answer any questions. What we're looking at is this property here in red, which is about 158 acres altogether. We're looking at 140th Street, Featherstone Road to the south. This is the high school here and General Seven Drive and it would stretch up to County Road 42 at this location near the intersection of Lock Boulevard. property is currently owned by Conmius Family Farms and is being proposed by Tradition Development to be 375 housing units, primarily single family, about 309 single family and 66 town homes on the property itself. So, we're asking tonight is the method of park dedication that uh the park and recreation commission would opt for on this property. The developer has come forward with a plan to dedicate about a 24 acre park altogether. We'll go through some of that detail as well. So, as you can see from here, the existing addition a little bit varied. It's it's farmland for most of the property, although you do see this wooded area here, which is mostly a ridge that slopes down from north to south, maybe 50 or more feet in this location. Another aspect of the subdivision would be General Seven Drive at which would take its current intersection here through the site and link up with County Road 42 as part of the subdivision as as well. The subdivision would have a homeowners association and homeowners association amenities. The developer is proposing about a a a 5,000 square foot building pool uh area for residents only in the south southern portion of the property uh generally at about this location. So looking at our comprehensive plan for park dedication, this is a blown up image of what we have within the plan itself. The area in green is the subdivision and some of the aspects that are outlined within our comprehensive plan. We've got trails that are shown through the property here kind of at the bottom of this escarpet that's shown and then we have listed in this location a neighborhood park. So what they're proposing here for the park area is in purple and the comprehensive plan shows a park generally within this area here. So this is consistent with our comprehensive plan at least for the location of the park and the placement of the park at this location. When we take a look at the surrounding area, let's go back one page here. You've got mostly farmland area surrounding it to the north and to the west. You've got a rural rural homestead here. Just to the southwest of the property, Oakwood Cemetery here, high school here, and then uh residential development within the city of Hastings along Jefferson Street. The property right now is located presently within Ninja Iner Township but require an annexation and we're going through those processes separately here. So when we look at the dedication of property we look at a couple of different methods that are available to us. One is a physical land dedication dedicating the land to the city for a park. One would be the c payment of cash in lie of land and then one would be a combination of land dedication or cash. So those options are available to you tonight. Within our subdivision code, we regulate how parkland dedication occurs. And when we take a look at the figures of parkland dedication within our code, the number of u of units and other factors would have a park dedication of about 27 acres altogether here. So we've got about 24 proposed. ordinance also does say that it does allow for for physical parkland to vary from these park dedication requirements. So it I guess it's more of a guide on this one. We take a look at the area itself. You can see that it does have some amenities within here. Let's go back to something a little bit larger. So this would be the park area here. Trails would be proposed through the subdivision like so. Also linking up to this culde-sac here. there's a wetland area generally located at this location. So within the plan or within the report outline some of the analysis that we had for park uh these are some of the criteria we've used in considering park dedication in the past. We do have a neighborhood park that's been identified for this location. We do have trails that uh are proposed that are generally consistent with what we had in the comprehensive plan. The general sean drive would have trail on both side of it too. So it would provide some good linkages there. When you take a look at the need for parks in the future, we have identified that in the comp plan. We also have a uh a stipulation of wanting to have homes now be more than a half mile from a park location. So, when you take a look at the existing parks around here, you got the Featherstone Basin over here, and then you've got uh Eagle Bluff Park across the street on County Road 42 and the high school to the south. So, you've got some distance between there. We also have within our comprehensive plan areas further west here that could annex and develop in the future. So, it could serve a a greater purpose beyond the subdivision as it sits now. And I think that's most of what I had for you tonight. I will introduce here that we've got Todd Stutz from Tradition Development. Uh he can answer any questions that you might have specific to uh to the development and I'm here to answer questions as well. Again, we're asking for uh your feedback, recommendation on Method of Park dedication. Oh, what I didn't add on here was the cash in Lumount if you're interested in that. Uh we also have in the ordinance a payment of cash in Louisand option that's at $3,600 per unit based upon the 375 units proposed. That'd be $1.35 million in park dedication fees. And I can stand for any questions. Thank you. Maybe and this kind of shows a more blown up picture here of >> the park areas. So, >> it was really hard when you Sorry, I'm just gonna say this. When you were running your mouse over the white ones, it was really hard to see your mouse. >> Yeah. >> So, this makes it a lot easier. So, thank you. >> Sure. And one thing I should add, too, uh Chris Jenkins walked the site the other day, too, and may have some more additional comments on on the land that's being proposed. So did you want to make some comments first Chris or >> I can make comments at any time. I think you know commission if you guys have initial thoughts questions start there. >> Well I guess initial thought is for parkland versus cash and lou this is a big development. I'm not seeing any parks near this area and it is shown in our comp plan to have a park in that area. I'm I'm seeing a lot of slope in the area where the uh park is proposed and am concerned about how you get some of the park facilities into that steep of an area. Others have observations, comments, >> I will comment also. Seal I think uh an actual park instead of lie of money. A park needs to be put in like you were saying with the slope of everything. It's more or less unbuildable land. So, they're going to give us that and try to put a park on it. And that's that's the part that is very hard because then our city has to try to maintain that land at a very steep slope or a slope that is not easy to do. Um, but I I think a park needs to be put in. I no matter what I think a park needs to put be put in even if it even if it is in the present location. It doesn't matter. It we need to have another park up there. The other parks that are close to that are not close enough for these people. There's nothing at the high school that kids can go play on. um they would have to go all the way down to, you know, down by the hospital technically and there's no park equipment down there either. So, we need to have some sort of a park up in that area. That that is my point and that is my perspective and I will leave it at that. I'll chime in. Uh, Commissioner, I think your comments are spot on. Um, my perspective, yes, we do need a park in that area, uh, considering the number of housing units that are proposed. Um, you're right, there is some challenging topography in the area. Um, I did walk the site. a portion of what's proposed as the parkland. Anyhow, it's really cool ground uh really is and I think there are options that are available to make something work. And what I'm thinking is uh probably some traditional type of play equipment, traditional type of park amenities uh in the area. It would probably also require road access as well as parking. Uh would be the two other pieces that I see in there. Um I have familiarity with a park from Oregon where I worked that was very similar in topography. Uh and it worked really well. Very popular park. Um and I I think there's options. Um, I do have a concern from the parks department about the entirety of the site. I don't know that the parks department needs 24 acres uh to manage. There's a lot of forest. There is a lot of slope. I don't know that that that makes the most sense. Probably some number of acres to make a decent neighborhood style park. um that 5 7 10 12ish acres is what's in my head. Um and then the rest of it it could be the remainder of that land could either be further developed and or uh part of the common HOA ground as well. Um, yeah. The the one challenge is going to be finding access to it is and and I think where I'm thinking John, do you have that aerial? >> Yeah. >> I'll stand up and point. >> Yeah. So, I walk down into this corner and then >> You want to come over here and point it out? >> Yeah. >> Okay. let you come over here. >> Yeah. Yeah. Just a couple more feet. >> So, we walked down into this corner of the field here and traversed over into the into that edge of this corn field here. It's corn now. Um, this is the bottom of a kind of. So, it ridges up to both sides. So, this is the lowest point. It's a little bit flatter down here towards the bottom. Potential connection in through this way. And then this the the a field up here obviously is is fairly it slopes from south to north being north being downhill. Um but there's some some usable ground in there. Uh wouldn't require you know a ton of tree removal and that sort of stuff in any of the other areas. >> Hey Chris, what are those paths or what is that kind of >> these are proposed trails? Yes. >> Okay. >> Yep. Um, so I'll just in in my head, and I'm not the designer um or engineer, by the way, not that either, but some way to get probably a road through this area and probably a park development up in the the southern portion of this would would probably suit the needs. Now, I didn't stomp everything else. I didn't look at the wetland to see what was in there. Um, but I think there's there's potential in this area for traditional play, open green space, basketball court, that kind of stuff. Um, which I think this this area needs. I know some of the other treated areas developers were very open. They like to keep that area as a forest. I think that's fantastic. Um, a lot of benefit in there. But those are those are kind of my initial thoughts. Do you know the quality of the the forested area? Is it kind of natural or is it >> um >> from the aerial it looks pretty good? >> Take the forester with me. Um I remember he said there was a lot of box elders, not a lot of ash. Um I don't remember the other tree that he said, but uh there was a lot of wildlife activity in there. It it's it's a really nice really nice area. Um, and I think if we were to look to develop a park in that area, we'd try and do as much as we could to preserve the the forested areas as well. Certainly network of trails could work through there, that kind of stuff as well. >> Uh, could you tell us what the approximate uh area of the wetland is? >> Oh, that's on an image. >> Couple of acres, I believe. >> Okay. You see like >> I know we have that image someplace but I think it's it's a couple couple of acres >> 35ish thousand feet or something like that. >> It's really small on this one. I think >> too small >> 2.16. >> Okay. Thank you. And I guess my question there is if uh housing is is developed in that area, would that possibly become a uh catchment for u u rain runoff >> like a storm water basin? >> Yes. >> I don't believe that's identified as a storm water area. That's just a identified as a wetland >> is as a wetland. And I I would imagine and and perhaps the development team could could confirm the wetland area would would need to stay as it is. I don't think that that could be used as a storm water basin area. You'd have there'd have to be other basins designed for that specific purpose. I'm hear I'm seeing some net some nodding heads. >> Thank you. Thank you. The only other thought I had was that as you're proposing this that if you had some trouble areas that were going to be very expensive to develop that maybe maybe a smaller area of the park was developed which you know I see it's 24.18 acres slightly less but so if it I'm asking the question if it was easier to say develop 20 acres then do they still have some payment in cash in lie of of the total 28 acres for instance. So maybe it could be a combination of the two. >> Yes. Uh combination of the two. So whatever acreage physical acreage was dedicated and accepted by the city would reduce the amount of cash in low. Correct. >> Yep. Um >> yeah, just as a I mean a financial piece of the puzzle here too is um if physical land donation is the preferred method and it's the entirety I think you said 27 acres say it was a 27 acre donation uh that does leave zero cash on the table for any sort of development >> from this project. Uh and Chris from your perspective um the one park that you would be talking about say you said approximately 8 acres or something like that and that would include parking would that be adequate for the size of the development? Um, a neighborhood park is never really intended to be the only recreational outlet. >> Uh, it would be similar to a Tuttle park. >> Okay. >> Right. Similar in size there. Uh, similar type of neighbor. I don't know the housing count in in Tuttle, but um, similarly, right? It it provides an opportunity and I think of of adequate size. Our comprehensive plan points us to no less than five for a neighborhood park. No less than five acres. >> Okay. >> I would suspect in an area like this a little bit larger chunk would be probably targeted. >> Okay. So, professional opinion it seems adequate. >> Yeah. >> Good. Thank you. I had a question just about um walkability to the location of this park. Um I'm not familiar with um if there if there's a requirement for sidewalks or anything, but I was just wondering about just thinking about the families living in this new development and the location of the park kind of, you know, off to the side um in relation to the houses is what what is going to be the walkability of this new development? >> Sure. And I can start in and maybe the developer could add to this as well. I think on most streets, Todd, you're proposing sidewalks within this development. >> Okay. >> Sidewalks on street. >> So side sidewalks on every street would be proposed as part of the development. As far as trails go, we would have trails on both sides or trail and sidewalk at least on General Seven Drive going through the development, which would follow through as well. And then a couple of these other trails that would be looked at. We're also having him explore if there could be a trail connection over here someplace with a slope. So, does that answer your question? >> Yeah. Yeah, it does. Yeah. I was just just seeing this initial map and seeing the lack of trails, it was a little concerning to me, but yeah, if there's going to be sidewalks connecting it, then that makes more sense. >> And I would add too to what's John's saying. Um if we if we decide to look at a space in here in general for park uh there would need to be there would need to be road access in somehow to it probably a trail accommodating as well. I think there's also other options for trail connectivity um depending on where the final location would be. So, if we were to recommend this area for the park, um would the details of the park then come at would be proposed at a later time, I would assume. >> Yes. And I think John, as you and I spoke a little bit earlier today, um, and and for the developer sake, I think at a very minimum coming out of tonight, we would want to know the commission's feeling on is it 100% land, is it 100% cash, is it a combination of the two, right? First point. Second point, generally about what size of park you would be thinking um as far as acres and what major amenities that might have, road, parking, traditional play equipment, soccer, whatever, right? What are those things? Um general size, general location. And I think with that uh we might ask the developer to probably put together some probably highlevel concept uh plans knowing uh what the topography of the land is out there and generally depict that. Um and then I think a further discussion with developer could be does developer want to build that park as part of this development and if so what's the cost of that then does the combination of the land dedication plus the construction of the park does that meet all of the dedication needs um or is there something left on the table? So, a couple of things, but I we owe the developer some sort of um general idea and then if we're able to bring that back, we can, you know, commission can give a final recommendation to city council at that point. Given the proximity of this area to um the Featherstone Ponding Basin and other areas, we probably wouldn't be looking at something like a soccer field or baseball diamond, anything like that. This would be just really a um a recreational park uh with equipment like we have in Pleasant Park, for example. I was just trying to make it seem like I'm not telling you what to think of what to put in there. >> Well, and and I'm just trying to trying to kind of get this picture in my head as well. >> And I guess that's thinking about the other amenities in the area >> that it would be logical to limit it to something along the line of a a Pleasant Park or, you know, some of the others rather than anything more extensive. >> Right. >> And and the high school's not that far away. That's right. So, >> yeah. And I definitely would not want to see grading to try and make ball fields in those steep slope areas, especially if >> you know they're they're nice natural areas now. And it just the stability of any development would be a problem in those steep areas. >> Yeah. And that I would just add the the ravine that we walked through to get there. I didn't slip and fall once. Um, you know, it's on top of snow. It's not super steep in the area that we were at. I'm sure there's other areas that are. Uh, those contours certainly get a lot closer together in other areas. Uh, but it was it was an easy walk following some game trails and so >> and this is probably out of our spectrum, but who is in charge of the infrastructure to say get the road down to the park, Chris, and so on and so forth. Is that something that the developer is going to work with the city upon that moving forward? Yeah, that would be that would be a question to answer still, right? It it could be considered part of park debt. It could be considered um not sure if it can be considered part of the road dedication requirements or not. >> Yeah, it depends on on what the what it would be. If it's truly a an access way only to the park, would it uh provide for some other development down there if if more housing was was desired by the developer? Who knows? Yeah, probably some of that stuff just has to come from further conversations, future conversations. >> Thank you. >> Uh, it seems that logically, I don't know, maybe I'm rushing things here, but a a split between dedication and uh and cash and loo is probably the best solution in this case. >> That sounds like a motion >> that Yeah, let's make that a motion. So I would encourage a little bit more specificity in range of acres. >> Okay. >> Um >> well let's say a uh I mean a park of less than 10 or yeah a park of less than 10 acres with the remainder of the uh 27 acre parcel then would be cash inl. Okay. So, somewhere in the 10ish acre range. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> The size needed to have a reasonable recreation area and parking. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Is there second? >> I will second that in in a hurry. Thank you. >> Any further discussion? >> I don't know. I it seems to me that um the whole development idea is very positive for you know continuing growth in the Hastings community and uh the park is appears to be perfectly adequate for the needs. So u I I can't see any reason not to uh develop it that way. Um the other thing of course is the question of discussion of who's going to pay for what but that's negotiated I assume. >> Yep. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And Cal I think before final call for votes. Do you guys want to share anything else about the development? >> Absolutely. Absolutely. Everyone's time is valuable. >> Good good evening. It's nice to see you all this. Um we've had an opportunity. I'm Todd Stuts. I'm vice president of Tradition Development Corp. Also here with me is Patrick Rossi, also with Tradition Development Corp. We've been engaged in a conversation with the Gazimus family um for about a year now. Um put the property action under purchase agreement in December of last year. And so since that time, we've been working really hard and sort of advancing our ideas and our concepts for the property. One of the things that's important to the family um was relative to preserving roughly 40 acres of uh steep slope wooded areas uh that runs through the property and then also some recognition of the farming legacy that the Gazimus family has with the property. And so the name of the development is Pleasant Valley Farm. And so in addition to that, there will be some recognition in terms of monumentation and such relative to their their legacy. Um we're very excited about the development. Um obviously it was informed by a lot of things. Um the need to have General Seban extended north south and so that's a collector road that goes north and south. We will consider that as a parkway and we'll incorporate elements in terms of boulevard trees uh central medians and all that. So, it's a very pleasant experience to drive um from Feather Storm down to County Road 42. Um in addition to that, within the development, as as was talked about, um there will be very um well, I guess it'll be very connected in terms of sidewalks and trails. Um and then all those will provide access not only to the Homer Association amenity, which is that green area that's shown in this location here, which was a little over two acres. As John mentioned, that's roughly a 5,000 square foot homeowners association building um with um meeting rooms and exercise facilities and such. In addition to that, there will also be a pool or aquatic center to make it sound cooler um in that location for those that don't like swimming. Um and then and so that so that is available for the homeowners association. So that will take some pressure off in terms of the recreational needs of the residents of the new residents in this location. Um we recognize that this you know this park that we're discussing this evening will have a broader benefit not only to the residents of the new community but also the surrounding areas. Um I think you know from the recommendation of looking at roughly you know say a five to 10 acre park in this location. Um we're definitely that's we embrace that idea and we think that that's will work out well. We think that there isn't there is an area as was as was mentioned um there is an area which I'm sort of outlining here that that's currently uh agricultural or farmed. Um so there's not a lot of trees in that location. Yeah, it's not rel it's not flat but it's relatively flat and if we need to make it flat we probably can. Um and so we'll look at that area as as the first location in terms of the park area um for playground set informal play kind of situation, right? um and we'll provide some concepts relative to that. So, you'll see that at some point here, not not too distant future. We initially looked at providing access um off of this street here um down into the property um largely because that seemed to be the easiest. We will evaluate whether or not this, you know, gradewise we can get down there without a lot of tree removal and um significant impacts to the site. But our first thought was that there would be some um connection that would occur north of the park area to the south. Um the thought process also is is that this is sort of a first step in the development of this western portion of Hastings. um and that eventually this street would um be would connect to a property that's immediately to the west. Um so although it looks like it's a dead end now, you know, there certainly will be, you know, some elements that will say that will connect on that direction, there also will be providing connection which isn't shown by this plan in this location. Again, additional connection to the property um that's directly to the west, which is right now a real homestead. And so, um, we're planning for the future that, you know, this is not going to be the last piece property developed. So, from a park standpoint, programming and size, I think there will be other opportunities for parks further to the west, but also this will probably serve some of the needs of not only the residents and the surrounding residents that already live there, but also some of the the future residents um that will be to the west of our proposed development. Um, so yeah, I mean, we're looking forward to coming back. We've had an opportunity um to meet before your development committee and we've also had an opportunity to appear before the planning commission on Monday. So, we're getting very familiar with Hastings. But that's good. We're excited about that. So, we look forward to be back relatively soon um to flesh out some of the details that you have discussed um this evening and and we appreciate that input. Okay. Any questions? I'm I'm here. Patrick did. Yeah. The only question I have is um Chris, we have been struggling everywhere to get the pickle ball players a lot more places to play. That's not an option. All right, perfect. I'm done. >> That was a That was a quick note. >> That was good. >> Got it, Chris. >> Uh thank you, Ton. I would just um if you have a business card before you go. Yeah, >> drop it off for me. I got a couple of ideas that I'd like to share with you. >> Okay, I appreciate that. Thank you. Yep. >> And pickle ball. If you could take the noise out of pickle ball, that would be great. >> Yeah, that's exactly it. >> That's the hardest part about pickle ball. >> Yes. >> Is the noise. And that's what drives everybody nuts. >> So, if we can put them out in the country, that'd be great. >> This would not be out in the country. Okay. Any other comments there >> from Okay. Looks like John had some additional >> I have nothing. I'm just standing up here in case you need me for anything. >> Okay. Any other discussion? Should we call the question here? >> Let's go ahead and vote. All in favor of our proposal. >> I. >> Any oppose? Nay. Okay. >> Right. Thank you, commissioners. >> Thanks. Yeah, looks like an exciting development. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And and the discussion of the balancing what resources are there and are important. Okay. show where our agenda go. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, guys. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Thank you all. >> So, it looks like the next item is ordinance review. >> Chris, give us some background. >> You bet. Um, so this commission exists under ordinance 30.06 within the city code. Uh, within that, you guys all have a copy. Item C talks about the composition of the commission being seven members plus one youth member. That should be a junior or senior in high school in Hastings. Um, I would tell commission. So, we're part of it is our uh we are looking to clean up some of our ordinances involving commissions. This was brought to my attention. Truly, I'd probably forgotten about the youth member. Um, I think in my 13 years, we had one youth member at one time when I first got here that maybe attended one or two meetings. Uh what we found through this commission, through other boards that I've sat on that have the youth members as well is the the kids that are going to be involved in something like this are already heavily involved in many other things. So the time commitment becomes a struggle for them. Um and we always want to set somebody up for success, not for failure. Which begs the question to this commission before we eliminate this we wanted to get per or we wanted to get some uh input from the commissioners uh before we move ahead with anything. So wanted to share that with you and get get everyone's input before we move forward with any ordinance changes. I think it's a really nice concept, >> but I can understand that there's been issues in finding young people who are interested and can make that time commitment. I'd agree those that are most likely to be a good fit are involved in multiple things. I know with the Hastings Environmental Protectors that we've tried to get youth high school reps on our involved with our board and we've had trouble with them being that interested in the actual board meetings. We we do get them helping with the volunteering and and and that kind of thing, which is great. So maybe we can we continue to have youth the the high school kids involved in some of the activities we're involved with >> but not I don't know about I I wouldn't object myself to removing an official position for a high school kid others thinks >> I guess my question is is that considered a requirement in other words are we in violation of our own rules uh by having that in there uh is or is that merely a technicality? It depends on how you read the ordinance, but according to the ordinance uh we would have a uh a youth member and we don't currently and we haven't for many years. >> I remember the last youth member we had uh and yes, I agree. Some of those young people come in, they're very interested. Um, meaning no offense to anybody, but I think that after a couple of meetings, they tend to find these things somewhat, shall we say, unexciting and figure that uh they really aren't contributing that much. And you know it's it's the kind of thing that unless uh unless there is something that they feel they can genuinely contribute which they would be very interested in doing. Uh there probably isn't much need to have that kind of person on because let's face it we're kind of just not exciting. I don't know that I go that far, Dwight, but um I think there are other opportunities to engage the youth and and certainly if we you know when we look to planning pieces or uh the need for other sorts of engagement, we certainly target youth. Um you know, if we're looking to develop a a new sports complex or something somewhere, guaranteed they're going to be in the mix, right? We're going to want to hear from the segments of the community. That's what I was about to say was like if there's a specific project that we want input then we reach out and that seems to be that would make more sense to me. Yeah. >> Okay. Because I have two kids that would come here just because um um >> because you made them. >> No, no, not because I made them. I I think they would be interested in it. I I'm okay with getting rid of that portion of it, but I think that sometimes when it comes to certain things, we need to get that perspective. >> Then, you know, a you know, all of us, our perspective is great, but it's not what a youth perspective is. A youth perspective is how far do I want to walk to get to a park? how far do I want to do to go to do this? >> And I and I I don't think it's >> I'm okay with getting rid of it, but I also think that do we do like things where we bring some of a a kid in every once or I'm sorry somebody a young adult in to make it sound better. >> Student. >> Thank you. >> A student and say, "Hey, you know what? this is going to really look good on your resume and on your on your college application that you were part of this >> and I don't want to take that away from these children that might have that opportunity. I mean, my kids are too young right now because they're not jun juniors and seniors, but I have a freshman right now that if I told her, "Hey, you're going to come to every one of these," she'd do it in a heartbeat because that's what she wants to do. >> Okay? >> She wants to be involved in the community. And I I think it's really hard to take that away. >> Um, but I'm also okay with taking that out of our thing. But I do think that we need to have some opportunity to be able to hey have a mentor come in or a mentee come in >> underneath a mentor >> you know every once in a while and go with that. >> Sure. >> This commission we meet what once every three months or >> depends on the year. >> Well that's exactly it Chris and I'm agreeing with that. So it's not like they don't have time to do it. They also have to try to manage their time as children and you have younger children also. They have to find that time to make sure okay is this what you want to do? Do you want this on your do you want this on your album when you're going to go to school when you go to your first job? I I mean I I think if they go to their first job and it's like, "Oh, I was a men or a mentee on the park and wreck board for Hastings, Minnesota." Probably not real huge with Hastings, Minnesota, but I think that's huge for a lot of people to look at that and go, "This person actually cares about their community." And I I don't want to completely take it away. >> Sure. And I'm okay with getting rid of it off of this, but I want to make sure that we have something there that we can do something with these children. >> Okay, let me offer this idea. Um, eliminate it from pull it from the ordinance, right? So, it's not a mandate. And then I think this commission, myself included, we hold each other accountable for, hey, these are some of the conversations we should try and get some youth members in for or youth community members in for and have them part of the meeting as well. Um, if they want to volunteer, uh, that's totally fine. If it wants to count towards NHS hours, totally fine. If it wants to count for something else, so it's beneficial for us, beneficial for them, fantastic. But I think as we go forward have that in our head that hey would this be a good subject to have somebody come in and do I know somebody that might want to come in. We're not then age restricted to junior senior. So it can be younger, it can be older. >> Um but just a different perspective. And then I would also tell you that meetings are open to the public. So, if you know any youth member or youth in the community that wants to come and listen and or provide comment, we'll certainly give them time uh to provide comment at at a meeting as well. >> But I think we can hold one another accountable for that. >> I think that's a good solution. What about the possibility of changing the wording to that that uh we can seek on an ad hoc basis input from uh our youth in the community. >> I think we have that leverage anyways without >> we wouldn't have to have a >> you don't need it in the ordinance. >> Okay. But but I'd agree with Chris's point that >> we be thinking about that more. I think that we we don't think about bringing in those kind of perspectives and and we should >> especially being part of recreation. >> Right. Right. So let's hold each other for those opportunities. >> I think the the more diverse perspectives we can get the better. Yeah. >> For sure. Yeah. And if that Yeah. people from different backgrounds and youth and different ages. I think that's important. >> Different recreational interests, different ages. Yeah. >> Somebody come in and ask for a 50 meter pool. >> Yeah. >> I don't see that happening with most of the youth in this town. But I I and I I agree with I agree with you guys. I I just I I just think that we have to keep our minds open to what the youth needs and what the youth wants. >> Now, what they want is completely different than what we can actually offer, >> but I still think that we need to hear them out. That's my personal opinion. My only other input that I think is maybe superolous, but it's on my heart anyway is like even if you take a kid like I'm thinking of my granddaughter and she's a three star athlete, you know, she's in track, she's in soccer, she's in wrestling, and you know, if we're working on a park, I don't think she'd have any interest in it. I mean, if you started talking about doing something with the soccer fields or the tracks or something, she would love to be a part of it. You know, she would in a heartbeat. >> So, I I think ad hoc was a good word in terms of bringing these kids in that really have a desire to help out. I can even see like people that are really into gymnastics or something and want to help out with the park and make something that will help train kids in some of those areas, you know. So, I think that's going to be uh important to find people that are really excited about whatever it is we're doing specifically and then we'll have a better time, I think, encouraging them to get involved. >> Agreed. Um that raises another question and this is one that we have found is uh a challenge for the Hastings Environmental Protectors and that is where do you find them? In our case, our president is a former biology teacher at the high school so he has those connections with the high school yet and is able to do a little bit of recruiting. Um, any ideas as to how we might go about recruiting when something like that comes up? >> Maybe a or AD like our athletic director and that might be a good entry. >> I'm just going to go with what my girls do when they're 13 and 15. You go to Instagram and you go to Tik Tok and you go to Facebook. >> Do we have to? Yeah, you do. I mean, I I I I watch Tik Tok all the time. I mean, I I love the damn thing and it's addicting as hell. But I I mean, but that's where you that's where you have to go. I mean, that's where you have to find the kids now. I mean, if if you want them to come to you, they're not going to. But if you want to give them an opportunity >> to to voice their opinion, then you go to those social networks and send it out there because that's the only way how you're ever going to catch any of them. And that's just me with having two teenage daughters. >> Yeah, I think there's ways to find them. and we can we can all use our connections um to find some people on specific topics. >> Okay. So, good points, folks. >> Well, I don't think we need a motion, do we? >> No, I don't think we need a motion. >> Okay. I think you just needed >> lots of conversation as we are waiting for Chris to do whatever. >> Okay. So, I think our our last point of business is department updates. >> I'm working on it. Oh, no. >> So, just tell me. >> Sorry. >> I'm older than Chris. I give my kids if we needed an outside >> got a few years left. >> My son's five years before he did. I'll give any >> all over. >> That's all right. >> Looks like Chris is ready. >> Um, yeah. So, before I go through this, um, I will give What does it have on there? >> I know. Um, a a few quick other updates. Our Lions Park shelter project, we have a meeting with that tomorrow. Um, frustratingly a bit behind schedule on that. So, we'll try and get that ironed out and get that completed. Uh, we are hiring for a parkser. We have one of our parks keepers that's been with us for a number of years that's retiring. So, good for him. Super happy about that. Uh so we have the opportunity to hire somebody. So that is open through the end of this week. Uh we do have some pool projects that's coming up that'll be in the slideshow here a little bit. Uh we are applying for a DNR outdoor recreation grant. Uh we are targeting Tuttle Park for that and we are targeting a uh inclusive 100% inclusive park there. Um, so that is a $500,000 matching grant. So potential total project of a million dollar plus. Um, >> is the 500,000 >> max match. >> So you can the city can contribute less and >> no one for one >> has to be >> one for one. >> Gotcha. >> Yep. Dollar fordoll match. Um, yeah. the DNR will fund up to 500,000 of matching funds. Uh, another piece we're looking at, and you'll see this in here as well, um, targeting Roadside Park this year for new play equipment. We have $150,000 set aside in this year's budget for play equipment or trail. Um, you'll see play equipment uh, is is on my hit list right now. Um, so this parks and direct 101 is a presentation that I gave to our city council uh before their last uh council meeting at a workshop just to kind of let council know, hey, this is where we're at uh with with the parks department. Um here's current status, here's some of our struggles, here's looking towards the future type of stuff. So it it also involves a lot of conversation. We won't go through that hour and a half conversation here tonight, but just wanted to kind of share that information with this commission as well. Um, so I went through our divisions, so our aquatics again. You, some of you know that, um, Teresa has been a six-month employee for the last 13 years. Uh, we finally got her up to 8 months, which is fantastic. She's back with us now. Um, she's working hard. She's hard at it and she is uh far less stressed right now than she would be a month from now when she would normally begin. So, we get her a month earlier and keep her a month later, which is fantastic. There'll also be some um professional development opportunities in there as well. She may be able to attend some of the conferences and and other trainings that she might have time. Now, if you've been on the commission for any number of years or any number of years in the past, Dwight Seal, um we that facility has really impressive uh retention year-over-year for our staff. We're in that 80 85% range. Uh when I talk to other Dakota County directors about their staff retention for their aquatics facilities, nobody's even in that realm. So, we take a lot of pride in that. It speaks volumes to the uh the environment and the work atmosphere that Teresa has over there. Uh it's fantastic. Swim lesson program. Um thousand registrations. We're right right at a thousand registrations and that's probably for the last three years. Um put that in perspective. When Teresa started there was about 300 registrations. So, um, it might be the same kid taking six courses or six different swim lessons, but it's a registration and that child is learning how to swim. Super important here in Minnesota. Um, and and anywhere with water. So, uh, really proud of that infrastructure repairs. Some of you recall last year we had our concrete gutters, our pipes, our surge tank. We had a bunch of work done on that. Um, we did find some more leaking areas in our construction joints. That's where two slabs of concrete come together. There's supposed to be a waterproof barrier in the middle of that that goes from one slab to the other slab. Some areas that doesn't exist anymore. Uh so we got to cut that out and we got to report it. So we'll be working on that this spring. Um also getting new shade structures to get rid of the fun umbrellas that we wind up and wind down every day. And also if it gets too windy, we got to wind them down before they take off. Um but uh looking to replace those. How we doing tonight, guys? >> I got you. >> Good. You guys here for the parks commission meeting? I >> think so. >> Okay. We I say we started at 6. Is there something in particular you're here for? >> Is this does this have anything to do with the uh possible development by >> Pleasant Valley that proposed development? Y >> uh what we talked about earlier in the meeting with the developer and community development was uh the method of uh the possible method of park dedication which would be um any development there's a park land dedication requirement. So whether that's physical land or cash in lie of it. So this commission deals with that piece. We don't deal with um >> yeah we don't deal with with land use or uh what the development actually is or not. Um so this commission did discuss their recommendation as a combination of both physical land and cash in lie of land exactly what that looks like at this point we don't know. >> Sorry I'm late. I was told to start at seven. >> Uh yeah city council starts at 7 and I think maybe planning commission usually start at seven. >> Okay. So, we've started at six for the past number of years. >> Yeah. Sorry. >> And did John say or you say that they're talking about at the planning commission on Monday? >> I think they already did. >> Oh, they did. >> Yeah. Okay. >> But there's um for this piece of it, there will be developer has to go back and provide us some additional information. >> You work for the city? >> I do. I'm the parks director. >> Okay. >> Y >> Okay. Uh our uh our houses but up to that cornfield right now >> on Jefferson Street. >> On Jefferson are actually going into >> Yep. >> So we just got wind of this. That's why >> I have no idea. >> Okay. >> That's why we're here. >> Yeah. This this commission deals strictly with the the parkland dedication piece. So like by your house is Featherstone Ponding Basin. Yep. >> That was part of parkland dedication. you know, and most of the parks throughout Hastings were done that way with with whatever development was in the area. >> Okay. >> I don't want to really >> um >> we like having residents here. >> Yeah. So, can you high level tell us what has been done like is the land is it being annexed into the city or what's the >> um >> happening what's happen? Yeah, >> as I understand, and if you fact check me and I'm wrong, it's not my fault. >> The developer has been working with the Kinius family for over a year >> uh to work on a purchase of that land. >> Um I understand they have it under a purchase agreement. It has not changed hands at this point, but there's a purchase agreement. It sounds like I learned tonight that the Kimius family uh had some wishes for some of the forested lands that are in there, which this developer is proposing to maintain uh quite a lot of the forested land uh along the ravines and the kind of steeper slopes in the area. >> Most of the stuff that's not current a land. And so the developer is putting together their proposed plans for housing development. They're looking at 375 total units. I think 309 of those as single family and the remainder of that to be homes. I think >> is there a plan or not? >> They they do have a proposed plan. I don't know that the housing lot. >> This is their proposed property. future discussion. >> Yeah, absolutely. Keep >> exact. I've only been married. >> I hope they have to put You didn't need to use the word. >> My ex-wife Very nice. >> Sorry guys. >> Sounds good. >> All right. Also looking at uh like our new shade structures instead of our fun umbrellas. That's in the budget. We're working on that right now. Um, and just a note that I left with city council was it's an aging facility, right? We're over the 25 year mark, 26 year mark at this point. Um, and just like we have been doing, it's going to it's going to continue to need investment. Uh, so just trying to have our city council know that, right, we have a lot of infrastructure as well. >> Sorry, I just had a quick question with the pool. Is there any plans for locker room updates at all in the few Did you guys discuss that at all? >> Uh, not specific updates to it. >> Um, >> okay. It's looking it it's looking a little gnarly in there. >> Okay. >> Yeah, >> we can talk offline. >> Yeah. Yeah, sounds good. >> Yeah. Uh at the arena, we wrapped up our major major mechanical upgrade, the new refrigeration, roof, solar, switch gear, all that stuff. Uh things are going really good. Uh I'm waiting to see I want to see the our electrical bill after we're a year in and compare it to prior years and see how we're doing. Um my suspicion is that we're doing really good on electrical consumption out there. Um so looking forward to to that reduced cost, reduced energy used uh at that facility. Um the mural installation and the lighting installation. Super cool. Like it a lot. >> Yep. >> Um what's next for the arena? I we've been interested in putting the actual name of the facility on the outside of the facility for a number of years. So we're going to start looking into that with a little more seriousness. Um, and then still on the table at some point, right? Major renovation plans for the interior of the building. Uh, just something that's on parks radar. I try to keep it on city council's radar. Uh, you go around to all the other facilities in our region and even outside of our region and you walk into those facilities that are either new or have been renovated. Um, I want us to to be in that realm as well with those facilities. How we doing, Tim? Um, our recreation programming, all the stuff that Paige does. Uh, we just just finished our 10th year last year. So, uh, her and I can can both hardly believe that that it's been 10 years. um continue to improve every year, reliant on both city budget and sponsorships, usually about a 50/50. Paige has done a fantastic job getting sponsorships and and still looking for more. Uh so if anyone out there wants to sponsor or knows somebody that needs to uh sponsor something because it's good, uh have them have them talk to Paige. Uh 2025 attendance nearly 10,000. I will argue that number all day long with Paige. I think that she underounts. Um, so I think it was significantly more than 10,000. Uh, but it's hard to get a hard to get a real estimate when you're working. Um, at some point I might try and find find somebody that has access to uh Placer AI, which tracks everyone by your phone where you were, where you went, where you came from. Uh, all those things. see if we can get a count for a season um on that footprint down there. Obviously, 2026 will be better than the last year's. It'll be fun. Um park maintenance, we're fully staffed outside of the retirement, which we talked about briefly. Uh currently recruiting seasonal staff. Typical challenges, there's a lot to do and there's only so much time. Um, there's always fires to put out. There's weather, there's equipment breakdowns, there's, you know, all sorts of stuff. Uh, not uh not playing my fiddle here with anything, but uh it just is the fact of it, right? If we get two inches of rain, we're not going to be out mowing. You're not going to be out playing on that field. Um, it just that's just part of it, right? Uh equipment breaks down. Sometimes one piece of equipment that pulls one of our people to try and fix the equipment. Sometimes two major pieces of equipment fail and that pulls three people to try and fix it. So just things like that are always up and down. Uh emerald ashbor continues continues to be a significant issue. You can see more now dead ash trees, pestinfested ash trees. Uh last year was really starkly different than years prior. So much more showed up last year. Uh those are trees that were infested three, five, seven years ago. Um, so it takes a little bit of time before you see real evidence. Um, there's a little bit of a battle with staff time, just our public trees versus private trees. Where's our major focus? Um, let's say three, so three years previous, TJ's going to be working on uh 2026 Boulevard tree removals and protection. And now he's wrapping back around to 2024, checking in with those people and even prior. Hey, yep, the tree was removed. Did you put a tree back? And if it's yes or no, and then do we compel that, you know, that process, there's just a lot to deal with. Um, so do we want to venture into, hey, my neighbor's got a dead tree? Yes, to some degree we do and we will if we're called, but we're not going around looking for every pestin infested or dead ash tree and dealing with it. >> I I do. But um my my one question though, Chris, is as people are replacing trees, are you making sure that they are mixing them up so they're not putting in two elm trees or two maple trees or because what's happening right now with this ashbor is I mean developers, you know, 20 years ago just put in ashes >> because it grew fast and it was fun. >> Grew fast and current pests. >> Yep. Yep. >> But it was the same thing with Dutch elm. >> So, and then when Dutch elm came through, they started replacing with >> ash trees. >> So, there was another blight and a bore that came through and killed everything. Now, I know in a lot of city planning like up in Windham, we have to or not we have to they have to plant a certain number of different trees every so often. Yeah. Now, is that kind of the way that you guys are moving forward with that as homeowners are putting them in or no? >> Uh, property owners are required to replace boulevard trees that are removed, >> right? >> Okay. Uh, in order to put a tree in the boulevard, you have to have it approved by the city forester. So yes, we also have a list of approved boulevard trees that includes right your giant mature shade trees, whatever that may be. >> Yeah. >> To certain circumstances if you have overhead conflicts, shorter trees, all those sorts of things. But yes, we are looking for variety of canopy. Okay, that that is my question is I don't want somebody to I mean in my association we pay for all of the trees in my association. >> Half of them are dead and it's not going to be our responsibility to replace them. But I don't want somebody to go in and put in the same tree all the way down the road again and then in another 20 years I'm dealing with the same thing. like >> which is why they which is why they make developments now rotate. You know, you put a coffee tree in, you put a maple tree and you put an asht tree and you put a hackberry in >> and move on down the road. And I'm sure TJ is >> understands that concept of it. I'm just I just want to make sure that that is what is going on. >> Yes, that's to the to the best of our effort. And I would also add though that um when we're looking at a block of boulevard on a street, yes, we're looking at that block, but we're also looking at the entirety of the urban canopy. So, yep, you might get two or three, four of the same tree on one block. That's okay. the entirety of the urban forest is is our major concern. >> Yeah, exactly. Yep. So, and I completely agree with that. I'm just coming from a landscape Yep. >> background. That's where I'm just trying to >> make sure that we're not pigeonholding ourselves into >> same predicament in 25 years. So, although neither I'm not going to be here in the >> maple trees are next, don't you? >> Exactly. >> So, that's kind of forestry. Well, you never know. >> Uh maybe >> facilitywise, trail system, uh Dakota County Regional Trails, both the Mississippi River Greenway and the Vermillion River Greenway. That makes up about 7 to 8 miles of our 10mi loop. They're fantastic partner. The Vermillion River Greenway was somewhere in the $2.4 million uh for that project. Uh they also just did a very nice thing for us at Vermillion Linear Park. Uh they removed a bunch of box elder trees in that area uh so we can continue that habitat restoration in Vermillion Linear Park. Uh I know it looks messy right now. It'll look great. Don't worry. That's what I mean. That's what happens. >> Yep. They did a bunch of forestry mowing down there on that property they own. Yeah. >> Yep. um local trails, right? We still have local trail responsibilities. We, you know, Dakota County took about seven of our 30 miles off of our hands. Uh but we still have we still have a lot of investment that's necessary in our local trails, athletic facilities. We're beginning conversations with uh Vets Vets Home about our current lease for Vets Athletic Park. That does expire in 2031. That is a 48 acre chunk of land where the majority of the athletic facilities are constructed. Um we've had previous funding to develop a plan for what it would look like to renovate and expand that. Uh we can't do that in good confidence if we don't know that we're going to have access to that land for the future. So this is the next step, right? Do we get another 50-year lease and we move ahead? Do we buy the land for a dollar or three? Three might be my max. Um, what else do we do? Right? So, do we have security in that land before we start investing more money? Uh, neighborhood and community parks. Um, we have three playgrounds that are 27 years old. We have another nine that are between 20 and 26 years old. Industry standard 20 years. 20 >> 20 is industry standard. We were on that path for a good number of years 10 years ago. Uh budget was tough. We did not continue along that path. We went through a cycle where the direction was if you're going to touch the playground, touch the rest of the park, which adds a lot to cost. We did one of those like Isabelle. Um, now I'm back to trying to scramble and just get money to replace playgrounds. Um, try like getting the point across to council that annual investment is necessary. Want to get back on that 20-year track. And these are the some of the reasons why. This is roadside. You can see the picture on the left, right? We just have this vinyl coating that's coming off the metal on the decking. Uh that's all over the place. That's the same as the the picture on the right. There's just metal coming off of all of that stuff. Uh the slide in the middle, it's been used so well that you're starting to see where some of the mounting brackets are underneath. That's common on on the entirety of this playground. So, they've served their useful life. We're trying to get them replaced. Um, it is a budget and again like I mentioned working with with our playground company to see what it looks like to replace that play equipment there. What's the cost, right? Can I get that done? Can I get close to the same size of playground and can I get that done? So, we'll see what we can do this year. That's the end of my slideshow. >> Is that the biggest? >> It probably has the biggest um at least >> individual play structure footprint. Yes. >> Okay. >> The container itself uh probably isn't. >> Sorry. >> No, I was just bringing this up for me so I can close it without you guys seeing it. >> No, not necessarily. justifiably. >> So Chris, what what is your plan then on these? I mean, are you hoping they get funding to do one or two a year? >> Yeah, I'd like to get >> I'd like to get us back on that 20-year rotation. >> Okay. >> I think that would be a good position for the city to be in. We can kind of understand, hey, this is this is what it costs. Now, besides the fact that they're wearing out, is there also like ADA things that we have to worry about then when we do those or not really? >> Yeah, every playground we put in is technically ADA compliant >> to a point. Yes, I understand. >> The year that that was installed. >> Okay. >> Right. So, they meet the code the year that they're installed. All the equipment we buy >> Y >> uh satisfies our minimum requirement. Yes, >> it is not the same degree that we're talking about for Tuttle, which is an inclusive park. Two different things. ADA compliance is minimum. Inclusive is um you know, limited mobility. You got you're in a chair, you're on a walker, you need assistance walking, that kind of stuff. You can get to more or all of the equipment. >> Oh, so Tuttle is more that way than the rest of the I'm sorry, I have never been to Tuttle. for the future. Tuttle currently is not. >> Oh, that's a proposed >> that would be, you know, all poured in place rubber and hard surfaces >> everywhere. Those sorts of things. >> Yep. >> It is a good thing. >> Uh, similar to how I talked about the arena and all of our other places around us, I'll talk the same way about our athletic complex. Uh, what folks have in our region that are around us, the places that I feel like we need to get. This is also one of them. We need to get there. >> Yeah, >> I agree with that. >> Our soccer fields are >> Yeah, >> we just don't own the land. >> Huh? >> We just don't own the land. >> That and that's and that's why it makes it so hard to invest money into it. >> It does. >> I mean, it's hard to say, "Yeah, I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this. >> We'll get there. the following more about the like age of the pip and stuff. I'm just curious of like a more specific list and >> yeah, I can share that spreadsheet with the commission. It's easy. >> That'd be great. >> Yeah, our our folks um that are certified playground safety inspectors. It's not a fun test to take. I've done it. Um they went around to all 22 of our playgrounds and just did kind of an audit. Hey, what's the condition and where are they at? >> Um, yeah. Yeah, we've got some aged facilities. We have a couple of parks. Wallen is one of them. U, we added a toddler set in 2014. The other set that was there is older than that. So, the ages on some of them might look a little skewed, but there's a there's a couple pieces like that. >> My other question before when you said that if you touched the playground equipment sorry >> when you said before that you had to touch if you touched the playground equipment you had to touch the rest of the park >> that was the direction given by leadership at the time it is not the same >> that's all that I care about >> okay not your personal opinion it was just what you were been had been told to do. >> It was the guidance I was working under. Yes. >> Wonderful. That's what I wanted to know. Chris, thank you so much. >> You bet. >> If we have an unlimited budget, I would like to do that, too. But, >> um, our playgrounds are in in a bit of a crisis >> is is where I'm at right now. >> And that's got to be >> Yeah. Uh, yeah. And for for what for what I want to be able to provide the community and our visitors. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, all the meeting or did you have anything more to >> I'm good seal. I've talked enough. I >> think we asked our questions. All right. >> I'm done. >> So, >> all in favor of ending the meeting? >> I I >> Anybody opposed? You're you're on your own. Okay.