2011-06-21CCOOMMMMUUNNIITTYY SSEERRVVIICCEESS CCOOMMMMIISSSSIIOONN AAGGEENNDDAA
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
7:00 pm
Richfield Community Center (7000 Nicollet Ave)
Commission Members Staff Liaisons
Reed Bornholdt Greg Mangold Michele Thompson Jim Topitzhofer (Staff Liaison) Fred Wroge (Council)
Gerry Charnitz (Chair) Arlan Nelson Sarah Till (VC) John Evans (Secretary) Rick Jabs (Planning Com)
Dan Edgerton Bob Shotwell LuAnn Werner
David Gepner Joe Springer
1. Approval of Minutes
Regular Meeting: April 19, 2011
2. Public Comment
Items not printed on the agenda
3. Staff Reports
Augsburg Skate Park (Topitzhofer)
4. Discussion Items
Use of Richfield Parks for Private Use (Topitzhofer)
5. Committee Reports
Transportation Commission (Shotwell)
Bike Task Force Group (Gepner)
Community Bandshell Planning Group (Bornholdt/Edgerton/Rublein)
FOWL Board (Werner)
Honoring All Veterans Memorial, Inc (Bornholdt/Topitzhofer)
Planning Commission (Springer)
Arts Commission (Thompson)
Waste Hauling Study Group (Mangold, Werner)
6. Next Meeting
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
7:00 pm
Richfield Community Center
7. Adjournment
April 19, 2011
REGULAR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, April 19, 2011, Community Center (7000 Nicollet Ave)
PRESENT
CSC Members Dan Edgerton, Greg Mangold, Gerry Charnitz, Sarah Till, Reed Bornholdt, Bob Shotwell, LuAnn
Werner, Dave Gepner, Arlan Nelson, Michele Thompson
Staff Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans
Planning Commission Tom Rublein
ABSENT
CSC Members Joe Springer
Council Liaison Fred Wroge
Call to Order/Approval of Minutes
Charnitz called the regular CSC meeting to order at 7:01 pm. Till submitted a correction to the March minutes (Till called the March meeting to
order, not Charnitz). Motion and second were made to approve the minutes of the regular March meeting. Approved, ayes all.
Staff Reports
Recreation Services
Topitzhofer reported the following:
The City Hall architect is no longer suggesting the idea to remove a tennis court from Heredia Park.
The Council has approved a contract with Wheel Fun to operate the mini golf course in 2011.
The skate park contract was pulled from the 4/12 Council agenda. A public hearing will be held on May 10. Further measurements at the
site have led staff to think that the park may be oriented more east-west than north-south.
Action Items
Capital Improvement Plan
Topitzhofer reviewed the items in the plan, explaining that this is a five-year plan that is continuously revisited and revised annually. Charnitz
asked if the City is open to cooperating with Cornerstone developers on a bandshell since they’ve announced that they may have plans for one
when they redevelop Richfield Lake. Topitzhofer said that the City is open to it. Rublein said that renovation or painting of the waterslide at
the pool should be worked into the plan. Rublein said that the slide has been maintained well, but it will be 30 years old in a few years.
Rublein also mentioned the splash pad idea that was going to be five years out from the 2003 renovation. Edgerton asked if the liquor store
revenue amounts are realistic projections regarding how much they earn; Topitzhofer said that the amount has remained the same for years
with direction from the City Manager and the stores easily outperform that; much of the liquor store proceeds support the general fund.
Edgerton asked if any revenue growth should be written into the plan. Topitzhofer said that if we find that we can’t fund things, we may
request more. Rublein asked if the Wood Lake parking lot could be done in phases and if the water-penetrable material could be used there.
Shotwell said that the material is showing signs of wear already over at the garage. Gepner commented that it doesn’t seem well-known that
the liquor stores fund park improvements. Topitzhofer asked the group for their initial reaction to licensing a food/liquor provider to serve food
or liquor in the parks. By consensus, the group was in favor of staff exploring the idea. Gepner moved, seconded by Bornholdt, to recommend
Council approval of the 2012-2016 capital improvement plan, with the Community Center Carpet dollar amount filled in. Approved, ayes all.
Committee Reports
Waste Hauling Study Group: Mangold recapped his report, submitted at the March meeting, which included some statistics that indicated a
lesser environmental impact with organized hauling systems. He said that the Council will hold a study session on the subject and the CSC
may want to consider some kind of position prior to that meeting. Gepner asked for Mangold’s preference. Mangold said that his
recommendation would be for the City to adopt the resolution of intent to study the issue. Charnitz said that the CSC should determine tonight
what the prevailing opinion is regarding the resolution of intent. Nelson says that the City shouldn’t choose an option that would require hiring
a staff person to manage the program. Werner asked how businesses are affected; Rublein said that business garbage hauling would
probably be exempted and this should be presented to the Council as residential hauling options. Topitzhofer and Charnitz asked to get a
sense of CSC members who have some opposition. Gepner said that, if they adopt the resolution of intent, they would probably assemble a
task force to study the issue. He said that, if the CSC can at least express by consensus a recommendation that the Council explore the issue,
the details of the options can be delved into later. Rublein and Bornholdt stressed the importance of assembling data and facts to demonstrate
the need to explore our options. Topitzhofer said that some key points and details could be shown to the Council that demonstrate the
worthiness of exploring ideas. Mangold said that the goal would be for the Council to set a study in motion. The CSC recommended by
consensus that Topitzhofer, Mangold, and Werner approach the Council at a study session to present information that illustrates the merit of
the Council’s approval of a resolution of intent to study waste-hauling options, possibly with the help of an advisory group.
Bike Task Force: Gepner provided the report.
Community Bandshell Planning Group: Bornholdt provided the report. Topitzhofer mentioned June 28 Council study session.
FOWL: Werner provided the report; mentioned the FOWL Dinner on Friday, April 29.
Honoring All Veterans Memorial: Bornholdt and Topitzhofer provided the report.
Planning Commission: Rublein provided the report.
Arts Commission: Thompson provided the report.
Next Meeting/Adjournment
Regular May Meeting
Tuesday, May 17, 7:00 pm, Community Center (7000 Nicollet Ave)
Bornholdt moved, seconded by Nelson, to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm.
DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC.
RICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Meeting Date: June 21, 2011
Agenda Item
Use of Richfield Parks for Private Events
Agenda Section
Discussion Items
Attachments
StarTribune Article
Contact
Jim Topitzhofer
Recommended Action
None – Discussion Only
The City has experienced an increased number of requests for use of parks and streets for private events.
Recent private events include:
Shrapnel Happens 5K Run in Vets Park, November 2010, fundraiser to benefit Veterans.
They are requesting another permit for use of Vets Park for their second annual event this
November.
Partnership Academy 5K Run in Vets Park, June 4, 2011, fundraiser to benefit Partnership
Academy in Richfield.
Walk for Water in Vets Park, September, 2011, fundraiser for Hope Church
Camp Ojibway 5K Fun Run, May 21, 2011, fundraiser to benefit Camp Objiway. This was
conducted at Hope Church and the course was on public streets. They have conducted two
consecutive annual events.
Best Buy 5K for United Way, September, 2010, fundraiser for United Way. Their course is
on the residential streets north of Donaldson Park. They are requesting a permit for their
second annual event this September.
Two permit applications have been developed to administer these requests. The first is a permit for use of
public streets with permit fee of $200 to cover staff’s time to review the request. Typical requirements to
conduct a running event on public streets include coning lanes for runners, providing portable stop signs at
all uncontrolled intersections, police traffic control on arterials (for a fee of $25 per hour for each reserve
officer), advanced notice to the residents that reside on the course, plan for parking and rest rooms, doctor
or nurse present, and certificate of insurance naming the City as additionally insured.
The other permit is for events that are conducted only within park boundaries, with a permit fee of $100 to
cover staffs review of the application. In the case of Veterans Park, the user pays all rental fees for the
shelter and for the cost of needed items from the City such as additional waste receptacles and picnic
tables.
Minneapolis receives about 200 permit requests each year for private events in their parks. The attached
article from the Star Tribune covers recent action from the Minneapolis Park Board to limit the number of
large events in a few of their more popular parks such as Lake Calhoun. The Park Board is trying to
reduce the impact of these large events on public use of the park and impacts to the street traffic and
nearby neighborhoods.
Although Richfield is only receiving a handful of event requests compared to Minneapolis, perhaps we
should consider developing an event permit policy, especially for Veterans Park. The Richfield permit fee
is very low compared to Minneapolis and should be evaluated as well. The matter is open for discussion
at the meeting.
- 1 -
Packed parks turning down
special events
Article by: , Star Tribune
Updated: May 29, 2011 - 8:41 AM
Shane Stenzel remembers when the Get In Gear
running race in late April, drawing thousands of
entrants, was among the first special events to kick
off the year in Minneapolis parks.
This year it was No. 16.
The event on West River Parkway came after the
Polar Dash, the Pond Hockey tournament, the City of
Lakes Loppet, the Valentine's Day 5K and a host of
smaller events such as the Rock Bottom Race for
Hunger, the Race for Justice, the Recycle Run and
the Twin Cities Walk for Water.
Stenzel, who manages special event permits for the
Park and Recreation Board, said the year's schedule
starts earlier, ends later, and is more crowded in
between.
Events have nearly doubled in the last decade,
generating more than $1 million annually in revenue
for city youth programs in parks.
The crunch has become so intense that park
officials have started to say no to additional events,
especially at the popular Chain of Lakes in south
Minneapolis, or have diverted groups to less heavily
used areas of the city's park system.
"We're booked solid," Stenzel said. "Everybody wants
the premiere spots, but they just can't have it."
In 1999, he granted 100 permits for walks, runs,
rides, art fairs and other activities, from which the
park board received about $123,000 in fees. By
2010, the park board permitted 195 events,
bringing in nearly $1.1 million.
Topping the revenue list was the Medtronic Twin
Cities Marathon and TC 10-mile, which paid the park
system $130,000 for its event last October. Life
Time Fitness also topped the $100,000 mark for
multiple events.
Stenzel said the park system just keeps getting
requests to hold events, especially in the lakes area
across south Minneapolis that includes Calhoun,
Harriet and Nokomis.
That's no surprise to Jeff Winter, who lives four
blocks from Lake Harriet. He's president of People
for Parks, a nonprofit that raises money to improve
city parks. It's wonderful that special events
promote health and good causes, he said, but the
system seems to be running on overload.
"When you're shutting down Lake Harriet virtually
every Saturday, I'd say you've reached a saturation
point," Winter said.
Popular way to raise money
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- 2 -
Minneapolis long has had an overuse policy for
parks that allows road closures only twice a month
for each lake or parkway, and not on back-to-back
weekends. But it has not always been followed.
Many nonprofit groups have discovered that benefit
races can raise funds, said Stenzel, and requests for
places to run or walk are up significantly.
The parks allow events for the March of Dimes,
Special Olympics, Toys for Tots, YWCA, Animal
Humane Society and a growing number of medical
issues including autism, ALS, cystic fibrosis, lupus,
MS, lymphoma, prostate cancer and breast cancer.
For its part, the park system welcomes the fees,
which are used for youth athletic fields and youth
programming.
Don Siggelkow, assistant superintendent of
development, said too many special events can
annoy those trying to get to the parks and enjoy
them for other purposes. The overuse policy needs
to be observed to restore balance, he said.
He is putting final touches on an updated park
policy for special events to require better advance
signage along routes and to start using e-mails and
Internet postings to improve communications about
times, dates and places where roadways will be
closed.
Making changes is difficult, Siggelkow said, because
some groups assume that they have a right to use
public parkways.
"There's no right that people have," he said. "It's a
privilege that needs to be balanced with
understanding the impacts they're having."
Triathlons to 5Ks for autism
Several events produce considerable money for the
park system. Life Time Fitness paid more than
$64,000 for its triathlon in July, and its Turkey Day
5K in November cost organizers more than
$40,000.
Others toward the top of the fee scale included the
October Monster Dash at $59,000 and the
Minneapolis Marathon in June at $39,000, both
sponsored by locally based Team Ortho Foundation.
The Stone Arch Festival of the Arts along the
Mississippi River brings in nearly $22,000.
Stenzel said fees are calculated based on their
impact: how many people they draw, how long they
last and how much parkland they use.
The fees exclude what event organizers pay
separately for park police if roads are closed, trash
removal, portable toilets, paramedics, tents,
refreshments and other expenses.
Fees for smaller events range between $3,000 to
$6,000. Untimed "fun runs" or walks on paths that
don't use roads bring in $1,000 to $3,000.
Special events also include fireworks, art shows,
bike tours, ski races and ethnic festivals.
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- 3 -
Corey Donovan, an organizer of the Autism 5K held
May 21, said his event began three years ago. Held
at Lake Calhoun, the event drew 1,850 entrants last
year and the group paid $6,300 in fees. It was lucky
to get a prime lake slot just before park officials
began closing the door on new events near lakes,
Donovan said.
With generous sponsors and volunteers that pay for
most costs, nearly all of the runner registration fees
can go to programs that provide therapy for autistic
children in Minnesota and some research, he said.
Fees ranged from $20 to $35 per entrant. Nearly
1,600 walkers and runners participated this year.
Perhaps even more important, Donovan said, the
event builds public awareness about autism and
gives a chance for families with autistic children to
feel less isolated and more comfortable at a public
event.
Untapped city park jewels
Siggelkow said one way to ease pressure on the
system is to direct new events and some renewals to
less-congested parks. Stenzel said he recently
advised groups wanting new permits to consider
Wirth Park, Boom Island or North Mississippi
Regional Park, all of which are "jewels in the system
that just haven't been tapped into."
Some events may migrate to St. Paul or to the
suburbs, where park officials say fees are lower and
space for special events more abundant.
About 100 run/walk events are held in St. Paul's
system each year and about 10 percent of them
draw more than 1,000 participants, said Brad Meyer,
public service manager for St. Paul Parks and
Recreation. The overall number has risen from 300
to 400 in the past five years, he said, but it reflects a
broader definition of special events than
Minneapolis uses.
Tom Meersman • 612-673-7388
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