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2023-12-19 CSCCommunity Services Commission Meeting Tuesday, December 19, 2023, 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 2. Public Comment • Comments and items not printed on agenda 3. Staff Reports • Recreation Programming Update (Huemiller) 4. Discussion Items • Wood Lake Nature Center Status (Huemiller) • Augsburg Park Grooming (Huemiller) • Roosevelt Park Cell Phone Tower (Huemiller) 5. Action Item N/A 6. Committee Reports • Transportation Commission (Devane) • FOWL Board (Bruzek) • Planning Commission (Kerekes) • Arts Commission (Skoog) • Sustainability Commission (Vrieze Daniels) 7. Next Meeting Tuesday, January 16, 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.