PRC SUM 2013 03 26
CHANHASSEN PARK AND
RECREATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
SUMMARY MINUTES
MARCH 26, 2013
Chairman Cole Kelly called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Cole Kelly, Elise Ryan, Brent Carron, Peter Aldritt, and Jim Boettcher
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Steve Scharfenberg, and Tom Kelly
STAFF PRESENT:
Todd Hoffman, Park and Rec Director; Jerry Ruegemer, Recreation Superintendent;
Mitch Johnson, Recreation Supervisor; Dale Gregory; Park Superintendent; Jodi Sarles, Rec Center
Manager; Susan Bill, Senior Center Coordinator; and Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resource Specialist
PUBLIC PRESENT:
Joe Shneider 1035 Holly Lane
John Colford 7470 Chanhassen Road
Dennis Mills 9510 Foxford Road
Ron Kleve 7307 Laredo Drive
Pam & Tom Devine 7640 South Shore Drive
Marc & JoAnn Syverson 489 Pleasant View Road
Larry Koch 471 Bighorn Drive
Greg Fletcher 7616 South Shore Drive
Val & Bob Flynn 40 Hill Street
Denise & Scott Smith 30 Hill Street
Sharon McCotter 7000 Utica Lane
Carl B. Fitzsimmons 7480 Chanhassen Road
Anna & Pat Fitzsimmons 7400 Chanhassen Road
Bill Kirkvold 201 Frontier Court
Laurie Susla 7008 Dakota Avenue
Carroll Aasen 112250 Eitel Circle, Chaska
Mike Domke 9361 Kiowa Trail
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Chairman Cole Kelly added an item 10 to the agenda, discussion items for
the joint meeting with City Council.
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Todd Hoffman gave a reminder that Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. the
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30 Annual Easter Egg Candy Hunt will be held behind City Hall next to Chan Elementary.
VISITOR PRESENTATIONS.
None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:Carron moved, Boettcher seconded to approve the summary Minutes
of the Park and Recreation Commission meeting dated February 26, 2013 as presented and the
verbatim Minutes of the Park and Recreation Commission meeting dated February 26, 2013 as
amended by Cole Kelly on pages 8 and 20. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously
with a vote of 5 to 0.
Park and Recreation Commission Summary – March 26, 2013
EMERALD ASH BORER PRESENTATION – ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE SPECIALIST.
Jill Sinclair gave a presentation on the effects of Emerald Ash Borer on Chanhassen parks.
Commissioner Aldritt asked about uses for ash wood before and after it’s infested. Chairman Cole Kelly
asked about types of trees that will replace the ash. Commissioner Ryan asked for clarification of the cost
of treating trees.
PRESENTATION OF 2012 PARK AND RECREATION ANNUAL REPORT.
Jerry Ruegemer
reviewed highlights of the 2012 Park and Recreation Annual Report.
DISCUSS CITY OF CHANHASSEN AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES AIS PROGRAM.
Todd Hoffman reviewed the City’s 2012 watercraft inspection program and what is proposed for 2013.
Joe Shneider, 1035 Holly Lane, a Christmas Lake Homeowners Association member, Coalition for
Minnehaha Creek Waters Chair and an executive on Minnesota COLA discussed state, county, local and
private funding, and the fact that Christmas Lake is going to be remotely serviced at Lake Minnewashta
Regional Park beginning this summer. Greg Fletcher, 7616 South Shore Drive, representing the South
Lotus Lake neighborhood, requested that the City do more in 2013 because they found infestations on the
last day of their extended inspection period last year. Sharon McCotter, 7000 Utica Lane, a member of
the Lake Lucy Association and citizen advisor for the Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed District,
stated her support for the Lotus Lake group’s proposal of a multi-lake inspection program. Pat
Fitzsimmons, 7400 Chanhassen Road, noting he comes from a family of fishermen and as a new LLCA
board member, thanked Laurie Susla and her husband Dave for all the work they’ve done and asked that
the Park and Recreation Commission recommend to the City Council that they implement their proposed
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pilot program starting May 10, which is the opening of fishing season, through November 15 for 100%
inspections. Ron Kleve, 7307 Laredo Drive, a member of the Sunrise Hills Association, explained why
their association voted to close their private boat ramp at their beachlot. Mike Domke, 9361 Kiowa Trail,
President of the Lake Riley Improvement Association, provided background information on the work
their association has been doing for several years to prevent AIS and expressed his full support of the
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proposed AIS plan. Tom Devine, 7640 South Shore Drive, elected to represent the 2 Congressional
District on the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota, discussed work being done by the
University of Minnesota, explained that a Bill was passed by the Minnesota Legislature that supported an
appropriation of $4.2 million additional dollars to further study the aquatic invasive species and implored
the commission to take a very aggressive role in terms of moving forward to support the efforts to protect
Chanhassen lakes so that in turn Chanhassen will continue to be a model that will be used statewide and
hopefully globally in terms of the work that’s going on right now with the University of Minnesota.
Carroll Aasen, 112250 Eitel Circle and a Carver County Parks Commissioner and a sportsman, supports
the proposed plan with the option of allowing sportsmen to take the invasive species training by the DNR
to get a pass that allows them to be self inspected. Chair Cole Kelly closed the visitor presentation
portion of the meeting. Commissioner Ryan outlined what she believed to be the two discussion points of
staff’s recommendation for 2013 and the LLCA’s proposed pilot program discussions moving forward.
Chair Kelly pointed out there was a third option to do nothing. Commissioner Carron asked Laurie Susla
to provide a brief summary of their proposed plan for a centralized inspection location. After comments
from commission members the following motion was made.
Commissioner Ryan moved that the Park and Recreation Commission recommend that the City
Council review the 2013 AIS program focusing on the proposal created by the LLCA and
recommend that a task force including a representative from the Park and Rec Commission,
LLCA, Watershed, DNR are included in discussions prior to setting policy for 2013. The motion
failed for lack of a second.
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Park and Recreation Commission Summary – March 26, 2013
RECREATION PROGRAM REPORTS:
2012/13 ICE RINK EVALUATION.
Mitch Johnson presented the report on the 2012/13 ice skating
rinks season.
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2013 EASTER EGG CANDY HUNT.
Mitch Johnson reviewed the events associated with the 30
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Annual Easter Egg Candy Hunt being held on Saturday, March 30, 9:00 a.m.
RECREATION CENTER REPORT.
Jodi Sarles presented highlights from the Recreation Center
report.
SENIOR CENTER REPORT.
Sue Bill explained plans to draw in participants to meet the needs of the
younger older “baby boomer” population.
PARK & TRAIL MAINTENANCE REPORT.
Dale Gregory reviewed highlights of the Park and
Trail Maintenance Report.
ADMINISTRATIVE PACKET.
Todd Hoffman pointed out the letter sent to Cullen Bahn and that
Councilman Laufenburger introduced, and the City Council supported Chanhassen and Chaska
submitting a joint bid for the 2014 Minnesota State Baseball Tournament.
SET AGENDA FOR THE JOINT MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL.
Chairman Cole Kelly
suggested discussion of new neighborhood parks, the addition at Bandimere Park, improvements at
Herman Field Park, lights at Lake Susan Park, and discussion of a Bluff Creek trail. Commissioner Ryan
suggested getting input from City Council regarding the AIS program and the Highway 41 trail
construction. Todd Hoffman suggested discussion on the Arboretum connection.
COMMISSION MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS.
None.
COMMISSION MEMBER PRESENTATIONS.
None.
ADMINISTRATIVE PACKET.
Todd Hoffman noted this was Commissioner Peter Aldritt’s last
meeting with the Park and Recreation Commission.
Carron moved, Boettcher 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 9:35 p.m.
Submitted by Todd Hoffman
Park and Rec Director
Prepared by Nann Opheim
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