Based on the context provided, here is the transcribed meeting with speaker identifications. Since the raw text did not include specific time markers, I have used sequential placeholders. **Transcript:** **[00:00:00] Chair:** We'll call to order the Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Commission for Monday, September 9th. I don't have the mission in front of me, but we'll just go to roll call. [Roll call taken]. Approval of the agenda? **[00:00:15] Commissioner:** Motion. **[00:00:16] Commissioner:** Second. **[00:00:17] Chair:** All in favor? **[00:00:18] Commissioners:** Aye. **[00:00:19] Chair:** Any opposed? All right. And approval of the minutes from May 13th. Did everyone have a chance to look them over? **[00:00:25] Commissioner:** I'll make a motion to approve the minutes as presented. **[00:00:28] Commissioner:** A second. **[00:00:29] Chair:** All in favor? **[00:00:30] Commissioners:** Aye. **[00:00:31] Chair:** All right. Open forum—does anyone want to speak? Okay. And now we're going to skip item six for now and go to action items: Mississippi Dunes Park master plan review. **[00:00:45] Zac Dockter (Parks and Recreation Director):** Thank you, Chair, members of the Commission. The Mississippi Dunes Park master plan—this is the second iteration of the original master plan that was done in 2021. This is the one that the Commission reviewed in either April or May and provided some feedback. We did take it back to the consultants and we've done some revising. You'll see some of the edits that the Commission recommended; those have been addressed. We've added the building plan, which I think the Commission didn't get to see the kind of the full building concept design. Just remember that it is a concept design; that's not an actual full design. That's just conceptual, but obviously done with a team of architects and engineers. So, that's what we would expect the building to look like. We are looking for one last review and approval of that master plan from the Parks Commission. I'm happy to take any questions. **[00:01:40] Commissioner:** I just have a question—is anyone else having issues with their iPad? **[00:01:44] Commissioner:** Yeah, I can't move it. It froze. **[00:01:46] Commissioner:** It's just really slow. Just let mine sit for a minute. **[00:01:50] Commissioner Crabtree:** I will say the pictures look fantastic. I did have a couple questions on the reflecting pool. There's a splash pad feature that we're looking at and a reflecting pool—is that the same? Are kids going to be able to play in the reflecting pool, or is that meant to be a design element? **[00:02:10] Zac Dockter:** No, it's not really meant to be a play feature. It's just meant to be a spot—you'll see those lounge chairs, the kind of natural earthy lounge chairs that we had proposed. I think it was Commissioner Crabtree that had questioned the amphitheater, which after we looked at it and talked internally, we thought maybe the amphitheater wasn't in the best spot for that. So the reflecting pool is a replacement of that. You are right, it's not really meant to be a splash feature. Even the splash pad is not much of a splash feature; it's not going to actually hold any water for long periods of time. **[00:02:50] Commissioner Crabtree:** Okay. Then the other question I had was the picnic shelter in between the two playgrounds. Is that going to be a reservable space or is that just a shelter for kids playing while you bring lunch? **[00:03:02] Zac Dockter:** We haven't determined that yet. Typically, if we do have a reservable shelter in a situation like this where we think the park would get a lot of use, we'd probably have one kept open to the public and then one that's reservable. But we haven't made that determination yet. **[00:03:20] Commissioner:** So back to this reflecting pool—am I to understand that the water flows through this? It says something about it intertwining with the creek bed. **[00:03:30] Zac Dockter:** There's a creek bed that can take rainwater to flow through there. Obviously, if there's not rainwater, we'd have another water source on a float system just to keep a few inches of water. It's really meant to reflect the sun. **[00:03:45] Commissioner:** I imagine it will reflect beautifully when it's originally filled. I'm more concerned about what it's going to be like six months after it was filled in terms of water quality. **[00:04:00] Zac Dockter:** There's ways to mitigate that. Because it's such a shallow area, there are pellets you can put in to keep the water clear, or you can just turn the water over because it's not very much water. There's multiple options, but it is still going to be standing water, so there's a chance for things to grow. **[00:04:20] Commissioner:** I just think if you go there on some odd day and it's not been maintained for three weeks, it might not "reflect well," is all I'm saying. **[00:04:30] Chair:** Thank you. Any other comments on the Mississippi Dunes? All right, looking for an action on this item. **[00:04:40] Commissioner:** Motion to approve the Mississippi Dunes Park master plan. **[00:04:42] Commissioner:** Second. **[00:04:43] Chair:** All in favor? **[00:04:44] Commissioners:** Aye. **[00:04:45] Chair:** Any opposed? All right. Up next: Denzer Park master plan. **[00:04:50] Zac Dockter:** Thank you, Chair, members of the Commission. Another exciting future park development is the Denzer Park neighborhood playground park. You may recall the Commission took a considerable amount of time naming that park after the Jack and Marley Stender family. This is off of 105th Street, which is behind the North Point development industrial park. There’s a housing development there and an apartment complex proposed. Right now, residents can't get across 100th Street to access any parks, so this is important for the west side. The land is being rough graded right now. It's a pretty simple neighborhood park: trails, a playground, and an elevated picnic shelter (6–8 feet high) so we can get views of the river basin and the Grey Cloud Dunes SNA. It also includes a tetherball court and a small basketball half-court. **[00:06:00] Commissioner:** Can there be a portable restroom in this park? **[00:06:05] Zac Dockter:** Typically, neighborhood parks without athletic facilities don't have restrooms because visits are usually short. However, if we find the park is getting heavy use and people are staying for extended periods, then yes, we would put a portable restroom out there. **[00:06:20] Commissioner:** Are these trails going to connect up to the Mississippi Dunes at some point? **[00:06:25] Zac Dockter:** The pink trail is a sidewalk running through the community. On the south is the "Preserve at Prairie Dunes" development. Right now, there’s no trail going down the hill under the railroad bridge to connect to the Dunes. **[00:06:40] Commissioner:** Is there additional parking here or is it all from the neighborhood? **[00:06:45] Zac Dockter:** There are "pop outs" in the curb that allow for on-street parallel parking. Jim tells me there are approximately 28 stalls. **[00:07:00] Commissioner:** Is tetherball still a thing? **[00:07:05] Zac Dockter:** It's coming back! Napoleon Dynamite did wonders for that. **[00:07:15] Chair:** Can I get a motion to move? **[00:07:18] Commissioner Susie:** Motion to approve the Denzer Park master plan. **[00:07:21] Commissioner Sam:** Second. **[00:07:22] Chair:** All in favor? **[00:07:23] Commissioners:** Aye. **[00:07:24] Chair:** Any opposed? All right, that passes. Next: Pine Tree Pond Park master plan. **[00:07:30] Zac Dockter:** Thank you, Chair. With the development of the municipal water facility at Pine Tree Park, that facility has taken some land. Because of the loss of parkland, funds generated from that land use can be reinvested back into recreational amenities at that park. Stantec just completed the first draft of the Pine Tree Pond Park master plan. It includes upgrades to the archery range, a boardwalk cutting across the south end of the pond, and adding a 5–6 hole novice disc golf course. Up by the fire department, we are looking at a hero-themed playground (Fire/Police/EMS) and a picnic shelter accessed through the Central Fire Station parking lot, plus an outdoor adult fitness station. **[00:09:00] Commissioner:** Are you needing us to narrow down the playground structure choices? **[00:09:05] Zac Dockter:** These are just ideas right now. If you have strong feelings, we'll take them, but we aren't picking a playground today. **[00:09:15] Commissioner Brown:** When we surveyed the neighborhood previously, I recall people wanted things geared toward teens, which is why I liked the outdoor fitness stuff. But that seems different from the "cute little firetruck" playgrounds. Do we have a better idea of what the neighborhood or the firefighters would prefer? **[00:09:40] Zac Dockter:** Commissioner Brown, those are good questions. As we get closer to design, we can send out 2–3 designs to the neighborhood for feedback. You're right that the disc golf and fitness court were intended to help with that teen use. **[00:10:00] Commissioner Glassford:** What's the use like on other fitness areas? **[00:10:05] Zac Dockter:** Commissioner Glassford, right now we just have the one at Kingston Park. I've seen some use, like local fitness clubs meeting on Saturday mornings, but it's hard to monitor daily. **[00:10:20] Councilmember Justin Olsen:** I’m being asked to approve a plan here that looks like a concept drawing and some pictures. It doesn’t look like a "master plan" to me. It strikes me as unusual that Stantec submitted this without a write-up or explanation. **[00:10:45] Zac Dockter:** Commissioner Olsen, if I may—this was never intended to be a heavy, brand-new master plan because the park is already in place. We are just updating facilities. It’s simpler than the Mississippi Dunes plan. We're looking to see if the commission thinks we have the right elements in the right places. **[00:11:20] Commissioner Crabtree:** I think it looks nice. I love the boardwalk. The disc golf for novices is a great idea because Oakwood can be intimidating. Regarding the playground—do people park in the fire department lot? **[00:11:45] Zac Dockter:** Commissioner Crabtree, the anticipation is they would use that parking lot. It doesn't get a lot of use. We don't anticipate heavy traffic at that playground, so 5–7 stalls should be fine. **[00:12:45] Commissioner Brown:** We've talked for years about the connection between Pine Tree Pond and Pine Tree Valley across 80th Street. If visits pick up, are we going to look at a safe crossing there? **[00:13:10] Zac Dockter:** Commissioners, I’m not a traffic engineer, but we talk about this annually. Traffic engineers aren't comfortable with "blinky lights" there because of the hill and sightlines. It is safer to go to the intersection, but it is a long walk. I’ll bring it up again. **[00:13:50] Commissioner Larson:** Would we divert playground funds for an overpass or tunnel? **[00:14:00] Zac Dockter:** Commissioner Larson, I don't think playground funds would cover that. **[00:14:10] Commissioner:** I'll move to approve the Pine Tree Pond Park master plan concept. **[00:14:15] Commissioner:** Second. **[00:14:16] Chair:** All in favor? **[00:14:17] Commissioners:** Aye. **[00:14:18] Chair:** All right. Up next: the 2025 to 2029 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). **[00:14:25] Zac Dockter:** Every year we ask the Commission to review the 5-year CIP. These are projects greater than $15,000 with a life expectancy of 5 years or longer. This document guides us for the next five years. Importantly, we don't put things in here unless we have a funding plan. **[00:15:10] Commissioner Brown:** For items listed with the local option sales tax—if that doesn't pass, do we lose those projects or is there a Plan B? **[00:15:25] Zac Dockter:** Commissioner Brown, if the sales tax doesn't pass, the Council would spend 2025 prioritizing which projects they still want to complete using other funds in the next CIP session. **[00:15:45] Chair:** I was wondering about Oltman Middle School—is that a city park? **[00:15:55] Zac Dockter:** The school property is owned by the district, but there is an open space and pond that is city-owned property given to the city through development. That would be a new city park. **[00:16:15] Chair:** And I noticed some items under $15,000 on here, like ice arena furnace replacement or Lamar Park roof. **[00:16:25] Zac Dockter:** The limit used to be $10,000 and it went to $15,000. I probably just carried them over. My apologies. **[00:17:00] Commissioner:** I motion to approve the CIP. **[00:17:05] Commissioner:** Second. **[00:17:06] Chair:** All in favor? **[00:17:07] Commissioners:** Aye. **[00:17:15] Chair:** Next: the 2025 to 2027 Commission work plan. **[00:17:25] Zac Dockter:** We spent time workshopping this in May. This gives me direction on what to bring back to the Commission. It’s malleable—if you want to change it, we can. **[00:17:45] Commissioner:** Can we re-rank these? I’d move "taking care of what we have" and "trail systems" to the top. **[00:18:10] Zac Dockter:** I've got the order: 2, 5, 4, 3, 1. **[00:18:25] Commissioner:** Motion to approve with amendments. **[00:18:28] Councilmember Justin Olsen:** Second. **[00:18:29] Chair:** All in favor? **[00:18:30] Commissioners:** Aye. **[00:18:40] Chair:** Presentation of information? **[00:18:41] Zac Dockter:** I have none tonight. **[00:18:42] Chair:** Action updates. Community garden? **[00:18:45] Zac Dockter:** The Glacial Valley Park grand opening went great. The community garden is a success—39 of 40 beds are planted and being harvested. The Trailway Corridor habitat restoration is moving forward; we're doing a prescribed burn in the next few weeks and tree editing this winter. We also received two $350,000 DNR grants—one for Oltman and one for Mississippi Dunes. Regarding the RC track: we've been "ghosted" again by the group that proposed it, so no update there. Playground installs at Nina’s, Granada, and West Draw are finished. At Kingston Park, the Council decided to do site power upgrades next year before replacing the building in 2026. **[00:20:45] Commissioner:** For the West Draw playground, is there going to be a bench? A couple of grandmas were asking. **[00:20:55] Zac Dockter:** Yes, all our playgrounds should have benches. We will get one there. **[00:21:05] Councilmember Justin Olsen:** Was the Trailway Corridor habitat restoration where we had the two homeowners encroaching? How did that work out? **[00:21:15] Zac Dockter:** One homeowner had a garden; she's moving it. The other had a shed, but I think we determined the shed wasn't on city property, just some outdoor storage. **[00:21:40] Commissioner:** How often is communication sent to residents about the tree clearing? People on social media say the city is "chopping down every tree." **[00:22:00] Zac Dockter:** We sent a notification before it started, but it's a long project. I think it’s a good idea to send a summary update to those residents again. **[00:22:30] Chair:** Let's go back to item six: Presentation on Preserve Play Prosper plan. **[00:22:45] Zac Dockter:** The Preserve Play Prosper program is a $36 million proposal for residents to vote on via a local option sales tax. It covers Hamlet Park ($17M), Mississippi Dunes ($13M), and River Oaks ($6M). Hamlet would get a splash pad, skate park, and Synthetic Turf. Mississippi Dunes would provide river access. River Oaks is NOT just about golf—it would include a "Himalayan" putting green free to the public, multi-sport simulators, and pickleball courts. A 0.5% sales tax ensures non-residents share the cost. University studies project $11.3M would be paid by non-residents. For a resident, it’s about $2.99 per month. On November 5th, there will be three separate questions. Each project stands on its own merit. **[00:27:00] Commissioner:** Does this affect food trucks? Do their patrons pay the sales tax? **[00:27:10] Zac Dockter:** That is a great question. I don't know the answer for mobile units. I'll find out and let you know. **[00:29:45] Chair:** Donation acknowledgements. **[00:29:50] Zac Dockter:** We had memorial benches at Highlands, the Olsen memorial trail sign is in, and a "Little Free Library" was donated at Hamlet. **[00:30:15] Chair:** Staff reports? **[00:30:17] Zac Dockter:** I submitted our monthly newsletter for your review. **[00:30:30] Commissioner Brown:** I’ve had questions about trash can access between 75th and Indian on the Trailway Corridor. There isn't one there anymore. **[00:30:45] Jim Foreman (Park Superintendent):** I’ll look into that. We have about 280 trash cans and pick up about 4,000 pounds of trash a week. If one is missing or fell apart, I’ll find it. **[00:31:30] Commissioner:** I noticed the cans at the bike park were overflowing today. **[00:31:35] Zac Dockter:** Our trash haul has doubled since COVID. We are looking at replacing steel cans with larger options, but there's a limit to how many we can dump manually. **[00:32:00] Councilmember Justin Olsen:** Did we have storm damage? **[00:32:10] Zac Dockter:** We’ve had about 900 hours of overtime for cleanup. Burnsville, Eagan, and Washington County have helped us via mutual aid. **[00:32:45] Jim Foreman:** In the parks, it was mostly trees. We lost seven at Hamlet, including the big shade trees at the skate park. **[00:33:15] Commissioner:** Did anybody see the "Rock Snake" at Arbor Meadows? Someone named it Gary. It's very cute. **[00:33:45] Councilmember Monique Garza:** I have no comments, though I did text a food truck friend to answer that tax question. I’ll let Zac know if she responds. **[00:34:10] Chair:** Motion to adjourn? **[00:34:12] Commissioner:** Motion. **[00:34:13] Commissioner:** Second. **[00:34:14] Chair:** All in favor? Aye. We are adjourned.