HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-11-10 Parks & Rec Comm MinutesDraft Minutes☐
Approved Minutes☒
Approved: Dec. 8, 2020
Minutes
City of Edina, Minnesota
Edina Parks & Recreation Commission
VIRTUAL MEETING
Nov. 10, 2020
7 p.m.
I. Call to Order
Chair Ites called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
II. Roll Call
Answering roll call were Commissioners Nelson, Strother, Willette, Mork, Nahlovsky,
McAwley, Sorem, Dahlien, Doscotch, Good, Miller and Ites
Staff present: Staff Liaison Perry Vetter, Assistant Director Parks & Natural Resources Tom
Swenson, Assistant Director Recreation & Facilities Tracy Petersen, Administrative
Coordinator Janet Canton, Recreation Supervisor Tiffany Bushland and Recreation
Supervisor Amanda Clarke
III. Approval of Meeting Agenda
Staff Liaison Vetter informed the commission the agenda needs to be amended by taking out
Item V.A. Special Project Request for Bocce Ball courts at Kojetin Park. The resident
requesting this project was unable to attend tonight’s meeting and therefore it will be added
to the December meeting.
Motion made by Strother to approve the amended meeting agenda. Motion
seconded by McAwley. Roll call vote. Motion carried.
IV. Approval of Meeting Minutes
Motion made by Nelson to approve the Oct. 13, 2020 minutes. Motion seconded by
Willette. Roll call vote. Motion carried.
V. Reports/Recommendations
A. Special Project Request: Skate Park at Pamela Park
Staff Liaison Vetter informed the commission this is a special project request for a skate
park at Pamela Park. This is based on special project guidelines that staff proposed and
the commission approved earlier this year. The meeting is to gather feedback on the
request, thoughts, issues you may identify, etc. He noted no decisions will be made at
this time.
Recreation Supervisors Bushland and Clarke gave a brief introduction of the special
project and highlighted a few items from the staff report.
Draft Minutes☐
Approved Minutes☒
Approved: Dec. 8, 2020
Phil Mero, Edina resident who is proposing the project, went over his request and noted
several different benefits of having a skate park.
Commissioners gave their feedback, asked questions and thanked Mr. Mero for his time
and energy in bringing this to the commission.
Staff Liaison Vetter commented that what he is hearing from the commission is a general
openness to the request as long they can answer the four questions: demand, funding,
location and level of use.
B. 2020 Commission Work Plan Update
Staff Liaison Vetter informed the commission there are no updates on initiatives #1, #2,
#5 and #6.
Initiative #3 Develop an approach to build community by proactively connecting with neighborhood
groups, community athletic groups and underserved members of the community.
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 and 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 with regards to Initiatives #3 and #4 they have received
the feedback they needed. They are currently trying to figure out how they want to get
together as they consolidate all the feedback they have received from several different
groups as well as from their initial meeting. Commissioner Nelson noted her plan is to
finish consolidating this and then sending it back to the group to see if there is any other
feedback and can then move from that point.
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 with regards to initiative #7 their group
has a meeting scheduled for next Monday, Nov. 16 and will have an update for the
December meeting.
VI. Chair and Member Comments
Commissioner Nelson informed the commission her husband and son recently went to
see the changes at Braemar Golf Dome and were pleasantly surprised at the new
TopTracer Technology. She noted she has also mentioned it to several other people
and has received good feedback.
Draft Minutes☐
Approved Minutes☒
Approved: Dec. 8, 2020
Commissioner Strother asked Staff Liaison Vetter if the new restrictions the state is
putting out on gatherings and how it deals with serving food is going to impact any of
their current facilities that are open. Staff Liaison Vetter replied how the city will be
impacted. He added they are going to need cooperation from all their partners to not
only meet new guidelines but existing guidelines.
Chair Ites informed the commission he has already been to the golf dome several times
and asked what the feedback has been regarding TopTracer versus what the golf dome
had previously. Staff Liaison Vetter replied initially the response has been very positive
to what they anticipated moving indoors. He noted that another piece of the COVID-19
management plan is they moved to all timed golf and that eliminates several touch points
for them as well as they have limited the capacity. Another advantage of the timed golf is
they know when that next bay is going to open.
Chair Ites made the comment that he does not know how much better than 80,000
rounds can be but thinks it was a pretty good effort on all the staff this year.
VII. Staff Comments
Staff Liaison Vetter gave the following updates:
It was pointed out to him that they had 71,061 total rounds at Braemar Golf Course
and the number listed in the PARC minutes was incorrect.
The Senior Center and Hennepin County Library are still under construction.
To clarify from last month’s PARC meeting with regards to streaming hockey games at
Braemar Arena the agreement does not include the high school; the school has their
own agreement with the same company.
The Parks & Recreation Department is currently working with two scout projects who
are working on signage for Bredesen and Rosland Parks, which will include updates to
the frisbee golf wayfinding that was recently suggested by Commissioner Good.
Assistant Director of Parks & Natural Resources Swenson gave an informational update
on Melody Lake Neighborhood, specifically the neighborhood roadway construction
that is scheduled to happen in 2021. They have identified an area along the city parcel
that could use some stormwater treatment. He indicated the funding is coming from the
Engineering Department Stormwater budget; however, it is city land that Park
Maintenance is currently mowing so he is partnering with Jessica Wilson, Edina’s
Engineering Water Sources Coordinator, on the project.
VIII. Calendar of Events
A. Upcoming 2020 Meeting and Events
Staff Liaison Vetter indicated that after today’s announcement he would plan on the Dec. 8
Parks & Recreation Commission meeting to be another virtual meeting.
IX. Adjournment
Motion made by Miller to adjourn the Nov. 10, 2020 meeting at 8:23 p.m. Motion
seconded by Nelson. Roll call vote. Motion carried.