17-12 Approved Commission MinutesCrystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes
December 6, 2017
Crystal Community Center
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by
Commission Chair Guy Mueller.
Commission members in attendance were: Guy Mueller, Lynn Haney, Meredith Torres-Walsh,
Erin Kolb, Lori Merriam, David Pascoe, Andy Leipold, Tom Jungroth and Mark Novak. Also
present were Olga Parsons, Council Liaison; John Elholm, Brad Fortin and Scott Berggren from
the City Staff.
Mr. Selton, Ms. Kovaleski & Mr. Rosenquist were also present. Mr. Selton is a member of the
Lion’s Club and Planning Commission; and was in attendance to get an update on the Park
System Master Plan. Ms. Kovaleski and Mr. Rosenquist were recently appointed to the Park
and Recreation Commission by the City Council, and begin their terms in January.
Ms. Torres-Walsh made a motion to approve the November Park and Recreation Commission
minutes; Ms. Merriam seconded the motion. The Park and Recreation Commission minutes for
November were approved as written.
Mr. Mueller gave the chairperson’s report. He had some comments related to the park system
master plan that he will share during that portion of the meeting.
Mr. Elholm provided the commission with an update of the MAC Park project. Project bids were
received by eight contractors on December 6, 2017. The bid results were favorable, and a
contract with the low bidder should be awarded later in December.
Mr. Elholm provided an update on the Parks System Master Plan, which touched on the
purpose of the plan, the process that has taken place, and the recommended changes to the
city’s park system. Mr. Elholm went over some comments that had been received since the
commission reviewed the document last month, and discussed the City Council work session
that was held on the plan November 21. There was also discussion on the supplemental
document that goes along with the master plan – which is a recap of all the presentations and
written comments received during the planning process. The document will be added to the
commission’s on-line meeting materials.
The final steps in the approval process includes having the Park and Recreation Commission
recommend approval of the Park System Master Plan, followed by City Council approval of the
plan.
Ms. Haney made a motion to recommend the proposed Parks System Master Plan as written;
Ms. Kolb seconded the motion. Mr. Mueller asked for discussion.
Crystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes – Page 2 December 6, 2017
Mr. Pascoe made a motion to table the motion for approval so the discussion could encompass
items not necessarily related to the motion; Mr. Mueller seconded the motion.
Mr. Mueller raised some questions related to the Parks System Master Plan. Some of the items
had already been corrected through prior discussions with Mr. Elholm. The group discussed the
other items to see if there were additional changes that should be recommended for the Parks
System Master Plan document. The discussion resulted in two proposed changes. The first
related to the link between the classification of Becker Park as Destination Park and the
reduction of sports fields and courts in the park. The second noted that while there is a trails
chapter, trails were not the focus of this plan. Since a more robust discussion of trails already
exists in the city’s comprehensive plan, a reference to that plan was also proposed.
Mr. Pascoe removed the tabled discussion; Ms. Kolb seconded the motion.
Ms. Haney amended her initial motion to now recommend approval of the proposed Parks
System Master Plan with inclusion of changes related to sports fields and courts at Becker Park
and reference to the comprehensive plan in the trails section; Mr. Jungroth seconded the
motion. The motion was approved.
Mr. Pascoe made a motion to recommend that the City’s Comprehensive Plan be modified to
reflect the new Park System Master Plan; Ms. Kolb seconded the motion. The motion was
approved.
Mr. Elholm provided information on upcoming park projects and recommendations for funding
them. This information had been reviewed with the City Council during their work session on
November 21.
Mr. Jungroth and Mr. Novak were recognized for their work on the Parks and Recreation
Advisory Commission. Certificates were presented.
Mr. Elholm presented possible outdoor meeting dates for 2018. The commission reacted
positively to the locations chosen.
Mr. Elholm led a discussion on election of Park and Recreation Commission officers, and the
month that elections take place. The Bylaws currently state that elections shall be held at the
December meeting, but most other commissions hold their elections at their January meeting.
Ms. Kolb made a motion to table the voting on determining Park and Recreation Commission
officers for 2018 until the January meeting; Mr. Jungroth seconded the motion. The motion was
approved.
Crystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes – Page 3 December 6, 2017
Mr. Pascoe made a motion to recommend that the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission
bylaws be changed to reflect that voting for officers be held during the January meeting. Ms.
Torres-Walsh seconded the motion. The motion was approved.
Ms. Parsons presented the council report. The budget for 2018 has been approved, which
includes one full-time Parks maintenance worker. The budget also reflects a bump in spending
on maintenance items. The City Council has also made the commission appointments for 2018.
Mr. Mueller gave a Crystal Fund report. They are looking to provide funds to improve the disc
golf course at Bassett Creek Park. They will meet in January, where they will begin planning
upcoming fundraising activities.
Reports were given by Mr. Fortin for park maintenance and Mr. Berggren for recreation
programming. They both made reference to information presented in the commission packet.
Mr. Elholm gave the Director’s report. He reported that two new members will be joining the
Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission in 2018, Ms. Kovaleski & Mr. Rosenquist. This will
leave the commission with one remaining vacancy.
Upcoming community events in December include; the Light of Crystal Halfway Happy Hour.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:07 pm.
John Elholm, Recorder