HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-05-09 Parks & Rec Comm MinutesDraft Minutes☐
Approved Minutes☒
Approved Date: 6/13/2017
Minutes
City Of Edina, Minnesota
Edina Parks & Recreation Commission
Edina City Hall, Council Chambers
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
7 p.m.
I. Call To Order
Chair McCormick called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
II. Roll Call
Answering roll call were Commissioners Miller, Nelson, Gieseke, Burke, McCormick, Dahlien,
McAwley and Student Commissioner Hulbert.
Commissioner Willett arrived at 7:25 p.m.
Absent were: Commissioners Good, Strother and Student Commissioner Gustafson.
Staff present: Staff Liaison Ann Kattreh, Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Susan Faus,
Administrative Coordinator Janet Canton, Water Resources Coordinator Jessica Wilson and
Engineering Services Manager Ross Binter
III. Approval Of Meeting Agenda
Motion made by Dahlien to change the order of the agenda and have the Arden Park Natural
Resource Draft Concept Plan the first item under Reports and Recommendations. Motion
seconded by McAwley. Motion carried.
Motion made by Dahlien to approve the amended agenda. Motion seconded by Gieseke.
Motion carried.
IV. Approval Of Meeting Minutes
Motion made by Nelson to approve the April 4, 2017 minutes. Motion seconded by Burke.
Motion carried.
V. Community Comment
Art Lowell, 7505 Kellogg, is concerned about the possibility of having soccer fields at Fred Richards
Park.
Dennis Wither, 4504 Sedum Lane, is concerned about the possibility of having two soccer fields and
traffic. He also wanted to challenge the need for two soccer fields.
Stan Davis, 5509 Woodcrest Drive, wanted to discuss the lack of communication from the Parks &
Recreation Department to the city in general with regards to the Arden Park restoration project.
VI. Reports/Recommendations
A. Arden Park Natural Resource Draft Concept Plan
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Approved Minutes☒
Approved Date: 6/13/2017
Jessica Wilson, Water Resources Coordinator and Renae Clark, Planner and Project Manager
from the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District presented the history of the Arden Park Natural
Resource Concept Plan. They informed the commission they are asking for their feedback and
for a recommendation to the City Council. Also discussed were the community engagement
process and the timeline for the project.
Commissioners asked questions, expressed concerns and gave their feedback.
Motion made by Nelson to recommend the Arden Park Natural Resources Plan to the City Council.
Motion seconded by McAwley. Motion carried.
B. Park Signage Replacement
Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Faus gave an update on the signage project. She
presented the proposed final design for the park entrance signs and gave details of the signage.
Commissioners asked questions, had discussions and expressed their views.
C. Park Visits
Commissioner McAwley
• Indicated there is a huge dandelion problem in the parks. Staff Liaison Kattreh replied
the city has a Turf Management Plan that they follow that the City Council has approved.
Commissioner Nelson
• Asked if any spraying has been done for the mosquitos and gnats in the parks. Staff
Liaison Kattreh replied that is something that is done by the state.
• Indicated she used the App to let Park Maintenance know there was a problem with a
bench at Todd Park and asked what the expected turnaround time is. Staff Liaison
Kattreh replied the goal would be a day or two.
Commissioner Dahlien
• Asked how the removal of the Braemar Dome went. Staff Liaison Kattreh replied with
their dedicated team this was the smoothest it has ever gone.
VII. City Council Updates, Correspondence and Petitions
A. City Council Updates April 4, April 18 and May 2, 2017
Chair McCormick acknowledged the commission’s receipt of the City Council updates.
B. Correspondence
Chair McCormick acknowledged the commission’s receipt of various correspondences.
C. Petition – Playground at Van Valkenburg Park
Chair McCormick acknowledged the commission’s receipt of the petition with regards to a
playground at Van Valkenburg Park.
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Approved Date: 6/13/2017
VIII. Chair and Member Comments
Chair McCormick:
• Due to schedule conflicts the retreat will be held during the June meeting
• Location: Pamela Park
• Start time: 5:30pm
• Activities for the meeting will include park tour, dinner, team building activities and
potentially a speaker in addition to discussing ideas for their 2018 work plan
• In preparation for work plan development, commissioners should review the Parks Strategic
Plan
Commissioner Nelson:
• Requested more information on long term funding of projects and playground upgrades
• Liaison Kattreh informed the group that she will be discussing funding issues with Council
Commissioner Dahlien:
• Welcomed the two new commissioners and wished Commissioner Miller a Happy belated
Birthday.
Commissioner Burke, Edina Public Schools Member
• Introduced herself to the commission as Director for Community Education Services
Commissioner Willett
• Introduced himself to the commission.
IX. Staff Comments
Staff Liaison Kattreh and Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Faus gave the following updates:
• On Thursday, May 11 starting at 5:30 a.m. the MN Department of Agriculture will be treating
a portion of Richfield and Minneapolis for the gypsy moth infestation. They are using the
Edina Aquatic Center parking lot as a staging and take-off and landing area for their
helicopters.
• On May 18 staff and the Parks & Recreation Commission members who are participating in
the Fred Richards master planning process are going to be reviewing the next version of the
Fred Richards concept plan; the next open house is scheduled for Monday, May 22. They
received favorable feedback from the technical evaluation team regarding a potential wetland
bank for the west side of Fred Richards Park. This will give them the ability to move forward
with the next phase in the wetland banking projects.
• Four consultants have been selected to interview for the Braemar Master Plan; HGA, SEH,
SRF and Damon Farber. The interviews will be held on Tuesday, May 23 and the final
selection will go to City Council on June 6.
• There was vandalism at Pamela Park. There is a lighting cabinet that is adjacent to the
artificial turf field that is used to control the lights; however, it no longer controls the lights
Draft Minutes☐
Approved Minutes☒
Approved Date: 6/13/2017
but it has still been a real problem because people are literally breaking into the cabinet to
try to control the lights. They are in the process of replacing a cabinet again and have
purchased a remote lighting control system so that all of the lights are being controlled over
a network so nothing is being controlled at the field.
• The Aquatic Center has had the filters installed and the zero depth play structure is currently
being installed so it is ready when the pool opens.
• Construction at Braemar Golf Course is well underway on the regulation course. Richard
Mandell will be hosting a kick-off construction meeting on May 16.
• Last Saturday they had a very successful Vehicle Day. Edina partnered with Richfield and
Bloomington and the event was held at Southdale; they had a great turnout.
• This weekend is Race for the Cure that is hosted at Southdale and the race goes around
Rosland Park.
• The hockey boards at Todd Park were taken down this past week.
• The parking lot renovations at Creek Valley are being completed; they are currently adding
the second lift of asphalt so that the parking lot is in great shape.
• The fishing pier and lake fountain are in at Rosland Park.
• This Friday and Saturday is the Annual Plant Sale for the Edina Garden Council at Arneson
Acres. It’s on Friday, May 12 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Saturday, May 13 from 10 a.m. – 3
p.m. The Garden Council is a non-profit organization that funnels a lot of resources back
into Edina parks.
• The Community Garden opened this past Saturday; all 55 plots are full and there are 12
people on the waiting list.
• There is a softball tournament this weekend at Pamela Park and a baseball tournament at
Courtney Fields.
• May 20 is National Kids to Parks Day; this is a national event put on by the National Park
Trust and this year will be their 7th annual. Overall the purpose is to try to get kids out and
be active. Their motto is active kids are healthy kids. In Edina they are hosting a photo
contest by challenging neighborhoods to take photos and submit them. The neighborhood
that sends in the most photos is going to win and will have their best photo published in the
June edition of Edition Edina as well as the neighborhood will be recognized.
X. Adjournment
Motion made by Gieseke to adjourn the May 9, 2017 meeting at 9:19 p.m. Motion seconded by Dahlien.
Motion carried.