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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-09-09 PARC PacketMeeting location: Braemar Golf Course 6364 John Harris Dr. Edina, MN Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Agenda Tuesday, September 9, 2025 7:00 PM Accessibility Support: The City of Edina wants all residents to be comfortable being part of the public process. If you need assistance in the way of hearing amplification, an interpreter, large-print documents or something else, please call 952-927-8861 at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Meeting Agenda 4. Approval of Meeting Minutes 4.1. Minutes: Parks & Recreation Commission Aug. 12, 2025 5. Special Recognitions and Presentations 5.1. Welcome Student Commissioner Anna Harrington 6. Community Comment During "Community Comment," the Board/Commission will invite residents to share issues or concerns that are not scheduled for a future public hearing. Items that are on tonight's agenda may not be addressed during Community Comment. Individuals must limit their comments to three minutes. The Chair may limit the number of speakers on the same issue in the interest of time and topic. Individuals should not expect the Chair or Board/Commission Members to respond to their comments tonight. Instead, the Board/Commission might refer the matter to staff for consideration at a future meeting. 7. Reports/Recommendations 7.1. Initiative 1.5.3 Review 2016 Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan content, identify key study areas to include in upcoming 2026 update for topics, research and potential data collection. 7.2. 2025 Parks & Recreation Commission Work Plan Updates 8. Chair and Member Comments 9. Staff Comments 9.1. Upcoming Meetings & Events 10. Adjournment d ITEM REPORT Date: September 9, 2025 Item Activity: Approve Meeting: Parks & Recreation Commission Agenda Number: 4.1 Prepared By: Item Type: Minutes Department: Parks & Recreation Item Title:Minutes: Parks & Recreation Commission Aug. 12, 2025 Action Requested: Approve minutes from the Aug. 12, 2025 Parks & Recreation Commission meeting. Information/Background: See attached minutes. Supporting Documentation: 1. PARC Minutes 8-12-2025 BOARD & COMMISSION ITEM REPORT Date: September 9, 2025 Item Activity: Information Meeting: Parks & Recreation Commission Agenda Number: 5.1 Prepared By: Item Type: Other Department: Parks & Recreation Item Title:Welcome Student Commissioner Anna Harrington Action Requested: None, informational only. Information/Background: Please welcome Student Commissioner Anna Harrington to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Supporting Documentation: None BOARD & COMMISSION ITEM REPORT Date: September 9, 2025 Item Activity: Discussion Meeting: Parks & Recreation Commission Agenda Number: 7.1 Prepared By: Item Type: Report & Recommendation Department: Parks & Recreation Item Title:Initiative 1.5.3 Review 2016 Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan content, identify key study areas to include in upcoming 2026 update for topics, research and potential data collection. Action Requested: Provide feedback to the initiative work group of Commissioners Kane (lead), Pfuhl and Welsch. Information/Background: The Parks and Recreation Department completes a strategic plan every 10 years prior to the development of the Comprehensive Guide Plan. The strategic plan informs the parks chapter of the comprehensive guide plan and is used as a pathway to prioritize and further develop the park system. This initiative will review the content of the 2016 plan, identify areas to add or modify for the upcoming work. The initiative group has created the attached materials for discussion. Supporting Documentation: 1. Work Plan Initiative 1.5.3 Update From Working Group Meeting: Parks & Recreation Commission Work Plan Update Initiative 1.5.3: Review 2016 Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan content, identify key study areas to include in upcoming 2026 update for topics, research, and potential data collection. Commissioners Pfuhl, Welsh, & Kane 9-9-25 Park, Recreation and Trails Strategic Master Plan Master Plan Purpose •Establish clear and realistic goals, objectives, and implementation strategies that can guide Edina's decision making for the next 10 to 15 years. •Provide system-wide recommendations which incorporate any detailed studies completed to date as well as ongoing planning and design initiatives •Provide a strategy to preserve and maintain open space and significant natural resources in Edina •Evaluate current facilities and programs to determine if the recreation and leisure needs of Edina's citizens are being adequately met •Identify and evaluate potential cooperative local community, nonprofit and private sector ventures that can aid in meeting recreation needs •Assist the community in establishing a vision for the future of their park and recreation system •Provide a user-friendly roadmap to guide the implementation of the community's vision for a sustainable 21st century Parks and Recreation system Park System Strategic Plan Park, Recreation and Trails Strategic Master Plan *10-15 year road map Park, Recreation and Trails Community Assessment *People, Places, Comparisons Park, Recreation and Trails Strategic Plan Appendices *Nuts & bolts, resource needs Resource material: 2016 Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan: Executive Summary •Project Process •Benchmark Analysis •Level of Service •Guiding Principals •Key Projects of the Strategic Plan Project Process The foundation of the Strategic Plan was the compilation of a number of different public input sessions, stakeholder input, staff and city official insight, and consultant experience and expertise. The consultant team conducted a series of 14 focus groups with key stakeholders of the Department. •Recommend a follow-up to the December 2014 focus group analysis engaging current key stakeholders of the Parks & Recreation Department. •Compare current results to 2014 results to identify new initiatives and/or reaffirm existing initiatives in developing overall guiding principles and values of the community. Benchmark Analysis A benchmark analysis provides a side-by-side look between EPRD and similar, industry-leading park and recreation systems nationwide in terms of park acreage, recreation facilities, staffing levels, budget, and a variety of other operational metrics. A total of eight benchmark agencies were selected for comparison to Edina based upon comparable demographic characteristics and best practice recognition, such as earning accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and placing as finalists or winners of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Gold Medal Award. •Update the Benchmark Analysis to determine where the Department has excelled, where the Department has fallen back, and where the Department needs to improve. •If the renewed Benchmark Analysis identifies the same areas of deficiency (Behind Among Benchmarks category), it will be clear those areas should receive even more focused attention and improvement. •The long-term negative effect of failing to improve in the Behind Among Benchmarks category will lead to fundamental issues for the entire Department. Level of Service The Level of Service Analysis (LOS) produces guidelines that inform investment decisions related to parks, facilities and other built amenities. The LOS analysis can also help identify future gaps in facilities and services compared to demographic projections. •Create a 2026 Facility Standards assessment to build on the 2014 & 2019 assessments. Guiding Principles Guiding principles were crafted for the strategic plan to establish the fundamental directives that represent what is desirable for the park system. The principles should remain constant regardless of changes in goals, strategies, and types of projects embarked upon. Park board members and staff developed the following Guiding Principles for the Strategic Plan: Promote community health and wellness for residents in our parks and programming. Provide excellence and innovation in parks and recreation services and facilities to meet the needs of the community. Promote equity and engagement within the parks system and its programs. Protect Edina’s assets through strong financial stewardship and creative funding. Connect residents to park facilities and their programs. Advance environmental stewardship and conservation to preserve and protect natural resources and build excellence through sustainability. •Consider adding another guiding principle to augment the 2016 list. •The new guiding principle would be tied to Safety & Security, ensuring community members that Edina parks, and park facilities, are safe to use and secure from unwanted harm. •For example, all park amenities/facilities meet/exceed city/state/national building codes. •Or, all building are outfitted with emergency kits, defibrillators, or fire extinguishers, et. al. •Or, certified lifeguards at the community pool. •This could address lighted cross walks near park access, or parking areas located close to park access to limit crossing of streets. •This can be tied to assessments done annually on playground equipment, ballfield netting, ice rink stability, etc. •There are a host of community needs & requirements tied to Safety & Security, which could be further highlighted and emphasized with an additional guiding principle. Key Projects of the Strategic Plan Key Projects of the Strategic Plan •Keep project numbers 1, 5, 7 (5 & 7 could be combined into one project), 9, 11 & 12. These are projects that more likely to be ongoing initiatives. •Add “Sustainability Assessment”—essentially an assessment of all park & recreation facilities and practices to determine their sustainability value. This can be tied to building codes and requirements as new projects come on line to update/replace existing facilities. It can also be used as a metric in the Benchmark Analysis. (i.e. Rebounding Wall for Lacrosse, can this be constructed from recycled materials?). Edina Comprehensive Plan The following six points guided the development programs, goals, and policies presented in the Comprehensive Plan Update. 1. Edina has committed to a minimum of 15 percent of its land area to be used as parks and green space. (As of the most recent census, we are right at this threshold.) Future standards will need consider “hardscape” environments as represented in the Greater Southdale District Plan. 2. All Community and Special Use parks will have an updated Master Plan to guide use, growth and future development. Every Park MP will include an approach to best maintain, improve and promote its natural resources. 3. Connecting our neighborhoods via a Grand Rounds concept and in coordination with the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan. 4. Be intentional on the use of benchmarking to assess progress against strategic objectives. 5. Explore alternative funding models to support future growth and accomplishment of our Mission. 6. Establish a goal to have park facilities within a maximum distance of one mile from each Edina resident BOARD & COMMISSION ITEM REPORT Date: September 9, 2025 Item Activity: Discussion Meeting: Parks & Recreation Commission Agenda Number: 7.2 Prepared By: Item Type: Report & Recommendation Department: Parks & Recreation Item Title:2025 Parks & Recreation Commission Work Plan Updates Action Requested: Review the 2025 Commission Work Plan for any updates. Determine a discussion schedule for other initiatives with the goal to highlight and present one initiative group per meeting. Information/Background: Attached is the 2025 Commission work plan. Updates have been made to initiative leads. Please advise on any updates or planning that has occurred. Supporting Documentation: 1. PARC Commission Work Plan Report_09.09.2025 BOARD & COMMISSION ITEM REPORT Date: September 9, 2025 Item Activity: Information Meeting: Parks & Recreation Commission Agenda Number: 9.1 Prepared By: Item Type: Other Department: Parks & Recreation Item Title:Upcoming Meetings & Events Action Requested: None, informational only. Information/Background: Attached are the upcoming meetings and events for 2025. Supporting Documentation: 1. September 2025 Upcoming Meetings and Events August 12, 2025 Park and Recreation Commission Perry Vetter, Parks & Recreation Director Upcoming 2025 Meetings and Events Date 2025 Meeting Dates Time Location* Sept. 9 Regular Meeting Aquatic Center and Edinborough update Initiative 1.5.3 – Strategic Plan Content 7:00 pm Braemar Golf Course Oct. 14 Regular Meeting Centennial Lakes Park update Initiative 1.5.4 – Alternate Funding Strategies 7:00 pm Braemar Golf Course Wed. Nov. 12** Wednesday Regular Meeting 2026 Fees and Charges 7:00 pm Braemar Golf Course Dec. 9 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Braemar Golf Course Date 2025 Events Time Location* * Regular Commission meetings will be held in the Hoyt and Blanchard Room, lower level of Braemar Golf Course, 6364 John Harris Drive, Edina. ** Date Adjustments – In accordance with the 2025 Observed City Calendar.