HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-02-11 Parks & Rec Comm MinutesDraft Minutes☐
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Approved Date: 3/10/2020
Minutes
City of Edina, Minnesota
Edina Parks & Recreation Commission
City Hall, Council Chambers
Tues., Feb. 11, 2020
7 p.m.
I. Call to Order
Vice Chair Dahlien called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
II. Roll Call
Answering roll call were Commissioners Nelson, Dahlien, McCormick, Ites, Strother,
McAwley and Student Commissioner Osborne
Absent: Commissioners Good, Miller and Student Commissioner Lelas
Commissioner Willette arrived at 7:12 p.m.
Staff present: Staff Liaison Perry Vetter, Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Tracy
Petersen, Recreation Supervisor Tiffany Bushland, Recreation Supervisor Amanda Clarke and
Administrative Coordinator Janet Canton
III. Approval of Meeting Agenda
Motion made by Strother to approve the meeting agenda. Motion seconded by
Nelson. Motion carried.
IV. Approval of Meeting Minutes
Motion made by Nelson to approve the Jan. 14, 2020 minutes. Motion seconded by
McAwley. Motion carried.
V. Community Comment
None
VI. Reports/Recommendations
A. Proposed Parks & Recreation Fees for 2020
Recreation Supervisors Bushland and Clarke explained to the commission now that they
are moving to a web-based reservation system staff looked at and modified the available
rental times and fee structure. They went through the proposed fee changes and
structure.
Commissioners asked questions.
Motion made by Nelson to recommend to the City Council the revised 2020 Parks
& Recreation Department fees related to general park rentals. Motion seconded
by Strother. Motion carried.
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B. 2019 Work Plan Initiative – Naming of a Public Facility After BC and Ellen
Yancey
Staff Liaison Vetter reminded the commission that the 2019 Work Plan Initiative #1 was
to chair/co-chair a cross-commission committee with the Human Rights and Relations
Commission (HRRC) to review the naming of a public facility in the Grandview area after
BC and Ellen Yancey. The initiative was to specifically look for a public facility within the
Grandview area to name after the Yancy family. The HRRC has narrowed it down to
Wooddale Park and Garden Park. It was discussed how both parks received their names.
Staff Liaison Vetter asked the commission to recommend to the City Council the naming
of a public facility in the Grandview area after BC and Ellen Yancy. After a discussion the
commission felt that Wooddale Park had more background around it because of it once
being the site of the former Wooddale School where Garden Park had the opportunity
for renaming.
Motion made by McAwley to recommend to the City Council that Garden Park be
renamed after BC and Ellen Yancy. Motion seconded by Nelson. Motion carried.
C. Annual Election of Officers
Staff Liaison Vetter opened nominations for Chair.
Motion made by McAwley to nominate Ites as Chair of the Parks & Recreation
Commission seconded by Nelson.
Motion made by Dahlien to nominate Good as Chair of the Parks & Recreation
Commission seconded by McCormick.
Staff Liaison Vetter called the vote for Commissioner Ites for Chair
Nelson – Aye
Willette – Aye
Dahlien - Nay
McCormick - Nay
Ites - Aye
Strother - Aye
McAwley – Aye
Motion passed 5-2.
Commissioner Ites is the new Chair of the Parks & Recreation Commission
Staff Liaison Vetter opened nominations for Vice-Chair.
Staff Liaison Vetter stated absentee Good nominated Dahlien to continue as Vice-Chair.
Seconded by Willette.
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Ites nominated McAwley for Vice-Chair. Seconded by Willette.
Nelson nominated Good for Vice-Chair. Seconded by Willette.
The commission had a discussion regarding what has historically been done with the election
of officers.
Staff Liaison Vetter called the vote for Dahlien as Vice-Chair.
Nelson – Nay
Willette – Nay
Dahlien - Aye
McCormick - Nay
Ites - Nay
Strother – Nay
McAwley – Nay
Motion failed.
Staff Liaison Vetter called the vote for Good as Vice-Chair
Nelson – Aye
Willette – Aye
Dahlien - Nay
McCormick - Aye
Ites - Nay
Strother - Nay
McAwley – Nay
Motion failed.
Staff Liaison Vetter called the vote for McAwley as Vice-Chair
Nelson – Nay
Willette – Nay
Dahlien - Nay
McCormick - Nay
Ites - Aye
Strother - Aye
McAwley – Aye
Motion failed.
The commission discussed the option to possibly table the vote of Vice-Chair to the March
meeting when Commissioner Good is present.
After discussion Staff Liaison Vetter called the vote for Good as Vice-Chair.
Nelson – Aye
Willette – Nay
Dahlien - Yay
McCormick - Yay
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Ites – Nay
Strother - Nay
McAwley – Nay
Motion failed.
Staff Liaison Vetter called the vote for McAwley as Vice-Chair
Nelson – Nay
Willette – Yay
Dahlien - Nay
McCormick - Nay
Ites – Yays
Strother - Yay
McAwley – Yay
Motion passed 4-3.
Commissioner McAwley is the new Vice-Chair of the Parks & Recreation Commission.
D. Review of Commission Bylaws
Staff Liaison Vetter informed the commission that annually coinciding with the election of
officers is a review of the commission bylaws; he then reviewed how amendments can be
made to the bylaws.
E. 2019 Parks & Recreation Work Plan Update
Staff Liaison Vetter confirmed with the commission that everyone received the link for the
summary document for the 2019 Work Plan. He asked that the commissioners work within
their initiative subgroup to get any comments or recommendations together within each
initiative for the summary document so that it can be brought back for review as a full
commission before going to City Council.
F. 2020 Parks & Recreation Commission Work Plan Update
Vice-Chair Dahlien asked the commission if anyone wanted to be added to any of the
2020 Work Plan initiatives.
Staff Liaison Vetter indicated some of the initiatives have documents that the
commissioners have to review that have not yet been completed so they will be waiting
for those commissions to finish them before they can start. He noted at the last meeting
they set the completion date guidelines and noted that Initiative #4 has the closest goal
date for them to finish. Commissioner Nelson stated she is currently scheduling a
meeting with the other two commissions to start working on it.
VII. Chair and Member Comments
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Commissioner Nelson indicated that people are still concerned about the flooding at
Arden Park and thinks the city needs to provide an update to the residents of what is
happening at Arden Park.
Staff Liaison Vetter replied he received communication today from the Minnehaha
Creek Watershed District that they will be starting work on the continued stream bank
restoration to which they made a lot of progress on in 2019. He explained the reason
they are going to be doing it now is not due to a flooding concern but they need to get
the equipment in there before the fish spawning restriction occurs and that window is
March 15 through June 15. He added they will not restrict any access to the park;
however, they will be mindful that there could be parks users within it. He noted the
Watershed District felt they did have appropriate erosion control last year. Also, the
site will benefit during the melt season that is coming up because the creek is now
connected to the flood plain where before the creek and the floodplain were
disconnected so now it should all function as one.
Commissioner Nelson indicated she thinks there needs to be an update given to the
residents about what is going on and what potential roadblocks are ahead in trying to
get bike paths at Braemar. It was approved by the City Council and asked what is the
hold up?
Staff Liaison Vetter indicated the Braemar Park Master Plan is what they are referring to
when talking about the bike trails. The City Council did adopt the Braemar Master Plan
and it did make the first year of the capital improvements program however, it is
unfunded. He explained the Braemar Master Plan is included in the council’s resolution
to the state legislature for the possible concept for the use of a local option sales tax to
which this is one of the four projects being looked at. Ultimately, if the state legislature
would agree then the City Council would have to hold a referendum with Edina
residents on the use of that and the implementation thereof. It’s quite a long process
and if this is successful they would not start capturing the revenue until approximately
2023. He noted it is on the commission’s work plan to look at alternative funding for
the Braemar Master Plan and Fred Richards Master Plan. He also noted they are coming
into a capital improvement plan programming year for 2021 so there is not just one
avenue being look at.
Commissioner Ites informed the commission his wife and he attended the Arden Park
Ice Day and noted there should be signs put up because there were a lot of people
walking their dogs with no bags.
Commissioner Ites indicated this is Commissioner’s McCormick’s last meeting and he
personally wanted to thank her for all of her work. He added she was on the Golf Task
Force which was a lengthy process taking two plus years to complete. Commissioner
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McCormick thanked Commissioner Ites and the commission and noted that working on
the Golf Task Force was one of the highlights of her six years on the commission. She
added she has learned so much from working with everyone on the commission and all
of the projects she has worked on. Commissioner Dahlien presented Commissioner
McCormick with a gift from the commission. He thanked her on behalf of the
commission for her six years of dedicated service the Parks & Recreation Commission.
VIII. Staff Comments
Staff Liaison Vetter gave the following updates:
The Activities Directory with the spring and summer registration has just been mailed
out to all residents; registration begins at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 19.
On Sunday, Feb. 2 they had a Super Sunday Skate at Arden Park and approximately 75
people attended and it was a great event. This is the 70th year of hockey at Arden Park
and they gave out Edina retro hats for those who participated.
The rink attendance to date is one of their higher years ever. In 2019-2020 they have
already had 27,000 people attend the rinks compared to last season that was just shy of
25,000 people. The three top parks for attendance are Weber, Pamela and Arden; it’s
been a very good skating season.
Approximately $70,000 has been donated for the Ikola Cup statue. On Saturday, March
7 at 10 a.m. there will be a small dedication ceremony.
Attendance has been very high at the golf dome and in response to the demand they’ve
added an additional youth night that is being held on Sundays in February from 4-9 p.m.
Youth under the age of 25 can participate for $20/hour which includes unlimited golf
balls as well as Toptracer range technology.
The golf dome received two awards at the Annual PGA Merchandise Show that are
called Tracy Awards for Toptracer. The first was the challenge champ award for the
largest participation in the global nine shot challenge. They had the highest participation
in over 200 facilities. The second award was the Leader Board nomination.
They are currently in the concept design phase with the front entrance project at
Edinborough Park and they are looking at construction starting in May.
The city is taking applications for all summer seasonal positions. You can apply online at
Edinamn.gov or text “jobs” to “57838” and you will receive a link with information.
At the City Council meeting on Jan. 22 the council adopted a resolution supporting the
local option sales tax to the state legislature. The session started today and he will keep
the commission apprised as he hears more.
Tom Swenson, Assistant Director of Parks and Natural Resources has been named the
Assistant Weed Inspector for the City of Edina.
Staff Liaison Vetter introduced Tracy Petersen as the new Assistant Director of
Recreation & Facilities. Assistant Director Petersen summarized her background for the
commission.
IX. Adjournment
Motion made by Nelson to adjourn the Feb. 11, 2020 meeting at 8:05 p.m. Motion
seconded by Strother. Motion carried.