2024.03.06 PRC PacketAGENDA
March 6, 2024
Crystal Community Center – 4800 Douglas Drive North, Crystal MN, 55429
7:00 pm Regular Meeting Agenda
1.Call the Meeting to Order / Introductions
2.Public Comments
3.Approval of Minutes
4.Chairperson’s Report
5.Commission Business / Discussion (45 minutes)
a.Roundtable Discussion on Commission Interests - Part 2
b.Neighbors Recognizing Neighbors Awards
c.2024 Project Updates
6.Commission Open Forum (10 minutes)
7.Commission Reports (15 minutes)
a.City Council Report
b.Project/Maintenance Report
c.Program Report
d.Director Report
8.Community Reports (10 minutes)
a.Community Activity/Event Reports
•Crystal Frolics Report
•Friends of Crystal Parks Report
b.Citizen Contacts
c.Other Community News Items
9.Adjournment
Next meeting date: April 3, 2024 – Crystal Community Center
MEETING OVERVIEW
March 6, 2024
Crystal Community Center – 4800 Douglas Drive North, Crystal MN, 55429
Contact John Elholm – john.elholm@crystalmn.gov or 763-531-1150 if you cannot attend.
REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING – 7:00 PM
1.Call the Meeting to Order and Introductions
Jesse McCaffrey will call the meeting to order
2.Public Comments
Citizens may bring items of concern related to parks and recreation to the attention of
the commission. Speaking time may be limited and no action will be taken.
3.Approval of Minutes – February 7, 2023
4.Chairperson’s Report
5.Commission Business / Discussion
John Elholm: Introduce Business Items
a.Roundtable Discussion on Commission Interests (those who have not shared)
•What are you most passionate about related to Parks and Recreation.
•What would you like to learn more about related to Parks and Recreation?
b.Neighbors Recognizing Neighbors Awards
c.2024 Project Updates
6.Commission Open Forum
A time for commission members to share their thoughts and ideas about parks and
recreation in Crystal.
7.City Reports
Forest Eidbo: City Council Report
Brad Fortin: Project/Maintenance Report
Scott Berggren: Program Report
John Elholm: Director Report
8.Community Reports
John Elholm: Crystal Frolics Report
Lynn Haney / John Elholm: Friends of Crystal Parks Report
Commission Members: Other community activities and events
9.Adjournment
Crystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes
February 7, 2024
Crystal Community Center
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by
Commission Chair Jesse McCaffrey.
Commission members in attendance: Jesse McCaffrey (Chair), Lynn Haney (Vice-Chair), Jennifer
Zielinski (Secretary), Dave Anderson, Alex Popp and Kassidy Swanson. Also present were John
Elholm, Brad Fortin and Scott Berggren from the City Staff.
Commission members absent: Joyce Cooper & Terri Schultz.
Members of the public present: JD Moore and Angela Spores
There was no public comment.
Ms. Swanson made a motion to approve the January Park and Recreation Commission minutes;
Ms. Zielinski seconded the motion. The Park and Recreation Commission minutes for January
were approved as written.
There was no chairperson's report.
Mr. McCaffrey led a roundtable discussion where everyone shared their passion for parks and
recreation and what they would like to learn this year. Common themes from the discussion
included equity in parks, accessibility, programming to meet needs and food forests. Learning
objectives for the year focused on understanding recreation programming, the financial aspects
of parks and recreation, and finding ways to contribute and help.
Mr. Berggren gave a presentation on the Recreation Department's inclusion efforts. The efforts
center around promoting health and wellness, connecting the community, and creating
welcoming and inclusive experiences. External funding, like grants through Hennepin County,
has allowed them to create opportunities focused on improving inclusion and diversity. The
Recreation Department is actively looking for other ways to collaborate with the community, to
better understand their diverse needs.
Mr. Elholm gave a project update. The City is collaborating with Kraus-Anderson for
enhancements to the Crystal Cove Aquatic Center. The design phase of the Crystal Cove pool is
nearing completion at around 90%, with budgeting currently in progress. Plans are set to seek
bids for pool construction by the end of February. Meanwhile, improvements for the Crystal
Cove building are complete, aside from discussing material colors with architects. Progress on
the Valley Place Park tennis and basketball court project has reached 50%. Similarly, the North
Lions Parking Lot project is also at 50%, with attention being paid to water management. Both
projects will be combined into one bid packet. During the discussion, Mr. Elholm highlighted
potential enhancements outlined in the park system master plan for North Lions Park and
Crystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes – Page 2 February 7, 2024
Welcome Park. For North Lions Park, the proposed changes involve converting the baseball
field into a soccer field to address the demand for rectangular fields. For Welcome Park, the
plan includes relocating the basketball court beyond the outfield fence of the softball field.
These adjustments also align with the feedback received from the community.
Mr. Elholm also discussed the various restoration projects at Bassett Creek Park, including how
they are funded. Great River Greening (non-profit) is leading both the prairie restoration
project and the woodland restoration project. The prairie was dormant seeded late last fall,
and the buckthorn was mechanically removed from the woodland this winter – which has
greatly improved visibility. Funding for these projects comes through programs specifically
created for habitat improvement. This includes funds from the Environment and Natural
Resources Trust Fund (lottery proceeds) and the Outdoor Heritage Fund (state sales tax
proceeds). These funds cover 88% of the prairie project and 92% of the woodland project.
Commission members discussed items during the open forum, giving input, asking questions,
and commenting.
There was no council report.
Mr. Fortin gave reports for park maintenance and Mr. Berggren for recreation programming.
Mr. Elholm gave the Director’s report. He discussed two grants the Recreation Department
recently received. The grants focus on food access and reducing youth sports fees.
Mr. Elholm gave the Friends of Crystal Parks report. The Cheers to Crystal event for 2024 was
canceled. The group is exploring other ways to fundraise. Plans are underway for the plant sale
on May 18.
Mr. Berggren gave a Crystal Frolics report. The Crystal Frolics Committee and the Crystal
Recreation Department are making plans for the 2024 Crystal Frolics.
Ms. Haney made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Mr. Popp seconded the motion.
The commission adjourned the meeting at 9:09 p.m.
John Elholm, Recorder
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Park and Recreation Advisory Commission
Monthly Maintenance Report
February, 2024
Vandalism:
•None to report
Projects:
•Ash tree removal
•Shoreline and storm pond vegetation management
•Snow removal
•Order equipment for 2024 (Pickup Truck with plow, Toolcat, Scissors lift)
•Order trees for Arbor Day celebration
•Order trees from Hennepin County tree sale
•Work on Capitol improvement projects for 2024
•Building maintenance
•EDA house and property clean-ups
•Install two replacement generators at both fire stations
•Research HVAC upgrades at Public Works
•Street lighting maintenance
•City wide tree inspections (special assessment removals)
•Playground inspections and repairs
•Install pickleball nets at Becker Park
•Boardwalk inspections and repairs
•Trash removal
Future:
•Trash removal
•City wide diseased tree inspections and notifications
•Snow removal
•Building maintenance
•Ash tree removal (special assessment enforcement)
•LED lighting upgrades at City hall
•Shoreline vegetation management on ponds
•Construction of park signage for 2024 season
•Equipment maintenance for spring operations
•Order ballfield and turf maintenance supplies
•Attend tree Inspector and playground inspector training
•Ballfield maintenance
•Playground inspections and repairs
•Tennis court removal at Valley Place Park (pending bid acceptance)
4800 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55429-3553
Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-0949 • www.crystalmn.gov
City of Crystal
Deciduous Replacement tree list
•Kentucky Coffee tree (Expresso, Stately manor are mostly seedless) Decaf
and True North are totally seedless
•Hybrid Elm (Accolade, Triumph, Prairie Expedition, Jefferson, Discovery)
Young trees require pruning for a couple years
•Buckeye (Autumn Splendor, Yellow has no fruit & yellow to orange fall
color)
•Hackberry
•Crab Apple
•Japanese Tree Lilac (Ivory Pillar)
•Gingko
•White Oaks (Bur, Swamp White, various hybrids)
•Red Oaks (susceptible to oak wilt) Majestic Skies variety
•River Birch (Prairie Dream, Whitespire)
•Northern Catalpa
•Honey locust
•Linden (Susceptible to Japanese Beetles)
•Northern Redbud (MN Strain)
•American Sycamore
•Honeylocust
•American Hornbeam (Aka; Ironwood, Musclewood, Blue Beech) Native
Flame or Autumn Treasure cultivar
•Honeylocust (Northern Acclaim)
•Peach tree “Contender”
•Apple tree “Haralson” and Patriot”
•Pear tree “Mount royal”
Public Works Department
(Parks, Streets, Homeowners)
Approved Tree List
At its discretion the city may approve cultivars similar to the trees on this list. The most
road salt tolerant trees are marked with an *
Common Name Botanical Name Common Name Botanical Name
Accolade Elm Ulmus ‘Accolade’ Japanese Tree Lilac* Syringa reticulata
American Hophornbeam
(aka Ironwood)
Ostrya virginiana Katsura Tree Cerdidiphyllum japonicum
American Larch Larix laricina Kentucky Coffeetree Gymnocladus dioicus
American Linden Tilia Americana Large-leaved Linden Tilia platphyllos
American Sycamore Platanus occidentalis Liberty Elm Ulmus Americana ‘Liberty’
Amur Chokeberry Prunus maackia Littleleaf Linden Tilia cordata
Amur Cork Tree Phellodendron amurense Mugo Pine Pinus mugo
Amur Maackia Maackia amurensis Northern Catalpa Catalpa speciosa
Asian White Birch Betula playphylla Norway Spruce Picea abies
Austrian Pine* Pinus nigra Ohio Buckeye Aesculus glabra
Autumn Splendor
Buckeye*
Aesculus ‘Autumn
Splendor’
Prairie Dream Paper Birch Betula papyrifera ‘Varen’
Balsam Fir Abies balsamea Prairie Expedition Elm Ulmus Americana ‘Lewis &
Clark’
Black Hills Spruce* Picea glauca Princeton Elm* Ulmus Americana
‘Princeton’
Black Tupelo Nyssa sylvatica Quaking Aspen Populus tremuloides
Blue Beech
(aka Musclewood)
Carpinus caroliniana Red Buckeye* Aesculus pavia
Bottlebrush Buckeye Aesculus parviflora Red Oak* Quercus rubra
Bur Oak Quercus macrocarpa Red Pine Pinus resinosa
Cathedral Elm* Ulmus ‘cathedral’ River Birch Betula nigra
Common Hackberry Celtis occidentalis St. Croix Elm Ulmus Americana ‘St Croix’
Common Horsechestnut* Aesculus
hippocastanatum
Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris
Crabapple Malus spp.
(disease-resistant spp.)
Silver Linden Tilia tomentosa
Cucumber Tree Magnolia acuminata Speckled Alder Alnus rugosa
Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziensii Swamp White Oak Quercus bicolor
Downy Serviceberry (tree
form)
Amelanchier arborea
(tree form)
Sweet Birch Betula lenta
Dwarf Korean Lilac (tree
form)
Syringa Meyeri Palibin Thornless Honeylocust* Gleditsia triacanthus
inermis
Eastern Hemlock Tsuga Canadensis Triumph Elm Ulmus ‘Morton Glossy’
Eastern Redbud (northern
strain)
Cercis Canadensis Turkish Hazel Corylus colurna
European Hornbeam Carpinus betulus Valley Forge Elm Ulmus Americana ‘Valley
Forge’
Gingko*
(aka Maidenhair Tree)
Ginkgo biloba
(male tree only)
White Oak* Quercus alba
Harvest Gold Mongolian
Linden
Tilia mongolica ‘Harvest
Gold’
White Pine Pinus strobus
Hawthorn Crataegus monogynaser Yellow Birch Betula alleghaniensis
Hybrid Serviceberry (tree
form)
A. arborea x grandiflora
(tree form)
Yellow Buckeye* Aesculus flava
Jack Pine* Pinus banksiana Yellowhorn Xanthoceras sorbifolium
Yellowwood Cladrastus kentukea
Amended September 6, 2022
Planning Department
(Landscape Plans, etc.)
P R O J E C T S U M M A R Y
M A R C H 2 0 2 4
Below is a highlight of the projects that will be happening in
the City of Crystal. These projects will be taking place at
numerous parks and buildings throughout the city.
Picnic & Field Rentals
Picnic shelter and field rentals for this upcoming
spring and summer have started. Our shelters are a
popular place to hold graduation parties. Both adult and
youth athletic groups rent our fields.
Pickleball Nets Up
The mild winter has advanced the usual spring activities,
including the early setup of pickleball nets at Becker
Park. The courts are already busy with activity, thanks to
the warmer temperatures.
Athletic Field Supplies
In anticipation of the upcoming spring season, preparations
are being made to ensure our athletic fields are in the best
condition. Orders for essential supplies such as ag-lime,
striping paint, and grass seed have been placed.
Staff Training
Certain City staff are undergoing training for their
certifications as tree inspectors and playground inspectors.
This ongoing training ensures that our parks remain safe and
enjoyable for everyone in the community.
P R O G R A M S U M M A R Y
M A R C H 2 0 2 4
Below is a highlight of the programs offered by the Crystal
Recreation Department. Occasionally we will recap some
key special events we offer.
Summer Brochure
The most recent issue of our seasonal brochure is out,
and registrations have been coming in! Our many
offerings will allow you to discover what Crystal is like
in the summer and showcase many ways to stay active.
Donut Talk
No school, no problem! We have you covered over Spring
Break this month with a collection of activities; including
musical theatre, a Harry Potter Lego class, basketball camp
and gymnastics camp.
Radius Guest is a former track star at the University of
Nebraska and is now Racial Equity Inclusion Director for
the City of St. Louis Park. Radius will talk about the
challenges and benefits of being a student-athlete.
Thanks to the mild winter, we begin spring crop planting
in the Edible Courtyard early. The initial planting, featuring
spinach, carrots, and snap peas, is set for March 8. We are
utilizing plastic and PVC pipes to warm the soil efficiently.
Spring Break Classes
Edible Courtyard Planting