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2009-06-16COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION AGENDA Tuesday, June 16, 2009 7:00 pm City Hall Council Chambers 6700 Portland Avenue Commission Members Staff Liaisons Reed Bornholdt Greg Mangold Sarah Till Jim Topitzhofer (Staff Liaison) Fred Wroge (Council) Gerry Charnitz (VC) Gary Ness (Chair) Michele Thompson John Evans (Secretary) Rick Jabs (Planning Com) Mike Christian Rodney Schmidt Arlan Nelson Joe Springer NOTE: A COMMUNITY MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 7:00 P.M. TO GATHER INITIAL INPUT REGARDING THE REDESIGN OF HEREDIA PARK. THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING WILL RESUME IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE COMMUNITY MEETING. 1. Call to Order 2. Public Comment ❑ Items not printed on the agenda 3. Approval of Minutes ❑ Regular Meeting: May 19, 2009 4. Action Items ❑ None 5. Staff Reports ❑ Recreation Services (Topitzhofer) 6. Discussion Items ❑ Heredia Park Redesign (Topitzhofer) ❑ Park Ordinances (Topitzhofer) Committee Reports ❑ Transportation Commission (Ness/Charnitz) ❑ FOWL (Bornholdt) ❑ Honoring All Veterans Memorial, Inc (Schmidt/Topitzhofer) ❑ Lincoln Planning Team (Christian/Jabs/Topitzhofer) ❑ City Hall Advisory Taskforce (Jabs) ❑ Planning Commission (Springer) ❑ Arts Commission (Thompson) 8. Next Meeting Tuesday, July 21, 2009, 7:00 pm Richfield Ice Arena, 636 661h Street (Skating Lounge) 9. Adjourn DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC. May 19, 2009 dM ® RICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, May 19, 2009, Donaldson Park (7434 Humboldt Ave) PRESENT CSC Members Gerry Charnitz, Sarah Till, Greg Mangold, Gary Ness, Michele Thompson, Mike Christian, Arlan Nelson, Reed Bomholdt, Rodney Schmidt Staff Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans Planning Commission Rick Jabs CSC Members I Joe Springer Council Liaison Fred Wroge Call to Order Ness called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm. Approval of Minutes Bornholdt moved, seconded by Christian, to approve the minutes of the regular April meeting. Approved, ayes all. Action Items Lincoln Athletic Complex Play Equipment Topitzhofer explained the process of soliciting quotes for new play equipment at Lincoln, and one CSC member would be asked to serve on the selection committee. Till and Christian volunteered. Topitzhofer said that a neighborhood meeting will be held, RFP issued, and the selection committee will choose the winning proposal. Thompson moved, seconded by Charnitz, to appoint Till and Christian to the Lincoln Play Equipment Selection Committee. Approved, ayes all. Staff Reports I Recreation Services Topitzhofer reported that staff is working on the operating budget. Discussion Items Request to Discontinue Mowing at Vets Park Topitzhofer said that an area behind 10 homes on the east side of the park is mowed by the City and one resident has requested that the area be a prairie or natural area. He said that the resident also said that some neighbors are mowing access paths to the walking path. Thompson asked if the back yards have fences; Topitzhofer said that some do, some do not. Nelson said that a petition was signed years ago for staff to start mowing the area. Charnitz and Jabs said that it would set a precedence to mow or plant on park property. Topitzhofer said that the neighbors maintain a trail through the area for an older lady who lives there. [The access paths being mowed are through the areas not mowed by the City.] Schmidt said that having the City mow is much more desirable to most people. Topitzhofer said that the neighborhood kids use it for a play area. Christian said that personal use or maintenance of park land should be prohibited; he recommended a neighborhood meeting regarding the mowing. Jabs said that Vets is a city park, not a neighborhood park, so it may be that policy regarding the park should not be determined by one neighborhood. Topitzhofer said that, within the neighborhood, there are those who think of it as a wildlife sanctuary and others who see it as a recreational park. Chamitz recommended that it would be worth hearing the prevailing opinion of the neighborhood because this patch of land is not crucial to the use of the park. Ness asked if there are precedents in other parks that border on residences. Jabs asked about City liability, if, for instance, a resident is hurt while mowing park land. Christian said that mowing should not be allowed, but a neighborhood meeting should be held. Charnitz said that it may run the risk of just one or two residents attending and dominating with their opinion. Topitzhofer said that a neighborhood meeting is also an opportunity to educate the neighborhood on what is allowed on park property. Heredia Park Planning Process Topitzhofer said that the word was spread in the neighborhood about losing the tennis courts. Staff and the Council received many letters opposing taking the tennis courts. 19 neighbors came to a neighborhood meeting about it. Topitzhofer said that the parking spaces that were going to occupy the land under the tennis courts are required by City ordinance, but a variance to the ordinance could be explored and the Council is discussing the issue. He asked the CSC to discuss the process for rebuilding the park. Christian said that his main issue with the plan was the fact that there are no park rebuilding funds included in the City Hall construction fund. Jabs said that some contingency funds of the City Hall project have been set aside for various uses, possibly including park work. Topitzhofer said that the basketball court and play features would be replaced with City Hall funds. He said that the annual $100,000 used each year for major park maintenance usually includes tennis court repaving, so the Heredia courts may have been included soon anyway. Charnitz said that it doesn't seem that any definite funds are identified for the parks, so maybe the neighborhood could dictate what would go into the park and start fresh with all new plans. Jabs agreed that the park could be thought of as a blank slate to include new amenities, but there were numerous open houses and publicity postings inviting people to get involved with the project and not many attended. Topitzhofer said that the City Hall group was not there to focus on park planning, so the park planning process is beginning now; he asked about the value of conducting usage counts at the courts. Ness asked if the police might have usage estimates. Christian said that a dedicated funding source should be identified before committing to ideas. Topitzhofer said that the neighborhood will meet next month, staff will put together some amenity cost estimates, usage numbers will be collected, and the CSC can consider the results in July. May 19, 2009 1 Discussion Items (cont)_J Park Ordinances Topitzhofer said that time will be taken for the CSC and Council to review the attached revisions and provide feedback. Thompson and Till said that they are open to a stricter regulation of smoking in the parks. Schmidt said that he is opposed to banning smoking in the parks. Charnitz asked if there's a process for granting peddlers licenses to sell in the parks. Topitzhofer said that it would be the peddler's permit process, but it requires the Recreation Director's permission if the sale is on park land. Charnitz suggested that the ordinance be more specific about the procedure, fees, time limits, etc. Nelson said that proposing an ordinance to ban feeding wild animals would outlaw a recreation activity and intrudes on people's rights. Ness said that this just affects behavior on public park land, not on private property. Schmidt said that the animal ordinance would include Wood Lake. Topitzhofer said that the ordinance was proposed in reaction to the goose population at Richfield Lake. Christian said that goose feces has adversely affected bodies of water when the geese collect in unnatural numbers in one area. Christian asked about portable ice houses on Taft; Schmidt asked about small boats or swimming at Taft in the future. Topitzhofer said that he'd ask more about the requirements dictated by the DNR as they relate to the lake. Jabs clarified that the sound system ordinance specifically refers to interfering with programmed or scheduled activities. Topitzhofer said that the vegetation damage ordinance will relate directly to the issues at Vets Park. Schmidt said that a person couldn't walk on grass; Topitzhofer said that the first sentence may be modified. Christian said that it should focus on damage of vegetation. Topitzhofer said that he will bring the revisions back. Richfield Parkway Concept Plan Topitzhofer said that a corridor along Richfield Parkway and 17" and Bloomington Avenues will be developed with landscaping and possible regional train connections. He said that one section of the corridor, where Richfield Parkway links with Bloomington Avenue, would affect an area of Taft Park at the south end. He said that much of the road around the frontage road may be vacated and converted to park land. Topitzhofer said that the parkway would be funded by a number of sources and could provide an opportunity for park improvements. He said that this plan is being presented to inform the group about the park impact, for further discussion later. Committee Reports Transportation Commission: Charnitz provided the report. FOWL: Bornholdt reported on the FOWL Dinner. Honoring All Veterans Memorial., Schmidt/Topitzhofer reported that the granite tablets will be installed & unveiled on Memorial Day, 1:30 pm. Lincoln Planning Team: Topitzhofer provided the report. Planning Commission: Jabs provided the report. Arts Commission: Thompson provided the report. j Adjournment j Thompson moved, seconded by Christian, to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 9:06 pm. I Next Meeting Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 7:00 pm Richfield Community Center RICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Meeting Date: June 16, 2009 Agenda Item Agenda Section Heredia Park Planning Process Discussion Items Attachments Contact Site Plan for City Hall Project, Map of Heredia Park Jim Topitzhofer The Community Services Commission is responsible for the task to develop a recommendation to City Council as to the future design of Heredia Park. The City Hall Project will have a temporary impact on the park including the use of the informal ball field as a construction staging area and relocation of the play equipment. Upon the completion of the construction of City Hall, the Commission has an opportunity to redesign the park, pending costs. At the last meeting, the Community Services Commission finalized the process to complete the task of planning for the rebuilding of Heredia Park as follows: • Commission to conduct a community meeting to gather ideas June 16, 2009 • Commission conduct a series of usage tallies June 17 to July 15 • Discuss recreation needs of the City July 21 • Finalize recommendations August 18 • Conduct public meeting to present recommended plan August 25 • Present recommended plan to City Hall Advisory August 27 A community meeting will be conducted at the beginning of this Commission Services Commission meeting to gather initial input from residents for the redesign of Heredia Park. Staff has sent meetings notices to more than 400 residents living within a 2 block radius of the park boundaries. A meeting notice was also sent to the SunCurrent. Gary Ness, Community Services Commission Chair, will lead a discussion to summarize the testimonies given at the community meeting and to coordinate usage tallies of Heredia Park. Recommended Action: Discus feedback given at the community meeting and coordinate usage tallies. New City hall, Police and Fire _ IL TENNIS b it COURTS I C�, r- -n- - I c T1l F T TM- T1 FL !1 PARKING 83 STALLS PARKING 5 STALLS VISITOR PARKING 25 STALLS (� [� D F- _-j L- I �- L PARKING 7 6 STALLS 1 ( PARKING --, — VISITOR 25 - -- -- - FLEXIBLE 106 TOTAL SURFACE 131 LOWER LEVEL 29 - - - TOTAL PARKING 160 DESIGN DEVELOPMENT 2009 RICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION Iy18_1212.,, EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Meeting Date: June 16, 2009 Agenda Item Richfield Park Ordinance Attachments First Draft of Amended Park Ordinance Agenda Section Discussion Items Contact Jim Topitzhofer At the last meeting, staff presented the attached first draft of the amended Section 840 of the Richfield City Code. The Commission provided the following direction: 1) Determine a procedure for granting a peddlers license for selling products or services in Richfield parks during the Fourth of July Celebration. 2) Clarify the DNR's regulations with regards to Richfield bodies of water. The current procedure for a peddler to obtain a peddlers license from the City is to submit a permit application and fee to the Public Safety Office. If the proposed parks ordinance is adopted by City Council the following procedure could be used to address the issue: The peddlers permit application will be changed to include a section on selling items in the parks during the Fourth of July, with a notification that permission to do so must be authorized by the Parks and Recreation Director. The Public Safety Clerk will then forward the permit application to the Parks and Recreation Director to make a decision to authorize the peddler to sell items in the parks during the Fourth of July. If the Parks and Recreation Director decides to do so, that section of the permit is signed and copy returned to the peddler. With regards to DNR regulations on public waters in Richfield, there are six bodies of water identified as protected waters of the DNR in Richfield. Those bodies of waters are others Lake (Taft Park), Legion Lake (Vets Park), Richfield Lake, Wood Lake, Milner Pond and Notby's Pond. The DNR does not have restrictions on these bodies of water related to snowmobiling, swimming, bathing, boating and ice fish houses. Rather, those are restrictions that were imposed by the City of Richfield. The Commission is requested to review the draft ordinances again to discuss changes or additions. At some point, staff will include the new ordinance in a City Council memo for their initial reaction. Recommended Action: Provide feedback regarding the attached first draft of the Parks Ordinance. Richfield City Code DRAFT 840.01 (Rev. 2009) Section 840 — Conduct in Public parks 840.01. Reeulatina closin¢ of vublic narks. Public parks of the city will close at 10:00 p.m. each day and shall remain closed to the public until 5:00 a.m. on the next day, except that the following parks will remain open until 11:00 p.m.: • Augsburg Park • Donaldson Park • Taft Park • Veterans Memorial Park • Washington Park • Wood Lake Nature Center Except as provided in subsection 840.03, no person may be in, remain in or enter any public park between the park's closing time and 5:00 a.m. and no person may drive into or remain in a public parking area within or immediately adjacent to a public park during the hours when the park is closed. For the purposes of this section that area of Augsburg Park belonging to and occupied by the Hennepin County branch library is included as a public park. (Amended, Bill No. 2000-4) 840.03. Activities permitted after closing. The following activities may continue in the public parks after the parks have closed: (a) use of the indoor ice arena and use of the miniature golf course; (Amended, Bill No. 1993-8) (b) city sponsored and supervised activities, which because of the nature of the activity, cannot be held during the time when the parks are open; (c) activities sponsored by any other group, association or organization which has applied for and received a permit for such activity pursuant to subsection 840.05; and (d) custodial or maintenance city and Hennepin County authorized personnel who must perform their services during the times when the parks are closed. 840.05. (Amended, Bill No. 1993-8) Permits. Subdivision 1. Prohibition. No person may engage in an organized activity in a public park unless the group, association or organization sponsoring the activity has obtained a permit as provided in this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, an "organized activity" means a planned recreational or sporting activity involving more than 10 persons that is sponsored by a group, association or organization, the time and location of which are advertised in advance of the activity to the group, association or organization members, and which activity makes exclusive use of a portion or all of a public park. Examples of organized activities include, without limitation, class reunions, sporting tournaments or league sporting events. Subd. la. Procedure. A group, association or organization wishing to sponsor any organized activity shall apply to the city manager or the manager's designee not less than two weeks before such organized activity for a permit to conduct the activity. The application shall be on forms prepared by the manager. Fees will be determined annually during the budget process. No permit may be issued unless the city manager determines: Richfield City Code 840.05, Subd. 2 (Rev. 2000) (a) if the organized activity is proposed to use the park between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., that the proposed activity could not be conducted during hours when the park is open to the public; (b) if the organized activity is proposed to use the park between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., that the proposed activity will not be likely to disturb the residents of property surrounding the park; (c) that the proposed activity will not be likely to cause or create crowd control or traffic or park maintenance problems; and (d) that the proposed activity will not interfere with any other activities previously scheduled for the park. Subd. 2. Activity: bond. The manager may limit the time of the organized activity, the area in the park where the organized activity will occur and may impose other conditions upon the conduct of the proposed activity. The manager may also require as a condition for issuance of the permit an indemnity bond holding the city harmless from liability of any kind or character and reimbursing the city for any property damage or cleanup cost. (Amended, Bill No. 1993-8) Richfield City Code 840.07 840.07. Closing of narks by city manager. The manager may close any public park and any parking area within or immediately adjacent to such park, for such period as he shall deem necessary in order to protect or restore or terminate or preventbreaches of the peace and order. The order to close shall apply without exception to all activities conducted in the park. No person having been informed of an order closing the area may remain in the area longer than is reasonably necessary to leave. 840.09. Golf in public narks. Subdivision 1. Definitions. For purposes of this subsection, the term "golf ball" means a ball which is of the type used to play the game of golf and shall also include any projectile of solid construction capable of being struck or propelled by a golf club; and the term practice golf ball means a ball which is not of the type used to play the game of golf and is composed of a thin hollow sphere of plastic or other similar light weight material. Subd. 2. Hitting of golf balls prohibited. No person may hit, drive, stroke or otherwise propel a golf ball upon, in, over or across any street, avenue, alley or other public place including public parks except within areas of public parks which have been designated for that activity. Subd. 3. Hitting of Practice Rolf balls Prohibited. No person may bit, drive, stroke or otherwise propel a practice golf ball upon, in, over or across any street, avenue, alley or other public place except public parks. Subd. 4. Hitting of Practice Rolf balls in Public narks. Unless the hitting of practice golf balls is specifically prohibited in a public park, any person may hit, drive, stroke, or otherwise propel such practice golf balls in accordance with the following restrictions: (a) the ball may not be hit from or to any location closer than 100 feet from the park boundary; (b) the ball may not be hit from or to any location closer than 100 feet from any area actually being used for any organized recreational activity such as softball, baseball, football or tennis; (c) the ball may not be hit from or into any location closer than 100 feet from any playground, tot lot, picnic area, walking or biking trail, parking lot, building, structure or lake within the park; and (d) balls may not be hit from or into the Woodlake Nature Center. Subd. 5. Violations: nenalties. A person who violates any of the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a petty misdemeanor for the first violation. A second or subsequent violation without limitation as to time is a misdemeanor. Richfield City Code 840.11 (Rev. 1999) 840.11. Sale and consumption of beer in narks. Subdivision 1. Definitions. For purposes of this subsection, terms defined in the subdivision have the meanings given them. (a) "Sale" means all means of furnishing and includes but is not limited to the furnishing for money or other consideration. (b) "Beer" means any beverage which is produced wholly or in part from the brewing of any grains or malt or malt substitute and containing more than one-half of one percent alcohol by volume. (c) "Organization" means any entity having religious, veteran, charitable or business activities as its principal purpose and which qualifies in all respects for the issuance of a license to sell the type of beer to be furnished at the activity or event for which the permit is being sought. Subd. 2. Sale and consumption prohibited. The sale, possession with intent to consume, or consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in the public parks of the city, except as expressly permitted by subdivision 3 of this subsection. (Amended, Bill No. 1999-6) (Subd. 3, 4 and 5 Repealed, Bill No. 1988-12) Subd. 3. Community Celebration. A nonprofit corporation that has obtained a community celebration license in accordance with subsection 850.09 of this code may sell 3.2 percent malt liquor in Veteran's Memorial Park in connection with the licensed community celebration, provided that the corporation also obtains a license under subsection 1210.07, subdivision 3 of this code and applicable state law. The community celebration license and temporary on -sale license must designate the area(s) of Veteran's Memorial Park where sales may be made. A person of legal age may possess with intent to consume or consume alcohol purchased pursuant to this subdivision within the areas designated in those licenses. (Added, Bill No. 1999-6) 840.12 Use of Tobacco in Parks Prohibited. No person may use tobacco in any form in Richfield parks. 840.13 Selline food, products or services in Parks Prohibited. No person may sell or offer for sale any product, food or service in any public park; provided, that refreshments or other articles may be sold by the City or by persons authorized to do so in writing by the Recreation Services Director. 840.14 Feedine of Wild Animals or Birds Prohibited. No person may feed wild animals or birds or deposit a food source for wild animals or birds in Richfield parks. 840.15 Reeulations on Public Bodies of Water in Parks. Swimming, bathing, ice fishing houses, boating and snowmobiling are prohibited on bodies of water in Richfield Parks in accordance with Section 815.09. 840.16 Use of Sound Svstems in Parks. No person may use any electric sound receiving, transmitting or reproducing device in such a manner as to annoy or disturb persons within the park, or disturb or interfere with programmed or scheduled activities in a Richfield park.. 840.17 Does in Parks. All dogs must be leashed in public parks and owners shall immediately clean up and sanitarily dispose of any feces of the animal, except that this provision does not apply to blind persons with respect to their ownership and use of a seeing - eye dog, in accordance with Section 905.05 and 905.06. 840.18 Damaeine Veeetation in Parks. No person may walk, run, climb, sit, stand or be physically present in any area designed for or planted with vegetation, or be in any water area or other area not designed for human activity in Richfield Parks. No person may remove any wild flower, tree, shrub, plant, branch or portion thereof, or any soil or other material from Richfield Parks.