07-24-2017 •
CITY OF HOPKINS
PARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES
July 24, 2017
A regular meeting of the Hopkins Park Board was held on July 24, 2017.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Kyle Kaczmarek, Park Board Vice-Chair called the meeting to order at 6:32 pm. Kyle and the other
members welcomed new member Mohamed Warsame.
II. ROLL CALL
Present were Park Board members: Caroline Rinker, Kyle Kaczmarek, Mohamed Warsame, Laura
Cooper and Emma Figgins. Caroline Rinker was out of town but was present for the meeting via audio
teleconference. Also present was Steve Stadler, PW Director/Park Board City staff liaison.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes for the May 22, 2017 Park Board Meeting:
Caroline Rinker made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Emma Figgins. The motion
passed with a 5-0 vote.
IV. BUSINESS
A. Hopkins Fastpitch Association request for Central Park fields
Background: Hopkins Fastpitch Association(HFA) is a girls youth softball organization. They have
historically used fields within the City of Minnetonka at Hopkins High School, West Jr. High School,
North Junior High and at the City park at Gilliam Fields. Scheduling has become a problem with the
School District fields. Therefore,the Association is pursuing options for community—based home fields
rather than continue to rely on School District fields.
Michelle Kuhl and Sara Jessen, representing the HFA, appeared before the Park Board and presented
some background on their organization and a request for Central Park fields. They stated that the softball
association was successful and growing, is a feeder program for the Hopkins High School team. They
desire to grow and improve the Association to compete with club teams. They would need three fields
to accommodate their practices and tournaments. They stated that they have some capability to fund
field improvements and have received a$5,000 Twins Stadium grant to facilitate diversity in the HFA.
After much discussion with the Board, it was agreed that HFA representatives would meet with City and
Jt. Recreation Dept. staff to detail the HFA needs and the impact on current Central Park uses and
recreation programming. The goal is to get more detailed information on the HFA field request and its
0 impacts to the park and continue a discussion at the August 28 Park Board meeting.
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B. Central Park planning
Background: There is a need to take a closer look at the future of Central Park. This is due to several
factors, including: 2018 Pavilion Upgrade project which expands the current facility to the north and
replaces the current warming house, 2018 Pickleball court project which is slated to add six pickleball
courts at Central Park, a desire to enhance the winter ice experience at Central Park, a desire to refresh
the park in order to improve and perhaps expand what the park has to offer Hopkins residents and
visitors. Stadler shared that a refrigerated ice skate trail in the park would need its own refrigeration
plant separate from the Pavilion's system and would be prohibitively costly to construct.
WSB &Associates, Inc. are under contract to prepare a Central Park master plan.
Jeff Feulner and Jason Amberg, both with WSB &Assoc. attended the Park Board meeting. Jeff gave a
presentation on the Central Park master plan effort, including park program elements and schedule.
Following the presentation and discussion, each Park Board member indicated their three highest and
three lowest priorities regarding program elements to be included in the park by placing red or green
dots on a board—see attached results. It was agreed that Stadler would discuss with Jeff how to proceed
with master plan options given the new request for softball fields by the Hopkins Fastpitch Association.
C. Park Board Action Items &Updates
Burnes Park Improvement Project
Stadler gave a brief update on the Burnes Park project, the 2018 Hopkins Pavilion Upgrade •
project and the 2017 new play equipment project.
D. Park fund working capital report
Stadler explained the report and the updates based on the proposed 2018-2022 Park capital improvement
program.
E. Other topics of interest-None for this meeting.
F. Park Area Assignment Report—
Kyle Kaczmarek: Hilltop Park, Shady Oak Beach, Shady Oak Nature Area, Minnehaha Creek
Preserve—graffiti reported on Hilltop Park benches
Emma Figgins: Cottageville Park, Oakes Park, Maetzold Field, Hiawatha Oaks—NTR
Caroline Rinker: Interlachen Park, Burnes Park, Harley Hopkins Park—NTR
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Mohamed Warsame: Buffer Park, Park Valley Playground,Valley Park— Pt meeting. Stadler
.4) handed out to all members the first few pages of the Park Reinvestment Plan
which includes a map showing all park locations.
Laura Cooper: Downtown Park, Elmo Park, Central Park—question on how many movie
in the park events are held annually. Stadler will get details and report back.
V. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETINGS:
The next regular Park Board Meeting is 6:30 pm on Monday, August 28.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
Laura Cooper mov-d to adj the meeting, seconded by Emma Figgins. The motion passed 5-0. The
meeting adjo - .d t 8:43 p
Attest: .W
, Chairperson
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