HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-08-10 Parks & Rec Comm MinutesDraft Minutes☐
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Approved: Sept. 8, 2020
Minutes
City Of Edina, Minnesota
Edina Parks & Recreation Commission
VIRTUAL MEETING
Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2020
7 p.m.
I. Call to Order
Chair Ites called the meeting to order at 7:19 p.m.
II. Roll Call
Answering roll call were Commissioners Doscotch, Good, Miller, Nelson, Strother, Willette,
Osborne, McAwley, Dahlien, Ites
Absent: Student Commissioner Lelas
Staff present: Staff Liaison Perry Vetter, Assistant Director Parks & Natural Resources Tom
Swenson, Assistant Director Recreation & Facilities Tracy Petersen, and Administrative
Coordinator Janet Canton
III. Approval of Meeting Agenda
Motion made by Good to approve the meeting agenda. Motion seconded by
Strother. Roll call vote. Motion carried.
IV. Approval of Meeting Minutes
Motion made by Strother to approve the July 14, 2020 minutes. Motion seconded by
Good. Roll call vote. Motion carried.
V. Reports/Recommendations
A. 2019 Work Plan Report
Staff Liaison Vetter informed the commission he has received some updates from
commissioners on some missing items from the 2019 Work Plan. He asked the
commissioners if they have something completed and have not yet submitted it to do so
right way so they can complete the text of the 2019 Wok Plan. The 2019 Work Plan will
be on the September agenda for the commission to vote on and then it will go to the
City Council.
B. 2020 Work Plan Discussion
Initiative #1 – Review and comment on the Flood Risk Reduction Strategy and Climate Action
Plan. Staff Liaison Vetter informed the commission for Initiative #1 the group does not
have any materials to review and comment on and therefore they are not in need of any
action at this time.
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Staff Liaison Vetter pointed out he did provide a few updates in the progress report in
the packet.
Chair Ites asked the commissioners who have been assigned to different initiatives about
having virtual meetings or could they engage in prudent distancing meetings in person.
Staff Liaison Vetter indicated he can draft an email to the initiative leads and help facilitate
meetings by giving them options for setting up a WebEx meeting, in person meeting or a
hybrid of the two types of meetings at a city site if that would help the work groups with
their initiatives.
Initiative #7 – Study and Report on the strategic goal of 15% of Edina land dedicated to parks
and green spaces. Commissioner Good indicated the group has another call later this
week; however, they have done a little further work on where the park acreage is today
and gave the commission a sense of what they have found so far. They are looking at the
different quadrants and the way they serve the different quadrants across Edina and the
types of service there might be if they are well spread out through the community
besides just acres alone. He noted when comparing the park and green space acreage the
west side of Edina is at about 81% compared to only 19% on the east side of Edina.
When looking at comparison north and south there are 27 parks on the north and 13
parks on the south. He commented they are trying to get a sense of where the parks and
the green spaces are and then they will dig a little deeper into what other types of
metrics they might be able to use and what else they might be able to consider so the
parks are well positioned to service the community besides something as simple as an
acreage count.
Commissioner Strother asked if they are still waiting on the Human Rights and Relations
Commission to come back with a recommendation on Initiative #2. Staff Liaison Vetter
replied staff’s recommendation is going to be to continue on with the initiative but take
the framework creation from the commissions and have staff generate that and then
bring it to both commissions for review and comment and then an implementation.
C. 2019-2020 Outdoor Rink Summary
Recreation Supervisor Bushland gave a report on the 2019-2020 outdoor rink utilization.
Commissioners asked questions and made comments.
D. 2021 Parks & Recreation Commission Work Plan
Staff Liaison Vetter informed the commission he would like for them to start generating ideas
for the 2021 work plan. He would like to finalize a recommendation of where the commissions
priorities will be for 2021 at their September meeting. He noted Chair Ites will be presenting
the 2021 Work Plan to the City Council on Oct. 6. He reminded the commission that last
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year the commission asked themselves three questions: What could we do, what should we
do, and what will we do? He indicated they are at a little bit of a disadvantage right now not
knowing where the CIP will be and what that means for 2021 and beyond.
Staff Liaison Vetter indicated he thinks Initiative #3 from the 2020 Work Plan (Develop an
approach to build community by proactively connecting with neighborhood groups, community athletic
groups and underserved members of the community) could be further developed and implemented
in 2021. They need to look at that process because the initiative really has some benefit for
them whether they are still in some type of isolation or social distance standpoint how do they
connect with their various stakeholders. He noted maybe they can build a foundation whether
its materials, presentations or whatever it might be that members can take into the community
and invite people in; the connection piece is huge.
Commissioner Good informed the commission there are four broad areas they may want to
consider. First would be to carry over from the 2020 Work Plan. Second would be driven by
funding; they need funding for their master plans and as Staff Liaison Vetter indicated if they
can prioritize and begin to carve off phases because he thinks they need to push for what they
can do if they get some funding for master plans. Third would be looking back at their strategic
plan to see if there are any objectives or parts that may need to be refreshed. Lastly, they have
final approval of the Comprehensive Plan so there should be some items there that could
make a work plan list for next year.
Staff Liaison Vetter commented that staff can formulate some of these by looking at the 2020
Work Plan as well as other items discussed this evening and bring back a draft ideas for the
commission to discuss at the September meeting.
VI. Chair and Member Comments
• Commissioner Dahlien indicated his wife and he recently walked around Lake
Cornelia and went along the path that was part of the project that was discussed
last year. He noted along the path he saw three oak trees that had been planted
that were over three feet high and it was his understanding plantings were only
supposed to be three feet high. Assistant Director Swenson gave an update on the
path and noted that any trees that were in place that were natural were left in
place; however, the plant materials that were put in the ground are designed to be
three feet or less. Commissioner Dahlien indicated there are three new oaks that
were planted between the path and the lake and he is guessing those trees will be
50 feet tall. Assistant Director Swenson replied he will check into it.
• Commissioner McAwley asked if there was any information on the bridge that was built
at the wetlands in Highlands Park. Assistant Director Swenson indicated residents used
wood material from the area and filled the wetland, which is not allowed. He noted the
ICWC work force spent a couple of weeks removing it and they are close to being
done. Staff Liaison Vetter noted the city engineer did communicate with some of the
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residents in the area and noted they were able to identify the person that built it and
that person is helping to rectify the situation.
• Chair Ites informed the commission that on July 16 he walked with the mayor and
approximately a dozen other people around Fred Richards Park and they received some
very good and favorable comments about the new playground. There was a
representative there from Hillcrest trying to be as positive as she could but realistic in
discussing the lack of development that may happen in that area.
• Chair Ites asked if there was any damage other than the losing a tree on the golf course
to any of the other parks from last night’s storm. Staff Liaison Vetter replied there was a
lot of standing water on the golf course and many of their parks. He noted they have
localized flooding in the Bredesen Park trails and some of Lewis Park. They are cart path
only today on the Academy Course and no carts at the championship course. There was
also a lot of water penetration into some of the facilities at the Art Center and
Edinborough Park.
• Chair Ites informed the commission he has been at the golf course most every day this
summer and the fact they are just heading into August there have been 46,000 rounds
are already played there. He counted 58 people on the driving range today and that was
after a 5” rain so they certainly have one enterprise facility that is doing a great job and
the staff and management are doing a great job.
• Commissioner Miller asked if there is a set plan for reopening Braemar Field Dome.
Staff Liaison Vetter noted they are currently working on plans for both the sports dome
and golf dome to launch those this fall; however, they do not have any exact set dates
yet.
VII. Staff Comments
• On-line registration for fall/winter activities for Edina residents will start on Wednesday,
Aug. 19 at noon. There was not an activities directory published for fall/winter;
however, Assistant Director Peterson and her staff did a great job of getting the word
out and having everything online. This has also allowed them to plan for the unknowns
and adjust programming right up to the last moment as well as add programs to the site.
• There is still work remaining on the last phase of landscaping at Arden Park. They are
waiting for information from the Watershed District on their schedule of plantings.
Once they receive that information, they will communicate that to the residents.
• The Edinborough Park Entrance project is ongoing, and they are in the phase of trying
to waterproof the plaza and the sublayers before they can put the plaza back together.
• Braemar Arena has hosted several tournaments this summer so they have been working
through what crowd management could look like if they end up with a busier winter
season. The staff has been doing a good job of trying to think creatively and working
with the various tournaments on how to safely get people in and out of the building.
• Outdoor shelter reservations are now being done online. We are following the State of
Minnesota guidance so there is a social limit of 25 people outdoors and 10 people
indoors.
• The Hennepin County library project will begin on Aug. 17; that will continue the
closure of the city’s portion of the Senior Center facility into November.
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• The Braemar Golf Junior Club Championship will be held on Aug. 22 and participants
can still register for it.
• Last month the commission had a question on the pickleball policy to which they have
not heard feedback on it. Staff will do some proactive outreach this fall once the season
closes to see if there are any changes or adjustments that need to be done before next
year.
• The commission was informed there have been many calls of graffiti being in the parks
this year. If residents see any graffiti, please call the police department on the non-
emergency phone number to report it. The police are trying to manage and keep
statistics on how much is occurring. It was noted this is not uncommon and lot of
Edina’s peer cities are seeing more cases of this as well.
VIII. Calendar of Events
A. Upcoming 2020 Meeting and Events
Staff Liaison Vetter informed the commission they do not yet know the status or style of
meetings going forward; they are taking direction from the Administration Department and
will know that on a month to month basis.
IX. Adjournment
Motion made by Nelson to adjourn the Aug. 10, 2020 meeting at 8:30 p.m. Motion
seconded by Strother. Roll call vote. Motion carried.