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2007-07 CSCRICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, July 17, 2007 Richfield City Hall PRESENT CSC Members Gordon Vizecky, Rodney Schmidt, Gary Ness, Catherine Peloquin, Gerald Charnitz, Jim Lunderby, Joe Springer, Sarah Till, Michael Christian Staff Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans, Kristin Asher Planning Com Liaison Rick Jabs Others Pete Willenbring (WSB) ABSENT CSC Members Barb Kritzman Council Liaison Fred Wroge Call to Order Vizecky called the meeting to order at 7:06 pm. Approval of Minutes Schmidt moved, seconded by Springer, to approve the minutes of the regular June meeting. Approved, ayes all. Public Hearing Richfield Lake Storm Water Improvement Project Vizecky read the staff summary for the issue. Ness moved, seconded by Schmidt, moved to open the public comment period of the hearing. Approved, ayes all. Doris Rubenstein, Richfield resident, voiced concerns about the project, related to safety and aesthetics. She said that she and a friend pick up trash regularly, which will build up more if the holding ponds are deepened and expanded. She asked if Richfield Lake should be maintained as park land or if it should be a holding pond with no recreational amenities around it. Aaron Larson, resident, commented on the foul-smelling trash barrels positioned too close to the benches. He also mentioned graffiti and the possible need for greater security at night. Donna Larson, resident, expressed concern about the impact on wildlife at Richfield Lake. A resident asked what size the new trees would be. Willenbring, WSB, said they’d have trunks 4” in diameter. Jim Saathoff, resident, said that the area was a very dry marsh 33 years ago. He said that when the trails and plantings were brought in, it was fine, but it has overgrown greatly. He said that woodchucks and raccoons are found regularly because of the greater concentration of vegetation. He said that they used to see the sun in the morning, but it has gotten too thick, particularly the undergrowth. He said that it is not considered a natural area and should be thinned out and any new plantings should take maintenance into consideration. Ness moved, seconded by Schmidt, to close the public comment period. Ness said that the wider trail may make it easier for City maintenance staff to get in and empty garbage more regularly. Topitzhofer said that, due to the nature and layout of the park, there will always be trash and City staff will always need help keeping up with it. Charnitz said that staff was assembling a maintenance plan from the last meeting; he said that some kind of shrubbery may prevent garbage blowing in. Asher, City Engineering, said that Public Works Director Eastling has worked with Utilities to send sentenced-to-serve crews out there more often. Charnitz said that, in addition to more frequent trash can emptying, there have been concerns expressed about the control of the underbrush. Willenbring said that selective clearing of some of that brush, both inside and outside the trail, can be done, so it’s not all completely regulated. He said that the middle islands could not be dredged, but some selective clearing could be allowable there, too. Asher asked about bringing a written maintenance plan to the CSC. Willenbring and Asher suggested approving a maintenance plan separately as the timeline for the overall plan is narrowing. Vizecky suggested determining the level of maintenance at a later date. Topitzhofer suggested that the group consider the project specifics: bridge vs culvert, etc. Vizecky asked if any members had a strong preference for bridge vs culvert, fencing, trees near benches, project staging, Schmidt moved to recommend approval of proceeding with the southern portion of the Richfield Lake Improvement Project as the plan has been drawn by Public Works. Ness amended that some shrubbery should be considered as a viable alternative to fencing along part of the southern perimeter to prevent debris from blowing in. The amendment was approved unanimously by a show of hands. The initial motion was approved, ayes all. Staff Reports Recreation Services Topitzhofer reported on the following: Fourth of July: Successful and well-attended event. Urban Wildland Half Marathon & 5K: Race is filling up fast; volunteers are needed. Outdoor Pool: Having a great season. Ice Arena: A retired park and rec director has been hired as a consultant to help consider reorganization in Al Payne’s absence. Other Items Flooding Comment Asher shared a comment the Mayor received regarding flooding at 66th Street and Newton Avenue. She and Willenbring said that the area has been identified as a problem area and will be considered in the project prioritization process. Pedestrian Traffic Near Pool Asher confirmed that there was a pedestrian count done near the pool the previous weekend; the results will be brought to the Council on July 18. Discussion Items Renaming Donaldson Park Upper Field Topitzhofer said that he met with Rod Keith, the man who attended the June meeting regarding renaming Upper Donaldson Field to Gordy Larson Field. He said that Keith suggested embedding the plaque in a 40” limestone rock. Topitzhofer said that City Manager Devich suggested that the issue be brought to the City Council because they have received questions about it. Topitzhofer included a draft renaming policy that the City of Bloomington is currently editing. Christian said that it should probably be considered a naming policy since nothing will be technically renamed. Schmidt said that the motion in June, as it was years earlier, not to rename parks. Vizecky said that the group wishing to honor Larson had suggested, at the June meeting, that a plaque would be placed, but nothing would be technically renamed. Charnitz asked if any facilities are currently named after anybody. Topitzhofer said that none are named. Charnitz said that it’s a naming, not a renaming. Jabs said that it does open doors for future wishes to name facilities; he said that Keith did not make it sound like the field would be renamed, just that a plaque would be put up honoring Larson. Vizecky said that the population of Richfield is turning over; there may be more City founders moving on, creating a need for more memorials and dedications. Ness asked if there could be some kind of wall of honor in the new city hall that would honor people. Vizecky said that the park location was more relevant to Gordy Larson’s legacy than a city hall may be. Christian said that there should be a way to memorialize a person in a public space without renaming a facility. Jabs said that it’s in the wording; memorials can be posted without renaming a facility. Topitzhofer asked if a park facility would be renamed. Charnitz said that no downside is clear to renaming facilities. Jabs said that many names will be brought forward if the policy allows it; he suggested that there be some kind of criteria (years of service, residency, etc) for renaming. Christian said that a facility could be renamed without renaming a park and needing to update written material. Lunderby said that a similar honor was given to an individual at Dred Scot Field. Charnitz said that maybe a minimum number of signatures would be required. Vizecky asked if placing a marker will always be allowable, even without renaming. Schmidt asked about maintenance issues with the rock. Topitzhofer said that it’s clear that the group does not wish to allow the renaming of a park. Christian wondered if, from a City staff perspective, renaming a field would make much of a difference. Jabs suggested that just a plaque memorializing somebody would not prevent another plaque at the same location in the future. Peloquin asked about the possibility or necessity of naming a facility after a large donor. Topitzhofer said that, in national park and rec groups, a trend is to name things after donors because of shrinking funds, etc. Ness suggested that the policy should have some kind of “out” in the event that an individual is later discredited somehow. Vizecky suggested discussing the policy more at the next meeting. Charnitz suggested that staff draft a version of a policy for the group. Topitzhofer said that he’ll need help from a CSC member for that. Christian said that he’s willing to consider the possibility of naming or dedicating facilities. Schmidt said that the naming and the placing of a dedication may end up being two separate issues to address. Several members of the group suggested a dedication without an official facility naming. Committee Reports Transportation Commission Ness provided the report. Honoring All Veterans Memorial Schmidt provided the report. Planning Commission Springer provided the report. Celebrations Commission Topitzhofer provided the report. Next Meeting Schmidt moved, seconded by Ness, to cancel the August meeting. Approved, ayes all. Adjournment Peloquin moved, seconded by Ness, to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:51 pm. July 17, 2007 DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC.