2014.02.05 PRC Minutes Crystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission
Minutes
February 5, 2014
Crystal Community Center
The Crystal Parks and Recreation Commission meeting was called to order at 7:04 pm by
Chairperson Jennifer Sodd. Commission members in attendance were: Ms. Nancy
LaRoche, Ms. Erin Kolb, Ms. Lori Merriam, Mr. Stephen Hildre and Mr. Michael
McClain. Also present were: Mr. Lassana Bamba Jr., Commission Candidate, Mr. Casey
Peak, Council Liaison, Mr. Rick Rauen and Ms. Gene Hackett from the city staff.
Residents in attendance included: Mr. Jacob Maristany and Ms. Carolyn Maristany (who
arrived later) and their children.
The Commission welcomed Mr. Lassana Bamba Jr. as a Commission candidate.
Introductions were made.
Jacob Maristany informed the Commission of the need for a family walking program at
the CCC. Currently the walking is limited to seniors only, however the Recreation
Department has opened up the program to families providing the children walk only and
be within an arm’s length reach of the adult. The Maristany’s would like a program that
would allow more freedom for the children so that they wouldn’t be limited to walking
while the parents walked. Gene Hackett explained that such a program is planned for
Fall 2014. The tentative program calls for Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:30am – 2pm
would be family walking time. Seniors would be informed that children would be
allowed at this time. The program will be publicized in the fall brochure that is in the
homes in mid-August.
The minutes were approved as sent.
Rebekah Daly from the Crystal Fund did not attend as her Little Library kit has not
arrived. She plans to be at the March meeting.
There were no updates on the Disc Golf expansion. Gene Hackett will contact Tom
Jungroth to see if the Disc Golf group was able to review the tentative plan and offer
suggestions.
Gene Hackett and Rick Rauen informed the group of a grant application to finish off the
memorial at Twin Oak POW-MIA Park. The VFW has offered $3000 for the matching
funds required for the grant. This project includes benches around the park and the
service medallions either attached to the bench or to some kind of boulder adjacent to the
bench.
Staff is working on ordering the new fishing dock for Twin Lake Shores. The adjacent
owners will be notified of the project.
Sections of the old fishing pier have been relocated to Bassett Creek Park.
Becker Park repairs/clean-up are mostly completed. Renovation plans have been put on
hold. The Commission may want to talk about this with the Council at the work session.
New Hope is not interested in using the property adjacent to Iron Horse as a dog park at
this time.
The Busker event is advertised in the summer brochure. Casey Peak has a contact that
maybe helpful in planning this.
The group that sponsored the Farmer’s Market is not planning on holding it this year.
The Recreation Department is willing to work with another group if we find one
interested in hosting.
The Commission reviewed 2014 work plan ideas. The work plan will be the focus of the
work session with the City Council. Lori Merriam felt that the Commission needs to
persuade the Council to start making parks a priority in future Capital funding as many
parks projects have been moved back and/or deferred over the past years. The
Commission also discussed fundraising opportunities as well as setting up a fund for
Becker to fund the repairs/replacements. The fund could be set up through a bank or
online. More discussion will be held next month. Stephen Hildre asked about a city
survey. Gene Hackett will bring the last survey results to the March meeting.
Casey Peak gave the City Council report. Property acquisition is in process for the Public
Works facility. Funding for the emergency water supply is being discussed. Casey Peak
added that he is looking for more community involvement and would like to work on a
winter snow event as well as neighborhood bar-b-ques. Lori Merriam suggested that the
bar-b-ques could be held in conjunction with the outdoor park meetings during the
summer. Casey Peak will suggest that to the Mayor.
Jennifer Sodd reported on the Crystal Frolics Committee for Lynn Haney. The LaCrosse
clinic is a new event scheduled for Thursday July 24 at 6:30 at Forest. The next Frolics
meeting is Monday, February 17 at the VFW in the media room which is downstairs.
Tom Jungroth was not in attendance so there was not a Crystal Business Association
Report.
The next Commission meeting is March 5 at the Crystal Community Center. The Tree
Board will meet at 6:30pm and the regular meeting will start at 7pm. The work session
with the City Council is scheduled for March 13 at 7pm at City Hall.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm.
Gene Hackett
Recorder