2013-03 CSCRichfield Community Services Commission Regular Meeting
Tuesday, March 19, 2013, 7:00 pm
Richfield Community Center
PRESENT CSC: Reed Bornholdt, Gerry Charnitz, Dan Edgerton, Terry Heinze, Tracy Hollenback, Greg Mangold, Arlan Nelson, Andrew Seffrood, Bob Shotwell, Michele Thompson Staff: Jim Topitzhofer,
John Evans Council: Edwina Garcia ABSENT CSC: Werner Planning Commission: Rublein
Approval of Minutes Mangold suggested adding Maureen Scaglia's first name when she is introduced in the minutes. With those changes, Mangold moved, seconded by Nelson, to approve the
minutes of the regular February meeting. Approved, ayes all.
Introduction of new member New member Tracy Hollenback introduced herself to the group.
Agenda Topitzhofer requested that the Band Shell Committee report be moved to the Action Items section.
Staff Reports Recreation Services
Topitzhofer talked about the article in the Richfield Sun about the Wiggles and Giggles preschool program.
Action Items Band Shell Committee
Committee Chair Dave Butler reported that the group will proceed with the goal to raise roughly $200,000. He reported that the Star Tribune printed an article about the effort in the
paper. Butler said that he met with Colleen Carey of Cornerstone Group about their plans to build some kind of stage as part of their concept for the Lyndale Gardens project. He said
that he told Carey that it may complicate his fundraising efforts if people are giving money to a private company, so the City would have to own that portion of the facility. He said
that he asked about giving the City some rights to parking and control over scheduling, as well as some guarantee that the City can still be involved if the development is sold or changed.
Charnitz said that he read that the Met Council has given Cornerstone $1.5 million towards that development and he wondered how much of that would be dedicated to the performing facility;
he wondered what dollar figure Cornerstone was intending to devote to the stage before the City's contribution. Butler said that he didn't know. Charnitz said that we would want to
know how much they would intend to devote. Shotwell asked what kind of rights or ownership or title would the City have of the land underneath such a facility. Garcia said that Cornerstone's
original intent was just a concrete slab rather than a larger bandshell. Garcia said that soliciting donations when there are already public contributions from the Met Council may not
make for a very clean donation fundraising structure. Topitzhofer said that, with the facility being primarily privately-owned, we may not be allowed to raise donation funds. Butler
said that, regarding Richfield being able to support two performance areas (a City band shell and a stage at Cornerstone), he asked Minneapolis and Edina and they reported that they
receive far more applications from performers than they have available spots. Topitzhofer asked the group for their feedback regarding owning the land under the Cornerstone facility
in order to accept donations for such a facility. Charnitz said that it seems that the City could make their capital improvement money go further if Cornerstone is already dedicating
funds to the facility. He said that, with all other issues set aside, wouldn't our financial contribution to the project go even further when it's paired with what Cornerstone is already
funding. Topitzhofer noted that we wouldn't need to fund certain landscaping, walkways, foundations, and other basic construction if we built the band shell on the Lyndale Gardens site.
Hollenback asked if the group has concept plans for the project. Topitzhofer summarized some of the features the group desires: 40' wide stage with clear glass wall in the back, storage
area for sound equipment, chairs, etc. Nelson asked if Cornerstone would control the booking of acts; Charnitz said that it may be an advantage that could save City staff some work.
Topitzhofer said that Cornerstone did not say that they had to control booking; he said that they would want rights to book events of their own. Topitzhofer said that we would want
to determine whether or not Cornerstone would even allow the City to own the land under the band shell. He asked the group if the City would need to own the land. Charnitz said that,
regarding control over the facility, it all depends on how the contract with Cornerstone is written. Edgerton said that, ideally, the City would own the land, and would want the rights,
contractually, to schedule it, maintain it, etc, and the control would be contractual. Nelson said that it may complicate their property taxes if the City owns part of the property.
Shotwell said that we may need to know more details about the Met Council grant. Edgerton said they received $100,000 for design from the Livable Communities grant. Topitzhofer said
that they also received a construction grant, possibly for $1 million. Butler said that the Band Shell Committee has always preferred the Veterans Park location.
Concession Policy
Topitzhofer presented a draft policy that was put together to promote healthy eating habits in Richfield. He said that it grew out of involvement in the do.town initiative and the Statewide
Health Improvement Program (SHIP). He said that the City will start with changes to the Outdoor Pool and Arena concession stands, offering 30% healthy foods and giving them prominent
placement on the menu, with the expectation to offer 40% healthy foods by the end of the summer. He said that the City could then move on to the youth athletic concession stands, which
are run by volunteers with the youth athletic organizations. He introduced Joan Bulfer, City of Bloomington, who said that, with the right promotions, people have purchased healthy
options and it hasn't hurt their profits. Bulfer said that these grants have already helped fund consultants to help make changes to the school menu. Thompson moved, seconded by Edgerton,
to recommend Council adoption of the draft healthy concession policy for City-owned concession facilities. Approved, ayes all.
Capital Improvement Plan
Heinze asked why the band shell wasn't rated as being a higher-usage facility. Topitzhofer said that, as far as we now know, it's not a program that serves as many people as other facilities
currently do. Mangold asked for more explanation regarding safety priority ratings. Topitzhofer said that items like the Wood Lake boardwalk are currently in some degree of disrepair
already. Topitzhofer said that even the current-year capital improvement budget items could be delayed if there are more urgent projects to be done this year, like the Vets Park play
equipment. Thompson, Mangold, and others suggested that we address some of the safety-related projects sooner, like the Wood Lake Boardwalk repair and the Taft Field lighting improvements.
Edgerton and Heinze said that the cost of some of the items may continue to be deprioritized because of project cost, like the Taft Field lights.
Committee Reports Transportation Commission: Edgerton provided the report. FOWL Board: Topitzhofer provided the report.
Waste Hauling Group: Topitzhofer/Mangold provided the report. Planning Commission: Edgerton provided the report.
Arts Commission: Thompson provided the report.
Next Meeting/Adjournment Tuesday, April 16, 7:00 pm, Community Center
Edgerton moved, seconded by Thompson, to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:33 pm.