2013-04 CSCRICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY COMMISSION
DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC.REGULAR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Richfield Community Center (7000 Nicollet Ave)
PRESENT
CSC: Gerry Charnitz, Greg Mangold, LuAnn Werner, Michele Thompson, Arlan Nelson, Bob Shotwell, Andrew Seffrood, Tracy Hollenback
STAFF: Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans, Brandon Klement </ </PLANNING COM: Tom Rublein
ABSENT
CSC: Reed Bornholdt, Dan Edgerton, Terry Heinze </wCOUNCIL: Edwina Garcia
Call to Order/Approval of Minutes
Charnitz called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Mangold moved, seconded by Shotwell, to approve the minutes of the regular March meeting. Approved, ayes all.
Staff Reports
Topitzhofer provided the Recreation Services report:
Concession Policy Report: Council will consider the new Healthy Concession Policy at an upcoming meeting.
Action Items
Capital Improvement Plan 2014-2018
Topitzhofer outlined the plan and the prioritization process made after the March meeting to put greater urgency to safety issues, etc. Thompson asked if the Wood Lake boardwalk repair
should be considered a higher-priority project; Topitzhofer suggested possibly moving that to the current year and delaying the relocation of the Community Gardens. Mangold agreed that
such a trade would make sense. Topitzhofer said that he may have to do further study before committing to the Taft Field improvements for 2014, as it’s unclear how crucial that improvement
would be. Mangold asked what the disadvantage would be to delaying a loan repayment; Charnitz said that it would just tie up those funds farther out in the future. Topitzhofer said
that any of these items are contingent upon approvals, etc. For example, if a project like the bandshell does not happen, those funds would be available for other things. Thompson
moved, seconded by Werner, to recommend Council approval of the 2014-2018 Capital Improvement Plan with the moving of the Wood Lake Boardwalk Repair item to 2013 and delay the Community
Garden Relocation item to 2014. Approved, ayes all.
Discussion Items
Ice Arena Improvements for NAHL Hockey Team
Topitzhofer told the group about the junior hockey team, the Minnesota Magicians, who are part of the NAHL and are interested in making the Richfield Ice Arena their home. He said that
the Arena would need to make major improvements, including new locker rooms and meeting rooms. He explained that the cost of the improvements would cost the City $50,000 in capital
improvement funds with the rest of the funds coming from lease revenue over 15 years. Charnitz asked about the stability of the team. Arena Manager Brandon Klement said that the league
has been around for 25 years. Topitzhofer said that beer sales would also be crucial revenue for the team, so some legislation is being assembled in the State Legislature that would
allow for us to rewrite the City Code and allow for beer sales. Seffrood asked why an NAHL team hasn’t taken hold in the Twin Cities before. Klement said that teams have to find the
right facility to allow for successful beer and vending sales, the home arena must be in a good location, and must have a good partnership with the arena to run profitable summer programs.
Topitzhofer and Klement said that other special-event ice leases are being lost and will continue to be lost without improvements; these types of events can bring in $30,000 a year.
With improvements, there would be increased ice sales and increased vending sales. Shotwell said that upcoming road improvements on Portland and 66th Street would provide for great
access to surrounding freeways. Werner said that there would always be the possibility of drinking and driving occurrences, but the venture would be great in many other ways. Rublein
asked if the Chamber and Tourism Board have been involved. Topitzhofer said that this presentation is just now going to the Council, but those groups would definitely be involved with
special hotel deals, etc. Topitzhofer said that he would go to the Council, making them aware that the CSC has seen the introductory presentation and there were no strong objections
to the initial idea.
Committee Reports
Transportation Commission: Shotwell provided the report.
FOWL: Werner provided the report; mentioned the upcoming FOWL Dinner.
Green Team/Waste Hauling Group: Mangold provided the report, saying that State legislation is being introduced to make it easier for cities to propose organized hauling plans. He said
that the League of Women Voters in Richfield had a well-attended forum.
Planning Commission: Rublein provided the report.
Arts Commission: Thompson provided the report.
Next Meeting/Adjournment
Regular May Meeting
Tuesday, May 21, 7:00 pm, Richfield Community Center (7000 Nicollet Ave).
Thompson moved, seconded, to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:36 pm.
April 16, 2013