HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.3.23 Park & Rec - Joint Minutes1 | Page
CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS Joint Meeting
Parks & Recreation Commission Community Engagement Commission City Hall
2077 West Larpenteur Avenue MINUTES
April 3, 2023 at 6:30 P.M.
A. CALL TO ORDER: 6:31 P.M. B. ROLL CALL:
Jeff Yager_____ Mike Bradbury__X___ Eric Brenton__X___ Paula Mielke__X ___ Tom Faust__X___ Randi Lundell__X___ Mike Tracy___X__
Cooley-Kistler__X__ LaDouceur__X__ Ebbesen__X__ Locke__X___ Lindstrom__X__ Stockford__X__ COUNCIL LIAISON:
James Wassenberg ___ X ____
Yakasah Wehyee ________
STAFF PRESENT: Kelly Nelson___X____
C. PRESENTATION: D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
1. March 6, 2023 - Parks and Recreation Commission and Community Engagement Commission -Joint Meeting Minutes Commissioner Locke
motioned to approve the minutes; Approved 11-0 (Bradbury not yet present)
E. AGENDA: 1. Spring Together 2023 Event : Survey Questions and Polling Tactics; Task List
Ebbesen asked what questions we’d like to ask attendees at Spring Together. Ebbesen proposed asking: How do you currently receive information from the city? How would you like to receive information? How would you like to engage with the city? Stockford would like to build up our neighborhood liaisons and suggested recruiting at
the event. The City currently has between 8 and 14 liaisons but the list was last updated in approximately 2020. The commission(s) will discuss neighborhood liaisons more at a later date and the idea of handing out information at National Night Out.
Commissioners re-visited why a survey or questionnaire was needed at Spring Together. Mielke said the idea was proposed to manage number of ice cream tickets given away.
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Attendees would receive a ticket to redeem for one free treat when completing an action, such as answering a question/survey.
Wassenberg suggested asking, “What Community Park amenity would you like to keep and what would you like to see added?”
Tracy wondered if we could send a survey link out via Facebook or within the weekly newsletter so that we reach more residents than we’ll reach at Spring Together.
Wassenberg said that the idea of Post-It Notes is nice because you aren’t limiting feedback to a particular question and answer. Faust said that it might be nice to promote other City events at Spring Together. Ebbesen recapped the commissions’ discussion by saying that a broad question will be asked and Post-It Notes will also be used.
Stockford said it would be helpful to show the roles of the commissions and any current openings. He asked if a map of neighborhoods and parks could be created to display at
Spring Together and Ice Cream Social. Nelson will check on the file type of the existing map and bring a printed sample of the map to the May meeting. Stockford also suggested having a handout with key city facts/information available.
Mielke asked if commissioners/volunteers at events would be identifiable. Name tags will be created, plus name tags will be available for all attendees to help neighbors connect.
Tracy mentioned finding past survey questions to draft questions from to ask attendees for input on the new Community Park building and amenities.
Staff liaison Nelson said they might be able to find some of those questions to pull for the next meeting and decide on. Next, the commissions went over the task list for Spring Together, assigning tasks to various commissioners and staff. Notes from discussion: Flyers will be sent to local businesses. Nelson said she would email the flyer to the property managers of Town Square and Amber Union apartments to see if they would post to a bulletin board or share
with residents in some manner. Commissioners will provide small tent canopies. City staff and commissioners will pull together games, chalk, etc. There will be a final push for summer rec programs at event.
Drafts of event flyers were reviewed.
Bradbury asked if Staff could print out flyers that could be handed out to neighbors by commissioners.
2. Ice Cream Social 2023 - Begin Discussions
In 2022, Falcon Heights Ice Cream Social and Lauderdale Day in the Park events fell on the same date. Some residents had expressed that they wished they could have attended both. And, both cities had overlapping visits from groups such as St. Paul Fire
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Department and other resource fair participants. Nelson asked commissioners how they would feel about a joint summer event with Lauderdale, perhaps talking a hayride to/from
each park. Commissioners determined they would to continue the tradition of Falcon Heights Ice
Cream Social. Our Ice Cream Social is scheduled for July 20. Lauderdale has not chosen a date. If events fall on the same date, perhaps some events could be staggered so that residents could better attend both events. Commissioners asked Nelson to book The Finn
Band for the Ice Cream Social. F. INFORMATION/ANNOUNCEMENT Update on Lion’s Club’s involvement in Spring Together 2023 Stockford met with Lion’s Club regarding their tents and the possibility of using them at Spring Together and Ice Cream Social. The tents will not be available for use.
Commissioners determined tents would not need to be rented for Spring Together but that they would need to be rented for the Ice Cream Social.
Updates on Community Park purchase and summer programming Wassenberg shared that the purchase of Community Park will likely be finalized within
the next few weeks. Nelson shared summer registrations to date. So far, enrollment numbers are as follows:
0 for Tennis, 0 for Summer Discovery Playground, 7 for Mini Soccer and 4 for Super Soccer. Commonwealth Terrace Cooperative has 0 residents enrolled in Messy Art, 1 for Super Soccer and 1 for Summer Discovery Playground. Registration is open through
May 25. Nelson also shared she had no applications for a Summer Program Coordinator but did have some interest for Summer Staff. G. ADJOURNMENT: 8:27 PM Commissioner Mielke motioned to adjourn;
Approved 9-0 (Lindstrom and Locke left early)