2010-04 CSCApril 20, 2010
RICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, April 20, 2010, Community Center (7000 Nicollet Ave)
PRESENT
CSC Members Bob Shotwell, Dan Edgerton, Michele Thompson, Greg Mangold, Sarah Till, Gerry Charnitz, Reed
Bornholdt, Joe Springer, Arlan Nelson, Rodney Schmidt
Planning Commission Rick Jabs
Staff Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans, Chris Link
Others Robin Weisman (MN Dept of Health), Derek Larsen (Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation), Robin Wagner
(SHIP)
ABSENT
CSC Members Greg Mangold
Council Liaison Fred Wroge
Call to Order
Charnitz called the meeting to order at 7:04 pm.
Approval of Minutes
Evans added a missing action to an item in the minutes and changed the date listed on the minutes. Nelson moved, seconded by Springer, to
approve the minutes of the regular March meeting, as revised. Approved, ayes all.
Action Items
Parks Ordinance Revision
Topitzhofer reviewed the suggested revisions to the parks-related sections of the City Code. Schmidt suggested an exception be written to the
section about bodies of water to allow non-motorized boats or ice houses. Nelson recommended against allowing ice houses; the aerator
would make the ice very thin near it. Streets Maintenance Supervisor Link said that the aerator may be turned off in the winter. Schmidt said
that day houses would only be allowed; no overnight houses. Topitzhofer said that he’d investigate the aerator and how it would affect the ice.
Topitzhofer asked about the sound system ordinance. Nelson said that a noise ordinance already addresses it. Schmidt said that you’d have
to issue an exception or permit for certain performances. Jabs said that the existing noise ordinance should address it. Topitzhofer asked
about the item prohibiting damage of vegetation. Schmidt asked about unwanted plants; Charnitz and Jabs said that the City would have to
authorize personnel to remove any vegetation. Schmidt said that the “authorized personnel only” language would have to be added to the item
about feeding wildlife, too, because of Wood Lake Nature Center. Topitzhofer introduced representatives from the MN Dept of Health and
Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation to talk about passing a tobacco-free ordinance. Larsen talked about several cities that have passed, or are
considering, an ordinance. Wagner talked about SHIP grants available to help a city with training, signage, and other resources necessary to
implement a tobacco ordinance. Topitzhofer said that Recreation Services staff could give out smoking tickets. Thompson asked how that
could be authorized; Nelson asked if a non-police officer can issue certain citations. Topitzhofer said that there are two ways to collect fees:
the misdemeanor ticket system, where the ticket goes to Hennepin County courts; the other is the administrative fee methods, where you have
your own collection system and arrange your own hearing system. Part of the ticket revenue would pay for this system. He said that the
Council would have to decide which system to use. He said that staff would require some training for staff who will be authorized to issue
tickets. Link said that the Streets Maintenance crews can issue tickets during snow emergency. Topitzhofer said that it would have to be
determined how to enforce the ordinance during the 4th of July, when thousands of people may be in the park and not know about the
ordinance. Schmidt said that no exceptions should be shown for a particular event. Jabs said that thorough signage may be an earnest
attempt to get the word out. Charnitz said that you may not have people throughout the park, writing tickets. Shotwell said that he disagrees
with laws that prohibit and regulate smoking so strictly. He said that people are exposed to smoke and toxins every day and smokers are being
penalized. Schmidt disagreed with posting any signs in Spanish because there are many languages, but our main language is English.
Topitzhofer and Charnitz said that the ordinance doesn’t necessarily mandate bilingual signs, but maybe other materials would be bilingual.
Jabs said that pictures on the signs should be pretty universal. Nelson said that, by this language, a person could smoke in their car in a park
parking lot, which makes it a meaningless law. Charnitz asked if Topitzhofer seeks a motion. Topitzhofer said that he does seek a motion; he
will add the language about “authorized personnel only” to the animal-feeding language and the language about exempting non-motorized
boats and possibly ice houses. Schimdt asked if the fines would apply to all of the items; Topitzhofer said that it would. He said that he’ll
check on the aerator at Taft and bring it back to the group for action.
Discussion Items
Emerald Ash Borer Plan
Link reviewed the plan to educate the public about Public Works’ plan to treat and save as many trees as possible. He suggested the different
media outlets that the group would use to get the word out and asked for suggestions. He said that there is no outbreak in the City as of now,
but the plan may change if there’s an outbreak. He also commented on about 17 oak trees having to be removed in Augsburg Park due to a
borer bug. He said that they will inject every oak tree in Augsburg in an effort to save them.
Staff Reports
Parks Capital Improvement Plan
Topitzhofer told the group that he brought the capital improvement plan, as revised by the CSC in March, to the Council and they concurred
with the plan (keep the skate park in the plan, move the bandshell item to 2013 and pay down the Lincoln loan this year with those funds). He
said that determining a site for the skate park will be the next objective.
Lincoln Athletic Complex Update
Topitzhofer told the group that the Lincoln Field Complex renovation is nearly complete, with some irrigation work being finished up this spring.
DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC.
April 20, 2010
Other
Charnitz asked the group about the possibility of an adjunct market to the main farmers market; one that would involve small, locally-owned
restaurants and vendors who would serve small portions of some of their foods or flowers (sometimes called a chef’s market). He said that it
would be a one-time event and he asked if the CSC members thought that would be an idea worth pursuing. Topitzhofer asked if that might be
a good event to combine with Cattail Days. Edgerton said that he’d be interested in helping. Charnitz said that he may begin by talking with
local businesses to gauge their interests.
Committee Reports
Transportation Commission: Shotwell provided the report.
Bike Planning Group: Shotwell and Edgerton provided the report.
Veterans Park Planning Group: Charnitz provided the report.
FOWL: Bornholdt provided the report.
Honoring All Veterans Memorial: Bornholdt provided the report.
Planning Commission: Springer and Jabs provided the report.
Arts Commission: Thompson provided the report.
Adjournment
Springer moved, seconded by Shotwell, to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:52 pm.
Next Meeting
Tuesday, May 18, 2010, 7:00 pm
Community Center, 7000 Nicollet Ave