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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRCAgenda_95Feb15y City of Falcon Heights Transmittal MAIL: X FAX: DATE: 10 February 1995 TO: Park and Recreation Commissioners FROM: Carol Kriegler, Park and Recreation Direc o~ RE: Re-edited item D-3 for Wednesday's agenda I've attached a cleaner version of the report that is part of item D - 3 for the agenda on Wednesday night. There were so many small errors in the earlier version that it was difficult to read fluently. c: Judy Sabean Meeting date: 2/15/95 Agenda Item: D - 3 CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION ITEM DESCRIPTION: Request for consideration of public phone at Curtiss Field SUBMITTED BY: Carol Kriegler, Parks and Recreation Director at the request of Judy Sabean, 1847 Pascal Street EXPLANATION/SUMMARY: Resident concern. Approximately two weeks ago a resident, Judy Sabean, who uses Curtiss Field as a daytime play area for young children, called to express her concern over the absence of a public telephone at Curtiss Field. She explained that there is no immediate way for a park user facing an emergency to make a 9 - 1 -1 call. Staff explained that after careful consideration, the public telephone, which had been located on the park building, had been removed to enhance park and neighborhood security. Staff also explained that the Park and Recreation Commission, who are aware of some of the problems at Curtiss Field, could review the availability of the public phone at its next meeting. Background. Although the Curtiss Field improvement project had no provisions for the installation of a public phone, one .was installed on the east side of the park building a year or so after completion of the Curtiss Field improvements. There were two purposes for installing the public phone: 1) to allow park users to make phone calls; and 2) to provide a phone for 9-1-1 emergencies in the park. In hopes of deterring illegal activities associated with the phone, the phone was programmed only for out- going calls. Staff doesn't know how often, if ever, the public phone was used for an emergency call. Nevertheless, it provided the opportunity to call 9-1-1 in the event that an emergency might arise. Risinq neighborhood/park security issues. After two summer and fall seasons at the park, the phone was removed because it appeared to be generating undesirable activity such as major vandalism and illegal and unacceptable behavior that potentially created a security threat to the park and surrounding neighbors. After several costly incidents of serious vandalism as well as reports of inappropriate and potentially dangerous behavior by young adults, staff and neighbors reviewed the incidents and determined that often (not always) the behavior centered around using the telephone by a group of young adults. Police Chief Engstrom said that the public phone may have been programmed only for outgoing calls, but that if the phone users are dealing in drugs, they probably use pagers for messages and frequently return calls on a public phone in response to a page. Therefore, they do not need to accept in-coming calls on a telephone. Furthermore, Chief Engstrom said that the location of this park by Snelling and Larpenteur Avenues may be attractive to persons driving through the city who are interested in finding anon-visible public phone for illegal activities. Given this experience with the public phone, it was felt that as desirable as the phone is, it became a greater liability than an asset to the area. The public phone was removed last fall. The negative activity immediately subsided. This was probably due to the removal of the public phone as well as the on-set of winter. Although an unusually mild winter, like this one, could still generate incidents. Having an officer patrol the park more frequently may alleviate some of these behaviors. And, if inappropriate and illegal behavior becomes a chronic problem, the police department will stake the park out for awhile. However, an officer cannot be stationed at the park at all times. Alternative telephone access. The proximity of Curtiss Field to residential homes makes it important to maintain a secure atmosphere in the area. The closeness of the homes also provides park users with a place to run in an emergency. Although it is not as convenient nor as accessible as a public phone, they are. nearby and can be turned to for help. There are many large urban parks, like Central Park in Roseville or Como Park in St. Paul, that do not have public telephones located within easy reach for all park users. To partially compensate for the loss of the public phone, staff felt that there should be a phone available at the park, particularly during the ice skating season. A telephone was installed in the shelter and is available when the shelter is staffed. However, this is available for limited hours and not during regular daytime park hours during the winter. Experience in other communities. The use of public phones is not a unique issue to Falcon Heights. Many communities are struggling to balance the need to permit publicly accessible telephone services for citizens against the threats to security. Neighboring St. Paul recently adopted an ordinance that allows the city to require removal of public phones from private property when the phones threaten to the public health and safety of the surrounding neighborhood. St. Louis Park considered removing public phones because of problems associated with them. Conclusion and alternatives. Clearly, there is no easy solution when it comes to - balancing safety between a readily available public phone for emergencies and minimizing vandalism, inappropriate and illegal behavior in the park and surrounding neighborhood. When the commission considers this issue, the following alternatives may be useful. 1. Do not replace the public phone in the park. Assume that people will respond to emergencies in the park by running to a neighbor's home like they do in emergencies that occur in other locations when there is no public phone available. 2. Install a public phone in a well lighted location by the driveway. If problems re-surface, remove the phone. Access from the driveway may increase inappropriate behavior around the phone because it is more accessible. If it does, the phone can be removed. This approach puts the neighborhood at a slight risk if there is more inappropriate behavior. (Staff is checking the installation cost of this alternative.) Council OKs regulation of pay phones Ordinance allows removal of phones in `problem' areas By Anthony Lonelree Staff Writer Less than a year after the Minneapo- lis City Council tightened an onii- nance regulating pay phones, St. Paul has enacted a similar measure in hopes of deterring street crime. A council committee also approved a proposal Wednesday restricting the location of new gun shops in St. Paul. The phone ordinance, approved unanimously, allows city licensing of- ficials to designate a pay phone as a "problem," and if necessary, order that it be removed. Council Member Jerry Blakey sought fife measure after a lengthy campaign Last year to remove a phone at Selby Av. and Fisk St. He said that gunfire there twice resulted in shots entering a nearby group (tome. No one was hurt, but Blakey said that flee incidents showed that drug dealers and prostitutes who conduct business on pay phones and on street corners not only disrupt the quality of life in neighborhoods, but threaten public safety, as well. "Tlte city should leave fife power to get rid of a public nuisance," he said. "If people are breaking the law with a tool [a phone], we should try to get rid of that tool." !n October, Blakey announced an as- sault on St. Paul quality-of- ife crimes. leis proposals included the fay phone ordinance and legislation Itat would force business owners to dis- perse loiterers or face action age inst their licenses. Council continued on pa a 8B .~~~~~~ouncil/ Star . ,, 3-,,,tR - e owners ~i"".'- :~,,:~an take remedial :..:~_.. i , .to revent h ,..~~ p ,pone y.~•tati , . ~' ~ontinued from page IB , ' ~..,a The. anti-loitering ordinance has yet Q~`b,--,e presented to the council. '~~' pay phone measure gives busi- t1PSS' owners the right to a hearing ~ ~~ before licensing o8icials declare their ~ •; ;~-ph'~ties to be a problem. In most :,: ~ ., ases, owners can take remedial ~ s, such as blocking incoming calls , w ~~~19,arring phone use during certain ;~'3 htwrs, to prevent a removal order. •~ ,:urn ._'•,,.,; • i ~, r I~s`l~ fall, the city of Chicago banned• . payrphones outside businesses after . .d"titjl~ealers began taking them over.; 1 :; ' .:; ,Chleagd~-Id. Ed SmjtK; $;Vyest Side ,` ~ ':'.. resenl~tive;.said then that_the."at-.~ :~ ~ > ride oq. the streets, has. been; `I . do ", tt.~Hat I want, when I want:' " IV~[ripeapolis started to 'regulate pay • ` !,phones in 1992, said Laura Boyd, a ~`` 4city..lrcense inspector, Last summer, ~ ' ~ ~ d.Nliitneapolis council -members con- ' _`' ~ _ sidered requiring licenses. for all out- ' •>. dbor pay phoned,,but backed_offthat ~; pl~gr Instead, Boyd said, they fine- `;,tuped the 1992 ordinance to ensure that the city could regulate pay ~~ phones that encroached on sidewalks ahd"other public property. 1n Janu- - -ar~yt he Minneapolis licensing office '~'r~ ~• ~;^ .,, ~ steps removal received complaints about phones in five locations, which is more calls than expected .during the winter, Boyd said. She added that many cases are handled informally, without hearings, and that some businesses have removed phones voluntarily. The St. Paul gun shop ordinance, proposed by Council Member Bobbi Megard, was approved. Wednesday by the Ci't~+ Operations Committee. Megard card she expects to receive the five .votes necessary to pass the zoning change... ~ , , • The.~~~ordnance would 'restrict new gun shops .to light industrial areas. The shops would have.to be at least 1,000 feet from residential property and any protected-use property, such as a church, library, school, park, recreation center orday-care center. The restrictions, opposed by Mayor Norm Coleman, would apply to gun shops that devote a majority of their .` space to firearms and ammunition. It is not intended to affect sporting goods stores or hardware stores. " Staff writer Mary Lynn Smith con- tributed to this report. ---------- ~~ CZ --- e1° 1 :-• - 1 _t a ° ° I ° ~ j.... .._ 6 e .. -. H -s ~ ~ Oi- -o O~ ~ ~ e s t7 a _O D" e- -e D e-- -! O e • T e -- ___°_. _ e e - - ~-°1 ?.~~ I°I°I°I°I°I°I~ e°\I U I I i l l l l l l l SNELLING AVENUE ° °°°°° ° e o e o ° ° ° ° ° ° ° o ° ° e ° e e ~.. ° ° ° ° e o O ° 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 e o e ASBURY ST: ° I ooe e O ° O O e O e ° 0 0 0 0 O O O O ~O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 o e o o e o o e o O O C ~ ° n A_RO_ NA ST. _o Deo 000000 eooooDeee s ooe eeoC A 0 0 0 0 o r 0 o O _ _ ,i 0 0 0 0lo e o 0 oeo 0 0 0 0 Zoo e e e a r' m ° -- e 700~~~~~~ m t7 _ ° e e e seem e e o e ° ° ° - D °- _ 0 ~ o -° ~ < DSIMPSON ST. e ~ ° .._e D -. e-'- ' -- o D o~ o 0 0; o e o 0 o e o 0 o e o !~ --. -. 0 0 e ~ e ° • m° D D a_._ c m _, i e o 0 o e o e m o e o 0 0, i.. - - _ rI ol - - -_ 1 ~ e e 3 -- -' o- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 o J o o e o 0 0 0 e o o e e 0 0 0 1 _- J 1 e--~ - ~ ~_ -e ° ° 0 0 0 0 0 o PASCAL ST. 1 n~ ° ° - ~_ ~- e ° O O ~ ~ 0 0 o e O o o e O o 0 e 0 e - _-- _ ~ 777 O e - ° O 1 0-. _ e • i e °- °_ ° p O O O O O O O O O O O I O O i 0 O o 1 s i -e a e e o 0 o e e o e e e ! ° O 1 • ~ • .i.- e ° O 1 °-~ _'° a ~i i o - -° 1 -e_. '-e °- a -_~._ - _'- ~__ --~. ° ° e °. - -__° -°~ .~u_ 1 ° i °_ ° e ° 1 - ° 1 _~ - -_ e e e -_ a • e _o_.. __ - 1 e n _° e e u .-.a _. .-2_ -F -p.. _ -~ - e--_ -__ ° - _ __ O. 0- 1 e _a ° e _ - _ ~" e e e O 0 e- ._~. a _e ° e • 0. 1 6" ° i- -~.- _~- i i -o O i - e- _° --o- a ._ O .o . ~~~~~~~~ bl D ^~ ....... ~ r . e C N V C . e>• ea e~ e1 e~ ~ ~ ~ ~ et e~ ~~--~-~ ~ e>, ~ e~ ~ e~ e~ e~ e~ e~ e~ e~ ~ e1 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Wednesday, February 15 7:00 p.m. COMMUNITY PARK BUILDING AGENDA A. CALL TO ORDER: B. ROLL CALL: Benson _ Schugel -Nicholson Schaefer _ Weisberg _ Wickhem Kriegler _ Hustad C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND MINUTES OF: January 18 D. REPORTS, REQUESTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: D-1. Community Playroom Program Update D-2. Falcon Heights School Site Improvement Schematic Plan D-3. Request for Consideration of Public Phone at Curtiss Field ADJOURNMENT NOTE CHANGE IN MEETING LOCATION. THE CHANGE WILL ALLOW COMMISSIONERS TO SE W SOUND SYSTEM. ~rZ- Meeting Date: 2/15/95 Agenda Item: D-1 CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION ITEM DESCRIPTION: Community Playroom Program Update SUBMITTED BY: Carol Kriegler, Parks and Recreation Director REVIEWED BY: EXPLANATION / SLJ1vIlV1ARY: The Community Playroom open house was held on Saturday, Feb. 4. It is estimated that aver 100 people attended. The playroom began regular hours of operation on Monday, Feb. 6. Carol Kriegler will give a brief report on the program's first week and a half of operation. Meeting Date: 2/15/95 Agenda Item: D-2 CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION ITEM DESCRIPTION: Falcon Heights School Site Improvement Schematic Plan SUBMITTED BY: Carol Kriegler, Parks and Recreation Director REVIEWED BY: EXPLANATION / Si:~1~N1ARY: At the Falcon Heights School Site Improvement Committee's last meeting (Feb. 6), a consensus was reached on a schematic plan, The plan includes the following: A. Excavating and general turf improvement. This would include grading of the east side of the site to eliminate the drop in grade in the area 80 to 100 feet east of the existing NE baseball backstop, This would allow an easterly shift of both ball fields with no net lass in open space between the fields. The adjustment to the east would result in a gain of space on the west side of the site that would be improved with a hardcourt, play equipment, and misc. site amenities. It would be necessary to seed all disturbed areas. (est. cost $6,000) B. Infield construction. With the shift in the location of the ball fields, it would be necessary to construct two new infields and replace (or reinstall) the baseball backstops. (est. cost $5,000) C. Hardcourt construction. A quality hardcourt is recommended for the area just offthe N.W. wing. The hardcourt would be approximately 40' x 70', color-coated with boundary lines and keys, and include both standard and jr. height basketball standards. (est. cost $12,000) D. Play equipment. Designed with the intent of serving children 10 years and older, play equipment would be located just south of the hardcourt in a north/south "progression" oriented fashion. (est. cost dependent on number of desired play elements. For budget purposes, site preparation and installation costs will run 25-40% of equipment costs.) E. Misc. site amenities. Amenities such as waste receptacles, park benches and picnic tables would be installed. (est. cost $2,500) It is recommended that improvements be implemented in a two phases. The first would be the development of the west corridor (hardcourt, play equipment, site amenities) in the spring of'95 with the second (grading /ball fields) being accomplished in late summer and early fall. This two phase schedule is recommended so that turf disruption is occurring at a time when school is not in session and when recreational use of the open space is at a minimum. Following Commission and Council review and approval of the schematic plan, it is recommended that the City's engineer review the plans, assist in continued design development, refine budget estimates, and establish construction specifications so that bids can be obtained for the project. It is also suggested that a small committee be established for the purpose of determining desired play equipment elements and a budget; requesting design proposals; and making a recommendation concerning equipment purchase and installation. ACTION REQUESTED: Approval of the F.H. school site improvement schematic plan. Meeting date: 2/15/95 Agenda Item: D - 3 CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION ITEM DESCRIPTION: Request for consideration of public phone at Curtiss Field SUBMITTED BY: Carol Kriegler, Parks and Recreation Director at the request of Judy Sabean, 1847 Pascal Street EXPLANATION/SUMMARY: Resident concern. Approximately two weeks ago a resident, Judy Sabean, who uses Curtiss Field as a daytime play area for young children, called to express her concern over the absence of a public telephone at Curtiss Field. She explained that there is no immediate way for a park user facing an emergency to make a 9 - 1 -1 call. Staff explained that after careful consideration, the public telephone, which had been located on the park building, had been removed to enhance park and neighborhood security. Staff also explained that the Park and Recreation Commission, who are aware of some of the problems at Curtiss Field, could review the availability of the public phone at its next meeting. Background. Although the Curtiss Field improvement project had no provisions for the installation of a public phone, one was installed on the east side of the park building a year or so after completion of the Curtiss Field improvements. There were two purposes for installing the public phone: 1) to allow park users to make phone calls; and 2) to provide a phone for 9-1-1 emergencies in the park. In hopes of deterring illegal activities associated with the phone, the phone was programmed only for out- going calls. Staff doesn't know how often, if ever, the public phone was used for an emergency call. Nevertheless, it provided the opportunity to call 9-1-1 event that an emergency might arise. Rising neighborhood/park security issues. After two summer and fall seasons at the park, the phone was removed because it appeared to be generating undesirable activity such as major vandalism and illegal and unacceptab-e behavior that potentially created a security threat to the park and surrounding neighbors. After several costly and incidents of serious vandalism as well as reports of inappropriate and potentially dangerous behavior by young adults, staff and neighbors reviewed the incidents and determined that often (not always) the behavior centered around using the telephone by a group of young adults. Police Chief Engstrom said that the public phone may have been programed only for outgoing calls, but that if the phone users are dealing in drugs, they probably pagers and frequently return calls on a public phone in response to a page. Therefore, they do not need to accept in-coming calls on a telephone. Furthermore, Chief Engstrom said that the location of this park by Snelling and Larpenteur Avenues may make it attractive to those interested in illegal activity who are driving through the city because it is anon-visible public phone. Given this experience with the public phone, it was felt that as desirable as the phone is, it became a greater liability than an asset to the area. The public phone was removed last fall. The negative activity immediately subsided. This was probably due to the removal of the public phone as well as the on-set of winter. Although an unusually mild winter, like this one, could still generate incidents. Having an officer patrol the park more frequently may alleviate some of these behaviors. And, if inappropriate and illegal behavior becomes a chronic problem, the police department will stake the park out for awhile. However, an officer cannot be stationed at the park at all times. Alternative telephone access. The proximity of Curtiss Field to residential homes makes it important to maintain a secure atmostphere in the area. The closeness of the homes also provides park users with a place to run in an emergency. Although it is not as convenient nor as accessible as a public phone, they are nearby and can be turned to for hlep. There are many large urban parks, like Central Park in Roseville or Como Park in St. Paul, that do not have public telephones located within easy reach for all park users. Staff felt that there should be a phone available at the park, particularly during the ice skating season. A telephone was installed in the shelter and is available when the shelter is staffed. However, this is available for limited hours and not during regular daytime park hours during the winter. Experience in other communities. The use of public phones is not a unique issue to Falcon Heights. Many communities are struggling to balance the need to permit publicly accessible telephone services for citizens against the threats to security. Neighboring St. Paul recently adopted an ordinance that allows the city to require removal of public phones from private property when the phones threaten to the public health and safety of the surrounding neighborhood. St. Louis Park removed several public phones because of problems associated with them. Conclusion and alternatives. Clearly, there is no easy solution when it comes to balancing safety between a readily available public phone for emergencies and minimizing vandalism, inappropriate and illegal behavior in the park and surrounding neighborhood. When the commission considers this issue, the following alternatives may be useful. 1 . Do not replace the public phone in the park. Assume that people will respond to emergencies in the park by running to a neighbor's home like they do in emergencies that occur in other locations when there is no pay phone available. 2. Install a public phone in a well-light location by the drivway. If problems re-surface, remove the phone. Access from the driveway may increase inappropriate behavior around the phone because it is more accessible. If it does, the phone can be removed. (Staff is checking the installation cost of this alternative.) ~\~t\ ~~~ ~rt~._-- ~ C~-~t~~ t~ Council OKs regulation of pay phones Ordinance allows removal of phones in `problem' areas By Anthony Lonetree No one was Kurt, but Blakey said Staff Writer that the incidents showed that drug dealers and prostitutes who conduct Less than a year after the Mimreapo- business on pay phones and on street lis City Council tightened an ordi- corners not only disrupt the quality Hance regulating pay phones, St. Paul of life in neighborhoods, but threaten has enacted a similar measure in public safety, as well. tropes of deterring street crime. A council committee also approved a proposal Wednesday restricting the location of new gun shops in St. Paul. 7'1re phone ordinance, approved unanimously, allows city licensing of- ficials to designate a pay phone as a "prublem," and if necessary, order that it be removed. Council Member Jerry Blakey sought fire measure after a lengthy campaign last year to remove a phone at Selby Av. and Fisk St. He said that gunfire there twice resulted in shots entering a nearby group home. "The city should have the power to get rid of a public nuisance," he said. "If people are breaking the law with a tool [a phone], we should try to get rid of drat tool." In October. Blakey announced an as- sault on St. Paul quality-of- ife crimes. liis proposals included the ray phone ordinance and legislation hat would force business owners to dis- perse loiterers or face action ag inst their licenses. Council continued on pa a 8R ~.`IX~ouncil/ ,Store own r .,,,.~ e s wye~.,, - : ~. can take ~ remedial ~ste s _..a.. p . i ; ,~:fio. revent ~ hone rem v ,~ Y p p o al ' ', ~on¢nued from page ~1B '., 1 ~ .received complaints about phones in • ~ ~ kr. ` ~° ~ five locations, which is more calls ~>halanti-loitering ordinance has yet than expected .during the winter, ., ~ •, .:,., ~1,Q;lie presented to the council... • Boyd said. She added that many _. _ ~.o:.... ;_ ~`.. - ~ ,~ ' ' - cases are handled informally, without . ` "T11~' pay phone measure gives busi- hearings, and that some businesses ~ -~,t• t~C53' owners the right to a hearing , have removed phones voluntarily. before licensing officials declare their ;--,;--,-ph"opes to be a problem. In most The St. Paul gun shop ordinance, ~< ases, owners can take remedial 1, "~ ,~ , , proposed by Council Member Bobbi a_+.~~s p's, such as blocking incoming calls .$ Megard, .was approved; .Wednesday, ,; ~>famng phone use during certain by the-City Operations Committee. '~ hours, to prevent a removal order ~; ; Megard~ said she expects to receive ~ W/.AIM' 1 ' :' f ~~: ~ `~~ ~ ~ ' ~ `+ • 1 ~. • the five votes. ,necessary - to pass the • . L~S~ fall; the city of Chicago banned zoning change . ~ ! ; ' .`-~' pay phones outside businesses after ; , .;. ~. ;,drag dealers began taking them over.: The:; ordnance.,would restrict new ~. .;~iago,~Id, Ed Smith;, a,VYest Side, ;:? gun shops .to light- industrial areas. . ' 88resentative;;saidahpn.~that the `at- ; The shops would have_to be at least ~'~; .t~t(rde; oq;~the streets,has.been, 'I do ;~ I,000 feet from residential property ' ` •. L~1fat I want, when I want."': ~ and any protected-use property, such • ~- ~ ' `~~s. ° • as a church, library, school, park, N~jripeapolis: started to regulate pay recreation center or day-care center. ;~~,. ~;phopes in 1992, said Laura Boyd, a . - - - lt~ty.: hcense inspector. Last summer, ' The restrictions, opposed by Mayor ~'~ ~~ ~ltitneapolis council -members con- Norm Coleman, would apply to gun ''- sidered requiring licenses,for all out- ;' shops that devote a majority of their .` a:. d6oc pay phones but backed_off that " space to firearms and ammunition. It ~, p,1grC, Instead, Boyd said, they fine- ~ is not intended to affect sporting ;tuned the 1992 ordinance to ensure :goods stores or hardware stores. ' ;~~ that the city could regulate pay r i,. p~rones that encroached on sidewalks Statf writer Mary Lynn Smith con- " ahd:other public property. In Janu- tributed to this report. ..t.~,.a - -arytithe Minneapolis licensing office }~~~ .:~ • • Minutes Parks and Recreation Commission January 18th, 1995 Present Morrie Nicholson Greg Schaefer Steve Schugel Nancy Wickhem, Chair & Secretary Carol Kriegler, Parks and Rec. Director John Hustad, Council Liaison Absent Jackie Benson Allen Weinand Carol Weisberg The Parks and Rec. Commission welcomes new member Greg Schaefer, and new council liaison John Hustad. Community Playroom Program Implementation. The city council has authorized implementation of the community playroom as outlined in the program model presented at the January 11th council meeting. The first day of regular operation will be Monday January 6th. An open house is planned for Saturday, February 4th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The open house and playroom information will be publicized in the community papers as well as the Falcon Heights newsletter. Winter Event Planning. Because the city's annual mid-winter celebration is currently scheduled for the same weekend as the playroom open house, some discussion took place regarding the possibility of combining the two events, or planning winter events at the other neighborhood parks on different weekends. The commission decided it wanted to continue the "whole city" type of activity as has been done in the past, and didn't expect the two events would conflict. Planning will continue for the Dead of Winter Inspirational on Sunday February 5th from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Activities will include crafts, treasure hunt, skating clinics, kids relays, and refreshments. • Falcon Heights School site improvement update. Carol Kriegler and intern Mike Shier took part in needs !interest discussions with 4th - 6th grade students at Falcon Heights School. A hard court area and improvements to the ball fields including field lines were suggested. The city engineer is reviewing the site, and cost estimates are being obtained for different site improvement options. Adjournment. Submitted by Nancy Wickhem, Chair and Secretary.