18-09 Approved Commission Minutes
Crystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes
September 5, 2018
Valley Place Neighborhood
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting was called to order at 7:20 pm by
Commission Chair Lori Merriam.
Commission members in attendance were: Lynn Haney, David Pascoe, Meredith Torres-Walsh,
Patrick Rosenquist, Lori Merriam, and Andy Leipold. Also present were Nancy LaRoche from
the City Council and Anne Norris, John Elholm, Brad Fortin and Scott Berggren from the City
Staff.
Commission members absent: Erin Kolb & Tiffany Kovaleski
There was no public comment.
Mr. Pascoe made a motion to approve the August Park and Recreation Commission minutes;
Mr. Rosenquist seconded the motion. The Park and Recreation Commission minutes for August
were approved as written.
Ms. Merriam gave her chairperson’s report, where she thanked the City for providing flowers
for her mother’s funeral.
Mr. Elholm gave an update on the Bassett Creek Dog Park. He referenced an email which
discussed the plan to have more police presence at the dog park. The PD will continue to do
spot checks throughout the fall. Other improvements were also discussed regarding the dog
park. These items included looking at different gate options, adding a sign near the light button
and moving benches from Becker Park into the dog park to provide more furniture.
Mr. Elholm went through the 5 year CIP plan which lists proposed projects and how much each
project would cost. Ms. Merriam commented that she would like to see park signage happen
immediately, as opposed to spreading it out over 4 years. Mr. Elholm highlighted a few of the
playgrounds that would be updated, including the playgrounds at Fair School and Welcome
Park. According to the CIP plan these projects would happen in 2020.
Mr. Elholm gave an update on the park projects that are currently happening. MAC Wildlife Are
will hold its grand re-opening on September 8th marking the completion of that boardwalk
project. The light poles have been removed from Becker Park by the City of Akin. This fall more
fences will be removed from Becker Park. Staff and the Crystal Frolics committee will
coordinate the cleanup of items from the Becker building before it is torn down. Lastly the
grass has been planted at Welcome Park and the irrigation is set to run in order to establish
good grass.
Crystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes – Page 2 September 5, 2018
Ms. LaRoche gave the City Council Report. She talked about the surplus land that has been
sold, which will provide money for the parks fund in order to do more projects.
Mr. Pascoe gave the Crystal Fund report. They currently have 4 breweries committed for the
Cheers to Crystal event.
Reports were given by Mr. Fortin for park maintenance and Mr. Berggren for recreation
programming.
Mr. Elholm gave a brief Directors Report which touched on updates that were given during the
neighborhood and business part of the meeting.
Ms. Haney gave a Crystal Frolics report. As of this report the Frolics revenue was down $6,000
from 2017. She also commented that the food booth revenue was also down this year, with
the exception of Cooper Football.
In other community activities, the Light of Crystal will be holding their Half Way Happy Hour on
September 15.
Mr. Pascoe made a motion to adjourn the September Park and Recreation Commission minutes;
Mr. Rosenquist seconded the motion.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:07 pm.
John Elholm
Recorder