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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes.12.12.05Minutes ______________________________ City of Falcon Heights, Park and Recreation Commission Meeting December 12, 2005 7:00 PM _____________________________ Meeting Chair: Chuck Long Minutes By: Lisa Anderson Present: Laura Kuettel , James Evans, Chuck Long, Greg Hoag, Annie Green, Lisa Anderson, Pat Dolan, Gene Ozasky, Kimberly Kuhens, Pamela Harris Absent: Meeting called to order 7:00 PM Long gave thanks to Laura Kuettel who will depart as City Council liaison to the Park and Recreation Commission and welcomed Pamela Harris who will take her place. Introductions were then given of the current Park and Recreation Commission members and City Staff. Approval of agenda Motion made by Green, seconded by Evans. Hoag noted as a follow-up to discussion during the October meeting regarding the flooding at Curtiss Field. The pond is now at its lowest water level this year. Hoag also gave an update on the flood damage to the building. The floor has been replaced with a rubber floor that is removable for clean-up should the building ever flood again. Approval of minutes of October 10, 2005 Motion made by Ozasky and seconded by Evans. Staff Report: Winter Program Update: Anderson reported the Saturday Morning Open Gym and Community Playroom programs are in full swing. Attendance for Open Gym has been between 7-10 people and 5 children at the Playroom. We hope to include more marketing for both these programs in a coming up newsletters, flyers and newspapers. Rinks Attendants have all been hired. Anderson reported that we have about 15 attendants who will be out there this season supervising the rinks. Training was given prior to the meeting so they will continue preparing for a December 19th rink opening date. Anderson then listed a few up and coming programs. The Little Artist Workshop at the end of December is already full. A Holiday cookie class will also be at the end of December and coming up in January another Clay Creations class is scheduled. Anderson also reported that the Park and Recreation department has been contacted by a current yoga instructor who is looking at teaching some classes for us. Her name is Karen Rajcic Favazza and she currently teaches yoga at the DeLange Dance Studio in Falcon Heights. Currently there are plans for Adult and Senior Yoga classes scheduled to begin in January. Anderson also stated they are hoping to add Kids Yoga to the summer program line up. Rink Updates Hoag reported that the flooding has begun at locations and will continue as the temperatures allow. Curtiss field is holding well. Some rinks could be open as early as Friday, they are about 15 days ahead of schedule. Kuhen’s asked whether or not there would be benches in the Falcon Heights School warming house. Hoag then replied that there will not be benches but some type of chair. Kuettel suggested putting a box with our Park program flyers for the public to see when visiting the warming house. Harris included the future thought of selling food or beverages such as hot chocolate in the warming houses. New Commission member Hoag also reported that pending City Council’s approval December 14th, we will have a new Commission member- Paula Mielke. Harris added in that she is the one who recommended Paula to the Commission and feels she will be a great asset. 2006 Meeting Dates: Long recommended discussing the 2006 Commission meeting dates prior to the 2006 goals based on content length. Commissioners received six meeting dates in 2006. Kuettel questioned why the commission would meet only six and not 12 months out of the year. Long and Hoag explained that some months there is a lack of agenda items so the Commission proposed meeting every other month to have more items to discuss. The option of meeting each month is there if there is a topic or event needing discussing. Kuettel brought up the administrative policy that regularly attending meetings is a requirement of the Commission. Kuettel questioned if this would be a problem if the Commission only met six times a year. Kuettel also pointed out that the Commission should have strongly committed members who will not miss meetings. Kuettel also brought the question of the planning for the Dead of Winter Event and when would that happen if there is no meeting prior to the event. The conclusion among Commission members was that the Recreation Supervisor would continue the primary planning and if Commissioners had ides they would bring them up at a monthly meeting or call a meeting to do so. Long then asked the commission members if a January meeting was then necessary and at what time is good for everyone. Hoag suggested the Commission meet in January to discuss the Dead of Winter Event and continue the discussion of 2006 goals. Hoag then asked for meeting times that work for Commission members, 6:30 p.m. was the happy medium found between members, based on family and work schedules. Recommendation to transfer funds from Falcon Heights friends of the Parks Fund to recreation Scholarship account: Anderson reported that $ 460.00 in scholarships was given to 25 families this past summer. To date there has been $152.00 in donations received this year. This does not cover the amount given out in scholarships. Anderson asked Park Commission members to make a recommendation to City Council to transfer $284.00 from the Friends of the Parks Fund to the Scholarship account. Harris then asked how much is currently in the Friends of the Park Fund, and if this transfer would deplete it. Anderson reported that there is currently over $2,000 in the account so this transfer would not affect the account. Hoag explained that this is a subject we hope to take a closer look at during future meetings. The history behind it, the way it’s organized and how we can market it to make the public aware of it. Ozasky asked what exactly the mission of the fund or what is it used for. Hoag explained that from the research he has done it is a charitable opportunity for people to donate money to help with capital improvements in our parks and also used for scholarships for someone with lower income or who could not otherwise participate in a recreation program. Long asked for a motion to recommend a transfer of $284.00 from the Falcon Heights Friends of the Park Fund to the Scholarship Fund to the City Council. Dolan motioned the transfer and Kuhens seconded the motion 2006 Goals: Below is the goals discussed ( in no particular order) Falcon Heights Friends of the Park Fund- Review the mission of the fund, how it works, marketing, and how to broaden it. Incorporating it into city events, involving local businesses and figuring out a way to get money in and how it will be spent. Scholarship Program- Review how it currently works, clarify and set guidelines or standards that may be needed to regulate the amount of scholarships that are given out. Research how other cities handle scholarships and determine what is best for Falcon Heights’ residents. Start process of updating the Park and Recreation Comprehensive Plan. Appreciation of our event volunteers/donators- Lions, Twin Cities Co-Op, private donations. Review groups or people who have given time or money annually. City Council recognition. (Community Partners Award) Redefine the role and expectations of the Park and Recreation Commission. Review program fees annually- research other cities with like programs. Curtiss Field Playground- begin researching or looking for types of play equipment we would like to have at Curtiss Field. Public Relations and Marketing Related to Goals: Hoag reported that the Park and Recreation Comprehensive Plan has been electronically saved. Hoag then asked the Commission how we wanted to begin the process: front to back, off of our goals or by topic. He also reported that the plan was done in 1989 so some of the content is not relevant to today’s parks and programs. Therefore the Commission can recreate the plan format as they feel would best suit. Harris then recommended we have a workshop meeting where we tackle the chapters or sections and discuss them among the other Commission members. Hoag concluded that we could continue the discussion of the direction of the comprehensive plan in January, as well as work on the role and expectations of the Commission. Hoag asked Commissioners to read it over and make notes and be ready to discuss at the January meeting. A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Green and seconded by Ozasky. Meeting ended at 9:15 pm Minutes respectfully submitted by Lisa Anderson. If there are any corrections or additions, please contact Lisa Anderson by phone at 651-792-7616 or by email at lisa.anderson@ci.falcon-heights.mn.us.