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2025.04.02 PRC Packet AGENDA April 2, 2025 Crystal Community Center 6:45 pm Tree Board Meeting Agenda 1. Call the Meeting to Order 2. Annual Forestry Report 3. Tree City, USA 4. Arbor Day Event Planning • Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025 • Location: Sunnyview Park • Tentative Schedule: • 5:30 pm – Park clean-up & tree distribution begins • 5:50 pm – Mayor’s proclamation reading • 6:00 pm – Overview of the health of Crystal’s urban forest • 6:10 pm - Tree Planting and distribution • Trees donated by Friends of Crystal Parks • (10) Autumn Splendor Buckeye • (10) Musclewood • (10) Yellowwood • (10) Pear Tree • (1) Yellowwood Tree - for planting in the park • Refreshments 5. Adjournment Next meeting date: April 1, 2026 @ 6:45pm Crystal Community Center 4141 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55422-1696 Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-1188 • www.crystalmn.gov April 2, 2025 Crystal Forestry Report Annual Forestry Report: -Forestry operations are the responsibility of the Parks Division. Those duties include: • Tree inspections • Manage contractual forestry operations • Tree removal • Tree trimming • Annual Arbor Day celebration • Maintain certified tree inspector licensing -Long grass complaints are being handled by the Public Works department. -EDA lot management and the cutting of long grass complaints are being coordinated Through Public Works and work will be contracted out. -City staff and contractors removed 125 trees in 2023/24 (36 of these trees were hazardous). -City staff and volunteer organizations planted 210 trees on city property. -Removed boulevard trees are not being replaced, homeowners are given the option to have a tree planted on their private property. (City Council is considering amending this to allow some boulevard tree planting) -Trees removed on city and private properties are being replaced with a wider diversity of specimens. A wider variety of tree species leads to a healthier and more diverse urban forest. A more diverse urban forest increases its overall health. -Staff is undergoing continuous training as it pertains to Emerald Ash Borer, Dutch Elm disease and Oak Wilt. -Staff is exploring available grants to help offset the costs associated with EAB 2025 Arbor Day Plans: -Arbor Day will be celebrated 5/7/2025 at Sunnyview Park. -Sunnyview Park was selected as the host site due to Ash tree removal -Park cleanup begins at 5:30 p.m. -Arbor Day event begins with a reading of the proclamation by the mayor (5:50). -Parks Division will talk about the state of the urban forest at 6:00 -There will be a tree giveaway to the first 40 guests. (First come first serve basis) -Parks Division will talk about and demonstrate proper tree planting techniques. -A new tree will be planted in recognition of Arbor Day. (Yellowwood tree) AGENDA April 2, 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. 2025 Bus Tour b. 2025 Project Updates c. 2026 Project Planning 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: May 7, 2025 – 6:30 p.m. at Sunnyview Park MEETING OVERVIEW April 2, 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 – February 5, 2025 4. Chairperson’s Report 5. Commission Business / Discussion John Elholm: Introduce Business Items a. 2025 Bus Tour b. 2025 Project Updates c. 2026 Project Planning 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 March 5, 2025 Crystal Community Center The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by Commission Chair Jesse McCaffrey. Commission members in attendance: Jesse McCaffrey (Chair), Lynn Haney (Vice-Chair), Dave Anderson, J.D. Moore II, and Kassidy Swanson. Also present were John Budziszewski from the city council, John Elholm and Brad Fortin from the city staff. Commission member absent: Joyce Cooper, Alex Popp, Terri Schultz (Secretary) and Angela Spores. There was no public comment. Moore made a motion to approve the February Park and Recreation Commission minutes; Haney seconded the motion. The Park and Recreation Commission minutes for February were approved as written. There was no chair report. Tim Pratt from HRG led a discussion on parks recycling best practices. He discussed the importance of pairing recycling containers with garbage cans and clear labelling of the cans. Areas that have high use and/or generate a high number of beverage containers are the best places to collect recycling. Staff and equipment requirements to manage recycling, as well as container style, would need to be determined before beginning a program. HRG has grants available for containers. The commission asked questions about recycling in the parks and the city organics program. The Crystal Park and Recreation Commission selected winners for the 2025 Neighbors Recognizing Neighbors award. A list of 5 nominations, with names and addresses redacted, was provided to the commission. McCaffrey made a motion to award the first four nominees on the list a Neighbors Recognizing Neighbors award. Swanson seconded the motion. The motion was approved. Elholm provided the commission with an update on park improvement projects. At Twin Oaks Park, clearing around the pond has been completed and the picnic shelter has been ordered. A discussion recently took place with VFW leadership on the design of veteran’s memorial shown in the plans. Construction plans are nearing completion, with an ad scheduled for early April. The North Lions Park soccer field project will be moved to 2026. This will allow time for grant applications to be submitted for additional project funding. A Community Development Block Grant application has been submitted, and a DNR Outdoor Recreation Grant application is due on March 31. Crystal Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes – Page 2 March 5, 2025 A DNR Outdoor Recreation Grant application will also be submitted for Woodland Park on March 31. The play area, picnic shelter, basketball court and connecting trails are proposed for replacement in 2026. Progress is being made at the Crystal Cove Aquatic Center. A new floor drain is being installed in the concession stand. This drain will allow an ice machine to be added, which will allow ice to be served with beverages at the concession stand. A water bottle filler, with chilled water, was also installed in the lifeguard room. Delivery of pool amenities has been occurring as well. Commission members had an opportunity to discuss items during the open forum. Budziszewski presented the council report. He shared updates about the budget, boulevard trees, sustainability commission (soon to be 12 members), visioning and organics. Fortin gave a park maintenance report, which included information on rink use, tree cutting, snow removal and spring park projects. Elholm gave the recreation program report, which included information on warming house attendance, summer recreation program enrollment and 2025 city events. Elholm also provided information on facilities that have been improved since the 2017 master plan was completed. The slides had recently been presented to the city council. New signature facilities recommended in the plan, like inclusive play area, pickleball and outdoor fitness court, have been completed. Improvements to other signature facilities, like dog park and disc golf course, have also been completed. Additional items, like play areas, are maintenance items that follow a regular replacement schedule. With many of the master plan recommended facilities complete, there is more focus now on replacing existing amenities that have reached the end of their useful life. Elholm gave the Crystal Frolics report. The next Crystal Frolics meeting will be on March 17, likely over Zoom. Haney and Elholm gave the Friends of Crystal Parks report. They provided information on the upcoming plant sale. Their next meeting will be on March 6. Haney made a motion to adjourn the meeting; McCaffrey seconded the motion. The commission adjourned the meeting at 9:18 p.m. Jesse McCaffrey, Chair John Elholm, Recreation Director Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Monthly Maintenance Report March, 2025 Vandalism: • Picnic tables spray painted at Becker park Projects: • Ash tree removal, city wide tree inspections (special assessment removals) • Storm pond vegetation control • Snow removal • Begin site demolition at Twin Oaks park • Preparation for Arbor day at Sunnyview Park • Tree inspector and pool operator re-certifications • Prepare forestry grant applications • Interview seasonal employees • Prep seasonal maintenance equipment • Boardwalk and dock maintenance • Building maintenance • 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 • Ballfield maintenance/turf maintenance • Field striper training • Install dock at Twin Lake Shores • Storm water pond maintenance (remove invasive vegetation) • Prep gravel bed nursery for spring planting • Playground inspections and repairs • Pool construction project • Twin Oaks Park site removals and demolition • Pool grounds maintenance 4800 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55429-3553 Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-0949 • www.crystalmn.gov PROJECT SUMMARY APRIL 2025 This is an overview of the upcoming projects in the City of Crystal, which will take place at various parks and buildings across the city. Crystal Cove Aquatic Center With the recent warm weather, construction has started again at the aquatic center. The jumping platforms have been installed, and crews are now installing the flume slides. Work on the building has begun too! New Field Striper As the ground warms up, it will be time to start putting lines on the soccer, ultimate and softball fields. To help with this, the city purchased a new machine with Robbinsdale to put lines down more efficiently. Spring is Here! With the recent warm weather, nets have been installed on the outdoor courts in Crystal. This includes the volleyball nets at North Lions Park, tennis nets at Valley Place Park and pickleball nets at Becker Park. Twin Oaks Park Bids for Twin Oaks Park will be advertised beginning on April 3, with bid opening scheduled for April 24. In preparation, park staff have been removing the old hockey rink, light poles and other features in the park. PROGRAM SUMMARY APRIL 2025 Below is an overview of the programs offered by the Crystal Recreation Department, along with occasional recaps of key special events we host. Edible Courtyard The Edible Courtyard at the Crystal Community Center first planting day is Friday, April 11, at 10 a.m. (backup date: April 18). Volunteers of all experience levels are welcome to help grow fresh produce for the community. On Wednesday, April 16, the Community Connections program will feature the Robbinsdale Diggers Garden Club Container Gardening session, sharing tips on growing plants in small spaces. Join us for hands-on community connection! Youth Basketball The Youth Basketball League (Cities of Crystal, Golden Valley, Robbinsdale and St. Louis Park) end of season tournament was March 8. The Crystal girls grade 2-3 and 4- 5 team took 1st place in their divisions. This league thrives thanks to our dedicated volunteer coaches! Preschool Playtime Crystal Recreation provided Preschool Playtime, offering a safe and engaging environment to play, explore, and grow! Participation continued to grow making these indoor play opportunities more valuable than ever!