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10-30-2023HOPKINS PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS OCTOBER 30, 2023 CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a special meeting of the Hopkins Park Board was held on Monday, October 30, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1010 1st Street South. Vice Chair Hanneman called the meeting to order with Members, Flynn, Miller, Woodfill, and Youth Member Johnson attending. Member Lyksett attended late. Chair Stiele and Member Dachenbach were absent. Others attending Special Projects and Initiatives Manager Imihy Bean. ADOPT AGENDA Motion by Miller Second by Flynn Motion to Adopt the Agenda. Ayes: Flynn, Hanneman, Johnson, Miller, Woodfill Nays: None. Absent: Dachenbach, Stiele, Lyksett. Motion carried. COMMUNITY COMMENT CONSENT AGENDA GENERAL BUSINESS V.1. Buckthorn Event Update; Stiele/Miller Member Miller provided an update regarding the Buckthorn Removal event. The Buckthorn Removal event will go as planned on November 4th, 2023. Member Miller explained the process and outline of the day along with the roles of the different volunteer groups. Member Miller welcomed and was excited to see the Park Board at the event. Special Projects and Initiatives Manager Imihy Bean gave an update regarding the number of volunteers at the event, totaling twenty-eight. Public Works will provide tools and light refreshments will be provided for volunteers. Member Miller asked to have copies of the liability form which will be provided by Imihy Bean. 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 was seeking final approval from the Park Board on the updated work plan reflective of comments from the board at the previous meeting. One item on the work plan is to develop a master plan for Central Park which includes a feasibility study for an expansion of the Pavilion. This is consistent with the work being done on the Park System Master Plan and targeted to be complete by the end of next year. The second initiative is to tour Hopkins and Minnetonka recreation facilities for Members to get a better understanding of parks and recreation spaces. A modified initiative added to the work plan is to continue to table at events and create events related to the parks such as Buckthorn Removal event, Arbor Day, and Earth Day. Imihy Bean complimented the Park Board members on their active involvement and initiative taking to do new projects not done before. The final item on the work plan is to review the park policies for racial equity which may require support or forming working groups with Minnetonka recreation. HOPKINS PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS OCTOBER 30, 2023 Member Flynn asked the group whether reviewing of park policies will be narrowed down to racial equity or if it would be a general policy review. Member Miller said his proposal to review park policies was with intent to review it under the racial equity lens. This proposal is a result from the responses on the Park System Master Plan and making sure whether the Park Board policies are relevant to how the parks will be governed. Miller thinks it is important to look at equity and accessibility in the parks and confirm what is talked about amongst Park Board members and is written on the page. Member Flynn asked if the focus on racial equity was too narrow and if this review should be more general. Member Miller believes it is important to acknowledge when the board is addressing race and equity. The Park Board member agreed to do a review of park policies for consistencies with the Park System Master Plan and with the City’s equity goals. V.3. Adopt-A-Park Program; Imihy Bean Special Projects and Initiative Manager Imihy Bean gave an update regarding the Adopt- A-Park program and is seeking a motion to adopt the changes as recommended in the report. As a part of the previous years’ work plan, the Park Board has talked about making some changes to the Adopt-A-Park program. The summary provided to the Park Board is intended to be an overview and to provide feedback. There are fourteen parks and one trail available for individuals, families, groups, etc. to adopt. There is no regular communication between adopters and the City. With new staff capacity and the Park Board wanting to see the program more robust, recommendations were brought before the Park Board. The first recommendation is to update materials such as documents on the website, information about adopters, requirements of the program, and overall do administrative work from City’s end. This also includes increasing communication and making sure adopters are aware of the resources from Public Works and expectations. Another recommendation is to add more information on how to do a one day clean up due to a lot of interest from individuals. It is also recommended that due to the Park Board’s interest in the program, they are also more involved in it going forward. The Park Board will connect with adopters in their area assignments and coordinate and participate in events in those areas. The Park Board is also open to hosting a city-wide event for cleaning up the parks as discussed in the work plan. As the Adopt-A-Park program changes, there may be more updates and need to evaluate what is working and what is not. Vice Chair Hanneman provided feedback on the responsibilities of adopters and believes it is a much larger and more intensive program. Imihy Bean clarified that what is recommended in the report in terms of responsibilities is like what other Metro communities use in their program. Some of these responsibilities are also necessary and can be modified as this is just a proposal of recommendations. Member Miller would like to have a set number of days for cleanup throughout the year and have adopters schedule what days those are. Member Miller recommends having adopters fill out some kind of report of what they experienced at the parks to collect data and to make it less of a burden on staff. Member Miller also wanted to thank and acknowledge City staff for taking on the research for this project and said the report is a great response to conversations previously had and exceeds expectations. Members discussed and made edits on the recommendations in the proposal. The Park Board made a motion to adopt the recommendations in the report. GENERAL PARK UPDATE VI.1. Park System Master Plan; Imihy Bean Special Projects and Initiative Manager Imihy Bean gave an update regarding the Park HOPKINS PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS OCTOBER 30, 2023 System Master Plan. Imihy Bean spoke with Confluence and expects them to be at a Park Board to talk more about the plan. The master plan will go to City Council in December. Member Flynn requested to have Confluence’s materials before their presentation for review and Imihy Bean agreed to provide those materials to the Park Board members for their review. HOPKINS PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS OCTOBER 30, 2023 PARK AREA ASSIGNMENT REPORTS VII.1. Burnes, Buffer; Woodfill Member Woodfill reported no updates for Burnes Park and Buffer Park. VII.2. Park Valley, Oakes; Stiele Chair Stiele was absent and reported no updates. VII.3. Maetzold, Valley; Hanneman Vice Chair Hanneman reported Maetzold’s grass looked great. Vice Chair Hanneman interviewed some kids playing at Valley Park and they reported some issues which Hanneman reported to Imihy Bean. VII.4. Harley, Elmo; Flynn Member Flynn reported no update for Harley and Elmo Park other than they both look good when they visited. VII.5. Downtown, Central; Miller Member Miller reported no updates for Downtown Park and Central Park. VII.6. Cottageville, Minnehaha Creek Preserve; Johnson Member Johnson reported no updates for Cottageville Park and was not able to make it to Minnehaha Creek Preserve. VII.7. Interlachen, Hiawatha; Dachenbach Member Dachenbach was absent and reported no updates. VII.8. Shady Oak Beach, Hilltop; Lyksett Member Lyksett reported no update for Shady Oak Beach and Hilltop Park, but everything looks good. ANNOUNCEMENTS Vice Chair Hanneman reviewed the upcoming meeting schedule. Park Board will cancel the November and December regular meetings and hold a special meeting on December 4, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in the Raspberry Room at City Hall, 1010 1st Street South. HOPKINS PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS OCTOBER 30, 2023 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Park Board, and upon a motion by Miller, second by Woodfill, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 7:17 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Naimo Osman, Deputy City Clerk