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2006-02 CSCRICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, February 21, 2006 Richfield Community Center PRESENT CSC Members Gary Ness, Barb Kritzman, Gloma Hamernick, Anna Berend, Gordon Vizecky, Catherine Peloquin, Dean Johnson, Michael Christian, Rodney Schmidt Staff Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans ABSENT CSC Members Ron Schwartz Council Liaison Fred Wroge Planning Com Liaison Kyle Hartnett Call to Order Chair Vizecky called the meeting to order at 7:04 pm. Approval of Minutes Kritzman moved, seconded by Ness, to approve the minutes of the regular January meeting. Approved, ayes all. Staff Reports Recreation Services Topitzhofer (unless as noted) reported on the following: Online Registration: Evans demonstrated the new online registration system for Richfield recreation programs. Winter Family Fun Day: Attendance was down this year; staff is considering a different event for next year. Wood Lake Nature Center Entrance Improvements: A neighbor of Wood Lake pledged funds from his wife’s estate for Wood Lake. Nature Center Manager Karen Shragg discussed using it to renovate the entrance to the Nature Center. Recreational Plans for Fort Snelling Area: A meeting was held gathering interested parties to discuss usage of the area. So far, several different Native American nations, historical preservationists, the Cities of Minneapolis and Richfield all have interest in using the land. Two Wheels To Town: A group has come forward to advocate the development of bicycle-friendly trails and lanes throughout Richfield. Action Items Appointment of Chair and Vice Chair Ness moved, seconded by Kritzman, to re-appoint Vizecky as Chair and Christian as Vice Chair. Approved, ayes all. Capital Improvement Plan, 2006-2016 Topitzhofer explained the details of the plan. He showed the group letters from girls softball, who would like to speed up the plan to accumulate funds to renovate Lincoln Field. Christian asked how quickly it could be done if the bonding request is not approved. He explained that internal loan payments and other payments back to the golf course mitigation fund could be made available sooner than 2012, when the entire planned amount for Lincoln is scheduled to be saved. Christian said that softball would rather expect to move into the fields in 2008 or 2009. Vizecky asked what kind of commitment was made to girls softball. Topitzhofer said that, although the girls will have a place to play this year, girls softball requests renovation of Lincoln sooner than the capital improvement plan outlines. Vizecky said that the bonding request result may be unknown in March, so how can an alternate plan be outlined. Topitzhofer said that he could outline an alternate plan for sooner renovation of Lincoln. Vizecky asked about discussions regarding reserving some revenue in the near future to relocate Cedar Liquor. Topitzhofer said that he’d ask about any other plans for the recreation special revenue fund. Vizecky asked about the possibility of increasing the amount to the recreation fund, given the more positive budget forecasts, etc. Ness moved, seconded by Christian, to hold off on any action until further into the process and until the bonding request result is known. Approved, ayes all. Park Reports The sign-up sheet was passed around; reports will begin for the year in March (one per month). Discussion Items Parks Master Plan Topitzhofer told the group that Greg Ingraham, park planning consultant, has merged with the consultant that has been hired by the Community Development Department to assist with the development of the City’s comprehensive guide plan. So, Ingraham will be able to work on the parks master plan for Richfield. Topitzhofer said that the CSC could choose to send out requests for proposals from other consultants or work directly with Ingraham and his new firm, Hoisington-Koegler. Peloquin moved, seconded by Johnson, to work with Ingraham on the parks plan. Approved, ayes all. Joint Community Center Project Topitzhofer said that, as was discussed last month, the school approached us about jointly developing a community center with the City. Topitzhofer said that the Council is interested in conducting a community survey to gauge interest in a joint facility. Ness and Peloquin said that such a partnership could be advantageous to the school than the City, given their urgent need of pool repairs. Christian questioned the feasibility of building such a facility on the middle school site, which is their preference. Topitzhofer said that the idea of a shared construction cost and no operating subsidy has merit. Schmidt asked about the possibility of cooperating with a new city hall; Topitzhofer said that the city hall planning process has recently met with some opposing ideas. Committee Reports Transportation Committee Kritzman and Ness provided the report. City Hall TF Ness reported that the group had concluded that the existing site would work best. He said that the conclusion was presented to the Council, but one Council member suggested that the existing site may not be the only workable site. Ness said that a previous comprehensive plan outlined the concept of a civic campus in a prominent business area (Vets, Augsburg and 66th and Lyndale were suggested). Ness said that the group considered the positive location of the Portland fire station, the minimal impact on park land, the well-known current location, etc. Ness said that the group is currently at a dead end. Veterans Memorial TF Berend and Schmidt provided the report. The group will likely visit other memorials. Celebrations Commission Topitzhofer provided the report. FOWL Kritzman said that the FOWL Dinner will be held on Friday, April 21. Will Steger will be the guest speaker. Planning Commission No report was given. RCHSPC No report was given. Next Meeting Tuesday, March 21, 7:00 pm, Wood Lake Nature Center Adjournment Motion and second to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:21 pm. February 21, 2006 DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC.