2021-05 CSCRICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY COMMISSION
DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC.REGULAR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
WebEx Meeting
PRESENT
CSC: Heather MacDonald, Jenna Hanson, Ralston Sacco, Brooke Nelson, Kevin Wendt, Stephanie Nwaudo, Mejbah Ahmed, Lisa Rudolph, Meredith Bruzek
STAFF: Amy Markle (Recreation Director), John Evans (Secretary), Julie Urban (Community Development), Kris Weiby (Recreation Facilities Manager), Renae Zink (Recreation Program Supervisor)
COUNCIL: Ben Whalen
ABSENT
CSC: Joseph Miller, David Benson OTHERS: Crystal Brakke (school board)
Call to Order/Approval of Agenda & Minutes
Chair Wendt called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm. Agenda was approved by consensus. Minutes of the 4/20/21 regular meeting were approved by consensus.
Staff Reports
Recreation Services:
Recreation Services Director Markle reported on the following:
COVID restrictions are loosening: Community Center and Wood Lake will reopen on June 1.
Urban Wildland Half Marathon will be held July 30/31.
Inclusive playground at Augsburg is under construction: will be ready by late-June.
Proposals are due on Monday for the replacement of play equipment at Christian and Fremont Parks.
Wood Lake Nature Center project is in pre-design phase; working with HGA architectural firm.
Discussion Items
Just Deeds Coalition
Housing and Redevelopment Manager Urban talked about racially-discriminatory property covenants that were placed on many properties decades ago in Richfield, including on some park land.
She said that the City of Richfield joined the Just DEEDS Coalition to engage in community conversation about it, identify any other barriers that may prevent home ownership for any
minority populations, and reject these covenants.
Pool and Band Shell Summer Plans
Recreation Supervisor Zink said that the Richfield Concert Series will be held on Tuesdays (afternoons for the family concerts, evenings for the general entertainment). She said that
the Outdoor Pool is turning 60 this year; it will reopen on June 11; as of now, about 475 people will be allowed in the pool at one time. She said that there will not be groups allowed,
but season passes will be sold and concessions will be sold.
Pool Improvement Plan
Facility Manager Weiby said that the pool container is 60 years old and has required a lot of maintenance to keep it functional. He said that this kind of maintenance may buy us five
to seven more years, but the liner will need to be rebuilt, probably at a cost of $2.5 million. He said that, when the pool was renovated, there was piping installed to build a splash
pad someday, probably at a cost of about $450,000. He said that it would extend the pool season because there is not as much staffing required to open that. He said that the work could
be done right after a pool season and we wouldn’t lose a season (although the splash pad likely would have to be built partially during swimming season).
Action Items
Friends of Wood Lake Board Reappointment
By consensus, Chelsea Knauf and Robert Morey were reappointed to the Friends of Wood Lake Board.
Committee Reports
FOWL: Bruzek. Arts: Rudolph. Sustainability: Hanson. HAVM: Nelson
Next Meeting/Adjournment
Regular June Meeting: <Tuesday, June 15, 7:00 pm, WebEx or Municipal Center
Adjournment: < Meeting adjourned by consensus at 8:23 pm
May 18, 2021