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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-09-14 Parks & Rec Comm MinutesDraft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 10/12/2021 Minutes City of Edina, Minnesota Edina Parks & Recreation Commission Braemar Golf Course September 14, 2021 7 p.m. I. Call to Order Chair Ites called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. II. Roll Call Answering roll call were Commissioners Doscotch, Good, Ites, McAwley, Miller, Strother and Student Commissioner Jah Commissioner Nelson arrived at 7:07 p.m. and Student Commissioner Presthus arrived at 7:23 p.m. Absent: Commissioners Haas and Willette Staff present: Staff Liaison Perry Vetter, Assistant Director Parks & Natural Resources Tom Swenson, Assistant Director Recreation & Facilities Tracy Petersen, Braemar Arena General Manager Chad Eischens, Braemar Golf Course General Manager Joe Abood, and Administrative Coordinator Janet Canton III. Approval of Meeting Agenda Motion made by Good to approve the meeting agenda. Motion seconded by Miller. Motion carried. IV. Approval of Meeting Minutes Motion made by McAwley to approve the July 13, 2021minutes. Motion seconded by Strother. Motion carried. V. Special Recognitions and Presentations A. Welcome Student Commissioners Staff Liaison Vetter introduced the newly appointed student Parks & Recreation Commissioners Urva Jha and Samuel Presthus. Commissioners welcomed the new student members to the commission. B. Welcome Casey Hagert, Recreation Supervisor Assistant Director Petersen introduced Casey Hagert the new Recreation Supervisor to the commission. Recreation Supervisor Hagert replaces Tiffany Bushland who was selected as the Centennial Lakes Park General Manager. Commissioners welcomed Recreation Supervisor Hagert. VI. Community Comment None VII. Reports/Recommendations Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 10/12/2021 A. Special Project Request: Expansion of Braemar Ice Arena Staff Liaison Vetter gave an introduction of the special project request from the community to expand Braemar Arena. Staff Liaison Vetter indicated that this request is separate from the Braemar Master Plan and Facility Improvements requested as part of the Local Option Sales Tax proposal for 2022. That proposal has completed a review by the state legislature and was included in the tax bill signed by the governor. The next step is it will be placed on the ballot for Edina residents in 2022. Staff Liaison Vetter explained that this request is part of a series of discussions with community and hockey members on ways the city could improve the short-term condition of Braemar Arena and focus on developing a longer-term vision for the arena. Those discussions slowed due to the Covid-19 pandemic response. This summer, at the request of State Senator Franzen, a request for state bonding was submitted to expand Braemar Arena. The Edina City Council adopted a resolution of support for the state bonding and asked that the project be introduced to the Parks & Recreation Commission. Staff Liaison Vetter outlined the request as adding a fourth sheet of indoor ice by removing the south arena and constructing two new sheets in that location, creating structured parking including a safer drop off location and expanding the common area lobby for the facility. Staff Liaison Vetter indicated that a study would be completed on the viability of the project, including:  Operational and capital expense implications  Financial obligations  Land use planning and other expansion implications  Facility design, amenities and building components Peter Fitzgerald, Edina resident, addressed the commission and outlined his involvement in the community as participant, resident, coach, and Edina supporter. He discussed his peers all want to see Braemar Arena reflect the expectations of the community and both reinvestment and expansion are desired. He highlighted a community wide shortage of ice time for youth, both girls and boys programming. The initial planning documents provided to determine the feasibility of expansion were provided at no cost to the city by a community volunteer that has architectural expertise and experience with ice arenas. The commissioners asked questions of Staff Liaison Vetter, General Manager Eischens, and Mr. Fitzgerald. Commissioners indicated the largest challenges to the project was to be clear and precise communication about the merits and financial aspects of the project, timelines and potential disruptions. Commissioners were also concerned that a study of the project might delay other work that has been an existing priority. Commissioners also agreed that the proposed plan had valuable merits and should be studied further. Staff Liaison Vetter indicated that staff would provide a more detailed process for the request to follow and provide updates on those next steps. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 10/12/2021 Commissioner Nelson left the meeting at 8:38 p.m. B. 2021 Work Plan Updates Updates were given on the following initiatives. 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 indicated he would resend the most recent proposal to the work group for review. Commissioners agreed to review and provide comments back to staff on the draft plan to identify barriers. Initiative #2 – Create presentation to share information about Parks & Recreation facilities, services, and systems with up to six community groups. Staff is waiting to hear on what the allotted time for a Town Talk series might be, either one or multiple sessions. That would dictate the amount of content the presentation would be able to cover. Initiative #3 – Report and provide recommendations on alternative funding sources for park related improvements including parks, facilities, and enterprise upgrades. The work group has reviewed a draft narrative for the alternate funding sources. Initiative #4 Study and report on options to categorize underutilized park amenities/areas and identify park amenity needs. The work group will provide direction on next steps on how to best make this process valuable to the commission and staff for the future. Initiative #5 – Study and report evaluating options for determining benchmarks (park amenities, operations, service areas) the commission started studying in 2020. Staff will provide the work group the results of the cost recovery calculations from the City’s annual financial report. C. 2022 Work Plan Development Discussion Staff Liaison Vetter went over the draft of the 2022 Work Plan calendar. He noted the draft list of initiatives the commission had generated was included in the packet for consideration. At the conclusion of the discussion a motion on a draft plan would be appropriate for presentation to the City Council by Chair Ites at the Oct. 5, 2021, work session. Commissioners discussed the draft initiatives that would be worked on by the commission and which items staff could place on future agendas for updates and presentations. Commissioners determined to move forward with four draft initiative A, combining B and H, combining E and G, II. In summary, the initiatives to be proposed are: Proposed 2022 Initiative #1: Present information about Parks and Recreation facilities, services, and systems with up to six community groups. (Carryover from 2021 work plan) Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 10/12/2021 Proposed 2022 Initiative #2: Recommend funding sources for park related improvements including parks, facilities, and enterprise upgrades, including a philanthropic wish list and donation process. (Carryover from 2021 work plan and additional topics) Proposed 2022 Initiative #3: Review city playground assets with the intent of prioritizing opportunities and improvements, focusing on accessibility, at each location.  Proposed 2022 Initiative #4: Review and propose an expanded volunteer assistance program to connect volunteers to park initiatives. Motion made by Strother to approve the proposed 2022 Parks & Recreation Commission work plan. Motion seconded by McAwley. Motion carried. VIII. Chair and Member Comments IX. Staff Comments Staff Liaison Vetter updated the commission on the following items:  List of informational items provided as an update  Monday, Oct. 4 is the Yancy Park dedication. X. Adjournment Motion made by Miller to adjourn the Sept. 14, 2021 meeting at 9:36 p.m. Motion seconded by Good. Motion carried.