2012-05 CSCMay 15, 2012
REGULAR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Richfield Community Center (7000 Nicollet Ave)
PRESENT
CSC Members Gerry Charnitz, Michele Thompson, Terry Heinze, Reed Bornholdt, Arlan Nelson, Greg Mangold
Staff Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans
Others Dave Dahl and family
ABSENT
CSC Dan Edgerton, LuAnn Werner, Bob Shotwell
Planning Commission Tom Rublein
Council Liaison Fred Wroge
Call to Order/Approval of Minutes
Charnitz called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Bornholdt moved, seconded by Thompson, to approve the minutes of the
regular April meeting. Approved, ayes all.
Discussion Items
Flea Market Proposal for Veterans Park
Topitzhofer introduced Dave Dahl, a resident who had inquired about holding a regular flea market at the Vets Park shelter. He
said that he and Dahl met at Vets Park and concluded that it could be run and operated in a very similar way to the Farmers
Market (fees for stalls under the shelter). Topitzhofer said that staff would coordinate it and advertise it as a City offering, and
much of the policy used to manage farmers market vendors could be used for managing flea market vendors. Dahl said that flea
market visitors have devoted followers; Dahl said that the shelter would allow for the market to take place rain or shine. Nelson
asked what hours they have in mind. Dahl said that Fridays during the day. Nelson asked who would book the stalls. Dahl said
that they would assign the spaces for the vendors. Dahl said that they tend to collect rental fees up front and book the spots for
the season. Topitzhofer said that the shelter is not heavily rented on Friday afternoons, but the City would have some
agreement with each vendor directly so that the bookings could be controlled to avoid conflicts with the July 4 Celebration and
other related events. Thompson said that flea markets are very family-oriented and very popular, so it would be a great use for
the park and would get more people into the park on Fridays. Heinze asked if the City receives many rental inquiries for the
shelter as the season goes on. Topitzhofer said that we would end up turning some people away, but Friday afternoons aren’t
rented heavily. Topitzhofer asked if that would introduce a commercial use to the park that would create any kind of unwanted
precedence. Charnitz said that, having been to flea markets, he looks at it as more of a source of entertainment. Nelson agreed
that it’s a source of entertainment and sometimes, there’s live music at flea markets. Topitzhofer said that he would want to get
a feel for how it would be received. He said that the City would be doing it for the benefit of the community, not to provide a
business venue. Dahl asked what the likelihood may be of the flea market being approved. Charnitz said that consensus
seems to be that the CSC members are in favor of such a usage at the shelter. Topitzhofer said that staff could work with Dahl
and friends to work out the logistics of making it work, possibly towards the end of the summer.
Staff Reports
Recreation Services Topitzhofer reported on the following:
Open Streets Event-Blue Cross Blue Shield will provide grant. Community groups are getting involved (youth sports teams,
aerobics classes, etc.).
Roosevelt Park Play Equipment-Blue Cross Blue Shield has provided a grant for this project, which will free up some funds for
the Augsburg Skate Park project.
Honoring All Vets Memorial-Ceremony planned for Memorial Day.
Bandshell Group-Topitzhofer reported that MAC provided flight pattern info related to the Lake Harriet bandshell. They
determined that over twice as many planes fly over Vets as do Lake Harriet, and at a lower elevation.
Action Items
Reschedule June Meeting
Topitzhofer said that, because of scheduling conflicts, he’s inquiring about moving the June CSC meeting to June 5. Mangold
moved, seconded by Heinze, to move the meeting to June 5. Approved, ayes all.
Committee Reports
Green Team: Mangold provided the report. Planning Commission: Thompson provided the report.
Arts Commission: Thompson provided the report.
Next Meeting/Adjournment
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, June 5, 7:00 pm, Richfield Community Center (7000 Nicollet Ave)
Thompson moved, seconded by Nelson, to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:14 pm.
DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC.