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2009-05 CSCMay 19, 2009 RICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, May 19, 2009, Donaldson Park (7434 Humboldt Ave) PRESENT CSC Members Gerry Charnitz, Sarah Till, Greg Mangold, Gary Ness, Michele Thompson, Mike Christian, Arlan Nelson, Reed Bornholdt, Rodney Schmidt Staff Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans Planning Commission Rick Jabs Others ABSENT CSC Members Joe Springer Council Liaison Fred Wroge Call to Order Ness called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm. Approval of Minutes Bornholdt moved, seconded by Christian, to approve the minutes of the regular April meeting. Approved, ayes all. Action Items Lincoln Athletic Complex Play Equipment Topitzhofer explained the process of soliciting quotes for new play equipment at Lincoln, and one CSC member would be asked to serve on the selection committee. Till and Christian volunteered. Topitzhofer said that a neighborhood meeting will be held, RFP issued, and the selection committee will choose the winning proposal. Thompson moved, seconded by Charnitz, to appoint Till and Christian to the Lincoln Play Equipment Selection Committee. Approved, ayes all. Staff Reports Recreation Services Topitzhofer reported that staff is working on the operating budget. Discussion Items Request to Discontinue Mowing at Vets Park Topitzhofer said that an area behind 10 homes on the east side of the park is mowed by the City and one resident has requested that the area be a prairie or natural area. He said that the resident also said that some neighbors are mowing access paths to the walking path. Thompson asked if the back yards have fences; Topitzhofer said that some do, some do not. Nelson said that a petition was signed years ago for staff to start mowing the area. Charnitz and Jabs said that it would set a precedence to mow or plant on park property. Topitzhofer said that the neighbors maintain a trail through the area for an older lady who lives there. [The access paths being mowed are through the areas not mowed by the City.] Schmidt said that having the City mow is much more desirable to most people. Topitzhofer said that the neighborhood kids use it for a play area. Christian said that personal use or maintenance of park land should be prohibited; he recommended a neighborhood meeting regarding the mowing. Jabs said that Vets is a city park, not a neighborhood park, so it may be that policy regarding the park should not be determined by one neighborhood. Topitzhofer said that, within the neighborhood, there are those who think of it as a wildlife sanctuary and others who see it as a recreational park. Charnitz recommended that it would be worth hearing the prevailing opinion of the neighborhood because this patch of land is not crucial to the use of the park. Ness asked if there are precedents in other parks that border on residences. Jabs asked about City liability, if, for instance, a resident is hurt while mowing park land. Christian said that mowing should not be allowed, but a neighborhood meeting should be held. Charnitz said that it may run the risk of just one or two residents attending and dominating with their opinion. Topitzhofer said that a neighborhood meeting is also an opportunity to educate the neighborhood on what is allowed on park property. Heredia Park Planning Process Topitzhofer said that the word was spread in the neighborhood about losing the tennis courts. Staff and the Council received many letters opposing taking the tennis courts. 19 neighbors came to a neighborhood meeting about it. Topitzhofer said that the parking spaces that were going to occupy the land under the tennis courts are required by City ordinance, but a variance to the ordinance could be explored and the Council is discussing the issue. He asked the CSC to discuss the process for rebuilding the park. Christian said that his main issue with the plan was the fact that there are no park rebuilding funds included in the City Hall construction fund. Jabs said that some contingency funds of the City Hall project have been set aside for various uses, possibly including park work. Topitzhofer said that the basketball court and play features would be replaced with City Hall funds. He said that the annual $100,000 used each year for major park maintenance usually includes tennis court repaving, so the Heredia courts may have been included soon anyway. Charnitz said that it doesn’t seem that any definite funds are identified for the parks, so maybe the neighborhood could dictate what would go into the park and start fresh with all new plans. Jabs agreed that the park could be thought of as a blank slate to include new amenities, but there were numerous open houses and publicity postings inviting people to get involved with the project and not many attended. Topitzhofer said that the City Hall group was not there to focus on park planning, so the park planning process is beginning now; he asked about the value of conducting usage counts at the courts. Ness asked if the police might have usage estimates. Christian said that a dedicated funding DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC. May 19, 2009 source should be identified before committing to ideas. Topitzhofer said that the neighborhood will meet next month, staff will put together some amenity cost estimates, usage numbers will be collected, and the CSC can consider the results in July. Discussion Items (cont) Park Ordinances Topitzhofer said that time will be taken for the CSC and Council to review the attached revisions and provide feedback. Thompson and Till said that they are open to a stricter regulation of smoking in the parks. Schmidt said that he is opposed to banning smoking in the parks. Charnitz asked if there’s a process for granting peddlers licenses to sell in the parks. Topitzhofer said that it would be the peddler’s permit process, but it requires the Recreation Director’s permission if the sale is on park land. Charnitz suggested that the ordinance be more specific about the procedure, fees, time limits, etc. Nelson said that proposing an ordinance to ban feeding wild animals would outlaw a recreation activity and intrudes on people’s rights. Ness said that this just affects behavior on public park land, not on private property. Schmidt said that the animal ordinance would include Wood Lake. Topitzhofer said that the ordinance was proposed in reaction to the goose population at Richfield Lake. Christian said that goose feces has adversely affected bodies of water when the geese collect in unnatural numbers in one area. Christian asked about portable ice houses on Taft; Schmidt asked about small boats or swimming at Taft in the future. Topitzhofer said that he’d ask more about the requirements dictated by the DNR as they relate to the lake. Jabs clarified that the sound system ordinance specifically refers to interfering with programmed or scheduled activities. Topitzhofer said that the vegetation damage ordinance will relate directly to the issues at Vets Park. Schmidt said that a person couldn’t walk on grass; Topitzhofer said that the first sentence may be modified. Christian said that it should focus on damage of vegetation. Topitzhofer said that he will bring the revisions back. Richfield Parkway Concept Plan Topitzhofer said that a corridor along Richfield Parkway and 17th and Bloomington Avenues will be developed with landscaping and possible regional train connections. He said that one section of the corridor, where Richfield Parkway links with Bloomington Avenue, would affect an area of Taft Park at the south end. He said that much of the road around the frontage road may be vacated and converted to park land. Topitzhofer said that the parkway would be funded by a number of sources and could provide an opportunity for park improvements. He said that this plan is being presented to inform the group about the park impact, for further discussion later. Committee Reports Transportation Commission: Charnitz provided the report. FOWL: Bornholdt reported on the FOWL Dinner. Honoring All Veterans Memorial: Schmidt/Topitzhofer reported that the granite tablets will be installed & unveiled on Memorial Day, 1:30 pm. Lincoln Planning Team: Topitzhofer provided the report. Planning Commission: Jabs provided the report. Arts Commission: Thompson provided the report. Adjournment Thompson moved, seconded by Christian, to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 9:06 pm. Next Meeting Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 7:00 pm Richfield Community Center