Loading...
2015-02 CSCREGULAR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, February 17, 2015 Richfield Municipal Center (6700 Portland Ave) PRESENT CSC: Reed Bornholdt, Joannette Cintron de Nunez, Dan Edgerton, Carolyn Engeldinger, Arthur Felgate, Ken Severson, Michele Thompson, Crystal Brakke STAFF: Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans ABSENT CSC: Tracy Hollenback, Teresa Kruse COUNCIL: Edwina Garcia PLAN COM: Tom Rublein Call to Order/Approval of Minutes & Agenda Bornholdt called the meeting to order at 7:25 pm. Edgerton moved, seconded by Thompson, to approve the minutes of the regular January meeting (1/20/15). Approved, ayes all. Thompson moved, seconded by Brakke, to approve this evening’s agenda. Approved, ayes all. New Members The group welcomed Art Felgate and Ken Severson. Staff Reports Recreation Services Topitzhofer reported on the following: Ice Fishing Event at Taft Park: Good weather, good turnout. 200+ people. Home and Garden Expo: Saturday, February 21, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Richfield High School. Action Items Election of Chair & Vice Chair Bornholdt invited nominations for Chair and Vice Chair. Edgerton nominated Bornholdt, seconded by Engeldinger. Bornholdt elected, ayes all. Edgerton nominated Thompson, seconded by Severson. Thompson elected Vice Chair, ayes all. Liaison Appointments Volunteers: Arts Commission (Thompson), Transportation Commission (Felgate), Friends of Wood Lake (Severson), Planning Commission (Engeldinger). New Meeting Location Bornholdt informed the group that the Municipal Center will be the new meeting location for the Community Services Commission. 66th Street Intersections Bill Klingbeil, Kimley-Horn, outlined the plans for the reconstruction of 66th Street, spotlighting the roundabouts. He said that notes from the last meeting included questions about pedestrians at roundabouts. He said that the use of the new rapid-flashing light signage, triggered by pedestrians, have been very effective. Severson said that these are in use on American Boulevard west of Lyndale Avenue. Bornholdt asked about how long they flash for users of walkers or slower pedestrians. Severson said that, with some roundabouts, the center islands necessitate only crossing half of the street at a time. Klingbeil said that the time they flash can be adjusted to flash for longer in areas where there might be an older population. Klingbeil showed a video in which cars and pedestrians interact in a roundabout. Felgate asked for some numbers that compare roundabouts to traditional intersections. Klingbeil said that fatal crashes are reduced by 98%, serious crashes by 75%, and a significant reduction in all crashes. He said that roundabouts reduce delay at all times, not just rush hours. Brakke asked about the process of educating the public about roundabouts. Klingbeil said that Washington County started an initiative called Roundabout University and setup at events and outside of stores, explaining how to drive through roundabouts, so communities definitely try to spread the word. Severson suggested approaching some of the senior housing facilities and doing some of those public education efforts. Thompson moved, seconded by Cintron de Nunez, to recommend Council approval of the roundabouts plan, with the stipulation that there by a public-education process along with the project. Approved, ayes all. Garfield Park Play Equipment Replacement RFP Topitzhofer said that the equipment preferences of the Garfield Park neighborhood, determined at the neighborhood meeting prior to the CSC meeting, will be incorporated into a request for proposals and sent out to the main playground vendors that serve the area (he mentioned a correction where the wrong park was mentioned). He said that those proposals will be scored by a selection committee that consists of Recreation staff, Public Works staff, and volunteers of the CSC. He said that the winning proposal will then be brought to the CSC to consider recommending approval to the Council on April 27. He said that, other than the equipment preferences, he could see the merit of some shrubbery for the one woman in particular whose yard lines up directly with the equipment. Volunteers for the scoring committee from the CSC: Brakke and Edgerton. Severson said that, although the neighborhood was averse to having tables, he thought that it would be a welcomed amenity for parents and grandparents visiting the play equipment with their kids. Engeldinger asked about the neighbor’s preference for no trees; if a larger tree was planted, it wouldn’t get trampled. Topitzhofer said that the west side of that park would be a good place for some shade trees that might have sight lines underneath the canopy. Discussion Items Capital Improvement Budget Topitzhofer presented the latest draft, with a couple of small changes from last year. He said that the mandatory conversion to a different kind of Freon at the Arena will take up most of the capital budget for 2017-2020. Brakke asked if there is any chance that more money could be allocated from the liquor store proceeds to parks and recreation. Topitzhofer said that, in recent years, they have saved liquor proceeds to make improvements to some of the liquor stores. Edgerton said that this might be a good time to approach Council about allocating more funds for parks and recreation, since the mandatory Arena improvements will take most of the budget in 2017-2020. Edgerton said that, when you look at the list of projects that are being planned, all of the items are about improving existing facilities, but none of them address the City’s master plan. He said that the CSC’s mission is to advocate for the items in that master plan. Severson asked why the rink conversion item has a check under outside funding. Topitzhofer said that there is legislation through Mighty Ducks funding through the State to alleviate the cost, but it’s a very small drop in the bucket. Topitzhofer said that the group could consider the possibility of a bond referendum for larger improvements and new construction. Severson said that he wouldn’t anticipate great support for such a referendum. Edgerton asked if maybe the referendum could be proposed for just the Arena conversion costs. Felgate asked if the Arena has that much importance in the community since it occupies 90% of the capital budget. Brakke said that it’s probably non-negotiable, and may just be a matter of how it’s funded. Topitzhofer said that a bond referendum would usually be preceded by a community survey. Severson mentioned that the Arena conversion plan is just a three-year item. Brakke asked if the group could revisit the master park plan at an upcoming meeting. Topitzhofer said that it was updated in 2008 and will be due for revision in 2016. Edgerton moved, seconded by Thompson, to recommend Council approval of the capital improvement plan, with the additional recommendation that the amount of liquor store proceeds allocated to parks and recreation improvements by increased, since 1) the current funds only address repairs and improvements to existing facilities, money is only currently covering existing items, 2) no master park plan items are being addressed in the current plan through 2020, and 3) the amount allocated to parks and recreation items has been flat, or even decreased, for many years. Approved, ayes all. Edgerton moved, seconded by Thompson, to request that alternative sources of funding to the capital improvement budget be identified for the cost of converting the Freon system on rink #2, which will require funding just a few years after the three-year funding of the conversion of rink #1 is complete in 2020. Approved, ayes all. Committee Reports Transportation Commission: Severson provided the report. Band Shell Taskforce: Bornholdt and Topitzhofer provided the report. Friends of Wood Lake: Brakke provided the report. Planning Commission: Engeldinger provided the report. Arts Commission: Thompson provided the report. Next Meeting/Other/Adjournment Regular March Meeting Tuesday, March 17, 7:00 pm, Richfield Municipal Center (6700 Portland Ave). Commission Member Orientation Tuesday, February 18, Municipal Center Adjournment Brakke moved, seconded by Edgerton, to adjourn. Meeting adjourned by consensus at 9:19 pm. February 17, 2015 DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC.