HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes for Jan 11MEETING MINUTES
Monday, XXX
6:30 p.m.
City Hall, 2077 W. Larpenteur Ave.
City of Falcon Heights
Parks & Recreation Commission
1. Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 6:30pm.
Attendance X=present; AB=absent
x Gordon Strom Chairperson
x Tim Sandvik Staff
x Tim Pittman Staff
AB Sack Thongvanh Staff
AB Chuck Long Council Liaison
x Randy Gustafson Council Member-Elect Liaison
AB Mary Hannon Jacobson Co-Secretary
x Ron Eischen Co-Secretary
x Dave Thomas
AB Michael Breen
x Shawn Hubert
x Ben Reichelt
2. Approval of December 14th 2015 meeting minutes
Minutes were reviewed and approved
3. Assign Chair, Secretary Gordon motioned for Shawn to Chair, Dave Thomas Seconded. Shawn accepted.
Gordon motioned for Ron and Mary to Co-secretary, Ben Seconded the motion. Ron and
Mary have accepted.
4. Adopt Standing Rules Motion – Dave, Second Ron
Standing rules were adopted.
5. Discussion on changing Standing Meeting Day Move to first Monday. The Commission has discussed moving the standing day over the
past few months to allow for all commissioners
Ron motioned – Ben seconded
Standing meeting day will now be first Monday of the month at 6:30pm.
6. Further Discussion on Curtiss Field, Park Updates
Gordon asked about updating the parks master plan. In the parks improvement study, WSB
mentioned items in individual items at individual parks, adding that a number of negative
comments lead to recommendations for changes.
Shawn added that during the winter time, it (Curtiss Field) is a great park for skating. In the
summer, more folks desired green space… These two uses are difficult as the ice makes
maintaining green space difficult. Green space and skating areas are visible desires from the
survey results.
Tim P noted that freezing everything when you put ice on the turf leads to clover throughout the
field in the summer.
Ben mentioned ‘greenspace’ largely means ‘open-space’ in a field for general use, not
necessarily grass or specific turf make-up.
Gordon and Tim P noted that there needs to be clarification on ADA requirements when
connecting the sidewalk from Idaho Ave through Curtiss (on the east side of the pond).
Gordon noted a new park building/shelter was another high positive.
Shawn asked what the cost of the temporary warming house this year and Tim P replied the
cost includes a month fee as well as electric charges for lights/heat. Tim P stated the monthly
fee was around $260. *This cost was prorated for the first month or rental, the monthly rental fee
is $333.90.
Residents stated that safety and maintenance should remain a priority. That might include
things like a fence around the playground (much like a fence around the pond) Residents had
the understanding that the old fence was to be replaced, but it was not. The park (Curtiss Field)
is unique and there has been a fence there historically. The pond always had a fence too, but
when that came down it was important to maintain that safety. It becomes easier to keep kids
safe with a fence. A building is not always open to public. A porta-poty wasn’t always down
there, without that it doesn’t automatically provide safety.
Both Shawn and Gordon agreed that the building would be largely seasonal (uses include
summer programming, rentals, and as a warming house in the winter when rinks are open).
Neighbors stated that respondents on the surveys didn’t appear to understand that having a
building would not mean it will always be open to the public.
Gordon mentioned if capital improvements are made, we need to remember concerns of
neighbors including placement of a building.
Tim S stated recommendations can be made a variety of ways – a recommendation of a
building/warming house does not include an area where it would go.
Gordon – A recommendation could be to include all parks on safety, maintenance, etc… for all
three parks.
Neighbors stated that if money is spent, some money should be spent on making sure Curtis
priorities are met. Adding it doesn’t feel like there is a finished product at Curtiss.
Gordon – Wanting to further understand how we make recommendations.
Shawn, Ben and Gordon asked for further clarification on making recommendations – Are these
recommendations meeting goals for all parks or are different parks getting priorities on different
sets of priorities?
It was recognized by staff that current access to the park is not ADA compliant as there is no
concrete from the lead up (parking lot) to ramp into playground.
Gordon noted the old parks plan included thoughts that were not desirable. The KaBOOM!
implementation changed that so we are now updating the parks master plan.
Neighbor(s) said that basketball was strongly desired but also had strong negative responses
adding that personally, they don’t want a court next to their house.
Shawn noted that’s a good point. The court did get some good ratings, but there were also
some negatives.
Dave added using only what the survey said, the yay’s outweighed the no’s… Many of the
results were mixed.
Gordon added that a part of the parks study showed people desire a variety of elements. If
anything, there are other parks nearby that have hoops.
Neighbors said that as long as they have lived there, it has always been little kids in the
playground and bigger kids in the open space. Adding in the 90s there was not enough space
for larger kids stuff… It cant be everything to everybody. The open space provides opportunity
for bigger kids… How do we want to market the park? Just because there is a new apartment
building with bigger kids… do we want to cater to bigger kids?
Gordon added that there is limited space in Curtiss Field and ‘packing to many amenities into
the park’ would be less desirable.
Neighbors noted It was nice when the fitness classes were going there, but the park was getting
used without the building. People still use the park without a building. Even skating has changed
how it is used over the past years as there appears to be a decline in skating.
Gordon stated the commission is feeling priorities are updating master plan to include results
from survey including rink with temp boards (as is), leave green space in summer, building
structure, (these updates are visual)
Council Member-elect Gustafson asked if Implementing safety includes a fence?
Dave stated there may not be a need for a fence around the playground. There are already
several barriers on both sides.
Neighbors noted the fence is more about kids falling.
Gordon continued by stating high priorities include looking at ADA guidelines, including safety
and security, and ongoing maintenance by city staff.
Ben agreed safety should remain a priority but can be determined/defined down the road.
Gordon Added including/improving sidewalks/ needs to be considered
Council Member-elect Gustafson added the sidewalk on the Snelling side satisfies access, but
the other side is where its problematic. He asked, could we use a different surface (other than
concrete to avoid water-flow complications)? If we can’t make that pathway compliant, would it
meet the needs of neighbors utilizing the park?
Tim P stated that if restored that way, it would include access.
Gordon – suggested including a trail along the inside of the pond as a part of the
recommendation.
Tim P acknowledged that it is important to remember when implementing sidewalks we want to
consider cost of having to rebuild any sidewalks as future construction may upset new
sidewalks and require them to be rebuilt after construction.
Neighbors asked about replacing the sidewalk that connects Iowa Ave to the park and noted
when people are walking from Iowa Ave to the park, they walk straight through the parking lot.
Additionally, the curbing was chewed up and never fixed. Will those curbs be updated?
Gordon suggested recommendation should include restoring it to where it was including curbs,
and sidewalk to the park from Iowa Ave.
Shawn added landscaping and aesthetics remain a priority.
Gordon responded if it (landscaping) has to be maintained, a sponsor/volunteers would be
desirable.
Tim P agreed that idea sounds great as long as we have people to maintain it.
Gordon concluded the conversation by asking neighbors if they had additional input, after they
declined he added that staff will draft a letter of recommendations to be reviewed by the
commission at the February 1st Parks and Recreation Commission; after review the commission
will agree to send an updated letter to the City Council.
7. Updates to Commission
Tim Sandvik updated the commission that summer programming is in the planning stages. We
will continue to work with our successful programming, continue updating programs and adding
programming where appropriate. The goal is to have programs determined by the end of
February so the parks insert can be included in the city-wide newsletter that goes out in early
March.
Winterfest is January 31st from 1-4 at Community Park.
Ice Cream Social will be in late July and the city is considering combing the event with Movie in
the Park. The commission will also be involved in utilizing ‘Low-waste’ practices for summer
events.
Rinks are open including the warming house at Curtiss Field.
The February meeting will include agenda setting for the commission for 2016.
8. New Business Neighbor asked when the temporary warming house will be removed. Staff responded
that when the skating season finishes, it will be shortly thereafter.
Council Member-elect Gustafson noted he will bring items from this discussion to the
council when they next meet.
9. Meeting Conclusion
Dave motioned to adjourn, Ben 2nd. Adjourned 7:45p
a. Summary of Decisions Made
i. Shawn was nominated as Chair and accepted
ii. Mary and Ron have been nominated as co-secretaries
iii. Commission adopted standing rules
iv. Parks and Rec Commission agreed to move the standing meeting day to the first
Monday of each month at 6:30pm
b. Summary of Action Items
i. Staff will compose a draft letter to be reviewed at the February meeting.
c. Next meeting date: Monday, February 1st, 6:30pm
d. Submitted By: Tim Sandvik – Staff Liaison