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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 11.13.06Minutes ______________________________ City of Falcon Heights, Park and Recreation Commission Meeting November 13, 2006 6:30PM _____________________________ Meeting Chair: Chuck Long Minutes By: Lisa Abernathy Present: Chuck Long, Lisa Abernathy, Jim Evans, Pat Dolan, Paula Mielke Guest: Eric Maronde Absent: Annie Green, Pam Harris, Gene Ozasky Meeting called to order 6:30 PM Approval of agenda Motion made by Mielke and seconded by Dolan Abernathy asked that a discussion on Decembers Parks Commission meeting be added to the agenda. Approval of minutes October 9, 2006 Meeting Motion made by Dolan and seconded by Evans December’s Parks Commission meeting Abernathy reported that due to a Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee meeting being held on the same date as the Park Commission’s scheduled December meeting, Abernathy asked if the Commission would like to reschedule the meeting or meet prior to the Steering Committee meeting. Abernathy also reminded members that December’s meeting is to set the next year’s goals as well as select the new Chair, therefore a meeting in December would be important. Commission members decided to find out what dates would work for members and reschedule the meeting. Abernathy would be emailing members and deciding on a date that would work and send out a working agenda for members to gather their ideas for the 2007 goals and bring to December’s meeting for discussion. 5. Recreation Update Abernathy reported the Open Gym sessions have began and both sessions have had a good turn out. The new time, Thursday evenings the first week had 6-10 participants. The Community Playroom has also started; Abernathy reported that the program is held on Wednesdays this year due to a conflict with a church activity on Thursdays. Abernathy reported that the Parent/Child Yoga class did not go this session, there was only 2 people signed up so we will try that program again to see if we can gain more interest. The Little Artist workshop will be taking place at the end of December and the Create with Clay classes will be held in January. We will be having Nigel back to lead both those classes. Abernathy also reported that the U of MN Golf Course has contacted her on partnering up to offer golf to youth and possibly adults this coming summer. We are in the beginning stages but hope to have something set up by spring. Abernathy also asked Commission members for any program ideas they would like to see the City offer. Justin Miller the City Administrator has asked Abernathy to come up with a list of different programs and events we might want to begin or look at having in the City of Falcon Heights. Any ideas should be submitted to Abernathy. Abernathy reported that the Adopt-A-Park Program has had a good start. The Rothman family and Rice Davis, residents of Falcon Heights, completed their first clean- up at Curtiss Field this past October. Abernathy reported that Mr. Rothman asked about the City conducting another Neighborhood Spring Clean up around Earth Day in April. The event had taken place in years past and he would like to see it started up again. Commission members recommended approaching the Environment Commission and Neighborhood Liaisons on helping with the event. Abernathy will look into the details of it and contact the appropriate groups. Evans asked about any further problems with crime at Curtiss Field since the Commission last met. Abernathy was unaware of any reports at the time. Long recommended asking Pam Harris at the next meeting to see if the Human Rights Commission has had any more reports of suspicious activities at the park. Lastly, Abernathy reported that the interviewing for rink attendants would begin in the next couple of weeks. The portable warming house at Falcon Heights Elementary School will be there again this year and is scheduled to be put in around the end of November. Our scheduled date to open rinks is December 22nd weather permitted. Curtiss Field Playground Abernathy reported that after the November 8th Council Meeting, the Parks and Recreation Department was given approval to begin the process of repairing structures of the Curtiss Field Playground as well as move forth in having the playground repainted. Both vendors have been contacted. If the structures for the playground come in early enough they will be put in before the ground freezes and the repainting will for sure happen early spring. 6. Dead of Winter- Poll update and Ideas Abernathy reported that a the current date the web poll on changing the Dead of Winter’s name sits at 89% feel it should be changed while 11% feel it should not. A total of 28 people have taken the survey at this time. Abernathy recommended that we leave the name for this year but have a suggestion box at this year’s event to see if the public has any ideas on a new name for the event. It would be a contest where the author of the name chosen would receive some sort of prize for the Park Commission selecting their idea. Abernathy then asked the Commission for any activity ideas they felt would add to the Dead of Winter. Dolan recommended Frisbee Golf or some sort of winter golf. Any further ideas please let Abernathy know. Abernathy also reported that she has contacted all Falcon Heights businesses on sponsoring the two City events and we have gotten a great response so far. Five businesses have already submitted their donation for the two events. Abernathy also took this time to ask that Park Commission members make their appearance at the event and will be looking for Volunteers to help with the event. Guest Eric Maronde, a National Honor Society member said he may know of some students who need volunteer hours so could possibly help with recruiting some volunteers. Comprehensive Plan Survey Abernathy led a discussion on the potential Comprehensive Plan survey questions that were given to members at the October meeting. At this time the plan for distributing the survey is to put it in the next City newsletter as an insert along with an envelope. Abernathy will also be noting on the survey that residents can take the survey online if they wish to do so. Members then went through and held discussions on each questions to shorten the length of the survey. Members narrowed it down to 15 questions. Abernathy will format the selected questions into a survey to see how many pages it turns into and determine how we would distribute the survey. Abernathy and Long suggested that we have this survey at the Dead of Winter event this January to help encourage residents to partake in the survey. Adjournment Motion to adjourn was made by Evans and seconded by Dolan. 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 labernathy@ci.falcon-heights.mn.us.