Loading...
9-22-2025 HOPKINS PARK BOARD MEETING AGENDA Monday, September 22, 2025 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 about an item not on the agenda this evening. IV. CONSENT AGENDA 1. Minutes of the August 25, 2025, Park Board Meeting V. GENERAL PARK UPDATE 1. Recreation Update; Davy VI. GENERAL BUSINESS 1. Food Forest Presentation; Baker 2. Events Update; Imihy 3. 2026 Work Plan Draft; Imihy VII. PARK AREA ASSIGNMENTS 1. Discussion, Central and Raspberry Parks; Imihy 2. Parks for October Discussion – Maetzold and Elmo VIII. ANNOUCEMENTS 1. Next Meeting October 27, 2025 – at Hopkins City Hall, 1010 1 st St S. IX. ADJOURN HOPKINS PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS AUGUST 25, 2025 CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a special meeting of the Hopkins Park Board was held on Monday, August 25, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1010 1st Street South. Chair Hanneman called the meeting to order with Vice Chair Lyksett and Members Boor, Flynn, Shadis, Wilkus, and Youth Members Garcia-Galindo and Rodriguez attending. Member Woodfill was absent. Others in attendance included Special Projects and Initiatives Manager Imihy, Deputy City Clerk Baker, Public Works Director Pavek, and Park Supervisor Brummer. ADOPT AGENDA Motion by Lyksett. Second by Flynn. Motion to Adopt the Agenda. Ayes: Boor, Flynn, Hanneman, Lyksett, Shadis, Wilkus Nays: None. Motion carried. COMMUNITY COMMENT CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Lyksett. Second by Flynn. Motion to Approve the Consent Agenda. 1. Minutes of the June 23, 2025 Park Board Meeting Ayes: Boor, Flynn, Hanneman, Lyksett, Shadis, Wilkus Nays: None. Motion carried. GENERAL PARK UPDATE V.1. Recognition of Park Supervisor Brummer; Pavek Public Works Director Pavek provided a brief introduction of new Park Supervisor Brummer to the Board. Park Supervisor Brummer expanded on her history with the city and in parks and recreation. GENERAL BUSINESS VI.1. Introduction of New Park Board Members; Imihy Member Wilkus was sworn in by Deputy City Clerk Baker. New Members Shadis and Wilkus, as well as new Youth Members Garcia-Galindo and Rodriguez each introduced themselves to staff and the other Board Members. VI.2. Mid-Year Work Plan Check-In; Imihy Special Projects and Initiatives Manager Imihy provided an overview of the work plan process and gave an in-depth review of the 2025 plan and the alterations that have HOPKINS PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS AUGUST 25, 2025 been made to it. Member Wilkus questioned how far over budget the Central Park project was. Vice Chair Lyksett suggested that Minnetonka may already have an existing document on how to reserve park facilities. Vice Chair Lyksett also had questions about the impacts of new accessibility requirement compliance. Member Wilkus followed up with questions on physical accessibility requirements. Youth Member Garcia-Galindo asked whether there was funding available to help cities come into compliance. Member Boor commented on the possibility of adding a Food Forest initiative and Member Flynn suggested developing community partnership engagement through next year’s work plan. VI.3. Central Park Update; Imihy Special Projects and Initiatives Manager Imihy reviewed the Central Park plan, recent changes to it, the involvement of Nine Mile Creek Watershed District, the history of the site and its ramifications to the current project. Member Shadis questioned whether bike infrastructure would be included somewhere in the plan. Vice Chair Lyksett had a question on whether City Council had accepted the $5 million grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, congratulated staff on the creative work being done to move the project forward, and asked about how often the proposed creek bed floodwater storage would be full. Member Boor offered an explanation of this type of floodwater storage. Chair Hanneman questioned if additional shade structures would be added to the Pavilion. Member Wilkus had a similar question with regard to the pickleball courts, commented on the difficulty of sourcing landscape contractor bids in winter, and asked whether a landscape architect would create maintenance plans for the proposed rain garden. Member Flynn questioned whether there was need for Park Board involvement in the project while the bid process was ongoing. VI.4. Events Check-In; Imihy Chair Hanneman provided a brief summary of the planned Adopt A Park appreciation event. Member Boor reviewed the plan for the Raspberry Park renaming event and Special Projects and Initiatives Manager Imihy questioned whether a ribbon cutting was wanted. Special Projects and Initiatives Manager Imihy requested volunteers to lead the planning for the Buckthorn Bust event. Members Boor and Flynn agreed to do so. Special Projects and Initiatives Manager Imihy suggested a tour of Shady Oak Beach and the Sauna in the Park in fall. HOPKINS PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING PROCEEDINGS AUGUST 25, 2025 VI.5. Determine Park Area Assignments; Imihy The Board discussed the usefulness of this section of the agenda and what changes could be made to make it more effective. The Board agreed to visit the same two parks each month and discuss what they see rather than reporting on every park every month. Each park was assigned to a Board Member for independent visits, with any issues observed being reported directly to Park Supervisor Brummer. PARK AREA ASSIGNMENT REPORTS ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Hanneman reviewed the upcoming meeting schedule. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Park Board, and upon a motion by Lyksett, second by Wilkus, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 8:13 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, David Baker, Deputy City Clerk CITY OF HOPKINS Memorandum To: Park Board Chair and Members of the Park Board From: Laila Imihy, AICP, Special Projects and Initiatives Manager Date: September 22, 2025 Subject: Events Review and Check-In _____________________________________________________________________ INFORMATION At the May Park Board meeting, members of the Board requested that a time to discuss events regularly appear on the agenda. This evening staff would like to review, plan and discuss the following events: • Adopt-A-Park events • Raspberry Park Renaming Celebration, September 27 • Buckthorn Bust, TBD REQUESTED ACTION: Provide any feedback and/or action items for the past or upcoming events and determine a date for the Buckthorn Bust. Administration CITY OF HOPKINS Memorandum To: Park Board Chair and Members of the Park Board From: Laila Imihy, AICP, Special Projects and Initiatives Manager Date: September 22, 2025 Subject: 2026 Work Plan Draft _____________________________________________________________________ INFORMATION Annually, the Park Board provides a report to the City Council on the work they would like to focus on in the upcoming year. This time can also be an opportunity to share the work that happened the previous year, as well as request feedback from the Council on any items. At the August Park Board Meeting, Staff reviewed the 2025 Park Board work plan and solicited feedback on potential items for 2026. From this staff have drafted the attached draft work plan which includes: • Construction of Central Park • Continued annual events such as the buckthorn bust, garlic mustard removal and tabling at city events • Exploring more partnerships and opportunities to engage local organizations such as HALL, HYHA and Minnesota Play for All Tonight, staff is looking for feedback on this draft plan and for any additions the Park Board would like to make. If there are no additions to the work plan, Staff requests a motion approving the work plan. REQUESTED ACTION: Provide any additional items for the 2026 Park Board Work Plan or motion to recommend the City Council approve the 2026 Park Board Work Plan . Administration Park Board 2026 Annual Work Plan Initiative ☐ New Initiative ☒ Continued Initiative ☐ On-Going Initiative Target Completion Date Budget Required Staff Support Required Council Approval Begin Construction of Central Park Summer/Fall 2027 $14.1 Million Staff support from Planning, Public Works + Minnetonka Parks and Recreation, Nine Mile Creek Watershed District and Consultant Teams. Information/Progress Report: In 2022, the Park Board selected Landscape Architecture firm, Confluence, as the contractor for the Master Park System Plan. This plan was completed in 2024 and in fall 2024 the Park Board and City Council approved consultant Bolton and Menk to carry out this work. In 2025, the project was awarded $5 million dollars from the MPCA and is funded in part by the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District. The Council will need to approve construction of the project in 2026. Initiative ☐ New Initiative ☐ Continued Initiative ☒ On-Going Initiative Target Completion Date Budget Required Staff Support Required Council Approval Continue Tabling at or Creating Events related to the Parks (Arbor Day, Garden Plot Kick Off, Buckthorn Bust, Garlic Mustard Removal, Earth Day) Ongoing $500 Support from Hopkins Public Works Information/Progress Report: The Park Board will continue to table at events to promote use of the parks, sustainability within the parks and to promote keeping the parks clean and safe. Park Board 2026 Annual Work Plan Initiative ☒ New Initiative ☐ Continued Initiative ☐ On-Going Initiative Target Completion Date Budget Required Staff Support Required Council Approval Find opportunities to connect with organizations like HYHA, HALL and others to find alignment and build connections. Fall 2026 None Support from City Staff to make connections Information/Progress Report: The Park Board wishes to create more meaningful relationships with community groups which regularly use park spaces. 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 Staff Comments: Council Comments: Park Board 2026 Annual Work Plan