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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 07/12/2021APPROVED MINUTES PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY, JULY 12, 2021 7:00 P.M. CITY CENTER Heritage Rooms, 8080 Mitchell Road PRNR COMMISSION MEMBERS: Patrice Erickson, Chair; Cecilia Cervantes, Vice Chair; Kim Harris, Swati Kumar, Tom Poul, Ken Ross, Shanti Shah, Kirk Spresser, Ashley Young 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 Chair Erickson called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Community Center Manager Verley and Commission Members Kumar and Shah were absent. I. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion: Harris moved, seconded by Young, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 7-0. II. APPROVAL OF PRNR MINUTES Motion: Cervantes moved, seconded by Spresser, to approve the June 7, 2021, minutes as presented. Motion carried 7-0. III. REPORT OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION Lotthammer reported on several actions recently taken by the City Council. A. DONATION FROM JEFFERY KIRST Council accepted a donation from the estate of Jeffery Kirst in the amount of $45,790.22 for improvements at the Senior Center. Kirst was a long-time Eden Prairie resident, who was also an election judge and donor to the Eden Prairie Foundation. Bids have been received and it has been determined improvements to the upper level can be completed and paid for through donations already received. The timeline is yet to be determined. The Staring Lake Park building will likely be used as satellite area for programming during construction. B. MILLER PARK LIGHTING INSTALLATION PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES July 12, 2021 Page 2 Council accepted bids and awarded a contract to Prairie Electric for installation of sports lighting on three soccer fields. The lighting was previously purchased and now installation will be completed within a few weeks. C. RILEY LAKE PLAY AREA PROJECT Council accepted bids and awarded a contract to Odessa II for the Riley Lake Park play area improvement project. The equipment has been ordered, installation will begin in September, and the new play area will be ready to be used in Spring 2022. IV. REPORT OF PLANNING COMMISSION Bourne reported the Burger King building at the intersection of MN-5 and County Road 4 has been approved for demolition and the rebuilding of a new Burger King restaurant. The nearby State Farm building was demolished recently, and a Starbucks drive-through-only building will be constructed in its place. Morimoto City Homes will construct sixteen owner-occupied townhome units at 9360 Hennepin Town Road. Out lots containing wetlands will be deeded to the City for protection. V. PETITIONS, REQUESTS, AND COMMUNICATION None. VI. NEW BUSINESS None. VII. OLD BUSINESS A. PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT MASTER PLAN – PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE EXERCISE PRNR staff are continuing work on the Parks and Recreation Department Master Plan. In 2019, a marketing study was completed by Michael Walsh of Michael Walsh Communications. He is now reviewing and editing the Master Plan staff have created over the past two years. The previous Master Plan was completed in 2003. Lotthammer stated work is also being done to create a companion document outlining where the Parks and Recreation Department is headed in the next ten to fifteen years. Additional public participation through surveys and social media will be sought as the document is finalized. For historic purposes, the document will include COVID impacts and lessons learned. Lotthammer lead the group through an exercise of sharing past, present, and future parks and recreation related experiences. The first question the group answered PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES July 12, 2021 Page 3 was a past memory about a park or recreation program experience. The second question was to share the best recent park or recreation program experience. The third question was to forecast what an amazing park or recreation program experience would be ten to fifteen years from now. Staff and Commission Members shared personal thoughts, and Lotthammer thanked the group for their input. B. LRT (LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT) UPDATE Lotthammer suggested Commission members listen to Rick Getschow’s recent podcast covering updates to the LRT project. The podcast, Real Talk with Rick, is available on the City’s website. There are currently no LRT construction issues in Eden Prairie and major road closures for the project have been completed in the City. Art and wayfinding signage at the City’s stations are currently being determined. The bus tour in August will include stops and updates on the LRT project. On the transit line to the east of Eden Prairie, there are problems with soft soils and a water table. Therefore, the project is currently being held for change orders and the opening has been delayed. VIII. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. PARKS AND RECREATION EXPERIENCES Commission members and staff shared recent parks and recreation personal experiences in Section VII. A. above. Spresser commended the Parks and Recreation Department’s staff on their efforts and offerings to residents throughout the COVID pandemic. B. RECREATION SERVICES MANAGER No report. C. COMMUNITY CENTER MANAGER 1. Ice Rink Partnerships. In Community Center Manager Verley’s absence, Lotthammer reported on a proposed partnership with Southwest Christian High School (SCHS) in Chaska. Staff at the Community Center were approached by SCHS staff to determine interest in allowing them use of one of the rinks at the Community Center for hockey. The school currently only offers boys hockey but hopes to start a girls hockey program soon. Southwest has been using an arena in Richfield as their home ice rink. PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES July 12, 2021 Page 4 The proposal is for Southwest to start by renting ice time in the middle of the afternoon. Other proposed concepts include hosting home games and raising funds for Rink 2 to be remodeled to include locker rooms. City staff is willing to pursue these concepts after reviewing them with the Eden Prairie Hockey Association, Eden Prairie High School, and the Eden Prairie Figure Skating Club. Discussions will include the need to be flexible with start times and how much impact the build-out to include locker rooms will have on access for other groups. Any upgrades will need to be beneficial to the entire community. With three sheets of ice to maintain and declining participation in hockey and ice skating, the facility will continue to need more groups to perform well financially in the future. Spresser stated a desire to incur no detriment to Eden Prairie sports, while at the same time indicating benefits to Eden Prairie association partners. Young stated the importance of keeping Eden Prairie front and center of all plans. Poul suggested researching using the ice rinks for other purposes to create alternative revenue sources. Lotthammer and Verley will provide an update in the near future. D. PARKS AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGER 1. Upcoming Park Projects. Parks and Natural Resources Manager Bourne provided an update on construction projects recently completed or for which planning for next year has begun. Additional seating will be installed at Riley Lake Park and the LED lighting project at Miller Park soccer fields will be completed in the next few weeks. A new trail is being installed along Martin Drive from Mitchell Road to Venture Lane. A mill and overlay rehab project is scheduled for the end of August on the trail along Braxton Drive. Upcoming projects for which concept plans will be presented to the Commission soon include the new Round Lake Park building, the Nesbitt Preserve splash pad installation, and a new storage building and updated audio and visual technology at the Staring Lake Amphitheater. Designs and plans for these projects will be performed this year with construction to begin in 2022. Spresser suggested City staff consider the impacts on trail usage and other amenities and the importance of adjusting to the post-COVID work week since residents will be working from home more and not necessarily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the future. PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES July 12, 2021 Page 5 E. PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR 1. PRNR Work Plan. Lotthammer shared the updated 2021 work plan, noting topics will be added as the year progresses. Lotthammer invited Commission members to contact him with additional topics for September and future meetings. September PRNR topics will likely include Sustainability Best Practices, Urban Forestry Management Plan, Public Art Installations, additional information regarding the Sterling Tree USA Award, and a park maintenance update. Lotthammer reminded the group of the City Commissions Banquet at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 13 in the Garden Room at City Center. The annual PRNR bus tour will take place on Monday, August 2. The tour will be held in lieu of a formal Commission meeting in August. IX. NEXT MEETING The PRNR Commission Bus Tour will leave from the Senior Center (8950 Eden Prairie Road) on Monday, August 2. Please meet at 6:30 p.m. X. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Spresser moved, seconded by Poul, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 7-0. Chair Erickson adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m.