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Regular CSC Meeting
Tuesday, October 17, 2017, 7:00 pm
Richfield Municipal Center (Heredia Room), 6700 Portland Ave
Commission Members Staff/Others Liaisons
Reed Bornholdt (Chair), Anne Basso, Danielle Indovino Cawley,
Joannette Cintrón de Núñez, Carolyn Engeldinger, Art Felgate,
Lisa Rudolph, Dan Smieja, Michele Thompson (Vice Chair)
Jim Topitzhofer (Staff Liaison)
John Evans (Secretary)
Karen Shragg (WLNC Mgr)
Chris Link (Public Works)
Edwina Garcia (City Council)
Crystal Brakke (School Board)
1. Approval of Minutes/Agenda
Regular Meeting Minutes: September 19, 2017
2. Public Comment
Resident comment and items not printed on agenda
3. Staff Reports
Recreation Services (Topitzhofer)
4. Action Items
Community Garden Status (Shragg)
5. Discussion Items
Minimal Mowing Areas (Link)
6. Committee Reports
Transportation Commission (Felgate)
FOWL Board (Engeldinger)
Planning Commission (Cintrón de Núñez)
Arts Commission (Rudolph)
Friendship City Commission (Topitzhofer)
7. Next Meeting
Tuesday, November 21, 7:00 pm
Richfield Municipal Center (Heredia Room), 6700 Portland Avenue
8. Adjournment
September 19, 2017
REGULAR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Richfield Municipal Center (6700 Portland Ave)
PRESENT CSC: Reed Bornholdt, Art Felgate, Michele Thompson, Dan Smieja, Carolyn Engeldinger,
STAFF: Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans, Kris Weiby
ABSENT CSC: Joannette Cintrón de Núñez, Danielle Indovino Cawley, Anne Basso, Lisa Rudolph PLAN COM: Rick Jabs SCHOOL
BOARD: Crystal Brakke COUNCIL: Edwina Garcia
Call to Order
Chair Bornholdt called the meeting to order at 7:04 pm.
Approval of Minutes
Thompson moved, seconded by Smieja, to approve the minutes of the regular June meeting minutes. Approved, ayes all.
Smieja moved, seconded by Thompson, to approve tonight’s agenda. Approved, ayes all.
Staff Reports
Recreation Services
Topitzhofer reported on the following:
Open Streets at Penn Fest: Great weather, great participation. Successful event. Up to 10,000 people.
Urban Wildland Half Marathon & 5K: Record revenue, 1,200 runners.
Band Shell Groundbreaking Ceremony: Contract approved and signed for construction. Ceremony on September 30, 10:00 am.
Action Items
Mini-Golf Facility Proposal
Facility Supervisor Kris Weiby said that the City has had a partnership with Wheel Fun Rental since 2007 to operate the mini-golf
course; they also opened a malt shop. He said that some of the holes of the course are in disrepair and there has been some shifting
of soil. He said that Wheel Fun Rental would like to invest as much as $300,000 into the complex, which would include moving the
course and expanding the malt shop into the Art Center half of the park building. Topitzhofer said that the course was built in 1990 and
has lasted a long time, but is past its useful life. He said that they would like to shift the course to the east and slightly south, as well as
change the entrance of the building to the southeast wall that faces the playground. He said that they would remove the wall that
currently divides the interior in half, so customers looking into the building would see a wide open facility. Thompson asked if that
would eliminate the Art Center completely. Topitzhofer said that staff approached the Arts Commission about moving Art Center
activities to the Community Center for this remodeling. The Arts Commission agreed that the Community Center would be a better
programming space. Weiby said that they would also expand onto the west side to build a patio for grilling and outdoor dining.
Engeldinger asked about the pumpkin patch event. Weiby said that it would still be held out front by the shelter. Smieja asked about
the tree sales. Weiby said that the new configuration could use the new interior space rather than park a trailer next to the building,
which would clean up the area during tree sales. Felgate asked about the possibility of a dog park in this area. Weiby said that it
would not be an appropriate place for it because of parking, proximity to the playground, and existing heavy usage. Engeldinger asked
about winter programming out of that building; Topitzhofer said that it may be used as a kind of warming house and could be
incorporated into some planned activities, including visits from Santa, a lantern-lit trail walk, and more. Engeldinger asked about
renting out the space for events. Weiby said that the footprint may be too small for most rental activities; Topitzhofer said that other
types of winter usage will be considered for this building and other park buildings. Bornholdt asked about the current revenue from
Wheel Fun; Weiby said that the current agreement nets up to $12,000, based on sales, but that will be renegotiated with a remodeling
to increase that amount. Weiby said that this is more than the City was making while running the mini-golf course. Topitzhofer said
that the action to be considered by the CSC is to recommend Council approval of the project, which will probably take the form of a
lease with Wheel Fun Rentals. Felgate asked why a fence is required; Topitzhofer said to deter vandalism; Weiby said that they store
their surreys inside the fence. Weiby said that, based on the work Wheel Fun has done in the past, the result of the reconfiguration is
expected to be very nice. Topitzhofer said that the project will probably pass through the City’s Architectural Review Committee, which
includes Inspections, Fire Services, Planning, etc. Thompson moved to recommend approval of the Wheel Fun facility upgrades,
without including the dog park plan, seconded by Felgate. Approved, ayes all.
Discussion Items
Parks Master Plan Update
Topitzhofer introduced the group to all of the draft ideas and recommendations at this stage of the Master Parks Plan revision process.
He said that a staff workshop was held, the notes from which were shared with the CSC. He outlined the individual park
recommendations in tonight’s packet. He suggested that the group review all of the recommendations for each park before the next
meeting. He reviewed specific comments received at the Comp Plan open house event, including dog park ideas. He said that
Donaldson Park was a location that received the most votes, so that would be considered along with Taft Park, which is the staff
recommendation. Smieja said that the southeast part of Donaldson Park is used by Middle School students. Toptizhofer outlined a
northwest corner of the City’s park boundary as a good possible location for a dog park. Bornholdt mentioned that there were two
votes for more soccer fields at Donaldson Park. Topitzhofer said that they may be competing uses for consideration; he said that the
consultant will outline feasible sizes for a dog park and other facilities and will help staff determine what facilities might work together.
Topitzhofer reviewed some of the other recommendations for different parks and asked the group to review these ideas.
DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC.
September 19, 2017
Organic Waste Collection
Topitzhofer reviewed the presentation made to the Council last week, outlining the five options for organic waste hauling: 1) require all
haulers to offer optional organic collection, 2) offer haulers some incentive to offer organics collection, 3) establish an organics drop-off
site, 4) organize hauling and require organic collection, or 5) do nothing. He said that the grant received by communities from
Hennepin County for waste-hauling programs will start to decrease over time for communities that don’t implement an organic waste
hauling option; Richfield’s grant is about $90,000, 90% of which is given back to residents as a utility bill credit. He said that the County
would eventually reduce this grant by 50% over the next four years. Felgate doubted that the drop-off site would be used very much,
especially in the winter. Felgate asked if organic waste could just be filtered out of the garbage now; Topitzhofer wasn’t sure if that’s a
feasible option to do that sorting at the plants. Felgate said that businesses are trying to get people to do the sorting for them, but
technology likely already exists for haulers to do the sorting at their end. Smieja said that school kids are trained to do the sorting in the
schools. Topitzhofer said that many other Hennepin County cities have implemented organics hauling; Felgate said that the County’s
garbage sorting should have the capability. Topitzhofer said that the Council did not want to do nothing; they asked that staff look into
drop-off sites, but are leaning towards requiring haulers to offer optional organics recycling, with a possible incentive for haulers
(options 1 or 2). Topitzhofer said that a drop-off site may be a worthwhile pilot program; if it isn’t used much after a year, it could be
discontinued. Bornholdt asked how much garbage is put in landfills if much of it is burned; Topitzhofer said that much of it is still
dumped in landfills, especially larger items.
Committee Reports
Transportation Commission: Felgate provided the report. Friends of Wood Lake: Engeldinger provided the report.
Friendship City Commission: Topitzhofer reported that the Sofia statue was unveiled in Heredia Park in June.
Next Meeting/Adjournment
Regular October Meeting Tuesday, October 17, 7:00 pm, Richfield Municipal Center (6700 Portland Ave)
Other Thompson reported on the Richfield Foundation Wine Tasting, November 12, by Houlihan’s. Bornholdt reported that the
Pancake Breakfast for Honoring All Veterans Memorial will be held on November 15.
Adjournment Thompson moved, seconded by Smieja, to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm.
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