2017-02 CSCRICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY COMMISSION
DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC.REGULAR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Richfield Municipal Center (6700 Portland Ave)
PRESENT
CSC: Reed Bornholdt, Art Felgate, , Michele Thompson, Dan Smieja, Danielle Indovino Cawley, Carolyn Engeldinger, Anne Basso, Lisa Rudolph, Darwin Schaeferlane
STAFF: Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans, Amy Markle
ABSENT
CSC: Danielle Indovino Cawley, Joannette Cintrón de Núñez, Emma Nollenberger </COUNCIL: Edwina Garcia
SCHOOL BOARD: Crystal Brakke </w:PLAN COM: Rick Jabs
Call to Order
Chair Bornholdt called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm. Schaeferlane was introduced as the new youth member of the CSC.<
Approval of Minutes
Thompson moved, seconded by Rudolph, to approve the minutes of the regular January minutes with one edit: in the description for the Stavros Dedication discussion, Thompson requested
that it be specified that she was referring to the person being honored in one sentence. Approved, ayes all.
Staff Reports
Recreation Services
Topitzhofer reported on the following:
Stavros Dedication Proposal: Staff returned to the bench donor with suggestions from the CSC and price quotes.
Outdoor Skating Rinks and Warming Houses: Closed for the season due to the warm weather.
Band Shell Bid Opening: <Bid opening was held and one bid in one of the categories had an error and was not able to honor their price. Staff will approach Council next week about rebidding
the one category.
Action Items
Election of Chair & Vice Chair, Appointment of Liaisons
Bornholdt opened nominations for Chair. Felgate nominated Bornholdt, seconded by Thompson. Approved, ayes all. Bornholdt opened nominations for Vice Chair. Felgate nominated Thompson
for Vice Chair, seconded by Engeldinger. Approved, ayes all.
-Felgate volunteered to be reappointed as the liaison to the Transportation Commission.
-Engeldinger volunteered to be reappointed as the liaison to the Friends of Wood Lake.
-With Cintrón de Núñez absent, the group decided to postpone the appointment of a liaison to the Planning Commission.
-Rudolph volunteered to be reappointed as the liaison to the Arts Commission.
-Schaeferlane volunteered to be the liaison to the Friendship City Commission.
Event Permit Procedure/Guidelines for Use of Public Streets
Wood Lake Naturalist Markle presented some amendments to the procedures and guidelines for issuing permits for the use of public streets and parks for athletic events, like running and
walking events. She said that, as the director of the Urban Wildland Half Marathon & 5K, she has met with other event planners and has realized that some revisions were needed for our
permit application. She said that we are a sought-after location, so our fee can and should be increased from $200 to $250, which is consistent with other municipalities. She also
suggested a $2 per registrant fee to alleviate trail maintenance and repair costs. She also suggested language that addresses inflatable devices being attended, public restrooms, signage,
event tents, vehicles in parks, recycling and waste removal, parking, open fires, payment terms, alcohol use, traffic control and markers, and restriction of event hours. Thompson asked
about refunds if events are not held; Markle said that no refunds are given. Thompson suggested specifying that the fee is non-refundable. Schaeferlane asked if there is a fee or penalty
if an event organizer does leave any garbage. Markle states that they are responsible and would not be granted a permit in subsequent years. Rudolph asked about event liability insurance;
Markle said that event organizers are required to provide certificate of $1,000,000 in liability insurance, naming the City of Richfield as additionally-insured. Felgate asked if this
application will be reviewed by the City Attorney. Markle said that it would be a good idea to have the City Attorney review the permit application. Felgate asked for the reason we
limit the use of a specific course to one event per year. Markle said that it’s to address courses that pass through residential areas, so the same residents wouldn’t be affected over
and over again. Markle said that the majority of requests are for use of Veterans Park, which isn’t considered a repetitive use of a course. Rudolph said that, when she helped plan
the running event for Penn Fest, they often heard from residents who had running events passing by their house multiple times a year. Markle said that, with the involvement of Public
Safety and Public Works, it is important to regulate the requests and balance out the demand for permits with the needs of residents and the limits of staff. Schaeferlane asked if the
same restrictions would apply to bicycling events. Markle said that she hasn’t had any request for biking events, which might be a whole new type of permit. Felgate asked about who
has jurisdiction over sections of the Nine-Mile Creek Bike Trail that run through Richfield. Topitzhofer said that the Iron Man event in Lakeville and surrounding cities involves the
approval of each individual city, since each city’s staff and resources are involved, although maybe requested from a single entity, like Three Rivers Park District. He said that many
of the same concerns would come up to limit the disruptions to regular, drop-in use. Schaeferlane asked if any legal issues have come up that have prompted these revisions. Markle
said that no legal issues have come up and the permitted events have gone very smoothly. She said that it tends to be a few of the same event organizers every time and know what is
required for such events. Schaeferlane asked if protesters would have to get a permit similar to this. Markle said that we work closely with the Police Services Department and any
contention that is anticipated would be managed by the Police, possibly granting designated areas on public property, etc. The group agreed, by consensus, to approve the revisions with
a few of the suggested edits (stating that the fee is non-refundable, having the City Attorney review the language). Smieja asked if the fee could be even higher if the demand is there.
Felgate asked if the main permit fee could be scaled by event size. Topitzhofer said that the per-participant fee is designed to scale the fee by event size. Rudolph asked if the
fee covers our costs. Markle said that it does cover our costs and the cost of hiring additional police officers is the responsibility of the event organizers.
Discussion Items
Revised Master Bike Plan
Transportation Engineer Broz presented revisions to the City’s Master Bike Plan. He said that the previous plan was oriented around City parks, schools, businesses, etc. Broz said
that a key challenge was identifying intersections that were problematic for bicyclists. He pointed out the existing identified routes and the proposed routes, mostly painted bike lanes
and bike signs (often addressed when a section of road is milled and overlayed with new blacktop). He said that the Transportation Commission will consider the revised plan at their
February meeting. Schaeferlane said that crossing 72nd Street into the library parking lot may be a spot that could use a crosswalk. Broz said that several areas along the proposed
stretches of trail will require more attention for ideal crossing opportunities. Felgate specified that the pedestrian bridge at 73rd Street over 35W is the jurisdiction of MnDOT and
Richfield would have to work with them for any improvements to it. Broz said that this revised plan identifies the ideal routes and corridors for the years of work that will be involved
to phase it in. Basso asked if there are plans to address the intersections that are identified as problematic. Broz said that they’re addressed as other street work is done, like
Portland and 73rd Street, which was identified as a problematic intersection until the reconstruction of Portland Avenue last year. Broz said that the City could always address improvements
of a specific intersection as its own project, if the priority, funding, and opportunity were there. Topitzhofer said that the importance of updating such a plan offers the City a list
of desired improvements for bicycling, so if funding presents itself for other road work, like MnDOT or federal improvements, the City is ready to make the most of opportunities that
other projects present. Broz said that the plan will be brought to the Council after the Transportation Commission reviews it later in February.
Committee Reports
Transportation Commission: Felgate provided the report.
Friends of Wood Lake: Engeldinger provided the report; the group discussed soliciting prizes for the FOWL Dinner.
Friendship City Commission: Topitzhofer reported that the new statue of a young soccer player has arrived from Heredia. The date for the unveiling is Saturday, June 24, at Heredia Park
(outside of the Municipal Center). The sculptor will be in attendance.
Next Meeting/Adjournment
Regular March Meeting
Tuesday, March 21, 7:00 pm, Richfield Municipal Center (6700 Portland Ave)
Adjournment
Thompson moved, seconded by Basso, to adjourn. Meeting adjourned by consensus at 8:13.
February 21, 2017