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2012-09 CSCPage 1 REGULAR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, September 18, 2012 Richfield Community Center (7000 Nicollet Ave) CSC: Gerry Charnitz, Greg Mangold, LuAnn Werner, Terry Heinze, Bob Shotwell, Reed Bornholdt, Michele Thompson, Dan Edgerton PRESENT STAFF: Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans, Chris Link, Kristin Asher PLANNING COMMISSION: Tom Rublein OTHERS: Dave Butler (Bandshell Committee), Pete Willenbring (WSB), Environmental Friends of Vets Park Members ABSENT CSC: Arlan Nelson COUNCIL: Fred Wroge Call to Order/Approval of Minutes Charnitz called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Thompson moved, seconded by Bornholdt, to approve the minutes of the regular July meeting. Approved, ayes all. Action Items TAFT/LEGION LAKE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT Engineering Supervisor Asher reported that the City, in cooperation with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and Metro Airports Commission, has prepared a plan to make improvements to the two areas to improve water quality and surrounding habitat. Charnitz suggested that the CSC look at the plans as they relate to the Parks Master Plan and the Comprehensive Plan to make sure nothing is conflicting. Topitzhofer said that this connects well with the plans to improve Taft Lake as a fishing destination. Two members of the Environmental Friends of Veterans Park group were in attendance and asked that the project consider any impact on the wildlife of the area. Asher said that the timeline would include Council consideration of an agreement with the other two entities to proceed with the plan, which would begin with the purchase of three affected homes on Bloomington Avenue, and would include opportunities for public input. Bornholdt moved, seconded by Shotwell, to approve the project’s public-input process and project timeline. BANDSHELL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION Butler reported that he and Topitzhofer met with a representative from Best Buy to ask about the possibility of their financial support for a bandshell. He said that the Best Buy rep was very interested in being a part of the project, but they would be interested in conducting a feasibility study and a survey to gauge the interest in such a facility in the community. He said that Best Buy would pay for the study, and the Bandshell Committee is asking the CSC to consider recommending Council approval of a feasibility study and capital improvement funds of $250,000 to contribute to the project. He said that the group has studied several possible locations for the facility and, even considering the airplane fly-over noise at the location, the group feels that Veterans Park is the best location for a bandshell. Werner asked about a plan to maintain such a facility; Topitzhofer said that he had prepared a maintenance budget, as well as personnel costs to open and run the facility during concerts, which would be made available to the Council for consideration. Charnitz asked if the group had considered funds to be dedicated as legacy funds to help finance ongoing costs. Butler said that such a contribution may be requested of a specific contributor as part of their capital fund drive. Rublein said that it would seem that the airplane noise is extreme at the Vets Park location, but the noise at the site is not as disruptive as people may assume. Mangold said that he has enough concerns about cost, location, and need to not approve the project. Thompson moved, seconded by Bornholdt, to approve the Bandshell Committee’s recommendations to Council. Charnitz suggested that the motion include the stipulation that the Council’s commitment of $250,000 be contingent upon Best Buy’s financial commitment. He said that the initial amount suggested by the subcommittee was $125,000. Topitzhofer and Bornholdt said that the $250,000 amount is now part of the five-year capital improvement plan. Charnitz suggested that the wording emphasize that this is the Bandshell Committee’s recommendation, not the CSC’s recommendation. Topitzhofer asked if the CSC could then make a direct recommendation, pending the noise and feasibility study results. Charnitz said that the CSC’s direct recommendation could be considered pending these results, but this motion would be to authorize the Bandshell Committee to forward their recommendations to Council. Motion approved, seven ayes, one no (Mangold). Discussion Items EMERALD ASH BORER TREATMENT UPDATE Operations Coordinator Link said that staff has been treating the Emerald Ash Borer boulevard trees with the trunk injection method. He said that they’ve considered different ideas for encouraging residents who own Ash trees to either treat trees or remove affected trees. Edgerton asked if staff had considered a grant fund that would offer financial resources to help offset costs for privately-owned trees. Link said that they’ve considered that. He said that they recommend the trunk injection method over the soil drenching method for environmental and safety reasons. NATURAL VEGETATION PLAN FOR PARKS Link said that Parks Maintenance would like to identify areas in parks that are either difficult to maintain or grass may not grow well and target these areas for natural vegetation that would be lower maintenance and more drought-resistant than grass, trees, or other vegetation. He said that staff would follow up with plans at each park with neighborhood input meetings and CSC consideration, similar to the process for replacing playground equipment. Charnitz asked if there similar plans would work on certain stretches of boulevard. Topitzhofer said that the Public Works Director has been considering options for maintaining those areas, including drought-resistant plants or incentives for residents to take care of the areas. Staff Reports Topitzhofer reported on the following:  Opening of the Augsburg Skate Park  Open Streets at PennFest  Construction at the Honoring All Veterans Memorial.  Installation of new Roosevelt Park play equipment; scheduling an open house. DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC. Page 2 Committee Reports The following committee reports were given: TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION (Shotwell) GREEN TEAM/WASTE HAULING GROUP (Werner) PLANNING COMMISSION (Rublein) ARTS COMMISSION (Thompson) FOWL BOARD (Werner) Next Meeting/Adjournment REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, October 16, 7:00 pm, Community Center. ADJOURNMENT Bornholdt, moved, seconded by Edgerton, to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:59 pm.