22-11 Approved Commission MinutesCrystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes
November 2, 2022
Crystal Community Center
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by
Commission Vice-Chair Tony Sumnicht.
Commission members in attendance: Jesse McCaffrey (Chair) (arrived late), Tony Sumnicht
(Vice-Chair), Shaz Ahmadi (Secretary), Dave Anderson, Joyce Cooper, Forest Eidbo, Lynn Haney,
Erin Kolb, Taji Onesirosan, and Jen Zielinski. Also present were David Cummings, Council
Liaison; John Elholm, Brad Fortin, and Scott Berggren from the City Staff.
There was no public comment.
Ms. Kolb made a motion to approve the October Park and Recreation Commission minutes; Ms.
Haney seconded the motion. The Park and Recreation Commission minutes for October 5 were
approved as written.
The meeting was passed to Commission Chair McCaffrey to lead when he arrived at 7:16 pm.
There was no Chairperson’s report.
Mr. Elholm presented information on current park projects; including park entrance signs,
Becker Park pickleball courts, FAIR School Park soccer field, Bassett Creek Park prairie planting
and the Bassett Creek Park dog park. Information was also presented on the Bassett Creek Park
pedestrian bridge project. Quotes for the bridge abutments came in considerably higher than
the engineer’s estimate. Staff will now complete the project using a bid process. The
pedestrian bridge project will be combined with the dog park project for bidding. Advertising
for bids is tentatively scheduled for January of 2023. Advertising for bids to complete the
community center south parking lot project is also scheduled for January.
Mr. Elholm gave an update on park planning efforts for 2023; including Broadway Park, Crystal
Highlands Park and the Bassett Creek disc golf course. The City recently applied for a Hennepin
County Youth Sports Grant to fund $150,000 of accessibility improvements in Welcome Park,
including a new play area and fitness component. The commission reviewed fitness pod options
for Welcome Park and confirmed their preference for the FitLot equipment. Public input results
for the future of the Crystal Cove Aquatic Center were presented. Input so far has indicated a
community desire to repair the pool rather than demolish it. A meeting with the commission
and city council will be scheduled in early January to discuss the aquatic center further.
Mr. Berggren gave a brief overview of Winterfest; a community event planned on December 3.
He asked Commission members to volunteer to help with different aspects of the event.
Crystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes – Page 2 November 2, 2022
Commission members discussed items during the open forum, giving input, asking questions,
and commenting. One suggestion from the discussion included recruiting new commission
members, with two spots opening in 2023.
Mr. Cummings presented the City Council report. The council chose the finalists for the city
manager job at their meeting on November 1. The council will interview four finalists on
November 16. Assistant City Manager, Kim Therres, will act as interim city manager. He also
encouraged individuals to vote during the election on November 8.
Mr. Fortin gave reports for park maintenance, and Mr. Berggren for recreation programming.
Mr. Elholm gave a Director’s Report highlighting his recent presentation at the MRPA Annual
Conference.
Mr. Sumnicht gave a Crystal Frolics report recapping their October meeting. The Crystal Frolics
Committee is doing outreach to recruit more members. All the organizations participating in
2022 will return to the event in 2023.
Mr. Elholm gave a Friends of Crystal Parks Report. They are planning the Cheers to Crystal beer-
tasting event on March 10, 2023, and have begun to reach out to breweries.
Mr. McCaffrey made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Mr. Eidbo seconded the motion.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:49 pm.
John Elholm
Recorder