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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 11/04/2019APPROVED MINUTES PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2019 7:00 P.M. STARING LAKE PARK BUILDING 14800 Pioneer Trail PRNR COMMISSION MEMBERS: Larry Link, Chair; Patrice Erickson, Vice Chair; Cecilia Cervantes, Kim Harris, Andy McGlasson, Leonard Pesheck, John Rahman, Ken Ross, Kirk Spresser PRNR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Shay Ginuga, Riley Marble, Tanay Salunke, Zachery Spears, Simon Vergara CITY STAFF: Jay Lotthammer, Parks and Recreation Director Lori Brink, Recreation Manager Matt Bourne, Parks and Natural Resources Manager Valerie Verley, Community Center Manager RECORDING SECRETARY: Jodie Fenske I. INTRODUCTIONS Chair Link called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Roll call was taken. Commission Member Harris and Student Representatives Shay Ginuga and Simon Vergara were absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion: Rahman moved, seconded by Erickson, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 8-0. III. APPROVAL OF PRNR MINUTES Motion: Ross moved, seconded by Cervantes, to approve the October 7, 2019 minutes as presented. Motion carried 8-0. IV. REPORT OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION Lotthammer reported on actions recently taken by the City Council. A. DONATION TO HALLOWEEN ON THE MALL FROM CRIME PREVENTION FUND Council adopted a Resolution accepting a donation of $750 from the Eden Prairie Crime Prevention Fund toward the Halloween on the Mall event. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES November 4, 2019 Page 2 B. DONATION TO SENIOR CENTER HOLIDAY LUNCH Council adopted a Resolution accepting a donation of $225 from Summit Place to go towards the Holiday Lunch at the Senior Center. C. PARKS AND RECREATION RENTAL FACILITY POLICY A presentation was made to the City Council as a discussion item to relay the changes the PRNR Commission had reviewed last month. Council agreed to move the item forward as proposed and the changes will take effect immediately for any new rental agreements signed. The changes will be highlighted in rental paperwork and signage will be prevalent at the Community Center to allow residents to make informed decisions. The changes will also be mentioned to prospective renters over the phone. Brink noted reservations cannot be booked online as all rentals need to be booked in person at the Community Center. V. REPORT OF PLANNING COMMISSION A. HISTORIC YORKVILLE AND BLOOMINGTON ROAD – LOCAL HERITAGE PRESERVATION DESIGNATION Bourne reported the Heritage Preservation Commission held a public hearing in October and recently recommended to the City Council designating a segment of the historic City-owned Yorkville and Bloomington Trail located within the James A. Brown Conservation Area as a Heritage Preservation Site. The Planning Commission reviewed the proposed heritage preservation designation for consistency with the comprehensive plan and recommended approval to the City Council. VI. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATION VII. NEW BUSINESS A. TOUR STARING LAKE PARK BUILDING Bourne stated the parking lot was recently completed and striped. With the exception of a few punch-list items, the Staring Lake Park Building project is almost complete. Rahman inquired about a community open house or launch for the new building. Brink responded the Winter Blast event in January will include an open house. Staff is also planning an open house closer to spring to feature the rental opportunity of the building. Bourne led the group through a tour of the entire building and outdoor highlights including a gas fire pit. He mentioned two recent break-ins over the past few weekends. Police will increase patrols in the area and temporary security cameras will be put in place until the permanent security system is installed. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES November 4, 2019 Page 3 Lotthammer emphasized some of the energy- and cost-saving features including sensors for turning the lighting on and off and the high-efficiency water heater. Many of the materials chosen for the building are durable for ice and snow but still attractive for facility rental usage. Heating and cooling for the building can be controlled remotely. WiFi will be available inside and outside the building. Bourne started the tour in the large room overlooking the sledding hill which is called the Lakeview Room. A large screen monitor is available which makes it conducive for holding meetings. Capacity of the room can be up to 75 people at round tables. The speaker/sound system can be isolated to the Lakeview Room, or can include the skating room and ice rink/sledding hill to make announcements and play music. Vending machines and chalet-themed artwork for the building are forthcoming. Spresser suggested putting a call out on the City’s website for residents who have family photos from the sledding hill that could be used for artwork. Ross suggested the Historical Society may also have sledding photos from years ago. There is an office area in which warming house attendants will monitor security and speaker controls. The skating room on the west side of the building, directly off the skating rink, is called the Caroline Room, and it will also be available for rental. Caroline was the original name for Staring Lake. Interpretive signage and a map showing Lake Caroline are forthcoming. VIII. OLD BUSINESS IX. REPORTS OF COMMISSION & STAFF A. PARKS AND RECREATION EXPERIENCES Staff and Commission members shared recent parks and recreation related experiences. Link commended Student Representatives who were on the Eden Prairie High School’s cross country team that placed second at the State meet. Student Representative Tanay Salunke mentioned the Girls Swim and Dive sectional meet will be held at the Aquatic Center on Wednesday, November 6. Link also commended Verley and staff at the Community Center for the triathlon held on November 3. He stated the event has improved each year and additional staff has been available to assist participants. Verley noted participants ranged in age from 13 to 72 and approximately forty participants completed the triathlon. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES November 4, 2019 Page 4 Spresser inquired about how cross country skiing and the dog park will operate this winter. Bourne responded the dog park will remain open until the first skiable snow, at which time the dog park will close in order for the ski trails to get groomed. If there are any warm stretches with no snow, the dog park will open again temporarily. Notifications will be available on the City’s website and updates will be sent via email to parties who have requested to be informed. Temporary fencing will be put in place during any mid-season closures. Erickson stated the new picnic tables outside the Community Center look nice. She also mentioned the columbarium foundation looks good at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Bourne stated the stairs and railing are currently being installed and the columbarium will be delivered and installed next spring. Link suggested the possibility of workers from the fireworks vendor educating portions of the crowd at Schooner Days and/or the 4th of July. Last year he spoke with workers who were enthusiastic and Link found the information interesting. B. RECREATION SERVICES MANAGER 1. Outdoor Skating Rinks/Sledding Hill Overview. Brink displayed a presentation on winter activities and events at all City- owned outdoor ice skating rinks. She also provided information on the Staring Lake Park 700-foot sledding hill which is consistently inspected for safety and closed when icy conditions make it unsafe. Her presentation included staffing data, operating hours, and participation data for the nine rink locations. Pesheck inquired about the possibility of a rack being made available to store sleds so they don’t roll downhill when kids come into the new building. Cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and winter hiking are available at Staring Lake Park and the Outdoor Center. Various adult and family programs are held at the Outdoor Center, including private and small group lessons upon request. The Winter Blast event will be held at Staring Lake Park, weather permitting, on Saturday, January 18, 2020 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year’s event will be focused on younger kids and families rather than more teen-focused as in the past. A grand opening of the new building will be held and will include a food truck, outdoor music, bonfire, art projects, and snow painting. Skating (with free skate rental), sledding, snowshoeing, and kick-sledding will be available. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES November 4, 2019 Page 5 C. COMMUNITY CENTER MANAGER 1. Fall into Fitness Recap. Verley described the event that took place on October 12 as an annual kick- off for fall programming and new membership drive. As in the past, the $29 new-member enrollment fee was waived that day only. Extra staff members were available to conduct tours for over four hours, providing a total of 125-150 tours that day. Sixty-six new memberships were sold for a total of 122 new members, which is thirteen more than 2018 and twenty-two more than 2017. Twenty-three fitness classes of shortened length were offered throughout the day. A similar event is being planned for spring with a goal of retaining memberships throughout the summer rather than having members cancel or suspend. D. PARKS AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGER E. PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR 1. Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Lotthammer provided the Commission with an update on the progress of the Master Plan. Trends and input previously provided by the Commission have been shared with Staff, specifically those who are experts in each particular area. In addition to providing information on the City’s various facilities (Senior Center, Art Center, Outdoor Center, Community Center, etc.), Lotthammer and Brink are working closely with Staff on adding information on programming at each of those facilities. The traditional Master Plan was originally more about the parks. The new format will include an overview, uniqueness of the history to the park or facility, amenities, etc. Pertinent links to additional documents and information to go further in-depth will be included. Photos of happenings at each location, as well as a map showing the location of amenities will be included in the updated Master Plan. Spresser inquired and Lotthammer responded the purpose of the Master Plan is to document an up-to-date inventory of parks and facilities and also to document future trends and how to plan for them. Spresser suggested Staff be asked to highlight any major or specific changes expected in the next ten years, as well as priorities. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES November 4, 2019 Page 6 Conversations with staff and additional public input will continue to take place, as well as a review by City Council members. Pesheck inquired and Lotthammer responded the first draft of the Master Plan should be available for PRNR Commission review after the first of the year. 2. 2019 PRNR Work Plan. Lotthammer presented the final 2019 work plan indicating future topics will include the 2020 PRNR Commission meeting dates and another Master Plan update. Agenda items will be monitored to determine if a December meeting is necessary. Lotthammer will keep the group informed as early as possible. He invited everyone to recommend topics to be discussed at meetings in 2020. X. NEXT MEETING The next PRNR Commission meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 2, at 7 p.m. in the Heritage Rooms at City Center. XI. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Pesheck moved, seconded by Erickson, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 8-0. Chair Link adjourned the meeting at 8:17 p.m.