HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 10/01/2024 - Workshop
WORKSHOP MINUTES – APPROVED CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2024 CITY CENTER
5:00 – 6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOMS 6:30 – 7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Ron Case, Council Members Kathy Nelson, Mark Freiberg, PG Narayanan, and Lisa Toomey
CITY STAFF: City Manager Rick Getschow, Police Chief Matt Sackett, Fire Chief Scott Gerber, Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Community Development Director Julie Klima, Parks and Recreation Director Amy Markle, Administrative Services/HR Director Alecia Rose, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, City Attorney Maggie Neuville, and Recorder Sara
Aschenbeck
Workshop - Heritage Rooms I and II (5:30) I. ATHLETIC PROGRAM TRENDS
Markle introduced Lori Brink, Recreation Manager, and introduced tonight’s topic, athletics
programming and facilities trends. The City’s outdoor facilities have a reputation of high quality.
Large community parks such as Miller Park and Round Lake Park are regularly lauded by
residents and visitors. Facilities are sought after by local and regional teams, and often host
tournaments every weekend in the spring and summer. The number of the City’s outdoor
facilities is aligned or higher compared to surrounding cities. The model includes many small
parks meant for neighborhood play. The city’s outdoor facilities include 42 turf fields, 40 ball
fields, 28 pickleball courts, and one cricket pitch. Case noted the City now has two locations
with a group of eight pickleball courts, an asset for the City’s many pickleball players. Nelson
asked if the new Miller Park pickleball courts have tables and benches. Markle confirmed the
new Miller Park pickleball courts have tables and benches.
Markle stated the Round Lake Softball fields were redesigned from four shorter fields to three
longer fields due to changes in USA softball association outfield distance rules. A rarely used
lacrosse field as Nesbitt Preserve Park was converted to a cricket pitch, a popular emerging
sport. The City has installed lighting that can be controlled by partner organizations through an
app. Sand volleyball is currently the fastest growing team sport. Case asked how many sand
volleyball courts are in the City. Brink confirmed there is a 4-court complex at Riley Lake Park,
a few courts at Round Lake Park, and other courts throughout the City. Nelson stated it is a good
thing the City has multiple one-court facilities to ensure families can play without a reservation.
Markle noted artificial turf is increasing in popularity and is preferred by sports such as football
and lacrosse. Turf can provide a competitive edge when grass is wet. Field assets including shade
structures, fences, benches, and pitching/batting cages are increasing in popularity. Another trend
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is private for-profit developments, year-round training facilities. Private pickleball facilities have
increased in the past few years. Savage is constructing a year-round, indoor and outdoor complex
for baseball and softball.
Markle stated the City is prioritizing lifetime sports for an aging community as the population of
residents at retirement age and older is growing. Increased community diversity is resulting in
requests for emerging sports. The City is reconfiguring current fields to accommodate new
sports. Trends in the community will drive redevelopment of facilities in the longer term. The
City is conversing with the high school and other partners to discuss bringing emerging sports
including ultimate frisbee, badminton, and mountain biking. The City is using outdoor hockey
rinks for badminton in the summer. The need for a mountain bike track or a space to practice
skills is in discussion. Toomey asked if the high school has a mountain biking team. Markle
answered Eden Prairie High School does not have a team, but high schools in surrounding
communities do. Nelson noted she receives calls from residents interested in mountain biking.
Markle noted the City has a variety of adult athletic leagues. The softball, pickleball, indoor
volleyball, and sand volleyball leagues are the most popular. The Eden Prairie Community
Center (EPCC) offers pickup play for basketball, pickleball, volleyball, badminton, and
racquetball. Many leagues are based in the City, including over 20 cricket teams. Toomey asked
if the leagues are for adults or children. Markle confirmed there are both adult and child leagues.
Nelson asked if the City should consider constructing a second cricket pitch. Markle answered a
second cricket pitch would be utilized around the clock.
Markle explained from April through October, 1,100 adults participated in City leagues. 2,100
competitions were hosted, and 1,300 games were officiated. There are 312 adult athletics teams
participating year-round. Multiple leagues including bocce ball and flag football were
discontinued after COVID due to low participation. There is a referee shortage for multiple
reasons including poor behavior from participants and attendees.
Markle stated pickleball has significantly increased in popularity, including youth interest. The
City employes two pickleball attendees to ensure everyone has a good experience. There has
been tension from players at different levels vying for limited court space. 40 percent of EPCC
gym time is dedicated to pickleball.
Markle explained future trends and updates for the City. The City plans to build upon quality
programming, increase inclusivity for emerging groups, and increase organized play options for
17 to 19 year olds as a feeder program to adult leagues.
Markle next discussed youth athletic trends. The City has a longstanding relationship with
nonprofit partners such as the EP Soccer Club, EP Fastpitch, and EP Baseball Association. These
nonprofit partners, along with the Eden Prairie School District, receive priority for scheduling
fields. Nelson asked how hockey rink time is scheduled. Markle stated the City uses a similar
model where the school district and nonprofit partners receive priority.
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Markle explained the athletics landscape has changed significantly since the City’s athletics
policy was written. Residents have more options of sports and levels of competition to choose
from. With the rise of for profit organizations and increased competition, financial and time
commitments have increased. Climate change is increasing field maintenance needs. Cities are
working to rebuild youth and adult athletics interest after the pandemic. An increased number of
new teams are requesting field space. The City’s athletics policy allows for the school district
and nonprofit teams to rent facilities but does not address for profit teams.
Markle stated there has been an increase in groups using fields without creating a reservation.
These groups are hosting anything from practices to summer camp programs to tournaments,
creating maintenance challenges for the City. Toomey asked how the Cities respond to a group
utilizing a facility without a reservation. Markle answered the City attempts to educate the team
on reserving facilities through the proper channels, however there are multiple repeat offenders.
This has led to increased tension and the need to create a new process to address for profit team
reservations and repercussions for utilizing fields without a reservation.
Nelson asked if the City could identify organized teams utilizing fields without reservations and
send information on scheduling, cost, and penalties. Markle stated staff has invoiced
organizations for use of fields without a reservation. Peer cities have installed signage on fields
with reservation instructions. The revised athletics policy should outline repercussions for using
fields without a reservation.
Markle noted the City has opportunities to improve in the face of a changing landscape for both
longstanding partners and new emerging sports. Staff would like to create efficient field and
facility use, expand access, and improve service levels. Nonprofit groups and the school district
should continue to be prioritized, while continuing to incorporate emerging sports and teams.
Staffing and technology that supports timely communication should be explored to respond in
real time. Consequences should be laid out for teams using facilities without reservations.
Financial commitments from users should also be considered, as most peer cities charge for field
rental.
Markle explained staff has been working to develop a new athletic policy to meet changing
stakeholder needs. Staff has researched the athletic policies of surrounding cities, met with
athletic partners, and hired a third party consulting firm to collect survey information. Staff
hopes to bring the updated athletic policies to Council for a vote later this year. The updated
policy will address providing opportunities to gain access to local fields, creating an equitable
system, recognizing existing partnerships while making room for new partners, ensure fields
don’t suffer from overuse, and positioning the City as a resource for athletic associations.
Toomey asked if it’s necessary to charge for field space. Markle answered the extra revenue
would help upgrade technology, fund maintenance, and provide for extra staff time to manage
reservations. Toomey noted she did not think the City should add a new user fee. Case stated the
Council must weigh the options to determine if a user fee is worth it and the Council will
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consider the updated policy when presented. Nelson noted groups outside of Eden Prairie should
be charged as they aren’t contributing property taxes to the City. Case asked if there is any
location in the City for a second cricket pitch and noted his support for allocating resources to
this emerging sport.
Case stated he is interested to see how mountain biking interest progresses. Case additionally
asked if the City needs to consider defining motorized vehicles given the advances in electric
bikes. There is a wide spectrum of how fast an electric bike can travel. Nelson added the City
should communicate electric bike safety to residents. Markle stated mountain biking was
introduced to the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission last month. The City is
exploring options to offer mountain biking to residents.
Open Podium - Council Chamber (6:30)
II. OPEN PODIUM
a. KEVIN THOMPSON, EDEN PRAIRIE BASEBALL ASSOCIATION
Kevin Thompson, 8434 Red Oak Drive, introduced himself as the Eden Prairie Baseball
Association (EPBA) president. Thompson thanked staff for the time and effort dedicated to the
relationship with the EPBA. The EPBA strives to ensure baseball is accessible, affordable, and
competitive. Part of the success is due to the EPBA and other nonprofits receiving almost
exclusive use of the City’s outdoor fields. Thompson asked the Council to consider continuing to
limit outdoor field use by for-profit groups to ensure the wellbeing of nonprofit groups. Case
stated equity has always been an important issue to the Council. The Council will consider how
to best address the nonprofit vs. for-profit use of outdoor fields. Case thanked Thompson for his
time.
III. ADJOURNMENT