HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.2.23 Park & Rec Minutes1 | Page
CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS Regular Meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission
City Hall 2077 West Larpenteur Avenue MINUTES October 2, 2023 at 6:30 P.M.
A. CALL TO ORDER: 6:34 P.M.
B. ROLL CALL: Jeff Yager______ Mike Bradbury__X___ Eric Brenton__X___ Paula Mielke__X___ Tom Faust__X___ Randi Lundell__X___
COUNCIL LIAISON:
James Wassenberg __X____ STAFF PRESENT: Kelly Nelson___X____ C. PRESENTATION: D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. August 7, 2023 - Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes
Commissioner
Brenton motioned to approve the minutes; Approved 5-0 E. AGENDA:
1. Fall Event Discussion The commissioners discuss existing fall events in the area and what weekends they occur on. There seem to be less events occurring the middle two weekends in October. Mielke points out that the third weekend in October is MEA weekend. Brenton adds that early November might work but would be getting cooler outside. Mielke says that if Community Park is under construction and not usable, then Grove
Park could be a location. She suggests taking hayrides from City Hall to the park and having lawn games like cornhole at City Hall and other activities there.
Brenton suggests adding some type of competition; maybe food-related. Bradbury says that the fall event would replace the City’s winter event that has been
cancelled multiple times in the past due to weather. He suggests a fall fitness festival with a 5K and suggests partnering with Lauderdale like the City did years ago. Lundell likes this idea and says that it seems easy enough to do.
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Nelson shares that the 5K ended when policing changed from St. Anthony Police Department to Ramsey County Sheriff because then two separate police forces were needed to help control
traffic and it made it more complicated because of the route. Commissioners discuss alternate routes that the 5K could take. Mielke shares that the MN State Fair has a 5K called the Milk Run in May and would have familiarity with runners through the fairgrounds. She suggests routing through the fair and then the U of M. Nelson suggests running around the field located at Roselawn and Fairview, running on the sidewalk and then the Snelling frontage road so that it would simply the route and the need for traffic control / policing help from multiple agencies.
Bradbury suggests a name like Falcon Heights Field Run and Fall Festival.
The commissioners opt to hold a fall event in 2024 rather than a winter event. Commissioners will continue looking at fall events in the area to determine additional elements to add to the City’s fall event in 2024 and discuss again at a future meeting.
F. INFORMATION/ANNOUNCEMENT 1. Progress Report – 2023 Park Audit Update Nelson shares examples of work that has already been completed in the parks by Public Works based on findings from by Parks and Recreation commissioners in July during an audit of the parks. In addition, Nelson ordered new nets for the basketball hoops in all parks, nets for the soccer goals at Community Park, basketballs and a tether ball to act as replacements, as needed. In addition, an ADA accessible portable restroom was added to Community Park.
Nelson will show commissioners the 2024 Parks and Recreation Budget once adopted. She does not have any further updates to provide regarding future park programming to be done by either Blackhawks soccer or Roseville Parks and Recreation. Faust asked about smoke-free signs in the park.
Commissioners then discussed updating park signage to reflect the newly passed ordinance to make all parks tobacco and cannabis free. Tobacco-smoking has been witnessed in parks lately, despite being tobacco-free areas. Commissioners recommend having more than one sign at each park to inform park users. And, to scatter signs throughout the park to make them more noticeable. G. ADJOURNMENT: 7:41 PM Commissioner Lundell motioned to
adjourn; Approved 5-0