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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRCAgenda_07Jun11~r - c ~~ City Qf' FaiCOn Heights Parka & Recreation Cornmissan AGENDA City Mai! Monday June' 11, 2007 6:30 p.m: Michael Thomases Gene E3zasky~ Annie Green_ Paula Nlidlke Council Liaison Pamela Harris Staff Lisa Abernathy_Staff Tim Pit#a~nan Eric Maronde Paul Faust 1. Call to order 2. Approval of minutes May 14, 2007 meeting 3. Staff Report a. Recreation Update 5. Ice Cream Social 6. Cornpr®hensive Pier work-- Goals 7. New Business • Minutes City of Falcon Heights, Park and Recreation Commission Meeting May 14, 2007 6:30PM Meeting Chair. Gene Ozasky Minutes By: Lisa Abernathy Present Eric Maronde, Pam Harris, Paula Mielke, Paul Faust, and Pam Harris. Absent: Tim Pittman, Annie Green 1. Meeting called to order 6:35 PM 2. Approval of minutes April 9, 2007 Meeting. Motion was made by Mielke and seconded by Maronde based on the changes • Abernathy had reported to the Commission. 3. Staff Report Recreation Update- Abernathy reported that the Golf program has been doing well for both youth and adults. The spring youth lessons have been completed so Abernathy has sent out evaluations to participant to gain feedback on this new program. The adult lessons will continue into the summer as well youth golf camps in July. Abernathy plans to evaluate all classes in hopes that we can show the U of M that this is a good partnership and how successful it was. Abernathy also reported that the repainting and installation of new playground components at Curtiss Field Park has been completed and that it turned out very good. Commissioners were encouraged to go check it out. The City of Falcon Heights is now a member of the USTA/MRPA Tennis in the Parks program. We will be receiving some free tennis equipment as well as marketing tools, program ideas as well as other great resources from USTA. Abernathy also reported that this is a great resource to use when it comes time to think about resurfacing the tennis courts at Community Park. The organization has grants and aid that we may have access to when the time comes. Abernathy also reported that she will be looking into programming some adult tennis programs towards the end of the summer. • 4. Front Yard Space at City Hall In continuation from April's meeting Abernathy asked if anyone had any further ideas regarding using the space in the front yard of City Hall. Mielke reported that she found out from her husband that the structure currently in the front yard was to represent Falcon Heights's history with green houses and its farm roots. Mielke explained that Larpenteur used to be lined with rows of green houses years ago. Further ideas that were presented were: amini-golf course where the holes could be designed by certain groups, partnering with the U landscaping group in possibly extending the U of M fields, making it a Rain Garden educational piece, approaching the U of M about showcasing their gardens, partnering with the National Nursery Association and create a showcase of some sort, or making it a movie in the park location. Harris brought the issue of drainage to the Commission and to keep that in mind when deciding on ideas. All commissioners thought something low maintenance would be appropriate for that area. 5. Comprehensive Plan work The Commission then began discussing potential goals that would be guiding this new comprehensive plan. Abernathy read the current mission along with some goals she had in mind. The Commissioners then compiled a list of goals that they felt were essential in the plan. Mielke, Faust and Harris spoke about the idea of also using this as a guide for a potential Park Commissioner. Not having resource to look at when joining the Commission, Faust thought it would be extremely helpful and resourceful at the same time. Abernathy • recommended we include a section with the roles of the City Staff, the Commissioners as well as their responsibilities. Mielke reported that she had created a Table of Contents that organized the sections the Commission has discussed keeping from the old plan and new topics that will be added. Abernathy will be working on the mission including some of the broad goals that were discussed. These goal ideas will be attached to these minutes. 6. New Business Paula asked if the City would like to take over ownership of the popcorn machine her PTA group currently has. The PTA only uses it one night a year so if it would be used in City events than she would be happy to let the City have it. Adjournment Motion to adjourn was made by Faust and seconded Mielke Minutes respectfully submitted by Lisa Abernathy. If there are any corrections or additions, please contact Lisa Abernathy by phone at 651-792-7616 or by email at lisa.abernethy@falconheights.org. • Minutes City of Falcon Heights, Park and Recreation Commission Meeting April 9, 2007 6:30PM Meeting Chair. Gene Ozasky Minutes By. Lisa Abernathy Present: Eric Maronde, Pam Harris, Annie Green, Tim Pittman, Paula Mielke, Paul Faust, and Pam Harris. Absent: 1. Meeting called to order 6:30 PM 2. Approval of minutes March 12, 2007 Meeting. • Motion made by Maronde and seconded by Green 3. Staff Report Recreation Update- Abernathy reported that the University of Minnesota has extended our lease on Community Park for another 15 years. It will be made up of 15 one year leases in the case that they decide to take the park back. Tae Kwon Do lessons will begin the spring session mid April. The Red Cross held a Babysitters Training class at City Hall. The class was full with 12 participants. Mielke's son Luke attended the class and came home with a lot of helpful information. Another Yoga session has started and has 8 participants. This will be the last session prior to summer; we hope to continue it again in the fall. The golf programs have had a good turn out. All Youth Spring Kick off lessons have filled and some sections of the adult lessons will go and some are in need of more participants. Abernathy also reported that a woman by the name of Kathryn Morrison, the Director of Marketing from Rosepointe Senior Apartments had contacted her regarding providing some sponsorship to help with for any of our programs or events. Abernathy asked the Commission to keep this in mind with any new programs or things they might be a good resource for. Abernathy will be seeking more information from Kathryn on possibilities in the future. Abernathy also reported back to the Commission on the background of not allowing dogs in the parks. After talking to City Administrator Justin Miller, Abernathy was informed that the Park Commission in the past has researched the issue but based on the extra time Public Works would have to dedicate to picking up the parks and the concern for park users safety, they did not bring the issue to the Council for action. Harris then asked for Abernathy to research and see what other cities allow dogs in the park and what problems or concerns have come about in other cities. 4. Front Yard Space at City Hall Abernathy reported that City Administrator Justin Miller is asking the Park Commission for ideas on ways we can incorporate the front yard of City Hall into something that the general public can utilize or enjoy more so than what is there now. The City Hall parking lot will be going under reconstruction in 2008 so that might be the time to change or improve what is currently there. Ozasky recommended some type of band shell for outdoor concerts or a nicer picnic area. Mielke recommended a peace garden and then asked what was the purpose or reason for what is there now. Meilke then asked that this be added to next months agenda in hopes of generating more ideas. Pittman reminded the Commission that Public Works is currently in need of more storage space for outdoor equipment and to keep that in mind. Pittman then updated the Commission on a recent event that took place at Community Park resulting in the tear up of a large amount of grass on the parks grounds. After a week of steady rain some unknown kids started a small fire under some pine trees located north of the pond area of the park. • The Falcon Heights Fire Department responded however became stuck in the soft grass and had to be towed out. The tow truck then became stuck and caused more damage to the grass. Pittman also stated that in the attempt of retrieving the trucks out there was some damage done to a patch of asphalt leading into the park. Pittman has a large roller lined up to get the grass back down once the ground hardens some more. And will be working with the fire department on getting the asphalt fixed. 5. Comprehensive Plan work After some discussion on how the Commission should present the chapters that were assigned and everyone participate in the editing of it, the Commission realized that Goals and Objectives may be the key to kicking everything off. Without goals and objectives the Commission might not head in the direction it is hoping for. Therefore Ozasky asked that Commission members think-about goals or a mission statement that will be the center of everything we are writing in the new plan. Ozasky reported he has already begun working on goals as they were part of the chapter that was assigned and will pass those along to Abernathy to pass along to the rest of the Commission. Members should read over this and bring their own thoughts on goals that may be included in the plan. Mielke also mentioned a few other items that would be important to include, they are: participation levels of programs, recreation programs currently doing, park usage- what are they being used for, the Adopt a Park program and the Friends of the Park Fund. Maronde then questioned certain park standards included in the old plan and questioned where they came from and if they were something we wanted to include again. Abernathy said she would look into it and also questioned the Commission if that type of information would be pertinent to what our overall goal was or that this may be something that we omit from the new plan if it isn't information we need. 6. New Business Abernathy reported that residents Mitch Rothman and Rice Davis, who have adopted Curtiss Field will be doing a clean up the last weekend of April. Rothman has asked that we attempt doing a clean up day event next year in hopes that other residents get. out to beautify the parks. Adjournment Motion to adjourn was made by Mielke and seconded Faust. Minutes respectfully submitted by Lisa Abernathy. If there are any corrections or additions, please contact Lisa Abernathy by phone at 651-792-7616 or by email at lisa.abernathy@falconheights.org. • • Park Plan Goals established Apri19~' Park Commission Meeting 5 Broad Goals to incorporate in mission statement 1. Programs 2. Health and Wellness 3. Park and Facilities 4. Trails and Accessibility 5. Natural Areas Specific goals that were discussed: • Natural Areas • Biking and Walking Trails • Pedestrian Access • Exercise • Developing trails- connecting parks, signage, trail connections • All age group programming • •