--- ## title: July 14, 2026 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes ## author: Theresa Bajda date: D:20251230162400Z --- ## City of Excelsior ## Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting ## MINUTES Tuesday, July 14, 2026 106 Center Street, Excelsior, MN 55331 – Entrance located on Center Street ## 6:15 P.M. ## 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Sobiech called the July 14, Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to order at ## 6:17 P.M. Present: Chair Sobiech, Vice Chair Wolfe, and Commissioners, Baker, Radziej and Schmidt ## Absent: Commissioner Bolles ## Also present: Parks Manager Quinn ## a. AGENDA APPROVAL ## July 14, 2026 Parks and Recreation Commission Agenda Wolfe moved, Baker seconded to approve the July 14, 2026, Parks and Recreation Commission meeting agenda. Motion carried 5/0. ## 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ## a) June 9, 2026 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Wolfe moved, Baker seconded to approve the June 9, 2026, Parks and Recreation Commission meeting minutes. Motion carried 5/0. ## 3. CITIZEN REPORTS OR COMMENTS ## None ## 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (a) Men’s Garden Club initial proposal for garden statuary Gary Birnbaum of the Excelsior Men’s Garden Club presented to the Parks and Recreation (PNR) Commission proposing statuary installations in the garden spaces they maintain, which includes: The Port of Excelsior, Veteran’s Memorial, and Arey Garden. The PNR Commission discussed the proposed statuary options and locations. Commissioner Radziej motioned for PNR to work collaboratively with the Excelsior Men’s Garden Club to propose a site or site locations for statuary installation/s in The Port of Excelsior, Veteran’s Memorial, and or Arey Garden and to work with local artists to submit statuary designs for City Council consideration. Commissioner Baker seconded the motion. Motion carried 5/0 ## 5. NEW BUSINESS ## (a) Bench Donation – John “Punk” Seamans The PNR Commission discussed the John “Punk” Seamans memorial bench donation and installation location. Vice Chair Wolfe motioned to approved the installation of a memorial bench for John “Punk” Seamans on top of the ballfield seating behind home plate with the precise bench location to be determined by PNR. Commissioner Schmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 5/0. ## (b) Bench Donation – Michael McNulty The PNR Commission discussed the Michael McNulty memorial bench donation and installation location. Commissioner Radziej motioned to approve the installation of a memorial bench for Michael McNulty. Commissioner Baker seconded the motion. Motion carried 5/0. (c) Oak Hill Cemetery National Register of Historic Places Registration Form review Manager Quinn discussed the Oak Hill National Register of Historic Places Registration Form review done by the Cemetery Committee and the next steps in the process. Commissioner Radziej volunteered to be a member of the Cemetery Committee. ## 6. COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS (a) City Council and Park Project Updates – Mini Master Plan and Playground Design The PNR Commission discussed the second community engagement effort for the mini master plan and playground design. PNR viewed and discussed the online playground engagement survey. ## (b) Message Board Content Guidelines Manager Quinn presented a concept for message board content. The PNR Commission discussed the concept and what is appropriate content to post such as an event calendar, natural resources related information, and beach access status updates. The PNR Commission discussed details about having the August PNR meeting as a walkthrough in The Commons. (c) Cinema in The Commons update (event dates: 8/15 & 8/29) The PNR Commission discussed handing out fliers downtown and the selected movies being The Lego Movie and The Sandlot. (d) Upcoming Events – Rotary Concerts: 7/15 & 7/29. Crazy Days: July 16-19. The PNR discussed the upcoming Rotary Concerts. ## (e) June Financials No comments. ## 7. Miscellaneous/Commissioner’s Comments The PNR Commission discussed the success of installing The Commons history signs in The Commons and discussed making this a PNR goal and annual initiative. The PNR Commission discussed the use of the slides at the port. 8. Adjournment Baker moved, Schmidt seconded to adjourn the July 14, 2026, Parks and Recreation Commission meeting at 7:24PM. Motion carried 5/0. Respectfully submitted, ## Kevin Quinn, Parks Manager