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2009-02 CSCRICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, February 17, 2009 Richfield Community Center (7000 Nicollet Ave) PRESENT CSC Members Greg Mangold, Sarah Till, Gary Ness, Joe Springer, Mike Christian, Gerry Charnitz, Reed Bornholdt, Michele Thompson Staff Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans, Tom Foley, Mike Eastling, Chris Link, Ray Wroblewski, Mark Hall Planning Commission Rick Jabs Others Jack Broz (HR Green), Joel Odens (HR Green) ABSENT CSC Members Joe Hoover, Rodney Schmidt Council Liaison Fred Wroge Call to Order Ness called the meeting to order at 6:59 pm. Other Items Ness welcomed Bornholdt and Thompson. Topitzhofer noted that Vizecky has been appointed to the Planning Commission. Topitzhofer mentioned that the warm temperatures have taken a toll on the rinks and outdoor skating season may close soon. Approval of Minutes Mangold suggested that it be clarified that the majority of members selected Augsburg as the best potential site for a tier-one skate park. Christian moved, seconded by Mangold, to approve the minutes of the regular January meeting with the stated revision. Approved, ayes all. Discussion Items 2010-2014 Capital Improvement Plan Topitzhofer presented the plan, noting that the State’s budget deficit has affected Richfield worse than expected. He said that the public will be feeling the recession and be aware of the cuts in City staff and services and may perceive the capital improvement projects to be poorly-timed. He said that the Council had an interest in proceeding with the Lincoln Field project to ensure that girls and boys have equitable facilities, but would like to delay other projects in light of the budget situation. Charnitz clarified that the Outdoor Pool Renovation item is a loan repayment for a past project. Christian said that the skate park may be the kind of project that should be avoided in light of the budget situation, but most major park maintenance items would probably not be seen as egregious spending. Topitzhofer said that Hoover, absent from the meeting, had emailed to say that he favors keeping the Vets Park sign in the capital budget. Jabs asked if there is any way to delay projects or split spending or construction over two years. Topitzhofer said that he will proceed with preparing the plan. Richfield Arterial Street Study Foley said that the City’s arterial roads are beginning to get old (30 years or more) and the City wants to assess the arterial streets to gather recommendations for improving all modes of transportation; the study would emphasize Penn, Lyndale, Nicollet, and Portland Avenues. Broz (HR Green) said that they reviewed the City’s comprehensive plan to determine which roads may be lacking plans for some modes of transportation. He said that they found that Lyndale and Nicollet Avenues were found to be lacking a bike plan. Odens (HR Green) presented a streetscape plan with accommodations for sidewalks, green space, and bike lanes. Broz said that bus stop cutouts could also be incorporated near intersections. Christian said that this plan is similar to Portland Avenue in Minneapolis, although that doesn’t include bike lanes, and traffic flows well. Broz said that the traffic volumes are well below the levels that is dictated for State aid. Eastling said that Nicollet and 12th Avenues will not have freeway access after renovation, making those bridges good candidates for pedestrian traffic. Hall said that many four-lane arterials are essentially used like a street with two lanes and a middle turn lane. Broz said that a section along the side of Wood Lake on Lyndale Avenue may have to be somehow incorporated into the park, rather than detouring pedestrian pathway for that stretch. Topitzhofer said that it appears that the CSC is asking for a park right-of-way easement along Wood Lake. Broz said that, along that stretch, the road is reduced to three lanes by removing a bike lane, making the road fit within the right-of-way without taking park or private land. Bornholdt asked if a multi-purpose offroad path would include roller blade access; Broz said that it would be a concrete sidewalk with seams, which is not desirable to roller bladers. Christian asked about 66th Street; Foley said that a grant stipulation required streets to connect to Minneapolis, so 66th was not included, but some stretches at the east end of 66th Street could be good candidates for a three-lane arrangement. Action Items Diseased Tree Removal Policy Eastling introduced Forester Wroblewski, Streets Maintenance Supervisor Link, and Parks Maintenance Supervisor Hall. Eastling said that different Public Works workgroups assembled to talk about how to handle a 10% budget cut; most workgroups agreed that a change in the Forestry program would be in order. Eastling said that staff talked about doing tree removals in the winter when there’s more time and when tree contractors charge much less. He said that staff may elect to revise the City ordinance requiring marked trees to be removed in 20 days, which is a City ordinance, but not a State law, due to the summer work crunch, the cost savings of having the trees removed in the winter; lifting this time limit will be a workable option because Dutch Elm Disease may not be as imminent a threat. He said that an estimated 750 Dutch Elm boulevard trees still exist. Hall said that parks maintenance often has to help with stump grinding, etc, taking them away from other duties. Eastling said that Richfield is unique in that the boulevard tree program is in the general fund and the maintenance of that tree stock is straining the budget. Eastling said that staff was able to only contract out the removal of 20 trees last year, but changing the 20-day removal limit and contracting out the removal next year will enable the City to keep up completely with the diseased trees. Hall said that this would enable staff to maintain other tree stock that is currently being neglected. Ness asked if treatment would be worthwhile because the bug will not have a nearby tree to travel to; Wroblewski said that treatment is $500/three years. Ness said that he pays $300/three years and the City may get a better deal. Wroblewski said that treating trees will mean that the 20-day limit will have to stay because of more beetles growing. Eastling said that there may be treatment options, but this is in response to an order to make significant general fund cuts. He said that a boulevard tree program could be lifted from the general fund through a boulevard tree fee, but option would have to be considered by the Council. Eastling said that many of these boulevard elms are almost 60 years old; their life span is 70-80 years, so they may be in their final years anyway. Mangold said that he understands the problems with meeting the 20-day tree-removal time limit and approves of the Public Works Director presenting a revised ordinance to the Council for their consideration. Jabs said that it seems logical, to save money in the winter and keep up with removals. Mangold moved, seconded by Thompson, to authorize staff to remove the 20-day diseased-tree-removal limit. Thompson said that a City ordinance should not exist that creates requirements that the City itself cannot meet. Eastling said that staff can come up with some kind of alternative for setting removal limits for owners of private trees. Approved, ayes all. Appointments/Liaisons Christian nominated Ness as Chair. Christian moved, with a second, to elect Ness as Chair. Approved, ayes all. Charnitz moved, seconded by Mangold, to elect Charnitz as Vice Chair. Approved, ayes all. The group also approved the appointment of the following liaisons, ayes all: Planning Commission-Springer, Arts Commission-Hoover, Transportation Committee-Ness & Charnitz, Friends of Wood Lake-Bornholdt. Till reported that the Community Human Services Planning Council has voted to disband for an indefinite period of time. Committee Reports Transportation Commission: Charnitz provided the report. Lincoln Planning Team: Christian provided the report. City Hall Task Force: Jabs provided the report. Planning Commission: Springer provided the report. Adjournment Christian moved, seconded, to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 9:13 pm. Next Meeting Tuesday, March 3, 2009 Richfield Community Center February 17, 2009 DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC.