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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 7.21.08Minutes ______________________________ City of Falcon Heights, Park and Recreation Commission Meeting July 21, 2008 6:30PM _____________________________ Meeting Chair: Annie Green Minutes By: Lisa Abernathy Present: Michael Thomas, Melissa Weber-Sanders, Paula Mielke, Paul Faust, Gary Kwong, and Tim Pittman. Absent: Eric Maronde and Chuck Long Meeting called to order 6:30 PM Approval of minutes June 9, 2008 Meeting. Motion made by Kwong and seconded by Thomas Staff Report Recreation Update- Abernathy reported that summer programs are in their final two weeks and are going very well so far. Abernathy will be handing out evaluations for parents so we can get some feedback on their perspective of our programs. Abernathy also reported that the University of MN Women’s soccer team has approached the City on doing a “Falcon Heights Day at the Game/free youth soccer clinic in September. The free clinic will be open to Falcon Heights youth. They will learn basic skills and drills from the players themselves and then play a half-time game during the women’s game. Abernathy has been working with their coaches regarding this event and will be promoting it through the usual means of promotion. Public Works Update- Pittman reported he has been working with Abernathy in preparing materials for the tennis court reconstruction grant the City will be applying for. Pittman also reported that the City will have new banners they will be putting up along Larpenteur just in time for the fair. Ice Cream Social Abernathy reported that plans for the Ice Cream Social are coming along. A moon bounce, the Raptor Center and the entertainment will be new this year. There were also four more businesses who have contributed to the event, bringing the total to 17 businesses. Abernathy also asked for any Commissioner’s who would be able to help out with ticket sales and representing the Parks Commission table. Mielke, Green, and Weber-Sanders volunteered to help out during the event. Fall/Winter Programming Abernathy reported on the fall and winter programs that are coming up: fall soccer, open gym, outdoor rinks, rugby, parent and child crafts, tae kwon do, music classes and adult yoga. Abernathy expects the fall/winter activity guide to be out towards the end of August. The Touch-A- Truck event is being planned along side the fire departments open house. This is scheduled for Saturday, October 4th. Details for this are still in the process. Playroom Discussion Abernathy gave a brief history on her time with the Community Playroom and asked the Commission if it was something they wanted to pursue again. Mielke also gave a background on the playroom from when it first started. Commissioners agreed that there seems to be a change in trend with families who stay home, go out to program to play or seek out alternative places to play. The Commission decided to table this program at this time. New Business Dogs in the Parks- The Commission came to a conclusion that what they would like to see is that leashed dogs are allowed in the park. To see if this is something that would be favored by residents, a trial or test period would be set up where dogs would be allowed in the parks on a leash during set times in the day. The trial run would start in September and end at the conclusion of the month of August of 2009. During this time the City will monitor complaints, comments and other issue that may arise during this time period. After the trial the Commission will then decide if they would be in favor of changing the ordinance permanently. Green and Weber-Sanders will be writing up a policy item for the Council to review and approve. The item will state the Commission’s proposal to try a trial run of allowing dogs in the parks from the hours of 7am- 9pm on a leash no longer than 6ft long. Abernathy will set up an online poll to get an idea of how many people would be in favor of this change and how many would not. This trial will be based on the City Council’s approval. Discussion will continue at Septembers Park Commission meeting. Splash Pads-Mielke gave a quick description to a splash pad in her home town of Morris, Minnesota and that it would be a great unique attraction that Falcon Heights should consider having in one of its parks. Commissioners then discussed the amount of space that may be need for a splash pad, an appropriate size and what park it would be suitable in. Many agreed Community Park would be the place for it. Pittman suggested filling in the current sandbox area and using that space for a splash pad. Abernathy and Pittman will be looking into the cost as well as the different size apparatus’s to see if it would be something that would be feasible as well as looking at other communities who have splash pads and find out issues or successes they may have had. Next Park Commission meeting will be Monday, September 8th 6:30pm at City Hall Adjournment Motion made by Thomas 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.