08-28-2023 HOPKINS PARK BOARD AGENDA
Monday, August 28, 2023
6:30 pm
THIS AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
UNTIL THE START OF THE PARK BOARD MEETING
The public may attend this meeting in-person.
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. ADOPT AGENDA
III. COMMUNITY COMMENT
1. At this time, any interested resident may come to speak on an item not on the
evening’s agenda.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
V. GENERAL BUSINESS
1. New Member Welcome, Imihy Bean
2. Overpass Skate Park Update, Imihy Bean
3. Park Events Update, Stiele/Miller
4. Park Board Work Plan Review, Imihy Bean
VI. GENERAL PARK UPDATE
1. Park System Master Plan Update, Imihy Bean
VII. PARK AREA ASSIGNMENT REPORTS
1. NEW MEMBER Burnes, Buffer
2. Kimberly Stiele: Park Valley, Oakes
3. Kristin Hanneman: Maetzold, Valley
4. NEW MEMBER: Harley, Elmo
5. Matthew Miller: Downtown, Central
6. Carsyn Johnson: Cottageville, Minnehaha Creek Preserve
7. Rachel Dachenbach: Interlachen, Hiawatha
8. Jon Lyksett: Shady Oak Beach, Hilltop
VIII. ANNOUCEMENTS
1. Next Meeting: Monday, September 25, 2023 – at Hopkins City Hall, 1010 1st St
S.
IX. ADJOURN
Buckthorn Removal project 2023
Purpose:Buckthorn poses a threat to native plant species and damages the diverse
ecosystem,threatening animal and plant life in our community.This event will offer a community
lead action to cut buckthorn in two locations.Unfortunately,there is not a one fix to remove
Buckthorn,it requires ongoing maintenance.It is important for the Hopkins community to plan
annual Buckthorn removal events to address this issue.This event will engage volunteers last
year to stay connected and offer an opportunity for new residents to get involved.
Proposed date:Saturday November 4th from 10 PM to 2 PM if needed
Locations:
1)Shady Oak Pond
2)Hiawatha Oaks Preserve
Number of volunteers:30
Shady Oak Pond
Located at the end of 21st Ave N,this location was the site of the 2022 Buckthorn removal
activity.Volunteers cleared buckthorn and then Hopkins Public Works removed the cut trees and
disposed of them.The event had ##volunteers,a GreenCorp member organized the event and
city staff participated.Equipment was available for volunteers including;gloves,saws,snippers,
and chemical spray.In addition,there was coffee,water and snacks available.
This year,volunteers will need to return to the site to remove
new sprouts that have come up since last year.This will
require the same equipment,but might might need higher
skilled volunteers to make sure we are getting the smaller
trees.This might be lighter work in terms of physical
demand.
Tree waste from this project can be bagged and left on the
street.This will need a strong leader,someone who has
done this work before and can lead a smaller group
Hiawatha Oaks Preserve
Hiawatha Oaks Preserve is city
owned land just south of Cambridge
Street and west of West Hiawatha
Ave.Just under one acre,the parcel
is 67 feet wide and 580 feet long.The
preserve does not have any trails or
accessible entry points.The parcel is
not very even elevation and we will
have to coordinate how volunteers
enter the park.This will be a large
area to clear.We recommend
designating half of the parcel to clear
and doing the other parcel the
following year.
Debris can be placed on West
Hiawatha Ave to be picked up by
public works.While there are no
sidewalks on the west side of the
avenue,there is little traffic.
City
Confirmation
before event
Equipment who Date/time
Completed
Delivery
Confirm with
public works that
tree waste can
be laid on
sidewalk to be
picked up later
Public Works Sept 1 Public works
confirms with
PSIB
Locate
equipment,
including saws,
gloves,snippers.
Public Works Completed Public works
confirms with
PSIB
Identify
Equipment staff
lead
Confirm (Dustin)PSIB confirms
Pre-event
promotion and
organization
Equipment who?Date/time
Completed
Delivery
Draft language
for volunteer
sign up and
email to past
volunteers
Buckthorn
Taskforce
Sept 1 Sent to Hopkins
Communication
Team
Draft of roles
defined,
Leaders,Waste
Organizer,
Equipment lead,
etc
Buckthorn
Taskforce
Sept 1 Approved by
PSIB and
emailed to each
Volunteer
sign-up page on
Hopkins Website
Hopkins
Communication
team
Sept 15 Hopkins
Communication
share URL for
sign up
Volunteer waiver
attached to
sign-up
Hopkins
Communication
Team
Sept14 PSIB approves
Promotion plan Hopkins Park Sept Park Board Item on
for volunteer
recruitment
Board meeting September
Agenda
Contact prior
volunteers
Hopkins
Communication
Sept 15 Hopkins
communication
or PSIB send
email
Event Equipment who?Date/time
Completed
Delivery
Team leader for
Shady Oak
Pond and
Hiawatha Oaks
identified
Prior email list,
Peter?Park
Board members
Buckthorn
Taskforce
Sept Park Board
meeting
Names of
volunteers given
to PSIB and sent
instruction of
their roles,their
contact
information
provided to
Buckthorn
Taskforce
Draft press
release to send
to shared
organization
Buckthorn
Taskforce
Sept 15 Send to PSIB
Contact three
rivers to share
information
PSIB Oct 1
Contact
Minnehaha to
share
information
PSIB Oct 1
Create and Print
instruction sheet
Buckthorn
Taskforce
Oct 1 Distributed to
leaders
Draft week of
reminder to all
signed up,send
instructional
video
Buckthorn
Taskforce
Oct 15 Send to Hopkins
communications
Post in Think
Hopkins
Hopkins
Communication
Oct 1
Post in Hopkins
Connections
Hopkins
Communication
Oct 1
Identify budget
to purchase
coffee and
snacks and
distribute to sites
?October Park
Board
Day of Event Equipment who?Date/time
Completed
Delivery
Bring equipment
to both sites to
give to volunteer
leads
Identified Public
Works staff
Nov 4 PSIB confirms
staff is available
Photograph
event at
Hiawatha Oaks
Nov 4 Send photos to
Hopkins
Communication
Purchase coffee
and snacks and
distribute to sites
?Nov 4
Collect tools
from site at end
of event
Identified Public
Works staff
Nov 4 PSIB confirms
tools returned
Review site at
end of event to
make sure clean
and orderly
Leaders Nov 4
Great volunteers
confirm waivers
signed
Leaders Nov 4
Sets up table at
each site
Public works Nov 4
Take down table
at each site
Public works Nov 4
Roles:
Volunteer Leaders:provide instruction on how to cut Buckthorn and use the tools safely.
Follows Hopkins City staff guidance on safety on the site.Receives the tools at beginning of
shift,collects tools at end,and hands off to equipment collector.
Equipment Collector (City Staff):inventories equipment for both sites,delivers in the morning
and collects to return to the city at the end of the event.
Tree Waste Organizer:organizes tree waste at Hiawatha Oaks site for public works.
Hiawatha Oaks Street closer:sets up cones to provide safe space for volunteers to work.
Snack leader:purchases snacks and sets up at sites
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnCD3WS2uvo
CITY OF HOPKINS
Memorandum
To: Park Board Chair and Members of the Park Board
From: PeggySue Imihy Bean, Special Projects and Inititives Manager
Date: August 28, 2023
Subject: Review and Discuss Park Board Work Plan for 2023
_____________________________________________________________________
Purpose
To review and evaluate progress on the Park Board Annual Plan.
Background
Each fall, the Park Board creates a work plan for the upcoming year. This work plan
should help fulfil the park boards ongoing responsibilities, as outlined by the Park Board
by-laws:
• Review of Park Dedication Funds
• Advise Council on operation and maintenance on parks
• Increase public understanding of park policies, practices, and ongoing projects
For 2023, the Park Board selected to work on three goals:
• Develop a Park System Master Plan
• Review and Recommend Changes to the Adopt-A-Park Program
• Work with partners such as Hopkins-Minnetonka Recreation, Hopkins Public
Works, Hopkins Public School and other partners to receive more communication
and updates regarding ongoing efforts.
In looking back at these, Staff feels the Park Board has made great progress on the work
plan. The Park System Master Plan is underway, and is scheduled to wrap up this fall,
and the Park Board has been able to receive increased communications and feedback
from Hopkins-Minnetonka Recreation and Public Works, as well as additional partners
like Three Rivers Parks District.
Later this fall, Staff will bring back recommendations for the Adopt-A-Park program for the
board to review.
Tonight, Staff is looking for the Park Board feedback on how these items have progressed
and to begin thinking about a 2024 Work Plan to be discussed in detail at a future meeting.
Next Steps
Tonight, Staff is looking for the Park Board to review the Annual Plan, make any
comments on how to continue work on this plan, and begin thinking about the 2024 annual
plan.
Administration
Park Board
2023 Annual Work Plan
Initiative ☐ New Initiative
☐ Continued Initiative
☒ On-Going Initiative
Target
Completion Date
Budget
Required
Staff Support Required
Council
Approval
Develop a Master Parks Plan
Summer 2023
$150,000
Staff support from
Planning, Public Works +
Minnetonka Parks and
recreation would be
needed.
12/14/2021
Progress Report: In 2022, the Park Board selected Landscape Architecture firm, Confluence as the contractor for the Master Park
System Plan. The work on this plan is ongoing and updates are planned consistent with the proposal. The project is currently
running on time and on budget.
Initiative ☒ New Initiative
☐ Continued Initiative
☐ On-Going Initiative
Target
Completion Date
Budget
Required
Staff Support Required
Council
Approval
Review and recommend changes to staff on
the Adopt-a-Park Program
Fall 2023
None
Staff support from Staff
Liaison & Solid Waste
Coordinator
Progress Report:
Park Board
2023 Annual Work Plan
Initiative ☒ New Initiative
☐ Continued Initiative
☐ On-Going Initiative
Target
Completion Date
Budget
Required
Staff Support Required
Council
Approval
Work with partners such as Minnetonka
Recreation, Hopkins Public Works, Hopkins
Public School and other partners to receive
more communication and updates regarding
ongoing efforts.
Ongoing
None
Staff liaison, Minnetonka
Parks and Recreation
and Hopkins Public
Works
Progress Report:
Ongoing Responsibilities
• Review of Park Dedication Funds
• Advise Council on operation and maintenance on parks
• Increase public understanding of park policies, practices, and ongoing projects
Other Work Plan Ideas Considered for Current Year or Future Years
• Revised Capital Improvement Plan which incorporates recommendations from Master Parks Plan
• System improvements consistent with Master Parks Plan
Proposed Month for Work Session: November
Park Board
2023 Annual Work Plan
Staff Comments: Staff is supportive of the above work plan. The proposed work plan continues to
build on efforts made in 2022 to increase communication amongst key partners as
well as effectively plan for future improvements to the park system.
Council Comments: