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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 02/06/2023APPROVED MINUTES PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2023 7:00 P.M. CITY CENTER 8080 Mitchell Road, Heritage Rooms 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 7:04 p.m. Vice Chair Cervantes and Commission Members Curry and Shah were absent. Student Representatives Pranay Dhiman, Marissa Peterson, Dain Volz, and Emilija Zarin were absent. I. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion: Commission Member Tschohl moved, seconded by Commission Member Atluru, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 6-0. II. APPROVAL OF PRNR MINUTES Motion: Commission Member Young moved, seconded by Tschohl, to approve the January 9, 2023 PRNR Commission minutes as presented. Motion carried 6-0. III. REPORT OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION Lotthammer reported on action recently taken by the City Council. A. DONATIONS TO SENIOR CENTER Council adopted two Resolutions accepting donations to the Senior Center consisting of $200 from Edina Realty Senior Services to be put toward September Bingo and May Senior Awareness Dinner, and $300 from Landmark Tours to go toward the Valentines Breakfast. PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES February 6, 2023 Page 2 IV. REPORT OF PLANNING COMMISSION V. PETITIONS, REQUESTS, AND COMMUNICATION VI. NEW BUSINESS A. WINTER UPDATES Lotthammer explained winter is just as busy for Parks and Recreation staff, even though activities and events are more visible to the public in the summer. Parks and Natural Resources Manager Bourne, Recreation Manager Brink and Community Center Manager Verley provided information on some of the responsibilities staff manage during the winter months. Bourne stated maintenance takes place daily at the City’s eight outdoor ice hockey and free skate ice rinks. Staff are split into two shifts to clear snow and flood rinks, as necessary. Staff also groom the Staring Lake sledding hill weekly at a minimum, ensuring it remains safe. Snow removal is performed around the Staring Lake Park building to ensure its accessibility. Many of these duties are done as early as 4:30 a.m. Brink added recreation staff manage the rinks, warming houses, and sledding hill. Responsibilities include monitoring ice conditions, prioritizing which rinks to leave open in the case of extreme weather, and constantly updating the City’s website and social media. Trail grooming takes place on the cross country ski trails, snowshoe trails, and hiking areas. A long-term partnership exists in which the City provides the land and cross country ski trails, and the Eden Prairie High School Nordic ski team grooms the ski trails as the ski team is the major user. Cross country ski equipment is made available to users via the Staring Lake Park building. Skis and snowshoes are also available at the Outdoor Center for Snow Time Saturdays and instructional programs. Winter hiking takes place throughout the City’s park system. Brink explained winter hiking, ice fishing, full moon nature hikes/bonfires, and astronomy classes are held at the Outdoor Center throughout the winter. Preschool programs are also offered three days per week. Several winter events are planned and executed including Winter Blast, Swim with Santa, Lunar New Year Fitness classes, and Valentine’s Day Skate with Your Date. Parks and Recreation staff also assist the Eden Prairie Players community theater group with its annual winter production and the Eden Prairie Figure Skating Club with its annual ice show. Planning and setup of the City’s annual Arbor Day Celebration and Green Fair takes place in the winter, including ordering trees for the annual tree sale. PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES February 6, 2023 Page 3 Staff maintain and manage indoor rinks for the high school and association hockey seasons (including tournaments for both boys and girls), as well as for ice skating lessons, learn to skate programs, and open skate opportunities. At the Community Center, staff manage and maintain the pools for swim and dive meets for the Eden Prairie High School boys and girls swim teams and Foxjets Swim Club. Verley stated pool use and open swim programming this year has broken high attendance records of the past. Group and private lessons, as well as tot time swim times, are held throughout the winter. Fitness activity is high at the Community Center and wait lists are often incurred for many classes. Offerings include 150 onsite and virtual classes per week. The fitness floor remains busy as Community Center memberships are up fifteen percent this year over last year. Seasonal staffing, including recruitment and retention, takes place in the winter for summer programs, camp counselors, and park maintenance positions. Lotthammer interjected more time than ever is now put into recruiting and hiring due to widespread staffing challenges. Brink stated planning for summer programs and events includes determining logistics, contracting with artists, preparing summer programs, and publishing schedules. Bourne stated Parks staff manages plowing of City parks and trails, as well as street plowing. Repair of winter equipment and maintenance of summer equipment, including blade sharpening, is done throughout the winter to prepare for spring activity. Staff ensure park amenities are ready for spring by repairing picnic tables, irrigation systems, drinking fountains, etc. Lake aerators at Red Rock, Mitchell, and Round Lakes are inspected and oxygen levels are recorded. Staff complete the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) surveys and necessary tree removals, as well as work with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to execute the deer management program. Project planning for construction, upgrades, trail and sidewalk rehabs, parking lot maintenance bids, and contractor selections all take place in winter to ensure early spring start times. B. COMMISSION VISIONING – USER EXPERIENCES In an effort to provide staff with insight into ways of continuing to improve the lives of City residents, Lotthammer asked Commission members for input on a number of topics. The goal was to learn what the private sector does right that the City could emulate or what the private sector does wrong from which the City can learn to avoid. When Lotthammer asked the Commission members about their best experience at a restaurant and why it stands out, responses included getting customers involved in planning something new, trying something new on a trial basis, receiving PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES February 6, 2023 Page 4 feedback real-time, being greeted by a host and made to feel welcome by staff, and having the first contact be positive. Other input included employees needing to be trained in customer service and there is value to customers seeing people typically behind the scenes being out interacting with customers. Lotthammer’s next question was how do customers feel when technology is introduced to replace a person. Responses included a negative feeling if more time consuming and a positive feeling if the use of technology results in quick payment. It was noted efficiency and cost effectiveness to the business can be beneficial to the customer as well. For example, if workers are not needed to clean and sanitize menus, they are more available for customer service and more efficient. Responses to Lotthammer’s inquiry as to an experience which has made someone decide to never go back to an establishment included not receiving what was ordered, not offering to correct a mistake, and staff too busy to interact. Responses to positive technology experiences included car rentals when you are able to go to the aisle, pick a car, get the keys and drive off; time saving by keeping preferences as favorites; the Lifetime Fitness app which records and tracks weights, facility location, and other filters; information can be saved or placed on a wish list; an interactive and immersive tour lead by geolocating via headphones rather than a guided tour; and connecting directly to equipment and ability to save data. When asked to state a memorable landscape, Commission member responses included the Minnesota River Vista overlook, Birkebeiner trail, Sod House on the Prairie in southwest Minnesota, Angels Landing in Utah, the State of Vermont, mountains, bluffs, and water. Google calendar, smart phone, apps, real-time information, and voice technology were provided as responses to the question of something that makes life easier. Lotthammer inquired and the group responded with the following amenities they’d like to see in the City: a downtown area, a conference center, farmers market, public restrooms, mountain bike trail, more restaurants, and another disc golf course. New experiences they’d like to see in the City included a parade, fireworks at Lake Riley Park, farmers market, food truck events in the parks, and covered seating for sports events. Favorite public places in the City included experiencing a bike ride to Lake Riley, volleyball at Round Lake Park, the entire Riley Lake Park, concerts at Staring Lake Park, the entire Round Lake Park, and the fishing dock near the Outdoor Center. Lotthammer thanked Commission members and student representatives for their input. The responses will be shared with staff members to use for training, planning, and development purposes. PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES February 6, 2023 Page 5 VII. OLD BUSINESS A. PARKS & RECREATION GUIDE PLAN DRAFT UPDATE Lotthammer stated the draft is close to its final stage and will be shared with the PRNR Commission in March or April. VIII. REPORTS OF COMMISSION AND STAFF A. RECREATION SERVICES MANAGER B. COMMUNITY CENTER MANAGER C. PARKS AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGER D. PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR 1. Commission Schedule. Lotthammer invited Commission Members to share ideas and topics with him for future meetings. Meetings will likely be held at other Parks facilities throughout 2023. The March meeting will include a presentation by Youth Sports Supervisor Tessa Syverson, as well as an update on the Miller Park indoor court facility and renderings for new play equipment set for replacement at a City Park. E. PARKS AND RECREATION EXPERIENCES Staff and Commission members shared recent experiences with City parks and recreation programs, past events, park/building visits, news articles, etc. IX. NEXT MEETING The next PRNR Commission meeting will be held on Monday, March 6, at 7:00 p.m., in the Heritage Rooms at City Center. X. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Poul moved, seconded by Bhujle, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. Chair Erickson adjourned the meeting at 8:25 p.m.