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1998-06 CSCRICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY COMMISSION Tuesday, June 9, 1998 Present: A. Auchstetter, R. Dietl, T. Erlander, R. Jabs, C. Krohn, Susan Rosenberg, C. Sharkey, D. Schaefer, School Liaison J. Sloss; Staff: S. Devich, T. Foley, L. Hipp, J. Prosser, K. Shragg, G. Watson, F. White Absent: Brian McGlinn, Tom Loweth (ex), Maureen Scaglia (ex), The meeting was called to order by Vice-Chair Erlander at 7 p.m. in the Executive Conference Room at City Hall. Motion by Auchstetter to approve the minutes of May 12 as written. Second by Sharkey. Motion Carried. Action Items Appointment of three FOWL Board Members: Motion by Sharkey to appoint Cheryl Hjortaas, Gayle Ticen and Bernie Mittelsteadt as at large FOWL Board of Directors for three year terms. Second by Krohn. Motion carried. Discussion Items Fairwood-Monroe Park: Rosenberg asked when the next neighborhood park meeting is scheduled and the status of the Monroe Park building. Prosser stated that Gretchen Blank is on leave and George Watson from Brauer and Associates, has been assigned to follow-up on a number of projects that include these parks. Watson’s report is attached. With concerns of water ponding in Monroe Park, it was asked if filling this area has been considered. This could cause a storm sewer overflow and would add to the problem. This will be included as an item to be considered as part of the next CIT. The Planning Commission and City Council will revisit this issue at a later time for a permanent answer. As a short term solution, the City will look at pumping water as staff time permits. Foley will follow-up on this with Eastling. For security reasons, relocation of the play area will only involve Monroe Park. White mentioned that because of meetings with the neighborhood and safety issues the waterslide is closed for the summer. Tom Thorson with SRF gave a overview of the Master Plan for Fairwood and Monroe parks. A neighborhood meeting was held on May 2 discussing these Parks. At this meeting, the consultants did an over-view of the parks and then neighbors broke into four groups and arranged the desired amenities to each park that they believed would be in the best interest of the neighborhood. After each team made their presentation and the information gathered, SRF did a synthesis of all ideas and presented a concept for each park. Another neighborhood meeting was held on May 14 to present the concept from SRF for discussion. Neighbors questioned the existing Monroe Park building and water issues. Neighbors expressed concerns about the existing Monroe Park building and the affect it would have on the play areas. Watson said the disposition of the building has not been determined. Prosser stated that an issue to be discussed is whether they want to get feedback from the neighbors where that building should go and what their preference is in rebuilding or a new building. Some issues the neighbors have about the building are: Preference for a building would be Fairwood so a pleasure ice rink could be created. Preference for a picnic shelter at Monroe Park programs cannot be held if there is no building Neighbors asked to be informed what the status is of the building. It is the recommendation of the Commission to hold another neighborhood meeting, disclose the condition of the buildings, talk about issues such as playground, building and come back with a recommendation. It has been found that unless you have a hockey rink adjacent to general skating there is not enough use of the skating area to warrant staff and a warming house. A decision needs to be made by the Commission and then recommend to the Council. A neighborhood meeting can be scheduled with a second meeting prepared if it doesn’t get closure. It is not the intention of the Commission to frustrate residents by having too many meetings. Prosser has prepared a letter to neighbors and asked that someone from the Commission review this letter before it is mailed. White said the funding of an ice sheet without a warming house doesn’t warrant the investment of making ice and the use. He also asked if it would be a good idea if staff from Recreation and Public Safety give input as to the location of the building. Prosser replied that Recreation and Public Safety will need to attend the meeting. The Commission questioned the legal requirement of a staff person be in the building or if it could be a neighbor volunteer. Prosser and White agreed, the only reason a person is there is to reduce vandalism and if someone gets hurt. Devich said this could become a liability if someone says they will be there and they don’t show up and someone gets hurt. Watson will schedule another meeting and get back to the Commission at the next meeting. Veterans Memorial Park: Rosenberg has received a number of calls about what is happening with regard to the tree situation. She asked for a recommendation of some sort if it is to be delayed, where is it going, or if the City is waiting for a rough to be formed. Watson is putting together a planning group to look at the planting that is part of the overall plan. The only concern that was raised was whether or not there is any potential for the Recreation Building or a reconsideration of a Maintenance Facility and whether that would interfere with planting. Prosser explained that it is extremely unlikely that either one of those would interfere with this plan. Wood Lake staff has volunteered to help in deciding what type of trees should be planted. The recommendation is for Watson to initiate the planning process, but nothing will be planted until it comes back to the Commission and then to the City Council. Shragg presented a map of Wood Lake and explained that for the last two and one half years they have had spoil from the dredging project put in the picnic area. Staff sees this as an opportunity to re-do that part of the park and turn it into an intermediate ski area with improved trail system for hikers and skiers. Wood Lake also has an opportunity to move the fence out after removing the parking lot and refurbishing or eliminating shelter there. This project would minimize the vandalism and it is supported by the FOWL Board. It is believed that first this should be brought to the Master Park Plan Sub Committee who is working on a 20 year park plan. It is the responsibility of staff to notify the public of any potential changes. This could be in the Q & A and Your City, explaining the what and why of any pertinent information. Community Center: Several months ago, a decision was made on the fees being charged to seniors. The Commission passed a motion determining the fee charging policy. A letter will be sent to Jerry Hardy, 6513 Humboldt who had questioned the fee being charged and requested consideration for a hardship case. He will be notified this is the policy. Any suggestions that are made should be directed to the inner-council. Foley handed out information on Traffic Calming Policy Implications that was requested by the Community Services Commission regarding present issues of community. This is a quality of life issue and it mostly affects residential streets. It involves the invasion of traffic in some fashion into a residential area. Foley asked that the Commission form a sub-group of 1 to 3 people to serve as the ears to the community as the City approaches the group on 70th Street west of Penn Avenue for further discussion. Foley, Krohn, Jabs and Schaefer will form this sub-commission with Jabs acting as Chair. Foley and Jabs will set up meetings and report back to the Commission at a later time. This will be a neighborhood meeting (not a hearing) like was held two years ago. Ball Fields: A status report of ball fields is included in the handout dated June 9, 1998. Prosser stated that because we have fewer fields, we need to look at how these fields are scheduled. The fields are generally scheduled by the Association and the issue that needs to be raised is whether that should shift. Staff will be doing maintenance because of recent issues. This should be a recommendation from the Commission and the Council and not a staff issue. Jabs recommended looking at consolidation between East and West Baseball. White will try to get the two groups together and begin the discussion and decide if a mediator is necessary. Motion was made, seconded and carried. Ft. Snelling, Sheridan Park and Veterans Park were discussed. See handout for details. Devich stated that they are experiencing a lot of vandalism at mini-golf. Rocks are being used to break the lights. At Veterans park the park benches are being sprayed. Public Safety has been asked if they could patrol periodically. Mini-golf is having a successful year. On a good weekend they are getting 240 to 250 paid rounds of play. The styrofoam is coming out of the waterfall and the fake rock is deteriorating around each hole. It has been an unprecedented year in our inability to hire staff. The pool is little by little falling apart. Pipes in the wading pool are plugged up and bits of medal are coming out. The water slide needs to be painted. If the City plans to keep our facility in the shape Richfield citizens expect, it should be taken care of by sandblasting and painting. The cost would be about $25,000. Devich doesn’t believe that is a wise investment of City funds right now. Edina and St. Louis Park have state of the art in what people expect in a water park. One idea that has come up is a Community Center with banquet facilities. This could help offset some of the cost. Prosser asked Watson to bring back a recommendation regarding the feasibility study within a month. In order to pay for this, the City will need to go to the voters for approval. Committee Reports Planning Commission: Made recommendation the Church facility at 74th Street be approved. This was also approved by the Council. The Gramercy project is consistent with the comprehensive plan. There are 218 units planned including the new VFW facility. This has not yet been approved by Council. FOWL: The planning committee for the FOWL Bowl Golf Classic is underway. The date is September 19 at Rich Acres Golf Course on the Par 3. The Commission should be putting together a team of four to compete against the Planning Commissions at that tournament. Relocation of Maintenance Building: Jabs attended a Study Session last Monday. With the new 77th Street thorough fare approved, or the funding approved, this changes the possibility for a location of 66th and Cedar for the Maintenance Garage. It went back to Prosser saying lets see what the possibilities are. MAC needs an inner change improvement of 66th and some kind on 77th. When this is done, there is a residual within the right of way that is large enough for a Maintenance Facility. It would be owned by MNDOT and MAC would have nothing to say about it. Staff Reports Also with the reconfiguration, the City will need to look at the impact of that intersection on the golf course. This would affect hole 16, a portion of hole 17 and possibly hole 15. Mike Lanigan is doing some preliminary work on this right now. The golf course could be gone after next season or it could be 20 years. If the decision can be delayed until next year, it may have a significant impact. The Golf Course had a phenomenal year in 1997, but this year they are significantly ahead of last year by about $75,000 to $85,000. Other The Commission should send a letter of thanks to Randy Hughes and his crew and the sanitary sewer crew for manning the lift station. They have done a wonderful job and deserve a thanks. The Commission is to be meeting with the City Council on July 6, and the topic to be discussed is the issue of the Community Center. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned by consensus.