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05-23-2023 PRC MinutesCHANHASSEN PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MAY 23, 2023 Chair Vasatka called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Don Vasatka, Chair; Heather Markert, Vice Chair; Dan Eidsmo; Matt Kutz; Jim Peck; Rob Swanson; Scott Pharis; Alexandra Jerdee, Youth Commissioner. MEMBERS ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Jerry Ruegemer, Park and Recreation Director; Priya Tandon, Recreation Manager; Laurie Hokkanen, City Manager; Mitchell Czech, Recreation Supervisor PUBLIC PRESENT: Judy Harder. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Commissioner Peck moved, Commissioner Markert seconded to approve the agenda as presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 8 to 0. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: 1. Invitation to Memorial Day Ceremony – May 29, 2023 Recreation Supervisor Czech invited the public to attend the Memorial Day Ceremony at City Center Park on May 29, 2023. He reviewed the cemetery services and shared that this free event will be co-hosted with the Chanhassen American Legion Post 580. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. Approve Park & Recreation Minutes dated April 25, 2023 Commissioner Pharis moved, Commissioner Swanson seconded to approve the Minutes of the Park and Recreation Commission Meeting dated April 25, 2023 as presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 8 to 0. GENERAL BUSINESS: Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – May 23, 2023 2 1. Chanhassen Civic Campus Update Park and Recreation Director Ruegemer introduced City Manager Hokkanen who will give an update regarding the project. City Manager Hokkanen provided a PowerPoint presentation and update regarding significant projects starting to get underway, including the Civic Campus project. She shared about a facility study done in 2020-2021 to understand the condition of City Hall and other facilities including Fire Station, Fire Station 2, and other facilities. City Hall has run out of space, needs a new roof, has water intrusion issues, and they wanted to understand what it would look like to do a major project in the building. Consultants worked for 9 months and said it would be $17,000,000 to $19,000,000 to complete deferred maintenance and remodel the building to serve the needs of the city. Ms. Hokkanen noted the building would be better but still not exactly what the city would want today. An estimate for a new City Hall was $23,000,000 to $25,000,000 and the City Council then asked how they could take the City Center campus and turn it into the heart of downtown Chanhassen with many amenities. Ms. Hokkanen shared about a listening session and public tour of the City Hall space, community engagement, and amenities preferred by the public, including an expanded farmers’ market, performance space, pickleball courts, and a splash pad. The community would also like dappled shade areas, which are lush and park-like. She showed project plans on screen and walked the Commissioners through the possible layout of the Civic Campus. Commissioner Peck asked where funding will come from. Ms. Hokkanen replied it would be paid for with levy dollars, with a total anticipated budget of $35,000,000. This would include about a 7.5% levy increase for each of the three years. Commissioner Kutz asked why it was not proposed on a ballot so citizens could decide whether it is a worthwhile investment for the city. Ms. Hokkanen noted that is an option, and another project may potentially go to referendum. The City Council felt like many of these were core amenities that government is responsible for providing, particularly City Hall and the Senior Center, and they are using other ways to gather feedback instead of a referendum. To date, she has not heard significant negative feedback but has heard people who are excited about the amenities. Ms. Hokkanen clarified it has been discussed and debated and City Council has decided not to go forward with a referendum for this project. Commissioner Markert stated, after speaking with some of the public, she does not think the issues they are having with the current building are common knowledge. She thinks it would be great to share that the city did its due diligence to look at the costs of fixing the existing facility and how the decision was made to build a new one. Chair Vasatka attended the walk-through of the City Hall and saw how cramped things are, the weird locations, having to walk through other people’s offices to get to other offices, and the Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – May 23, 2023 3 elevator that doesn’t work. He thanked Ms. Hokkanen for hosting that event for the public because it was great to see those spaces. Commissioner Pharis noted construction would start in May of 2024 and asked when it would finish. Ms. Hokkanen replied it will be in two phases. May 2024-2025 will be construction on City Hall and the Senior Center, with another 1-1.5 years to finish park improvements. It will probably be later in 2026 when the project is all complete. Commissioner Markert asked about signage and promoting Chanhassen. Ms. Hokkanen spoke about a separate project with HKGI to do some way-finding and the city is planning for an entryway monument and signage, including on the Civic Campus. Chair Vasatka asked whether the Park Commission will have input as the project moves forward. Mr. Ruegemer replied in the affirmative noting he would like the Commissioners to make notes when they see things such as a splash pad in Champlin or other park amenities. He also encouraged the Commissioners to ask friends and neighbors what they would like to see as part of the project. Commissioner Eidsmo asked whether the upper park will be turf or grass. Ms. Hokkanen replied they have been assuming it will be grass. Commissioner Eidsmo noted with how long the snow was on the ground, fields could not be utilized, whereas turf may be able to be used sooner. He stated he has a community meeting in a week and would like to share the information from tonight. Ms. Hokkanen stated Mr. Ruegemer brought her the numbers and that the levy is projected to increase by 7% for each the of three years. For a $350,000 home that translates to a $40-$50 increase per year. On a $600,000 home that translates to $90-$100 per year. Commissioner Vasatka asked if it goes away at the end of the third year or is absorbed into other things. Ms. Hokkanen replied they continue to make the payments, but the levy does not have to increase to account for the debt payments and it should go down about a 5% falloff for debt payments. Commissioner Pharis clarified it does not go away after three years. Ms. Hokkanen replied in the affirmative. Informational; no action required. Chair Vasatka asked for an update on the Avienda project. Ms. Hokkanen shared that the Chanhassen Bluffs Sports Complex is conceived to be two sheets of ice, 40,000-50,000 square feet of indoor year-round turf, a restaurant, an indoor playground, a walking track, and a working facility. A local option sales tax is the preferred funding mechanism and a study was done showing a ½ cent sales tax over 20 years would generate $38,000,000 to $40,000,000 and would cost the average Chanhassen resident about $35 per year Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – May 23, 2023 4 in additional taxes. Ms. Hokkanen explained 45% of the amount would be paid by visitors and people that do not live in Chanhassen. She noted other new sales taxes that have happened recently and the city does not know how that will impact the City Council or community interest in seeing the project go forward. She noted the city will know more about the project by the next meeting. REPORTS: 1. 2023 Summer Programs Preview Recreation Manager Tandon provided an overview of the 2023 summer programs. She shared about the Summer Discovery Playground Program, youth sports and dance programs, outdoor camps, as well as safe kids and babysitting classes. Ms. Tandon noted the city will also bring back the Summer Concert Series, 4th of July Celebration, Math in the Park, and Music Together Lakeside. Commissioner Markert shared about Safety Town in Eden Prairie for 3-5 year-olds which teaches bike safety, car seat safety, and fire safety. Ms. Tandon will look into that as an option in the future. Chair Vasatka asked how the number of programs offered compares to the previous year. Ms. Tandon replied it is about the same as the previous year and it has returned to pre-Covid numbers. Commissioner Pharis asked if the city has ever done a gun safety or hunting safety session for kids. Ms. Tandon does not think they have. Commissioner Pharis noted an offering for 10-12 year-olds who may be interested may be a good idea. Commissioner Eidsmo asked about staffing for the programs. Ms. Tandon replied that for the most part, they are fully staffed. Informational; no action required. 2. 2023 Lake Ann Park Summer Programs Recreation Supervisor Czech provided an overview of the 2023 Lake Ann Park summer programs noting the concession/watercraft rental building will be open between Saturday, May 27, and Sunday, August 20, seven days per week between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. He announced that Nolan Strang will serve as the Concessions Manager this summer. Nolan was a concession worker last summer at Lake Ann and served as a rink attendant this winter and Mr. Czech noted he brings a positive, hard-working attitude, and will be a tremendous asset to the team. Nolan will take on the duties of coordinating work schedules, ordering supplies, and day- to-day operations. The city has added two new monitors as menu boards for concessions. Mr. Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – May 23, 2023 5 Czech shared about paddleboard rentals, picnic requests, and bookings, which will generate approximately $17,000 in revenue. He noted the beach at Lake Ann is open to the public all summer between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. daily, with lifeguards starting Saturday, June 3, between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (weather-permitting) through August 13. Commissioner Swanson shared his surprise when he rented a pavilion that they had it for the entire day. He suggested half-day bookings as an option. Mr. Czech noted they have looked into it, but staffing in the City is not currently built for turning over the pavilions and cleaning them up for a second rental. Chair Vasatka suggest perhaps looking into it at one location such as Lake Ann where they could double the bookings and generate more revenue. Informational; no action required. COMMISSION MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS: None. COMMISSION MEMBER PRESENTATIONS: None. ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS: Park and Recreation Director Ruegemer asked to recognize Mr. Czech and Ms. Tandon for the great work they have done in advancing the city’s technology and streamlining the recreation and events since they joined the city. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Kutz moved, Commissioner Eidsmo seconded to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 8 to 0. The Park and Recreation Commission meeting was adjourned at 7:16 p.m. Submitted by Jerry Ruegemer Park and Recreation Director Prepared by Amy Weidman Administrative Support Specialist