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2006-03 CSCRICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, March 21, 2006 Wood Lake Nature Center PRESENT CSC Members Gary Ness, Gloma Hamernick, Gordon Vizecky, Catherine Peloquin, Michael Christian, Rodney Schmidt, Dean Johnson, Ron Schwartz Council Liaison Fred Wroge Staff Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans ABSENT CSC Members Barb Kritzman, Anna Berend Planning Com Liaison Kyle Hartnett Call to Order Chair Vizecky called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm. Approval of Minutes Schwartz moved, seconded by Christian, to approve the minutes of the regular February meeting. Approved, ayes all. Staff Reports Recreation Services Topitzhofer (unless as noted) reported on the following: Mexican Consulate Meeting: Meeting being held tomorrow to discuss making connections with Mexican-Americans in Richfield. Tri-City Skate Park: Attendance was good in ’05; slowly rising since opening. Talked about the Y’s operating budget. Schwartz asked if attendance could be tracked by location; Topitzhofer said that he thinks it could. Action Items Capital Improvement Plan Topitzhofer presented two plans: one if the bonding request is granted, one if not. He said that there hasn’t been any word on the request yet. He explained that the internal loan payments could be suspended for two years, putting that into Lincoln Field instead. He said that many smaller projects would be delayed with this approach, but Lincoln could be completed sooner than previously projected. Ness asked if the park condemnation money from MAC is shown here. Topitzhofer said that the money borrowed here is from the golf course condemnation fund ($2 million, the interest from which subsidizes the Arena). Vizecky said that, although a seven-year plan is approved every year, it changes from year to year. Topitzhofer agreed, saying that the plan could be different next year. However, he said, this plan would commit us to the internal loan. Christian said that, although delaying the payback of the internal loan isn’t ideal, this plan for Lincoln is in line with the expectations of Girls Softball and the Ballfield Task Force. Topitzhofer said that he thinks that the internal loan method is the only way to get these projects done on this time frame. Vizecky asked how many girls participate in softball and wondered about the $1m estimate. Topitzhofer said that the $1m is probably a conservative estimate to rehab Lincoln with new fields, parking lot, etc. Schwartz asked if it’s necessary to borrow from itself so often. Ness asked if Lincoln could be mixed-use. Topitzhofer said that the plan is to schedule boys t-ball and softball at Lincoln. Vizecky asked about adding money to the 2006 budget for planning for Lincoln to determine a more accurate project cost. Topitzhofer said that some funds have been saved already; project cost is to include planning and architectural fees. Topitzhofer said that Lincoln might not end up being the best location; Schwartz wondered if money could be spent in 2006 to evaluate the best location. Vizecky asked if the group should commit to borrowing this money since the details of the girls softball plan are not solidified; he asked if money could be spent this year for more solid planning and design to better inform future years and the project scope and time frame. Christian said that, although all sites should be considered, the Ballfield Task Force spent considerable time determining that Lincoln would be the best site. He agreed that professional services may be utilized for more concrete planning at Lincoln, but girls softball has expectations to have fields by 2008. Schmidt asked if the bonding money would commit us to the Lincoln site. Topitzhofer said no, the request is for planning services, which could result in site changes. Schmidt said that he agreed that professional planning and design should be funded this year. Ness moved to approve proceeding with Option One, but to revisit and consider Option Two in the event that the bonding request is rejected. Schwartz asked if a message could be delivered to Girls Softball about the project moving forward with site planning and services this year. Topitzhofer said that Girls Softball knows about the bonding request, but nothing will be certain until the bonding request results come; he doubted that planning services would be a good idea until the timeline is known. Christian said that the Ballfield Task Force did conclude that Lincoln would be the best site for softball facilities, so that decision has been recommended to the CSC. Vizecky said that the Ballfield TF’s recommendation should be reflected in the CSC’s decision. Hamernick seconded the motion. Approved, ayes all. Vizecky said that the group will talk about specific recommendations to the Council regarding the Lincoln project at the April meeting. Action Items (cont) Portland Ave/66th Street Intersection Topitzhofer said that some land at Vets Park will be affected by this project. He said that covenants exist on this land because of LAWCON grant money received in 1990. He said that the mitigation for this loss has to be in the form of land; one needed improvement would be a crosswalk with island. He said that another park improvement would be a wider raised sidewalk along the Arena parking lot on 66th Street. Schmidt asked about a pedestrian bridge; Ness said that MnDOT said that it wouldn’t work. Schwartz said that the loss of businesses and homes would affect tax revenue. Topitzhofer said that receiving remnant land as mitigation has become more common and it might not be avoidable in a first-ring city. Peloquin said that the long-term park plan will be an important way to control this kind of change with a park dedication ordinance. Vizecky said that the loss here is conversion of easement and does not affect the character or usage of the park. Ness said that land remnants may be beneficial as a bargaining chip in the future. Peloquin moved to express agreement with the impacts identified on Veterans Memorial Park by the proposed improvements to the Portland Ave/66th Street intersection and the proposed mitigation. Topitzhofer pointed out that he will be checking on the liability concerns related to the routing of an entrance to Morris Nilsen mortuary through park land. Vizecky said that receiving land used as a driveway does not appear to be a fair exchange. Ness seconded the motion. Approved, ayes all. Park Reports Donaldson Park Ness provided the park report for Donaldson Park. Committee Reports Transportation Committee Ness provided the report. City Hall TF Ness reported that the group had concluded that the existing site would work best; the group met again and decided to reaffirm this recommendation, despite some Council members expressing a need to evaluate other sites. FOWL Ness said that the FOWL Dinner will be held on Friday, April 21. Will Steger will be the guest speaker. Veterans Memorial TF Topitzhofer provided the report. Planning Commission Peloquin provided the report. RCHSPC Hamernick provided the report. She said that the group will not be meeting monthly. Next Meeting Tuesday, April 18, 7:00 pm, Richfield Community Center Adjournment Ness moved, seconded by Schmidt, to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:39 pm. March 21, 2006 DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC.