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Parks and Recreation - 11/06/2023APPROVED MINUTES PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2023 7:00 P.M. CAMBRIA ROOM Community Center, 16700 Valley View Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Patrice Erickson, Chair; Tom Poul, Vice Chair; Sarat Atluru, Deepa Bhujle, Cecilia Cervantes, Pedro Curry, Duane Hookom, Annie Klodd, Shanti Shah, Ashley Young STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Vaikunth Ananthanarayanan, Jasmine Berry, Jessica Fang, Rohil Garg, Andrew Ginder, Jake Heimkes, Sydney Ishaug, Siona Kaura, Aiden Rice, Sophia Strehl CITY STAFF: Amy Markle, Parks and Recreation Director Lori Brink, Recreation Manager Matt Bourne, Parks and Natural Resources Manager Valerie Verley, Community Center Manager Megan Munoz, Fitness Supervisor RECORDING SECRETARY: Jodie Fenske Chair Erickson called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Commission Members Bhujle, Hookom, Klodd, and Young were absent. Student Representatives Ananthanarayanan, Berry, Heimkes, Ishaug, Kaura, and Rice were absent. Recreation Manager Brink was absent. Eden Prairie resident Steven Clifton was in attendance. I. WELCOME AMY MARKLE New Parks and Recreation Director Amy Markle, who started on October 16, introduced herself and provided a brief description of her personal life and employment history. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion: Commission Member Shah moved, seconded by Commission Member Atluru, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF PRNR MINUTES Motion: Vice Chair Poul moved, seconded by Commission Member Shah, to approve the October 2, 2023 PRNR Commission minutes as presented. Motion carried 6-0. PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES November 6, 2023 Page 2 IV. REPORT OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION Parks and Recreation Director Markle and Parks and Natural Resources Manager Bourne reported on actions recently taken by the City Council. A. DONATIONS 1. Council adopted a Resolution accepting a donation in the amount of $500 from the family of Gordon Williams to be used toward maintenance of the Senior Center garden area. 2. Council adopted a Resolution accepting donations in the amount of $750 from the Eden Prairie Crime Prevention Fund, $500 from Cardinal Glass Industries, and $150 from Flagstone Senior Living to be used toward the annual Harvest to Halloween event. Donations such as these allow the City to offer special events at low or no cost to residents. B. RILEY LAKE PARK VOLLEYBALL SHADE STRUCTURES Bourne reported Council approved the purchase of shade structures for Riley Lake Park courts and plaza area from St. Croix Recreation. C. EMERALD ASH BORER TREATMENT Council adopted a resolution accepting the quote and authorized entering into a Contract for Goods and Services with Rainbow Treecare for Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) tree injection treatments for trees on City public property for 2024 through 2026. Bourne explained the City goes to bid every three years for the treatment program. Approval of these services follow the management strategies set forth in the City’s EAB Management Plan to utilize both treatment and removal of infected trees. D. HENNEPIN COUNTY YOUTH SPORTS FACILITIES GRANT RESOLUTION Council authorized staff to submit a grant request to the Hennepin County Youth Sports Grant Program for the 2024 Round Lake Park hardcourt rehabilitation. The project will include the removal and replacement of aging bituminous, new sport court acrylic surfacing, new fencing fabric surrounding and dividing the courts, new gates, and new net posts and anchors. The cost of the rehabilitation will be paid for half by the City and half by the Eden Prairie High School. E. OUTDOOR CENTER UTILITIES Council approved a Contracted Services Agreement with Valley Rich for utility installation at the Outdoor Center. Bourne stated water and sanitary sewer lines PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES November 6, 2023 Page 3 will be installed so a bathroom can be added to the recently renovated Animal Junction building. Funding for this project is budgeted in the Capital Improvement Plan through the Park Improvement Fund. V. REPORT OF PLANNING COMMISSION VI. PETITIONS, REQUESTS, AND COMMUNICATION A. FITNESS PRESENTATION Community Center Verley introduced Recreation Supervisor – Fitness Megan Munoz. Megan shared that she started at the Community Center in 2011 as a Certified Fitness Instructor, became a Fitness Lead in 2017, and was promoted to Supervisor in 2019. Fall is the start of the busy season at the Community Center and the annual Fall into Fitness event began on October 7 and continued for nine days. The event was an opportunity to showcase the facility and fitness classes, offer specialty classes, extend personal training deals, and waive the membership enrollment fee. One hundred fifty-three new memberships were signed resulting in two hundred eighty-two new members. The Fit Floor recently received upgraded equipment including treadmills, upright bikes, recumbent bikes, step mills, alpine runners, and Jacob’s ladders. Other updates include upgraded televisions and cable on the fit floor, café, and pool lobby, as well as updated treadmill televisions. New formats of several fitness classes have recently been introduced and training sessions were hosted at the Community Center for numerous programs. There are currently fourteen personal trainers on staff and personal training remains one of the biggest revenue generators for the Community Center. The Stretch Studio is home to a one-on-one assisted dynamic stretching program developed in 2021 by Munoz and another staff member. The program has grown and the quantity of sessions has increased so much that the number purchased already in 2023 is more than all of 2022. The impact of fitness on the community is achieved by Fitness in the Parks, charitable events, special holiday programs, and the first annual Party for Pride event held this June. This past summer was the ninth year of the Fitness in the Parks program which offers free classes to the community at the Staring Lake Amphitheater. A variety of formats were offered, with Zumba and Pound being the most popular. Approximately twelve hundred participants took advantage of the classes. Charitable events include the annual Pound for PROP and Day of Giving collections. On the last day that Fitness in the Parks is offered, attendees bring PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES November 6, 2023 Page 4 non-perishable food items that are donated to PROP (People Reaching Out to People). This year, one hundred forty-two pounds of food items were donated. The sixth annual Day of Giving was held on December 2. Toys and other needed items are collected for PROP, Toys for Tots, and the Sojourner Project. Holidays highlighted with special classes and celebrations include Lunar New Year, Mother’s Day, and Harvest to Halloween. The first annual Party for Pride event was held on June 24. Over two hundred attendees participated in the celebration of fitness, fun, and inclusivity of the LGBTQIA+ community. The event included fitness class samples, games, drawings, giveaways, food trucks, a selfie station, and dance party. Several partner organizations offered support and much positive feedback was received from participants. Specialty fitness classes include those that focus on arthritis, cancer recovery, Fun with Fitness, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson’s Disease. A $5,000 grant was recently awarded from the Minnesota Department of Health for the City’s Walk with Ease for Arthritis program. Munoz explained the goal of the program is to make being active more accessible, especially when those with arthritis are unable to walk outside. The program is free for members and non-members. Another program, Get Living with Parkinson’s received a $17,000 grant from the Parkinson’s Foundation. The Community Center is the only program in Minnesota to be awarded this grant. The funds will be used to expand current offerings by providing additional elements of education, play, off-site recreation, self-care, and socialization. Chair Erickson inquired and Munoz responded she intends to apply for the grants again with the hope of expanding programming. VII. NEW BUSINESS VIII. OLD BUSINESS IX. 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. Verley stated updates on the Community Center ice arenas and concessions area are expected at the December meeting. PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES November 6, 2023 Page 5 Chair Erickson invited all Commission Members and Student Representatives to contact Markle with any ideas for future topics. 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. Community Center Manager Verley stated the Pumpkin Splash at the Community Center was held in the Aquatics Center on October 13. Pumpkin decorating and games were offered, as well open swimming in the recreation pool. Parks and Recreation Director Markle stated she is in awe of the City’s park system and that it speaks volumes to what the City cares about. X. NEXT MEETING The next PRNR Commission meeting will be held on Monday, December 4, at 7:00 p.m., at the Round Lake Park Building or at the Cambria Room at the Community Center. An email will be sent to the group confirming the location. XI. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Commission Member Cervantes moved, seconded by Vice Chair Poul, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. Chair Erickson adjourned the meeting at 7:35 p.m.