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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 09/12/2022APPROVED MINUTES PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022 7:00 P.M. STARING LAKE BUILDING 14800 Pioneer Trail, Lakeview Room COMMISSION MEMBERS: Patrice Erickson, Chair; Cecilia Cervantes, Vice Chair; Saratbabu Atluru, Deepa Bhujle, Pedro Curry, Tom Poul, Shanti Shah, Keith Tschohl, Ashley Young STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Pranay Dhiman, Patrick Landwehr, Khoi Nguyen, Marissa Peterson, Dain Volz, Ellie Watanabe, Emilija Zarin. 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 7:02 p.m. Vice Chair Cervantes and Commission Members Atluru, Bhujle, and Poul were absent. Student Representatives Pranay Dhiman and Dain Volz were absent. Recreation Manager Brink was absent. I. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion: Tschohl moved, seconded by Young, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 4-0. Lotthammer welcomed the Student Representatives to their first PRNR Commission meeting and thanked them for their commitment to serve. He invited them to provide input and ask questions throughout the year. II. APPROVAL OF PRNR MINUTES Motion: Shah moved, seconded by Tschohl, to approve the June 6, 2022 PRNR Commission minutes as presented. Motion carried 4-0. III. REPORT OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION Lotthammer reported on several actions recently taken by the City Council. PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES September 12, 2022 Page 2 A. DONATION TO SENIOR CENTER GARDEN PARTY Council adopted a Resolution accepting a donation in the amount of $250 from Benedictine Senior Living in Shakopee to go toward the Senior Center Garden Party. B. MILLER BATTING CAGES AND FRANLO FENCE EXTENSION Council awarded a contract to Century Fence for construction of batting cages at Miller Park and a chain link fence extension at the Franlo Park pickleball courts. The Franlo Park pickleball courts were installed in 2015. Since that time, noise from the courts has been a concern for nearby residents. A fence extension will be the backbone for the installation of a sound attenuating system which will reduce the amount of noise. The Miller Park baseball fields are heavily used and host many tournaments throughout the season. Several fields within Miller Park currently have batting cages. The addition of two more batting cages will further improve these facilities and provide additional support to the City’s youth softball and baseball association programs. Funding for these construction projects comes from the Parks General Maintenance budget and a grant from Hennepin County C. COLLEEN AND GREG WEBER DONATION TO FLYING RED HORSE Council adopted a Resolution accepting a donation in the amount of $500 from Colleen and Greg Weber to be used toward the restoration of the Flying Red Horse sign. D. LEASE FOR RILEY HOUSE Council approved the Lease Extension for one year with Nathan Lovas and Autumn Brown Lovas for the Riley Lake Park rental house. The tenants have been renting the historic Riley-Jacques house since 2011 and have expressed interest in extending the lease for one year. Having someone in the house has allowed the City to gain revenue, but more importantly, has kept someone in the home caring for and protecting this historic site. Staff has purposely kept rent low compared to other rental properties because of the renter’s responsibility for the high cost of heating the home and the intensive care needed to maintain the home. E. SAFETY CAMP DONATION FROM CRIME PREVENTION FUND Council adopted a Resolution accepting the donation of $5,000 from the Eden Prairie Crime Prevention Fund which was donated from Comcast to go toward PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES September 12, 2022 Page 3 Safety Camp. The City, through the collaborative efforts of the Parks and Recreation Department and Police and Fire Departments, has been providing safety education in a recreational camp setting for the past thirty years. Safety topics include fire, water, bike, pedestrian, poison, bully awareness, and more. F. ARTS IN THE PARK DONATION Council adopted a Resolution accepting a contribution in the amount of $250 for Arts in the Park from Healthy Kids Running Series. G. MOVIES IN THE PARK DONATION Council adopted a Resolution accepting a contribution in the amount of $250 for Movies in the Park from Dental Specialists Orthodontics. H. MILLER PARK LIGHTING Council approved a Contract for Goods and Services with Musco Lighting to supply lighting equipment as part of the Miller Park ballfield lighting project. Last year, the lighting for the three soccer/football fields was converted and now lighting will be converted at the four softball fields and one large baseball field. IV. REPORT OF PLANNING COMMISSION V. PETITIONS, REQUESTS, AND COMMUNICATION VI. NEW BUSINESS A. STARING LAKE OVERVIEW Lotthammer provided the Commission with a virtual tour of Staring Lake Park via a PowerPoint presentation. The current pickleball/tennis courts were constructed in 2018. The eight permanent pickleball courts are considered to be some of the best in the metro area due to the shade structures and seating available. The fencing between each court is helpful to the players, and the eight-court structure allows for easy rotation of players. The courts are used regularly by local residents, community members, and the Southwest Metro Pickleball Club. Bourne described the lighted ice skating oval and sledding hill. The oval is not used as a hockey rink but is considered more of a family-oriented rink. Free use of inner tubes, skates, and snowshoes are provided, and most of this equipment was purchased using Hennepin County grant funds. The sledding hill is groomed each winter by Parks staff. PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES September 12, 2022 Page 4 The new Staring Lake Park building was constructed in 2019 as a multi-use facility. It is used mainly as a warming house for skating and sledding in the winter. Throughout the rest of the year, the building is used as a rental facility. Verley explained the Lakeview and Caroline meeting rooms are on opposite ends of the building. The lobby and restrooms are located between the rooms and are open daily during park hours. The building’s meeting rooms are popular for use as year-round rental space for graduation parties, birthday parties, showers, family reunions, rehearsal dinners, work events, retirement parties, etc. Verley reported the building has had fifty-four rentals booked to date in 2022, with approximately thirty-six hundred people using the meeting rooms. Verley described some of the programs and special events which take place at Staring Lake Park. Winter Blast is a large annual family event typically held in January each year. During warmer months, Fitness in the Parks has been held for the past seven years. The program provides free fitness for all as no community center membership is needed to participate in family yoga, Zumba, kick boxing, and Pound classes. She announced the annual Pound for Prop event will be taking place at the Staring Lake Amphitheater on September 24, rain or shine. The event encourages donations for Prop. Bourne described the playground which was rebuilt in 2016 around a music and arts theme. Amenities within the playground include a River Rapids ground mural, popular two-level area with multiple play structures, and a small amphitheater seating area. Lotthammer described the many activities which take place at the Amphitheatre, including free entertainment for kids every Tuesday morning; free performances every Thursday, Friday and Sunday nights; the annual Eden Prairie Players summer musical; special events; PeopleFest; rentals; and school use. A new sound system, which is more user friendly and has a better speaker system, has been purchased. It will be installed prior to the first performance next spring. Bourne reported the disc golf course within Staring Lake Park is open for year- round play. It is used for a tournament by the Rotary in conjunction with their annual Jazz on the Prairie/Rib Fest. Improvements to the course have been made through the years by Scout projects. The Park has a 2.3-mile loop trail around Staring Lake and connects to Purgatory Creek Park. The trail is popular for daily public use and for the Healthy Kids Running Series, which is a national organization with local chapters. Two baseball fields with batting cages are located in the Park. With plenty of parking, these fields are heavily used by the baseball association. PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES September 12, 2022 Page 5 The archery range offers youth, teen, and family programs and is heavily used prior to hunting season each year. In 2022, it is estimated over one hundred participants took advantage of the range. Grant funding has provided quality archery equipment. The Staring Lake dog park is the largest in the City and is open spring, summer, and fall. Dog owners host daily informal gatherings. The dog park is closed once the first snowfall arrives. Cross Country ski trails within the Park are groomed by the Eden Prairie High School Nordic ski team in winter and maintained as hiking trails by Park Maintenance staff in the summer. Trails are available to the public. Lotthammer stated the Cummins-Phipps-Grill Homestead is owned and maintained by the City. The Eden Prairie Historical Society interprets the home’s history and hosts events there including Santa visits and a vintage market. The homestead is rentable through the Historical Society. Improvements have been funded, in part, by grants. Peonies have been grown on the site for one hundred years. The Outdoor Center is home to outdoor recreation and nature education programs for all ages. Additional programming is provided through school partnerships. Nature trails wind through forest, wetland, creek, and prairie habitats. The Center is home to many live animals including Whisper, the owl. Free open houses are offered each Saturday and an animal open house event is held each spring. Twice monthly astronomy programs are held at the observatory. A rentable canoe rack is also available onsite. The DNR (Department of Natural Resources) boat ramp and fishing pier are located on Staring Lake. Sunfish, bass, perch, bluegill, and black crappie are found in the lake which is quite shallow with a maximum depth of fourteen feet. Student Representative Patrick Landwehr stated the sand courts at Staring Lake Park are difficult to play on. Bourne responded the sand is scheduled to be replaced this fall or next spring with the same sand that is at Lake Riley Park courts. Commission Member Young inquired if events are organized with the nearby Flying Cloud Airport. Lotthammer explained the Flying Cloud athletic fields and parking lots are on airport property and leased by the City. Student Representative Marissa Peterson inquired if boat rentals are available at the fishing dock. Lotthammer responded only equipment rental is available. Tschohl inquired how the use of lifeguards is determined. Lotthammer explained lifeguards are not mandatory, but the City’s philosophy has been to strategically provide lifeguards during high-capacity times. Swim-at-your-own-risk times are also provided. Lifeguards also help patrol the beach areas. It has been a nationwide PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES September 12, 2022 Page 6 struggle to find trained lifeguards, so Lotthammer predicts there will be fewer guarded beaches moving forward. Tschohl also inquired if technology is available to assist with water safety. Verley reported robotic technology is available in pools that set off an alarm for certain dangerous situations, but she has not heard of this type of technology available for lakes. VII. OLD BUSINESS VIII. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. PARKS AND RECREATION EXPERIENCES Staff and Commission members shared recent experiences with City parks and recreation programs. Commission Chair Erickson stated she observed the new bike park ramps and obstacles at Round Lake Park and saw coverage in the online newspaper. Bourne added the bike ramps will be available until the ice rinks open. Commission Member Young stated she and her family enjoy pickleball, basketball, and other amenities at Staring Lake Park and other parks in the City. Student Representative Patrick Landwehr has started a frisbee golf club at Eden Prairie High School and plans to use the course at Staring Lake Park. B. RECREATION SERVICES MANAGER 1. Fall Registration. Recreation Services Manager Brink was absent so Lotthammer provided an update on fall program registration. For many years, the Department has been moving away from the traditional printed program brochure. For the first time, no brochure was printed this fall, saving $11,000. A reminder postcard was mailed to residents and former participants to register online. Typically, the first 20 minutes of open registration can bring in fifty percent of program capacity. Using revenue as a measure, participation numbers are not far from being at levels prior to Covid. Staff has noticed high attendance for outdoor events and programming. C. COMMUNITY CENTER MANAGER D. PARKS AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGER 1. Park Projects. Parks and Natural Resources Manager Bourne reported on several park PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES September 12, 2022 Page 7 projects crews have completed over the summer or are working on wrapping up yet this fall. Old play equipment was removed from Prairie East and Wyndham Knoll Parks to make way for new play equipment. Both playgrounds were closed during construction and are anticipated to reopen later this fall. Construction plans are being finalized for a new building at Round Lake Park. Bourne estimates plans going out to bid in October, approval sought from Council in November, and construction to start in spring 2023. A new splash pad is being installed at Nesbitt Preserve Park. Grading and site work began this summer; benches, tables, and shade structures will be installed this fall; and the new splash pad will be ready for use in summer 2023. Portions of Neill Lake, Pioneer Trail, Riley Lake Road, and Coachmans Lane to Boulder Point Road connection trails were closed this summer while existing trail pavement was removed and new pavement was installed. Construction work was scheduled in phases, affecting the different trail neighborhoods at various times within the project timeline. The project is anticipated to run through fall 2022. The Staring Lake Park parking lot located off Staring Lake Parkway will close intermittently through fall 2022 as crews work on building a retaining wall and installing a new bituminous parking lot surface. The fishing pier and nearby trail will remain open, and visitors may park in the upper parking lot at the Pioneer Trail entrance. Also at Staring Lake Park, a new sound system, which is more user friendly and has a better speaker system, has been purchased and will be installed at the Amphitheatre prior to next spring’s performance schedule. Construction of batting cages at Miller Park and a chain link fence extension at the Franlo Park pickleball courts will be completed soon. The artificial turf has been installed at the new cricket pitch at Nesbitt Preserve Park. The new pitch will be available for play next spring. Miller park lighting will be converted at the four softball fields and one large baseball field this winter. Bourne concluded his report by stating the Duck Lake bridge and trail construction will likely be completed yet this fall. PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES September 12, 2022 Page 8 E. PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR 1. Work Plan. Lotthammer provided an updated 2022 work plan and encouraged Commission members to contact him with any additional topics they would like to learn about or discuss. The October meeting will likely include a presentation on facility rentals available throughout the City. IX. NEXT MEETING The next PRNR Commission meeting will be held on Monday, October 3, at 7:00 p.m., in the Cambria Room at the Community Center. X. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Curry moved, seconded by Shah, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 4-0. Chair Erickson adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m.