2026 at 5:38 p.m. And we will go ahead with the approval of the agenda for tonight. Need a motion. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All right. And approval. And then uh we will go ahead and approve >> a vote. >> Oh, yep. Uh all right. Uh take a vote for the approval of the agenda. All those say I. >> I. >> I. >> Motion passes. All right. We'll go ahead and approve the July 20th, 2026 Parks and Trails Commission meeting minutes. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All right. And can I get um >> What did I say again? A vote. >> A vote. Yeah. Thank you. A vote to approve those. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> Thank you. All right. We'll move into the department and liaison reports. We'll start with Lisa. >> Good evening, everyone. Um I guess for tonight, uh just a quick update for you. Uh last week, Minnesota Native Landscapes wrapped up the prairie maintenance for this year. Um it was the final weed control visit. So, for next year, we'll expect to do a prescribed burn at the Valley View and Swager Park prairie restoration sites, as well as three weed control visits. And then um next, I'll start working on the fall removals and pruning list. And that's it that I have. >> Perfect. Thank you, Lisa. And next, Andy. >> Sure thing. So, folks, uh because we're meeting less frequently now, I've decided to add a little bit more detail into the uh updates uh since the quarterly updates. And we'll start adding photos, too. But I'm not going to go through this whole thing cuz um you guys can read it, and it would take a half an hour, probably. But um I did talk about some of the great work our public works team is doing out in the field, including the uh trail uh improvement project that is now um essentially complete for the year. Um some of the other things we talked about uh uh coming up with a plan to do some maintenance uh and and other improvements in the Rec key Park disc golf course. You can read a little bit more about what we intend to do starting probably next year on that. Um and then I shared with you some other items that might be pertinent tonight that being uh talking about the public works department's uh park walk through as it were. And this is kind of how we decide what we should put on our capital improvement plan or at least makes the short list and then it's refined from there. So you guys have kind of have an idea of the things that we're looking at when we start building our our CIP for the year. And this does happen every year. Um so um yeah with that I really don't have a whole lot to say about the update itself um other than uh you know if you like it, great. Uh if you need me to change something, let me know. If you'd like more images, those are always fun. Let me know, we'll do that. Perfect. >> Uh question there is there purposely no Oak Park Crossing capital improvement or you're just assuming that that's >> Oh maybe it was cut off. No, there there's not purposely. There's it's not it was not left out purposely. No. >> So there is something. >> There might be something there. >> Okay. Maybe next week. >> to look, yeah. Um in fact, I wonder if there is anything for Oak Park Crossing in the CIP. I don't I don't know that there is, George. Something I can get back to you on. >> Okay. >> Any other questions? >> What's mini split air conditioning for the shelter? >> Sure thing. So as you folks are aware the Culver Park uh shelter does not have the windows don't open and it doesn't have uh an air conditioning unit or any way to really flow air. So, in the summertime, that building gets hot, and we're talking over 100°. It's just no fun to have a have a picnic there. And so, we're proposing to add a air conditioning unit to the building to uh cool it. >> Nice. >> Quite simply. >> And the second thing for Kober is work on park turf. >> Yeah. Improve the grass. >> Can you Can you do that as long as you've got ice skating on that >> Basically, George, we're going to plant grass seed. >> Okay. >> Essentially. >> Essentially. >> Yeah. >> Well, it's not turf. Boy, are we putting turf in >> No, no, no. >> Okay. >> Just we're basically going to plant grass seed. It was kind of It was a request from uh Mayor Doherty. Uh he indicated that the park was looking kind of ratty with weeds. And it's certainly something we can do about that. So, that's why that's in there. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Any other questions? >> Did you want to comment on that Kober Park sign? >> I think I'll just do that a little bit later in the agenda um under old business. I have it on there. >> Okay. Perfect. All right, we'll move on. Carly? >> I have no updates. >> All right, thank you. >> And then Annie would like to present. >> Oh, and we have Annie here. >> Good evening, Parks and Trail Commissioners. Thank you for having me. My name is Annie Barris, and I am the Oak Park Heights uh Community Summer Events Coordinator. I wanted to share with all of you, if it's okay, if about a few of the events we held this summer at all the parks in Oak Park Heights. As you are looking at the first page, our first event event opened on June 2nd, and we had tie-dye journals and a comedy show. Our comedy show was new and the community loved it. We chose to do journals early on so children had the chance to uh write about what they did the rest of the summer and encourage that reading and writing. We moving on we had a magic show and along with some STEM race cars. These are all new activities as I run through them with you. We also created a community partnership with Hue Ray Studios and had the opportunity to place out some supplies such as loose parts like um stickers and paint and tape and all sorts of fun open-ended um art that they could create their own piece and the kids really enjoyed that. Uh moving on and along in June we had mud day. Mud day is becoming increasingly and children are loving it as well as the families. They don't have that many um opportunities during the summer to just let your kids get muddy and then be able to wash them off and bring them home tired. So uh I hear so much about how much the parents um really appreciate that we get to do that and we're one of the few and only places that I know um allowing that right now. Uh we did 4th of July flags around 4th of July and they we I had the fabric pre-cut along with beads um all resembling the 4th of July flag. What was really neat and cool I liked about that one that I wanted to share is that I put out an idea and the kids took it further and um made so many in their own way and not following the example that I had and that's what made it so inspiring. Moving on into July, we had 4th of July bingo. This has become um popular as well over the years, so I really like to um keep that every year uh and maybe even next year holding two bingos uh someone suggested. Moving on, we had Christmas in July and we made silly Santas out of clay with Kids Create, another local uh business right here in Washington County. Um we have Power Up Chom come and um we partnered with Sprout Nutrition, um a Stillwater resident who is moving forward with her business. So, it was a great opportunity for her to be able to come out and share with the community about what she's doing and the children had an opportunity to build a wrap with vegetables. And some parents even came up and said, "My kid never eats vegetables and they did today." So, that was really cool. We moved on um the following weekend and had our art installation with Fairies in the Park. We had around 40 houses spread along the trail in Autumn Hills and we had a party as well as Tinkerbell come that Tuesday where she shared in um song and dance and uh book reading. Fairies in the Park has become always our favorite event um probably one that I get the most feedback on. And this year I even let it go a little longer um after someone suggested it. Uh we worked with the Children's Theatre this year. That was also new and that was really fun to have them out um just because they are on the other side of town. So, a lot of our community members here don't always get the opportunity to go across town to visit the Children's Theatre. To So, to have them come here and interact with the children here, it gave it not only like inspired them into theater and something different, but um it gave them an opportunity that they might not have. Open Eye Theater is a puppet theater that I've had in the past years. This year, I did decide to move the location to Brecky Park, which I haven't before, and I was really surprised how many more families it brought in from Brecky Park's neighborhood. A lot more people biked over, so I for sure want to do that again next year and uh stick with the same location because I think that helped when parents were able to like have their kids bike on over and um share in that theater puppet show. That was a lot of fun. We uh last year, I hired an entertainer to have a bubble party, and everybody loved it. But, this year, I decided to go ahead and purchase the bubble machines um through the through a park height. So, then this year, that way we can continue with the bubble parties and it will Now, we already have the machine, so it will um work with our cost better. And that will be nice to have those and bring those back every year. And then the last one of the last events there in August was a mosaic making. This one was a little more, I would say, challenging. It took a little bit more time and patience, um but by the end, I think it was a lot of a lot of the children and families had fun because it was like an opportunity for them to do the craft together and partner and make it together. Um just cuz it was a little bit more challenging, so they needed the help of their grown-ups. We had some story times this year as well as some nature hikes. And those were brought after last year's recommendations through the QR code I place every out every year for the community to what they would like to see. As you can see on the back, I just kind of wanted to go through some of those responses. What families shared was very fun and creative. So fun. Continue with what you have. Ideas for next year is one of the questions I asked the community as well and respondents requested crafts and art as always, plays and puppet shows, bring your own item tie dye, scavenger hunt, which I've never done. So I'd be more than happy to try that out. Um one suggested a turtle finding activity and a wildlife observation walk. Currently right now I am providing the nature hikes. I'm not sure if it's the date or what not. We're not getting too many families coming to those nature hikes. So maybe somehow switching that up or coming up with something different. As you can see it sounds like they still like the idea. So maybe what we can do instead. If you have any ideas, please share. Um and then a practical improvement someone shared on June 30th that it was very windy and beads went everywhere and I very clearly remember that one because I was the one picking them all up. And so next year I would like to supply maybe deeper supply trays and some heavier materials to set in the trays so they don't blow all over on those windier days. Um and those 15 voluntary responses are for a small snapshot, not a full season of attendance count or representative surveys of all visitors. Around each event Tuesday at Tuesday Art in the Park we hold around between I would say like 100 to 150 family families, children and adults all together. Uh thank you so much for letting me share. I always have so much fun doing these events with the community, and I know they're so well loved. I see family members still coming day to day, and now we have actually parents who are saying they're coming, and they remember doing it as little kids. So, that's really inspiring, as well. >> Well, thank you, Annie. I know I speak for everyone. Thank you for all you do. We really appreciate you. >> Thank you, guys. >> Yeah. So, how's how's your budget, and being honest, is that a good enough budget? >> Sure, this year I always like to share that, of course, I'm more than willing to make the budget work. However, this year I was sharing a little bit more in depth of how prices are rising within crafts themselves, as well as entertainers. And I would um like everyone to take that into account when thinking about next year's um budget. >> Where Where does that Where does her funding for the programs Does that come from stuff >> There's a separate >> line item in the public works budget for that, and the council sets the uh the amount. >> So, it's not our not any of these four funds that we have? >> So, this >> No, it's part of the operational budget, George, which is not included here, cuz that's just >> So, how do we, as a Parks and Trail Commission, make a recommendation that based on what we're seeing and what she's suggesting, that we make a Do we make a proposal to the council, and >> Sure, you could make a recommendation tonight, if you'd like to, and then we could bring it. >> Well, it seems to me like that'd be the way to do it. >> help bring that back to the council. >> Okay. >> Does it help if we make a recommendation to you, and you take it back, or >> Either or. I know our council will take that feedback, too, because we do really support your program. And I know that some other council members had their grandkids attend some of these events, so it's something that we do put a lot of value in. >> Okay. But that is the proper channel. If the park commission makes a recommendation, staff takes it to council, and they do with it what they will. I'd say let's take a vote and make a recommendation, hopefully. >> All right, those in favor of Do we have a set amount, or should we say >> No. >> just move to increase the budget for >> Increase, yeah. >> Okay, increase the budget for um the really >> summer events >> summer events, there we go. Increase the budget for summer events for 2027. All those in favor. >> what kind of amount you need, like to to do all the things? Like that might also be helpful for us when we go back to discuss the budget. Like if you need like $500 to do an entertainer, or just that might also be helpful, too. >> So I was able to kind of go back um and reflect on the past summer's budget, and where prices are rising with crafts and entertainers, and I took that all into account. Um and what I also took into account is how the community reflected on how much they enjoy the entertainers. So I was trying to take into account like how we can budget between honoring their voices and still keeping it practical. Um and I was saying around six entertainers, and they're they do have a higher price point now. So I was asking for around a um hopefully between $500 and $1,000 um increase to the summer's Oak Park Heights summer events budget. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> See, and I'd I'd say let's go for 1,500, cuz they're probably going to not give you what you ask for. So, I I'd like to make the recommendation that we say 1500 increase that budget by $1500 and you carry that that's what our commission >> recommendation was? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> a second for that? >> I mean our council is pretty good about funding. I'm not trying to get into an argument here, but I don't know that we need to put a dollar amount on it. If we justify we need money for things that are for the community, I don't think in my 20 years here I've ever been denied. So, I don't think that's necessary. >> I think >> I think just adding the increase. Do what you want, but Their budget is I believe I think it's nine your budget is $9000 a year or for the season. Correct? >> Correct. >> Yeah. What seems to me it's one of those things that the community is going to notice that Oak Park taxes are going toward, whereas a lot of things they just think magic happens, but this is what we're if their kids and grandkids are enjoying it, they see that there's a benefit. So, you know, whether we have we take a dollar amount or not, I I would hate to have it be an increase and I don't know how generous everybody on the council is, but hate to have them say, "Well, yeah, let's give an extra $200." That ain't going to do any good. >> what you're saying. Yeah. >> I would like to add too, I go above and beyond for these events. The crafts are something you don't just take home and throw in the trash. Excuse my language, but yeah, they're quality. They bring them home, they're able to pass them on to loved ones. There There There's just a lot of thought put into these. Um I would say themes as well. Like when I have a magic show, it went with some with a stem craft. Like it's all very thought out and I don't take it my job lightly at all and I want to give the community something they remember and hearing now parents come back and say like that it's that we are as a city giving their children what they received is just so meaningful to hear that. It's coming full circle and that's what we want, right? We want our community members coming to our parks and feeling that they're cared for. And I think that is really truly what makes my heart smile. When they when children know their community and they know that the community cares for them, then they're going to care for their community. >> Yeah, good point. >> Do you want to make a recommendation? >> No, I'll go along with what Andy said. >> Thank you. >> that Carly can carry it for us. >> It's on you. >> I'll advocate for it. Yep. Appreciate it. >> All right, thanks Annie. >> Thanks, Annie. >> All right, we will move on to visitor and public comment. Doesn't look like anybody's here. Um move on to public hearing which we have none, so we will move into old business. The Clover Park history plaque. >> Thank you, Chair, members of the Parks and Trails Commission. This really isn't a business item, it's more of an informational piece. This is something we've been working on since COVID um with various different ideas on what we're looking for and where it should be and at last meeting I presented to you that ultimately after talking with public works staff um snowplow contractors it seemed to make the most sense to put this inside the building and maybe decorate the inside of our building a little more. So, rather than having something alongside the trail that could cause issues with snowplows. So, um and fading, you know, sun fading. So, I'm just providing to you what the concept is. This is the language that we worked um Carly, our our council member here and your liaison worked very hard on creating and we she and I um worked on this draft and and it's in the works and it's going to be a large um um a large acrylic or poster type um protected behind acrylic, not glass, um for vandalism purposes uh inside the building. And so, just providing this to you so you can see what the final product looks like. Very cool. >> Yeah, it looks great. Looks nice. >> Yeah, I'm um I know Carlie appreciates that we're we're moving forward with this finally cuz this is something she brought to us I think in early 2020 and it just kind of got pushed aside with supply chain issues and other types of uh things that happen um when we're in a pandemic and and other things that come take higher priority. So, just a just an update on that. Love it. >> That's it. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. Thanks, Carlie. >> Thank you. All right, we will move into new business, the parks and trails budget, and city capital improvement plan. >> Do you want me to take this, Sandy, or do you want me to? >> Uh feel free. Go ahead. >> Okay. Um so, at our last meeting and just kind of as a follow-up to the strategic planning discussion that we had at our July meeting, uh Public Works Director Kegley did provide a summary, as requested, of the budget amounts and balances for all of the funds that are related to the parks and trails. Um so, memo shows here specifically it was asked um how much is in the Molitor fund? Um recall that is a fund that can be used for Oak Park Crossing Park and um adjacent parks as part of the Xcel Energy well um site capping. And so, the balance on that is $84,067. Um your park development fund is money that's paid for by developers and um when they create a development within the city, that balance is 412,755. Park and trail improvement budget um budgeted projects balance 319,386. It's that's used to complete ex- expensive park projects like fence replacements, playground equipment replacement, hockey boards replacements, those kinds of things >> can I just interject just real quick? This is This is the big one, guys. This is when we do the park walk-throughs and these are the things that you want to see in the parks. Um the park and trail improvements through the budgeted projects um is how we replace things like the hockey boards, fences, basketball courts, tennis courts, so on and so forth. So, just as a heads-up there. >> Yeah. >> It's a pretty important budget. >> Yeah, thank you, Andy. >> Mhm. >> And then trail maintenance budget projects 80,818. Um this one is funded annually. So, um it will continue to go up, but um trail maintenance is is a very expensive thing and we have come a long way and have a lot of great trails >> We've come a very long way. In fact, uh our trail maintenance plan uh we completed the I I I guess we'll call it the first phase of it uh this year. Uh we are under budget and that fund is as long as the council continues to put that 150,000 per year, we should be able to finish everything within the next I think 3 to 5 years. And then the cycle starts over, so we'll have to talk about funding for that again, but uh this was I think somewhat of a temporary measure when you folks decided to put this 150,000 into this cuz you knew the trails needed to be um some trails needed to work and so um this is just to say that we're not done with the maintenance yet. The the program's been successful. There's a few more years and then we need to talk about it again. Sorry, Jen. >> That's okay. That's That's all I have. Um Andy did a nice job putting a little summary under each um heading to let you know what those those >> All right. Can I ask a question about that park development uh last part of the first sentence there and new elements within the parks? >> Yes, sir. >> Does that mean it can be used for any of the parks or does that mean that can be used for any of the parks, not just new ones? >> No, it has to be it has to be new elements of the parks. So, you cannot use it say to replace a um a playground piece of playground equipment. Uh it has to be new, entirely new playground equipment or new park land or a new shelter, not replacement. >> So, we've talked about a on one of the trails putting in like I'll just use something ridiculous, a weight machine. >> Yep. >> That can work for something like that? >> It would. >> Okay. >> Yep. George, we've been talking about that pretty intensively this past year or so. >> yeah. >> Yep. >> Well, seems to me that places that get it right grants and get lucky. I mean, that it's not through their own funding many times. It's by a grant um >> Yep. >> So, >> Yeah, so that Molitor site, as Jen mentioned, uh that could be used I believe at Valley View, too, but it's definitely Culver. You can use use that money for anything at Culver, uh Oak Park Crossing Park or Valley View. Those are the only restrictions on that. You could use that money if you wanted to to replace a piece of equipment. I don't believe there's anything in the contract with Excel that says you can't do that. So, just just the ones that have the um statutory requirements that say you can't uh or it has to be used for new things that those are the only limited requirements, I guess. Otherwise, all these can be used in any park. >> Also, attached in your packet the last couple pages are the capital improvement plan that the city council created. They do this every year, they update it every year. It's a 5-year plan. You'll see on the first page of the capital improvement plan is the parks um parks line items for the next 5 years. Many of the things that you brought up in strategic planning are included in there. Some of the things that you don't see on there um are in the capital improvement plan, but they're just beyond 2036, so they're not showing up in here. Um like I think uh >> There's some trails, and I think maybe the Breckenridge trail is actually in Yep, trail around Breckenridge for ADA access that is in here. That's something that our commission has talked about quite a bit in the last couple of years. >> I think the exercise equipment when we talked about that last week >> That was pushed out. >> That was pushed out beyond 5 years, but it was on there. >> Yep. >> What how do you get 300,000 for pickleball courts at Swagger? Is that separate from the tennis? A separate location than the tennis courts? Or it's within the tennis courts? >> Yeah, we would essentially build another another pickle strictly pickleball court next to the tennis courts or as a part of the tennis courts. >> Mhm. >> And the money uh listed here in the capital improvement plan, we should say these this these are not necessarily allocated dollars. Um this doesn't mean we have $300,000 sitting in the bank ready to go. This is just a planning tool to say, "Hey, keep in mind we're we have all these expenses coming up, and here's about what they're going to be. So, this is how you should start budgeting. >> Is there any way to to determine how how those tennis courts are how extensively those tennis courts are being used? >> It's Swagger. >> I'm sure we could find a way. >> You know, because if if they aren't being used very much, you could limit it to a tennis court and then have pickleball courts side by side within that same facility that probably be cheaper than $300,000. >> You bet. It would be. >> I mean, if they're being used, no problem, but if they aren't being used, you know. >> We'll we'll we'll talk about that to find out if there is if we can come up with a decent way to to gauge that, but just based on what you see day to day, is it more people playing pickleball or tennis at that court? >> I'd say tennis. >> You think tennis? >> Tennis, for sure. >> Okay, so. >> There's it ranges depending on the season. I feel like in the summer you're more likely to see tennis players early in the morning and then fall in the spring when the weather cools down, you'll see more people playing pickleball. >> Okay. >> But it still seems like the tennis players are more consistent. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> So, you know, that's good info to have. I should write myself a note. >> I know this is a lot of information and there isn't anything we need to do tonight as a commission, but I it's just something what we want you to have as your over winter while we're not meeting, some things can be thrown around in your head because next year, once again, we'll start talking about planning. Um I do know that within the next two or three years, you think, Lisa, Andy, that we'll be looking at replacing Autumn Hills Park shelter playground? >> Yes, so that uh yep, that that equipment is uh it's it's aging and I'd say within soon soon, I think within three to five years that we'll bring that to you guys for a project. You haven't had a good one for a while, so given the size of these of that playground area, it's it's going to be a good 200 plus thousand dollar project, I think, so. >> So, are you talking shelter or playground? >> Playground. >> Playground. >> Playground equipment. >> The shelter's great. >> Yeah, the playground equipment. Yeah. >> All right, well, thank you. >> Mhm. >> Uh next meeting is Monday, May 17th, 2027 at 5:30 here at City Hall. Uh the next upcoming council meeting is Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. And with that, I'll take a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> So moved. >> The second. >> Second. >> All right, take a vote. All those in favor, say I. >> I. >> And we are adjourned.