All right, we'll call to order the Cottage Grove Parks Recreation and Natural Resources Commission. Uh, roll call >> taken. >> Uh, join me for the pledge of allegiance. >> It's not on the agenda. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Approval of the minutes from November 10th. Do I have a motion? >> Motion. Uh second >> motion to second. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I I >> Any opposed? All right. Open forum. >> We have none tonight. >> Presentations? >> None tonight. >> All right. We can go right to action items then. Still pond's natural resources management plan. >> Thank you, chair, members of the commission. As you may recall, we required uh Still Ponds Park property in 2022. It has a beautiful lake area there, a shallow lake um with a lot of good habitat. Uh it was a lot of forest habitat around it. we have been in there clearing the undergrowth. So, a lot of buckthorn removal and other things. But, um we did we did warn the um the commission that that standing pine plantation that was there that was originally established in the in the 1950s, 1960s was pretty degraded. Um pretty tall red pines and they're starting to fall over and get diseased and whatever else. We did invite um a staffer from the Minnesota DNR Forestry Department, uh multiple people from the Washington Conservation District, uh the social south Washington County Watershed District as well, and um a couple other entities, a couple other arborists we had out there, and they all kind of agreed that that pine plantation really probably has to go over time. So we're trying to take a phased approach because we realize that the impact of that the visual impact impact of that will be um considerable. But the first step in this is really um we established the natural resources management plan so that we can kind of collectively show uh what that space will look like after a full habitat restoration. So with that I guess I'll just um the the natural resource management plan was sent to you for review. Um, it was performed by the Washington uh County Conservation District via the South Washington Watershed District um staff team. And I think it does a good job of laying out the history of the land, history of the area, um what the goals are, what the estimated costs um for restoration are, and then the long-term management plan for that. So, with that, I will accept any comments and ultimately looking for a plan to approve the Still Pond's natural resources management plan. comments for Zach. >> I don't know if this matters or not, but it says our [clears throat] population is 35,000 and I think isn't it like >> Oh, 40 almost. >> Yeah. Like >> Yeah. What page is that on? >> That's on page six. >> I will we'll we'll amend that. one. Zach, I was trying to understand on page 32 the the costs is am I reading it right? When I look at year one and if I go down that column for management unit one, two, and three, if we do all three of those, the total cost would be adding up all those columns or is that uh >> Yes. >> Okay. Okay. >> Yes, you would add up all all those columns collectively. >> I think that's it. Well, I mean, yeah, cuz the second part of that budget is it's different. It's just it's the same information, but it's laid out different >> on the same page. >> No, it's on the next page down. The activity phasing. >> Yeah. So, that's Yeah, just more detail. Um the the first page is more of the summary activity and then the second page this right behind that is the more detail. So it gets down into the you know tree planting maintenance whether it's maintenance or seeding or whatever it is. So just gets more down in the task the tasks individual tasks. >> Okay. Okay. That makes sense to me. >> Whereas the whereas the uh the overall summary just kind of goes by zone. >> Okay. >> Mr. Y so I actually talked to Zach about this earlier today, but on page 36, the last paragraph of the report says that has a statement that says with a conservation easement in place and so on and so forth. There actually is not a conservation easement in place on this property. Zach actually researched that for us. So I would suggest in our amendment that we point out that there is no conservation easement on this property. that would require a whole bunch of other things of us and so it's fortunate that we were able to just get it from our own money or from the developer. >> Oh, good catch. >> Any other comments? >> And chair, I have those two notes written down. So, um, if someone wants a motion to approve the plan with those two exceptions, we can. That can be the motion. >> I'll move to approve the plan with the two exceptions noted. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. >> All right. Looks good. Next, uh, Peterson Park Concept Master Plan Review. is very long. >> Thank you, chair, members of the commission. Peterson Park is an exciting new park development project southwest of Jamaica Avenue and uh 70 um Jamaica Avenue and Military Road. Ultimately, Military Road becomes a a trailway. >> I think it's Ravine. >> Uh it' be north of Ravine, south of west of Ravine. Uh but south of Military Road. Uh yeah. So, okay. Yeah, you're right. Just just south of Ravine Parkway as well, but just north of that is Military Road. [laughter] I was thinking I was thinking Ravine came in uh right at the center of it. So, you're we're both right. Anyways, Lake Still Ponds Park. Uh this is actually one of the more significant lake in terms of surf surface lakes in terms of surface area and Cottage Grove. So, we're extremely excited that we were able to get the land all the way around the lake. Uh the council obviously wrestled a little bit last year with um putting the trail all the way around the lake um and how we how we make that happen. So we're working with the developer to make sure that happens. It's about a onemile lake loop trail. So we're excited to bring that. So this uh image before you is a picture of the park in its entirety to the southwest. Can you see my cursor up there? Yes, you can. >> Oh, you can. >> Our screens are gone. >> We can see you. >> All right. Can you see? You can see. No, >> I can see it right here. >> That does not help you. >> Um, your TVs, your screens aren't on. >> No. >> Can we turn them on or >> turn them on? >> You should be able to. [snorts] >> Oh, here it comes. >> It's coming up. >> Well, >> it did something and then it's still black. Now it says no signal. >> Oh, yeah. No signal. >> Okay. Well, in your packet, the image is in there of um on page three of the the larger park plan. Um that so that shows that there's a small active portion of the park, just a just a couple acres, and then the rest of the park is is focused on that lake, that lake property and the trail that goes around it. If we focus on the northeast quadrant of that park where the more active portion of the park is, we're planning on putting a picnic shelter potentially with restrooms. We're still studying that popped up. So, we're still looking at um whether that picnic shelter is just a standard picnic shelter or a picnic shelter with restrooms, which would be similar to Oakwood Park. Uh we'll have a large playground there that'll be a naturebased theme much like we had at Oakwood Park or um the one the design we have at Mississippi Dunes. Uh obviously we have a small parking lot that's already been uh rough graded out. Uh trail and sidewalk system that connects all the activities. We also we're also looking at a hammock grove there somewhere closer to the woods. A little bit of landscaping down here. And then some open green space just so people can throw a f Frisbee or baseball or kick a soccer ball or whatever it might be. Um, obviously a lot of habitat uh enhancements all the way around the lake. We're working with the watershed district on that park as well to create a natural resources management plan there. And um yeah, trying to do minimal active areas and then more more passive and habitat um preservation areas for the rest of the site. So uh there is a set of power lines that runs right through the through the property. So we do have to be cognizant of that as well. And then uh and then recreate you know leisure enhancements like shade seat obviously there'll be seating there'll be shade and things of that nature across the site as well. So uh looking for the feedback. This is our very first draft of this park concept plan. So really looking for feedback at this point to see what the commission thinks of it and um so we can go back revise it and bring back a plan that works best for the community. How many parking spaces >> right now? I think there's about a dozen. >> Is there is that going to be enough? Like I mean obviously I think this is going to be a heavily trafficked park. Is there room to do more parking spaces or will they just park like on that little driveway entrance into the parking lot? Well, there'll be the opportunity for off- streetet parking could be on the neighborhood roads on interior to the neighborhood obviously there. Um, I don't anticipate this being a high destination playground where there's lots of people at one time. I do think it's going to be a destination I shouldn't say playground park. I do think it's going to be a destination park, but I think people will come and go, right? They'll walk the lake lake loop, um, play for a little while and probably leave. So, I don't know that we need a lot of extra parking there because there's no programmed activities necessarily. Jeremy, >> I had a chance to drive through it or around it, I guess, halfway around it the other day and this looks to be like be a very very nice park and I'm really happy that we were able to, you know, get the lake in there and everything. Um, so I'm I'm just optimistic about it and >> yeah, and Commissioner Olsson, it's been a a long time coming. So we acquired the south portion of the lake boy I don't know 10 12 about probably 12 15 years ago. So we've been waiting for the rest of the property to come through. So uh with the development of the property to the north we finally were able to make that happen. And I should have noted two other things. Uh you know water access. We do plan to put a small dock just to kind of get people out on the water. There won't be fishing opportunities here. It is a shallow lake um more of a waterfall fowl lake. And then also there is connection on the southwest corner to um Shepherd Farm too. the Shepherd Farm conservation property down there too. >> Will there be um like any of those rental opportunities that we have like down on like Red Code Island and stuff like that like for this park or what are you thinking like people will bring their own or like kayaks or canoes or whatever >> maybe. But yes, I do think we should have some sort of a a launch there and then whether we do a paddle share or not, I guess I haven't quite got there yet. But for sure, I think we should have a a paddling launch there. Um, I've received, um, since this is the area that's by, um, my neighborhood, I received some feedback from, uh, members of that neighborhood that's currently already developed. Um and so um some of the feedback was in terms of an access point down at the southern point it looks like to get onto the path from that area would you is the only access point where you go right over there where there's that like white line. >> Yes, that would be the trail into the park. Is there any possibility to do an access point like you know where that little library is um over closer to Jamaica >> the east culdeac? >> Yeah. Could there be an access point there instead? I mean cuz I don't know about I feel like it would be easier if it was accessed off of Jamaica. So there, Commissioner Gusterson, there is a there is a trail connection that goes out of that culde-sac and then the the the trail does run all the way up Jamaica. It doesn't cut back directly into the park just because there's some drainage and other issues there. But as we get further north, you'll see there's that opportunity where it kind of it loops back into the park. Is my curs is my cursor working? >> Mhm. >> So essentially, you would follow Jamaica up and then right here you can get back into >> Oh, you can Okay. >> So there'll be a sidewalk on that sidewalk. So, there's a sidewalk that comes out of the culde-sac to a trail and then the trail comes up and it'll come back into the park. So, it's it's not but it seem >> Yeah. So, it come back into the park right about there. >> Okay. >> This this this does run the the trail will there's a future trail that's going to run both sides of Jamaica. >> Okay, >> that makes sense. >> Yeah. Um, and then some of the other feedback that I got was potential. I know that we're not even in the playground phase. >> Oh, we are actually. I just I don't have it ready yet. >> Okay. So, some of the feedback was to have more of like a nature color scheme and then also um for both like you you do a really good job at Glacier Valley of having two different areas for different age groups. So, the littleer ones and the older ones. I know that this is going to be a much smaller playground than something like that. That's just some of the feedback um that I received. And then in terms of the the restroom and park shelter, I don't really know how to describe this feedback fully, but it was to say that the solid side of the structure have that on the side and not the back cuz they were concerned. They were thinking that if it was angled right um to make sure that there's more visible um from the higher traffic Jamaica and ravine road >> so that there's less opportunities for like graffiti or behind for people hiding behind the wall and maybe >> um >> just to keep it a little bit safer. I don't know if [laughter] I don't know if I was able to articulate that. >> Yeah, Commissioner, I understand the comment, but the reality is that it no matter where you put, there's going to be a wall that's >> hidden to Jamaica. So, it's >> if the wall was more in a more visible area that it would >> help prevent potential crime >> and we do plan on putting security lighting in there, which can come with cameras, too. And so there's there's other measures we'll take to okay >> protect our assets. >> Yep. I think >> that's helpful though. And the playground, I should say, we do have the playground. The design is actually almost complete and it is a nature-based theme that I think people will enjoy. So >> wonder. Well, I'm very excited. So >> that'll be at you next month. >> Okay. And so I know that this is going to be a phased approach and then are we kind of waiting until we get I know there's a grant in the packet from the DNR. So, um, would when the project gets started kind of be based on if we get grant funding? >> Yeah, very good question, commissioner, and and commissioners and chair. So, the plan uh and the reason you have this letter of support coming up on the next action item is uh we have to apply for the DNR outdoor recreation grant as well as the local DNR local trail uh grant by March 31st. So, we get that application in. Usually takes a few months for that to process and then we would get notification. If if we get those grants, we'd get notification usually in June. Then by the time you do the grant contracts, it's actually September and so we'd probably be spring construction at that point. So, uh I'm thinking this will be a spring 27 construction project. Um in the meantime, we are working with a developer to get the trails in and get um at least get the trails trails graded and then get the park graded as well and bringing top soil in. So, there's some things we're doing now to prepare for that, which would have had to be done anyway. So, I don't feel like we're dragging our feet by waiting to apply for grant funding, but um yeah, so the process is happening and and we hope to be building the park next year. >> Are we doing asphalt trails on this one or >> correct? >> Okay. So, >> I'm sorry. >> Yeah. >> There's some there's some concrete sidewalk trails in the active portion of the park like around the playground. >> Mhm. And then the trails themselves will break off into as asphalt. >> Okay. Would we uh So I I got a couple questions. One is up in Woodbury, you know, by the fire station, they have that park that goes around the lake. >> Yep. >> Kind of like this, >> Colby. >> And Yeah. And there's no like way to tell when you're in somebody's backyard. >> Is there going to be like a delineation of this is park and this is someone's backyard? cuz they kind of extend their backyards and their trolls and stuff all the way to the the path and >> they do that here too. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. [laughter] Chair Chair Larson, we uh I like to think we do a pretty good job in Ker Grove of managing our property lines even though it comes with a lot of headache. So, we actually put post in on all of our properties and so that when you know when we know a property line turns, we can we have a small green 4x4 post that says park property here. I'm sure you've seen them out. and then we can look to the other property, look down that line, and if people have encroached, we tell them that they have to move their stuff. So, um we've been very active in in removing um private property encroachment from public property, and the same will be in effect here. It does get a little bit tight on the on the west side there, the property lines, but nothing that's concerning to me, I guess. Um it's a lot it's a heavily wooded area there. And actually sometimes when the trail is really close to the property line that's even easier because it's you know you know the trail is kind of the property line. So um they really can't encroach unless they want to go across the trail. So um no there's nothing I'm concerned about. We've been managing obviously on the south end of the park for a while. We actually did remove a lot of encroachment on the south end of the trail just because we had owned some property down there but hadn't really done anything with it and over the years people have encroached on it. We got that all cleaned up last year. So, um, we're active and we're not there's nothing in there that I'm too concerned about. >> And would we be planning a multi-use trail like with bike lanes or or would it just be for mostly walking or running? >> Yeah, depending on it's scheduled to be an 8ft trail right now. The grant actually requires a 10-ft trail, but because of all the if it was a 10-ft trail, then you could do a marked trail. If it's only an 8ft trail, you can't really do a marked, you know, lanes, bike lanes, or whatever else. Uh it's a little bit difficult to get the 10-ft trail in there because if you haven't walked the site, it's uh you know for us just to get the trail and we had to be very careful on tree selection and what had to come up, what had to stay and what had to go. So we're trying to save as many of the big trees and as we can in there. So I don't think we can carry a 10-ft trail the entire way, which means that we probably wouldn't mark the trail, but it's going to be open to uh yeah bicycling rollerblading walkers runners, whatever it might be. >> Okay. Oh, very exciting. I I like this part. So, >> yeah, it'll be one I think it's only our third full lake loop trail in the community. So, it'll be nice. >> Are we looking for a motion to approve the master plan for Peterson Park? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> All right. Looks good. Uh, grant application letters of support. >> Thank you, chair, members of the commission. As I had mentioned, now that we've approved the Pearson Park master plan concept, it's time for me to go out and get these grants to try to help pay for these uh this park construction. So, I do have a letter of support here that's kind of multi-purpose. So, if the commission is willing to um make a motion to accept in uh that letter of support, then I can use that in our grant applications, which the letters of of support are actually really instrumental in getting these grants. So, I'll be getting them from the watershed district and the conservation district, the parks commission, and and some others. So, um I'd love to be able to include that with the grant applications if I can. Does the 8 foot versus 10 foot trail that you or the pathway that you just mentioned have will that have any impact on us getting this grant? >> Uh it may. I did talk to the staff over um that the staff that administered it and there is um I can't remember the term they use but there's exceptions and if you have cause for if you have reason for exception things like preserving habitat or not removing large trees those things are acceptable. So, I feel pretty good about it. It's not like we we're not doing it just because we don't want to do it or it's a budget decision. We're doing it because we're trying to preserve trees and wetland and other things. So, I think they'll understand. >> I have a motion to approve. >> Have a second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. We enthusiastically support this grant application. >> Thank you. >> All right. Public landscapes initiative program. Thank you, chair, members of the commission. Our public landscapes initiative program is something that uh the commission reviews almost annually, sometimes semianually, but um you know, the goal of that program is basically beautify the community and make sure that we um we take when when trees are removed in the community through development, whether that's housing, industrial, commercial, whatever it might be, that we are taking um fee for that and then putting that back into replanting the community. So, uh, there's a pot of money in there that we use to beautify the community and that can go in anything from our Arbor Day tree planting to mass park planting projects, new park development, and then a lot of cases right ofway beautifification. So, one of the things we talked about at the strategic planning session with city council was we have to get a little bit better on how we strategize uh, right-of-way beautifification. So we have over 400 uh gardens in Cottage Grove and a lot of those are on the rightway which are a dangerous spot to for for workers to try to maintain those gardens get really big and then they become hard to maintain then they turn into weeds and then they don't look good and then we're all frustrated and we put a lot of resources into that. So, we had a pretty good heart-to-he heart with the council and said, you know, we want to focus more on um on hardcapes and then where we do do the soft scapes. So, more plants and flowers and trees really make those pop and make sure that we maintain those to the best that we can to make sure that they look great while they're in there. So, um so we we call it we call it more of a rebalancing effort and as part of that rebalancing effort, we want to go we want to use the public landscapes initiative to go back and um prioritize those projects. So, as you'll see in here, uh the the Jamaica area landscaping, a lot of those gardens have gotten a little bit beyond what we can maintain. So, we want to scale some of that back, replant um replant the area, make sure we're getting the new plants to fill in where the plants have died, getting new mulch in there, but then also back filling with some hardscape, too. And then also on 80th Street, that's been another spot where we've had a lot of challenges in keeping up with those beds. Uh that's 80th Street's under reconstruction this year. So we'll clean up that area too this year during the construction project. So uh in the end looking for uh just like you do annually with the public landscapes initiative, review it. I've changed some priorities in there for projects given the council's direction to to rebalance our uh public landscaping program and looking for support for that new plan, amended plan. >> I have a question. So, the new roundabout that's being planned, I think it's for like what is that 80th and Keats, right? Will that be part of this or is that >> Yep. So, we have a landscape plan for that that's already kind of incorporated this where it's more hardcape and less softscape, but yes, that will have uh landscaping elements included in that too. except county own could you just I mean it's obvious hardcapes are easier to maintain than um planted gardens however there is maintenance for hardcapes too correct could you kind of fill us in on that because I didn't see anything about that in the report >> it's a good comment commissioner Olsen um so yes so hardcapes are not free of maintenance either and depending on if you do stamp concrete or colored concrete there's there can be you know sealing every 5 years or so that come along with that uh we do have to typically take a truck by that washes them, but um the reality is is the the maintenance involved in that compared to trying to get out and maintain gardens once a month is much less. So, we're uh and a lot of times you don't even have to get out of the vehicle to, you know, to wash the curbs. You can use a water truck to do that or whatever it is. So, um this is a much safer approach and um long-term a much more um beneficial approach in terms of beautifification. Any other questions for Zach? >> Um Dave, what were you saying after my question? >> Zack, you're talking you're talking about 80th and Keats. >> Yeah, that's where the new roundabouts going, right? Like right up here, >> which is county. That's roundabout, right? >> It it is a county roundabout, but there's also similar to uh Jamaica and 70th. That's actually citymained landscaping in there. We we have the sim we'll have a similar program on Jamaican 80th. >> So this will be the same cent. >> So the county basically says they won't maintain any landscaping. So that's up. So the city says if we want to maintain it then we have to take on that responsibility. So >> got it. >> It'll be similar. >> Entertain a motion to uh >> I'll move that we adopt the public landscapes initiative and recommend as recommended and place it on file. Second. >> All in favor? >> I I >> All right. Commissioner term review. >> Thank you, chair, members of the commission. Um, last time this year, you'll hear from me, but just wanted to get your terms uh your new terms in front of you. Obviously, we have uh one commissioner who has termed out this year, but we'll take care of that at the end of the meeting. So, hang tight, Samantha. We'll we'll talk about you at the end. Uh, but just reminding you of your terms. Uh the uh commissioners uh who did we have I don't even see Commissioner Waterman on here. Did I leave you off? >> No, I think she >> My apologies. Commissioner >> Brown, he's he's replaced Brown, right? >> No, Commissioner Waterman and Commissioner Olsen have offered to uh refill their seat. Commissioner Crabtree has termed out. So, we are looking to we are actively looking to fill Commissioner Crab Tree's seat right now. And then we still have a youth open seat. So if you know any youth commissioners that are willing to serve, uh we'd love to have one more to sit alongside Sam over here. So >> all right, no action on that one. So we move to facility use reclassification of Special Olympics with Noah. >> Thank you, chair, members of the commission. Yeah, we have um an item regarding our facility use policy that is in regards to the Blazing Star Special Olympics program. So, it's a a a nonprofit group we've been working with for several years that uh uses a few facilities across our community for their special events pro or for their league programming. And the challenge we've had is uh we only have two programs that we recognize as priority three associations. That would be the Cadro Athletic Association and the Eastridge Athletic Association. So, as we work down our priorities, we can't move on to priority four groups until we've got all the field allocations for the priority three groups. As you can imagine, with Cottage Grove Athletic Association and East Athletical Association being our two largest users, it takes a long time to figure out what fields are still available because they have to wait for registration numbers and other things to come through. And historically, we've uh those groups have all played really well with the Blazing Stars Special Olympics program. They try to help allocate them fields for their programs. Um but for for us as the city to wait and for them to try to wait for all that allocation to play out, it's become a little bit cumbersome. So, we'd like to just kind of make them a priority three group so that we can get them their facilities right away alongside CGA in ERAA. And obviously we we would continue to communicate with those groups on field needs. Um but we think uh this group is a a great partner um that helps the the community and the in the surrounding communities. So we think that we should rep prioritize them. Uh commissioner or I'm sorry staff uh Noah Ron heaves um he coordinates our facility use. Is there anything else I'm missing on that topic? Noah. No, I would just say the Jim can attest to the tears I've been here. Um, Eastridge Athletic Association and Cottage Grove Athletic Association have, like Zach said, um, been very open to moving things around. Blazing Stars is still growing. They're adding some new fall sports. So, just getting them the same seat at the same table makes our lives a lot easier. And so if uh if the commission is supportive of that, we I did s uh supply an amended facility use policy that they that the commission could consider for action. >> Go ahead. >> Uh just a quick question. So the fields uh coordination meeting that's usually held in January, they would be then at that meeting and correct >> those fields would be coordinated at the same time. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Yep. Good question. Yep. Commissioner Olsson. >> So, I'm sorry. I actually raised a question with Zach because our priority three, the requirements of people to be on priority three are listed on um what is it like page 85? I guess it's called exhibit A. And in order to do this, we clearly have to wave club um number of condition one and two. But I believe the rest of them we should still require just like we do the associate the athletic associations. So I my suggestion was that we limit our waving to items one and two of exhibit A, which is what Zach did with the revised um wording here. So that satisfies what I wanted because I want to do this. I think we should do this. I think it's a very good thing for us to do, but I don't think we should wave these other things. They should have insurance. They should have a board of directors. And I'm sure they do. They're probably better governed in some ways than the other two. I don't know, but I would guess. [laughter] >> Any other comments or questions? We'll entertain a motion to approve. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> I. >> All right. Looks good. >> Great job, Noah. >> Thank you, Noah. >> Nailed it. >> Action updates. [clears throat] >> Thank you, chair, members of the commission. Uh just getting a few uh responding to a few of the topic areas that on projects we've or projects or areas of concern we've had in the past. Um starting with Denzor Park. That was a project that we started construction on summer of 2024. We took a hiatus in 2025 as we kind of reallocated our budgets for parks. And uh part of the reason we did that was because the housing development and the apartment complex that we thought was going to be built there was not built that year. So, we ended up putting a pause on the park so we weren't building a park in the middle of nowhere. Well, those houses are now built and it sounds like apartment complexes are interested again. So, um we think it's time to service that neighborhood. So, we're going to go out and put uh that project back out to bid and we already have the playground. We already have the shelter on order. Um so, we'll hope to have that park constructed in this coming year of 26. So, uh, Kadrove Trailway corridor habitat, that's from, uh, if you're running west to east, it's from Hinton Avenue to Imperial Avenue underneath the power line corridors. A lot of, um, it's mostly prairie restoration underneath there. Continuation of the habitat corridor between Hidden Valley and the other, the east side of Kajrove Trailway corridor. Uh, as you probably are aware, we've had a lot of timber. We had a lot of the um you know disease dead and dying and invasive trees that we had removed and they've been that timber has been sitting there a really long time because we weren't able to burn it last winter. We were supposed to burn it this winter and we continue to have challenges. So we did just authorize a contract yesterday or last week to go ahead and have that hauled away the rest of it hauled away. Um our fire department wanted for safety measures to to reduce the piles to six foot lengths and that just became impractical at some point. So we are going to haul away that material. So, I know that's been a a point of concernation with some of the neighboring residents. Understandably slow soul because it looks terrible to have all that um cut up timber out there, but that should be hauled away here in the next week or two. Um otherwise, we'll continue to infill the site with seeding and it'll be its second full year of growth. So, we expect those flowers to come back and hopefully the um hopefully the grasses start to grow this year as well. Oldman Park is complete. Uh everything is in except for the picnic shelter. The playground actually got established in or built in November. Uh we'll let that park grow in. The turf will grow in next year. So those three lacrosse, soccer, football rectangular fields will all grow in this year. Hopefully we'll be able to play on those spring of 27. Uh but again, the playground actually got built last year. And then the picnic shelter should go up this summer, but we don't anticipate really any active programming up there uh at the moment. So it'll just kind of sit and wait, grow in, and then we'll use it in 27. Mississippi Dunes Park. Uh, lots of funding applications on that right now. So, I think I've got where we already have one grant for there for for Mississippi Dunes Park. And then we're putting in probably three or four, maybe even five applications for further grant funding. So, anything from funding the road into the park to the building to the playground to the fishing peers to the fishing pier, uh, the paddling launch, the boat launch. And so, we're kind of piece milling it together. Uh the big one is the 3M priority two settlement dollars where we put kind of everything into that one for $15 million. So that once we figure out what what we get from that program, if anything, then we can work back from there and decide on how else we want to um piece together that project. So uh a very even though there's nothing happening there right now, we staff is very active in trying to make sure that park gets built sooner rather than later. We talked about Peterson Park today. talked about Still Ponds Park. Uh Still Ponds really just focused on that habitat restoration work there. I don't think we've started mowing the trails. Um the park sign will go in. We we received the park sign here just a few weeks ago. So that sign will go up so people understand that that's its own park. Um so otherwise it's just going to be kind of a passive trail system around the lake and then eventually we'll do some habitat restoration and um that'll be it be kind of a passive park. Uh I did want to make you aware that the 2000 uh we donated some playgrounds last year and if you recall we donated the Hardwood Park playground to uh now I forget the name of the company. Do you remember it? I do not. [laughter] >> Well, we donated we donated a playground to company and and it was for it was the hope zone communities >> across the world. >> Yeah. Kids across the world, right? Yeah. Kids across the world. Uh anyways, the hardwood playground is now in Jamaica. It's one of their hope zone communities uh where their mission is to bring to the hope zones food, play, and story. Obviously, our playground's a part of the the play portion of that. So, our hardwood playground is in Jamaica and then our building playground is in Panama. So, >> nice. >> It's great. kind of neat feedback to hear that. So, we hope to do that again. So, >> well done. >> Yes, that was a good effort. >> I would like to to to get actually some some opinion. Uh this kind of spontaneous, but uh you know and and a lot depends on timing of any other funding and things like that. But in terms of uh potent regard to future council decisions and money, okay, and where you have the money to do, uh when you look at Mississippi Dunes Park and the Kingston Park building, okay, because that building is Kingston Park, the building actually kind of grew in expense, you know, uh and and so forth. We kind of tapered it back a little bit uh as we're trying to figure out how we're going to pay for some things. Um at the [clears throat] same time we got Mississippi Dunes Park which in terms of actually making investing money to make it usable in some ways the question would be you know I was looking just for some discussion if you compare you know actually taking the Kingston Park building that's there and that's just a shelter right but taking that out putting a new one in versus timing of getting things done in Mississippi Dunes Park. I'm just looking for some feedback that potentially could be used by council if if such that the timing of things comes to the point where we say, "Well, do we do this or this with the money that we have?" >> I tell you what I think, but that's for >> do Kingston first and Mississippi doing Dune second. >> Okay. I would have gone the other way. I would have wanted a working open park at Mississippi Dunes before replacing the building. >> Yeah. I think it would depend on like what are you saying like the building at Mississippi Dunes versus the building at Kingston or just a specific like put it towards what we can at Mississippi verse Kingston? [clears throat] >> Again, I don't know. You all kind of depends on on the timing. you know, maybe maybe it's doing something in Mississippi Dunes that's putting in access to the water or or activities before a building actually goes up or something like that or, you know, just just some of the timing of of of some of those kind of things. I would say Mississippi Dunes because it's a cool like entity that we have that we don't currently have that could also draw more people to our community as well cuz Kingston draws a lot of people already >> like with what it has. But I think it's just something different that not a lot of places have that we do. >> Fair vote, Sam. [laughter] Any other any other comments? >> Question about the grants. The grants kind of dictate how schedules kind of play themselves out as well, right? So you would if you did get a majority or all the grants that you're applying for for the Mississippi Dunes project, you'd have some scheduling that's kind of fixed right? >> Yeah. And that's a good question that I think does it does weigh into this because I think Mississippi Dunes there's grant funding for probably everything in that park except for the building. Buildings are really hard to get grants for. You know, unless you're doing a FEMA grant, which then requires, you know, you got to build a certain type of structure. There's really not a lot of funding for for buildings out there. So, um I think we can get grant funding for most and it doesn't mean he's going to pay 100% of everything, but we can get grant funding towards most everything at Mississippi Dunes except for probably that building. And we are applying for the building grant. We are applying a grant for the building from LC LCCMR. Um but that would probably be a 50% match. So hopefully that helps. >> What's the plan again for the building at Mississippi Dunes? Like is that going to be for like summertime? like doing like are there plans for that building like as soon as it opens or is that going to be like phase and the reason I'm asking is because if we're comparing a Kingston building to Mississippi Dunes building if the park is if we get if we get grants for everything else and the park is up and functional is the building an integral part for the usage of that park or is it would it be more beneficial to upgrade Kingston since that is probably the biggest park that we use in Cottage Grove for multiple things, right? There's Strawberry Fest, there's the Mung Festival, there's all that stuff, >> food truck, like that's what I mean. There's so many things that happen at that central hub versus waiting a little while to get a building at Mississippi Dunes. Commissioner Crabtree. Yeah, to answer your question bluntly, the the Mississippi Dunes Park can be built without the building and it'll have plenty of functionality and draw to all the other items that are there. If the building's not built, the building doesn't have to be built >> right along with the rest of the park. >> Then I guess my opinion or my feedback for Dave would be to upgrade the building at Kingston first and then do the building at Mississippi Dunes as long as we can get grant money for >> the other things to make it functional. I would agree with that. >> Good. Thank you. I appreciate the feedback. >> All right. >> Uh, real quick, the last the last item and and I didn't have I don't have the information ready for the commission quite yet is the ice ring and naming rights. Uh, we did talk to the commission at the last meeting about uh entering an agreement with Front Burner Sports. Well, that is happening. They've kind of started developing their their their story behind why people should invest into the Casual Ice Arena. So that's just started. There's a concept out there, but I wasn't comfortable sharing with the commission quite yet, but we'll be back in touch with the commission here shortly. You know, so far they've developed, you know, a concept of that story, uh, a potential partner list. Um, they've they've thrown some numbers out on potential values of those partnerships. And then, uh, that's and then the next sta f next stage of that is to go out and start, um, making contact with the communities to to see who's interested in being partners there. So, um, nothing to share yet other than I just wanted to make sure you understood that this is moving forward. They've done their stakeholder interviews. They've developed the story. So, it's it continues to move forward and they they've got a pretty tight schedule and you'll you'll have in more information at your next meeting. >> Since this is my last meeting, I have a question about Ravine. [snorts] Um, is the new like ball fields going to be like open for usage this summer? Cuz wasn't last summer it was like we were like growing the grass and stuff like that. Is that going to be like our teams going to use that ball field this year? And >> did you say ravine? >> I mean Glacier Valley. Sorry. >> Uh Glacier Valley was used last year. >> Oh, just kidding. I guess every time I drove by nobody was out there using it. >> My nephew's game there. [laughter] >> Uh but Commissioner Crabtree there. Yeah, they did not use the soccer field as early as we expected them to. I can't remember what exactly happened there, but they I know football and soccer were using it in the fall. >> Okay. So, fully functional everything at that park now. >> But you're probably right. When you drove by early on, it wasn't getting used as much, but I know baseball used it four days a week. >> Wow. >> Or more. [snorts] >> All right. Thanks, Zach. Uh donations. >> Uh none to recognize tonight. >> Staff reports and materials. Uh each uh division has a has a a report for you to to look over if you have questions. We are happy to answer those. Any questions with those? >> How have the um what has it been like the dueling pianos and stuff like that at River Oaks? How's that been going? I see that advertised. >> They sell it out every time. >> Do they? That's fun. >> Yep. Okay. Hang tight. I've got one other item. >> Is it about puzzle competition? >> No one knows about that. >> Was it Was it good? >> Yeah, it's the best one with 21 teams. >> Wow. Okay. >> Okay. If I wasn't so color blind, I would [laughter] >> go there in Louis for everybody. >> All right. So, I promised to come back to Commissioner Crabtree. >> This is her final meeting with us. She started in 2016, believe it or not. In 20 I like always give a little little history education while we're here. Age all of us. In 2016, Trump became president for the first time. Uh, Can't Stop This Feeling was a smash hit released by Justin Timberlake and featured on the Trolls movie. I didn't know this. Tech Netflix released Stranger Things for the first season. Who knew that would be such a hit? Never seen that show, but >> I know it's all the rage. In the techie world, there was a thing called the Mannequin Challenge and Pokémon Go that were all the rage. Here in Cottage Grove, we were expanding the bike park in its second year with us. And then we were opening Camels Hub Park, which obviously is two which are obviously two great parks um with a good history now. Uh, and of course we opened our first of three dedicated pickle ball courts at Granada Park, which we thought was a huge deal when we opened three and now we can't seem to open enough. This year we're going to have 16 and people still want more. So, so think about that. We had three back then and yeah. Uh, but we were also looking for a new parks and recreation parks, recreation, and natural resources commissioner. And along comes Samantha Crabtree, a young mother looking to give back to the community she was born and raised in and was now raising her young family in. Sam was appointed December of 2016 and has amically served through today. In Sam's time with us, we worked together to renovate almost every single one of our park buildings. We expanded Hamlet Park, which was 20 years in the making. We have acquired over 400 acres of park and open space, plus added 35 miles of trails. Uh she helped guide the East Ravine MA Park and MA trail master plan that sets the stage for assuring that recreation's a priority for future Cajrove. As we cross over the east side of 19, uh we saw the openings of Cedarhurst Meadows Park, Ultman Park, Antlers Ridge, Strawberry Fields Park, all and then Glacial Valley Park project. All while uh Sam was serving, we acquire a big one. We acquired we acquired 1900 ft of shoreline along the Mississippi River for the Mississippi Dunes project, which we all know was not an easy get. So, every one of the commissioners was important in making sure that happened. And that was a council goal for 20 plus years. We added unique recreational opportunities such as bike park, paddle share, kay paddle share, kayak rental program, lots of new playgrounds, interpretive signage, trail mapping, just to name a few. Uh Sam helped us preserve, protect, and restore hundreds of acres of neighbor habitat across the community, while also renovating existing parks like Arbor Meadows Harside Granada Hamlet and now have plans for the ACE Arena. Perhaps Sam's strongest voice was in making sure what was dynamic playgrounds. [laughter] She always had an opinion with playgrounds and she was excited that she was excited and exciting to make sure those playgrounds were exciting to the kiddos and to all the moms across the community. When she spoke on playgrounds, we all listened. Uh well then she spoke on any matter. We always listened. To be quite honest, Sam was a great ear and a voice in the community for our commission. She was had an act for getting the buzz of the community and making sure that the city sta city and staff and fellow commissioners knew what was being said and what was being done around town so that we could make so we could all better serve our community. Perhaps just as importantly, she is always fighting in our corner to get the facts out to the people and advocate for some of the misinformation that's out there and also advocating for our mission to make sure that we are a more active, healthy, and happier living in Cottage Grove. Sam, we appreciate your almost 10 years of service and we hope you'll continue to stay involved with Parks Recreation Cottage Grove. And as a small token of appreciation, [laughter] we've got your hockey mom parking only. So, as your kids start, are your kids driving yet? Is Eston driving? >> All right. Well, tell her she can't park in your spot. [laughter] >> Round of applause, PLEASE. [applause] A lot happens in 10 years. >> So, we want to commission comments. Anybody have any >> um the electricity at Kingston, how like is that still happening? That's in. >> It is for the food trucks. >> Mhm. [laughter] >> On each of the on each of the new light poles, there's a power source there, >> but it wasn't in last summer. >> It was in, but we didn't know how to plug into it. [laughter] >> The boxes they gave us >> Yeah. >> didn't allow for the plugs to get in there, but I think we were able to use some of them, maybe. I don't remember how it all worked out, but we're we we got a plan. >> Okay. >> They'll be ready for Strawberry Fest. My last final thoughts is um I hope that we can make sure that we always have enough sprinkler heads on on tap for um Jim for all of the Strawberry Fest vendors. [laughter] >> We got you. >> We got you. >> Your final words. >> My final words. >> We'll need a new one. [laughter] >> Just kidding. Any more commission comments? Thank you for your your service, Sam. >> Uh council comments council. >> Well, the uh [clears throat] minutes of the last couple few meetings were are in the packet and uh along with the strategic uh planning session and so forth. Uh um I don't know if there's anything that I can add to that. all everything was approved that you see on there. But if you guys have any questions, uh uh you know, I'd be happy to to try to answer them if I if I can. >> Any questions for councilman? >> Looks like you're off the hook. >> There you go. >> Uh workshop. >> All right. I'll look for a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion. Second. >> All in favor? >> I