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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 08/07/2017 APPROVED MINUTES PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY,AUGUST 7, 2017 7:00 P.M. HERITAGE ROOMS 1 & 2 8080 Mitchell Road, City Center, Lower Level PRNR COMMISSION MEMBERS: Larry Link, Chair; Debra McBride, Vice Chair; Cecilia Cervantes, Patrice Erickson, Donald Jacobson, Matt Pellowski, Leonard Pesheck, John Rahman, Kirk Spresser CITY STAFF: Jay Lotthammer, Parks and Recreation Director Matt Bourne, Parks and Natural Resources Manager Lori Brink, Recreation Manager Nick Remmes, Intern Lindsey Danhauser, Senior Recreation Supervisor Liz Michaelson, Eden Prairie Players Producer Kori Shingles, Adult Athletics Recreation Supervisor RECORDING SECRETARY: Jodie Fenske I. ROLL CALL/INTRODUCTIONS Link called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Roll call was taken. Commission members McBride, Pellowski, and Spresser were absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion: Cervantes moved, seconded by Jacobson, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF PRNR MINUTES Motion: Erickson moved, seconded by Cervantes, to approve the June 5, 2017 minutes as presented. Motion carried 6-0. IV. REPORT OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION Lotthammer reported on several actions recently taken by City Council. A. PICKLEBALL UPDATE In response to a request from Council Member Case, Lotthammer provided an update on pickleball to the Council at the July 11 meeting. Dennis Gallaher, President of the Southwest Metro Pickleball Club, addressed the Council as well. Mr. Gallaher reported the need is for a larger, 10- to 12-court facility where PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES August 7, 2017 Page 2 players can congregate in one location to play and socialize. He also stated the Club has been trying to raise funds to help develop additional courts. Lotthammer's update to Council included information on the plans and funds out to 2040 to maintain and rehabilitate the current courts. He noted the Staring Lake tennis courts are scheduled to be redone in 2019 and showed Council a schematic with an extra twelve pickleball courts in the area by the basketball and tennis courts. After discussion, Council requested Staff move forward with a feasibility study for the Staring Lake site, including funding possibilities and a project plan to bring back to Council. Lotthammer stated a contract has been signed with Hansen Thorp Pellinen Olson, Inc. (HTPO) to study the scope and cost of the project. Rahman inquired and Lotthammer agreed the addition could present parking issues. B. AQUATIC CENTER DONATIONS Council adopted a resolution accepting a donation of$100,000 from Mark and Patricia Davis in exchange for naming rights for the recreation pool. Council also accepted a donation of$30,000 from Team Foxjet toward the aquatic center addition. These donations count toward the $500,000 previously pledged by Team Foxjet. C. RICHARDS POEY SCULPTURE DONATION Council accepted a donation of the sculpture, "Like a Tree Rooted in the Earth," by artist Richards Poey. The sculpture depicting a yoga pose will be prominently displayed in the first floor lobby at the Eden Prairie Community Center. D. DONATION TOWARD OUTDOOR CENTER TELESCOPE Council has accepted a donation from Doug and Carolyn Kohrs in the amount of $18,000 for the purchase of a new telescope at the Staring Lake Outdoor Center Observatory. This donation will bring newer technology and greater program capabilities to better serve the community. Lotthammer noted the Kohrs family and their donations have been instrumental in the construction of the Observatory. E. MEET WHISPER THE OWL At the July 11 Council meeting, staff introduced Whisper the Outdoor Center barred owl to Council Members and highlighted activities and educational programs featuring Whisper. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES August 7, 2017 Page 3 V. REPORT OF PLANNING COMMISSION Bourne stated the Planning Commission recently recommended approval of the Park Zoning ordinance as previously presented to the PRNR Commission. In addition, the Elevate at SouthWest Station project across from Purgatory Creek Park has also been approved by the Planning Commission. Pedestrian connections from the complex to the park will be installed. Bourne stated both items are being presented to Council for approval in the next month. VI. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATION A. HANDOUTS OF UPCOMING EVENTS Brink presented handouts of upcoming events. 1. Movies in the Park Free movies are presented at Staring Lake Amphitheater on Friday evenings August 4, 11 and 18 at 9 p.m. Concessions and preshow entertainment start at 7:30 p.m. 2. Golf Classic The 26th annual Senior Golf Classic will be held on Wednesday, August 16, at 8 a.m. at Dahlgreen Golf Course in Chaska. 3. Fall Brochure The Parks and Recreation program brochure should be arriving in resident mailboxes this week. Registration begins August 16. B. PARKS AND RECREATION EXPERIENCES Commission members shared recent parks and recreation experiences. Cervantes joined the Community Center and has received outstanding service. Erickson enjoyed a round of disc golf and inquired about an onsite map of the course. Jacobson recalled being on the PRNR Commission in the 1990s and being approached by a group of men who offered to set up the course and purchase the cages. Rahman recently experienced a successful fishing trip with his son on Lake Riley. VII. NEW BUSINESS VIII. OLD BUSINESS IX. REPORTS OF STAFF PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES August 7, 2017 Page 4 A. RECREATION SERVICES MANAGER 1. Youth and Adult Athletics Shingles provided a brief overview of her personal and professional life prior to presenting information on the adult and youth athletic programs she oversees. The Adult Athletics mission is to provide a broad range of recreational opportunities for adults, to accommodate high-level and novice participants, and to offer options for structured leagues or drop-in recreational opportunities. The programs provide an avenue for adults to engage in a lifetime sport and pursue lifelong wellness. Drop-in opportunities at the community center include open skate, open hockey, open swim, and open pickleball. Sports leagues are organized by season. Fall sports include adult slow pitch softball, volleyball, three-on-three basketball, four-person indoor flag football, indoor pickleball, and racquetball. Winter sports include volleyball, five-on-five basketball, broomball, racquetball, and indoor pickleball. Spring and summer leagues include adult slow pitch softball, volleyball, outdoor pickleball, four-person outdoor flag football,bocce, and racquetball. Basketball open gym and volleyball open gym is provided September through April. Shingles stated 8,000 participants were served in 2016, including 100 participants coming in without a team who were placed on a team with the department's assistance. Marketing includes the Parks and Recreation brochure, direct communication to current and previous teams, Facebook groups, City of Eden Prairie website, eConnect, flyers, and program evaluations. Officiating staff for Adult Athletics includes officials, scorekeepers, and umpires. A total of 43 part-time staff serves the participants. Shingles noted current trends include increased pickleball participation and a decreased participation in general adult athletics because parents are devoting more time to their children's activities. Shingles also noted a decrease in softball nationwide and in Eden Prairie due to construction of the City's fields in recent years. She anticipates an increase in summer 2018. Future trends include an aging adult population, thus exploring daytime leagues; providing more fun and active,but less strenuous, activities in City PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES August 7, 2017 Page 5 leagues and exploring ages 55-plus leagues. Another future trend is opportunities for families to participate together. Initiatives in the department include increasing technology efficiencies, sponsorships, continued work with Vermont Systems to improve the overall functionality of the league module, and online tracking of open gym participation. As Recreation Supervisor of Adult Athletics, Shingles also serves as the staff liaison to six youth organizations representing 7,000 youth. She works with each athletic association in a variety of ways including weekly facility scheduling, tournament coordination, field maintenance issues, and general organizational administration. She is also an active member of both the Athletic Management Institute Planning Committee and the Government Alliance on Race and Equity. Link inquired and Shingles responded she stays on top of new trends by meeting with peers in other cities. He also inquired what percent of participants are City residents. Shingles responded although participants no longer need to be residents to participate, the majority are Eden Prairie residents. Allowing non-residents to participate actually allows more residents to participate by completing their rosters with non-residents. Link commended Shingles for her impressive presentation and thanked her on behalf of the Commission for a job well done. 2. Eden Prairie Players Update Danhauser provided background information on the Eden Prairie Players theater group which has produced theater presentations in the City since 1992. The advisory committee makes all creative decisions and staff recommendations, and recruits volunteers. In 2016, over 8,000 volunteer hours for theater were provided through actors, set builders, cleaning buildings, etc. Their mission is to enhance the quality of life for the community by inspiring and nurturing theater opportunities for artists and volunteers and to provide entertaining and challenging theater experiences for audiences. Productions include a summer musical at Staring Lake Amphitheater, a young children's theater summer camp and play at Riley-Jacques Barn, a collection of one-act plays at Riley-Jacques Barn, and a winter play at Eden Prairie High School. Danhauser explained educational opportunities the group offers. The children's theater workshop is held for three weeks in the summer for children ages 9 to 15. The group also provides an after-care enrichment program at three summer camps and hosts audition workshops periodically PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES August 7, 2017 Page 6 to extend access to the arts. Danhauser noted theater not only builds interest in arts but also gives children the opportunity to practice public speaking and display emotional intelligence. Liz Michaelson, Eden Prairie Players Producer, stated theater trends indicate serving underserved communities. The group will continue offering"pay what you can" performances, keeping ticket prices affordable, and continuing the free-will donations at the summer musical. A goal is to offer access to theater camp experiences for children from households who lack transportation. Michaelson discussed the Women Playwright Initiatives and a partnership with the Eden Prairie Historical Society in offering ghost walks in both City cemeteries in October in which actors will portray historical figures. Danhauser concluded by acknowledging the City staff assistance received by the group, including Parks, Recreation, Facilities, and Communications staff. 3. National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Grant Danhauser informed the Commission a $10,000 grant was received for which she was invited to apply from the NEA. The grant will be used for two creative placemaking projects throughout the City: a temporary sculpture program of loaned art and an electrical box wrap initiative. Artists will be paid a stipend to temporarily loan the City their artwork which will be placed in designated locations. Ideally the sculptures will be on display for a year and then purchased as a gift to the City by a resident or business or purchased by the City if funds become available. Danhauser noted seeing art in an area for a period of time results in greater appreciation of art. The wrapping of electrical boxes will begin with original artwork created at the Art Center but will eventually be opened up to the public. Installation of the wraps will begin next month and the wraps are expected to last approximately eight years. B. PARKS AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGER 1. Shade Tree Pest Control Ordinance Bourne presented an updated draft to the Shade Tree Pest Control ordinance since the appearance of Emerald Ash Borers (EAB) in the northeast corner of the City a few months ago. Processes are in place to deal with EAB even if it should spread to other parts of the City. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES August 7, 2017 Page 7 Updates to the ordinance include language to the procedure for notice of inspection, adding ash trees to the public nuisances declared, and adding EAB to the procedure for removal of infected trees. The first reading of the updated ordinance is expected at the August 8 Council meeting with the expectation the ordinance will be in effect by September. Bourne explained since the goal is to minimize the spread of EAB, it's best not to cut down and move infested trees but to keep them still during the active period when the beetles are moving around. The City provides free pick up of marked trees that are cut down once the active period has ended. Link inquired about City's policy on treatment of trees. Bourne responded the City has not treated yet but if it is determined that large heritage-size ash trees should be treated, policy would be reviewed. Bourne noted City has a diverse variety of trees so losing one or two of a certain type won't have much impact. City is currently planting other trees now in case of future loss due to infestation. He stated opinions differ on the treatment of trees since EAB cannot be detected until three to four years of infestation has occurred. By that time, it is usually too late to treat. C. PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR 1. 2017 PRNR Work Plan Lotthammer presented an updated 2017 work plan, noting the September meeting will include an update on the Staring Lake dog park/ski trail discussion. X. NEXT MEETING The next PRNR Meeting will be held on Monday, September 11, at 7 p.m. in the Heritage Rooms at City Center. XI. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Jacobson moved, seconded by Erickson, to adjourn the meeting at 8:47 p.m. Motion carried 6-0.