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09-25-2023HOPKINS PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a regular meeting of the Hopkins Park Board was held on Monday, September 25, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1010 1st Street South. Chair Stiele called the meeting to order with Vice Chair Hanneman, Members Dachenbach, Flynn, Lyksett, Miller, Woodfill, and Youth Member Johnson attending. Others attending included Deputy City Clerk Osman and Special Projects and Initiatives Manager Imihy Bean. ADOPT AGENDA Motion by Miller Second by Hanneman Motion to Adopt the Agenda. Ayes: Dachenbach, Flynn, Hanneman, Johnson, Lyksett, Miller, Stiele, Woodfill Nays: None. Motion carried. COMMUNITY COMMENT CONSENT AGENDA GENERAL BUSINESS V.1. Park Events Update; Stiele/Miller Chair Stiele and Member Miller provided an update regarding the Buckthorn Removal event. Member Miller thanked Park Board members for organizing the event and jumping into roles. Member Miller thank Member Flynn for leadership in communication and networking. Member Miller shared information regarding sign up for events and communicating and promoting the event as much as possible. Another accomplishment aside from having photography there mentioned by Member Miller was creating leadership roles in charge of the two removal sites which are Member Lyksett and a community member previously involved with the event. Handouts will be provided for volunteers at the event detailing how to identify buckthorn, cut buckthorn, and how to best use herbicides. Chair Stiele asked a question regarding the youth participation in this event without parental guidance. Special Projects and Initiatives Manager Imihy Bean mentioned they are open to having youth present but want to have parental supervision due to concerns of there being two sites and regarding hazardous materials used in the process of removing buckthorn. There currently is no parental waiver provided when signing up to volunteer. Imihy Bean stated there is potential for future participation with school districts and the Depot where the Park Board could work together on more organized projects with youth. Member Stiele shared information regarding an outside school district which provides students opportunities to do community service and mentioned them as a resource for next year’s buckthorn removal event. Member Flynn asked how many volunteers we had signed up for the event and what was the goal. Imihy Bean responded there were about ten signups so far with a month left and there is still time left for signups and opportunities for participation. Member Miller mentioned the group of participants in the buckthorn removal events is a group they are interested in growing for more collaborations in the future. HOPKINS PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 V.2. Park Board Work Plan; Imihy Bean Special Projects and Initiative Manager Imihy Bean gave an update regarding the Park Board Work Plan. Imihy Bean spoke about the plan and placeholders where there are recommendations and opportunities for changes. An initiative listed in the annual work plan is to develop a master plan for Central Park which includes a feasibility study for an expansion of the Pavilion. Due to playground replacements and maintenance being deferred for Central Park, Staff and Public Works have recommended it a place to start in terms of investment in the parks and picking up on projects being deferred. Funds have been proposed and will go to City Council to do a master plan for Central Park. An expansion of the Pavilion would potentially include indoor play, indoor walking track, and part-time and year-round ice. Staff are working to get a better understanding of what plans would cost and how they might pay for it while making sure it is feasible with the space available. The second initiative includes touring Hopkins and Minnetonka recreation facilities. There has been no park tour as of recent and areas such as the newly constructed Marsh in Minnetonka provide opportunities for members to get to know the recreational facilities. Another initiative in the work plan is the annual buckthorn removal event which the Park Board is interested in continuing. Some budget has been allocated for this event for refreshments and other materials are generously provided by Hopkins Public Works. Chair Stiele inquired about whether they would have funding for the first initiative estimated at $100,000. Imihy Bean let them know there are currently funds available in the park development fund. Imihy Bean also mentioned there will also be a raise in franchise fees as well as other park dedication fees that will be available to fund specific projects. These projects are necessary next steps and there will be a way to find funding for them. Member Miller asked if projects would require purchasing land from the school district and Imihy Bean responded a purchase would not be required but they could lease land and come to arrangements with the school district. Member Hanneman wanted to confirm the $100,000 is for a study and plan of the region. Imihy Bean confirmed this money will be allocated to planning and not towards infrastructure. Member Miller asked about regional components towards planning and members discussed the different facilities provided by neighboring cities. Given the Park System Master Plan is being developed and the changing city, Member Miller asked if it was a good time to go over the park policies and do a policy review. Member Miller highlighted the importance of updating the policy as necessary and looking through the racial equity lens to make sure the park policy is in line with the vision of the Park Board. Imihy Bean agreed with this idea and encouraged the members to explore what other communities are doing and what would be a good fit for the Park Board to look at. Member Flynn agreed with Member Miller on reviewing park policies reviewing the education around them. Members discussed the importance of why some policies are not consistent and see why they are not. Chair Stiele mentioned the Park Board is interested in still doing Arbor Day and would like to continue to support this project with new ideas. Imihy Bean agreed with Chair Stiele and discussed adding and revising the work plan to factor in this event along with others. Member Hanneman would also like to have Earth Day, where people go to their park and HOPKINS PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 clean up. Hanneman also suggested the idea of doing park pop ups where a rotation of an activity could be held at a different park which would give residents the opportunity to explore the different parks in Hopkins. Park Board members discussed other ideas and initiatives they could do in the future. Member Lyksett shared information regarding native plant sales in neighboring communities which residents in Hopkins can benefit from. Members discussed this idea and suggested learning more about it and possibly collaborating with neighboring communities to do it. 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. The first couple of chapters of the plan are system focused and technical, so correction took some time. The Park Board can expect to have more information for reviewing in October. HOPKINS PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 PARK AREA ASSIGNMENT REPORTS VII.1. Burnes, Buffer; Woodfill Member Woodfill reported no updates for Burnes Park. Woodfill expressed concerns about the lack of individuals at Buffer Park. VII.2. Park Valley, Oakes; Stiele Chair Stiele reported Oakes Park is doing well and enjoys the park. Chair Stiele asked about name change regarding Park Valley. Special Projects and Initiatives Manager Imihy Bean said a name change will be recommended for Valley Park and Buffer as part of the Park System Master Plan which City Council will adopt. Once approved, Public Works will manufacture new signs and an event will be held to celebrate the new names. VII.3. Maetzold, Valley; Hanneman Vice Chair Hanneman reported Maetzold looked good and the graffiti is gone. Hanneman recommends Valley Park could use a cleanup but otherwise no issues. The park is well used, and a lot of people are there during the day. Dogs are there as well and they are on leashes, which is good. VII.4. Harley, Elmo; Flynn Member Flynn reported no update for Harley. Elmo Park is in high density and is very concrete oriented. The swings and other park equipment get very hot, and the park is like a heat dome. Member Flynn suggested that since the Park Board is working on master planning, increasing shading at Elmo Park would be helpful. Even though Elmo Park is not on the list for updates, it would align with the Park Board’s goals of equity. VII.5. Downtown, Central; Miller Member Miller reported no updates for Central Park. Downtown Park is busy with events being hosted there and the use of seating being used reconfirmed what the designers are thinking for that park. Member Woodfill added some comments for Central Park and Downtown Park since they are there often. Woodfill spoke about the diverse use for Central Park. A concern they had was the two new apartments being built near Central Park and the future increase in residents who are going to use this park. Chair Stiele mentioned one of the reasons Central Park is being updated in the Park System Master Plan is to accommodate for the increase of residents who will be using that park. Woodfill also mentioned seeing an increase in pot smoker at Downtown Park. VII.6. Cottageville, Minnehaha Creek Preserve; Johnson Member Johnson reported no updates for Cottageville Park and Minnehaha Creek Preserve. Member Hanneman recently did a cleanup of Cottageville Park. VII.7. Interlachen, Hiawatha; Dachenbach Member Dachenbach reported no updates for Interlachen Park and Hiawatha Park. VII.8. Shady Oak Beach, Hilltop; Lyksett Member Lyksett reported no update for Shady Oak Beach, primarily due to the weather and the beach being closed. Noticed a few branches which have fallen after the storm at Hilltop Park. Member Flynn spoke in regard to the beach closures and possibly extending Burnes Park splash pad hours due to the extended summer weather and residents who are looking for places to cool off. If possible, have signage and notices posted online so HOPKINS PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 residents are aware of these extended hours. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Stiele reviewed the upcoming meeting schedule. Park Board will cancel the October 23rd meeting and hold a special meeting on October 30th, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1010 1st Street South. Special Projects and Initiatives Manager Imihy Bean shared information regarding the request for services for The Depot issued by the City. HOPKINS PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Park Board, and upon a motion by Hanneman, second by Lyksett, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 7:39 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Naimo Osman, Deputy City Clerk