## Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Agenda August 10, 2026, 7:00 PM Braemar Golf Course, 6364 John Harris Dr. ## Accessibility Support: The City of Edina wants all residents to be comfortable being part of the public process. If you need assistance in the way of hearing amplification, an interpreter, large-print documents or something else, please call 952-927-8861 at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. 1. Call to Order ## 2. Roll Call ## 3. Approval of Meeting Agenda 3.1. Amend the meeting agenda to add item 7.1 Discussion on Amending Chapter 24 of the Edina City Code Regarding Additional Restrictions for Parks and Publicly Owned Properties. ## 4. Approval of Meeting Minutes ## 4.1. Minutes: Parks & Recreation Commission June 9, 2026 ## 5. Special Recognitions and Presentations ## 5.1. Park Project Updates ## 6. Community Comment During "Community Comment," the Board/Commission will invite residents to share issues or concerns that are not scheduled for a future public hearing. Items that are on tonight's agenda may not be addressed during Community Comment. Individuals must limit their comments to three minutes. The Chair may limit the number of speakers on the same issue in the interest of time and topic. Individuals should not expect the Chair or Board/Commission Members to respond to their comments tonight. Instead, the Board/Commission might refer the matter to staff for consideration at a future meeting. 7. Reports/Recommendations 7.1. Discussion on Amending Chapter 24 of the Edina City Code Regarding Additional Restrictions for Parks and Publicly Owned Properties. Page 1 of 33 ## 7.2. Initiative 1.5.5 - Review Climate Action Plan Priorities ## 7.3. 2026 Park & Recreation Commission Work Plan ## 7.4. Discussion on 2027/2028 Parks & Recreation Commission Work Plan ## 8. Chair and Member Comments ## 9. Staff Comments ## 9.1. Upcoming Meetings & Events 10. Adjournment Page 2 of 33 ## Item Report August 10, 2026 ## Parks & Recreation Commission ## Item Number: 3.1 Department: Parks & Recreation Item Activity: Action Prepared By: Perry Vetter, Parks & Recreation Director Item Title: Amend the meeting agenda to add item 7.1 Discussion on Amending Chapter 24 of the Edina City Code Regarding Additional Restrictions for Parks and Publicly Owned Properties. ## Action Requested: Amending the agenda requires a motion, a second and a majority vote. ## Information/Background: Request to Amend the August 10, 2026 Meeting Agenda to add for discussion item 7.1 Discussion on Amending Chapter 24 of the Edina City Code Regarding Additional Restrictions for Parks and Publicly Owned Properties. This requires a motion, second and vote to amend the agenda. ## Supporting Documentation: Documents marked with "Board Portal" do not meet ADA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (URL) and are not included in the public packet. To request a board portal document, please submit a data request (URL). ## None Page 3 of 33 ## Item Report August 10, 2026 ## Parks & Recreation Commission ## Item Number: 4.1 Department: Parks & Recreation Item Activity: Action Prepared By: Perry Vetter, Parks & Recreation Director ## Item Title: Minutes: Parks & Recreation Commission June 9, 2026 ## Action Requested: Approve the minutes from the June 9, 2026, Parks & Recreation Commission meeting. ## Information/Background: See attached minutes. ## Supporting Documentation: ## 1. June 9, 2026 Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 4 of 33 ## Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Agenda June 9, 2026, 7:00 PM Braemar Golf Course, 6364 John Harris Dr. 1. Call to Order Chair Pfuhl called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. ## 2. Roll Call Answering the roll call were Commissioners Conzemius, Rezac, Wick, Kane, and Pfuhl. Commissioner Welsh arrived at 7:01 p.m. and Student Commissioner Syed arrived at 7:10 p.m. ## Absent: Commissioners Bye, Garazatua, Hulbert and Student Commissioner Harrington Staff Present: Staff Liaison Perry Vetter, Assistant Director Recreation & Facilities Tracy Petersen, Recreation Supervisor Laura Fulton, Summer Intern Carter Dunn and Administrative Coordinator Janet Canton ## 3. Approval of Meeting Agenda Motion made by Wick to approve the meeting agenda. Motion seconded by Kane Motion carried. ## 4. Approval of Meeting Minutes ## 4.1. Minutes: Parks & Recreation Commission May 12, 2026 Motion made by Kane to approve May 12, 2026, minutes. Motion seconded by Conzemius. Motion carried. ## 5. Special Recognitions and Presentations ## 5.1. Introduction of Parks & Recreation Summer Intern Assistant Director Petersen introduced the Parks & Recreation Summer Intern, Carter Dunn. Summer Intern Dunn went over what he has been working on during this internship. ## 6. Community Comment ## None 7. Reports/Recommendations ## 7.1. Arts Programming Update Laura Fulton, Recreation Supervisor, gave an update on the art center programs and services as well as discussing the new art center that is currently under construction. Commissioners asked questions. ## 7.2. 2026 Park & Recreation Commission Work Plan Chair Pfuhl briefly went over the 2026 Work Plan and confirmed with the commissioners that all the updates made are correct. Staff Liaison Vetter informed the commission that Commissioner Wick confirmed Initiative 1.5.5 — Review Climate Action Plan priorities and conduct research on external park agencies that are implementing projects that would be beneficial to the Edina Park system, will be brought to the Aug. 10 meeting. ## 7.3. Discussion on 2027/2028 Parks & Recreation Commission Work Plan Staff Liaison Vetter went through the process for the 2027-2028 Work Plan. The commissioners discussed the current initiatives and what they feel need to be continued. Initiative 1.5.1 - Review and Comment on Braemar Arena Implementation — Staff Liaison Vetter informed the commission that he feels this implementation does not need to continue on the 2027-2028 Work Plan. Staff will continue to bring it back for review and comments. Initiative 1.5.2 — Review and compare park shelter building amenities and function — It was noted this Page 5 of 33 initiative should be compiled and submitted to the City Council this year. Initiative 1.5.3 — Review 2016 Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan content, identify key study areas to include in the upcoming 2026 update for topics, research and potential data collection. This initiative has been completed. Initiative 1.5.4 — Research and, if feasible, develop an action plan or further research of no more than two alternative funding strategies (2023 Work Plan Item) to progress that initiative. It was decided this item will carry over into the 2027-2028 Work Plan and likely split into two separate initiatives. Initiative 1.5.5 — Review Climate Action Plan priorities and conduct research on external park agencies that are implementing projects that would be beneficial to the Edina Park system. Staff Liaison Vetter informed the Commission this initiative will be presented at the August meeting and members could discuss it if it needs to continue into next year. Initiative 1.5.6 — City Code Update — Article III. Boards, Committees and Commissions, Division 7. Parks & Recreation Commission. This initiative has been completed. However, this initiative came from the Administrative Department, so there is always the possibility of something new coming forward that could be added. There was a discussion of the Alternative Funding initiative. It was decided there are two kinds of focus areas. The first is the philanthropic side of things and the second is naming rights and sponsorship signs. It was discussed that these could be split into two initiatives. First is naming rights and second is sponsorships. Staff Liaison Vetter pointed out they are going to be doing a master plan for Yorktown Park in conjunction with Richfield's Adams Hill Park because the two parks share borders. Staff Liaison Vetter noted they are also due for a park ordinance update and will ask the commission to review and comment on the updates before going to the City Council. It was also discussed another possible initiative would be to consider re-naming the Senior Center. Chair Pfuhl asked Staff Liaison Vetter and Assistant Director Petersen if they see any trends on things that the commission could be supportive of in a work plan item to which he replied they would talk about it and report back. Chair Pfuhl asked the commission to continue to consider the four points for further discussion: 1. What emerging issues or opportunities do you believe the commission should focus on next year? 2. What community topics, concerns, or gaps have you observed that warrant a commission initiative? 3. What questions or considerations should guide a deeper analysis of these strategies? 4. Which current initiatives should continue into next year, and which should sunset or shift in scope? ## 8. Chair and Member Comments None. ## 9. Staff Comments ## 9.1. Upcoming Meetings & Events Staff Liaison Vetter gave the following updates: Page 6 of 33 • The August meeting will be held on Monday, Aug. 10 and the November meeting will be held on Monday, Nov. 9. There is no July meeting. • The Rosland Park pedestrian bridge will need to come down before the Fourth of July and MNDot has okayed the road closure. • Summer programming is in full swing. • Two emails will be sent out; the first one is asking if anyone has an interest in volunteering at the Adaptive Open that Braemar Golf Course will be hosting again this year in September. The second email will contain guidance on the coming election season. • The Aquatic Center is open. • There have been black bear sightings in Edina. • Hopefully the pickleball courts at Rosland Park will be color coded next week. There are 10 pickleball courts at Rosland Park. 10. Adjournment Motion made by Kane to adjourn June 9, 2026, meeting at 8:32 p.m. Motion seconded by Rezac. Motion carried. Page 7 of 33 ## Item Report August 10, 2026 ## Parks & Recreation Commission ## Item Number: 7.1 Department: Parks & Recreation Item Activity: Discussion Prepared By: Perry Vetter, Parks & Recreation Director Item Title: Discussion on Amending Chapter 24 of the Edina City Code Regarding Additional Restrictions for Parks and Publicly Owned Properties. ## Action Requested: ## Review and Comment ## Information/Background: During the August 5, 2026 City Council Meeting, a proposal to amend Chapter 24 of the Edina City Code Regarding Additional Restrictions for Parks and Publicly Owned Properties was introduced by city staff for discussion. The City Council did not take formal action to approve or deny that request. Rather, they requested comments on the proposal by the Parks and Recreation Commission and then community feedback. Attached is the information that was shared with the City Council as part of their agenda. ## Supporting Documentation: Documents marked with "Board Portal" do not meet ADA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (URL) and are not included in the public packet. To request a board portal document, please submit a data request (URL). ## 1. August 5 2026 City Council Report ## 2. August 5 2026 City Council Ordinance Proposal Page 8 of 33 ## Item Report August 5, 2026 ## City Council ## Item Number: 8.2 Department: Parks & Recreation Item Activity: Action Prepared By: Perry Vetter, Parks & Recreation Director Item Title: Ordinance 2026-12: Amending Chapter 24 of the Edina City Code Regarding Additional ## Restrictions for Parks and Publicly Owned Properties ## Action Requested: Approve Amending Chapter 24 of the Edina City Code Regarding Additional Restrictions for Parks and Publicly Owned Properties, grant first reading and waive second reading. ## Information/Background: This ordinance updates City Code Chapter 24 regarding conduct in park & publicly owned property. The code was reviewed for potential updates to ensure parks and publicly owned properties are safe for the community to reserve and use as intended. An increase in the number of large group gatherings without prior knowledge has caused severe negative impacts on the physical, social, emotional well-being and safety of park users. An advance reservation permit requirement will allow for a higher level of coordination and planning to ensure that the safety, capacity and coordination of city resources can be adequately deployed if approved. Unplanned events have the likelihood to have a negative impact on park maintenance, police and adjacent property resources in the community. Park and Recreation staff currently have a permit application and review process for advanced reservations. This would have no impact on current permit holders and athletic associations that have standing permit reservations. This ordinance update provides a tool for the Police Department to enforce gatherings of a certain size and use of certain areas if conditions in a park demand. The City Prosecuting Attorney recommends violations of this ordinance be classified as a petty misdemeanor. ## Resources/Financial Impacts: Additional permit requests and issuance coordination is likely. However, no identified financial resources are needed at this time. ## Relationship to City Policies/Plans/Budget Pillars: This action will allow City Staff to appropriately address social disruption behavior issues at parks and publicly owned property and require an advance reservation permit from the City of Edina to use such facilities. This should have a positive impact on community relationships in the area of the property. ## Better Together ## Values Impact: Page 9 of 33 ## Health Addressing improper use of park areas by reducing unplanned and unpermitted large group gatherings will improve the social, physical and emotional well-being of park users and improve safety aspects of public areas. Unplanned large groups often result in increased trash, food waste, restroom uncleanliness and traffic due to no advanced planning. Permitted groups are directed to alternate site locations that can best accommodate requests. ## Stewardship The ability to ensure a safe and orderly process for users to reserve and use parks and publicly owned properties allows for improved stewardship of city resources. ## Supporting Documentation: Documents marked with "Board Portal" do not meet ADA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (URL) and are not included in the public packet. To request a board portal document, please submit a data request (URL). ## None Page 10 of 33 ## Ordinance 2026-12: Amending Chapter 24 of the Edina City ## Code Regarding Additional Restrictions for Parks and ## Publicly Owned Properties ## The City Council of Edina, Minnesota Ordains: Section 1. Chapter 24 - STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND OTHER PUBLIC SPACES, Article VIII. - PARKS AND OTHER PUBLIC SPACES, Section 24-255. - Additional restrictions for parks and publicly owned properties of the Edina City Code is hereby amended to read as follows, with the following original text, added text, and deleted text: Sec. 24-255. — Additional restrictions for parks and publicly owned properties. In addition to the requirements of section 24-254, no person shall, in any park or publicly owned property: (1) Place or keep any goods, wares, merchandise or other articles without the written permission of the park director. (2) Participate in or conduct any band procession, parade or military formation without the written permission of the park director. (3) Promote or participate in an entertainment or exhibition without the written permission of the park director. (4) Participate in any rally, convention, assembly or meeting without the written permission of the park director, which shall be withheld only when necessary to prevent conflict with regular park activities. (5) Sell or offer for sale any article in any public park; provided that refreshments or other articles may be sold by the city or by persons authorized to do so by the park director. (6) Be in or remain in any vehicle, or park or leave unattended any vehicle, between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m., except when the vehicle is moving upon a street or when permitted by the park director. (7) Drive or park a motor vehicle on any area not designated for parking or travel. (8) Take or allow any dog or other animal where forbidden by posted signs. (9) Take or allow any horse or other livestock upon any park, publicly owned property or public waters without the written permission of the park director. (10) On any public skating rink, no person shall race, play games which interfere with the general public use, use hockey sticks or pucks in areas not marked for hockey play, or loiter in public Page 11 of 33 warming houses. (11) Play or participate in baseball, diamond ball, basketball, football, golf, tennis, archery or any other game or sport, except in or upon appropriate areas established by the city for such game or sport. (12) Play upon, use or enter any publicly owned property without having first paid an admission or entry fee when one is required. (13) Bathe or swim in water adjoining a park, except at places and during hours shown by signs placed by the city. (14) Be in or remain within the park before or after posted hours of operation without the written permission of the park director. (15) Gather with a group of 25 people or more for any reason without obtaining and being in compliance with an advance reservation permit from the city. (16) Use recreational facilities and park areas, such as picnic shelter areas and athletic fields within a park facility, without an advance reservation permit from the city. Sec. 24-258. — Additional rules and regulations. The park director may adopt additional rules and regulations not contrary to the provisions of this Code governing the use and enjoyment of parks, programmed parks, playgrounds, lakes, ponds, streams and other publicly owned properties which shall be prominently posted or publicly announced in the places where they are intended to apply. Any person who violates a rule or regulation so posted may be excluded from the use of the park, programmed park, lake, pond, stream or other publicly owned property and may, in addition, be prosecuted as for a misdemeanor. 1. Applications for permits for group events of 25 or more persons, picnic shelters and athletic fields, and sound amplification must be submitted to the city a minimum of seven business days in advance in accordance with procedures and fees adopted annually by the City Council. 2. The director may deny a permit application when the proposed activity may adversely affect the public health, safety, or welfare, or the condition of the park facility. 3. The director may add conditions to any permit to mitigate potential adverse effects or to ensure the quiet and orderly use and enjoyment of the park facility. 4. The person responsible for the gathering must remain within the area for which the permit was issued at all times, must have the permit in possession, and must display it upon the request of authorized city personnel. 5. Any person aggrieved by action of the director may appeal to the city council by submitting a request in writing to the director within 10 days after notice of the action. 6. The director or any city law enforcement officer may declare that any part or all of a park facility is closed to the public for any interval of time or for any particular use, as reasonably determined necessary in the public interest. Page 12 of 33 Section 2. This ordinance is effective immediately on its passage and publication ## First Reading: August 5, 2026 ## Second Reading: Waived ## Summary for Publication: Ordinance 2026-12 updates City Code regarding additional restrictions for parks and publicly owned properties and clarifies the need of a reservation permit from the city to use any of the parks or publicly owned properties. The ordinance does not change the intent of the code section, but adds clarity on when to obtain such a reservation permit from the city. The full ordinances are available by contacting the City Clerk at sallison@EdinaMN.gov. Approved for summary publication by the Edina City Council August 5, 2026. Page 13 of 33 ## Item Report August 10, 2026 ## Parks & Recreation Commission ## Item Number: 7.2 Department: Parks & Recreation Item Activity: Discussion Prepared By: Perry Vetter, Parks & Recreation Director ## Item Title: Initiative 1.5.5 - Review Climate Action Plan Priorities ## Action Requested: Work Plan Discussion Item. ## Information/Background: The commission will review the Climate Action Plan with the City’s Sustainability Manager for actions related to the Park System. Commissioners will then research external park agencies that are implementing projects successfully to address items in the plan that are relevant for consideration and planning in Edina. Initiative Members: Commissioner Wick (Initiative Lead), Commissioners Bye, Eilertson, Pfuhl and Welsh ## Supporting Documentation: Documents marked with "Board Portal" do not meet ADA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (URL) and are not included in the public packet. To request a board portal document, please submit a data request (URL). ## None Page 14 of 33 ## Item Report August 10, 2026 ## Parks & Recreation Commission ## Item Number: 7.3 Department: Parks & Recreation Item Activity: Discussion Prepared By: Perry Vetter, Parks & Recreation Director ## Item Title: 2026 Park & Recreation Commission Work Plan ## Action Requested: Review the 2026 Commission Work Plan and provide any available updates. ## Information/Background: Review the 2026 Commission Work Plan. ## Supporting Documentation: Documents marked with "Board Portal" do not meet ADA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (URL) and are not included in the public packet. To request a board portal document, please submit a data request (URL). ## 1. PARC Commission Work Plan_August_2026 Page 15 of 33 ## 2026 Advisory Commission Work Plans Reporting dates not set ## Report Created On: Jul 27, 2026 ## Parks and Recreation Commission Page 16 of 33 Page 1 1 ## Commission Name 6 ## Initiative ## Report Legend Council Charge No Update Overdue ## Overall Summary % ## On Track67 ## Completed33 ## Status 0100 # ## Progress 75% Page 17 of 33 Page 1 ## PARC Commission report_PV ## 2026 Advisory Commission Work Plans ## Report Created On: Jul 27, 2026 ## Report Legend Council Charge No Update Overdue ## Commission Name 1.5 ## Parks & Recreation Commission ## 2025-2026 Work Plan The Commission participates in park planning, reviews operations of parks and facilities and advises the City Council on policies, parks, programs and facilities. ## Plan Label And NumberDescriptionInitiative TypeLeadsStatus ## Initiative 1.5.1Review and Comment on Braemar Arena Implementation In support of the Braemar Park master plan implementation efforts for Braemar Arena assign members to the various stakeholder/focus group input opportunities as needs are identified to bring the community perspective to the process. Potential Areas: Infrastructure replacement Arena expansion ## ProjectKane (L), Wick, ## Hulbert, Rezac, Syed (s) Initiative 1.5.2Review and compare park shelter building amenities and function The upcoming capital improvement program identifies several park shelter building replacements. Part 1: The commission will study and report on user experience enhancements, amenities and style of facility approaches that are successful in current Edina parks and surrounding communities to help guide future replacement projects. Part 2: The commission will evaluate Edina Parks that have and those that do not have park buildings and propose criteria for constructing or decommissioning at each site. ## ProjectWelsh (L), Wick, ## Garazatua, Rezac, Syed (S) Initiative 1.5.3Review 2016 Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan content, identify key study areas to include in upcoming 2026 update for topics, research and potential data collection. The Parks and Recreation Department completes a strategic plan every 10 years prior to the development of the Comprehensive Guide Plan. The strategic plan informs the parks chapter of the comprehensive guide plan and is used as a pathway to prioritize and further develop the park system. This initiative will review the content of the 2016 plan, identify areas to add or modify for the upcoming work. ## ProjectKane (L), Pfuhl, Welsh Initiative 1.5.4Research and if feasible, develop action plan or further research of no more than two Alternative Funding Strategies (2023 Work Plan Item) to progress that initiative. The commission delivered a report on alternative funding methods that could be considered to supplement financial contributions to the park system. This initiative will revisit that report and do an in-depth analysis on no more than two methods to provide greater analysis for consideration by the City Council. ## ProjectPfuhl (L), Welsh, ## Hulbert, Conzemius Initiative 1.5.5Review Climate Action Plan priorities and conduct research on external park agencies that are implementing projects that would be beneficial to the Edina Park system. The commission will review the Climate Action Plan with the Cityʼs Sustainability Manager for actions related to the Park System. Commissioners will then research external park agencies that are implementing projects successfully to address items in the plan that are relevant for consideration and planning in Edina. ## On-going / AnnualWick (L), Welsh, Pfuhl, ## Bye, Eilertson (S) ## Initiative 1.5.6City Code Update—Article III. Boards, Committees and ## Commissions, Division 7. Parks and Recreation Commission In preparation for the comprehensive plan update, Administration will propose updates to city code. ## ProjectAll # ## On Track ## On Track ## Completed ## On Track ## On Track ## Completed Page 18 of 33 Page 2 ## Parks & Recreation Commission ## 2025-2026 Work Plan The Commission participates in park planning, reviews operations of parks and facilities and advises the City Council on policies, parks, programs and facilities. ## Owner: Perry Vetter %# ## On Track674 ## Completed332 ## Review and Comment on Braemar Arena Implementation In support of the Braemar Park master plan implementation efforts for Braemar Arena assign members to the various stakeholder/focus group input opportunities as needs are identified to bring the community perspective to the process. ## Potential Areas: Infrastructure replacement Arena expansion ## Owner: Perry Vetter ## Initiative Type ## Project ## Target Completion Date ## Q4 - 2026 ## Leads ## Kane (L), Wick, Hulbert, Rezac, Syed (s) Update provided by Perry Vetter on Mar 20, 2026 20:25:23 Initiative members and the entire commission reviewed and provided a recommendation on the Arena concept for renovation and expansion to the City Council. The City Council reviewed that plan and the recommendation in January 2026. As additional input opportunities arise staff will bring those items to the initiative group first and then the full commission. Update provided by Perry Vetter on Mar 20, 2026 19:19:14 Update here. Update provided by Perry Vetter on Nov 05, 2025 19:10:59 The initiative group received an update on the schematic design findings and presentation. Next steps are stakeholder engagement and design finalization. ## Commission Name 1.5 Progress 75% Initiative: 6 Initiative 1.5.1 Jan 01, 2025 - Dec 31, 2026On TrackProgress 75% ## Council Charge 2: Review & Comment Page 19 of 33 Page 3 Review and compare park shelter building amenities and function The upcoming capital improvement program identifies several park shelter building replacements. Part 1: The commission will study and report on user experience enhancements, amenities and style of facility approaches that are successful in current Edina parks and surrounding communities to help guide future replacement projects. Part 2: The commission will evaluate Edina Parks that have and those that do not have park buildings and propose criteria for constructing or decommissioning at each site. ## Owner: Perry Vetter ## Initiative Type ## Project ## Target Completion Date ## Q4 - 2026 ## Leads ## Welsh (L), Wick, Garazatua, Rezac, Syed (S) Update provided by Perry Vetter on Jul 27, 2026 17:31:53 The Commission has accepted the presentation materials and staff work as baseline documents for future planning efforts. Staff will assist the commission with creating a report for review prior to delivering the information to City Council. Update provided by Perry Vetter on Jun 04, 2026 15:13:49 Update here. Update provided by Perry Vetter on Oct 03, 2025 05:00:01 Initiative commissioners and full commission have reviewed all baseline work for this initiative. ## Review 2016 Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan content, identify key study areas to include in upcoming 2026 update for topics, research and potential data collection. The Parks and Recreation Department completes a strategic plan every 10 years prior to the development of the Comprehensive Guide Plan. The strategic plan informs the parks chapter of the comprehensive guide plan and is used as a pathway to prioritize and further develop the park system. This initiative will review the content of the 2016 plan, identify areas to add or modify for the upcoming work. ## Owner: Perry Vetter ## Initiative Type ## Project ## Target Completion Date ## Q4 - 2025 ## Leads ## Kane (L), Pfuhl, Welsh Update provided by Perry Vetter on Mar 20, 2026 20:26:34 Initiative members presented to the Commission content identification for consideration. Staff will review that input and recommended areas at a future meeting. Update provided by Perry Vetter on Mar 20, 2026 19:19:21 Update here. Update provided by Perry Vetter on Oct 03, 2025 05:00:01 Initiative members and full commission have developed detailed framework for report. Initiative 1.5.2 Jan 01, 2025 - Dec 31, 2026On TrackProgress 75% ## Council Charge 1: Study & Report Initiative 1.5.3 Jan 01, 2025 - Dec 31, 2026CompletedProgress 100% ## Council Charge 1: Study & Report Page 20 of 33 Page 4 Research and if feasible, develop action plan or further research of no more than two Alternative Funding Strategies (2023 Work Plan Item) to progress that initiative. The commission delivered a report on alternative funding methods that could be considered to supplement financial contributions to the park system. This initiative will revisit that report and do an in-depth analysis on no more than two methods to provide greater analysis for consideration by the City Council. ## Owner: Perry Vetter ## Initiative Type ## Project ## Target Completion Date ## Q4 - 2026 ## Leads ## Pfuhl (L), Welsh, Hulbert, Conzemius Update provided by Perry Vetter on Jul 27, 2026 17:30:03 Initiative members presented to the commission at the April 2026 meeting and have been conducting follow up research. Update provided by Perry Vetter on Mar 20, 2026 20:27:07 Initiative members will present to the commission at the April 2026 meeting. Update provided by Perry Vetter on Oct 03, 2025 05:00:01 Initiative group to discuss at November meeting. Review Climate Action Plan priorities and conduct research on external park agencies that are implementing projects that would be beneficial to the Edina Park system. The commission will review the Climate Action Plan with the Cityʼs Sustainability Manager for actions related to the Park System. Commissioners will then research external park agencies that are implementing projects successfully to address items in the plan that are relevant for consideration and planning in Edina. ## Owner: Perry Vetter ## Initiative Type ## On-going / Annual ## Target Completion Date ## Q4 - 2026 ## Leads ## Wick (L), Welsh, Pfuhl, Bye, Eilertson (S) Update provided by Perry Vetter on Jul 27, 2026 17:28:55 Initiative members will present to the commission at the August 2026 meeting. Update provided by Perry Vetter on Mar 20, 2026 20:27:23 Initiative members will present to the commission at the June 2026 meeting. Update provided by Perry Vetter on Oct 03, 2025 05:00:01 Initiative group and full commission have discussed detailed analysis that will frame report. Initiative 1.5.4 Jan 01, 2025 - Dec 31, 2026On TrackProgress 50% ## Council Charge 3: Review & Recommend Initiative 1.5.5 Jan 01, 2025 - Dec 31, 2026On TrackProgress 50% ## Council Charge 1: Study & Report Page 21 of 33 Page 5 ## City Code Update—Article III. Boards, Committees and ## Commissions, Division 7. Parks and Recreation Commission In preparation for the comprehensive plan update, Administration will propose updates to city code. ## Owner: Perry Vetter ## Initiative Type ## Project ## Target Completion Date ## Q4 - 2025 ## Leads ## All Update provided by Perry Vetter on Nov 05, 2025 19:12:08 The commission reviewed and commented at the October meeting. Feedback was provided and incorporated into edits the Engagement Manager will provide to the City Council. Update provided by Perry Vetter on Oct 03, 2025 05:00:01 Full commission review scheduled for October 14 regular meeting. Update provided by Perry Vetter on Jul 03, 2025 05:00:01 No updates at this time. Initiative 1.5.6 Jan 01, 2025 - Dec 31, 2025CompletedProgress 100% ## Council Charge 2: Review & Comment Page 22 of 33 ## Item Report August 10, 2026 ## Parks & Recreation Commission ## Item Number: 7.4 Department: Parks & Recreation Item Activity: Discussion Prepared By: Perry Vetter, Parks & Recreation Director Item Title: Discussion on 2027/2028 Parks & Recreation Commission Work Plan ## Action Requested: The commission has been requested to begin discussions on the 2027/2028 work plan and finalize by the Sept. 8 meeting. Chair Pfuhl will present the plan to the City Council in October. ## Information/Background: ## Information / Background The information is available for the Parks & Recreation Commission Members to discuss the development of the 2027/2028 Work Plan. The following information is available in the board portal for the June 9, 2026 meeting packet: • Council Charge / Level of Impact: This document is a short description of the levels and roles of the various council charges that each work plan would be defined as. • Prior Year Work Plans: Included are the 2021 – 2026 commission work plan initiatives • Comprehensive Guild Plan Chapter 6: This is the Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources chapter of the comprehensive guide plan. • Park System Strategic Plan: This is linked document due to size https://www.edinamn.gov/1808/Park-System-Strategic-Plan • Park System Strategic Plan Appendix A – Implementation Framework: this includes updated progress on the plan’s implementation. ## Process to Set 2027/2028 Work Plan • The work plan initiatives are determined and worked on by the commission themselves. • Each initiative is limited to no more than 4 regular members and up to two student members. • Each initiative should have a designated lead. The lead’s responsibility is to organize the work plan members on the deliverable and communicate with the Chair on when the item is ready for discussion by the full commission for the agenda. Initiative leads do work with staff on guidance and clarity. • The initiatives must fall into one of five City Council Charges of 1. Study & Report, 2. Review & Comment, 3. Review & Recommend, 4. Review & Decide, or 5. Event. • Typically the June and August meetings the commission will discuss ideas and focus areas for the work plan. The September meeting is used for finalizing the initiatives and recommending them by motion for City Council consideration. Page 23 of 33 Ideas generated for consideration during the June 9 meeting and for further discussion and development at the Monday August 10 meeting: 1. Masterplan implementation review a. Yorktown Park (in conjunction with the City of Richfield’s Adams Hill Park) Masterplan will be brought to the commission for review and comment. ## 2. Alternative Funding Strategies a. The commission discussed splitting this initiative into two separate work plan items. Continuation from 2025/2026: Research and if feasible, develop action plan or further research of no more than two Alternative Funding Strategies (2023 Work Plan Item) to progress that initiative. ## a. Focus area: Philanthropic Efforts ## b. Focus area: Naming Rights/Sponsorships ## 3. Community Engagement and Education a. If the City Council pursues a referendum the commission would play a role in education of the community as it relates to Parks and Recreation needs. ## 4. Research, Benchmarking and Comparative Analysis a. As it relates to the Comprehensive Guide Plan or the Parks Strategic Plan the commission could play a role in analyzing trends for recreational use or athletic use (including potential for school district sites) as it pertains to data analysis. 5. Review of Ordinances and Policies a. Study and Report: (Source: Strategic Plan for Recreation Facilities Tactic 1.1.2) Re-brand the Senior Center as a “community center” or “activity center” to attract other age segments by removing the negative connotation of “senior” label among 55-75 age segment. Consider including in a multi-purpose facility at the Grandview site. b. Staff plans to bring potential updates to the City Code of Ordinances as it relates to parks and will request the commission review and comment on those updates. ## 6. Alignment with the Climate Action Plan and Sustainability a. None currently identified Additional ideas generated after the June 9 meeting for discussion at the August 10 meeting: ## 3. Community Engagement and Education ## Establish Unplug Edina Day This would mimic Unplug Illinois Day, started by the Illinois Park and Recreation Association in Page 24 of 33 2014 as an annual event—they just celebrated their 8 th event on July 11th, 2026. Unplug Illinois Day was developed to encourage people to “unplug” from their electronic devices and “plug” into play, creativity, friendship, adventure, and family at local parks. The program promotes three core community pillars: environmental sustainability, personal wellness, and the economic impact of local recreational properties. To get families out of the house, Edina Park & Rec can organize unique, free, or low-cost community events (much of which can be hosted at Centennial Lakes): • Pool Discounts: Free or heavily discounted admission to the aquatic center. • Outdoor Concerts & Movies: Evening programming featuring live bands or "Movies in the Park". • Putting Golf: Free or heavily discounted admission to Park Putting. • Croquet: Free croquet. ## • Fishing Contest ## • Paddle Boat Races • Nature Exploration: Guided trail hikes, "Play Passports," scavenger hunts, and overnight stargazing campouts at local preserves. • Interactive Play: Magic shows, Touch-a-Plane or Touch-a-Truck events, balloon artists, and community sports tournaments. Unplug Edina Day can also serve as a push for physical health, highlighting data that less than 5% of American adults get 30 minutes of physical activity daily. From an environmental sustainability perspective, if 90% of the Edina population (roughly 49.000 people) shut off their phones for 2 hours, the power saved is approximately 300 to 450 kilowatt-hours of energy which is roughly equivalent to the electricity needed to power 10 to 15 average homes for a single day, or to drive an electric vehicle about 1,000 to 1,500 miles. ## Real-World Equivalents: To visualize 300–450 kWh of energy, compare it to these daily activities: • Home Energy: It covers the daily electricity usage of 10–15 average U.S. households (which use ~29 kWh/day). • Electric Driving: It is enough energy to drive a Tesla Model 3 from Edina to New York City (approx. 1,200 miles). • Carbon Footprint: In Minnesota, this amount of electricity represents about 300 lbs. of CO₂ emissions—roughly the same as burning 15 gallons of gasoline. 5. Review of Ordinances and Policies Drones as First Responders (DFR) program Page 25 of 33 In light of the recent shooting event at Yancey Park, the City of Edina is considering Ordinance 2026-12. While limiting the number of people allowed to gather at parks without a permit is good policy, community safety is still a concern. To augment safety in parks and public spaces, and to help enforce pending Ordinance 2026-12, Edina should consider establishing a Drones as First Responders (DFR) program. Several communities in MN (Minnetonka, St. Paul, Brooklyn Park, Duluth, & Rochester) have active Drones as First Responders (DFR) programs. In DFR programs, drones are docked on building roofs and self-dispatched to 911 call locations. If a fight, medical emergency, or vandalism is reported at a city park, a drone will fly to the scene to give arriving police officers a real-time visual assessment. State law allows police to fly drones over public property (such as parks and streets) without a warrant if they have reasonable suspicion that a crime just occurred. For example, the Duluth Police Department has used drones to track and locate suspects fleeing through public city corridors. Drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras are frequently flown over heavily wooded parks or regional reserves to locate missing children, lost hikers, or individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. ## 4. Research, Benchmarking and Comparative Analysis As Edina continues to implement the Park System Strategic Plan, I think it would be helpful for the Commission to look at how parks are changing and what residents may want in the future. We could research new recreation trends, compare what nearby cities are doing, and identify ideas that could improve Edina's parks over the next 10 years. • New recreation trends • Park amenities in nearby cities • Year-round recreation ## 6. Alignment with the Climate Action Plan and Sustainability Building on the Commission's Climate Action Plan work, I think we should look at ways to better protect and improve Edina's natural areas. We could study what nearby cities are doing and identify ideas that fit Edina's parks and long-term goals. • Native plants and pollinator habitat • Preserving Edina's trees and woodlands • Environmental education ## Supporting Documentation: Documents marked with "Board Portal" do not meet ADA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (URL) and are not included in the public packet. To request a board portal document, please submit a data request (URL). Page 26 of 33 1. Item Attachment Files Item Attachment Files Staff Report 2027/2028 Work Plan Development Page 27 of 33 ## Strong ## Foundation ## CITY GOALS: ## Better ## Together ## Reliable ## Service ## Livable ## City ## Staff Report ## City of Edina • 4801 W.50th St. • ## Edina, MN 55424 ## Date: ## To: ## From: ## Subject: July 24, 2026 ## Parks & Recreation Commission Members ## Perry Vetter, Parks & Recreation Director ## 2027/2028 Commission Work Plan Development ## Staff Recommendation: The commission has been requested to begin discussions on the 2027/2028 work plan and finalize by the Sept. 8 meeting. Chair Pfuhl will present the plan to the City Council in October. ## Information / Background Background information was provided for the June 9 Parks & Recreation Commission packet for Members to discuss the development of the 2027/2028 Work Plan. The following information was attached and remains available in the board portal for that meeting packet: • Council Charge / Level of Impact: This document is a short description of the levels and roles of the various council charges that each work plan would be defined as. • Prior Year Work Plans: Included are the 2021 – 2026 commission work plan initiatives • Comprehensive Guild Plan Chapter 6: This is the Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources chapter of the comprehensive guide plan. • Park System Strategic Plan: This is linked document due to size https://www.edinamn.gov/1808/Park- ## System-Strategic-Plan • Park System Strategic Plan Appendix A – Implementation Framework: this includes updated progress on the plan’s implementation. ## Process to Set 2027/2028 Work Plan • The work plan initiatives are determined and worked on by the commission themselves. • Each initiative is limited to no more than 4 regular members and up to two student members. Page 28 of 33 ## STAFF REPORT Page 2 • Each initiative should have a designated lead. The lead’s responsibility is to organize the work plan members on the deliverable and communicate with the Chair on when the item is ready for discussion by the full commission for the agenda. Initiative leads do work with staff on guidance and clarity. • The initiatives must fall into one of five City Council Charges of 1. Study & Report, 2. Review & Comment, 3. Review & Recommend, 4. Review & Decide, or 5. Event. • Typically the June and August meetings the commission will discuss ideas and focus areas for the work plan. The September meeting is used for finalizing the initiatives and recommending them by motion for City Council consideration. ## Initiative Overarching Themes The work plan initiatives from the 2021 to 2026 work plans are also included in the June 9 packet for review. Of those initiatives, they fell into the following overarching categories. At the June meeting the commission discussion confirmed these themes are still relevant for development of the 2027/2028 work plan and initiatives should fall under these themes if possible. 1. Master Plan implementation review ## 2. Alternative Funding Strategies ## 3. Community Engagement and Education ## 4. Research, Benchmarking and Comparative Analysis 5. Review of Ordinances and Policies ## 6. Alignment with the Climate Action Plan and Sustainability Questions Commissioners should consider, and action items for the August 10 meeting Please review the background information and discussion results from the June 9 meeting. This information will be included in the meeting packet for Monday August 10. Members of the commission should continue to consider and discussed these points: 1. What emerging issues or opportunities do you believe the Commission should focus on next year? 2. What community topics, concerns, or gaps have you observed that warrant a Commission initiative? 3. What questions or considerations should guide a deeper analysis of these strategies? 4. Which current initiatives should continue into next year, and which should sunset or shift in scope? Page 29 of 33 ## STAFF REPORT Page 3 Ideas generated for consideration during the June 9 meeting and for further discussion and development at the Monday August 10 meeting: 1. Master Plan implementation review a. Yorktown Park (in conjunction with the City of Richfield’s Adams Hill Park) Masterplan will be brought to the commission for review and comment. ## 2. Alternative Funding Strategies a. The commission discussed splitting this initiative into two separate work plan items. Continuation from 2025/2026: Research and if feasible, develop action plan or further research of no more than two Alternative Funding Strategies (2023 Work Plan Item) to progress that initiative. ## i. Focus area: Philanthropic Efforts ## ii. Focus area: Naming Rights/Sponsorships ## 3. Community Engagement and Education a. If the City Council pursues a referendum the commission would play a role in education of the community as it relates to Parks and Recreation needs. ## 4. Research, Benchmarking and Comparative Analysis a. As it relates to the Comprehensive Guide Plan or the Parks Strategic Plan the commission could play a role in analyzing trends for recreational use or athletic use (including potential for school district sites) as it pertains to data analysis. 5. Review of Ordinances and Policies a. Study and Report: (Source: Strategic Plan for Recreation Facilities Tactic 1.1.2) Re-brand the Senior Center as a “community center” or “activity center” to attract other age segments by removing the negative connotation of “senior” label among 55-75 age segment. Consider including in a multi-purpose facility at the Grandview site. b. Staff plans to bring potential updates to the City Code of Ordinances as it relates to parks and will request the commission review and comment on those updates. ## 6. Alignment with the Climate Action Plan and Sustainability a. None currently identified The Commission will discuss initiatives at the Monday August 10 meeting. Members were asked to send work plan ideas for inclusion in the packet to me by end of the day August 3. Those ideas will be included in the meeting packet. Page 30 of 33 ## STAFF REPORT Page 4 ## New Ideas Submitted for Discussion Since June 9 Meeting ## 3. Community Engagement and Education ## Establish Unplug Edina Day This would mimic Unplug Illinois Day, started by the Illinois Park and Recreation Association in 2014 as an annual event—they just celebrated their 8 th event on July 11th, 2026. Unplug Illinois Day was developed to encourage people to “unplug” from their electronic devices and “plug” into play, creativity, friendship, adventure, and family at local parks. The program promotes three core community pillars: environmental sustainability, personal wellness, and the economic impact of local recreational properties. To get families out of the house, Edina Park & Rec can organize unique, free, or low-cost community events (much of which can be hosted at Centennial Lakes): • Pool Discounts: Free or heavily discounted admission to the aquatic center. • Outdoor Concerts & Movies: Evening programming featuring live bands or "Movies in the Park". • Putting Golf: Free or heavily discounted admission to Park Putting. • Croquet: Free croquet. ## • Fishing Contest ## • Paddle Boat Races • Nature Exploration: Guided trail hikes, "Play Passports," scavenger hunts, and overnight stargazing campouts at local preserves. • Interactive Play: Magic shows, Touch-a-Plane or Touch-a-Truck events, balloon artists, and community sports tournaments. Unplug Edina Day can also serve as a push for physical health, highlighting data that less than 5% of American adults get 30 minutes of physical activity daily. From an environmental sustainability perspective, if 90% of the Edina population (roughly 49.000 people) shut off their phones for 2 hours, the power saved is approximately 300 to 450 kilowatt- hours of energy which is roughly equivalent to the electricity needed to power 10 to 15 average homes for a single day, or to drive an electric vehicle about 1,000 to 1,500 miles. ## Real-World Equivalents: To visualize 300–450 kWh of energy, compare it to these daily activities: • Home Energy: It covers the daily electricity usage of 10–15 average U.S. households (which use ~29 kWh/day). Page 31 of 33 ## STAFF REPORT Page 5 • Electric Driving: It is enough energy to drive a Tesla Model 3 from Edina to New York City (approx. 1,200 miles). • Carbon Footprint: In Minnesota, this amount of electricity represents about 300 lbs. of CO₂ emissions—roughly the same as burning 15 gallons of gasoline. 5. Review of Ordinances and Policies Drones as First Responders (DFR) program In light of the recent shooting event at Yancey Park, the City of Edina is considering Ordinance 2026-12. While limiting the number of people allowed to gather at parks without a permit is good policy, community safety is still a concern. To augment safety in parks and public spaces, and to help enforce pending Ordinance 2026-12, Edina should consider establishing a Drones as First Responders (DFR) program. Several communities in MN (Minnetonka, St. Paul, Brooklyn Park, Duluth, & Rochester) have active Drones as First Responders (DFR) programs. In DFR programs, drones are docked on building roofs and self-dispatched to 911 call locations. If a fight, medical emergency, or vandalism is reported at a city park, a drone will fly to the scene to give arriving police officers a real-time visual assessment. State law allows police to fly drones over public property (such as parks and streets) without a warrant if they have reasonable suspicion that a crime just occurred. For example, the Duluth Police Department has used drones to track and locate suspects fleeing through public city corridors. Drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras are frequently flown over heavily wooded parks or regional reserves to locate missing children, lost hikers, or individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. ## 4. Research, Benchmarking and Comparative Analysis As Edina continues to implement the Park System Strategic Plan, I think it would be helpful for the Commission to look at how parks are changing and what residents may want in the future. We could research new recreation trends, compare what nearby cities are doing, and identify ideas that could improve Edina's parks over the next 10 years. • New recreation trends • Park amenities in nearby cities • Year-round recreation ## 6. Alignment with the Climate Action Plan and Sustainability Building on the Commission's Climate Action Plan work, I think we should look at ways to better protect and improve Edina's natural areas. We could study what nearby cities are doing and identify ideas that fit Edina's parks and long-term goals. • Native plants and pollinator habitat • Preserving Edina's trees and woodlands • Environmental education Page 32 of 33 ## Item Report August 10, 2026 ## Parks & Recreation Commission ## Item Number: 9.1 Department: Parks & Recreation Item Activity: Information Prepared By: Perry Vetter, Parks & Recreation Director ## Item Title: Upcoming Meetings & Events ## Action Requested: None, informational only. ## Information/Background: ## Upcoming Meeting Dates ## Date Time Location ## MONDAY, August 10* 7:00 p.m. Braemar Golf Course ## Tuesday, September 8 7:00 p.m. Braemar Golf Course ## Tuesday, October 13 7:00 p.m. Braemar Golf Course ## MONDAY, November 9* 7:00 p.m. Braemar Golf Course ## Tuesday, December 8 7:00 p.m. Braemar Golf Course *Date adjustments ## Upcoming Events Date / Time Location Fall Into the Arts Festival Sat. Sept. 12 and Sun. Sept. 13 ## Centennial Lakes Park 2026 MGA Adaptive Open Fri. Sept. 25 - Sun. Sept. 27 ## Braemar Golf Course ## Supporting Documentation: Documents marked with "Board Portal" do not meet ADA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (URL) and are not included in the public packet. To request a board portal document, please submit a data request (URL). ## None Page 33 of 33