EQEA 06/03/2019
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND ENERGY COMMISSION
Fridley Municipal Center, 7071 University Ave Ne
MINUTES
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SPECIAL JOINT MEETING WITH PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Location: City of Fridley Civic Campus, Fireside Room and Parks Tour
Call to Order
Chair Heintz called the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
Members present: Pete Borman, Mike Heintz, EB Graham, Ryan Gerhard, Dave Kondrick, Shanna Larson (late
arrival)
Members absent: None
Chair Hanson called the Environmental Quality and Energy Commission to order.
Members present: Mark Hanson, Justin Foell, Amy Dritz, Nick Olberding
Absent: Heidi Ferris, Paul Westby, Sam Stoxen
Staff: Deborah Dahl, Director of Community Services and Employee Relations; Rachel Workin, Environmental
Planner
Other: Steve Eggert, Council Member; Jeff Jensen, Operations Manager- Streets, Parks, and Facilities
Approval of Minutes
Chair Heintz called for a motion to adopt the minutes from the May 6, 2019 Parks and Recreation Meeting.
Commissioner Kondrick made a motion; Commissioner Graham seconded the motion.
MOTION PASSED unanimously
Chair Hansen called for a motion to adopt the minutes from the May 13, 2019 Environmental Quality and
Energy Commission minutes. Commissioner Foell made a motion; Commissioner Olberding seconded the
motion.
MOTION PASSED unanimously
Approval of Agenda
Chair Heintz called for a motion to adopt the agenda for the June 3 meeting agenda. Commissioner Borman
made the motion; Commissioner Graham seconded the motion.
MOTION PASSED unanimously
New Business
1) Welcome
Ms. Dahl welcomed the two groups and described the tour of the Parks to occur this meeting. Chair Heintz
shared that the City had one the Our Courts. Our Future basketball court contest for a new basketball court at
Madsen Park and thanked staff for promoting the voting platform. Commissioner Kondrick asked how they
picked the three finalists. Ms. Dahl shared that the City was one of many applicants, she did not know the
criteria by which the 3 metro area cities were selected. Commissioner Borman asked how Madsen Park was
selected as the entrant. Mr. Jensen shared that it was a combination of need, visibility, and use. Mr. Jensen
shared that the presence of a parking lot provides Madsen Park with a high level of opportunity.
2) Parks Master Plan
Ms. Dahl described the Parks Master Plan process. She requested that the Commissioners participation in the
process by 1) attending the facilitated discussion, 2) leaving feedback through Social Pinpoint, 3) encouraging
others to complete Social Pinpoint. She shared that Social Pinpoint would be a clearinghouse for information in
order to receive it in a streamlined manner. Commissioner Dritz asked how long the survey would be open, Ms.
Dahl said July 7.
Commissioner Kondrick asked if the City had received any feedback on removing parklands. Ms. Workin
shared that the feedback they had received through Social Pinpoint was not to remove parkland but that certain
amenities were not well used. Mr Jensen said that his staff get comments regarding large green space areas that
are be under-utilized.
Ms. Dahl shared
commissions previously reviewed. Ms. Workin said that the Park Master Plan would build on these trends
rather than duplicate effort. She said that the Comprehensive Plan is a more theoretical document, while the
Master Plan is more of a work plan. Mr. Jensen talked about staff experience touring neighborhoods parks in
Roseville where the City had constructed buildings that functioned as mini-community centers. Ms. Workin
decentralized community centers.
Chair Heintz recommended sharing Social Pinpoint on Nextdoor. Ms. Dahl said they could provide
Commissioners with language to share the survey. She shared a document prepared by Alyssa Kruzel on how
Commissioners could help with the process.
Commissioner Kondrick stated the importance of knowing the demographics, what the age of the kids are and
knowing when areas are going to change. Ms. Workin said the plan would look at developing standards for
different types of parks. Ms. Dahl discussed the professional facilitators that would be assisting with the
process. Mr. Jensen provided the example of Madsen that is an area park that would provide a centralized place
for service, and how it could be elevated, for example with a building. Chair Kondrick asked how much the
building at Springbrook cost. Mr. Jensen said approximately $400,000. He said that handling the drainage at
Madsen has continued to be an issue. The bus arrived and Commissioners left for the tour.
3) Tour
The group toured Madsen Park, Flanery Park, Creek View Park, Moore Lake Park, and Riverview Heights
Park. Mr Jensen pointed at areas that were used. Commissioners discussed the possibility of relocating
structures. Mr. Jensen stated it was almost always cheaper to build new. Mr. Jensen encouraged the group to
think about the different levels of parks and the services they provided.
The group exited the vehicle at Moore Lake and Riverview Heights Parks. At Moore Lake the group discussed
which properties the City owned. Mr. Jensen shared the history of the park and that the aesthetics of Moore
Lake are largely influenced by its natural condition as a shallow lake/wetland that had been excavated, rather
than a water quality issue. He shared the role of the bubbler and the liner to keep water circulating and that they
Mr. Jensen said that they plan to shrink the parking lot. Mr. Jensen discussed that these larger parks like Moore
proximity to the schools and important place for play.
At Riverview Heights Park the group discussed the importance of increa
4) Return
The group returned to the Fireside room. Chair Heintz thanked the EQEC for attending. Ms. Dahl shared the
document on how Commissioners could be involved again and said that Ms. Kruzel would follow up with an
email.
Adjournment
Commissioner Dritz moved to adjourn the meeting and Commissioner Foell seconded the motion. The meeting
Environmental Quality and Energy Commission adjourned at 8:33.