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2025.02.05 PRC Packet AGENDA February 5, 2025 Crystal Community Center – 4800 Douglas Drive, 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. Edible Landscapes Presentation b. Roundtable Discussion on Commission Interests c. 2025 Planning and Project Discussion 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: March 5, 2025 – Crystal Community Center MEETING OVERVIEW February 5, 2025 Crystal Community Center – 4800 Douglas Drive, 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 – January 8, 2025 4. Chairperson’s Report 5. Commission Business / Discussion John Elholm: Introduce Business Items a. Edible Landscapes Presentation b. Roundtable Discussion on Commission Interests c. 2025 Planning and Project Discussion 6. Commission Open Forum A time for commission members to share their thoughts and ideas about parks and recreation in Crystal. 7. City Reports John Budziszewski: City Council Report Brad Fortin: Project/Maintenance Report Michelle Margo: Program Report John Elholm: Director Report 8. Community Reports John Elholm: Crystal Frolics Report Lynn Haney: Friends of Crystal Parks Report Commission Members: Other community news and contacts 9. Adjournment Crystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes January 8, 2025 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), Dave Anderson, Joyce Cooper, J.D. Moore II, Alex Popp, Terri Schultz, Angela Spores and Kassidy Swanson. Also present were John Budziszewski from the city council, John Elholm, Brad Fortin and Michelle Margo from the city staff. Commission member absent: Jen Zielinski (Secretary). The election of officers for 2025 took place. Haney made a motion to nominate McCaffrey as the commission chair. McCaffrey accepted the nomination. Jesse McCaffrey was elected as the 2025 Park and Recreation Commission Chair. Anderson made a motion to nominate Haney as the commission vice chair. Haney accepted the nomination. Lynn Haney was elected as the 2025 Park and Recreation Commission Vice Chair. McCaffrey made a motion to nominate Swanson as secretary, Swanson declined nomination Haney made a motion to nominate Schultz as secretary. Schultz accepted the nomination. Terri Schultz was elected as the 2025 Park and Recreation Commission Secretary. There was no public comment. Haney made a motion to approve the December Park and Recreation Commission minutes; McCaffrey seconded the motion. The Park and Recreation Commission minutes for December were approved as written. McCaffrey gave the chairperson report. He discussed the idea of having commission members share what they are passionate about like they have done in past years, potentially at the February meeting. The Park & Recreation Advisory Commission reviewed the 2025 meeting calendar, including four outdoor meetings between May and August. The summer neighborhood meetings will begin at 6:30, with the summer dates as follows: Crystal Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes – Page 2 January 8, 2025 May 7 Sunnyview Park (Arbor Day Event @ 5:30pm) June 4 Fair School Park June 18 Bus Tour July 2 Forest School Park August 6 Woodland Park Haney made a motion to approve the 2025 meeting schedule. Schultz seconded the motion. The Park and Recreation Commission meeting schedule for 2025 was approved. Elholm reviewed the 2024 Work Plan. The Crystal Parks and Recreation Commission accomplished many great things in 2024. Highlights included a ribbon cutting for the Welcome Park play area in June, community engagement to gather input on the Twin Oaks Park layout and play area design in August and input on Crystal Cove Aquatic Center improvements throughout the year. In addition, they picked the winners for the Neighbors Recognizing Neighbors Awards, Crystal Frolics Button Design and Capture Crystal photo contest. Elholm presented a draft of the 2025 Work Plan. The work plan includes a grand re-opening for the Crystal Cove Aquatic Center. Projects include improvements at Twin Oaks Park, North Lions Park soccer fields, and planning for 2026 park projects at Woodland and Forest School Parks. Recommendations were made to add sustainability and edible landscapes to the plan. Commission members also discussed adding work plan items related to sustainability and native landscapes. Swanson made a motion to add explore sustainability partnerships to the 2025 workplan; McCaffrey seconded the motion. The motion to amend the draft work plan passed. Popp made a motion to add explore collaborations for edible landscapes to the 2025 work plan; Moore II seconded the motion. The motion to amend the draft work plan passed. McCaffrey made a motion to approve the 2025 workplan as amended; Schultz seconded the motion. The Park and Recreation Commission work plan for 2025 was approved as amended. Elholm provided the commission with an update on future projects. The commission received an update on the Crystal Cove Aquatic Center, including the replacement of the concession window and arrival of new slide sections. Elholm also presented the preferred color concepts of Twin Oaks Park from the Winterfest event. The commission discussed the two preferred options and combined them to create a final concept. The final choices included silver poles, green slides, tangerine accents and blue PIP surfacing. Commission members had an opportunity to discuss items during the open forum. Budziszewski presented the council report. A new mayor and re-elected council members were sworn in at the last meeting. He also discussed the importance of grants for projects, the stainability commission, new financial software and organics. Fortin gave reports for park maintenance, and Margo for recreation programming. Crystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes – Page 3 January 8, 2025 Elholm gave the Director’s report. He updated the commission on the new facility supervisor position we are hiring for. The position will plan, direct, coordinate and supervise the operation of the outdoor aquatic center, ice rinks and community center. Elholm gave the Crystal Frolics report. Becker Park will host family-friendly activities on Saturday and Welcome Park will host sports, food and fireworks. Welcome Park will have activities Thursday-Sunday. Haney and Elholm gave the Friends of Crystal Parks report. They have a meeting on January 10 to discuss the annual plant sale and Arbor Day event. Haney made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Swanson seconded the motion. The commission adjourned the meeting at 9:05 p.m. John Elholm, Recorder PLANNING / DEVELOPMENT Approved 1/8/2025 Item Process: Status Crystal Cove Aquatic Center Project · Receive Progress Updates from Staff 2024/25 Construction · Provide Input on Project Summer 2025 Grand Opening · Participate in Grand Opening Celebration Twin Oaks Park Project · Receive Progress Updates from Staff 2025 Construction · Provide Input on Project Fall 2025 Grand Opening · Participate in Grand Opening Celebration North Lions Park Soccer Field Project · Receive Progress Updates from Staff 2025 Construction · Provide Input on Project Other Capital Improvement Projects · Receive Project Updates from Staff 2025 Construction · Provide Input on Projects Planning for Woodland Park Project · Receive Planning Updates from Staff 2026 Construction · Provide Input as Plans are Developed Planning for Forest School Play Area · Receive Planning Updates from Staff 2026 Construction · Provide Input as Plans are Developed Park Tour · Visit sites for project and program ideas Locations TBD · Discuss ideas and provide input 2025 PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION WORK PLAN PROMOTION / COMMUNITY OUTREACH Approved 1/8/2025 Item Process: Status Community Events and Programs · PRC Representation at Major P&R Events · Assist with Crystal Frolics Activities · Promote P&R at Non-City Activities Recognition · Select Neighbors Recog. Neighbors Awards · Select Crystal Frolics Button Design Awards · Select Capture Crystal Photo Contest Recreation · Provide Input on Programs Being Offered · Provide Feedback on Programs Attended Summer Meetings · Encourage Citizen Participation at Meetings 4 Neighborhood Meetings May: Sunnyview Park (Arbor Day) June: Fair School Park July: Forest School Park August: Woodland Park Partnerships · Support other Community Groups & Events Friends of Crystal Parks Crystal Frolics Committee, Inc. · Encourage Collaborative Fundraising · Explore Collaborations for Edible Landscapes · Explore Sustainability Partnerships Marketing · Promote P&R through Social Networks · Take Photos in Parks and at Events · Monitor Web Site, etc. for Corrections · Encourage Links to P&R Web Site 2025 PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION WORK PLAN Approved 1/8/2025 Date Time Place Notes January 8*7 p.m.Community Center 1st Wednesday Holiday February 5 7 p.m.Community Center March 5 7 p.m.Community Center April 2 6:45pm Community Center Tree Board @ 6:45; PRC @ 7 May 7 6:30 p.m.Sunnyview Park Arbor Day @ 5:30 June 4 6:30 p.m.Fair School Park TPL Project June 18 TBD Start at Community Center PRC Tour of Various Parks July 2 6:30 p.m.Forest School Park 2026 Play Area August 6 6:30 p.m.Woodland Park 2026 Improvements September 3 7 p.m.Community Center October 1 7 p.m.Community Center November 5 7 p.m.Community Center December 3 7 p.m.Community Center All Meetings are on Wednesday Nights * Note: Moved from regular date due to holiday. Park and Recreation Commission 2025 Meeting Dates Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Monthly Maintenance Report January, 2025 Vandalism: • None to report Projects: • Ash tree removal, city wide tree inspections (special assessment removals) • Storm pond vegetation control • Snow removal • Order gravel bed bare root trees for spring • Order annual flowers for city planters and pots • Ice rink maintenance • Building maintenance • Order equipment, vehicles and operating supplies for 2025 • Pool construction project • EDA house and property clean-ups • Playground inspections and repairs • Trash removal Future: • City wide diseased tree inspections, removals and notifications • Building maintenance • Snow removal operations • Ice rink maintenance (weather pending) • Storm water pond maintenance (remove invasive vegetation) • Order Arbor Day trees and plan event • Prep gravel bed nursery for spring planting • Playground inspections and repairs • Pool construction project • Remove fencing at pool grounds • Twin Oaks Park site removals and demolition • Service and prepare equipment for summer maintenance operations 4800 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55429-3553 Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-0949 • www.crystalmn.gov P R O J E C T S U M M A R Y J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5 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. Crystal Cove Aquatic Center Pool In addition to the pool; the entrance, lobby and siding for the aquatic center building will also be improved. Contractors have been selected, and construction work will begin in March. Crystal Community Center The heating and cooling system at the community center will be improved this year. New technology will be incorporated to make the old HVAC system run more efficiently. The basketball court in Welcome Park will be relocated this year. The slightly smaller court will include lines for four square, and will be located just west of the new play area / fitness court. Twin Oaks Park A new play area has been ordered for Twin Oaks Park! The new play area will replace one that is over 20 years old. Thanks to those who community members that helped select the design and colors! Welcome Park P R O G R A M S U M M A R Y J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5 Held on the third Monday of each month, the Foot Nurse provides professional foot care, including assessments, nail trimming, callus care, and fungal nail treatment. Proper foot care supports overall health, mobility, and staying active! Footcare by the Foot NurseFOOT CARE wi th Below is a highlight of the programs offered by the Crystal Recreation Department. Occasionally we will recap some key special events we offer. On February 19, historian David Jones will share a look at the origin, construction, and symbolism of one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks, the Statue of Liberty. Discover the history and the ideals it represents. Ages 16+ learn to decorate a two-layer cake using design techniques taught by a professional cake designer. Ages 21+ “uncork some fun” during the winter wine and paint class. Adult Classes Calling all youth ages 7-10 - get ready, get set, dodgeball! Blacklights, neon/glow dodgeballs, DJ and pizza. NEW Music Together program offers adults time with younger children time to learn, move, and listen together. Youth Classes The Story of the Statue of LibertyCommunity Connections: