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2017-09 CSCRICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY COMMISSION DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC.REGULAR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, September 19, 2017 Richfield Municipal Center (6700 Portland Ave) PRESENT CSC: Reed Bornholdt, Art Felgate, Michele Thompson, Dan Smieja, Carolyn Engeldinger, STAFF: Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans, Kris Weiby ABSENT CSC: Joannette Cintrón de Núñez, Danielle Indovino Cawley, Anne Basso, Lisa Rudolph < </PLAN COM: Rick Jabs </SCHOOL BOARD: Crystal Brakke COUNCIL: Edwina Garcia Call to Order Chair Bornholdt called the meeting to order at 7:04 pm. Approval of Minutes Thompson moved, seconded by Smieja, to approve the minutes of the regular June meeting minutes. Approved, ayes all.< Smieja moved, seconded by Thompson, to approve tonight’s agenda. Approved, ayes all. Staff Reports Recreation Services Topitzhofer reported on the following: Open Streets at Penn Fest: <Great weather, great participation. Successful event. Up to 10,000 people.< Urban Wildland Half Marathon & 5K: <Record revenue, 1,200 runners. Band Shell Groundbreaking Ceremony: <Contract approved and signed for construction. Ceremony on September 30, 10:00 am. Action Items Mini-Golf Facility Proposal Facility Supervisor Kris Weiby said that the City has had a partnership with Wheel Fun Rental since 2007 to operate the mini-golf course; they also opened a malt shop. He said that some of the holes of the course are in disrepair and there has been some shifting of soil. He said that Wheel Fun Rental would like to invest as much as $300,000 into the complex, which would include moving the course and expanding the malt shop into the Art Center half of the park building. Topitzhofer said that the course was built in 1990 and has lasted a long time, but is past its useful life. He said that they would like to shift the course to the east and slightly south, as well as change the entrance of the building to the southeast wall that faces the playground. He said that they would remove the wall that currently divides the interior in half, so customers looking into the building would see a wide open facility. Thompson asked if that would eliminate the Art Center completely. Topitzhofer said that staff approached the Arts Commission about moving Art Center activities to the Community Center for this remodeling. The Arts Commission agreed that the Community Center would be a better programming space. Weiby said that they would also expand onto the west side to build a patio for grilling and outdoor dining. Engeldinger asked about the pumpkin patch event. Weiby said that it would still be held out front by the shelter. Smieja asked about the tree sales. Weiby said that the new configuration could use the new interior space rather than park a trailer next to the building, which would clean up the area during tree sales. Felgate asked about the possibility of a dog park in this area. Weiby said that it would not be an appropriate place for it because of parking, proximity to the playground, and existing heavy usage. Engeldinger asked about winter programming out of that building; Topitzhofer said that it may be used as a kind of warming house and could be incorporated into some planned activities, including visits from Santa, a lantern-lit trail walk, and more. Engeldinger asked about renting out the space for events. Weiby said that the footprint <may be too small for most rental activities; Topitzhofer said that other types of winter usage will be considered for this building and other park buildings. Bornholdt asked about the current revenue from Wheel Fun; Weiby said that the current agreement nets up to $12,000, based on sales, but that will be renegotiated with a remodeling to increase that amount. Weiby said that this is more than the City was making while running the mini-golf course. Topitzhofer said that the action to be considered by the CSC is to recommend Council approval of the project, which will probably take the form of a lease with Wheel Fun Rentals. Felgate asked why a fence is required; Topitzhofer said to deter vandalism; Weiby said that they store their surreys inside the fence. Weiby said that, based on the work Wheel Fun has done in the past, the result of the reconfiguration is expected to be very nice. Topitzhofer said that the project will probably pass through the City’s Architectural Review Committee, which includes Inspections, Fire Services, Planning, etc. Thompson moved to recommend approval of the Wheel Fun facility upgrades, without including the dog park plan, seconded by Felgate. Approved, ayes all. Discussion Items Parks Master Plan Update Topitzhofer introduced the group to all of the draft ideas and recommendations at this stage of the Master Parks Plan revision process. He said that a staff workshop was held, the notes from which were shared with the CSC. He outlined the individual park recommendations in tonight’s packet. He suggested that the group review all of the recommendations for each park before the next meeting. He reviewed specific comments received at the Comp Plan open house event, including dog park ideas. He said that Donaldson Park was a location that received the most votes, so that would be considered along with Taft Park, which is the staff recommendation. Smieja said that the southeast part of Donaldson Park is used by Middle School students. Toptizhofer outlined a northwest corner of the City’s park boundary as a good possible location for a dog park. Bornholdt mentioned that there were two votes for more soccer fields at Donaldson Park. Topitzhofer said that they may be competing uses for consideration; he said that the consultant will outline feasible sizes for a dog park and other facilities and will help staff determine what facilities might work together. Topitzhofer reviewed some of the other recommendations for different parks and asked the group to review these ideas. Organic Waste Collection Topitzhofer reviewed the presentation made to the Council last week, outlining the five options for organic waste hauling: 1) require all haulers to offer optional organic collection, 2) offer haulers some incentive to offer organics collection, 3) establish an organics drop-off site, 4) organize hauling and require organic collection, or 5) do nothing. He said that the grant received by communities from Hennepin County for waste-hauling programs will start to decrease over time for communities that don’t implement an organic waste hauling option; Richfield’s grant is about $90,000, 90% of which is given back to residents as a utility bill credit. He said that the County would eventually reduce this grant by 50% over the next four years. <Felgate doubted that the drop-off site would be used very much, especially in the winter. Felgate asked if organic waste could just be filtered out of the garbage now; Topitzhofer wasn’t sure if that’s a feasible option to do that sorting at the plants. Felgate said that businesses are trying to get people to do the sorting for them, but technology likely already exists for haulers to do the sorting at their end. Smieja said that school kids are trained to do the sorting in the schools. Topitzhofer said that many other Hennepin County cities have implemented organics hauling; Felgate said that the County’s garbage sorting should have the capability. Topitzhofer said that the Council did not want to do nothing; they asked that staff look into drop-off sites, but are leaning towards requiring haulers to offer optional organics recycling, with a possible incentive for haulers (options 1 or 2). Topitzhofer said that a drop-off site may be a worthwhile pilot program; if it isn’t used much after a year, it could be discontinued. Bornholdt asked how much garbage is put in landfills if much of it is burned; Topitzhofer said that much of it is still dumped in landfills, especially larger items. Committee Reports Transportation Commission: Felgate provided the report.Friends of Wood Lake: Engeldinger provided the report. Friendship City Commission: Topitzhofer reported that the Sofia statue was unveiled in Heredia Park in June. Next Meeting/Adjournment Regular October Meeting </wTuesday, October 17, 7:00 pm, Richfield Municipal Center (6700 Portland Ave) Other Thompson reported on the Richfield Foundation Wine Tasting, November 12, by Houlihan’s. Bornholdt reported that the Pancake Breakfast for Honoring All Veterans Memorial will be held on November 15. Adjournment </w:Thompson moved, seconded by Smieja, to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm. September 19, 2017