This transcript appears to be from a **Park Commission** meeting for the City of North St. Paul. Based on the context provided and the dialogue within the text, I have identified the speakers (including the visiting Finance Director, the Public Works/Engineering staff, and the specific Commissioners). **Note:** While your list identifies Jason Zimmerman as Finance Director, the speaker in the transcript explicitly introduces himself as **Dan Winnick**. I have used the name provided in the dialogue for accuracy. Additionally, **"Jill"** functions as the administrative staff liaison (likely a clerk or Jennie Kloos). *** **[00:00:00] Unknown Speaker:** what happened to you guys one of my close friends you know it was it was a long time coming she had a great story twice and the third time they're like can't I got it I know it's okay... [Banter continues about personal stories and health]. **[00:02:45] Cassidy Schweer:** I'm so sorry I the city email Isn't loading on my phone okay so I have to like check it when I'm on the computer when I remember. It won't let me add it to my mail app it says my email doesn't exist. **[00:03:00] Jill [Staff]:** No, can you try? It sits by Outlook but then I mean yes I could... [Discussion regarding IT issues]. **[00:04:10] Cassidy Schweer:** I don't know if that's on the agenda or not and you can we can bring it up at the end and just chat about it okay it's at least telling me my email works in the Outlook app. **[00:04:45] Cassidy Schweer:** Hello how are you? I well I used to sit where Joe is and now I moved over here which is just fine. I try to bring a little color into my life on Gray days. Hi Miss Laura! **[00:05:00] Laura Greenlee Carr:** Hi Cassidy Schweer! Oh it's great thank you I actually went to your salon today or yesterday Monday and um a bombshell they're the best aren't they? **[00:05:15] Cassidy Schweer:** They are amazing... [Banter regarding the "Bombshell" salon and family updates]. **[00:07:30] Sarah Zaradka:** Do you like to do roll call for us please? **[00:07:35] Jill [Staff]:** Yes please turn on—oh you just push the button in the middle—oh no no Jill not Joe, not Joe okay. Just make sure your microphone's on. [Laughter]. Commissioner Lloyd Graycheck is absent. Commissioner Laura Greenlee Carr? **[00:07:50] Laura Greenlee Carr:** Here. **[00:07:52] Jill [Staff]:** Commissioner Joseph [Fromm]? (Member responds 'Here'). Commissioner Ingrid Kohler? **[00:07:55] Ingrid Kohler:** Here. **[00:07:57] Jill [Staff]:** Commissioner Sue Springborn? **[00:07:58] Sue Springborn:** Here. **[00:07:59] Jill [Staff]:** Commissioner Sarah Zaradka? **[00:08:00] Sarah Zaradka:** Here. **[00:08:01] Jill [Staff]:** Commissioner Artie Alvarez? **[00:08:02] Artie Alvarez:** Here. **[00:08:03] Jill [Staff]:** and Council Member Cassidy Schweer? **[00:08:04] Cassidy Schweer:** Here. **[00:08:05] Sarah Zaradka:** Okay, we need a motion to adopt the agenda. **[00:08:08] Sue Springborn:** I make a motion to adopt the agenda. **[00:08:10] Artie Alvarez:** I second. **[00:08:12] Sarah Zaradka:** Any discussion? Done. All in favor say aye. (Group: Aye). Opposed say nay. [None]. I need a motion to approve the minutes. **[00:08:25] Ingrid Kohler:** I make a motion to approve the minutes. **[00:08:27] Laura Greenlee Carr:** I'll second that. **[00:08:30] Sarah Zaradka:** Any discussion? Great. All in favor say aye. (Group: Aye). Opposed say nay. Motion passes. Anybody from the public? Anybody on Zoom? Public hearings we don't have any scheduled. Commission business: Financial update. **[00:08:45] Dan Winnick (Finance Director):** Well good evening Park Commission, my name is Dan Winnick, I'm the Finance Director for the City of North St. Paul. I was asked to come tonight to answer any questions that you may have related to financials regarding Parks and Recreation. [Provides presentation on public purpose spending, budget cycles, and the Park Dedication Fund]. **[00:13:45] Laura Greenlee Carr:** Can I ask a clarifying question? When you're talking about the operating funds, general fund, building maintenance—you're referring to the parks general fund under the overall City budget? **[00:14:00] Dan Winnick:** Yep, yes correct absolutely. [Continues presentation on 2022/2023 balances]. **[00:16:30] Sue Springborn:** I just have a question—can you help me understand the difference between the Park Dedication Fund and the Park Fund? **[00:16:40] Dan Winnick:** Yeah, the Park Dedication Fund, when a new development comes into the city... [Explains statutory requirements for new development fees]. **[00:17:15] Sarah Zaradka:** Can I clarify something though—Park Dedication Fund is for developing new parks? It's not for improving current parks? **[00:17:25] Dan Winnick:** There's kind of a gray area in statute... if you are changing its purpose or enhancing, I would say it would be allowed. **[00:18:15] Laura Greenlee Carr:** Has there been conversations about the Park Fund contributing to the operating budget costs for the overall Park maintenance? Do you follow the question that I'm asking? **[00:18:30] Dan Winnick:** Yes I do... I personally would be recommending that the city does not do that... LGA (Local Government Aid) currently offsets the bond payments. **[00:19:30] Laura Greenlee Carr:** Can you remind us—I know there was a set amount of time on how many years we were paying that 65,000 because we had a hundred thousand before we ever built that building. Do you know how many years we have left? **[00:19:45] Dan Winnick:** I don't off the top but I certainly can get that information. **[00:20:45] Sarah Zaradka:** Can you give me a little clarification on the Event Fund? Where the money is coming for like the Music in the Parks, the Art Fest, Food Truck night? **[00:21:00] Dan Winnick:** For the budget year 2023 we moved a small amount into the Community Event Fund... that also takes care of the car show. **[00:21:45] Sue Springborn:** So Joe—if we were asking for more money for the Autumn Art Festival, it wouldn't come out of the Park Fund, it would come out of this Event Fund? **[00:22:00] Dan Winnick:** I would say no to using Park Fund for that because those are Capital funds... however, you happen to have a City Council member that sits on this [gestures to Cassidy Schweer] that probably would support allocating more money. I'm always looking for a solution. **[00:23:15] Cassidy Schweer:** How are you going to put on this event? You bring that to Council, nine times out of ten they're not going to have a lot of questions. **[00:23:45] Sarah Zaradka:** Great, thank you. Next item—actually would you like to skip back to the public? She drove down from Hugo. Can we open it back up to the public? **[00:24:00] Christy Spears (Resident):** My name is Christy Spears and I was born and raised here in North St. Paul... my mom passed away in November and she was a librarian. We are asking if we can put up a Little Library in one of your parks. [Suggests Tower Park or Polar Park]. **[00:26:15] Ingrid Kohler:** Hi. I've been on the Park Board for quite some time... this came up many years ago. It had to do with being able to control what went into it on city property. That would be the "dark side" of having one. **[00:27:30] Artie Alvarez:** I helped put one in at a different playground in St. Paul. I don't think they have issues with it. **[00:28:15] Laura Greenlee Carr:** Have you considered putting it at St. Mark’s? I am pro-Little Library, I’ve built over 20 of them, but our city has been really risk-averse lately. **[00:29:15] Sue Springborn:** We have one at the Historical Society and we have had trouble with it... the wind takes it. More than once the doors blew open and the books got wet. **[00:29:45] Sarah Zaradka:** My only suggestion—the one we had built at the other park was built out of composite plastic wood. I would just suggest let's make it blend so it looks like it belongs with the environment. **[00:30:30] Sarah Zaradka:** Are we even allowed to say yes or no? We'll have this on the agenda for next time. **[00:32:00] Ingrid Kohler:** Could I just make a comment? From a historical perspective... did you know that the Little Free Library started in North St. Paul? Herb Patridge's daughter June married Dr. Ball, and their son Todd put up a library in honor of his mother. It became international. **[00:33:00] Sarah Zaradka:** Okay, back to the City Email update. Is everybody thinking check it on Monday? **[00:34:15] Sarah Zaradka:** Can we talk about the Mural? I don't know anything about this. **[00:34:25] Jill [Staff]:** Art and Culture wanted me to let you know about a mural they are planning on painting on the restrooms at Silver Lake. **[00:34:45] Ingrid Kohler:** I feel very possessive of that park since I'm the representative. I worry about things like noise and sightlines to the lake. I have a concern if the mural is on 19th. **[00:36:15] Cassidy Schweer:** I'm assuming there is no plan yet. At one point, the EDA and Planning Commission had joint meetings. That's something you could consider. **[00:36:45] Laura Greenlee Carr:** My question is more around—is what the Arts Commission wants to put into the parks up to the Arts Commission? Or do we get a say in it? **[00:37:30] Sarah Zaradka:** I think there’s been a lot of things that have happened in the parks that have gone through without us. A good example is when Park Maintenance put concrete borders around our volleyball courts. If we had been told, we would have said absolutely not. We are the experts of our parks. **[00:39:00] Sarah Zaradka:** I think it would be wise to have Ron [Ritchie, Public Works] come and give a presentation on the plans for the summer. **[00:40:00] Sarah Zaradka:** Old business? Park cleanup? I know the Silver Lake one happened. **[00:40:45] Laura Greenlee Carr:** I didn't know what was happening until I drove past Casey. They didn't tell us. We used to be notified of this. **[00:41:15] Ingrid Kohler:** I think that was part of the Environmental Commission which is no longer. **[00:41:45] Morgan Dawley (City Engineer):** Reports from staff: Comprehensive Park and Open Space Plan. I would like to take some time this year and work on that document. It will include a citywide survey. **[00:43:00] Sarah Zaradka:** I love community engagement. My only ask is—broad outreach is good, but I would really love to know about the downtown park and what people want to see there. **[00:44:30] Ingrid Kohler:** We’re a bunch of adults making decisions about play stuff. On the survey, could there be a kid response section? They are the experts. **[00:45:00] Morgan Dawley:** That's a great idea. I had a meeting with the School District and Ramsey County Library. We could have a session in a classroom. **[00:46:15] Laura Greenlee Carr:** I think all of us are on board with making sure our Parks fit what the community actually wants. **[00:47:15] Morgan Dawley:** Hausy Park update: The bids came in way higher than anticipated. It’s not going to happen this year. We find out in June if we get a grant for 2024. **[00:48:30] Sarah Zaradka:** Event update: Music in the Park. I have two bands committed. Brio Brass for June and The Brazilians (a kids band) for July. Food Truck night is July 22. **[00:49:45] Sarah Zaradka:** Autumn Arts Fest is coming along. We are looking for a stage separate from the pergola. **[00:51:30] Sue Springborn:** Getting back to the stage—there is a stage that I used for the Splash for many years. City Public Works owned it. It was 6 sections. It might be sitting in the Public Works building right now. **[00:52:15] Sarah Zaradka:** Starwatch? Lloyd has not communicated with me. Autumn Arts is September 16th. Starwatch is usually end of October. Any other reports? I make a motion to adjourn. **[00:52:45] Artie Alvarez:** Second. **[00:52:50] Sarah Zaradka:** All those in favor say aye. (Group: Aye). Meeting is adjourned right at eight o’clock.