24-01 Approved Commission MinutesCrystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes
January 3, 2024
Crystal Community Center
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by
Commission Vice-Chair Jesse McCaffrey.
Commission members in attendance: Jesse McCaffrey (Vice-Chair), Dave Anderson, Joyce
Cooper, Lynn Haney, Alex Popp, Terri Schultz, and Kassidy Swanson. Also present were John
Elholm, Aaron Morgan, and Scott Berggren from the City Staff.
Commission members attending virtually: Jennifer Zielinski (Secretary)
Guests: Traci Kamish and Alexa Kamish
The election of officers for 2024 took place.
Ms. Haney made a motion to nominate Mr. McCaffrey as the commission chair. Mr. McCaffrey
accepted the nomination. No other nominations were made.
Mr. McCaffrey was elected as the 2024 Park and Recreation Commission Chair.
Mr. McCaffrey took over leading the meeting as chair.
Mr. McCaffrey made a motion to nominate Ms. Haney as the commission vice-chair. Ms. Haney
accepted the nomination. Ms. Zielinski made a motion to nominate herself as the commission
vice-chair. No other nominations were made. A vote of commission members was held. Mr.
Berggren tallied the votes.
Ms. Haney was elected as the 2024 Park and Recreation Commission Vice-Chair.
Mr. Anderson made a motion to nominate Ms. Zielinski as the commission secretary. Ms.
Zielinski accepted the nomination. No other nominations were made.
Ms. Zielinski was elected as the 2024 Park and Recreation Commission Secretary.
There was no public comment.
Ms. Haney made a motion to approve the December Park and Recreation Commission minutes;
Mr. Anderson seconded the motion. The Park and Recreation Commission minutes for
December were approved as written.
Mr. McCaffrey gave the chairperson’s report. He thanked the commission members for the
opportunity to be commission chair. At the February meeting, he would like each commission
member to answer questions about their passions around parks and recreation.
Crystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes – Page 2 January 3, 2024
The Park & Recreation Advisory Commission reviewed the 2024 meeting calendar, including
four outdoor meetings between May and August. The proposed changes include rescheduling
the bus tour to June 26 to avoid the Juneteenth holiday and shifting the July 3 meeting to July
10 to avoid conflicting with the Fourth of July holiday.
May 1 Skyway Park (Arbor Day Event)
June 5 Welcome Park
June 26 Bus Tour
July 10 Valley Place Park
August 7 Twin Oaks Park
Mr. Haney made a motion to approve the 2024 meeting schedule with the amended dates; Mr.
Anderson seconded the motion. The Park and Recreation Commission meeting date schedule for
2024 was approved with the amended dates.
Mr. Elholm reviewed the 2023 Work Plan. The Crystal Parks and Recreation Commission
accomplished many great things in 2023. Commission members participated in a bus tour
featuring visits to neighboring communities. In addition, they picked the winners for the Crystal
Frolics button contest and the Neighbors Recognizing Neighbors award.
Mr. Elholm presented a draft of the 2024 Work Plan. The work plan includes a grand opening
for the Welcome Park Play Area and Fitness project. Projects include construction at the Crystal
Cove Aquatic Center, tennis courts at Valley Place Park, and a renovated parking lot at North
Lions Park. The commission will also keep voting on initiatives like "neighbors recognizing
neighbors" and "frolics buttons". Commission members also suggested adding the capture
crystal photo contest to the work plan.
Mr. McCaffrey made a motion to approve the 2024 work plan with the addition of the capture
crystal photography contest; Ms. Haney seconded the motion. The Park and Recreation
Commission work plan for 2024 was approved.
Mr. Elholm provided the commission with an update on future projects. Staff is gathering
information from Kraus-Anderson to potentially use their firm to oversee construction of the
Crystal Cove Aquatic Center. Mr. Elholm presented the commission with five potential slide
designs to replace the current water slides, recognizing new slides may not currently fit within
the budget. The commission identified two preferred concepts among the slides. Additionally,
HCM Architects has submitted plans for the Crystal Cove building to the city for review.
Mr. Elholm discussed other projects scheduled for 2024 as well. Redevelopment plans for North
Lions Park focus on revamping the parking lot and improving trail connections. The preferred
design at Valley Place Park consolidates basketball and tennis facilities within a shared fenced
area. Both projects involve incorporating best management practices for stormwater.
Crystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes – Page 3 January 3, 2024
Mr. Elholm gave an overview of the parks system master plan adopted in 2017 and how it
drives park projects and improvements today.
Commission members discussed items during the open forum, giving input, asking questions,
and commenting.
Ms. Kamish presented the council report. Much of the recent meeting was focused on organic
recycling, sparking extensive discussion.
Mr. Morgan gave reports for park maintenance, and Mr. Berggren for recreation programming.
Mr. Elholm gave the Director’s report. He updated the commission on recent grants we have
received for 2024. He also recently met with a disc golf organizer who wants to bring a national
tournament to the Bassett Creek Disc Golf Course in 2025.
Mr. Elholm gave the Crystal Frolics report. They had a final meeting in December of 2023. It was
a productive meeting where new ideas were discussed. The Recreation Department is also
looking for a new option to provide beer at Becker Park.
Mr. Elholm gave the Friends of Crystal Parks report. They are planning the Cheers to Crystal
beer-tasting event on March 15, 2024.
Ms. Schultz made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Ms. Cooper seconded the motion.
The commission adjourned the meeting at 8:51 p.m.
John Elholm, Recorder