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2004-05-18�- RICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION AGENDA Tuesday, May 18, 2004 7:00 p.m. Richfield Community Center (7000 Nicollet Ave) Commission Members Staff Liaisons Anna Berend Dean Johnson Rodney Schmidt Jim Topitzhofer (Staff Liaison) John Enger (Council) Michael Christian Barb Kritzman Linda Slocum John Evans (Secretary) Kyle Hartnett (PC) Robert Dietl Kevin McVay Gordon Vizecky (Chair) Frank White (Recreation Mgr) Gloma Hamernick Gary Ness Tom Foley (Engineering) 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of Minutes ❑ Regular Meeting: April 20, 2004 3. Public Comment ❑ Opportunity to discuss items not printed on the agenda 4. Program Spotlight ❑ Latino Outreach Programs (White) 5. Staff Reports ❑ Recreation Services (Topitzhofer) 6. Discussion Items ❑ Crosstown Improvements: Madison Park Mitigation (Topitzhofer/Foley) 7. Action Items 8. Committee Reports ❑ Ballfield Improvement Task Force (Christian/Topitzhofer) ❑ Golf Practice Facility Task Force (Topitzhofer) ❑ Transportation Committee (NesslKritzman) ❑ FOWL (Dietl/Kritzman) ❑ Planning Commission (Slocum) ❑ Richfield Community Human Services Planning Council [RCHSPC] (Hamernick) 9. Other 10. Next Meeting Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 15, 2004 11. Adjournment DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC. npril 20, 2004 ® RICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, April 20, 2004 Richfield Community Center commissioners Barb Krifzman, Bob Dietl, o on izPRESENT e y, Gary Ness, Gloms Hamernick, Michael Christian, Linda Slocum, Dean Johnson I Staff Jim T99ppitzhofer, John Evans, Tom Foley, MaryKaye Champs I Council Liaison John Enger Planninq Commission Liaison I David Ge nerfelt) Commissioners I Rodney Schmidt, Anna Berard, Kevin OcVay Call to Order The meeting was called to order by CSC Chair Vizecky at 7:02 p.m. _ Approval_ of Minutes _1 Ness asked to indicate in the minutes that he is the liaison to the Transportation Committee (Kritzman is a member of the committee). He also wanted to be indicated as the alternate to the City Hall Task Force. Slocum moved, seconded by Christian, to approve the minutes of the February 17 regular meeting with the above changes and the minutes of the March 22 joint CSC/PC meeting. Approved, ayes all. Public Comment Christian suggested that the recommended minimum "drop-off' age at the Richfield Pool, which is eight years old, is a bit young and asked how this was determined. Topitzhofer said that, while parents are encouraged to stay with their kids, this age reflects past practice. He said that he'd look into this. I Program. Spotlight Richfield Dance Program Recreation Supervisor Champa reported on Richfield's Youth Dance Program (the spring recital and the summer dance program). She also talked about the Summer Playground Program, Tennis Program, a scrapbooking class, teen events, a joint program with Stepping Stone Theatre, the lunch program and other summer offerings. Staff Reports Recreation Services Topitzhofer reported on the Wood Lake Egg Hunt, Peterson Concert, Volunteer Tea, art displays in the Community Center and other recent events. He also distributed an article from the Richfield Sun that discussed facilities and programs that are intended to appeal to pre -teen and teen participants. Discussion Items Crosstown Improvements: Madison Park Mitigation Foley summarized the Crosstown improvements (lane additions, minimizing "weavings," and changes in access). Topitzhofer discussed the effects on Madison Park (net loss of 10,500 square feet) and possible mitigation: soundwall, better lighting, other entries to the park and possible funds for the improvement of Richfield Lake Park, which will also be affected as the holding pond for the freeway improvements. Enger asked if there would be further discussion before decisions were made; Topitzhofer said yes. Enger suggested that some of the grading work at Madison Park should be at the expense of MnDOT and not considered part of the mitigation. Foley detailed possible pedestrian accommodations (including north -south connections to Minneapolis), as well as pending decisions affecting private residents. Planning Commission Chair Gepner thanked the group for their involvement in this project. Ness agreed that this seems to be a good opportunity to develop some of these trail linkages and asked about the possibility of privacy fencing. Kritzman said that this would create a tunnel between the fence and soundwall. Vizecky said that Richfield is not, in general, pedestrian - friendly and trail development would be of great value to the community. Foley said that the development of walkways along 77r' Street was a concern for a couple of families, but not most. Topitzhofer asked what the group would favor between funding for trail development and funding for Richfield Lake Park redevelopment. Died said that real estate should not be forfeited just for funding because of the increasing scarcity of land in Richfield; he suggested that the trail development might be more valuable than just funding for other projects because there would be no other opportunity to acquire that land. Enger said that, rather than twisting/turning trails that are not extremely desirable, funding towards Richfield Lake Park would be a more useful benefit. Vizecky doubted that the size of Richfield Lake Park would be expandable because of wetland restrictions. Topitzhofer suggested that the next step be a Madison Park neighborhood April 20, 2004 meeting to discuss the "fixes" being discussed for the park. Then, he said, thoughts could be formalized by the CSC. Slocum moved, seconded by Ness, to hold a Madison Park neighborhood meeting before the May meeting with other mitigation discussions to follow by the CSC. COWth #feetRbpdrW] Sallfield Improvement Task Force Topitzhofer said that Girls Softball wishes for Lincoln Field to be primarily a girls facility with second priority given to boys events. Golf Practice Facility Task Force Topitzhofer reported that the group will have a feasibility study done, particularly considering Taft and Vets Parks (community parks with good freeway access and more buffer between residences and park). Transportation Committee Kritzman reported that the 76'h Street "fly -over' plan was recommended to Council. FOWL Diet[ reported that the FOWL Fundraising Dinner will be held on Friday, May 7, at the Thunderbird Hotel. Next Meeting Tuesday, May 18, 7:00 pm, Community Center Adjournment Ness moved, seconded by Kritzman, to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m. �- RICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION EXECUTIVE SUMMARY _ Meeting Date: May 18, 2004 Agenda Item Agenda Section Madison Park Impact from Crosstown Commons Reconstruction Action Items Attachments Contact Letter to Madison Park Neighborhood Jim Topitzhofer & Tom Foley At the April meeting, the CSC discussed improvements to Highway 62 and the Crosstown Commons area and its effect on Madison Park. Transportation Engineer Tom Foley detailed the 16,500 square -foot area at the north end of the park and two private properties that would be acquired for right-of-way. He said that the unused portion of the adjacent dwellings can be deeded to the City as parkland and could function as an access path into the park from Logan Avenue and James Avenue, adding an area of 6,000 square feet to the park. The CSC discussed possible mitigation for the net loss of 10,500 square feet of park land. Topitzhofer said that some of the improvements to mitigate the loss will include the construction of a sound wall, two new access paths into the park that connect with the existing perimeter path, plantings and security lighting. The CSC also discussed development of pedestrian trails along Highway 62 and 1-35W, and other park amenities for Madison Park and/or Richfield Lake Park (also affected by the construction). Members of the CSC are invited to attend a Madison Park Neighborhood meeting, which will immediately precede the regular May meeting: MADISON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING Tuesday, May18 6:00 pm Madison Park Building (6244 Knox Ave) Transportation Engineer Tom Foley and Recreation Services Director Jim Topitzhofer will be present to answer questions and collect feedback regarding the mitigation plan for the impact of the highway improvements on the park. Recommended Action Based on feedback from the neighborhood and the CSC, recommend proceeding with the development of a mitigation plan for the Highway 62 Improvement Project's impact on Madison Park. J0 May 11, 2004 Dear Madison Park Neighbor: Recreation Services Department You're invited to attend a meeting to discuss the improvements to the Highway 62/Crosstown Commons area and the impact this project will have on Madison Park. MAYOR The meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 18, 6:00 pm, at the Madison Park Building, MARTIN J. KIRSCH 6244 Knox Ave). CITY COUNCIL JOHN ENGER BACKGROUND: SUSAN ROSENBERG Highway 62 and the Crosstown Commons Area is an aging infrastructure with congested SUZANNE M. SANDAHL traffic and high crash rates. MnDOT is in the process of planning improvements to GERTRUDE ULRICH increase capacity and solve traffic flow issues in the commons area. Lanes will be expanded, which will affect a small portion of Madison Park. CITY MANAGER SAMANTHA ORDUNO EFFECT ON PARK: Under the current expansion proposal, a 16,500 square -foot area at the north end of the park and two adjacent dwellings will need to be acquired for highway right-of-way. The unused portion of the adjacent dwellings can be deeded to the City as parkland and could function as an access path into the park from Logan Avenue and James Avenue, adding an area of 6,000 square feet to the park. The concept plan shows two new access paths connected to the existing perimeter path. So, the net loss of parkland would be 10,500 square feet or about 0.25 acres. A sound wall will be constructed along the north section of the park, highlighted by plantings and security lighting. The new park footprint can still accommodate the existing uses of the park. MITIGATING THE LOSS: At their April meeting, the Community Services Commission discussed possible mitigation for the net loss of 10,500 square feet of parkland. Some park improvements that may mitigate the loss could include a new sound wall, better access from adjacent streets and security lighting. Staff and the Community Services Commission seek feedback for other possible improvements to mitigate the loss, which could include the development of area pedestrian trails along 1-35W & Highway 62. Transportation Engineer Tom Foley and I have invited members of the CSC to attend this meeting. Your feedback is important to this project. If you have questions or comments prior to the meeting, please call me at 612-861-9394. Sincerely, Jim Topitzhofer Director The Urban Hometown 7000 NICOLLET AVENUE, RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA 65423 6 12.86 1.93 95 FAX: 612.861 9388 ~w drehheM.." AN EOML OPPO IT EMPLOYER