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Home My WebLink AboutJuly 6, 2020 Agenda PacketCITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS Regular Meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission City Hall 2077 West Larpenteur Avenue AGENDA July 6, 2020 at 6:30 P.M. A. CALL TO ORDER: B. ROLL CALL: ___ Walt Dunlap ___ Ron Eischen ___ Mike Bradbury ___ Ryan Carlson ___ Jeff Yager ___ Shaun Curtin ___ Susan Risher ___ Council Member Melanie Leehy ___ Nalisha Nandkumar, Staff Liaison C. PRESENTATION D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. Approval of May 4, 2020 minutes. E. AGENDA: 1. Community Garden Expansion F. INFORMATION/ANNOUNCEMENT - Twins Youth Baseball Clinic - Ice Cream Social - Good Neighbor Grant 2020 G. ADJOURNMENT: CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS Regular Meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission City Hall 2077 West Larpenteur Avenue AGENDA May 4, 2020 at 6:30 P.M. A. CALL TO ORDER: B. ROLL CALL: ___ Walt Dunlap ___ Ron Eischen ___ Mike Bradbury ___ Ryan Carlson ___ Jeff Yager ___ Shaun Curtin ___ Council Member Melanie Leehy ___ Staff Nalisha Nandkumar, Staff Liaison C. PRESENTATION D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. Approval of March 2, 2020 minutes. Eischen 1st Motion Carlson 2nd Motion Motion Passed E. AGENDA: 1. Community Garden • Discussion about the need for social distancing guidelines for Community Garden. • Commission Members agreed that alternating the gardener’s attendance to their plot based on the garden set-up versus the garden number was best. • Gardeners were provided with a map of the garden. They were informed about which day (odd/even) they should tend to their garden. • Gardeners have provided positive feedback so far. This might need to be reevaluated as the weather warms and gardens need more watering. • Guideline #3 on the social distancing flier provided to gardeners states; “Only have one person in your plot at a time. If you are sharing your plot with anyone else, only one person can be in a plot at a time.” Agreement to add “unless you are from the same household”. 2. Social Distancing at Parks • Commission agreed that physical activity is important during current pandemic. • Courts should be opened and provide signage to promote social distancing. • Courts are currently closed due to the congregating and lack of social distancing. • Signs should be created that are consistent and pertain to each court (basketball, tennis, etc.) • Subcommittees were created for research; tennis research conducted by Ryan and Mike, basketball research conducted by Ron and Jeff. • A resident has also provided feedback and research about the opening of courts and language that should be provided in signage. • Consider taping off playgrounds and kid friendly signage. 3. 2020 Events- Summer Programming a. Story Time • Pushed back to Fall 2020. Story Time could take place during Harvest Fest. This event would also promote local businesses similar to Ice Cream Social. • Discussion about holding this event around the same time as State Fair to show what Falcon Heights has to offer. b. Ice Cream Social • Utilize Ice Cream as an event to showcase the various parks programs that are offered. • Offer local businesses the opportunity to table the event. • Discussion about the 2020 Ice Cream Social. Flier could be modified to address social distancing, weather and health issues. c. MN Twins Youth Baseball Clinic • This event is still planned for July 18, 2020. • Volunteers will be needed to host the event as the date approaches. 4. Website Review • Commission was asked to review the parks pages on the new website and provide feedback. • Images of amenities at each park should be added, more information about CTC programming and more information about fillable forms (as applicable). F. INFORMATION/ANNOUNCEMENT - Elect Officers: Ryan Carlson was nominated and elected as Chair. Walt Dunlap will step down as Chair. Mike Bradbury was nominated and as the secretary/co-chair. G. ADJOURNMENT: 7:45PM Dunlap 1st Motion Bradbury 2nd Motion Motion Passed ITEM FOR DISCUSSION Families, Fields and Fair __________________________ The City That Soars! Item Community Garden Descriptions Community Garden located at Community Park has 29 plots. All the plots are reserved for the summer by new and returning gardeners. Over the last couple of years there has been an increase of individuals the waitlist. Most of the gardeners are returning each year. This does not allow those on the waitlist to rent a garden plot. Returning gardeners are given priority each year to renew their plot rental. If returning gardeners do not wish to renew their rental then the application process is open to Falcon Heights residents. If there are remaining plots after the given deadline to Falcon Heights residents, then the plots can be rented by anyone in surrounding communities. Surrounding communities include St. Paul, Roseville and Lauderdale. Budget Impact NA Attachment(s) -2006 Garden Proposal -Plot Map Action(s) Requested Review attachments and provide recommendation and discussion for expanding community garden. Meeting Date July 6, 2020 Agenda Item Consent E1 Attachment 2006 Garden Proposal and Plot Map Submitted By Nalisha Nandkumar, Staff Falcon Heights Community Garden Proposal Falcon Heights City Council November 8, 2006 Free template from www.brainybetty.com 2 Why a Community Garden? •Encouraging active living by creating opportunities for recreation, exercise, and education •Fostering social interaction •Encouraging self-reliance •Beautifying neighborhoods •Producing nutritious food •Reducing family food budgets •Conserving resources •Allowing residents in apartments, townhomes and homes with unsuitable lots to garden •Increases property values Free template from www.brainybetty.com 3 Activities to Date 3/23/2005 Joint commissions/city council meeting is held to discuss environmental initiatives. Community garden is highlighted as a potential new program. 4/13/2005 City Council changes name of Solid Waste Commission to Environment Commission and broadens scope. Winter 2006 Environment Commission begins discussions on garden -considers fast tracking the initiative to begin in spring 2006, but decides to wait until spring 2007 to ensure a successful program launch. May 2006 Environment Commission meets with representative from Gardenworks June 2006 U of M Humphrey Inst. Report presented on walkability/livability issues Free template from www.brainybetty.com 4 Activities to Date 6/12/2006 Environment Commission holds joint meeting with Parks and Recreation Commission. Parks and Rec endorses the creation of a community garden. 6/12/2006 Environment Commission passes a motion to create a feasibility study to analyze potential locations of the community garden. 6/27/2006 Survey conducted at Ice Cream Social. August 2006 Community Garden poll placed on website. Fall 2007 Council includes considering a community garden in budget process. Free template from www.brainybetty.com 5 Market Analysis •Community Garden Popularity –93 Community Gardens in Twin Cities with 3,000 gardeners –Gardenworks “Parade of Community Gardens” –55 gardens –Many gardens have waiting lists. •Rental and Townhome Property –As of the 2000 census, there were 5,572 people and 1,434 families residing in the city. There are 2,129 housing units of which 875 are renter-occupied. –Falcon Heights also has a sizable number of townhomes. •Lot size –The city’s tree-lined streets and backyard oaks, elms and maples bring grace and beauty to the city year-round. However the shade they produce can make gardening problematic, particularly vegetable gardening. –Many lots in the cities are relatively small. –Families may prefer to have grass lots for kids to run around, outdoor parties, etc. Free template from www.brainybetty.com 6 Market Analysis Survey Results from Ice Cream Social & Website 1.Do you like the concept of community gardens? •Yes –23 •No –0 2.If a community garden were available to you, would you be interested in leasing a plot? •Yes –13 •No –9 •Don’t know -1 3.Would you be interested in volunteering on a community garden steering committee? •Yes -11 •No –13 •Need More Information -3 Free template from www.brainybetty.com 7 Free template from www.brainybetty.com 8 Location Analysis •Community Park •City Hall’s front yard •Falcon Heights Elementary School •Lindig Park •U of M property at Fry St. and Garden Ave •Area behind Twin Cities Federal Co-op •U of M property, west of City Hall Free template from www.brainybetty.com 9 Location Analysis •How did we make our site recommendation? •Utilized Community Garden Site Assessment List –Sun –Soil –Topography –Water Access –Site Amenities –Neighborhood Free template from www.brainybetty.com 10 Location Analysis •Falcon Heights Elementary School •Lindig Park •Area behind Twin Cities Fed. Co-op •U of M property at Fry St. and Garden Ave •U of M property, west of City Hall Elementary School Twin Cities Co-op Free template from www.brainybetty.com 11 Location: Community Park Standing South of the Garden Looking North Free template from www.brainybetty.com 12 Free template from www.brainybetty.com 13 Location: Community Park •Benefits: –Sun –Soil –Topography –Water Access –Site Amenities •Building •Parking •Playground –Neighborhood –Handicapped accessible –Sidewalks lead to site Free template from www.brainybetty.com 14 Proposed Layout •20 Plots •10x12 plots Free template from www.brainybetty.com 15 Location: Community Park •Disadvantage: •Uncertainty of the future Free template from www.brainybetty.com 16 Location: City Hall •Benefits: –Sun –Topography –Water Access –Site Amenities •Building •Parking –Neighborhood West side looking East Free template from www.brainybetty.com 17 Location: City Hall •Disadvantages: •Parking lot reconstruction •Visual impact •Storage •Water issues Free template from www.brainybetty.com 18 Free template from www.brainybetty.com 19 Budget •Council currently has $5,000 allocated in capital budget (2% of 2007 cap. budget) •$2,500 -Tilling and hauling of compost/dirt (E.C. will work to secure free compost/dirt) •$500 for fence & miscellaneous expenses •Revenue from plots = $400-$500 (20x$25 = $500) •Voluntary contributions –tools, seeds, labor, etc. •Reduced rate for qualified families Free template from www.brainybetty.com 20 Recommendations •Plan A: Create a community garden at Community Park •Plan B: Create a community garden at City Hall •Create a Community Garden Steering Committee Free template from www.brainybetty.com 21 Organizational Chart City Council Environment Community Garden Steering Committee PlanningParks & RecNeighborhood Human Rights Liaisons Free template from www.brainybetty.com 22 Thanks! Falcon Heights Garden Plots 2017