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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.