Loading...
2013-05 CSCMay 21, 2013 REGULAR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, May 21, 2013 Richfield Community Center (7000 Nicollet Ave) PRESENT CSC: Gerry Charnitz, Greg Mangold, Michele Thompson, Arlan Nelson, Bob Shotwell, Andrew Seffrood, Reed Bornholdt, Terry Heinze, Dan Edgerton STAFF: Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans PLAN COM: Tom Rublein COUNCIL: Edwina Garcia OTHERS: Nick Mason, Bicycle Alliance of MN ABSENT CSC: LuAnn Werner, Tracy Hollenback 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 April meeting. Approved, ayes all. Other Items Resident Ken Severson approached the group proposing that boats be permitted on open water in Richfield for private parties and, possibly, boat rentals. Staff Reports Topitzhofer provided the Recreation Services reported on the Honoring All Veterans Memorial Day Ceremony, May 27, 2:00 pm. Discussion Items Bicycle-Friendly Assessment Nick Mason, Bicycle Alliance of MN, shared his group’s assessment of Richfield’s conduciveness to bicycling. He said that Richfield’s Bike Master Plan is one of the best he has seen. He said that the group did rides around town and found that Richfield has identified and marked several good connective corridors. He said that new connections are coming in a few areas with pending construction projects. He said that some areas, like Penn Avenue, has a great business corridor, but did not rate as highly for bicycling. He identified several factors that would make Richfield a more bike-friendly city. Charnitz suggested that adding bike racks to some of the parks might be an item to consider as part of the capital improvement plan. Topitzhofer said that, in addition to that, some private businesses might be interested in a matching grant from the City to private businesses to add bike racks. Action Items Organized Collection Bill Mangold updated the CSC on a new MN law that would require a 60-day negotiation period if garbage-hauling proposals are collected. He said that this law removes the objections to the previous language that would make it difficult for smaller haulers to compete. Mangold said that he asked the group to recommend approval of the issuance of a request for proposal to waste haulers. Rublein said that he understood that the League of Women Voters was going to study the issue further; Mangold said that he understood that they intend to study it for another year, so this might be moving faster than their recommendation. Seffrood asked how this issue fell under the purview of the Community Services Commission. Topitzhofer said that Recreation Services staff acts as the City’s recycling and waste-hauling coordinator, and the CSC oversees the activities of the Recreation Services Department. Seffrood said that a Council Member told him that the intention was to wait and see what other communities were going to do. Garcia said that the LoWV forum seemed to indicate that several cities were organizing. Mangold said that Maplewood is the first city to organize in 20 years. Bornholdt asked if the public might have more of an opportunity to express their solid-waste collection preference. Mangold said that the process of approving and issuing a request for proposal would include a public hearing. Garcia said that the public can always hold a study session to gather input before a request for proposal is even considered or issued. Rublein said that, since the League of Women Voters has initiated a process to gather input and study the issue, it may be prudent to ask the Council to conduct a work session in cooperation with the League of Women Voters on the topic. Garcia said that the CSC can hold a public hearing or forum to solicit feedback from the public; she said that there would need to be a presentation explaining what a waste-hauling consortium would entail. Topitzhofer said that, in addition to a study session, another logical next move would be to gather ideas directly from the haulers. Charnitz said that the goals of the City would need to be identified first, like cutting prices or reducing truck traffic. Topitzhofer asked if those goals should be developed and assembled prior to a study session; Charnitz said that staff should take the lead, with input from outside sources, to establish these goals. Bornholdt said that the process must include public input with no assumptions that the City’s recommendations or preferences are the prevailing opinions of the residents. Bornholdt asked if such an organization would require more City staff; Charnitz said that different cities’ systems require different levels of staff work; one of the goals identified might be to not require the hiring of any additional staff. Topitzhofer said that the model that has been favored in the past in study sessions has been one that would not require additional City staff. Mangold moved, to recommend approval of the preparation and submission of a request for proposal to the existing solid waste collectors for the purpose of meeting the City’s solid-waste collection goals. Edgerton seconded. Edgerton, Charnitz, Heinze, and Mangold voted yes, Bornholdt and Nelson voted no. Thompson and Seffrood abstained from voting. Shotwell was absent for the vote. Topitzhofer said that he would consult with the City Attorney to determine if the motion passed or not. Public Process for Band Shell Site Selection Topitzhofer said that the group is looking to finalize a site for a proposed band shell. He said that concerts are being held at various sites around the City to collect public opinions from concertgoers. He asked if any CSC members would be available on those concert nights to survey the attendees about the concert locations. Garcia asked what might happen if the Lyndale Gardens concert site may attract more attendees if they promote it more heavily; Charnitz said that it’s not the quantity, but the results of the surveys that will DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC. May 21, 2013 matter. Topitzhofer said that all of the different sites would be promoted on an equal playing field so as not to present any location as favored. He said that there would also be signage that would clearly talk about the opinions being collected. Charnitz said that he would view the survey as part of the selection process and, therefore, some rendering of the proposal would be relevant information. Edgerton said that the surveys may be more independent opinions about each site: what works about it, what doesn’t. Nelson said that the majority of attendees to the park concerts are seniors, so the concerns of that population would affect the survey results. Rublein said that the age of the audience depends on the performers. Topitzhofer asked how the CSC wants to present their recommendation to the Council. Edgerton said that a recommendation would require the CSC to take a stance; Charnitz said that the CSC would be making a recommendation for the Council to advise. Topitzhofer asked if the CSC would conduct a public hearing prior to a recommendation. Charnitz said that the concerts could be considered public meetings, but the group would probably choose to hold a public hearing prior to their recommendation. Shotwell asked if the Council would hold a public hearing, as well. Topitzhofer said that the CSC would hold the formal hearing; the Council would consider the subject at a public meeting, but not a hearing. Rublein said that a public hearing fulfills a legal requirement for some actions, like an ordinance change. Topitzhofer said that there would not be a legal requirement for the recommendation; it would just be a more formal, solid public-engagement process. Topitzhofer presented six proposed questions for a survey; Edgerton and Thompson wondered if the preference of the named sites should be asked. Edgerton wondered if that weakens the survey. Topitzhofer asked about aesthetic preferences; Garcia and Thompson said that you wouldn’t know that with just a basic portable stage. Topitzhofer said that he will edit the survey and present it at the June CSC meeting, which is prior to the first remote concept. Heinze asked if the survey could be handed out to be returned later. Topitzhofer said that the surveys could be announced before the last song, then handed out. Nelson said they could be handed out as people come in. Friends of Wood Lake Board Appointments Evans added current member Gordon Hanson for reappointment consideration. Nelson moved, seconded by Thompson, to appoint Micah Iverson to the Friends of Wood Lake. Approved, ayes all. Thompson moved, seconded by Bornholdt, to reappoint Gordon Hanson to the FOWL Board. Approved, ayes all. Committee Reports Arts Commission: Thompson provided the report. Next Meeting/Adjournment Regular June Meeting Tuesday, June 18, 7:00 pm, Richfield Community Center (7000 Nicollet Ave). Bornholdt moved, seconded by Nelson, to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 9:04 pm.