2023-09 CSCRICHFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY COMMISSION
DRAFT MINUTES UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CSC.REGULAR COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Richfield Municipal Center
PRESENT
CSC:Adam Kerekes, BJ Skoog, Hayley Tompkins, Tessa Johanson, Brooke Nelson, Jenna Hanson, David Vrieze Daniels, Mike Devane, Meredith Bruzek
STAFF: Amy Markle (Recreation Director), John Evans (Secretary), Karl Huemiller (Recreation Programs Manager)
ABSENT
CSC: Jessica Johnson-Kreps </OTHERS: Crystal Brakke (school board) <COUNCIL: Ben Whalen
Call to Order/Approval of Minutes
Chair Johanson called to order at 7:01. Johanson moved, seconded by Tompkins, to approve the minutes of the regular meetings of June 20 and July 18, 2023. Approved by consensus.
Staff Reports
Recreation Services
Markle reported on the following:
Penn Fest was successful and well-attended.
The Richfield Red, White, and Blue Days is moving beyond some financial issues and rebuilding for future celebrations.
Summer programs were very well-attended.
The Richfield Pool saw great attendance and season pass sales. Splash pad will open next year and the pool will try to stay open later in the season.
MN Whitecaps will not play games at the Richfield Ice Arena but will still practice here.
ETS, the gym that leases space at the Arena, is moving to a larger space. Fortis Academy will lease the space for a similar purpose.
New programs coming this fall, including a different dance program with a shorter season, family game nights, and other new ideas.
Farmers Market will extend through all of October for the first time; a winter market will be held in December.
Staff is working with the City Attorney to draft language to include guidelines about smoking cannabis in the parks.
Staffing changes in Recreation: Huy Nguyen, Jessica Anderson, and Amy Markle will all be departing in October. Huemiller will be the interim Recreation Services Director and the job
opening will be advertised soon.
Discussion Items
Project Updates: Bike Park and Skate Park
Markle said that the old hockey boards have been removed, grading is almost complete, signs ordered, and the features have all been built in the shop and should be installed in the next
two weeks. Tuesday, October 3, 5:00-7:00 pm will be the ribbon cutting. She said that the skate park expansion may not be completed this fall and could extend into Spring 2024.
Recreation Scholarship Program
Huemiller said that the Passport tuition assistance program has been under-utilized and is being revamped. He said that the program will be more accessible, more valuable, and more widely
useable for residents. He said that, with a shift to contract programming in several areas, the new assistance program will be subsidized by donated money, so program revenue will not
be reduced. He said that the discount will apply to a Friends of Wood Lake membership and an allotted credit can also be used to pay for the other half of a 50% discounted pool pass.
Huemiller said that the current program serves about 70 individuals over 50 families and sees about $3,500 in discounts.
Annual Council Report
Johanson will deliver the annual CSC report to Council on November 14.
Committee Reports
TRANSPORTATION: Devane / FOWL: Bruzek / PLANNING: Kerekes / ARTS: Skoog / SUSTAINABILITY: Vrieze Daniels
Next Meeting/Adjournment
Regular October Meeting: Tuesday, October 17, 7:00 pm, Municipal Center
Adjournment: Meeting adjourned by consensus at 7:49 pm.
September 19, 2023