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06-27-2023 PRC MinutesCHANHASSEN PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES JUNE 27, 2023 Chair Vasatka called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Don Vasatka, Chair; Heather Markert, Vice Chair; Matt Kutz; Rob Swanson; Scott Pharis MEMBERS ABSENT: Dan Eidsmo, Jim Peck, Youth Commissioner Alexandra Jerdee. STAFF PRESENT: Jerry Ruegemer, Park and Recreation Director; Priya Tandon, Recreation Manager; Mary Blazanin, Senior Center Coordinator; Adam Beers, Park Superintendent PUBLIC PRESENT: None. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Commissioner Kutz moved, Commissioner Pharis seconded to approve the agenda as presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: The Roundhouse Park playground opened Tuesday, June 20. Park and Recreation Director Jerry Ruegemer shared that the park turned out nicely. He thanked the Commissioners for attending the ribbon cutting and invited the remaining Commissioners to visit the park. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. Approve Park & Recreation Minutes dated May 23, 2023 Commissioner Markert moved, Commissioner Swanson seconded to approve the minutes of the Park and Recreation Commission Meeting dated May 23, 2023 as presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. GENERAL BUSINESS: None OLD BUSINESS: None REPORTS: Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – June 27, 2023 2 1. 4th of July Celebration Preview Priya Tandon, Recreation Manager, shared that the Annual 4th of July celebration will be held July 2 through July 4 in downtown Chanhassen and Lake Ann Park. It is the 40th anniversary of the celebration. A full schedule of events can be found online. July 2 is family night at the carnival and includes a children’s performance, face painting, and discounted rides. IWCO is the title sponsor for family night. There will be the Taste of Chanhassen, a beer garden, live music, and a skateboard contest on July 3. On July 4, there is a parade downtown and a firework display at Lake Ann. There are different sponsorship opportunities for this event and general sponsorship opportunities. Other events this year include a decorating event for the kiddie parade, commemorative merchandise, and a permanent jewelry vendor. Chair Vasatka thanked staff for their hard work. Commissioner Kutz asked about food truck options. Ms. Tandon shared this portion is coordinated through the Rotary for the Taste of Chanhassen but due to space constraints, only ten local food vendors are invited. Commissioner Swanson asked how activities are determined. Ms. Tandon shared many of them are traditional, and new activities can occur, but are dictated by space. Mr. Swanson asked if there were activities between the parade and the fireworks. Ms. Tandon said there is Taste of Chanhassen, but there is more downtime for people to spend time with families. 2. Park Maintenance Quarterly Update Adam Beers, Park Superintendent, gave a quarterly park maintenance update. He noted crews worked on starting the irrigation systems, fields were fertilized, and received broad leaf control. The seasonal staff is doing well and vital to their work. Vice Chair Markert thanked Mr. Beers for all his crew’s work on Roundhouse Park. 3. Recreation Center Quarterly Update Mr. Ruegemer shared that the air handlers are being replaced at the rec center. There has been no air conditioning in the rec center, so it has been very warm. The air handlers were replaced over the weekend and today. The rec center floors will be redone in August. 4. Senior Center Quarterly Update Mary Blazanin, Senior Center Coordinator, shared they serve an average of 140 seniors a week, and between April and June, they served 900 patrons. They are hosting new art classes led by a Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – June 27, 2023 3 senior. The Lions Club sponsored the annual picnic at Lake Ann today, and around 170 seniors attended. On Thursday, there is an annual meal with the mayor. Free tech help services started in July so seniors can receive device help. Vice Chair Markert asked if there are volunteers who help with the event. Ms. Blazanin sa id there are some youth volunteers and other senior volunteers who help. Commissioner Pharis asked if there is a website where the information is posted. Ms. Blazanin stated there is a website and she sends emails to a large list. 5. Lake Ann Park Preserve Update Mr. Ruegemer displayed an aerial map to show the preserve and where the trails will be located in the Lake Ann Park Preserve. There will be a trail, with boardwalks, and a span bridge; they are designing them all to be substantial enough to be plowed in the winter. The bridge will be built high enough to allow small boats, such as kayaks, to pass beneath and so that it’s above the high-water mark. Mr. Ruegemer stated he is working with Met Council to receive permitting for the boardwalk to go over their sanitary sewer system interceptor, and they are working to see what type of boardwalk to install. In April, a survey crew went out and walked the proposed trail alignment and noted the significant trees to preserve with Mr. Ruegemer, Mr. Beers, SEH, and HKGI. The park team met with the Watershed District onsite to go over plans for some pre-permit feedback. It is a complex process to ensure the trail works with the infiltration pond, wetland areas, and buffer. A hydrologist from SEH is working to plan for potential 100-year flood incidents and make the boardwalk functional. Ideally, water management could allow for a shortened boardwalk. Working together now helps the cooperation between the different parties and achieving the 60% design completion. Chair Vasatka asked if the Watershed team had any concerns. Mr. Ruegemer said that by including them early in the process, there appears to be good back-and-forth cooperation and to allow the strongest application. Chair Vasatka asked if there were other important key stakeholders to incorporate earlier. Mr. Ruegemer mentioned the DNR, Army Corp of Engineers, and Met Council, and followed up by sharing that they hope to bid this project in October and start construction in late 2023 or early 2024. They received a $158,000 grant from Great River Greening to fund invasive species removal. The Minnesota DNR provided a local trail connection grant which will help fund the boardwalk with $250,000 toward the southern boardwalk. There will be a second parking lot constructed in the Greenwood Shores neighborhood for accessing the trail and the city beach. Mr. Ruegemer listened to concerns from the Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – June 27, 2023 4 neighborhood. He presented two different options for the parking lots; he aims to add 8-10 spots and include handicap spots while minimizing impact on neighboring homes. He will work with the engineering department to finalize these designs, and his goal is to have it built this year. Chair Vasatka thanked Mr. Ruegemer for his work on the project. Commissioner Swanson stated that the no parking signs in the neighborhood have made the area less accessible. Mr. Ruegemer stated this is the purpose of the parking lot, to allow more community access to the city park. Commissioner Swanson asked about a survey last year, and what residents had requested. Mr. Ruegemer shared that the overwhelming response from community members was to leave the area natural. Commissioner Kutz asked if there were plans for a parcel at the south of Lake Ann Park near the ball fields. Mr. Ruegemer answered that the area is naturally wooded, with some natural trails with no plans to change that area. Vice Chair Markert asked about the community garden update and asked about putting an area in the Lake Ann area near concessions. There were new garden plots opened in 2022 and all of them are rented; the second garden helped meet some of the demand. Jodi Sarles, Recreation Center Manager arrived and provided an update that the air conditioning at the rec center is still a work in progress. COMMISSION MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS: None. COMMISSION MEMBER PRESENTATIONS: None. ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Pharis moved, Commissioner Kutz seconded to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. The Park and Recreation Commission meeting was adjourned at 7:11 p.m. Submitted by Jerry Ruegemer Park and Recreation Director Prepared by Amy Weidman Administrative Support Specialist