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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-12-17 PRC Packet AGENDA CITY OF MAPLEWOOD PARKSAND RECREATION COMMISSIONMEETING Wednesday,December 17,2014 7:00pmMeeting Council Chambers -Maplewood City Hall 1830 County Road B East 1.Call to Order 2.Roll Call 3.Approval of Agenda 4.Approval of Minutes a.November 19, 2014 5.Visitor Presentations 6.Unfinished Business a.Parks SystemPlanFinancial Discussion and Prioritization b.2014 Goal Review and Discussion on Setting 2015 Goals in January 7.New Business a. 8.Staff Presentations a.Spotlight on Parks (Timber Park) 9.Commissioner Comments (9:00p.m.) 10.Adjourn – MINUTES 4a MAPLEWOOD PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION 7:00p.m., Wednesday, November 19,2014 Council Chambers, City Hall 1.CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission was held in the City Hall Council Chambers and called to order by Chair Cockrielat 7:00p.m. 2.ROLL CALL Commissioners Commissioner Craig Brannon Present Chair RonCockriel Present Commissioner RJ Erhardt Absent Commissioner Terri Mallet Present Commissioner Kim Schmidt Present Commissioner Mike Wilde Present Commissioner Matt Prom Present Commissioner Nikki Villavicencio Absent Commissioner Rick Brandon Present Draft Staff Parks Manager, Jim Taylor Present 3.APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Parks Manager, Jim Taylor requested to add agenda item 8a. February 2015 Parks and Recreation CommissionMeeting. Parks Manager, Jim Taylor also wanted to include a formal introduction of Julie Haansa, a senior at North St. Paul High School that will be a non-voting member of the Parks and Recreation Commission. Commissioner Brannon moved toapprove the agendaas amended. Seconded by Commissioner Schmidt Ayes – All The motion passed. 4.APPROVAL OF MINUTES a.October 15, 2014 Commissioner Malletmoved to approve the October 15, 2014 Parks and Recreation Commission minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Prom Ayes – All Abstain – Commissioners Brannon, Schmidt, and Wilde Wednesday, November 19, 2014 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes 4a The motion passed. 5.VISTOR PRESENTATIONS a. 6.UNFINISHEDBUSINESS st a.Parks System Plan 1Draft Review Parks Manager, Jim Taylor, introduced Hoisington Koegler Group Consultant, Lil st Leathum, to discuss the Parks System Plan 1Draft and answered questions of the commission. 7.NEW BUSINESS a. 8.STAFF PRESENTATIONS a.February 2015 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Parks Manager, Jim Taylor, discussed that the February 2015 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting will be held jointly with the Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Commissionworkshopmeeting. The meeting will be held on February 11 at 6:00PM. The location will be moved to the Ramsey County Draft Parks and Recreation office located at2015 VanDyke Street Maplewood, MN 55109. Commissioner Prom moved to holdthe February 18, 2015Parks and Recreation meeting onFebruary 11, 2015at the Ramsey County Parks and Recreation location. Seconded by Commissioner Mallet Ayes – All Abstain – Commissioner Schmidt The motion passed. 9.COMMISSIONER COMMENTS a. 10.ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Brandon movedto adjourn the meeting. Seconded by CommissionerBrannon Ayes – All The motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 9:04pm. Next meeting is December 17,2014. Wednesday, November 19, 2014 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes 6a MEMORANDUM TO: Parks and Recreation Commission FROM: Jim Taylor, Parks Manager DATE: December 17, 2014 SUBJECT: Parks System Plan Financial Discussionand Prioritization Introduction The City is nearing the completion of the Parks System Master Plan. Staff has been working closely with Hoisington Koegler Group inc. (HKGi)to developand implementa plan that incorporatesmultiple opportunities for stakeholder involvement (i.e. residents and businesses). The Parks System Master Plan process took two years to complete. The process included more than 30 meetings, open houses, and focus groups that were organized by HKGi consultants and Staff to obtain stakeholders input. In addition to these meetings, one statistically valid survey was sentout to residents, as well as, three informal surveys. Throughout this process monthly updates were given by Staff at the Parks and Recreation Commission meetings for feedback. At the November 19, 2014 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, HKGi consultants presented the first draft of the Parks System Master Plan. At this time it was decided that a full financial discussion would be held at the December 2014 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting before finalizing the plan. Background The purpose of theParks System Master Planisthe following: 1.Provide astrategic plan for Parks and Recreation improvements and operations. 2. Assure that the parkssystem continues to fully meet community needs now and in the future. 3.Buildchampions for Parks and Recreation and enhance partnerships as part of the process. In addition, the plan will provide strategies for all areas of Parks and Recreation as well as implementationrecommendations. The project approach was an inclusive process withforward thinking andvision driven planning. The Parks System Planwas developed through partnerships between residents, local businesses, the Parks System PlanTask Force, the Maplewood Parks and Recreation Commission, City Officials, and Staff. Parks Staff and HKGi useda wide variety of methods to solicit input throughthesepartnerships. To better understand how to prioritize for the future, the Commission has asked staff to provide information on how we currently fund Parks and the projectswe have completed over the past fiveyears. Staff will present further on all these numbers at the December meeting. Annual Operating Budget (General Fund): 6a Parks Maintenance - $900,000 Parks Administration - $204,770 Open Space Budget - $ 74,000 CIP Fund Allocation - $100,000 (for Improvements to Parks) Park Availability Charge (PAC Account): Current Balance - $960,664 Annual spending out of PAC Open Space Improvements:$30,000 In the past five years, $4,006,605 has been spent on land acquisitions, improvements and planning in addition to the annual operating budget. Staff will present all of these projects with the Commission at the meeting. As we move forward with the plan, staff is looking for direction regardingthe prioritization of improvements to ourparks system over the next 20 years. With more projects than funding available, prioritization is needed to guide wherefunds should be allocated. While the City Council is the ultimate decision-making authority, City Staff would like to includea list of priorities in the draft plan for the City Council’s consideration. This list will be prepared based on input from the Parks System Plan TaskForce and the Parks and Recreation Commission, in conjunction with the expertise and experience of the consultants and City Staff. As a starting point for this discussion staff has asked each Commissioner to complete a survey to provide their perspective on the importance of the individual recommendations. Commission members’ score have been averaged and will be provided as a starting point for discussion at the meeting. Based on the November input from the Parks System Plan Task Force and the Parks and Recreation Commission, we have pulled four items from these recommendations as the top priority. These four recommendations will be placed as the highest priority recommendations in the plan. 1.Maintenance and Capital Replacement Improvements 2.Trail System Expansion 3.Replacing Park Signs 4.Installation of Park Amenities(shade, benches, bike racks, etc.) Based on the discussion fromthe November meeting, City Staff and consultants feel that these are fundamental facilities that the City needs to plan on investing in on an ongoing basis. The remaining list of priorities representsimprovements/enhancements to the system – including the signature parks. The maintenance/replacement costs for the signature parks to remain as is are already included in the Maintenance and Capital Replacement recommendation. Budget Impact No additional budget impact at this time. 6a Recommendation Staff recommends the Parks and Recreation Commission be prepared to discussa list of priorities for Park Improvements to be added to the Parks System Plan. Attachments 1.Parks and RecreationCommissioner Survey Results 6b MEMORANDUM TO: Parks and Recreation Commission FROM: Jim Taylor, Parks Manager DATE: December 17, 2014 SUBJECT: 2014 Goal Review and Discussion on Setting 2015 Goals in January Introduction In compliance with Article II, Section 21.20 of the Maplewood City Ordinance, the Maplewood Parks and Recreation Commission is required to submit an Annual Commission Report. In addition to this report, the Parks and Recreation Commission will provideayearly a list of their current annual goals to City Council. Background In early 2014, the Commission adopted their 2013 annual report to the City Council and their 2014 goals. For 2014 the Commission moved to have one goal: In 2014, the Parks and Recreation Commission will focus their efforts on the Parks System Master Plan. The commission will work to ensure the voices and opinions of the residents of Maplewood are one of main focal points while the plan is developed. Through the development and implementation of the Parks System Plan, the Commission believes this will accomplish many of the carryover goals. At the January 2015 Parksand RecreationCommission meeting, staff will have an agenda item to brainstorm and set the 2015 goals for the Commission. Once these goals are complete they will be added to the 2014 annual report toCity Council. Budget Impact No additional budget impact at this time. Recommendation Staff does not have a recommendation at this time;this is for discussion purposes only. Attachments 1.2013 Annual Report to the City Council 6b, Attachment 1 MEMORANDUM TO: Chuck Ahl, City Manager FROM: Ron Cockriel, Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission DATE: January 2, 2014 SUBJECT: 2013 Parks and RecreationCommission Annual Report Introduction Maplewood City Code requires the Parks and Recreation Commission to prepare an annual report for submittal to City Council. The following is a report of actions and activities of the Parks and Recreation Commission in 2013. 2013 Goals 1.Assist in the creation of the Parks System Plan 2.Address referendum funding 3.Complete inventory of Maplewood parks 4.Form a disc golf subcommittee 5.Organize a Roselawn Park Buckthorn removal and clean-up 6.Schedule a walk through at Gladstone Savanna 7. Continue to generate funding forthe acquisition ofFish Creek 8.Convene a meeting with the Human Rights Commission to discuss increasing multi-cultural inclusion 9.Plan a parks tour 10.Improve parks and trail signage 11.Brainstorm collaboration with countyfor at-risk youth 12.Continuation of discussionforan off-leash dog area 2013Accomplishments 1.Fish Creek – completed acquisition 2.Fish Creek – continued restoration work (tree planting and brush removal) 3.Gladstone Savanna – prepped site for prairie seeding 4.Prairie Farm – began installation of overflow turf parking lot (MAHS) 5.LionsPark – replanted one rain garden 6.Installation of a new playground at Geranium Park 7.Renovation of Tom Kelly Field at Edgerton Park 8.Held an ADA/Inclusion workshop in November 9.Held a city-wide bus tour In addition, the Parks and Recreation Commission weighed in on: 1.General open space and nature center updates 2.Marshlands Trail 3.Greenways 4.Buckthorn at parks 6b, Attachment 1 5.Two members of the Parks and Recreation Commission were liaisons for Maplewood Parks System Plan Task Force 6.Arkwright/Sunrise neighborhood redevelopment project 7.Added a “Spotlight on a park” segment to the agenda 2013 Membership Review and Current Roster In 2013,Parks and Recreation Commission membership went through several changes. We saw the resignationsof Roy Adams, Nora Slawik,Bruce Roman, but welcomed as newly appointed members Terri Malett, Matt Prom,Nikki Villavicencioand Rick Brandon. The Parks and Recreation Commission would like to recognizeDon Christiansonfor his 35+ years of service.The commission will miss Don’sexpertise and good judgment on all things related to parks and recreation. The current Parks and Recreation Commission Members are: Name AppointedTermsExpire Rick Brandon 11/14/2013 4/30/2016 Craig Brannon 1/1/1997 4/30/2017 Ron Cockriel 2/11/2013 4/30/2016 RJ Erhardt 4/11/2011 4/30/2015 Terri Mallet 2/11/2013 4/30/2017 Mathew Prom 4/8/2013 4/30/2015 Kim Schmidt 2/21/2007 4/30/2016 Nikki Villavicencio 10/14/2013 4/30/2017 Mike Wilde 1/14/2013 4/30/2015 2013 Review and Anticipated2014 Development Activities The Parks and Recreation Commission began the development of the Parks Master Plan. Through this process, the commissioners attended community meetings and hosted a joint workshop with the Maplewood Parks System Plan Task Force regarding accessibility and inclusion in our playgrounds. In 2014, the Parks and Recreation Commission will focus their efforts on the Parks System Master Plan. The commission will work to ensure the voicesand opinionsofthe residents of Maplewood are one of main focal points while the plan is developed.Through the development and implementation of the Parks System Plan, the Commission believes this will accomplish many of the carryover goals. Summary The Parks and Recreation Commission looks forward to serving the City of Maplewood in 2014 and providing the City Council with advice and guidance on allissues related to Parks and Recreation. Budget Impact None Recommendation Staff recommends the approval of the Parks and Recreation Commission’s2013 Annual Report.