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06-22-2021-prc-sumCHANHASSEN PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES JUNE 22, 2021 Chairman Tsuchiya called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Karl Tsuchiya, Sandy Sweetser, Matt Kutz, Don Vasatka, Heather Markert (arrived at 7:33 p.m.), Youth Commissioner Chaehyun Lee, and Scott Fischer. MEMBERS ABSENT: Jim Peck. STAFF PRESENT: Jerry Ruegemer, Park and Recreation Director; Priya Tandon, Recreation Supervisor; Jodi Sarles, Recreation Center Manager; Mitchell Czech, Recreation Supervisor; Adam Beers, Park Superintendent; and Mary Blazanin, Senior Center Coordinator. APPROVAL OF AGENDA. Commissioner Kutz moved, Commissioner Sweetser 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. None. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS. None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. APPROVE PARK & RECREATION MINUTES DATED MAY 27, 2021 Commissioner Kutz moved, Commissioner Fischer seconded to approve the Minutes of the Park and Recreation Commission Meeting dated May 25, 2021 as presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. NEW BUSINESS. None. OLD BUSINESS. None. REPORTS. 1. 2021 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION PREVIEW Recreation Supervisor Priya Tandon shared the 4th of July flyer with all of the scheduled events and gave an overview of the celebration. The event will be on July 2-4 in downtown Chanhassen, mainly surrounding City Center Park and Lake Ann Park. Participation levels can reach up to Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – June 22, 2021 2 70,000 people over the course of the three-day celebration and they anticipate great attendance this year. With the release of the Governor’s Executive Order the City was able to proceed fully with the celebration in a mostly pre-pandemic fashion. Events include a family fun night and carnival including rides, Taste of Chanhassen and Beer Garden, Business Expo, live music, street dance, fishing contests, medallion hunt, sand sculpture contest, classic car show, the 4th of July parade, and the annual fireworks display. The City has partnered with many organizations and utilized various communication tools to get notice out about the celebration. A few events such as bingo, t-shirts, pony rides, and petting zoo will return in 2022. The celebration will remain compliant with all of the most current guidelines set forth by the State and the Minnesota Department of Health; there will be hand washing stations and hand sanitizer readily available. Ms. Tandon noted they are trying to incorporate QR codes that will bring people to the City website to find the full schedule of events, registrations, parade map, etcetera. Chairman Tsuchiya asked with the beer sales at Lake Ann, is there any revenue splitting with the Rotary Club? Ms. Tandon noted there is not a revenue splitting arrangement at this time. She believes much of the revenues goes towards their scholarships and community programs. Park and Recreation Director Ruegemer noted this is on a trial basis at Lake Ann, they will try it this year and reassess depending on success. 2. CHANHASSEN RECREATION CENTER QUARTERLY UPDATE Recreation Center Manager Jodi Sarles noted the Recreation Center is under construction and meeting room walls are being replaced so they are about 12 weeks out from having 4 separate rooms again. There will be much better sound proofing and the funding for that is $80,000. They are also very excited that all COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted and it is great to see so many faces at the facility. Ms. Sarles noted she worked with Mary Blazanin to put together the Great Start to Summer Pack the Bus donation drive for Bountiful Basket and raised 1,000 pounds in food and over $300 for the organization. She noted many families are getting back out in dance programs, safety and babysitting programs, Fit for Life, T-ball, and sports camps. 3. SENIOR CENTER QUARTERLY REPORT Senior Center Coordinator Mary Blazanin said the Senior Center is up and running as of June 1, 2021. She noted people were pounding down the doors and are very excited to be back. Events include game groups, bingo, lunches, classes, mahjong for beginners, an earth day presentation, and a Nordic walking class. Ms. Blazanin noted the seniors really enjoy the hybrid option of in- person or Zoom programming and she can get instructors from all over the country who can teach. She stated they are also resuming Day Trips this year and have several events scheduled for the fall. Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – June 22, 2021 3 4. PARK MAINTENANCE QUARTERLY UPDATE Park Superintendent Adam Beers shared they did not really slow down during COVID-19 and worked with Southwest Christian High School this year for their Senior Day to do some work at the Recreation Center doing mulching and weeding. There is also a new Chanhassen sign near Highway 5 and West 78th Street which was done in-house by the maintenance crew. He noted they have also been working on irrigation, concession buildings, fields, events, and are now getting ready for the 4th of July carnival. Mr. Beers stated the Lake Susan basketball court was also a 25-year old infrastructure and was part of the Capital Improvement Plan; they are still waiting for the bituminous to cure before they do the striping and put in the basketball poles. They also have new playgrounds going in at Pheasant Hill and Carver Beach Park. Mr. Beers gave a shout out to the seasonal employees as they are a huge help. Commissioner Kutz had a resident ask him about the field conditions and noted one soccer field had an issue with some holes. Mr. Beers said City Center Park is on school property and the maintenance team stripes the field, mows, and fertilizes. He noted they have major compaction issues due to the 4th of July carnival area and are working to prep the area for the traffic and afterwards will aerify, try to fill in the holes, and pray for good weather. Commissioner Kutz asked about the fertilization schedule. Mr. Beers replied they fertilize Lake Ann, Lake Susan, Bandimere, and City Center Parks three times a year. Neighborhood parks are typically not fertilized but they do try to spray broadleaf weeds on a 2-3 year cycle as they do not have the budget or the staff. Mr. Ruegemer clarified in previous years they have had substantial rain before or during the carnival set up which led to a lot of the rut and compromised turf conditions. He noted Mr. Beers and his crew does their best to identify those spots and get them filled back in and repaired, although sometimes the grass grows in and it is tough to spot. That is why they rely on coaches and spectators to let them know if there is a spot that needs filling and they will be happy to do that as they want a safe playing condition for the community. Commissioner Vasatka asked about irrigation and how they balance keeping turf and grass alive versus saving water. Mr. Beers replied Chanhassen is very fortunate, noting Victoria had a water ban but they did not run into that; they are aware of what they are putting out and whether it is worth it or not to do it. Only the community parks and downtown West 78th Street are irrigated and only the sports fields themselves get water. Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – June 22, 2021 4 Commissioner Vasatka asked if the systems adjust on their own or if the City has to go in and turn them up and down as the weather changes. Mr. Beers said they put a central control system during his first two years. At the time they had six employees and one was running around 8 hours a day setting clocks which was very inefficient. With the central control system Mr. Beers can do it all from his desk. He clarified it is based on evapotranspiration (ET) rates so it will adjust to the set calendar and if they get a bit of rain it will self-adjust. COMMISSION MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS. Chair Tsuchiya is very excited for the 4th of July celebration and his family is staying in town because of it. Commissioner Fischer asked the process of getting something approved before the Council. Mr. Ruegemer replied first the Commission would have a discussion and if it warrants adding it to a future agenda they could do that which would give Staff time to prepare a report. If it is a programming matter, they can handle it right within this body; if it is an expenditure, it would then be forwarded on the City Council for consideration. The Council discussed doing a joint tour of the community parks and areas as has been done in the past, as well as a sit-down with the City Council. Commissioner Markert asked where they are with Prince’s land (The Park subdivision west of Lake Ann). Chair Tsuchiya replied they own it but there is not any money to do anything with it. Mr. Ruegemer shared he will be presenting at the work session the following Monday on the topic of the referendum. Their first successful bond referendum was in 1969 which was the purchase of Lake Ann Park from the Welter Family. They will be going through that exercise and discussing the direction the City Council would like to go. COMMISSION MEMBER PRESENTATIONS. None. ADMINISTRATIVE PACKET. 1. RILEY PURGATORY BLUFF CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION INVITATION Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – June 22, 2021 5 ADJOURNMENT. Commissioner Sweetser moved, Commissioner Kutz seconded to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 6 to 0. The Park and Recreation Commission meeting was adjourned at 7:57 p.m. Submitted by Jerry Ruegemer Park and Recreation Director Prepared by Kim Meuwissen Office Manager