Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-05-12 Parks & Rec Comm MinutesDraft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 6/8/2021 Minutes City of Edina, Minnesota Edina Parks & Recreation Commission VIRTUAL MEETING May 12, 2021 7 p.m. I. Call to Order Chair Ites called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. II. Roll Call Answering roll call were Commissioners Haas, Miller, Nelson, Strother, Willette, McAwley, Doscotch, Good, Ites and Student Commissioner Mork Absent: Student Commissioners Sorem and Nahlovsky Staff present: Staff Liaison Perry Vetter, Assistant Director Parks & Natural Resources Tom Swenson, Assistant Director Recreation & Facilities Tracy Petersen, Administrative Coordinator Janet Canton, Community Engagement Coordinator MJ Lamon III. Approval of Meeting Agenda Motion made by Nelson to approve the amended meeting agenda. Motion seconded by McAwley. Roll call vote. Motion carried. IV. Special Recognitions and Presentations A. Commission Member Review Community Engagement Coordinator Lamon presented information related to Commission Roles, Communication, Guiding Documents and Work Plan Development. Staff answered Commission questions regarding Commission roles and guiding documents and advice to the Commission regarding the joint meeting with the City Council. V. Reports/Recommendations A. 2021 Work Plan Discussion Chair Ites explained the Commission should review the workplan updates and each lead should give progress. Staff Liaison Vetter reviewed how the joint City Council meeting will run. Initiative #1 - Review and comment on proposed plan to identify barriers for participation and reach communities of color through different modes and feedback. Staff Liaison Vetter updated the Commission on Initiative #1 and noted this initiative has been put on pause. He explained there has been a push throughout the organization and Metro area for joining the Just Deeds project. He updated the Commission on the racial equity work that is being done. Commission questions on the Just Deeds project were answered by staff. Initiative #2 – Create presentation to share information about Parks & Recreation facilities, services, and systems with up to six community groups. Commissioner Nelson informed the Commission that previously the working group was going to try to present some information about the Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 6/8/2021 parks to six different community groups but has taken a different approach because of COVID. The group decided to take an online approach on Town Talks with a high-level approach of four different buckets: 1) parks, 2) recreation programs, 3) facilities and business aspect of those entities and 4) funding. The group wants to educate the public on what the parks are making sure people to understand what to expect from the parks that is realistic. She answered Commission questions. Initiative #3 – Report and provide recommendations on alternative funding sources for park related improvements including parks, facilities, and enterprise upgrades. Commissioner McAwley indicated the group met approximately two weeks ago and discussed a menu of options for funding park projects. She noted some of the options were philanthropic, various grants, sales tax proposal, restricted levy, and other ideas. She explained the team split the options up for research purposes and will reach out to staff for more information. The team also did some research to determine which parks can utilize which funding sources. The team hopes to have final recommendations for the City Council by the September meeting. Initiative #4 – Study and report on options to categorize underutilized park amenities/areas and identify park amenity needs. Commissioner Doscotch indicated the team met last week and discussed this. The subgroup discussed a number of ideas and how it ties into various existing information such as the level of service that is in the Strategic Plan and the consensus was the team wanted to ensure that what is done has an impact. He thought it would be useful to him to have conversations with Chair Ites or staff before the subgroup gets into the idea of categorizing things to nail down exactly how they can give something to the Parks Department that is actually of value. Commissioner McAwley wondered if this item should be stricken from the worklist and have the group help out with alternative funding. Initiative #5 – Study and report evaluating options for determining benchmarks (park amenities, operations, service areas) the commission started studying in 2020. Commissioner Good reviewed initiative #5 and indicated the team prepared a draft baseline of nine proposed benchmarks, not yet set in stone, and can be modified, added to, or dropped. He listed the nine benchmarks with the Commission. Chair Ites recapped discussion and reviewed next steps. The Commission discussed which initiatives should be brought forward to the City Council at the joint meeting and the order to present them. VI. Chair and Member Comments  Commissioner Good thought the Commission has struggled in the past of feeling like there were meaningful workplan items. He reviewed a potential framework to help the Commission develop workplan items and listed some potential workplan items for 2022 1) Community voice, 2) support Park and Rec Department priorities that are of a greater challenge, 3) drive high level strategic initiatives. VII. Staff Comments A. City Council Updates April 20 and May 4, 2021 Staff Liaison Vetter reviewed the City Council April 20th and May 4th meeting updates. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 6/8/2021 B. Information Items Staff Liaison Vetter gave the following updates:  Braemar Sport Dome taken down for the summer season  Golf Course is open  Community Garden opened May 8. Timbers were used to separate the garden plots from the access paths  Crown Castle is still working on the cellular phone tower project at Highlands Park.  Restrooms and drinking fountains will be opening soon throughout the park system  The new General Manager, Tiffany Bushman for Centennial Lakes Park has been selected  Staff hopes to finalize how the new COVID-19 guidance changes is going to impact operations in the City Staff answered Commission questions regarding the Community Gardens, garbage around the neighborhood ponds and who is responsible for cleanup, smoking regulations in the park system, park signs and new parks in the City. C. Upcoming Meetings and Events Staff Liaison Vetter informed the Commission of upcoming Commission meetings. VIII. Adjournment Motion made by McAwley, to adjourn the May 12, 2021, meeting at 8:24 p.m. Motion seconded by Strother. Roll call vote. Motion carried.