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2012-12 CSCDecember 18, 2012 Page 1 REGULAR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, December 18, 2012 Richfield Community Center (7000 Nicollet Ave) CSC: Gerry Charnitz, Greg Mangold, Terry Heinze, Bob Shotwell, Reed Bornholdt, Dan Edgerton, Arlan Nelson PRESENT STAFF: Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans OTHERS: Dave Butler (Bandshell Committee) ABSENT CSC: Michele Thompson, LuAnn Werner COUNCIL: Fred Wroge PLANNING COMMISSION: Tom Rublein Call to Order/Approval of Minutes Charnitz called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm. Nelson moved, seconded by Edgerton, to approve the minutes of the regular November 20 meeting and the special November 29 meeting. Approved, ayes all. Staff Reports Topitzhofer reported on the upcoming New Year’s Eve events at the Ice Arena and Wood Lake Nature Center. Discussion Items Band Shell Neighborhood Meeting Recap Charnitz asked for assessments of the meeting. Mangold said that the opinions were passionately expressed and the meeting was managed well to allow people to express support and concern about the proposed project. Nelson, Charnitz, and Topitzhofer felt that the people attending were probably split about 50/50. Bornholdt said that the Band Shell Committee will need to be clear that the project funding is liquor store revenue, and that the potential noise at the site is being studied. Butler said that the opinions expressed were all valid and many concerns could be addressed, like parking capacity. Edgerton said that, going forward, the Band Shell Committee can formulate their recommendation to the Council, having gathered public opinion. Charnitz wondered if the project should not advance until the noise and feasibility study, funded by Best Buy, has been conducted. Topitzhofer said that the study would cost the City $10,000 and the Council can consider entering into such a contract in January. Charnitz also suggested that the Band Shell Committee document some kind of commitment or letter of intent from a few of the key user groups in the community, like the schools, musicians, church groups, etc. Topitzhofer said that, at a charrette held nearly two years ago, several schools and community groups expressed great interest in using such a facility. Bornholdt said that there will likely be enough interest to turn musicians away; the Homestead Pickin’ Parlor has said that many bluegrass groups would play there. Butler said that many bands play for no pay in the Twin Cities. Shotwell said that the parking concerns against Vets may be unfounded; hockey events don’t tend to occur on summer evenings. Butler said that the 4th of July would see the highest traffic level. Topitzhofer said that most evening concerts may likely attract 100 people, with the possibility of holding 300. Heinze said that the written commitments from potential users is a good piece to bring forward to the Council. Mangold said that he still maintains an inability to support it. Shotwell said that he supports the idea and Vets Park as a location for it. Topitzhofer outlined the resolution to be brought to the Council. He said that it would ask for an expression of support for the project, a commitment of $250,000 in capital improvement funds, and no commitment to a location at this time. Butler said that he feels that the recommendation should include Vets Park as the location, but the Council could disagree or the location could even be revisited if airplane traffic does prove to be prohibitive. Butler said that the resolution should ask the Council to approve of the efforts to seek funding for it. Charnitz asked if the CSC should offer a formal vote of recommendation of the resolution. Topitzhofer said that the CSC should vote to approve of these items being included in a resolution; he said that the group should decide if the location should be defined in the resolution. Shotwell and Nelson said that it should define Vets as the recommended location. Charnitz said that it should not include Vets as the recommended location. Edgerton and Heinze considered wording like “preferred” or “preliminary” location. Charnitz asked for noise study results, commitment from Best Buy for funding, commitment from potential community users of the band shell before moving forward with a confident recommendation. Edgerton said that these things should be addressed, unless the resolution is in the wrong context at this time. He said that, perhaps, a Council memo or report would be more appropriate at this time. Topitzhofer asked if the pre-application for a grant from Best Buy requires a resolution. Butler said that he assumes it is required and it’s due by the end of January. Butler said that he was under the impression that the Council had already approved of moving the project forward, without any of the concerns expressed tonight. Topitzhofer said that much of this concern, expressed by the CSC tonight, is in response to the public meeting and the report that Lyndale Gardens is proceeding with band shell plans. Topitzhofer said that we may have updated plans from Lyndale Gardens and the results of the noise study by the January meeting and vote on a resolution at that time. Butler asked if Lyndale Gardens will share more information. Charnitz said that it is important to get more information so the City knows how committed they are to a band shell. Topitzhofer showed a site plan for Lyndale Gardens; Charnitz asked if the City could partner with them. Nelson and Butler expressed doubt that there would be adequate shared parking. Butler said that the City may not have as much control over usage of the band shell and the music played there. Shotwell said that the Cornerstone Group should be told in January what the City has in mind for the Vets location. Topitzhofer said that they are aware of that. Mangold said that the Council may be very reluctant to commit $250k with so many unanswered questions. Charnitz said his preference is to wait until the January meeting when the Cornerstone Group can detail their plans, the Best Buy report results will be done, the user support commitments will be in writing, then the CSC can express support of a Council resolution. Bornholdt asked if that would allow for enough time to submit the pre-application to Best Buy. Edgerton agreed that the suggestion to wait until January makes sense. Shotwell said that, looking at the Lyndale Gardens plan, it would make for a great location for a band shell with food venues and businesses. Bornholdt said that, if we are confident that we can meet the deadline to submit the pre- application to Best Buy by the end of January, then waiting until the January meeting would be good. Butler suggested that he, Topitzhofer, and Charnitz meet with Cornerstone before the January CSC meeting. DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC. December 18, 2012 Page 2 Action Items FOWL Board Appointments Bornholdt moved, seconded by Edgerton, to appoint Herbert W. Perry and Darlene B. Hines-Perry to three-year terms on the Friends of Wood Lake Board. Approved, ayes all. Committee Reports Transportation Commission: Edgerton provided the report. Green Team/Waste Hauling Group: Mangold provided the report. Next Meeting/Adjournment Regular January Meeting Tuesday, January 15, 7:00 pm, Richfield Community Center (7000 Nicollet Ave). Nelson moved, seconded by Bornholdt, to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:36 pm.