2018-01 CSCRICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY COMMISSION
DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC.REGULAR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Richfield Municipal Center (6700 Portland Ave)
PRESENT
CSC: Hayley Hadges, Anne Basso, Reed Bornholdt, Michele Thompson, Dan Smieja, Carolyn Engeldinger, Lisa Rudolph, Joannette Cintrón de Núñez
STAFF: Jim Topitzhofer, John Evans, Chris Link SCHOOL BOARD: Crystal Brakke
ABSENT
CSC: Art Felgate, Danielle Indovino Cawley, Diana Bautista <PLAN COM: Rick Jabs </COUNCIL: Edwina Garcia
Call to Order
Chair Bornholdt called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm.
Approval of Minutes/Agenda
Minutes: Rudolph moved, seconded by Thompson, to approve the minutes of the October regular meeting. Approved, ayes all.
Agenda: Motion and second to approve the evening’s meeting agenda. Approved, ayes all.
Farewell to Reed and Michele
Bornholdt and Thompson reflected on nine years on the CSC.
Staff Reports
Recreation Services: <Topitzhofer reported the following:
Youth Physical Activity Project Community Information Meeting: Wed, January 17.
Interim Nature Center Manager: Amy Markle, acting while Karen Shragg is out on medical leave.
Program/Event Update: Candlelight & Ice New Year’s event cancelled due to cold.
Action Items
Sustainable Purchasing Policy: <Topitzhofer outlined revisions to the Sustainable Purchasing Policy being adopted by the City as part of participation in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities
program; the first draft was brought to the CSC in November. . He said that the policy was brought back to staff for edits; revisions were focused on recycling items, purchasing recyclable
items, purchasing equipment that conserves water and energy, and waste minimization. A visiting resident asked if the City would require vendors of the City to comply with policy items.
Topitzhofer said that those expectations would be written into contracts rather than through an internal purchasing policy. Rudolph moved, seconded by Engeldinger, to recommend Council
approval of the Sustainable Purchasing Policy. Approved, ayes all.
Discussion Items
Parks Master Plan Draft: Topitzhofer reviewed the Parks Master Plan; outlining the inventory and recommendations of each park. He said that this draft plan is the result of an initial
staff workshop, an open house, and another review by City staff. Topitzhofer reviewed the park inventory and recommendations of each park. The following edits were suggested:
Parks Master Plan Draft
ALL PARKS: Remove lawn games item. Flag “Remove Tennis Courts” items. <APPLE BLOSSOM: Future community garden? Probably not, due to size and shade. <AUGSBURG: Delete mention of the
future home of a community center? <CHRISTIAN: Flag “Remove Tennis Courts.” Ballfield overgrown; remove for other use? <DONALDSON: Keep trees in northwest corner, even if dog park is
considered. <FAIRWOOD: Future community garden? Probably not, due to size and proximity to residents. Flag the “remove tennis court” item.< <FREMONT: Remove “Add Portable Toilets.”
“Expand” storage building, rather than “upgrade.”
GARFIELD: Remove “Add Portable Toilets.” <HEREDIA: Rather than “replace” softball field, replace infield with turf for multi-purpose space. Backstop could remain. Remove “Add Portable
Toilets.” <JEFFERSON: Flag the “remove tennis court” item.
LINCOLN FIELD: Remove the “Replace fabric playground roof with solid roof” due to high cost. LITTLE BOB’S: Remove “Add Portable Toilets.” <MADISON: Use “redesign” wording for entire
park. Flag the “remove tennis court” item. Soccer field? <
NICOLLET: Flag the “remove tennis court” item. ROOSEVELT: Flag the “remove tennis court” item. TAFT: Remove the “wheel” idea for field renovation, in case that is not financially feasible.
Pollinator garden? <Parking lot expansion or pedestrian safety improvements?
VETS PARK: “Explore the need for expanded parking” rather than writing the item as “Expand parking.”
Priority List: For Nicollet Park pickleball/tennis item, a priority number of “3” needs to be added.
Goals List: Reword “walkable distances” to be less subjective (quarter mile?)
Topitzhofer told the group that the ten-year plan would cost $6.44 million or $644,000 per year; we get $450,000 per year from the liquor store. Topitzhofer said that he met with the
Community Development Department about introducing a park dedication fund, which would introduce a park improvement funding source when a residential or commercial developer comes into
the City. He said that, after a MN State Statute passed in 1966 to establish park dedication funds, most cities established outside of the first tier adopted these funds. Rudolph asked
if that fee could include expenditure on public art; Topitzhofer said that it could. He said that the dedication fee would be based on our needs, so it may end up being much lower than
many communities’ fees because we also have liquor store funds. He said that there is usually an ordinance that sets the fee, but the ordinance can be adjusted if more funding is needed;
he also said that the Council always has the ability to waive the fee for a developer. <Engeldinger asked if the Council has considered it. Topitzhofer said that it would first be considered
by the Planning Commission and would likely be brought to them in March or April. Topitzhofer reviewed the park system goals and policies that have guided the identification of future
projects and their prioritization. <
Committee Reports
Friends of Wood Lake Board: Engeldinger </wPlanning Commission: Cintrón de Núñez <
Other/Next Meeting/Adjournment
Regular February Meeting: <Tuesday, February 20, 7:00 pm, Richfield Municipal Center (6700 Portland Ave)
Adjournment: <Rudolph moved, seconded by Basso, to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 9:48 pm.
January 16, 2018