Minnetonka City Council — Transcript
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Story
Minnetonka approves five-year park plan amid equity concerns
Restoration and Maintenance Plans for Specific Parks
Votes (1)
Recommendation for Approval of 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan
Dissent: Board member Caleb voiced strong concerns regarding the foundational integration of equity and accessibility into the CIP and overall planning process but ultimately did not vote against the motion, instead advocating for stronger language in the accompanying notation to the City Council.
Moved by Dave [1:26:08] · Seconded by Samurski [1:26:15]
The Park Board discussed the 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) in detail, reviewing various park and trail projects, funding sources, and priorities. A significant portion of the discussion revolved around the integration of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles into the CIP planning and project selection. Board member Caleb voiced strong concerns that past planning documents and current CIP proposals did not adequately reflect a foundational focus on equity, accessibility, and inclusivity. He advocated for a 'hard stop' and reassessment of plans and projects through a DEI lens, citing examples of potentially inaccessible playground revamps and advocating for community-engaged feedback from disability communities. Other board members acknowledged the importance of DEI but expressed caution about delaying projects due to timeline constraints and the absence of a formal city-wide DEI framework for board-level application. Staff confirmed the existence of internal equity assessment tools and agreed to facilitate a meeting with the city's DEI director, Jace Alexander, and provide an overview of the Post Plan's existing equity goals.
Notable Quotes (6)
I think the two questions that were in the report were number one, is there something in there that you thought maybe shouldn't be in there or did we miss something? And then secondly, priority. So as you know, as a five-year plan, we kind of slot things in where we think it best fits.
My concern when looking at how we prioritized these different expenditures, this should, this, you know, questions of accessibility and inclusion should then rise in my opinion to the level of the ADA and legal mandates.
Rather than just continuing on and letting 5 years of work and money be spent without this lens, I feel like we should have a hard stop and a review and utilize either the city staff equity toolkit and/or within each board, in our case the park board, utilize, you know, regional best practice... to do a comb through and a reassessment of how do our plannings and our spending priorities really reflect park equity, accessibility, and inclusivity.
If the park board wants to provide that feedback to the council that perhaps there should be that, that the park board wants to see that diversity, equity, inclusivity lens to the CIP as a whole and especially to the pages that you see, I think that's certainly a something that, you know, you guys could recommend.
I agree that equity and inclusion have not been enough of a priority in our discussions and do regret that. We do have an opportunity as the parks group to kind of be a leader in it if we so choose to be.
I would make the recommendation... that we move forward with the CIPs as as recommended by staff with a very heavy serious notation around the sentiments that we've talked about regarding DEI sensibilities and advocacy that we feel is a is really important for the park board and for our community.
Ordinances & Resolutions (15)
Five-year planning document outlining large-ticket projects, big pieces of equipment, and capital expenditures for the city, with a specific section for parks and trails.
City fund used to finance many park and trail projects.
Draft master plan for Cullen Nature Preserve, awaiting potential grant funding for implementation.
State organization providing ecological-based grants, to which the city applied for Cullen Nature Preserve funding.
City fund used for larger community-wide projects, contributing to the Glen Lake Park redesign.
Grant applied for but not received for the Glen Lake Park project (skate park element).
Guiding document that prioritizes restoration goals and strategies, leading to specific restoration and maintenance plans for individual parks.
Individual park planning documents, with a list of parks scheduled for master planning between 2026 and 2029.
Comprehensive city plan identifying parks large enough or with sufficient amenities for master planning, and containing guiding principles including equity and inclusion.
Fund set aside for tree removal and reforestation efforts, primarily for Emerald Ash Borer response.
Grant from the Department of Natural Resources to fund ash removal on private property, which the city received and expended.
Grant of $270,000 received to assist with Emerald Ash Borer and ash removal on public property.
Master plan for Purgatory Park that identified the Red Barn site for future planning and design efforts.
Plan that helps prioritize which trail segments are implemented, guiding the trail projects in the CIP.
Plan detailing the replacement and upgrade schedule for park equipment like playgrounds and tennis courts.