Loading...
2024-01-16 CSCCommunity Services Commission Meeting Tuesday, January 16, 2024, 7:00 pm Richfield Municipal Center, Heredia Room Commission Members Meredith Bruzek, David Vrieze Daniels, Michael Devane, Jenna Hanson (Vice Chair), Tessa Johanson (Chair), Adam Kerekes, Jessica Johnson-Kreps, Brooke Nelson, BJ Skoog, Hayley Tompkins Staff/Liaisons Ben Whalen (City Council Liaison), Crystal Brakke (School Board Liaison) Karl Huemiller (Recreation Services Director), John Evans (Recording Secretary) CALL TO ORDER 1. Approval of Minutes/Agenda  Regular Meeting Minutes: September 19, 2023  Regular Meeting Minutes: December 20, 2023 2. Public Comment  Comments and items not printed on agenda 3. Staff Reports  Recreation Programming Update (Huemiller)  Food Drive (to volunteer to be a drop-off site or help with delivering food to VEAP, contact Bonnie Muellerleile at 612-861-9362 or bmuellerleile@richfieldmn.gov) 4. Discussion Items  None 5. Action Item  None 6. Committee Reports  Transportation Commission (Devane)  FOWL Board (Bruzek)  Planning Commission (Kerekes)  Arts Commission (Skoog)  Sustainability Commission (Vrieze Daniels) 7. Departing Members  Brooke Nelson and Jenna Hanson 8. Next Meeting Tuesday, February 20, 7:00 pm Richfield Municipal Center (Heredia Room) ADJOURNMENT   September 19, 2023 REGULAR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, September 19, 2023 Richfield Municipal Center PRESENT CSC:Adam Kerekes, BJ Skoog, Hayley Tompkins, Tessa Johanson, Brooke Nelson, Jenna Hanson, David Vrieze Daniels, Mike Devane, Meredith Bruzek STAFF: Amy Markle (Recreation Director), John Evans (Secretary), Karl Huemiller (Recreation Programs Manager) ABSENT CSC: Jessica Johnson-Kreps OTHERS: Crystal Brakke (school board) COUNCIL: Ben Whalen Call to Order/Approval of Minutes Chair Johanson called to order at 7:01. Johanson moved, seconded by Tompkins, to approve the minutes of the regular meetings of June 20 and July 18, 2023. Approved by consensus. Staff Reports Recreation Services Markle reported on the following: • Penn Fest was successful and well-attended. • The Richfield Red, White, and Blue Days is moving beyond some financial issues and rebuilding for future celebrations. • Summer programs were very well-attended. • The Richfield Pool saw great attendance and season pass sales. Splash pad will open next year and the pool will try to stay open later in the season. • MN Whitecaps will not play games at the Richfield Ice Arena but will still practice here. • ETS, the gym that leases space at the Arena, is moving to a larger space. Fortis Academy will lease the space for a similar purpose. • New programs coming this fall, including a different dance program with a shorter season, family game nights, and other new ideas. • Farmers Market will extend through all of October for the first time; a winter market will be held in December. • Staff is working with the City Attorney to draft language to include guidelines about smoking cannabis in the parks. • Staffing changes in Recreation: Huy Nguyen, Jessica Anderson, and Amy Markle will all be departing in October. Huemiller will be the interim Recreation Services Director and the job opening will be advertised soon. Discussion Items Project Updates: Bike Park and Skate Park Markle said that the old hockey boards have been removed, grading is almost complete, signs ordered, and the features have all been built in the shop and should be installed in the next two weeks. Tuesday, October 3, 5:00-7:00 pm will be the ribbon cutting. She said that the skate park expansion may not be completed this fall and could extend into Spring 2024. Recreation Scholarship Program Huemiller said that the Passport tuition assistance program has been under-utilized and is being revamped. He said that the program will be more accessible, more valuable, and more widely useable for residents. He said that, with a shift to contract programming in several areas, the new assistance program will be subsidized by donated money, so program revenue will not be reduced. He said that the discount will apply to a Friends of Wood Lake membership and an allotted credit can also be used to pay for the other half of a 50% discounted pool pass. Huemiller said that the current program serves about 70 individuals over 50 families and sees about $3,500 in discounts. Annual Council Report Johanson will deliver the annual CSC report to Council on November 14. Committee Reports TRANSPORTATION: Devane / FOWL: Bruzek / PLANNING: Kerekes / ARTS: Skoog / SUSTAINABILITY: Vrieze Daniels Next Meeting/Adjournment Regular October Meeting: Tuesday, October 17, 7:00 pm, Municipal Center Adjournment: Meeting adjourned by consensus at 7:49 pm. DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC. December 19, 2023 REGULAR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, December 19, 2023 Richfield Municipal Center PRESENT CSC:Adam Kerekes, BJ Skoog, Jessica Johnson-Kreps, Tessa Johanson STAFF: Karl Huemiller (Recreation Director), John Evans (Secretary) ABSENT CSC: Hayley Tompkins, Brooke Nelson, Jenna Hanson, David Vrieze Daniels, Mike Devane, Meredith Bruzek OTHERS: Crystal Brakke (school board) COUNCIL: Ben Whalen Call to Order/Approval of Minutes Chair Johanson called the meeting to order at 7:03. Staff Reports Recreation Services Huemiller provided the staff update, including Personnel updates: Jeremy Johnson, new Recreation Supervisor, and Karl’s promotion to Recreation Services Director Fall Boutique was well-attended Wood Lake’s Half-Haunted Halloween saw 1,500. Holiday Lights Parade and Holiday Lights Contest Winter/Spring Brochure is out Winter program registration opened December 18. Classes are doing well; Adult Basketball League is full. Candlelight and Ice on December 31 has 1,000 registrants. New Year’s Day Skating Party is scheduled at the Arena. Preparing for the Local Sales Tax referendum campaign. Winter Farmers Market (indoor) has been well-attended Discussion Items Wood Lake Nature Center Status Huemiller reported that the contract with HGA is being finalized for architectural services after conducting interviews with three firms. The local sales tax referendum information and engagement campaign will begin in January. Huemiller provided an outline of how the park would remain open during construction with the offices operating out of the Community Center. Augsburg Park Grooming Huemiller reported that a cross-country ski trail will be groomed through Augsburg Park for the Richfield High School Cross-Country Ski Team; RHS would provide the grooming services through an agreement with the City. Roosevelt Park Cell Phone Tower Huemiller reported that Richfield was approached by a cell service company about installing a cell antenna tower at Roosevelt Park. He said that the agreement would require that the tower would not be inconsistent with the character of the park. He said that the lease would produce $30k to $50k in revenue each year. Huemiller asked the group if they had any hesitations. He said that the revenue is a fairly standard amount and would be a 20- to 30-year contract, so that would provide significant capital revenue. Johnson-Kreps said that with its proximity to 494, it’s not inconsistent with the high-traffic area and the appearance could be mitigated with plantings and screening. Skoog said that the southeast corner by the parking lot would be the best place for it. He said that it would be similar to the tower behind the municipal center. Johanson asked how tall the screening would be; Huemiller said it would provide screening about 10 feet up. Huemiller encouraged the group to check out the tower by the Municipal Center and share their thoughts at subsequent meetings. Committee Reports PLANNING: Kerekes / ARTS: Skoog Next Meeting/Adjournment Regular January Meeting: Tuesday, January 16, 7:00 pm, Municipal Center Adjournment: Meeting adjourned by consensus at 7:42 pm. DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC.