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1998-07 CSCRICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY COMMISSION Tuesday, July 6, 1998 Present: A. Auchstetter, R. Dietl, R. Jabs, C. Krohn, C. Sharkey, D. Schaefer, M. Scaglia; Staff: T. Foley, G. Watson, F. White Absent: T. Erlander (ex), B. McGlinn, Tom Loweth, S. Rosenberg, School Liaison J. Sloss, Planning Commission Liaisons K. Meter and T. Ahlstrom The meeting was called to order by Maureen Scaglia at 7:45 p.m. in the Heredia Conference Room at City Hall. Motion by Auchstetter to approve the minutes of June 9 as written. Second by Sharkey. Motion Carried. Action Items Consideration of relocating a stop sign at 64th and Pleasant. The sign would control traffic North and South instead of East and West. Motion by Auchstetter and second by Sharkey. Motion carried. This recommendation will now be forwarded to the City Council for the July 27 meeting. (Two residents were present for this action item). Concerns have been made regarding a $15 charge to attend playgrounds. Recommendations were made to the City Council for two continuous years to have no charge for this program. The Council felt if there wasn’t a fee, kids would sign up to attend trips only and not participate in the program. To create positive activities for kids, for families and for single parents, we need to find a way for them to attend. More than 1/4 of Richfield families are having a difficult time financially. This limits them in their activities. Leisure assistance may be used for this program, however, White feels people are embarrassed to ask for aid. Auchstetter has suggested a $2 or $3 sign-up fee. This shows there is a commitment on the part of parents. This is what the Council wants. We also need to look into funding. Auchstetter made motion for a $3 sign-up fee. Second by Schaefer. Motion carried. Discussion Items Holy Angels: On June 24 a meeting was held to review preliminary plans. It was determined that we need the City Attorney to draw up a maintenance liability agreement for the facility. Watson is hoping that this can become the model for one between the City and the School System. The one we have now is about 25 years old, and it needs to be updated. Hopefully, within the next week, we should receive a draft from the City Attorney. Fairwood/Monroe Parks: Thoughts regarding ice skating at Fairwood/Monroe: - the cost would be minimal for an ice skating area - Auchstetter stated neighbors believe if there is an expensive building, the skating is going with it - Sharkey questioned if there is a hockey rink, is the building always kept open for a warming house? The building is kept open during evenings and during scheduled times - hockey rinks can also be used for other types of skating - the buildings do not need to be open and staff doesn’t always have to be on duty - Jabs stated neighbors are trying to justify the need for a building, and Watson said no justification is needed - a new building should be ready by 1999. Public Works is going to put in a lift station in the southern most catch basin at Fairwood/Monroe. With this pump, the water can be removed within a reasonable amount of time. The lift station will be put in this fall. The next meeting will be held on July 16. The lift station is to be a small portion of this meeting. Staff is hoping to take care of the playground issues. The location has been determined. The focus is on what decisions need to be made. The original plan for west 67th street had a trail connecting Fairwood and Monroe Parks on the south side. The landowners were concerned about their trees being killed. Foley came up with a solution. Take out a section of roadway on the east side of the Fairwood park which will make cutting through much more difficult and will keep people from making that quick ESS. Coming off of 66th street, you would wind up at a T, which is much safer in a residential area. Drivers will slow down, because they need to make a 90 degree turn to be on 67th. Knox Avenue will not be used once drivers find out it isn’t a through street. The City can do this on a trial basis. It will also increase our green space for the park. Sheridan Park: The surfacing has been completed on the basketball court. The planting was damaged by the hail storm. Replanting will take place in the fall. There was a proposal of $8,000 to put lights in by NSP. Watson thinks the issue is security lights not just park lights. Randy Hughes has a single light pole that could be used for security lighting around the building. Watson will check further into this. Veterans Memorial Park: A flyer has been sent to Residents regarding the new Maintenance Facility Building and its location. Ryan construction is still interested in the project for re-vegetating. They are willing to make a commitment up to $5,000 either in materials and/or labor and/or design. Ft. Snelling: A Major in charge of the Engineering for the Army National Guard is going to be more involved with Met Council. MAC is using the relocation of the Army National Guard as a level for the 422 extension. Major Brad Windward has not heard anything about this. He will not promote the idea of remote parking. MAC has been telling us that the GSA property which Minneapolis is looking at along with VA property may have to serve as remote parking. Scaglia attended a hearing and the plan is to make that whole area (keeping the historic buildings) another wild life center. Scaglia also mentioned this area is needed for recreation, such as the golf course. The City is trying to find partners in this to make it happen. Park Buildings: The City should be concerned about taking back the parks. There are some very nice buildings that should be used for meetings. Every time one of the buildings is used, it’s another use of the park. By doing this, it will minimize the negative things that go on in the parks, especially in the evenings. Money needs to be spent on tables and chairs for the parks, so we don’t have to continue transporting them around. The Commission should look at using some of these buildings for their meetings. Carnival: A memo from White was distributed, which states a positive statement about our connection with the Carnival. It explains how we also reap the benefits of having them here. Krohn stated that parents are upset over loss of parking spaces for ice skating lessons. Couldn’t skating lessons for that week be canceled and scheduled a week later? This would be a common sense issue. White will make the suggestion to Al Payne who is in charge of the ice arena. Committee Reports Planning Commission: Auchstetter reported two conditional use permits for HRA for houses at 7645 Nicollet and 6600 Oakland. There are 500 Commercial areas that don’t need the comprehensive plan. These are due to be reviewed within the next two months. Richfield Lake Project: For the next meeting we need to have someone from the Planning Department or Community Development come to talk about the Richfield Lake Project. FOWL: The FOWL Bowl Golf Classic is scheduled for September 19 at Rich Acres Golf Course on the Par 3. A team should be determined by August. Master Park Plan: A packet will be put together stating where the Commission wants to continue to go with this. Relocation of Maintenance Building: Jabs stated that a group from 11th or 12th Avenue was planning on going to the media trying to kill the plan for a hockey rink. Jabs sent information on who the members are on the task force, and that they are volunteers. Addresses and how long they have been residents was also provided to show that each neighborhood has a representative that lives and works with them. The site will be shown exactly as it was drawn up. Staff Reports Foley has asked that the Sub-Committee formed on transportation also be involved in the Nicollet Avenue study. This is from 66th Street to 494. A public information meeting will be held in September or October. The meeting will be set up by Foley. Sharkey has made a comment that the 11th and 12th Avenue group is getting way to much publicity. Auchstetter is also in agreement. This is a citizen task force not connected with the city. Other The next Commission meeting is August 11. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned by consensus.