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06-23-20-prcCHANHASSEN PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING (ZOOM) JUNE 23, 2020 Chairman Boettcher called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Jim Boettcher, Joe Scanlon, Karl Tsuchiya, Matt Kutz, Sandy Sweetser, Haley Schubert, Jim Peck and Youth Commissioner Zoe Erpelding MEMBERS ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Todd Hoffman, Park and Rec Director; Jerry Ruegemer, Recreation Superintendent, and Priya Tandon, Recreation Supervisor APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Hoffman: Jim we’ll allow Jerry to talk about what’s going to happen with meetings going forward in July. Boettcher: Okay I was going to ask you about that. Hoffman: Yep. Boettcher: Okay. I’ll just put that under G for New Business. Hoffman: Sounds great. Boettcher: Alright. No other additions or deletions. Can I get a motion to approve the agenda? Tsuchiya moved, Kutz seconded to approve the agenda. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 8 to 0. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: Boettcher: Anything Todd or Jerry or Priya? Hoffman: Yeah I’ll go ahead. Go ahead Jerry. Ruegemer: No I was just going to mention the grand opening for the Hawk Ridge Trail. Go ahead. Hoffman: Yeah go ahead. Go ahead first, yep. Park and Recreation Commission – June 23, 2020 2 Ruegemer: Okay. So just want to let the commissioners know on Thursday night, June 25th will be the official grand opening for the Hawks Ridge Trail and that was as the commissioners I’m sure would remember is a project on the State right-of-way along 212, right down by Pioneer Ridge Middle School with that so they’re doing a grand opening at 5:00 on Thursday the 25th. I’m going to plan on attending down there and you certainly can park at the middle school, at the Pioneer Middle School and walk over and use the crosswalk to walk over. You can certainly test out your biking skills that night as well but it’s really going to be a great project over there and they’re all set to get it open so we’re looking forward to that. Boettcher: Jerry that was pretty fast. I mean when did they start on that? Wasn’t that in April? Ruegemer: Yeah they did start and all the work was completed really by hand and rake. A lot of volunteer effort went into that project so it’s going to be a really cool thing. Schubert: I drove by it on Sunday and it was looking amazing so I’m excited. Ruegemer: Yeah. Pretty exciting. Boettcher: And you said that’s 5:00 Thursday? Ruegemer: Yep 5:00 Thursday the 25th. Boettcher: And that will be right at, by the parking lot there at the middle school or it’s pretty close. Ruegemer: Yeah you can park at the middle school and walk right over to the trailhead over there. Boettcher: Okay. Great thank you. Hoffman: Chair Boettcher and commission members just two items. Highway 5, Arboretum trail was approved by the City Council and then subsequently approved by the County Board and the Arboretum Board of Regents. That was a week ago Monday and just over a week ago so that project will proceed. The City share was increased if you track that from $1.2 to $1.6 million. $1.62 million and the County loaned the City $400,000 and change. $450,000 so the park fund will pay for it. Jerry will talk about where the park fund is at. Where it’s headed into the near future as a part of your budget conversations starting in July but that was big news. Really tremendous support of the County. Federal funding. Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Everyone had to dig really deep to make it happen. Little side story. Glen Stolar used to be a park board Chairperson when we started the project 10-15 years ago and now he’s on the Arboretum Advisory Council and so he was there again making another recommendation to increase their contribution to the project and so everybody had to dig deep to get the project done Park and Recreation Commission – June 23, 2020 3 but it was the right time I think to make that happen. Second item is Interim City Manager will be Heather Johnston as appointed by the City Council last night. She comes from most recently from the City of Burnsville where she was in finance and city administration. City management and now she’s with an executive recruit firm so she’ll be starting here in the next week or two and you’ll see her around for probably 4 months or more at least through this 2021 budget cycle until there’s a permanent city manager appointed by the City Council. Boettcher: Alright good, anything else from anyone? If not thank you guys. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Tsuchiya moved, Sweetser seconded to table the verbatim and summary Minutes of the Park and Recreation Commission meeting dated May 27, 2020 to the July, 2020 meeting. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 8 to 0. NEW BUSINESS. Boettcher: New Business and we’ll go to Jerry for the plan for meetings starting next month. Ruegemer: Thank you Chair Boettcher. Just to get everybody all together again we’re going to plan on having the Park and Recreation Commission out at the Rec Center on July 28th so we’re going to reserve a couple community rooms at the Rec Center and then we’ll have some tables. We’ll spread out. We’ll already kind of have it set up to record that night so it will really be good to get together that night in person versus kind of this whole Zoom thing so that will be really our first in person meeting since February so it will be good to see everybody live with that. Going to plan on probably doing some tours that night so go out and check out some projects and then we’ll end up back at the Rec Center for that meeting so just mark that on your calendars. July 28th will be at the Rec Center. We will get an agenda out to you in July to that fact and we’ll identify the tours as well and it will be a nice night to get out and kind of tour Chan. Boettcher: So Jerry with the tours will there be, we’ll have an earlier start time then? Ruegemer: We will have an earlier start time. Probably 5:30-6:00ish depending on how many tours and stuff we do but it definitely will be an earlier time. Tsuchiya: Will we be expected to drive ourselves in this situation? Ruegemer: That is part of the discussion yes. We’ll have to social distant and we’ll have a kind of a tour map of where we’re going to go with addressed so people can find them. Tsuchiya: Okay. I’m not saying I have a problem with that. I just wanted a clarification. Hoffman: There’ll be fewer stops than in the past because of that arrangement. Park and Recreation Commission – June 23, 2020 4 Boettcher: Alright good. Looking forward to that. In fact I have never met Commissioner Peck so looking forward to seeing you finally. Peck: Yeah that’d be great. Boettcher: Alright next item H. Old Business. Anything other than Todd you already covered the Arboretum trail. Anything else that would fit into this category? REPORTS. 2020 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION PREVIEW. Boettcher: Priya this looks like you. Tandon: Yep, thank you Chair Boettcher and thank you commissioners. So we just have a quick summary. We kind of talked about this at our last meeting but due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and just or the health and safety of our community most of the components of the annual 4th of July celebration have been cancelled and staff had kind of come up with a modified schedule of events that’s listed below. So starting this upcoming Monday, June 29th we’ll have the online Business Expo and Coupon Book available on our city web page and that’s being put together now by the Southwest Metro Chamber of Commerce. It will have advertisements from local businesses and coupons as well. This will be free for people to participate in. We’ll also have the virtual chalk drawing contest so participants will submit a photo of their at home chalk drawing for a chance to win prizes in various age groups and different categories. Right now I’ve got most difficult and most creative, colorful, realistic and honorable mention and that runs through Saturday, July 4th. And then the day of Saturday, July 4th we have the Chanhassen Farmers Market that will be going on from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in City Center Park. The market features local farmers, artists and businesses. Then at 2:30 p.m. on the 4th of July the Rotary Club of Chanhassen will again be sponsoring the Historic Plane Flyover. The plans will start in southeast Chanhassen and then fly over downtown and then towards the west and then back towards the southeast. And then big event of the day is the fireworks display. There is a change here with the fireworks display. It lists that Lake Ann Park will be closing beginning at 5:00 p.m. to prepare for the display and to be compliant with the current executive order. As of last night City Council voted to also close Greenwood Shores Park just to stay compliant with the current executive order and make sure that we’re doing this safely. So the fireworks display will be presented at Lake Ann at 10:00 p.m. No general seating or parking available at Lake Ann Park or Greenwood Shores Park. We are encouraging residents and visitors to watch the display from home or on Facebook Live which will be posted on the City’s Facebook page. Like we kind of talked about last week the fireworks display will include more 8 inch and 10 inch shells than in previous years so that more of the shells will be visible from farther distances. However there will be no shells added that would higher than previous years or originally planned for. And then information about the schedule of events and the park closures will be distributed via social Park and Recreation Commission – June 23, 2020 5 media, our city website and the newspaper and we’ll have signage placed in the Lake Ann Park and Greenwood Shores Park beginning on Monday, June 29th and staying throughout that week and on the 4th of July to notify park users of the closure. And then we have our 4th of July 2020 flyer attached down below. Boettcher: Thank you Priya. One thing with no parking at Lake Ann Park. Is there going to be any recommended sites on the Facebook page? Will you say you know go to, I don’t know. Eckankar or something like that. Were there any recommendations from city staff as to where people should park or not? Ruegemer: Go ahead Priya. Tandon: City staff recommendation is that people watch the display on Facebook Live or from their homes. Go ahead Jerry. Ruegemer: I was going to say Chair Boettcher and the rest of the commission, certainly we know that people are parking on a normal year people are parking kind of all over you know 78th Street and Powers Boulevard. Kind of downtown Chan. We realize that that is going to happen again so we’re just asking people to be respectful and kind of slow down. Traffic will be probably heavier during those times. Be respectful. Pick up the garbage and really social distance as much as we can so we know that people are going to be parking around there. Around the perimeter of Lake Ann so we’re just going to be respectful of that. We’re going to have traffic control out there to help with kind of getting people in and out before and after the event itself so we have a plan in place for that as well. So we’re just asking people. We know it’s more likely going to be busy with that so we have a traffic plan to minimize that and asking people just to park where they can. Or watch it at home with Facebook Live, we’re certainly trying to push that as well. Boettcher: Okay. I had a couple of questions about it in the last week or so that’s why I was asking so thank you. 2020 CHANHASSEN FARMERS MARKET. Boettcher: Alright next item is the 2020 Chanhassen Farmers Market and Priya that looks like it’s still you. Tandon: Yep, thank you Chair Boettcher and thank you commissioners. So the Chanhassen City Council reviewed and approved the 2020 Chanhassen Farmers Market at their March 9th agreement. Also like we talked about at our last meeting since this council approval the volunteer market coordinator has resigned from her position due to the COVID-19 pandemic and so city staff is taking over the coordination of the market for the 2020 season to bridge the gap. Just this year. We did, when I wrote the report have a total of 11 vendors currently registered. We are now up to 13 for the season which runs June 6th through October 3rd. Vendor goods at Park and Recreation Commission – June 23, 2020 6 the market include local produce, flowers, hand made gifts, non-profits and various local businesses. Additional vendors continue to apply as the season progresses. I would say each week I have at least 3 new vendors express interest so hopefully as people become more comfortable coming out we can grow the market a little bit. Safety precautions are being taken in light of the COVID-19 pandemic based on the recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the CDC and Minnesota Department of Health. So the major ones include additional space between vendor stalls, limited entry to the market so only entering through one location. Providing hand sanitizer at the entrance of the market and at each vendor stall. The use of masks by both vendors and visitors and marked 6 foot distances throughout the market and people have seemed to be very respectful of that. Wearing their masks and practicing hand hygiene when they’re visiting the market. Sweetser: Priya, this is Sandy. Just curious do you have a maximum number of vendors that you could use? You know could have in that space. Tandon: You know in the way that it’s been set up previously I suppose there would be a maximum but if we did end up in a situation where we exceeded that maximum we could probably expand the location of the vendor stalls to accommodate them. The only challenge we would have is making sure they’re 6 feet apart but I think there would be ways to accommodate the additional vendors. Sweetser: Wonderful, thank you. Tandon: Yeah. Boettcher: So Priya what is, if you walk to some of the vendors that have been there in past years has anyone indicated what the foot traffic is like this year compared to other years? I’m sure it’s down but how much? Tandon: Yeah they do say it’s down. They haven’t said if I guess is drastically lower than it has been in previous years. It might be people are just really excited to get out and you know go to an event. Go to a farmers market but they have commented that it’s a steady stream of traffic all the way from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Boettcher: Okay thank you. Any other questions for Priya? If not we’ll move onto item J. COMMISSION MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS. Kutz: This is Matt Kutz. I just think after last meeting I just sent an email to you guys showing you that splash pad presentation. Just wanted to get that in your guy’s head. You can get a splash pad for as low as $50,000. I mean it’s not going to be like a water park by any means but, and there’s no electricity needed. It’s all self contained so you don’t need any utilities and stuff like that so it can go anywhere from $50,000 all the way up to $150,000-$200,000 on these Park and Recreation Commission – June 23, 2020 7 splash pads. Made in Minnesota right in Delano. They’re kind of a newer company. They’re trying to come up with some more business so it might be an opportunity to talk to them. I know right now we don’t have any money but just something we should keep on our radar. I know it’s something that some of the citizens have kind of asked for different type of water feature and you know it’s, for that price we might be able to do something like that so I don’t know if you guys have seen that or not, or opened up that email but there’s a couple of standard designs and then there’s more designs where you get more elaborate if somebody wants to be part of a committee and put something together so to present so just wanted to share that with you guys. Make sure it’s on you guy’s radar and we can discuss if at future meetings or now or however you guys want to talk about it so that’s all I have. Boettcher: Yeah thank you for that Matt. I did look at the email and I think Todd, well I know Todd and Jerry would remember but when we were talking about this for Bandimere a few years ago I mean the prices were astronomically higher than that so. Kutz: Yeah. Boettcher: Since we don’t have a lot of money right now that’s a very good, I don’t even remember the exact number. Todd or Jerry do you remember what we were told for Bandimere a few years ago? I mean the splash pads. Hoffman: It was close between a quarter million and a half a million but that included a lot of site improvements as well so yeah. Matt that’s for sharing that. It’s pretty nice stuff. Basically what they’re doing is they’re just trying to bring the price down so more communities can acquire. Kutz: Yep that’s exactly right so something to keep in mind going forward. Maybe when we get to our budget process or something like that we can discuss it more. Thanks. Boettcher: Thank you Matt. Like I said it was really good. Really interesting. Looks like Haley saying she lost. Ruegemer: Internet connection or something. Boettcher: Anyone else have any presentations? Anything to discuss this evening? Ruegemer: Chair Boettcher if I could real quick. I just want to let the commission know that with Governor Walz’ announcement last Friday, the 19th that scrimmages and games are going to be allowed now for adults and sports so the Redbirds have been actively trying to get everything kind of put together as well as our youth sports. The Minnetonka Baseball program, CAA, a lot of different groups and our adult softball program is going to start probably after the 4th of July now so just kind of an FYI for that so we’re just really getting a lot of safety guidelines all kind of put in place here so everybody is safe once they do resume. Actually they have already Park and Recreation Commission – June 23, 2020 8 resumed so I do have a lot of their information already put together and saved. But just so if you see a lot of teams out at Bandimere or Lake Susan or Lake Ann, the Rec Center, that’s kind of what’s going on now so we can have the all clear for that so it’s nice to see the kids and adults out there again. So the CAA will do kind of a modified program. They’ll get done about August 14th so that will go oh about 2 to 3 weeks longer than their previous kind of format. For the adult softball now we’re going to start, we’ll kind of do a summer/fall league so traditionally we’ve done a summer and a fall league. We’re just going to combine the two this year and then go for about 12 to 14 weeks with the teams that we have and then we will be done late September, early October for our adult softball. So we have 8 teams. Right now we had 11 pre-Covid and we lost 3 just from a variety of reasons but we have 8 right now so that’s a good number for a schedule and we’ll get that put together here in probably the next couple days but there’s still a lot of things that have to fall in place prior to that starting so anyway just FYI for the commission tonight. So we’re extremely happy and so are they to be in this position to finally get out on the fields for scrimmages and games. Boettcher: Thank you Jerry. Yeah it’s strange driving by Lake Ann Park on Saturday and Sunday and not seeing a bunch of kids and teams out there playing so it will be good to see that again. Ruegemer: Yeah absolutely. Boettcher: Alright with nothing else there was no administrative packet. I guess I’ll entertain a motion to adjourn. Tsuchiya: So moved. Hoffman: Jim? Tsuchiya: Sorry go ahead Todd. Hoffman: Yep thank you. I’m just going to say my goodbyes so Priya and Jerry. Boettcher: Oh we don’t get you next month. Hoffman: No. Tsuchiya: I don’t even get to see you. Hoffman: No, no, I’ll be around but I’ll stop and say hello and goodbye once you’re all back, in a room but my last day in the office is next Tuesday and then I’m on vacation through July 31st when my official retirement date takes place. Jerry starts as your official new Director of Parks and Recreation on August 1st. I came to the City in March of ’87. 1987. It’s been a great career. Have always enjoyed working with our Park and Recreation Commissioners. You do the hard Park and Recreation Commission – June 23, 2020 9 work of listening to the community and then advocating on behalf of the community to the City Council and I know a lot of time that’s an uphill job so I appreciate you sticking with it. You don’t win all of them but you win enough to make some really significant impactful changes on our community so thank you commissioners. One side of park you still have a very talented staff obviously that will continue forward. Jerry needs to back fill one position so please assist with that as a part of the 2021 budget. They’re going to keep that open for the 2020 time being to save some cash in this budget cycle but we need that person back. We were two people in ’87 when I arrived and we haven’t been two people since ’88 after we became 3 of us in the office back in that time period. So there’s more work to be done. You know the community survey we took, you remember the deliberations you had on the $9 million question. Should we ask about $9 million? Should we ask about $4? You settled in on $9 and I think it was about 80 percent of the citizenry said yes, we strong support or support investing $9 million in our parks and so you know that’s a starting point to get some things done. The splash pads. Lake Ann Park trail. There’s a variety of things and so that’s really going to be one of your important tasks is to take a look at that survey once you get back meeting. Identify kind of a time line on when you could the community you know once Covid settles down and the Coronavirus settles down. I think people will be in the mood to get back to work so in closing there’s more work to be done and, but this is my time to get off the bus so farewell. Sweetser: Thank you Todd. For everything. Boettcher: Thank you Todd. We will miss you on the bus. Hoffman: Yeah you’re welcome. My pleasure. Kutz: Thanks for everything, we really appreciate it and Jerry congrats on the appointment. You definitely deserve it so we’re really excited to have you. Boettcher: So my question is, am I no longer allowed to pick on Jerry? I mean this is going to change my life seriously. Ruegemer: We can still have our playful relationship that’s for sure. Boettcher: Oh okay, good. Thank you. No definitely Todd and if there’s anyway we can, are you having any type of a celebration at city hall or is there? Hoffman: Not that I’m aware of you know. It’s just a challenging time to gather and so staff’s going to, we’re going to have a little lunch next week on Tuesday out at the park and but just a quiet departure and there’s nothing wrong with that in light of everything that’s going on. Boettcher: Okay, alright. Thank you very much. Hoffman: You’re welcome. My pleasure. Park and Recreation Commission – June 23, 2020 10 Boettcher: And I don’t remember now, do we have a motion to adjourn? Tsuchiya: I made the motion yes. Boettcher: And we had a second? Kutz: Second. Tsuchiya moved, Kutz 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 7:59 p.m. Submitted by Jerry Ruegemer Recreation Superintendent Prepared by Nann Opheim