2017-03 CSCRICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY COMMISSION
DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC.REGULAR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, March 21, 2017 </w:Richfield Municipal Center (6700 Portland Ave)
PRESENT
CSC: Reed Bornholdt, Art Felgate, Michele Thompson, Dan Smieja, Danielle Indovino Cawley, Carolyn Engeldinger, Anne Basso, Darwin Schaeferlane, Emma Nollenberger, Joannette Cintrón de
Núñez
STAFF: Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans </wCOUNCIL: Edwina Garcia
ABSENT
CSC: Danielle Indovino Cawley, Lisa Rudolph SCHOOL BOARD: Crystal Brakke </w:PLAN COM: Rick Jabs
Call to Order
Chair Bornholdt called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm.
Approval of Minutes/Agenda
Felgate moved, seconded by Basso, to approve the minutes of the regular February minutes. Approved, ayes all.
Thompson moved, seconded by Felgate, to approve the agenda for tonight’s meeting. Approved, ayes all.
Staff Reports
Recreation Services </wTopitzhofer reported on the following:
Band Shell Bid Opening: <Bid opening for the fourth remaining section of the bandshell project was yesterday (3/20), after the carpentry section came in too high at the first bid opening.
The lowest bid was $26,500 too high. <Topitzhofer will present a report to the City Manager tomorrow and present the bids to the Council to decide how to proceed. <
Action Items
Nicollet Avenue Crosswalk Grant Application </wTopitzhofer said that he and Jack Broz, Transportation Engineer, wrote a grant application and submitted it to Blue Cross Blue Shield to
help fund a crosswalk at 73rd Street and Nicollet Avenue. He said that the grant is intended to promote healthy and safe living in communities; the project for which the application
was submitted is a temporary pilot program for a crosswalk near the Augsburg Library, which would also serve high school students and Augsburg Park students. Felgate said that the project,
as discussed by the Transportation Commission, fits the objectives of the Master Bike/Pedestrian Plan and the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Topitzhofer said that, being a county road,
there is not major work scheduled for Nicollet in the near future that would provide an opportunity to add a crosswalk. He said that these pilot projects provide an opportunity to educate
people about a new amenity and traffic pattern to evaluate how it’s used and received. He said that this would be a refuge crosswalk, or an area in the middle of the road that provides
a pedestrian a place to stop halfway across the street. He said that a demonstration project like this could help convince the county to include such an amenity when there is major
work done on Nicollet. He said that it’s not asphalt or concrete, but some type of temporary material. Smieja said that, at the beginning of the school year, the students have to review
a pedestrian safety program, which may be incorporated to emphasize the education component of the project. Felgate said that studies like this lend weight to proposals to the county
when piggybacking on their projects. Topitzhofer said that he would like a motion to formally include a statement of support from the Community Services Commission in the application.
Basso moved, seconded by Schaeferlane, to support such a project and the grant application to fund it. Approved, ayes all.
Discussion Items
Parks Master Plan Revision Process </wTopitzhofer said that a meeting was held with the Comprehensive Guide Plan consultant to outline the process for revising the plan, including the
Parks Master Plan. He said that a steering committee, comprised of residents and staff, has been identified to solidify the timeline. He said that the outline includes significant community
outreach efforts, including open houses, focus groups, workshops, and listening sessions to gather input about the parks system and the things people like about the parks and suggest
for the future. He said that the timeline includes a meeting with the Community Services Commission to prioritize ideas and objectives. He said that the idea is to involve the public
throughout the entire process. He said that the process will include visiting all of the parks, collecting data, conducting field studies, and reporting on the existing park facilities.
He said that staff will be doing a thorough audit of the City’s park and playground equipment and structures. He said that the consultant then starts to assemble the scope of such
improvements, including cost estimates and timelines. He said that the consultant would complete the Parks Master Plan by year’s end.< <Felgate suggested incorporating some “smart-city”
components into the plan.
Commission Participation at Penn Fest and Fourth of July </wTopitzhofer said that Sara Gumke, Vice Chair of the Human Rights Commission, has asked all boards and commissions to consider
having a presence at the two largest community events: Penn Fest and the Fourth of July. <Bornholdt asked the group to consider if they might be available during these two events.
Committee Reports
Transportation Commission: Felgate provided the report.
Friends of Wood Lake: Engeldinger provided the report; distributed invitations to the FOWL Dinner on April 28.
Planning Commission: Cintrón de Núñez volunteered to be the liaison to the PC again in 2017.
Arts Commission: Bornholdt read Rudolph’s report.
Friendship City Commission: Schaeferlane: the soccer player statue will be dedicated on June 24.
Next Meeting/Adjournment
Regular April Meeting </Tuesday, April 18, 7:00 pm, Richfield Municipal Center (6700 Portland Ave)
Adjournment </Thompson moved, seconded by Basso, to adjourn. Meeting adjourned by consensus at 8:16.
March 21, 2017