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.