Call the meeting to order at 6:01. The pledgece to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> It's a threeperson job. call in special forces. >> Uh any um um change to the agenda? >> No, no changes. >> All right. Can I get a motion to approve the agenda for this evening? >> Second. >> All in favor? I and sir, are you here to have some come to check it out? >> Check it out. Okay, I'll introduce the topic. Um so this is Josh. Uh he reached out. um he's interested in starting a community garden. Um so he's worked with the city of New Prague with um a nonprofit there who has been active for I think 20 25 years. Um so he lives in town. He's interested in bringing that here. So he just was here to get your guys to hear the conversation and chime in if he felt the need to. >> Okay. >> Um so I guess just introducing the topic. um initial thoughts on if you'd like me to spend time doing some research or if you have interest or anything. >> Well, I've thought it was a great idea to have a community garden since I started on the parks and rec. >> So, and we did talk about it some years back uh up on top of um when uh Windows up on the top up by Pete's Hill and stuff. There was talk up there at one time with some of those lots up there that we sold then >> turned into. But yeah, I I don't have a problem with talking about it. >> Well, I'd have to ask if it's a vegetable garden, flower garden. Um, we do have a, you know, our HOA and we had all the forums went through the whole format. Jake was here to put together a policy on community gardens. And so we put a pollinator garden in on the corner right at the top of our when you come up to the top of our road in the corner there. And um it turned out really nice and the plants are wonderful and we got like 50 people that live there and walk by it and so we all take care of it. So, we manage it, we weed it, we uh it's really turned out nice. And the bees and the hummingbirds, we planted it, you know, all perennial plants. And uh it's it turned out I mean, it's very nice. You'd have to go up and look at it. There's a couple big bowlers there that, you know, provided some heat and it's the lady that lives on the end there. She's now moved, but we water it and when it needs it, it's pretty well established. It's all wood chip. really nice. And when we first moved here, I forget the name of that street. As you walk down our path all the way into Windrose area, >> Meadow Ridge, >> huh? >> Meadow Ridge. >> Meadow Ridge. Okay. On that corner there by the dog poop station there, we noticed there were there were plants there that were not native plants. There were some perennial plants. and you can kind of tell. And then I heard that the Girl Scouts had a a little garden in that corner there at one time, >> but they never maintained it. So now it's just it just gets mowed down. >> But that whole key to the thing is if you're going to have it, you better be able to maintain it. And >> she actually had we signed off an agreement said that we wouldn't maintain it. >> She did. Yep, I found it. And did you find that? >> Yeah, it was from August 2024. So pretty recently. >> Yeah. >> So I guess the first question is what would what would be the intent? Vegetables. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I was hoping for something that would have plots for individuals to grow vegetables in and maintain themselves. >> And I think that's kind of the the way that other cities do it. you know, you kind of rent out a plot, I guess, >> right? >> And you know, there's separate raised beds. Um, and you rent out a spot and then you can, you know, do with it what you will. >> So, at least in New Prague, I think, and correct me if I'm wrong, but they have like, I think it's like four by 10 lots where they, you know, they pay for original the boards and stuff to set it up and then they pay for the dirt and then they rent it out for I think 25 like a you get like a deposit for it. Yeah, it's great for residents that have town homes or live in apartments where they can't garden vegetables. >> I can see that. >> Do you do a rental fee? How do you >> Yeah. Well, >> it's all managed by the city though or >> No, I mean in New Prague and I' I'd like to emulate that potentially. It's kind of ran by a nonprofit and it's on city land, but a nonprofit does all of the renting. And so, from my understanding, they pay people there who rent out a spot pay $5 for the water fees for the year and then a $25 down payment every year. and then they get it back when they don't want their lot anymore if there's no damage. Otherwise, the $25 goes towards fixing the wood or whatever. Um, we've got one at Holy Trinity in New That's a pretty captive audience there of our senior citizens and people basically fix the food and serve it >> people who going to church on Wednesday nights. So, it's kind of a great idea as long As long as you've got some I've been through this community garden thing a number of times in different cities. Burnsville's got a beautiful Nicola Avenue beautiful gardens at the hosta club donated took over. So they I mean they've got hundreds of these gorgeous hostas that they maintain it. They keep all of the main plaques and everything. So it's more of an educational experience than a food experience. It's pretty cool. >> Do we have a place where we'd be able to put something like this? >> I think that would be one of the biggest pieces of discussion is finding a finding a site. I think just from, you know, I was just brought this was just about brought to my attention yesterday and I can think of five to 10 spots off the top of my head where there would be space on city owned land. Um, so from what I hear, I'm hearing interest enough to look into it more. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And I think it's safe to say also like you know I hear the cons the potential concern of someone quitting and then leaving it and then it's the city's problem to maintain but you know we would like I said emulate new prag and have some sort of system down and you know some some form of payment in case that that does happen. So we don't incur cost essentially. So >> going up a hill that just kind of went away and got mowed down with the rest of the grass when you get when you get groups like that when you get Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, you know, you'll get a one troop that'll be there for a couple years and all of a sudden they're gone and then the other troops are probably Minneapolis, but they were very >> they were a nightmare vandalism and people stealing all the vegetables. Yeah, >> that's was my thoughts to concerns and how that's going to be managed and >> that is a potential concern, but it wouldn't, you know, the city wouldn't be responsible for it, you know, >> um >> or if they didn't the group, someone in the thing is neglecting their spot, they're not maintaining it, then >> right, >> how does that get, you know, you're talking somebody's running it, but >> they're not Yeah. All those kinds of questions. Some are fenced in by a chain link fence to prevent that somewhat, but it doesn't always help. >> Sure. >> Yeah. We have a seven or >> keep the deer out too. >> All right. So, okay. >> I guess we'll >> bring it to your >> Yeah, I'll bring back some research with potential locations and then considerations, I suppose. And >> yeah, any other anything else you want to add? >> Okay, awesome. Yeah, absolutely. I'll definitely be in touch with you. So, yeah, and you're welcome to stay for the rest of the meeting, too. We got a lot of interesting stuff going on in the parks. So, >> thanks, Josh. >> All right. >> Talked about that, too. Remember a couple years ago somebody brought about the pollinator >> doing around buildings and things like that. >> Yep. >> I don't remember what >> that was a county program. It was a county was going to sponsor that one. Okay. >> Yeah. >> No, they no one no one came forward anymore with it >> talking about it. All right. Um, can I get a motion to approve the minutes uh from December 10th? >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> And uh all in favor? >> I. And then the minutes from January 14th. Make a motion. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I >> I moving it along. >> All right. General business. So, >> um, in my mind, this is almost a consent agenda item. We've discussed this and agreed upon the terms of the policy, um, for the park and trail lighting. I hope you guys have read through it. I assume you did. So, if you'd like me to pull it up, I sure can. and we can talk through it. Um otherwise it's laid out exactly like we said, you know, um if someone wants to put a light somewhere, they're able to come to the parks commission and request that to see if the city wants to use funds. And if we're not interested in that, then they have a second option to do the petitioning process. So, um it's all laid out in there, >> but it you also talk about if the city decides we should put lights up underneath our city, too. We not Not just the res, >> right? >> Absolutely. Yep. There's a there's something there's a line in there that states, you know, we don't typically light areas, but we reserve the right to light certain amenities in parks. So, yes. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> So, I guess I'd be asking for a motion for a recommendation to >> approve >> city council to approve this >> and adopt this policy. >> Motion. >> Second. And so all in favor >> I >> I >> Awesome. >> And uh kind of same thing with the park naming policy. Um we talked about it in December and decided that we're going to do what we've historically done and have our parks named after subdivisions or neighborhoods that they're in. Um maybe the developer can propose something like it. You know, for example, Highlands at Eagle View, it's Highlands Park or something, and then the Parks and Recreation Commission has the final say on whether they'd like that name or not. And we reserve the right to have special ones like if it's donated, such as Wagner Park. And I also mentioned something about historic Elco Park just because it was also unique and different from what the rest of our park names are in town. So, >> Pets Absolutely. Pet Hill subdivision, Pet Hill Park or open space. So, and we just continue continue doing that. So, again, I can pull it up if we want to walk through it. Otherwise, I'd ask for recommendation to city council to adopt this policy. >> One thing I was going to mention um that um and you wrote you wrote this very well. Nice job. But, um there are different ways that people can approach us to things if they're controversial or somebody that name Adolf won't get in that park, you know, but we uh I can't remember if it was Burnsville. The development had been developed and the people didn't really like the name of the park. So we had a a contest a naming park naming contest among some residents and it turned out kind of I can't a couple jobs ago but that's you know that's another option >> that the people can you know name their name their park was not a huge park it's a small neighborhood park but so there are ways to do that and then you'll have people that come up and and say and then the other option is Um, if you know where where the pond the ponds softball fields are in Burnsville. You're familiar with that? >> It's a huge softball complex in in Burnsville. >> Well, the the uh no, Prior Lake, I'm sorry, Prior Lake. It's in Fire Lake. Been to many cities and uh the family came up that former park director Bill Magnum had passed away and so it was they wanted to change the name. Well, what they did then is they just took the hub the for that because he was a big softball bat and just changed the name of the softball hub to Mang Mangan Fields. So, it's still Ps Park and Magen Fields. They did we did that at another park too and named it after a guy that got killed in the war just so that's there's options. There's options. Okay. rename the the whole whole thing. But I think when we get into the developers stuff sometimes I don't know what's >> we're just sticking with that that >> but what is the one Eagle View at I mean >> you got Highlands at Eagle View so you know I guess >> yeah it wouldn't be the >> be like Highlands Park or >> Yeah, that's what I'm saying. >> Yeah, just cut it down. >> Yep. And that the policy yeah allows for that. So and you know if we in the future want to do something fun like a park change name like we can do stuff you know this policy things can always be changed. So >> can we sell naming rights? >> Yeah >> retires. I got my name on one plaque that I'm building. That's about all I >> Well, you got your bench. my bench just pick >> a ball. You know, >> no, >> that's that's your only choice now. >> How's Joe doing? >> All right. So, motion to approve the policy as it stands. >> Second. >> All right. All in favor? >> I. >> All right. >> Awesome. Thank you. All right. Updates and reports. Um, let me get this off our screen here quick. It only does it in meetings, so it's perfect. All right. Um, so same stuff really. Um, the parks commission update is, you know, we're continuing to remove trees as for the Ashbor. um continuing to maintain the rinks and >> maybe >> maybe >> we might be a little out of that this weekend. >> Oh yeah, >> 50 degrees 50 degrees this weekend might put a damper on our >> we'll have a change then in our March update. >> Yeah, and Derek received the pickle ball net for Ruby at Pon Park. So we'll install that here in the spring >> couple weeks. >> Yeah, there you go. Saturday and uh yeah any other questions you guys have I can answer. Otherwise the financial report was in your packet. Um then we're on to no questions we can move on to eight and parks commissioner questions and comments. I noticed that the meetings for the city council and planning are on YouTube already and I'm just wondering why the parks and recreation meetings aren't there as well. >> I was wondering that probably about half an hour ago because I was because Dan asked me like is it okay if you know how can he get the information? I said I'll send him the video >> and then I thought to myself there's no way I can send this video in an email. It's going to be too large. And I thought to myself, why are these not on YouTube? So, I don't have an answer. I I agree. >> Do you guys think they should be? I guess >> I think they should be. I think it's good for the neighborhood to know um the updates that we have. >> Yeah, it's transparent. I think that's, you know, part of our part of our mission. Absolutely. >> Sure. You check your teeth now from >> then I'll have I'll have to remember to turn my mic on here too. I guess >> it's really important. There's a few things to keep in mind if we're going to post videos that just you know how you talk and defining. >> Yeah. And when I'm doing minutes if we talk in the mic it makes it so much easier. I don't have to go from like 13 volume to 100 >> to hear different people talk. So I don't know. But that would I think be the biggest change. That's pretty simple to focus more on talking into the mic. So, it's easy for me. I already edit the video for my own use and have it saved. It would take me five minutes to do. So, there is kind of a decorum that you need to follow though. I mean, you got to kind of follow the Robert's rules of orders and u watch watch what you say and your language once in a while because >> we we already do that. >> I don't I don't >> Yeah. No, you're absolutely right though. >> Not at all. >> Yeah. >> But I think it's good, you know, and as the city grows, hopefully we'll have more people interested in our parks and more people showing up to meetings and, >> you know, it'd be nice to get in the practice while only a couple people are watching. >> Yeah. >> And my wife will love to sit. >> So, did we already look at the talked about the budget, the financial reports? We we we can I tell >> I just have one one question and I I never understood this. >> Um the current fund balance and I'm assuming this is through January 31st of 2026. It says >> 167,282. >> Which fund are we talking about? >> The capital outlay. >> Yep. So, is that what we have in the bank, so to speak, for park projects? >> Yes. Yep. For Well, I mean, for the capital outlay fund, but like for example, we're using the fund 240, the charitable gambling fund for historic Elco Park this year. >> Uhhuh. >> So, it's not like all we have in the bank, but it is everything in that fund. Yeah. >> 167. >> Yeah. And we don't have anything earmarked except for the Elco old city hall playground this year. Right. >> Some of that earmarked for Highlands Park. >> Highlands Park. Yep. Is earmarked. And yeah, I think that's um let me find which one that's in though. I'll share my screen here too if you guys want to look. It's loading. >> So on Highland, what are we behind? A playground. Playground. Pavilion. A pavilion. >> Yeah. And a sport court. Y >> a sport court. >> Half sport court. >> Half sport. I think we have I think it's 382,000 budgeted for that. I'll I'll pull it up right now. Okay. So, for Highlands. So, yep. Right there we have it. Oops. My bad. So in this column here, um, so yeah, park dedication funds. So that's not our cap, that's not our capital outlay. So that'll be I think fund 230 is the first one in that memo that I send out every every month. 182 for Highlands. Sorry. >> 182. >> Yep. That's what we have for And all this stuff on this left side here in this column is what's intended. So capital outlay. Yep. Right here. >> Where where's the Okay, I see. El historic Elco 40. >> Yep. Yep. For the cap for the uh charitable gambling. Yep. So, this year we have for Capital Outlay just planned 2500 for Pet Hill, which is the Pet Hill sign, which we're probably bringing to the next meeting. And then the 3,000 which I think was for the pickle ball court >> or the pickle ball. Sorry. >> Yeah. So >> that's all of our expenditures this year in capital fund. >> Really? Okay. >> Yeah. Which is nice because I think you know we when Jake was here you guys pushed back like the pavilion in or the shelter at Wagner Park and also this 40,000 not you know being able to be used by the charitable gambling fund rather than capital outlay. I don't know. Makes it a healthier fund balance obviously. >> What's the 25 to >> where >> 230 fund? >> Uh the trail. >> Oh, >> that's the trail into Wagner. >> Yep. Then this 182 is Highlands and that 40 is historic Elco Park. And that's that's all we're doing this year. It's quite a bit, but yeah, that's everything. It's quite what's quite a bit. >> It's just we're doing a lot of good make, you know, two new parks in one year. I feel like that's >> Yeah. No, it's not bad. >> Not bad at all. >> It's not bad. And the but the reason I'm asking is that if there's a way um 40,000 I don't think might may not be enough for the baseball the old city hall playground. >> Might not be enough. >> Okay. And so is there a way to get another 20,000? And we could expand that playground also. >> I think we would need to go to the city council to amend the budget, but potentially, >> but is there can we go to city council and say, "Hey, we got we got we got the 20,000 in the in another in the fund." >> Yeah, we have more >> spend on it. >> Yeah, we have more in that fund. >> Okay. >> A little extra in there. I don't know if we how much more we'd want to use. We defin we sure we sure could ask and Yeah. and have a discussion about it. But yeah, I think first it's really high on my to-do list to reach out. It's I I intend to reach out to some park vendors like this week or next week at the latest. >> Yeah. >> To start getting that ball rolling. So >> Well, I can tell. >> Then then we'll know more. >> I can tell you. I just think we could expand it and get a little bigger. Big >> I don't think you got room there. >> Yeah, you do. But >> you can go up. You can't go out here as big as you >> you can go out a little more. Yeah. If you if you >> you have to stay within that concrete area. >> No, you don't have to. You you could by with the driveway. >> Huh? >> The driveway to the >> I'm talking about going the other other direction back towards the other. >> No, towards the fence. I We'll talk about that some other time, but it'd be nice. And what's what we've got going there is a it's not legal is we've got a the swing set right now is not legal with the uh the bucket swing and a strap swing. You can't put in the same bay together. >> So that's where I'm kind of coming from that you might need to put a separate bay somehow and design that in there because you can't like I said you can't have those two together. We currently do. So, >> okay, >> there might be a way to expand that a little bit. And >> yeah, >> so we'll look at it. >> I think to expand the sink set, you would have to take something else out, though, for your fall area. >> We can talk about that. We can look at it. I I walked it and pasted it. And yeah, there's I'm not talking,000 feet. I'm talking, you know, 20 30 feet growth. So, >> noted. Noted. Okay. >> And the $40,000 isn't buying much for a playground anymore. I I can tell you that. >> I believe you. >> That's what was donated. >> Yeah. See, >> we'll see what it comes back with. >> Yeah. And I don't particularly think, and Tom said at one time, that our standard should be a a uh playground and a picnic shelter. I don't think that has to be a standard. >> All of our parks, >> there's no way we're putting a shelter there, >> but we are we are in >> But that's what I'm saying. Not not there. >> I'm saying other Boulder Heights. We could have put a lot bigger, nicer playground in without a picnic shelter. >> Yeah. >> And then you provide picnic areas and picnic tables, but you don't necessarily need >> Yeah. No, there's there's nothing in our policy documents at all that say we require a shelter. So, >> yeah. >> No. >> Tom Tom just said that should be our standard from now on, but >> it's up to you guys. >> Take it on a per basis. >> Yep. Exactly. Exactly. for each one as we go along. >> Okay. >> Is that what was decided for Highlands before we go and talk to >> when we um we're working with the developer on the and the city council on the land and and you we just simply asked the developer to the council asked the developer to provide enough land at a minimum for a playground, a shelter, and sport. So that's that was the only direction from the city council on that one. >> Okay. >> Not necessarily that they all be built immediately, but I think >> Yeah, definitely. Yeah. All it was adopted in the budget, too, so they're obviously for it. I'm just saying you got to be flexible when you're >> Oh, yeah. >> designing a park, you know. >> Absolutely. >> Playground's probably the most important function in the in the park and hard surface play areas also, you know. >> Agreed. >> Because that's why they re because we had kind of talked to them about redoing that park area there. >> That was for um Eagle View Meadows just just to the east of it. Oh, yeah. >> But yeah, and they did and It looks nice. You're going to see it again soon. >> Is that the one I mentioned above the >> It's the one with like the culde-sac that had that pond kind of going on the west side. You know, it's like intended to be a big park eventually, >> but they reconfigured it to pretty much what we asked. I think you guys are going to be happy with what it is. >> Okay. >> So, any other >> questions or comments? I didn't want to get home too early. See, >> your wife will make you go shovel the driveway. Ask the neighbor guys over there. Wait a minute. >> Do you guys have anything more for us? >> I got nothing there. >> Nothing there. >> I think we're good. >> All right. Is there a motion to adjourn the meeting then? >> Motion. >> Second. All right. All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you everybody. >> Can I say one more thing just for the record? >> Meeting's over. >> The uh maintenance guys uh are doing a great job in getting rid of our diseased trees. They're doing a nice job and they're cleaning up after themselves. So, so compliment goes out to them and and I I find it hard to believe that, you know, with four guys, they're taking down and moving a lot of trees. >> They've taken a lot of trees down. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> A lot to go, but they've taken a lot. >> But your office, huh? Nice and cozy. >> You told them not to start that wood chipper up before 8 a.m., though. >> I think it was 9:15 when >> Yeah, you're right. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. >> Oh, they are so loud. Still disappointed you didn't. I taped down my tree, too.