," Trewick said. Board of Education Chair John Easterwood asked for a detailed implementation plan before the board seeks public input on the restructuring plan. A plan should include implications for elementary school boundaries, he said. "You have two schools probably one mile or less apart and it creates some unusual things," Easterwood said regarding Centennial and RIS. "We don't want to create a racially isolated school." Easterwood also asked committee members to provide the Board of Education with copies of studies indicating that fewer transitions help students academically. Boardmember David Lamberger said he did not think that many parents choose to leave the district because their students are changing buildings. The committee had considered whether the district should close one of the elementary schools. However, the district would likely need to remodel and add an addition to another school to make room for the extra students, said Marlene Evenson, a consultant with DLR Group, which assisted on the study. htto://www.mnsun.com/archive.asD?disDIav=storv2&vear=2005&storvID=155098 4/12/2005 MNSL N - News Archive Page 3 o. The committee also recommended that the board discuss with the city of Richfield the merits of building a joint -use community center with two swimming pools that would replace the district's swimming pools at Richfield Middle School and Intermediate School. Evenson said the mechanical and filtration systems for the two school pools, which were built in 1976, are nearing the end of their lives and that replacement parts are not available for some components. She also said the IRIS pool, which is three feet deep at each end, is not nearly deep enough for competitions. The RMS pool, which is 10 feet deep at its starting blocks, is deep enough to meet the minimum requirements of Minnesota State High School League for competitions but should be 12 feet deep for safety reasons. Replacing the mechanical and filtration systems and making depth changes to the pools would cost about $4.8 million. The pool portion of a new community center would cost about $6 million, Evenson said. The total estimated costs of a new facility that would include two pools, one for community use and one for competition, group meeting spaces, an exercise room and a walking track would cost $17 million in addition to site costs or demolition costs. Voters would need to approve a bond referendum for such a project to move forward. With the construction of new pool facilities, the RIS and RMS pools could be converted into space for community education, school instruction or physical education. Operating costs for new pools would be about $100,000, down from the $140,000 it takes to operate the two existing pools. The community center site could be located near Richfield High School and include an area now occupied by a district bus garage and maintenance facility, the committee suggested. That facility could be razed if school vehicles used a new city facility that is being considered for construction at 66th Street and Minnesota Highway 77. The Central School building, which isn't used for classes anymore, could be demolished to make room for parking for a new community center, the committee suggested. The committee recommends that a decision on the pools and community center be made by the summer of 2008. However, Lamberger said the board should consider the proposal sooner because of the possibility of a pool system failing. "I don't want to wait two years," Lamberger said. "Something's got to be done. We're being told this right now. I don't think we should sit back and wait." http://www.mnsun.com/archive.asp?display=story2&year=2005&storyID=155098 4/12/2005 ,iNSUN - News Archive Page 4 of 4 Board members agreed that they should seek public comment on the pool proposal while discussing the city's level of interest in a community center project. Committee recommendations also included the following: • Selling the Lincoln Hills school building. Regarding Lincoln Hills, the district is currently negotiating a sale or lease/purchase agreement with Intermediate District 287, which is seeking to acquire the facility. • Maintaining Central School for the time being and razing a former driver's education building nearby. • Allocating space for all -day, every -day kindergarten. • Increasing the budget for scheduled maintenance of facilities. • Upgrading existing field space at Richfield Middle School, Richfield Intermediate School or Lyndale Field as resources permit. • Remodeling some high school math and science classrooms for a potential magnet school sometime in the future. • Relocating the administration at RMS to bring it closer to the front entrance of the school, at a cost of about $1.1 million. This site and its contents 02000 - 2003. Sun Newspapers - Main Office: 952-829-0797 webinfo@mnsun.com - Created and maintained by Quantum Digital Interactive jcorbo@quantumsite.com http://www.mnsun.com/archive.asp?display=story2&year=2005&storyID=155098 4/12/2005 RICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Meeting Date: April 19, 2005 Agenda Item Agenda Section Ballfield Improvement Taskforce Recommendations Action Items Attachments Contact Preliminary Site Plan Jim To itzhofer The Ballfield Improvement Taskforce met on April 12, 2005 to discuss two new developments. The first new development involves the School District's intention to sell Lincoln Hills School and grounds. Lincoln Hills currently accommodates Richfield's Girls Fast Pitch with two dedicated fields. The disposal of these two fields will displace the fast pitch program, possibly as early as the 2006 season. The School District has indicated they intend to modify existing facilities at another school to accommodate girl's fast pitch, perhaps at Richfield Middle School The Taskforce intends to pursue funding for ballfield improvements (and possible driving range improvements) from the State of Minnesota through the next bonding bill scheduled in 2006. In order to do so, the Taskforce will have to speed up its review and present recommendations to the Community Services Commission. Their next step is to verify field usage for all baseball and softball programs. Their next meeting is scheduled on May 3, 2005, 7:00 p.m. at the Community Center. Recommended Action None — Discussion only RICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Meeting Date: April 19, 2005 Agenda Item Agenda Section Loaves and Fishes Proposal Discussion Items Attachments Contact Memorandum to Dean Weigel Dated 10/11104 Jim To itzhofer Jim Topitzhofer was approached by Dean Weigel, Director of Loaves and Fishes last October to discuss the possibility of using the Richfield Community Center for a new site to distribute meals to needy residents. Mr. Weigel is still interested in starting a Loaves and Fishes program in Richfield and is beginning to look at several possible sites including the Richfield Community Center. The attached report was sent to Mr. Weigel outlining requirements, impacts and possible ways to accommodate a new site. It is possible to prepare and serve meals on weekday evenings from the lower level of the building. This would be a complimentary use to the existing senior dining program, but would displace the current dance program and some renters. To minimize impacts on programs and rentals, Loaves and Fishes could have a restricted schedule and the Dance program could be relocated to another site. Staff requests the Community Services Commission to discuss a proposal to consider a pilot program for Loaves and Fishes to distribute meals at the Community Center during the summer months of 2006. Recommended MEMORANDUM DATE: October 11, 2004 TO: Dean Weigel FROM: Jim Topitzhofer SUBJECT: Inquiry from Loaves and Fishes to Utilize the Richfield Community Center Inquiry - I attended a meeting with you, Camillo DeSantis and Susan Rosenberg to discuss the possibility of expanding Loaves and Fishes into the City of Richfield and utilizing the Community Center to serve weekday meals in late afternoon on a year round basis. We discussed requirements and I agreed to provide a report describing the impact of adding Loaves and Fishes to existing programs and rentals. Requirements - We identified the following requirements of Loaves and Fishes to create a new serving location: • To prepare meals for serving in late afternoon, the kitchen would need to be reserved from 1:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The serving areas would require two rooms, the Nicollet Room and the Augsburg Room. • Administrative space is needed including desk and phone. • Additional dedicated storage is needed for non-perishable food and serving supplies. • Cooler and Freezer space is needed to store perishable food. Impact on Existing Programs and Rentals — The kitchen is available for rent nearly every weekday afternoon and evening. Our own dance program uses the Nicollet and Augsburg Rooms Monday through Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. from mid September to mid May. This is a significant youth program for the City. The Nicollet and Augsburg Rooms are rented out to private groups on Friday evenings, nearly every Friday of the month. Most of these rentals do not resume in the summer months. The City receives about $4,000 in rental revenue from Friday evening rentals each year. The Nicollet and Augsburg Rooms are reserved for several senior programs between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on several week times per week during times when there is no vacancy in upper rooms. New programs are often offered during these times because of room availability. Impact on Storage Space — An administrative desk and phone could be shared with Senior Dining on a daily basis. There is some storage space available for non- perishable food, however, this area would have to be modified to meet health code (new light fixtures, tiled floor, NSF approved shelving and painted walls at an estimated cost of $5,000). A new freezer would have to be purchased and shared with Senior Dining at a cost of $1,600 depending on model and size. There is available space in the existing cooler to be also shared with Senior Dining. Possible Solutions — The dance program could be relocated to a suitable park shelter, such as Veterans Park. Capital cost to renovate this shelter, including dance floor, ventilation, air-conditioning and wall construction would cost about $50,000. Yearly utility and maintenance operational cost would increase in converting this building into a dance studio; however, it would be very beneficial to create a dedicated dance studio that could also be used for fitness classes. City revenue received by Loaves and Fishes could offset these additional operational costs. Consider Loaves and Fishes to operate Monday through Thursday so that Friday rental revenue is retained. Consider limiting the use of the serving rooms (Nicollet and Augsburg Rooms) until after 3:30 p.m. so that existing and future programs offered in the afternoon are not displaced. Consider offering a pilot program only during summer months, which would have little impact on City programs and rentals.