HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes for Jan 13
City of Falcon Heights
Parks & Recreation Commission
MEETING MINUTES
City Hall
Monday, January 13, 2014
6:30 p.m.
X Christina Erickson X Gordon Strom X Mary Hannon Jacobson
X Liz Asmus X Dave Thomas X Michael Breen
X Cari Lee
X Staff Michelle Tesser AB Staff Tim Pittman X Council Liaison Chuck Long
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Dec 9th meeting minutes
Unanimously approved Thomas/Asmus
3. Update on Park Improvement Open House and Survey
Tesser discussed the open house and survey.
The new dates of the open house are Tuesday, January 21st 6-8pm and Wed,
January 22nd 5-7pm at City Hall. Commissioners are welcomed to attend.
Commissioners asked that there be maps at the meeting. Tesser will discuss the
visual aids with Candace Amberg. The Commission asked that Candace present
the draft of the study at their March 10th meeting. Tesser will not be in
attendance due to her maternity leave starting March 7th. The council will be
presented the study at their March 26th city council meeting.
The Survey is on our website and has been advertised in our media outlets.
A survey will be available at Winterfest, Sunday January 26th 1pm-4pm for
residents and nonresidents to complete.
4. Update on Winterfest Event- Sunday, Jan 26th 1pm-4pm at Community Park. Skating in
the Park and President’s Day skating
Tesser has confirmed vendors: Roselawn Stables, Fur Wild, City of Roseville
(snowshoes) Purchasing of supplies will be done this week. Warm cookies, hot
cocoa/apple cider will be sold indoors. The falcon will be hidden and clues written
similar to years past. $50 gift card to Target will be available to the winner. The ice rink
will be flooded in time for the event.
Skating in the Park (MLK day/President’s Day Skating (No school)
There will be free hot cocoa on these days and 1 extra rink attendant to help teach kids
how to skate.
5. Update on Warming House Attendants and Rinks
Tesser updated the commission on the rinks. Due to some unusually cold and warm
days so far the rinks have been closed four times for weather conditions. We have had
some complaints on the Curtiss Field door opening issues on the south side where the
cement has risen too much to open the door completely, Tim knows of this issue. The
Grove residents have been excited by the rink and have sent several thank you emails.
6. 2014 Recreation Programs
Tesser has been working on several new pilot programs for this Spring/Summer:
o Blastball in August
o Coach/Pitch (Ages 5-7) (coach pitches ball to kid)
o Superhero Theatre Camp (comic strip writing, discover old heros, make
superhero food) Star Wars Camp (possibility)
o Cross Country class (Ages 10- 15) (early morning running with high school cross
country kids)
o Sustainable Art (Ages 10-16) penny covered vase, reverse string art, magazine
wreath,
o Pee Wee Samper (soccer, volleyball, kickball) at Lauderdale Park
o Soccer with Family
o Paparazzi (Ages 10-16) (Photography class, portraits, nature, downloading and
editing)
o Spanish Camp
o Adult Tennis (private lessons)
o Jewelry Making Class (Ages 12-16) (paper beards, crochet wire, beaded hair
pins, rainbow looms)
o Performance Camp (Age 8-14) (hip hop, theatre, singing, improv/comedy, bring
in DJ)
o Parents Night out (offer in June, July and August for kids in programs only)
Tesser will eliminate two programs that have been a financial risk:
Playtime with Parents: loss of -$300.00 to -$126.00 this year even though increased fees
and Cooking Class: loss of -$250.00 (cost of supplies, food, amount of time and effort
with too little enrollment).
The commission requested Tesser to look into Track and Field camp and Golf camp.
The cost of the golf equipment and track and field equipment would be too much for the
budget which was set in June 2013 so Tesser will look into contracting with a vendor to
provide either the equipment and/or services.
7. Potential Sponsorships
Tesser is meeting with Spire on Tuesday 1/14/14 to discuss possible
sponsorships for more Movie in the Parks and indoor showings and 5k fun run.
Tesser will also be focusing on increasing sponsorship with new pizza business
coming to town.
8. Admin/Parks and Recreation PT Hire during maternity
Tesser will be hiring two PT head activities leaders to join the parks and rec admin dept.
Both have been with us for 4-5 years and are very familiar with recreation programming.
They will help get the summer programs in order including rec registrations, answer
phones, process facility rentals, improve Junior Leader program, purchase supplies and
equipment, event planning etc. Tesser will be on maternity leave through the end of
May but will have to work part time since there is no one to oversee her department and
delegate duties to the part-time hires. Allie Davitt (Summer Program Coordinator for the
last three years) is unable to start until June because of her new job as a teacher.
9. Public Works Report -Tim Pittman
The Public Works Department is working on scrapping roads this week.
10. New Business
I. Mary discussed meeting minutes and other processes.
Mary Hannon Jacobson, a commissioner asked to discuss three areas:
1. Get meeting minutes completed within three days of commission meeting.
Commissioner Thomas recommended that a commissioner volunteer to be the secretary
of the commission if having the minutes done in three days is important to the
commission. Christina Erickson volunteered to be secretary.
2. When decisions are made for the Chair to summarize the decision and discuss
what’s next in the process.
Chair Strom agreed to make it a point to summarize agenda items and actions along
with pointing out next steps, if any.
3. Improve the city’s website searchability
Tesser will look into the searchability of the city’s website. Tesser discussed that space
on the server is limited so the document management database laserfische is used to
archive past agendas and minutes and is linked in several places on the website. She
will check on the searchability and get back to the commission.
II. At the February meeting we will discuss the 2013 rec analysis of enrollment, budget
and programming. The Commission requested that Andy Hovland, the City’s Forester
be present to discuss the summer plans for trees at Community Park. Tesser will see if
Hovland is available.
Next meeting dates: Monday, February 10th Budget Review and 2013 Rec Analysis
(Tesser’s last meeting until June 9th)