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2014-05 CSCREGULAR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, May 20, 2014 Richfield Community Center (7000 Nicollet Ave) PRESENT CSC: Carolyn Engeldinger, Crystal Brakke, Teresa Kruse, Arlan Nelson, Reed Bornholdt, Terry Heinze, Michele Thompson, Joannette Cintron de Nunez, Dan Edgerton STAFF: Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans, Jeff Pearson PLAN COM: Tom Rublein COUNCIL: Edwina Garcia OTHERS: Scott Androff (resident) ABSENT CSC: Tracy Hollenback, Dan Edgerton Call to Order/Approval of Minutes/Introductions Bornholdt called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm. Garcia noted that the Planning Commission report was credited to her, but she was absent. Bornholdt noted that no PC report was given. Thompson moved, seconded by Kruse, to approve the minutes with the noted revision. Approved, ayes all. Staff Reports Recreation Services Topitzhofer reported on the following: Friends of Wood Lake Dinner: The FOWL Dinner was well-attended and successful. Ice Arena Improvements: Topitzhofer said that Hat Trick Hockey will no longer be a rental tenant at the Arena; the space will be used by a trainer who works with the MN Magicians. Action Items Facility Dedication Request: Lower Donaldson Park Baseball Field Topitzhofer said that resident Scott Androff approached staff about dedicating the Lower Donaldson Park Baseball Field to George Karnas, a longtime resident who worked on behalf of youth sports for many years. Topitzhofer stated that the CSC had adopted a policy that does not allow for renaming of facilities, but dedication requests will be considered. Androff gave the group some background about Karnas and presented his plan for mounting a plaque near the field. Androff said that there is a tournament at the end of July at which the group would like to unveil the plaque. Bornholdt asked about the timeline. Topitzhofer said that the group could take action tonight, if they’re ready, and the item would be brought to the Council with time to prepare. Motion and second were made to recommend Council approval of the request to dedicate Lower Donaldson Baseball Field to George Karnas. Approved, ayes all. Veterans Park Play Equipment Replacement RFP Topitzhofer said that a question was posed on Richfield Connect, asking people for ideas regarding the replacement of the play equipment at Vets Park. He said that the project is part of the 2014 capital improvement budget. Topitzhofer said that a few respondents to the survey recommended outdoor adult fitness equipment at the park, which, he said has been a trend in other cities. He mentioned other features recommended from the survey: rope swing, rock climbing wall, equipment with appeal to a wide range of ages. He said that the budget had been increased to $150,000 and staff would be ready to issue a request for proposal. Bornholdt asked if the adult equipment would be high-maintenance and/or a large part of the budget. The group watched a video on a playground vendor’s website. Engeldinger asked if the adult equipment would take away from the youth equipment; she asked if the RFP could be written in such a way that it wouldn’t take anything away from what we have already. Topitzhofer said that we could limit the number of adult fitness features in the plan. Topitzhofer said that there would be ways to request some refurbished equipment that would stretch the budget farther. Topitzhofer said that he will allow vendors to submit two proposals each and a subcommittee of the CSC will score and select the proposals. Brakke said that she agrees with Engeldinger that the equipment for children is a greater priority than the adult-oriented equipment; she asked if the adult equipment could be moved down to the fourth priority (and the fourth moved to third). Topitzhofer said that the adult equipment could be moved down in priority, just below the request for swings. Rublein said that it’s easy to overlook adolescent users, especially when building park equipment, and this project may offer an opportunity to include something that would interest that age group. Topitzhofer said that he talked with vendors about rock walls and zip lines, which are appealing to older kids, and those features can be worked in as scoring criteria. Thompson asked about users with disabilities. Topitzhofer said that equipment would be ADA-compliant; a wood chip bed is wheelchair-accessible, but equipment that is completely usable for people using wheelchairs can be done, but is significantly more expensive. Brakke asked if the inclusiveness of the equipment could be another scoring criteria. Topitzhofer said that it can be. Heinze noted that the draft RFP doesn’t mention ages 13 to adult and asked if that age group could be mentioned in the RFP. Brakke said that there would be some overlap with the equipment defined as adult. Kruse and others suggested that it be stated as equipment usable to people 16 years old and up. Bornholdt asked if the RFP would be edited. Topitzhofer said that he would reprioritize the exercise equipment and restate it as aimed at users 16 and up. The other items would be determined in the scoring. Brakke moved, seconded by Thompson, to approve the finalizing and distribution of the RFP with noted revisions. Approved, ayes all. Thompson and Kruse volunteered to serve on the RFP scoring subcommittee. Discussion Items County Road Streetscapes Transportation Engineer Pearson talked about 66th Street and Portland Avenue road reconstruction projects coming up in 2015-2017. He said that the Transportation Commission has discussed the projects and ideas, and wants to develop design guidelines and opinions through extensive public engagement, including Richfield Connect surveys and public workshops. He introduced an engineer and landscape architect from Avenue Design Partners, who talked about some ideas and goals for the corridors. The landscape architect said that members of the community may consider ways of connecting parts of the City, interacting with parks along the roads, reflecting community character, offering sustainable solutions, promoting healthy, active lifestyles, and more. Brakke asked if the City’s ethnic and cultural diversity be reflected in this process. Pearson said that there have been efforts in the past to target specific segments of the community to engage and represent everyone; those efforts can be used for this process, as well. The landscape architect and Pearson said that, through processes like these, you can get different ages, cultures, and groups to interact and share ideas; they said that they’re seeking support from the CSC to proceed with this public-engagement process and bring it to the Council. Topitzhofer clarified that they’re looking for volunteers from the CSC to serve on this 12-person subcommittee who will interact with staff, the Council, and the community to gather and deliver ideas back to the CSC and Council for approval. Kruse moved, seconded by Nelson, to recommend Council approval of the public-engagement plan for the County Road Streetscape planning process. Approved, ayes all. Engeldinger, Cintron de Nunez, Kruse (alternate) volunteered to serve on the group. Committee Reports Band Shell Task Force: Bornholdt provided the report, saying that $100,000 has been committed. Topitzhofer said that the scope of the project may not exceed $500,000 with donations and capital improvement funds. He said that staff will issue an RFP for architectural services. FOWL: Brakke provided the report; mentioned the Urban Wildland Half Marathon & 5K. Planning Commission: Rublein provided the report. Arts Commission: Thompson provided the report. HAVM: Bornholdt mentioned the Memorial Day Event, 2:00 pm, Vets Park. Next Meeting/Adjournment Regular June Meeting Tuesday, June 17, 7:00 pm, Richfield Community Center (7000 Nicollet Ave). Nelson moved, seconded by Engeldinger, to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:48 pm. May 20, 2014 DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC.