Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Agenda and Packet

Community Development Department 222 Lewis Street River Falls, WI 54022 715.425.0900 www.rfcity.org PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD AGENDA April 15, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. GLOVER STATION SCHOOLHOUSE AT DESANCTIS PARK CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Minutes of the March 18, 2026 meeting PUBLIC COMMENTS ACTION ITEMS DISCUSSION ITEMS STAFF REPORTS 2. Conservation and Parks Report CALENDAR The next Park and Recreation Advisory Board meeting will be 05/20/2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. ADJOURNMENT Council members may be in attendance for informational purposes only. No official Council action will be taken. NOTE: Any person who has a qualifying disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act that requires the meeting or materials to be in an accessible location or format may contact City Clerk Amy White at (715) 426-3408 or in person at 222 Lewis Street for accommodations. Requests for accommodations should be made at least three (3) business days in advance of the meeting. Every effort will be made to arrange accommodations. Post: City Hall and City website 04/10/2026 Community Development Department 222 Lewis Street River Falls, WI 54022 715.425.0900 www.rfcity.org PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES March 18, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER Meeting convened at 5:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Members Present: Matt Janquart (Chair), Mei Mei Abdouch, Brenda Gaulke, Melissa Pedrini, and Natasha Schaefer. Members Absent: Jeff Bjork (Council Rep) and Phil Galli. Staff Present: Brooks Ostendorf - Conservation and Parks Manage r, Erica Ellefson - Public Works Manager , Kyle Mackey - Recreation Coordinator, Levi Myers - Natural Resources Coordinator, and Brenda Rundle - Customer Service Representative. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. MSC Abdouch/Pedrini approve the minutes of the February 18, 2026 Park and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) meeting. Unanimous. PUBLIC COMMENTS William Hansen of the Town of River Falls asked residents to consider the cost of removing the Junction Falls Dam and hydrogenerator. He feels that the people that want it removed should pay, not electric customers and state and federal taxpayers. He encourages residents to speak to City Council about this $24 million project. ACTION ITEMS 2. Jackson Tody presented his Eagle Scout Service Project proposal. He would like to fundraise about $3,000 to purchase supplies and build dog agility equipment for the River Falls Dog Park. He would construct a wooden ramp and hurdles and purchase a tunnel from Home Depot. He plans to fundraise using posters, Facebook and selling car wash cards. He would like to install the project in June. The more money he makes, the more he can put into the park. He would stop fundraising after reaching his goal, although he might also consider adding weaving posts. Park Board asked about maintenance. He will use green-treated lumber and asks the City to maintain it in the future. Park Board asked if equipment would go on both sides of the park, and Jackson said he was focused on the big dog side so that small dogs are also able to use it. MSC Gaulke/Schaeffer to approve Jackson Tody’s Eagle Scout Service Project which is to fundraise to add agility equipment to the River Falls Dog Park. Unanimous. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Levi Myers shared a 2026 Forestry Update. In 2026, the City will complete ash removals, treat the ash trees on Main Street, do a tree inventory update, complete the forestry management plan, hire a seasonal intern, and plant 260 trees. A formal urban forestry management plan will be presented to Park Board later this year. STAFF REPORTS 4. Erica Ellefson shared the Public Works Report. Staff recommends using herbicide treatment (once this spring and once next spring) to control noxious weeds (wild parsnip and thistle) at the River Falls Dog Park to improve safety for both people and pets. The park would need to be closed for 48 hours after application. Advance notice of the closure would be provided through posted signage at the park and City social media. Park Board asked about using goats, but that would not kill the root system. CALENDAR The next Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting will be Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. at Glover Station Schoolhouse at DeSanctis Park. ADJOURNMENT MSC Abdouch/Schaeffer to adjourn the meeting at 6:11 p.m. Unanimous. Respectfully submitted, Brenda Rundle, Customer Service Representative MEMORANDUM TO: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board FROM: Brooks Ostendorf, Conservation and Parks Manager DATE: April 15, 2026 TITLE: Conservation and Parks Division Report This staff report is specific to the Conservation and Parks Division. I) Summer Starts in the Park a. The event will return this year on Thursday, May 21 st from 5-7PM at Glen Park. This event will be a part of Council Connections which will give the community an informal way to interact with the Mayor and Council. The event will include a variety of craft activities along with yard games, which the City’s recreation department will coordinate and staff. New this year will be a Barrel Train Ride to take kids around the park. Food trucks, including the Egg Roll Queen, will be present at the event at cost to individual guests. The City will be giving away ice cream treats from Street Treats to the first 200 guests. II) Our Neighbors Place a. Our Neighbor’s Place (ONP) has requested that the City provide access to the shower at the Hoffman Park Campground while the Day Center is under construction. Construction is expected to occur from April 2026 to March 2027, which overlaps with one (1) full campground season. Staff expects ONP to utilize the shower once per day and will not be charged for its use. Staff will be in coordination with ONP to determine time windows for use of the shower and set ground rules for its use. Use will occur from campground open in April to closure in October. III) Campground a. The campground will open for the 2026 season on April 15. Reservations can be made online at riverfalls.activityreg.com 2 IV) Tree and Bird City a. Tree City USA i. The City’s application for Tree City USA has been approved by the Arbor Day Foundation, making River Falls a Tree City for 28 years. ii. We are currently coordinating with the Lions Club to organize an Arbor Day tree planting at Wells Park. b. Bird City i. The City has earned Bird City Wisconsin “High Flyer” status, which awards dedication to bird conservation and creating a healthier environment for both wildlife and people. ii. This includes celebrating World Migratory Bird Day, which is on Saturday, May 9th. Carpenter Nature Center, Tropical Wings, and the St. Croix Valley Bird Club will be hosting the Wings of Spring Festival at the Carpenter Nature Center Wisconsin Campus from 6AM-12PM. Community Development Department: March 2026 Page 1 of 2 Introduction This report is provided monthly to update the Plan Commission, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and other interested parties on Community Development efforts of the past month as it relates to the City’s Strategic Initiatives and the Department work plan. 2026 Community Development Major Projects *Denotes a Council Strategic Initiative CONNECTED COMMUNITY Kinnickinnic River Corridor Plan Phase I * o USACE is working internally to complete the Feasibility Study review. Safe Streets Action Plan* o Staff is reviewing a preliminary Safety Action Plan draft o The Safe Streets Task Force Meeting No. 3 occurred on March 23 o City Council is anticipated to review and adopt the Safety Action Plan at it’s May 12th meeting Glen Park Phase II* o Staff is working to determine next steps for implementing Phase 2 of the Glen Park Master Plan. Locust Street design o Preliminary roadway design is complete. Staff is preparing a recommendation to proceed with the project, including proposed sources and uses based on the engineering estimate. Mapping o Map of available sites for development ECONOMIC VITALITY Downtown Project* o Staff provided an overview of the downtown project to Plan Commission on March 3, 2026. Continued Infill in Corporate Parks/Innovation Center Expansion* o Work with the Economic Development Administration (EDA) continues on the grant to expand the Innovation Center. o February 24th the City Council approved the sale of Lot C in the Sterling Ponds Corporate Park. Ensure sustained (re)development of the City from the prospect stage through construction o Brookgreen – Occupancy granted for Buildings 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and Clubhouse. Buildings 6-10 are under construction. o Oak Hill – 3 permits issued, 4 COs issued. o Construction for the Sycamore Two senior housing and 4 duplexes project has begun. o An application has been received to rezone a parcel in the Sterling Ponds Corporate Park to facilitate development of an industrial building. The rezoning will be reviewed at the April 8, 2026 Plan Commission meeting. o A Planned Unit Development General Development Plan application has been submitted for The Creamery at Cedar, a brewery, taproom, and event center at River Street and W. Cedar Street. The request will be reviewed by Plan Commission on April 8, 2026. BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED Permit Type March YTD Permit Value March Permit Value YTD Building Permits 29 58 $4,314,555 $6,296,915 New Home Permits 13 18 $3,618,000 $4,858,000 Community Development Department: March 2026 Page 2 of 2 FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY Examine Impact Fees* o Finance Dept is working with a consultant to examine impact fees for development Economic Development o The Economic Development Manager is a member of RFEDC, WEDA, River Falls Chamber, and St. Croix Valley Innovation Center Management Committee. QUALITY MUNICIPAL SERVICES Library Remodel* o Phase II of the library remodel is substantially complete. Phase III, which is mostly work in the lower level is ongoing and expected to be finalized in May. Fire Station Remodel* o Fire Station demolition began the week of February 9 th and is ongoing. Concrete footings and foundations are currently being placed. Vertical pre -cast concrete walls are expected to be installed in late April or early May and will include short term roadway closures on Second Street and Elm Street. Hoffman Basin Study o The consultant provided a final copy of the Hoffman Basin Study. Division Street crosswalks o The Safe Streets for All Action Plan is expected to include a concept plan for an improved pedestrian crossing at East Division and Wasson Lane. WiDNR Urban Non-Point Source Pollution grant o MSA Professional Services is completing a City-wide phosphorus model to document compliance with our stormwater MS4 Permit. Stewardship of Public Infrastructure o The 2026 Mill and Overlay project was awarded to Lepke Trucking and Excavating. Work will occur starting in July and will occur on Paulson Road. Conservation and Parks Division o The City was renewed as a Bird City and earned designation of High Flyer status, signaling that the City emphasized their commitment to conservation and education programs. o The City’s application for Tree City USA designation through the Arbor Day Foundation was approved for the 28th year. The Community Development Department oversees the Plan Commission, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Business Improvement District Board , Historic Preservation Commission , City Board of Appeals , Downtown Design Review Committee , Extraterritorial Zoning Committee (ETZ), Extra Territorial Board of Appeals, and River Falls Economic Development Corporation.