Here is the transcribed meeting of the Cottage Grove Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Commission with speaker names and timestamps added based on the context provided. [00:00:00] **Chair Brown:** I call the meeting of the Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Commission to order. The mission of the Cottage Grove Parks and Recreation Commission is to create and promote policies, programs, and places that enable active living for a more vibrant community. Let's get started with our roll call. [00:00:20] **Tammy Anderson (City Clerk):** [Conducts roll call] [00:00:35] **Chair Brown:** Okay, has everyone had the opportunity to review the agenda? [00:00:38] **Commissioner Larson:** Yes. [00:00:39] **Commissioner Crabtree:** Yes. [00:00:40] **Chair Brown:** Okay, we have a new item to consider tonight, so I need a motion to add an action item for a grant letter of recommendation. [00:00:48] **Commissioner Larson:** Motion—do you want me to say it like, "motion to add the approval of the grant to the agenda at the action item"? [00:00:55] **Chair Brown:** Action item to the agenda, okay. And then do I have a second? [00:00:58] **Commissioner Crabtree:** I second. [00:00:59] **Chair Brown:** Thank you. Any additional discussion about adding this action item? Okay, those in favor, aye. Those opposed? Motion carries. We're adding an action item, and this will be the first one that we cover. There's a letter that's gone down the line, so we'll have a minute to talk about that. Did everyone have an opportunity to review the minutes from December? [00:01:20] **Commissioner Larson:** Yep. [00:01:21] **Chair Brown:** Any corrections or additions? [00:01:23] **Commissioner Larson:** Nope. I’ll make a motion to approve the minutes as submitted. [00:01:26] **Commissioner Crabtree:** Second. [00:01:27] **Chair Brown:** Okay, I have a motion and a second. Those in favor? All those opposed? Motion carries. The minutes are approved. Any open forum this evening? Okay. Any presentations? [00:01:40] **Zac Dockter (Parks and Recreation Director):** None tonight. [00:01:42] **Chair Brown:** All right, then our new first action item is the grant letter of recommendation. [00:01:46] **Zac Dockter:** So, with most grant applications, they have the opportunity to add letters of support from groups—civic groups, volunteer groups, businesses, whoever might be interested in supporting a grant application. We have a grant application for Mississippi Dunes Park development. Just like other grant applications I’ve submitted, this is the letter of recommendation that the Parks Commission could authorize to support. I’m just looking to see if the commission is willing to include that letter of support. It’s a $350,000 grant through the Minnesota DNR Outdoor Recreation Grant, and this would be for the future development of that smaller active portion of the park—the 8 to 10 acres on the southwest corner where there’ll be a building, playground, picnic shelters, outdoor education, trails, and things like that. So it’s just that active portion of the park. The grant is a match—it’s 100% match. It’s due February 28th, but the grant actually has a two-year window; you have two years to actually use the grant. Typically, if your grant is accepted in the summer, there’s a process for the grant agreement because they have to go through all the historical and archaeological discoveries. So really, it’s about a three-year process by the time you actually have to use the grants. We’re trying to get ahead of that curve now. If for any reason we don’t need the funding or don’t want to use it in the future, this letter of recommendation doesn’t tie us to anything. We haven’t even submitted the grant yet. You can always not apply, or get the grant and then pull back. Lots of options moving forward, but I just wanted to at least get the letter of recommendation if the commission so desires. [00:03:30] **Commissioner Larson:** Well, I’d like to make a motion to include the grant letter of recommendation. [00:03:34] **Commissioner Crabtree:** Second. [00:03:35] **Chair Brown:** Any additional discussion? Those in favor? Those opposed? Okay, motion carries. All right, next up we have our Mississippi Dunes Park naming. [00:03:45] **Zac Dockter:** Thank you, Chair, members of the commission. We have talked about the potential name for the site we’re currently referring to as Mississippi Dunes Reserve. After several meetings (the list of which is on your agenda), last meeting we narrowed the list down to three potential park names: Rivers Landing Park, Mississippi Dunes Park, and Dunes Park on the Mississippi. I submit those before you. The commission at this time can either make a recommendation to Council or take other action as it sees fit. [00:04:15] **Chair Brown:** To start us off, I’m going to pass down some Post-it notes. Please take one. Do you need one? Oh, I have one, thanks. And I’d like you to write down your favorite of the three names that we have. Once you’ve written it down, put it up on the ledge in front of us and we’ll see how close we are to making a decision. Please select one of the names on our list. [00:04:45] **Commissioner Justin Olsen:** Would it be possible to have any conversations prior to the vote, or not? [00:04:49] **Chair Brown:** I want to get the vote first to kind of see how close we are and how much conversation we might need to have. [00:05:00] **Zac Dockter:** Madam Chair, members of the commission, the results of the written ballot are: Mississippi Dunes Park with four, Rivers Landing Park with two, Dunes Park on the Mississippi with one, and one commissioner abstained. [00:05:15] **Chair Brown:** Okay, all right. So in the lead, we have Mississippi Dunes Park. What do we think about that? Does anybody have any strong reservations from moving forward with that particular name? If not, you could make a motion for a park name and see if it carries through the process. You still have the opportunity for comments after the motion and second. [00:05:35] **Commissioner Larson:** I’ll make a motion to recommend Mississippi Dunes Park for the park naming of Mississippi Dunes Park. [00:05:42] **Chair Brown:** Okay, we have a motion. I will second. We have a motion and a second. Do we have additional comments or questions? Those in favor of recommending Mississippi Dunes Park, aye. Those opposed, nay. [00:05:58] **Chair Brown:** With a majority, I'll call for any abstaining as well. [00:06:02] **Commissioner Justin Olsen:** I’ll abstain. [00:06:04] **Chair Brown:** Okay, well then the motion carries with the recommendation to name the park Mississippi Dunes Park. Thank you. Moving on, we have our E-Recreational Equipment education messaging. [00:06:15] **Zac Dockter:** Thank you, Chair, members of the commission. As you may recall in August, we had the commission and Council discussion in terms of the city ordinance, and what came up was e-recreational equipment safety measures. After a lot of discussion, we developed a handful of signs that the commission reviewed, and we’ve narrowed that draft list down to four signs based on the commission’s recommendations. I would recommend trying to get down to three designs or less for simplification of manufacturing. We would spread them throughout the town to try to get the message across in terms of safe use and coexisting on the trails. I'm looking for feedback on the signs provided. Do you want us to tell you which ones we like? [00:07:05] **Chair Brown:** Yes, okay. And we can move forward with one, two, or three. I’d prefer not to move forward with four, but I kind of feel like the first one and the last one are pretty much the same thing—the last one’s just less wordy. [00:07:20] **Commissioner Larson:** I have a question. Is the bike with the lightning bolt in it a universal sign for electronic bikes, or is that something that we came up with? [00:07:30] **Zac Dockter:** I’ve seen it used elsewhere. I don't know if it's a universal sign, but it’s quite heavily used. [00:07:35] **Commissioner Larson:** In that case, number four was my favorite. [00:07:38] **Commissioner Justin Olsen:** Chair, I really like the two middle ones because it sort of says the pedestrian has the right-of-way, which I think is really important. It implies the speed limit. I kind of like to have the speed limit on there, but I’m not sure that that matters so much. But I really like that image of "if you're going to pass, be on the left side, make a noise, be audible." I just think that’s really, really important and that’s essentially training for everyone, not just people with ebikes. [00:08:05] **Commissioner Crabtree:** I agree. I like both of those and I think it gives information to lots of different users. [00:08:10] **Commissioner Larson:** I like three and four. I would like three more if we could somehow add a speed limit to it. [00:08:15] **Chair Brown:** I think number three has—even though I like it—too much wording that someone riding by is not going to read. [00:08:22] **Commissioner Larson:** You could replace "Slow Down" with an image of "15 MPH." So maybe it’s signs two, three, and four, and then on sign three, use an image of the 15 MPH instead of the words "Slow Down." [00:08:35] **Zac Dockter:** I kind of like "Slow Down" because when you put a speed limit, people think, "Oh, maybe I should try and go that fast too." [00:08:42] **Commissioner Larson:** I get it. You could do the last one where it says "Speed Limit 15 MPH," and instead of "Trail Speed," it could say "Slow Down." [00:08:50] **Commissioner Crabtree:** I like that we have a mix of both. We have the one with the speed limit, one that says slow down, and one that just says "Share," which sounds friendly. [00:09:00] **Chair Brown:** The idea is to combine these, right? So there’d be multiple signs at multiple trails. [00:09:05] **Zac Dockter:** There’s value in multiple signs. People are seeing different messages but getting the same core message. [00:09:10] **Commissioner Larson:** Will there be multiple signs along the trails, or is it going to be one at the entrance to each trail? [00:09:15] **Zac Dockter:** It depends on the size of the trail system, but I could see at Hamlet Park or the Cedarhurst Trail Corridor, you’d have one of each of these somewhere along the trails. [00:09:25] **Commissioner Larson:** Okay, then I don’t mind all the words on three. [00:09:28] **Chair Brown:** Well, then we’re going to use it for social media campaigns as well, right? [00:09:32] **Zac Dockter:** Yep. I see these images as being very useful for quick posts on Facebook. [00:09:36] **Chair Brown:** So can you run with it if we suggest two, three, and four? [00:09:40] **Zac Dockter:** Yes. [00:09:41] **Commissioner Justin Olsen:** I’ll make a motion if—do you need a motion, Zac, or do you have what you need? [00:09:45] **Zac Dockter:** Yes, please. [00:09:46] **Commissioner Justin Olsen:** I’d move for signs two, three, and four. [00:09:48] **Commissioner Larson:** I second. [00:09:49] **Chair Brown:** Any other comments or questions? Those in favor? Aye. Those opposed? Motion carries to recommend inclusion of signs two, three, and four. Next, we have the Community Garden Project. [00:10:00] **Zac Dockter:** Thank you, Chair, members of the Commission. In November, the Hope Garden group of Cottage Grove approached the commission and presented their thoughts for a potential community garden. We sent them back with a list of questions, and they’ve done their homework. Their written report is before you. They are proposing a community garden at Meadow Grass Park. They’ve talked about what it would take to build and maintain it, and the operational management items. They’ve also clearly outlined what would be expected of the City versus the volunteer group. As far as staff is concerned, I think everything’s covered in the report. [00:10:40] **Commissioner Justin Olsen:** Chair, if I could. From the beginning, I think we’ve expressed that we like this idea and want to be supportive. So I’m really in favor of this. Zac, I did have one question: am I right that this is just down the road, west from the existing gardens at Carpenter? [00:11:00] **Zac Dockter:** Yes, they are aware of the community garden at Shepard’s Farm. Shepard Farm runs that through their own programming, but sharing information is valuable. [00:11:10] **Chair Brown:** Did you all want to talk to us? We appreciate the inclusion of the report. I really appreciated the pictures of the fencing and the shed to give us an idea of the visual impact. [00:11:25] **Zac Dockter:** Chair, I should also mention I included the resident letter I sent out to neighbors. We should see if anybody in the audience wants to speak to that. Zac, were you contacted by anyone? [00:11:35] **Zac Dockter:** I was not. [00:11:36] **Commissioner Crabtree:** I did see there's a potential request for a matching grant. Is that something we should talk about tonight? [00:11:42] **Master Gardener Representative:** I can address the funding. One party is the City, providing land and help with digging holes. The Master Gardeners have committed $2,500 this year, mostly for the tool shed and tools. Most people using a community park live in townhomes or apartments and don't have place for tools. Some people try to plant gardens with household spoons. So we fill the shed. Washington County has SHIP grants—Statewide Health Improvement Partnership—which would be the primary source, up to $20,000. That would cover the fencing and the water. Water is our biggest challenge. [00:12:45] **Commissioner Crabtree:** If they need the additional matching grant funding, how long does it take to get the funds? [00:12:50] **Zac Dockter:** Commissioner Crabtree, that’s immediate. Once the commission takes action, that becomes immediate. [00:12:55] **Master Gardener Representative:** We’d like to get the garden up and going this year. We’ve got a group to help put the fence up. We’re not concerned about that; the water is the biggest challenge to have ready by May 15th. [00:13:05] **Commissioner Justin Olsen:** Zac, is the water metered or how is that handled? [00:13:10] **Zac Dockter:** Commissioner Olsen, we would treat it like an irrigation system. We monitor usage but we don’t charge for it. Regarding the timeline, we’re coming from the water tower stubbing a main valve. After that, it’s just pulling irrigation pipe through the ground. We do that in-house. We’re just asking for coverage of materials. [00:13:35] **Chair Brown:** I think there are two parts: a motion to support the Hope Garden proposal, and then offering support for the Washington County SHIP grant submission. [00:13:45] **Commissioner Crabtree:** I'll make a motion to approve the support of the Hope Garden Community project and the SHIP grant application. [00:13:52] **Commissioner Larson:** Second. [00:13:53] **Chair Brown:** Any additional questions or comments? Motion is to recommend collaboration with Hope Garden and their application for funding. Those in favor? Those opposed? Motion carries. We’re excited to see where this project goes. Thank you for the work you put into this. [Applause] [00:14:15] **Chair Brown:** Next, we have the Bike Park Project. [00:14:18] **Zac Dockter:** Thank you, Chair. The bike park volunteer group is requesting consideration for modifications to the current dirt pump track to turn it into a Bike Skills Plaza. In the 2024-2028 Capital Improvements Plan, we have $50,000 budgeted for pump track improvements. We can allocate that $50,000 for this project. Additionally, Chance is here with the bike park group. They are asking for $2,500 from the matching funds program. [00:15:00] **Commissioner Justin Olsen:** Thanks for clarifying where the 50,000 fits in. I also appreciate the "program journal" on matching funds. Is the matching part going to be in-kind volunteer labor? [00:15:15] **Zac Dockter:** That’s correct. [00:15:17] **Chance (Bike Park Volunteer Group):** It’ll definitely be volunteer labor. We do thousands of dollars worth of labor every year and have for 10 years. We’ll also be raising funds through sponsorships and working with partners like Rum Excavation for material donations. The overall cost estimate is around $125,000. [00:16:00] **Commissioner Crabtree:** I have a question. You wrote that this is unique to the metropolitan area? [00:16:05] **Chance:** We were the first bike park in the state of Minnesota. Since then, there’s been a paved pump track added to Perkins Hills in Minneapolis and Taft Bike Park in Richfield, but ours is much larger. We are a destination; I’ve met riders here from Canada and Oregon. [00:16:30] **Commissioner Crabtree:** Are these for competitions? [00:16:33] **Chance:** We host free events called "jams." We haven't done competitions yet because that requires specific event insurance and payouts, but we’d like to explore that. This new section will be unique; there’s nothing like it in the state. [00:17:15] **Commissioner Larson:** I think it's really cool. Nice job. Molly, do we program the bike park for Safety Camp or anything? [00:17:25] **Zac Dockter:** Nothing comes back to the city at this point in terms of programming. [00:17:30] **Commissioner Larson:** Need any speed limit signs? [Laughter] [00:17:35] **Chance:** I don't think those bikes have speedometers on them. It’ll probably take a few years to complete, depending on fundraising. We’ll build it as we can afford it. [00:17:45] **Zac Dockter:** Chair, I'm looking for two actions: a motion to support the bike park improvement plan, and a second for the matching funds request. [00:17:55] **Commissioner Larson:** I’ll make a motion to approve the plan and support the funding request. [00:18:00] **Commissioner Crabtree:** I'll second both of those. [00:18:02] **Chair Brown:** Let’s vote on one at a time. First motion is to approve the bike park improvement plan. Those in favor? Aye. Those opposed? Motion carries. Next is the matching funds request. [00:18:15] **Commissioner Larson:** I’ll make a motion to move forward with the matching request. [00:18:18] **Commissioner Crabtree:** Second. [00:18:20] **Chair Brown:** Those in favor? Aye. Those opposed? Motion carries. Congratulations, Chance. Next, we have Commissioner Terms and Officer Positions. [00:18:30] **Zac Dockter:** Everyone wants to come back for another term, which is exciting. We need to appoint our officers: Chair and Vice Chair. Chair Brown has asked to go back into a regular commissioner role. The City Council liaison recommends the next chair, and he is recommending Commissioner Larson. That will go to the February 21st Council meeting. We do need to appoint the Vice Chair position, which is currently Commissioner Crabtree. [00:19:15] **Chair Brown:** Commissioner Crabtree, you want to keep being Vice Chair? [00:19:18] **Commissioner Crabtree:** Sure. [00:19:20] **Commissioner Larson:** Motion that Commissioner Crabtree is the Vice Chair. [00:19:23] **Commissioner Justin Olsen:** Second. [00:19:25] **Chair Brown:** Those in favor? Aye. Those opposed? Motion carries. Nice campaign! [Laughter]. Next, we have action updates on the Kingston Park Building. [00:19:35] **Zac Dockter:** Council was excited about the concept design for Kingston. There is still no schedule and no budget, but it’s a very pretty picture. We did hire Orteil Architects to develop the plans. Once approved, they sit on file until the Council is ready to identify a budget. Regarding the Mississippi Dunes Park Building: as we deal with that active 8 to 10-acre site, the building is the hub. It affects the parking lot, the landscaping, and ADA accessibility. City Council authorized moving forward with ISG to start concept design work. You’ll start to see renderings in three or four months. [00:21:00] **Commissioner Crabtree:** Hypothetically, if the housing developer adjacent to the site doesn't pan out, can the City start this park without them? [00:21:10] **Zac Dockter:** Eight of the acres have already been dedicated to the City. We own it and we can develop it. [00:21:18] **Commissioner Crabtree:** Is there a timeline? I see so many questions about it on social media. [00:21:23] **Zac Dockter:** Nothing will happen this summer. The local option sales tax is the caveat. If that is approved by the community in the November referendum, things would move much faster. If not, we have to seek other funding sources. [00:21:45] **Chair Brown:** Thanks for those updates. Do we have any donation acknowledgments? [00:21:50] **Zac Dockter:** None tonight. [00:21:51] **Chair Brown:** And included in our packet we had staff reports. I was surprised they were golfing! It blew my mind the turf could handle it. [00:22:00] **Zac Dockter:** The turf cannot handle it, but it’s a risk-reward calculation. Every divot taken now doesn’t repair until Memorial Day. [00:22:15] **Commissioner Justin Olsen:** Zac, I had a question about the RC car park. We granted $2,500 for that last fall—any update? [00:22:22] **Zac Dockter:** Our superintendent, Jim Foreman, has been leading that. [00:22:25] **Jim Foreman (Parks Superintendent):** We actually never officially approved the 2500. They haven't come back with further plans or design activity. [00:22:35] **Commissioner Justin Olsen:** I agree we were willing, but until the money goes out, I don’t think it should be on the list. I’d like to feel like we close the loop on it. [00:22:45] **Jim Foreman:** I will reach out to them again. [00:22:48] **Chair Brown:** I also heard appreciation from community members for trying to get the ice rinks up. Next, we have commission comments and the Washington County Parks notes. [00:23:05] **Commissioner Justin Olsen:** The County is requesting funds to bring lights to the Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Trail. This increases usage considerably. I would ask that you reach out to your state legislators to approve this. [00:23:30] **Chair Brown:** Next would be Council comments. We have notes in the packet. [00:23:35] **Zac Dockter:** Councilmember Khata is no longer the liaison. Councilmember Garza will be our new liaison for the coming year; she was unable to attend tonight. [00:23:45] **Chair Brown:** We have no workshop this evening. Looking for a motion to adjourn. [00:23:50] **Commissioner Larson:** Motion. [00:23:51] **Commissioner Crabtree:** Second. [00:23:52] **Chair Brown:** Those in favor? Aye. Motion carries. We’re adjourned.