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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-07-14 Parks & Rec Comm MinutesDraft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 8/10/2020 Minutes City Of Edina, Minnesota Edina Parks & Recreation Commission VIRTUAL MEETING Tues., July 14, 2020 7 p.m. I. Call to Order Chair Ites called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. II. Roll Call Answering roll call were Commissioners Doscotch, Miller, McAwley, Ites, Nelson, Good, Dahlien, Strother and Student Commissioner Osborne Absent: Student Commissioner Lelas Commissioner Willette arrived at 7:52 p.m. Staff present: Staff Liaison Perry Vetter, Assistant Director Parks & Natural Resources Tom Swenson, Assistant Director Recreation & Facilities Tracy Petersen and Administrative Coordinator Janet Canton Staff Liaison Vetter welcomed the commission to the virtual Parks & Recreation Commission meeting and explained how the meeting is being livestreamed. III. Approval of Meeting Agenda Motion made by Good to approve the meeting agenda. Motion seconded by McAwley. Roll call vote. Motion carried. IV. Approval of Meeting Minutes Motion made by Nelson to approve the March 10, 2020 minutes. Motion seconded by Strother. Roll call vote. Motion carried. V. Reports/Recommendations A. Recap of June 16, 2020 Joint City Council and Parks & Recreation Commission virtual meeting Staff Liaison Vetter gave a recap of the June 16 virtual joint work session with the City Council. He gave a brief summary of the following four things that were covered in the work session:  Enterprise Operations  Recreation Programming  Parks & Natural Resource Amenities  Fiscal Position Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 8/10/2020 Commissioner Miller asked what has changed since that meeting. Staff Liaison Vetter replied they have expanded Braemar Ice Arena. They have started limiting people to use the track and fitness area as well as the Edina Swim Club is now using the pool at Edinborough Park and Braemar Golf Course is doing extremely well and are above what their projections were. Commissioner Miller asked what changes have been done at Centennial Lakes in the last three to four weeks. Staff Liaison Vetter informed the commission they were successful in securing some of the Hennepin County grants that is through the Three River Parks District. One of the grants was used to expand the paddleboat rentals at Centennial Lakes. Since the discussion took place the putting course has also opened and is being used. Commissioner Doscotch asked with the increase and usage of the enterprise operations have there been any data on contact tracing where thy have seen Covid cases up relative to that increase of a likely exposure. Staff Liaison Vetter indicated that part of the enterprise use by an association or group is a requirement to have a Covid management plan as defined by the MN Department of Health and part of that plan is tracking participants for tracing. However, the city is not being informed if a positive case has occurred if it is outside of an official city program. B. 2020 Work Plan Discussion Staff Liaison Vetter reminded the commission that at their March meeting there was an adjustment made on commissioner assignments. He asked the commissioners to make sure their names are with the right initiatives. Also discussed was that the commission wanted to have a discussion around strategizing and prioritizing. Staff Liaison Vetter reminded the commission if there is any assistance staff can play for the work groups going forward, even if it is just to set up a Webex meeting, staff is very open to that. Updates were given on the following initiatives: Initiative 7 – Study and report on the strategic goal of 15% of Edina land dedicated to parks and green spaces. Commissioner Good informed the commission he connected with Commissioner Dahlien, Staff Liaison Vetter and Assistant Director of Parks & Natural Resources Tom Swenson on what this initiative might look like specifically and focus first on the land use towards park and green space. Approximately 12% of the land use is in the park system and just under 3 ½% is what they would call natural resource areas. He noted this was their starting point when they had their discussion around how do they go beyond that. That’s the threshold they met and they can continue to examine and continue to Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 8/10/2020 challenge whether natural resource areas, which are flood plains, drainage areas, right-of- way, etc., is really a decent way to measure that we are at 15%. Commissioner Good noted he was moving more in a direction saying we’ve hit the 15% threshold based as it measured today; however, they could change the measure or change the way they measure it or just move from that and say what other measure should they be adding that really drives some operation efficiency or effectiveness and direction on their strategical and there needs to be more discussion in this area. Initiative #4 – Develop criteria that incorporates sustainability and equity for prioritizing capital improvements for park infrastructure needs, including playground equipment, warming houses and core amenities for expansion and replacement. Parks and Recreation Commission will create the criteria and both Energy & Environment commission and Human Rights & Relations commission will appoint up to 2 members for feedback on final criteria before it goes to council. Commissioner Nelson indicated she has Initiative 4 and as previously mentioned it was talked about in the virtual joint work session with City Council on how important this prioritization is. The completion date is May 2020 and she asked if there is a new timeline. Staff Liaison Vetter replied in looking at the minutes in March there is a good summary of the items that were talked about in February. If the work group could get back together and reconstitute the list to say where does this fall and working a little bit of a matrix there. He stated from a staff perspective he would like to have it in the next two months to share with the City Council as they start looking at the CIP in general. Commissioner Nelson indicated she will set up a virtual follow-up meeting for the work group to discuss and will change the deadline to September 2020. Initiative #5 – Assist staff with the pursuit of funding opportunities for Braemar Park Master Plan. Initiative #6 – Assist staff with the pursuit of funding opportunities for Fred Richards Park master plan. Staff Liaison Vetter gave update on Initiatives 5 and 6. He noted that earlier in the year City Council had adopted a resolution of support to pursue to the local option sales tax at the state legislature. They did have a nice hearing with the House Tax Committee; however, due to the pandemic the hearing that was scheduled with the Senate Tax Committee was canceled and the legislative session was trimmed way down. Therefore, the state legislature did not continue any of the local option sales tax hearings. VI. Chair and Member Comments  Commissioner Miller informed the commission that the wildflower area at Braemar Golf Course has had a turning point and is looking very good. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 8/10/2020  Commissioner Miller informed the commission he stopped by Arden Park on Sunday and was happy to see what it now looks like. There were people all over the park utilizing it. Commissioner McAwley added that she has also been getting really good feedback that they love it. Commissioner Strother indicated her family has been using the park quite a bit and have really enjoyed it. She asked if there are going to be any benches added to the park. Assistant Director of Parks & Natural Resources Swenson indicated his staff is currently installing benches around the park and they are looking at adding a couple around the playground area that were not on the original plan. He noted the park is amazing and is getting tons of use.  Commissioner Good asked staff if they have received any feedback from users on the Mooty Pickleball courts regarding the new policy. Staff Liaison Vetter replied he has not heard one way or another but will find out. He added Recreation Supervisor Bushland will be at the August meeting and that update will be provided then.  Chair Ites informed the commission his wife and he play golf six times a week at Braemar Golf Course and wanted to point out that the staff working at the course this year are doing an outstanding job and the golf course is in great shape. VII. Staff Comments  There still are remaining work items around the landscape elements at Arden Park as well as there are a few punch items that are still on the park and some of the infrastructure.  The city was successful in getting some of the Save The Summer grant money through Hennepin County. They will be doing a park and play and water safety days. In addition, they will also be doing tennis kits and the expansion of the paddleboats at Centennial Lakes.  Staff has worked on several reimagined summer programs. Most of the programs launch this week and they will be occurring with the new guidance.  People can now start reserving shelters; however, they are still limited by guidance, so they are not able to have larger groups.  Youth and adult activities have started.  Hennepin County should be starting the Senior Center/Library construction project in a few weeks.  The Edinborough Park entrance project is currently underway, and they are in the removal phase. They are finding infrastructure issues that were not visible prior to starting, so they are working through that. He will keep the commission updated if any changes are needed.  The city’s facility division will be working on a full energy audit of Edinborough Park. They did sign a contract with a collaborative design group to help with the facility. VIII. Calendar of Events A. Upcoming 2020 Meeting and Events Staff Liaison Vetter informed the commission that the August meeting will be a virtual meeting and will be held on Monday, Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. due to the primary election that is being held on Tuesday, Aug. 11. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 8/10/2020 IX. Adjournment Motion made by Good to adjourn the July 14, 2020 meeting at 8:08 p.m. Motion seconded by Nelson. Roll call vote. Motion carried.