Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-02-11 Parks & Rec Comm MinutesDraft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ 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. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 3/10/2020 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. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 3/10/2020 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 Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 3/10/2020 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 Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 3/10/2020  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 Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 3/10/2020 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.