17-10 Approved Commission Minutes
Crystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes
October 4, 2017
Crystal Community Center
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting was called to order at 7:03 pm by
Commission Chair Guy Mueller.
Commission members in attendance were: Guy Mueller, Lynn Haney, Meredith Torres-Walsh,
Erin Kolb, Andy Leipold, Lori Merriam, David Pascoe and Mark Novak. Also present were John
Elholm, Brad Fortin and Scott Berggren from the City Staff. Tiffany Kovaleski was in attendance
as a visitor.
There was no public comment.
Ms. Haney made a motion to approve the September Welcome Park Neighborhood and Park
and Recreation Commission minutes; Ms. Torres-Walsh seconded the motion. The Park and
Recreation Commission minutes for September were approved as written.
Mr. Mueller gave the chairperson’s report.
Mr. Elholm provided the commission with a recap of the MAC Park Open House, as well as the
timeframe for the project. It is anticipated that construction documents for the boardwalk will
be completed this fall/winter with the project going out to bid shortly thereafter. If the
weather gets cold enough to construct the project over the winter, the boardwalks will be
usable by next summer.
Mr. Elholm provided an update on the Parks System Master Plan. The plan document is
currently being written, which is over 100 pages in length. Currently, sections of the document
are being arranged and preliminary editing is taking place. The park system master plan
document will be brought to the commission later this year. In addition, Mr. Elholm described
where funds are proposed to come from to get projects at Welcome and Becker Parks started
over the next two years.
Discussion on niche programming also took place. The majority of the commission’s discussion
related to ways we could be more inclusive in our programming. Recreation Department staff
has been going through training in this area, and will continue to work on ways to reach out to
underserved populations.
There was no City Council Report.
Mr. Mueller gave a Crystal Fund report. The Crystal Fund board discussed fundraising at their
September meeting, which included continuing with the spring plant sale. Another idea
brought up is a beer/wine testing event. The fund is looking for additional members.
Reports were given by Mr. Fortin for park maintenance, and Mr. Berggren for re creation
programming. They both made reference to information presented in the commission packet.
Mr. Elholm gave the Director’s report. He reported that key fobs will be used for Crystal Cove
memberships, and may be used for other Recreation Department memberships as well. He
also provided information from his time at the National Parks and Recreation Conference .
Some of the main themes at the conference related to the relationship between parks and
recreation and health/wellness, social equity, and economic development.
Ms. Haney gave a Crystal Frolics report. They had a wrap-up meeting for the 2017 Frolics, and
everyone thought it went well. The plan is to offer a similar Frolics schedule in 2018.
Upcoming community events in October include; Crime Prevention Board Steak Fry and the
Light of Crystal Halfway Happy Hour.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:19 pm.
John Elholm, Recorder