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08-28-2023HOPKINS PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS AUGUST 28, 2023 8 CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a regular meeting of the Hopkins Park Board was held on Monday, August 28, 2023, at 6:31 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1010 1st Street South. Chair Stiele called the meeting to order with Members, Flynn, Lyksett, Miller, Woodfill, and Youth Member Johnson attending. Vice Chair Hanneman and Member Dachenbach were absent. Others attending included Deputy City Clerk Osman and Special Projects and Initiatives Manager Imihy Bean. ADOPT AGENDA Motion by Miller Second by Flynn Motion to Adopt the Agenda. Ayes: Flynn, Johnson, Lyksett, Miller, Stiele, Woodfill Nays: None. Absent: Hanneman, Dachenbach. Motion carried. COMMUNITY COMMENT CONSENT AGENDA GENERAL BUSINESS V.1. New Member Welcome; Imihy Bean Special Project and Initiatives Manager Imihy Bean welcomed Member Flynn and Member Woodfill to the Park Board. Deputy City Clerk Osman was also introduced to the Park Board and will be attending meetings to take minutes and work on the administrative side with Imihy Bean. V.2. Overpass Skate Park Update; Imihy Bean Special Projects and Initiative Manager Imihy Bean gave a formal update regarding the Overpass Skate Park underneath the HWY 169 overpass. Due to limited funds, the recommendations to the Park System Master Plan, and lack of use of the park from residents due to skill level required to use the park, the maintenance of the ramps and overall care of the park could not be maintained. The City would withdraw the support to maintain the facility amounting to seven thousand dollars but the opportunity to maintain use and operate the space was offered to 3rd Lair. 3rd Lair said they would not like to operate the skate park anymore. The window for operating the park has also been closed. Without the funding, it was in the best interest to close the park. One resident was present to speak before the Park Board regarding the closure of the Overpass Skate Park. The resident said the facility is used every day and understands the City could not make money from it. They suggest making the area a public park to draw more attention. The resident also highlighted the multipurpose use of the space such as having a garden and art. The resident asked the Park Board to consider keeping the Overpass Skate Park since it is a good community space. Chair Stiele suggested the resident contact the Park Board via email with more information regarding the concerns surrounding the skate park so the board can get a better understanding. Stiele notified the resident that this would be a good time to share feedback HOPKINS PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS AUGUST 28, 2023 8 regarding parks because the Park Board is working on the Park System Master Plan. Members discussed fitting a skate park in the plan and considered what they are willing to change in the current master plan to achieve this. V.3. Park Events Update; Stiele/Miller Chair Stiele and Member Miller provided an update regarding the Buckthorn Removal event. Member Miller mentioned this event is a great opportunity to get involved in the community and address environmental needs by moving invasive species. Member Miller would like to continue the work done in the previous year surrounding this and continue to maintain buckthorn. He recommends maintaining the previous site as well as looking at new spaces which need care. The Park Board reviewed the buckthorn event plan provided by Member Miller and reviewed the roles and responsibilities of the board along with how to best promote the event to residents. V.4. Park Board Work Plan Review; Imihy Bean Special Projects and Initiative Manager Imihy Bean gave an update regarding the Park Board Work Plan. Every year, the Park Board goes through the work plan to review park dedication funds, advise the City Council on the operations and maintenance of parks, and to increase public understanding of park policies, practices, and ongoing projects. Certain projects listed on the work plan include the Park System Master Plan, reviewing and recommending changes to staff on the Adopt-A-Park program, and establishing a relationship with Minnetonka recreation and Public Works. This allows for partners to give regular updates and provide communication. Imihy Bean let the Park Board know they are welcome to add more engagement opportunities to the work plan. Member Lyksett approves of the work plan and is excited to see more regarding the park dedication fees. Chair Stiele mentioned they liked the three focus points of the work plan and doing more events going forward. GENERAL PARK UPDATE VI.1. Park System Master Plan; Imihy Bean Special Projects and Initiative Manager Imihy Bean gave an update regarding the Park System Master Plan. Engagement is closed and the consultant is taking the last few rounds of engagement on the plans to incorporate it into a final document. Once completed, the Park Board will review the plan to check for inaccuracies or things which do not represent the system or community sentiment. It will then go to the City Council for adoption. Based on current feedback, Imihy Bean says people really like the City parks but want the parks to be nicer in terms of things like equipment and access to things across the system. For example, if a resident wanted to go to a splash pad, they would have to go to Burnes Park. Residents would like to see amenities offered equally across the parks which one aspect the master plan looks at. Imihy Bean also highlighted the fact that although Hopkins is dense and space is limited, certain areas were left open on the master plan to be mindful of and accommodate future needs and amenities from residents. The Park System master plan is a visioning document and the City is still far from implementing them and beginning construction. Nicole Schoonover is a Golden Valley resident who has children attending the Hopkins HOPKINS PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS AUGUST 28, 2023 8 Public Schools District. Mrs. Schoonover is the president of Hopkins Fastpitch. Mrs. Schoonover shared concerns regarding the removal of one softball field at Central Park. Hopkins Fastpitch hosts a tournament there every summer and will not be able to host a tournament there or expand as a group with the removal of a field. Imihy Bean stated the City uses the National Parks and Recreation Association standard level of service which bases population to any amenity. In Hopkins, the level of service did not indicate a need for baseball or softball fields. This is based purely on population and the need for residents. Members of the Board appreciated the comments provided by Mrs. Schoonover and recommended having a conversation with Hopkins Fastpitch to talk about alternatives and Imihy Bean will provide the Park Board with more context and information regarding softball in the Park System Master Plan. A feasibility study has been requested before City Council for a full master plan for Central Park to understand the feasibility of the expansion of the Pavilion. This study will be brought back to the Park Board and another round of engagement will occur on a more microscopic point. Overall, this will give a more detailed explanation of how much improvements will cost and what this will look like. HOPKINS PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS AUGUST 28, 2023 8 PARK AREA ASSIGNMENT REPORTS VII.1. Burnes, Buffer; Woodfill Member Woodfill was assigned to Burnes Park and Buffer Park. Member Flynn reported the drinking fountain by the picnic shelters is overshooting and needs to be recalibrated. Member Flynn also asked about the drinking fountain by the sand pit which is no longer there. Imihy Bean will follow up with the Park Board regarding this issue after speaking with Public Works. VII.2. Park Valley, Oakes; Stiele Chair Stiele reported Park Valley is getting used and looks fine. Oakes Park is more hidden and not used as much as Park Valley and overall, nothing needs to be fixed. VII.3. Maetzold, Valley; Hanneman Vice Chair Hanneman was absent therefore there were no reports. VII.4. Harley, Elmo; Flynn Member Flynn was assigned to Harely and Elmo Park. VII.5. Downtown, Central; Miller Member Miller reported Downtown Park and Central Park are being used and there are performances at Downtown Park. Member Woodfill receives questions about why there are no recycling receptacles at Central Park and Imihy Bean mentioned not many people are good at recycling and put trash in there as well which contaminates the whole bin. Woodfill also spoke about questions they get regarding the lack of picnic tables at Central Park and Imihy Bean will connect with Public Works regarding an increase in picnic tables. VII.6. Cottageville, Minnehaha Creek Preserve; Johnson Member Johnson reported Cottageville Park is looking good. Minnehaha Creek Preserve may have construction going on, but no one was there to ask. Aside from this, it looks good. VII.7. Interlachen, Hiawatha; Dachenbach Member Dachenbach was absent therefore there were no reports. VII.8. Shady Oak Beach, Hilltop; Lyksett Member Lyksett reported on Shady Oak Beach. Lyksett spent some time at the beach and things are fine there. There were no updates for Hilltop Park. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Stiele reviewed the upcoming meeting schedule. The next Park Board meeting will be Monday, September 25th, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1010 1st Street South. HOPKINS PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS AUGUST 28, 2023 8 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Park Board, and upon a motion by Miller, second by Lyksett, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 8:26 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Naimo Osman, Deputy City Clerk