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2003-05 CSCMay 20, 2003 RICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, May 20, 2003 Wood Lake Nature Center Present: Commissioners Chad Sharkey, Bob Dietl, Barb Kritzman, Linda Slocum, Gordon Vizecky, Rodney Schmidt Staff Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans, Ray Wroblewski, Jim Olson, George Atkinson, Frank White, MaryKaye Champa Council Liaison John Enger Planning Commission Liaison Mark Tolvstad Absent: Commissioners Rick Jabs, Gary Ness, Gloma Hamernick Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Acting CSC Chair Dietl at 7:04 p.m. Approval of Minutes Kritzman moved, seconded by Sharkey, to approve the minutes of the April 15 regular meeting. Approved, ayes all. Other Topitzhofer requested that the Public Works items be moved up in the agenda. Approved by consensus. Program Spotlight Summer Youth Programs Recreation Programs & Athletics Manager White and Recreation Supervisor Champa presented a report on summer recreation programs, services, events and drop-in locations being offered for youth. Staff Reports Public Works: Forestry Report Wroblewski provided the Forestry report. Action Items 76th Street Micro-Planing and Striping of Bicycle Lane Engineering Supervisor Atkinson summarized. Microplaning is milling down edges that have risen due to movement of road segments. Outer road lanes will be designated as bike lanes with striping (three entities, including Three Rivers Park District, identify the road as a potential bike corridor). Kritzman asked what other corridors it ties into. Recreation Services Director Topitzhofer said that it would be part of a connection between Minnetonka (along the Nine Mile Creek) and the Fort Snelling/Minnesota River area. Atkinson said that public opinion has been varied and the Transportation Committee hasn’t recommended a plan. Atkinson asked for ideas regarding the citizen involvement process. He said that one option mentioned was reconstruction. Sharkey recommended the minimum cost and construction activity at this time. Slocum recommended meetings at places like Erik’s Bike Shop, Penn Cycle and other places where cyclists might be found. Schmidt recommended sending notice of a meeting two blocks away from 76th St. Enger said that 350’ is common for notice (1/2 block). Vizecky suggested that it be discussed in the context of the larger bicycle trail project so it isn’t perceived as a five-block trail to nowhere. Topitzhofer said that the striping, if it is well-received, could be continued all the way to 18th Ave. Enger suggested painting a bicycle icon on the lane itself. Schmidt asked if Sunday parking would be discontinued. Atkinson confirmed. Enger said that many residents in the third ward are very supportive of bike lanes on 76th St. Vizecky moved, seconded by Kritzman, to approve the public information & citizen involvement process. Approved, ayes all. Topitzhofer said that interested residents could be invited to the June or July CSC meeting. Discussion Items Right-of-Way Ordinance In response to Sharkey’s request for a definition of right-of-way, Engineering Technician Olson pointed out a legal definition of right-of-way in the ordinance (a reference to the State’s RoW definition). In response to Vizecky’s question regarding exemptions for residents, Olson pointed out to a reference to certain exemptions for homeowner usage (plantings, etc). Enger asked about storage of a garbage receptacle in a street for a steeply-sloped yard. Olson said that, with some exceptions, storage would not be allowed for a homeowner. Vizecky asked about insurance requirements for a homeowner in such a situation (same liability as a business?). Olson asked if the CSC thought that the ordinance should be more lenient towards homeowners. Vizecky said that the exception would almost always refer to dumpsters. Topitzhofer said that construction dumpsters usually are placed close to the house anyway. Vizecky suggested specific terms be added in DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED AT JUNE MTNG May 20, 2003 reference to dumpsters used by homeowners and stored in the street (permit process). Slocum moved, seconded by Sharkey, to recommend approval of the Right-of-Way ordinance with the addition of language specifically addressing the storage of dumpsters used by homeowners in the RoW. Approved, ayes all. Action Items (continued) Recycling Ordinance Change: Single-Sort Recycling Topitzhofer explained that the proposed ordinance change would allow garbage haulers to collect recycling that is not sorted by material type and collected in large tubs on wheels. It would also permit haulers to make pickups every other week instead of every week. This method typically results in a greater volume of recycled materials, less landfill trash, less traffic, and less wear on the streets. Presently, no trash haulers officially practice this and the ordinance doesn’t permit it. Waste Management has requested that it be permitted. Slocum moved, seconded by Vizecky, to recommend approval of the ordinance change. Topitzhofer said that the ordinance change would require a public hearing. Sharkey wanted to see the present language of the ordinance. Approved, five ayes, one nay. Enger requested copy in the next CSC materials indicating the change being made to the ordinance. Staff Reports (continued) Recreation Services Topitzhofer reported on the following: COMMUNITY CENTER REMODELING Bid opening was May 14. Award of contract will be considered by Council on May 27. Topitzhofer said that some alternates could still be subtracted from the contract, if the contract amount is determined to be too high. He said that the low bid is being protested by another bidder because of the time the low bid was received (stamped 2:00 and 2:01 pm when the bid opening was scheduled for 2:00 pm). He said that the City Attorney advised that the bid be accepted. OUTDOOR POOL RENOVATION Substantial completion date is Friday, May 23. Pool will be filled next week. Work is on schedule. Slocum recommended a grand opening celebration. Sharkey suggested tie-in to the Council’s City Beautiful events. Enger and Slocum suggested a free night, with special invitation to previous season passholders. TRI-CITY/YMCA SKATE PARK Ground has been broken. Gravel will be hauled in tomorrow. Completion expected in August. Committee Reports Transportation Committee Kritzman said that she was appointed to the committee. 66th and Portland is an immediate priority. Vizecky moved, seconded by Slocum, to appoint Ness as the alternate. Approved, ayes all. Ballfield Improvement Task Force No report was given. FOWL Dietl said that the FOWL Dinner, held on Friday, May 2, was a big success. He mentioned the Urban Wildland Half Marathon. Planning Commission PC meeting cancelled. No PC report given. Tolvstad mentioned the July 14 bike tour. RCHSPC Slocum provided the report. Next Meeting Tuesday, June 17, Wood Lake Nature Center Adjournment Slocum moved, seconded by Kritzman, to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 9:11 p.m.