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Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes January 19, 2021 Page 4 Acting Chair Van Valkenburg suggested a thank you letter be sent to the Arden Hills Foundation. B. Ice Rink and Recreation Update Staff Liaison Vaughan stated the City ice rinks officially opened to the public on January 2, 2021. The warming houses remain closed to the public due to COVID-19. City staff has received positive feedback from many residents and the community as a whole. While a rink attendant is on site, the rinks are averaging around 20-30 skaters per hour. The City is not conducting ice rink reservations or warming house rentals this winter season. On the Recreation side, the City offered two Holiday events, Letters from Santa and a Virtual Santa event, during December 2020. Both programs were received well by residents. This was the first year the City has conducted a Virtual Santa event. There were around 10 kids who participated in the event and they were able to chat with Santa over Zoom. There were about 20 participants in Letters from Santa. The City Council also instructed staff to begin offering the monthly Foot Care Clinic for adults and that has been running each month since November, 2020. Skating lessons have begun at Cummings Park with one instructor teaching two sets of lessons. Committee Member Poelzer asked how many rinks there are in Arden Hills. Staff Liaison Vaughan said there are 4 locations, Cummings Park has a pleasure rink only, Perry Park has a hockey rink only, Hazelnut and Freeway Parks have pleasure and hockey rinks. C. Election of a Committee Chair Staff Liaison Vaughan stated that in December of 2020, Rich Straumann stepped down as chair of the Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee. At the City Council meeting on January 11, 2021, the City Council approved the appointment of John Van Valkenburg as the new chair. They are looking for a motion from the Committee to approve. The Committee unanimously approved John Van Valkenburg as the new chair of the Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee. Chair Van Valkenburg asked the committee to let him know if they had things they wanted to focus on that could be brought to the Council. 5. REPORTS Public Works Director/City Engineer Blomstrom stated that a letter was received from the Ramsey County Commissioner and an attachment from the Ramsey County Public Works Director regarding Lake Johanna Boulevard as a response to the City’s letter to Ramsey County. They intend to take a study of three corridors around the County, and Lake Johanna Boulevard is one of the corridors. The County will share the scope of work with City staff so the City can comment. Staff will share that information with the Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee.