HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-06-11 Parks & Rec Comm MinutesDraft Minutes☐
Approved Minutes☒
Approved Date: 7/9/2019
Minutes
City Of Edina, Minnesota
Edina Parks & Recreation Commission
City Hall, Council Chambers
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
7 p.m.
I. Call To Order
Chair Good called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
II. Roll Call
Answering roll call were Commissioners Ites, McCormick, McAwley, Dahlien, Good,
Strother and Miller
Absent: Commissioners Nelson, Willette and Student Commissioners Anderson and Osborn
Staff Present: Staff Liaison Perry Vetter, Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Susan Faus
and Administrative Coordinator Janet Canton
III. Approval Of Meeting Agenda
Motion made by Strother to approve the meeting agenda. Motion seconded by
Miller. Motion carried.
IV. Approval Of Meeting Minutes
Motion made by Dahlien to approve the May 14, 2019 minutes. Motion seconded by
Miller. Motion carried.
V. Community Comment
None
VI. Reports/Recommendations
A. Arden Park Construction Update
Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Faus gave a brief update on the construction of
Arden Park. She also went over what will be happening with the project in the next few
weeks and added that July1 is the deadline for phase one of the renovation project.
Commissioners asked questions.
B. Park Signage Update
Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Faus gave a brief update on the park signage
project. She indicated they took the feedback given at the Parks & Recreation
Commission March meeting and implemented that feedback into the design. Staff is
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Approved Date: 7/9/2019
currently working on the locations of where they want to put the new signs. The
updated design will be brought back to the commission for additional feedback.
C. Parks & Recreation Commission Work Plan
Chair Good indicated there are a few initiatives that continue to have some delays
moving forward; also, some of the cross-commission initiatives are still working on
getting an initial meeting set up.
The following Work Plan updates were given:
Initiative 4 – Complete a study and report for fields, courts and rinks capacity and utilization from
the data provided by staff. Chair Good indicated he will get the first meeting set up for this
initiative in the next week or so.
Initiative 2 – Serve on a cross-commission committee in partnership with communities of color to
identify barriers for participation in programming. Commissioner Strother indicated she reached
out to the staff liaison from the HRRC to see if there is anything they can do to get the ball
rolling. She noted the HRRC is the lead on this initiative; however, she would be happy to take
on the facilitating role if that would be helpful. She is waiting to hear back.
Initiative 6 – Review and comment on the Race and Equity policy statement developed by city staff.
Commissioner Strother indicated this initiative requires staff to first develop a policy and asked
if there is an update on the policy. Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Faus replied staff has
started working on the policy and has a draft policy in place. She anticipates at the July or
August meeting they will have something for the commission to review.
Initiative 1 – Chair/co-chair a cross-commission committee to review the naming of a public facility in
the Grandview area after BC and Ellen Yancey. Commissioner Dahlien reminded the commission
this initiative was brought back to the council and it’s now back on the PARC work plan and
the constraints are not as much as they had anticipated. The council is looking for a
recommendation from the PARC and the HRRC to find something to commemorate the
Yancey’s and their importance to the community. The committee needs to regroup with the
HRRC committee.
Initiative 5 – Investigate possible alternative funding options to support future growth and
development of Edina’s parks, programs and green spaces. Commissioner Miller informed the
commission the committee will be meeting next week with an outside marketing organization
that has helped other cities with raising money. They are also going to set a monthly meeting
on Thursdays before the PARC meeting.
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Chair Good thanked everyone for their updates. He asked those who are leading an
initiative to make a commitment to get one or two things done in June and they will have
a more comprehensive review of the Work Plan initiatives at the July meeting.
VII. Chair and Member Comments
• Chair Good welcomed Perry Vetter, the new Parks & Recreation Director.
• Commissioner Ites informed the commission he has had a chance to play the new
golf course several times and it looks great! He sent out 300 emails to members of
Braemar’s Men’s Club and has received 80 replies with good thoughts. He indicated
General Manager Abood is doing a good job.
• Commissioner Ites indicated on May 15 there was a VIP tournament at Braemar Golf
Course and it was a fun event.
• Commissioner Strother informed the commission when she was recently at a park a
child was there with a walker. The play surface was pea gravel which is not a very
accessible surface and asked if there is a plan to replace the remaining playground
surfaces that have pea gravel. Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Faus replied pea
gravel is not an ideal surface for playgrounds and as they have been replacing
playgrounds they’ve also been replacing the surfaces. She is not aware of a
replacement plan for just surfaces but will double check with the Park Maintenance
Department.
• Commissioner Miller indicated at Braemar Golf Course along Hilary Lane the gardens
were taken out and the area was turned into a wild flower prairie. He noted he was
told it would be a three year-process; however, they are now in year four and it still
looks terrible. Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Faus replied she knows it takes
time for them to fully develop but will talk with General Manager Abood and find out
what can be done about it.
• Commissioner Miller informed the commission he continues to get excellent
feedback from the residents around Arden Park; the neighbors are very happy about
the whole project. Commissioner McAwley noted she is hearing the same thing;
everyone loves it.
• Chair Good acknowledged and thanked Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Faus
for all of the work she has done since stepping into the Interim Director role. From
his perspective representing the commission everything went very smoothly and he
appreciates her dedication and communication in keeping things moving forward.
• Chair Good indicated at the golf tournament on May 15 five commissioners played
golf and one commissioner joined them for dinner. The event was very well done
and it was a great way to open up the new golf course.
• Chair Good informed the commission he stopped by the Garden Council plant sale
at Arneson Acres and it was very well attended.
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• Chair Good informed the commission he recently had a resident inquiry on the
status of the mountain bike trails at Braemar Park. He informed the resident it has
been approved by City Council and is in queue with other things just waiting for
appropriate funding.
• Chair Good indicated that typically in the past the Parks & Recreation Commission
have held their August meeting off site. He asked if anyone had any ideas or
suggestions where they should hold their meeting to let staff or him know.
VIII. Staff Comments
Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Faus gave the following updates:
• This week was the start of the majority of the Parks & Recreation programs. They
are continuing to increase the number of participants in the programs as well as
they are offering different types of classes and programs.
• Braemar Golf Course is averaging approximately 1,000 golfers a day if you include
the Regulation Championship 18, the driving range and the Academy Nine. Staff is
receiving different types of feedback; however, the majority of it has been positive.
She added this is a learning year for them with the new course and there will
probably be some changes and improvements moving forward.
• On Monday, June 10 they were able to kick off phase one of the Tranquility
Garden project at Arneson Acres. This project has been funded by the Edina
Garden Council and it should be wrapped up in a couple of weeks. As soon as
they are able to get additional funding they will be able to complete the rest of the
project.
• The bid opening for the project at Fred Richards Park will be held on Wednesday,
June 26 and hopefully they will be able to award the bid at the July 16 City Council
meeting.
• Staff has been working on the 2020-2021 budget. Staff Liaison Vetter and she will
be reviewing the budget with the finance team and city manager in a couple of
weeks. The draft of the budget will be presented to City Council in August.
Staff Liaison Vetter made the following comments:
• He thanked Assistant Parks & Recreation Faus for not only maintaining the
services with the Parks & Recreation Department but actually moving things
forward. He also thanked the rest of the staff for being so welcoming in his first
days working for the city.
• Staff Liaison Vetter gave an introduction and history of himself to the commission.
IX. Adjournment
Motion made by Dahlien to adjourn the June 11, 2019 meeting at 7:33 p.m. Motion seconded by
McAwley. Motion carried.