2017-10 CSCRICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY COMMISSION
DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC.REGULAR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Richfield Municipal Center (6700 Portland Ave)
PRESENT
CSC: Reed Bornholdt, Art Felgate, Michele Thompson, Dan Smieja, Carolyn Engeldinger, , Anne Basso, Lisa Rudolph
STAFF: Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans, Karen Shragg, Chris Link SCHOOL BOARD: Crystal Brakke
ABSENT
CSC: Danielle Indovino Cawley, Joannette Cintrón de Núñez PLAN COM: Rick Jabs </COUNCIL: Edwina Garcia
Call to Order
Chair Bornholdt called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Approval of Minutes
Minutes: Motion and second to approve the minutes of the September regular meeting, pending correction: dates for the Pancake Breakfast and the Wine Tasting Event are listed as scheduled
for November; should have been listed as October. Approved, ayes all.
Agenda: Engeldinger moved, seconded by Basso, to approve this evening’s agenda. Approved, ayes all.
Staff Reports
Recreation Services: <Topitzhofer reported on the following:
Band Shell Project: Ground has been broken and the project is underway.< Bricks are being sold and a corporate donor has been approached.< <Stavros Dedication at Monroe Park: <Design
was shown for benches being installed at Monroe Park. The dedication was approved by the Commission and the Council earlier in the year. <Half-Haunted Halloween: <Coming up this weekend
(October 21). Wood Lake’s biggest event of the year.
Action Items
Richfield Community Gardens: <Topitzhofer said that the Community Gardens, located at 59th Street and 28th Avenue, have seen incidences of vandalism and theft. He introduced Nature
Center Manager Shragg, who manages the Community Gardens. Shragg said that the City of Minneapolis told Richfield staff that there will be major construction to the residential streets
immediately south of the gardens next year, which would block or limit access to the gardens. She recommended a moratorium on the community gardens next summer. She also mentioned
that, with incidences of theft and vandalism, Wood Lake Nature Center receives many of the calls. She said that, since the site is quite a distance from Wood Lake Nature Center, it
makes it very difficult to have a presence at the site and prevent such occurrences. She said that there is a wood structure that encloses the fire hydrant and water meter and it was
hit by a vehicle and destroyed. She said that the issues have become frequent and consistent, which has become time-consuming for Wood Lake staff. She said that Richfield residents
represent almost half of the users of the community gardens. She said that other problems include animal traps (which are against the rules) and built structures (which are also against
the rules). She said that staff has provided instruction to gardeners in Spanish and English to communicate clearly with everybody. She said that theft of produce has been a major
problem, as well, and the City cannot install permanent structures on the site, so it would be difficult to install any kind of cameras or surveillance. She said that she would consider
putting a group together to discuss other options for sites in Richfield. Topitzhofer said that there are a handful of vacant lots and available land in Richfield for community gardens.
Topitzhofer said that the site is very remote and poorly lit. Shragg said that, several years ago, gardeners were limited to two plots per household because there was commercial farming
happening on multiple plots per gardener. She said that her recommendation is to take a year off and revisit the options for a community garden at a later date. Smieja asked if the
gardeners are aware of the street work that is scheduled. Shragg said that they don’t know yet; staff just found that out a few weeks ago. Felgate asked what the economics are on the
community gardens. Shragg said that it breaks even, after water, garbage, and portable toilet expenses. Thompson moved, seconded by Basso, to impose a one-year moratorium on the community
gardens for the 2018 season. Approved, ayes all.
Discussion Items
Minimal Mowing Areas: <Public Works Superintendent Link presented some new ideas for the minimal mowing area plan in select areas of certain parks. He said that the plan is a continuation
and tweaking of the no-mow plan from this past summer. He said that the plan is to do a controlled-burn of the grass that hasn’t been mowed this year and plant prairie grasses and flowers.
Felgate said that the topic was raised at the Transportation Commission about posting signage in the no-mow areas to educate people who have wondered why there hasn’t been mowing in
certain areas. Smieja said that he has talked with people who have wondered about the southwest area of Taft Park, which has been used by people to run their dogs, so signage there
would be a good idea.
Committee Reports
Transportation Commission: Felgate provided the report. <Other: He reported that US Internet is installing fiber optic in Minneapolis and is looking for an inner-ring suburb in which
to expand. He suggested that the City consider participating in this installation, possibly through the CSC. Topitzhofer said that he will ask the City Manager, who handled citywide
wifi internally. Friends of Wood Lake: Engeldinger provided the report. <Arts Commission: Rudolph provided the report. <Topitzhofer reported that staff has begun drafting the lease
with Wheel Fun that includes expansion into the existing Art Center space. <Honoring All Vets Memorial: <Bornholdt reported that the pancake breakfast was held on October 15. <Friendship
City Commission: Topitzhofer provided the report. <
Other/Next Meeting/Adjournment
Youth Commission Appointments: TBrakke asked about new appointees. Topitzhofer said that the Council is interviewing applicants tonight, so we may see new youth members soon.
Regular November Meeting: <Tuesday, November 21, 7:00 pm, Richfield Municipal Center (6700 Portland Ave)
Adjournment: <Thompson moved, seconded by Engeldinger, to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:04 pm.
October 17, 2017