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03.25.2025 PRC MinutesCHANHASSEN PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MARCH 25, 2025 Commissioner Eidsmo called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Dan Eidsmo; Rob Swanson; Kristin Fulkerson; Michael Leisen; Sean Morgan; Clara Christenson, youth; Aayan Shrestha, youth. MEMBERS ABSENT: Jim Peck, Chair; Scott Pharis, Vice Chair. STAFF PRESENT: Jerry Ruegemer, Park and Recreation Director; Adam Beers, Park Superintendent; Priya Wall, Recreation Manager; Luke Kegley, Recreation Supervisor; Jodi Sarles, Rec Center Manager; and Mary Blazanin, Senior Center Coordinator. PUBLIC PRESENT: Gary Haberman Nora Nashawaty Emily Nagel APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Commissioner Fulkerson moved, Commissioner Leisen seconded to approve the agenda as presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 7 to 0. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: Jerry Ruegemer, Park and Recreation Director, introduced Nora Nashawaty and Emily Nagel. They are two of the newly appointed Park and Recreation Commission members. He stated that they would recognize Commissioner Eidsmo on April 14 at the City Council meeting. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. Approve Park & Recreation Minutes dated February 25, 2025 Commissioner Swanson moved, Commissioner Fulkerson seconded to approve the minutes of the Park and Recreation Commission meeting dated February 25, 2025 as presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 7 to 0. GENERAL BUSINESS: Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – March 25, 2025 2 1. Receive 2024 Park and Recreation Department Annual Report Jerry Ruegemer, Park and Recreation Director, noted that the 2024 Park and Recreation Department Annual Report was a great historical document. Priya Wall, Recreation Manager, reviewed the 2024 Park and Recreation Department Annual Report. She highlighted new programs from 2024, including the Halloween Costume Swap and the Puzzlepalooza. She reviewed changes in location for various locations due to the construction at the Civic Campus. She summarized different facility improvements and exercise equipment updates. She explained different ways to communicate recreational information. She summarized the attendance at community events and the number of volunteer hours. She provided an overview of business sponsorships for events. She reviewed statistics about the senior center programming for 2024. She summarized the different programs and events held at the Chanhassen Recreation Center, including special events, athletic games and practices, and recreation instruction. She highlighted different statistics for the youth programs and adult programs. She explained how Reach for Resources provided inclusion support for recreation activities. She reviewed how Park Maintenance provided support to maintain parks, trails, and fields. Commissioner Morgan thanked Ms. Wall for the in-depth report. He asked if any events felt they needed to do more of in 2025 or to scale back on. Ms. Wall explained that they try to evaluate if programs are successful every year. She commented that the large-scale community events that were free or inexpensive were successful. She said that the Summer Discovery Playground Program had lower registration, so they were trying to evaluate the program and make necessary changes. Mr. Ruegemer said that the Lake Ann Adventure Camp was incorporated for a third week to satisfy customers' needs. He said that the Family Fun Night was successful, and they can continue to add different options for families. He said that they moved the Summer Concert Series to Lake Ann Park because of the Civic Campus project. The city remains flexible and continues to look at new ways to deliver their programs and events. Commissioner Leisen suggested looking at communication with residents in future meetings. Commissioner Fulkerson moved, Commissioner Leisen seconded to approve the Park and Recreation Commission Staff’s recommendation to the City Council to receive and approve the 2024 Park & Recreation Annual Report. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 7 to 0. 2. 2024-2025 Ice Rink Season Evaluation Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – March 25, 2025 3 Luke Kegley, Recreation Supervisor, provided a summary of the 2024-2025 ice skating rink season, which ran from December 20 to February 23. He provided an overview of the recorded participants at the monitored rinks, the costs for rink maintenance, and the total expenses. Commissioner Eidsmo asked if there were any serious injuries at the ice rinks. Mr. Kegley answered that there were accident report cards to fill out at the locations, but there were no reported injuries. He said that individual families had the option to use helmets. Commissioner Eidsmo said more people are using helmets. Commissioner Fulkerson said she saw a lot of people at Roundhouse Park. She asked about the attendance. Mr. Kegley said that 66 people self-reported at Roundhouse Park and Pioneer Pass. He explained that they could not guarantee the accuracy of the numbers since the park was not staffed. Commissioner Fulkerson said most people put their skates on by the basketball court at Roundhouse Park and suggested putting the QR code survey near the courts. REPORTS: 1. Recreation Center Quarterly Update Jodi Sarles, Rec Center Manager, reviewed the 269 paid rental events at the Chanhassen Recreation Center during the first quarter of 2025. She provided program updates on Dance for Fun, Rec Center Sports, Go Gymnastics, ACTA Tae Kwon Do, Fit for Life, and Pickleball Lessons. She reviewed different events they hosted, including the Royal Ball at Lions Park Pavilion and Puzzlepalooza 2. She explained different upcoming events, including the Fit for Life Free Trail Class, the Superhero Party, the Garden Tool Swap with Carver County, and the Dance for Fun Recital. Commissioner Leisen asked how often they would offer Puzzlepalooza. Ms. Sarles answered that they would put it on approximately three times a year. Commissioner Morgan asked about the new Recreation Center and trends for programming. He asked what community input opportunities there would be as they consider different space needs. Commissioner Sarles responded that they wanted to build the Recreation Center to be multi- functional and adaptable for different types of activities. She wanted to figure out different ways to get the community in the door and provide activities for all ages. Mr. Ruegemer said that the building was an opportunity to increase programming visibility and appeal with the new Community Center. They were considering all aspects of the facilities in the design. Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – March 25, 2025 4 Commissioner Fulkerson asked about putting in a figure skating school. Mr. Ruegemer answered that it was something they could consider. 2. Easter Egg Candy Hunt Preview Ms. Wall summarized the plans for the 2025 Easter Egg Candy Hunt scheduled for April 19 at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. She reviewed the volunteers scheduled to help with the event and noted that the event typically brings in 600 to 900 kids and families. She reviewed different volunteers for the event, including the Chanhassen Fire Department, the Chanhassen, Chaska, and Eden Prairie High School Key Club, Kiddywampus, Mathnasium of Chanhassen West, Kiddie Academy, 02B Kids, and SunnyDays therapy. 3. Park Maintenance Quarterly Report Adam Beers, Park Superintendent, provided a summary of the work completed by the park maintenance crew. He noted that they completed all routine maintenance on the small equipment fleet, started facility start-ups, pruned and cleared trees in the park system, and removed the existing hockey rink at City Center Park. He reviewed how the robotic lawn mower and robotic field striping equipment would be utilized. Commissioner Leisen asked if there were parks that fell behind on maintenance. Mr. Beers answered that all parks had some maintenance needs, but there were no safety concerns. Mr. Ruegemer said that there would be a playground replacement in the fall. Commissioner Eidsmo asked if they ever did anything with the scoreboards so the teams could operate them. Mr. Beers answered that they met with the association yesterday. He said that it would be a goal eventually. He stated that the meeting was positive, and the association was looking for ways to partner. Commissioner Eidsmo mentioned the association mentioned willingness to pay for the equipment if Parks Maintenance would hook it up. Mr. Beers answered that there was an app to utilize a scoreboard. 4. Senior Center Quarterly Update Mary Blazanin, Senior Center Coordinator, reviewed the programming and activities for the quarter. She said they serve ages 55 to 100. She explained how different activities appealed to different age ranges. She reviewed the series she started with the Chanhassen Historical Society and explained that she was working on developing more activities for men. She explained that they sent out a survey to see if they should change the name of the senior center. The City Council encouraged a fresh marketing campaign for the space. She reviewed the different Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – March 25, 2025 5 organizations they partner with and the services they provide, such as tax help. She said that they partner with the Lion’s Club on various activities. She reviewed the conversation she had with Gary Haberman to identify two older adults facing medical or financial difficulties. The Lion’s Club gifted the two individuals a $500 gift. Ms. Blazanin thanked Mr. Haberman for the gift. Youth Commissioner Christenson asked if they would move all the programs to the new Senior Center or if they would keep some at the Recreation Center. Ms. Blazanin answered that they considered keeping the space since it works better for certain classes. They were having conversations to think about what programs to keep at the Recreation Center. Commissioner Eidsmo asked if she was going to maintain a shared office with Ms. Sarles. Ms. Blazanin said that they have been able to solve many problems while sharing an office. Gary Haberman explained that the Lions Club Foundation was relatively new. He said that the individuals were happy to receive the extra funds to help them through difficult times. COMMISSION MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS: None. COMMISSION MEMBER PRESENTATIONS: Commissioner Eidsmo said it was a pleasure to work with Mr. Ruegemer and his talented staff. He thanked his past and present Commission Members for their work. Mr. Ruegemer thanked Commissioner Eidsmo for the ways he devoted time to the community. ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Swanson moved, Commissioner Fulkerson seconded to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 7 to 0. The Park and Recreation Commission meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m. Submitted by Jerry Ruegemer Park and Recreation Director