05/19/2014 - Advisory Parks & Recreation CommissionADVISORY PARKS COMMISSION-WORKSHOP
Monday, May 19, 2014
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Moonshine Retreat Center
APrC Commission Members: Michael Palmer, Dorothy Peterson, Andrea Todd-Harlin, David
Wietecki, Dennis Thompson, Jerry Farlee, Nathan Neuman, Matt Dauphinais
Staff: Parks & Recreation Director Juli Seydell-Johnson, Superintendent of Parks Paul Olson, and
Recreation Supervisor Julie Andersen
Visitors: Forecast Public Art – Jack Becker and Bob Lunning
Agenda
I. Moonshine Park Master Plan Review – Paul Olson
II. Arts Planning Kick-off Presentation – Forecast Public Art
Materials Included
May 2014 Department Happenings
Correspondence
o Memo – MCPA Recommends Removal of Fish and Quigley Lakes from Minnesota’s Impaired
Waters Lists
o Email from Resident Regarding Positive Feedback on the Civic Arena Staff
The City of Eagan is committed to the policy that all persons have equal access to its programs, services,
activities, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex,
disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or status with regard to public assistance. Auxiliary
aids for disabled persons wishing to participate are available upon request at least 96 hours in advance
of the event. If a notice of less than 96 hours is received, the City will attempt to provide the aids.
Next Advisory Parks Commission
Monday July 14, 2014 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers
Eagan Parks & Recreation
Department Happenings
May, 2014
Strengthen Community Image and Sense of Place
• Eagan Market Fest opens a 17-week season on Wednesday, June 4, an increase of two weeks over
2012. Opening night shoppers receive a free reusable shopping bag courtesy of Think Bank, the
market’s main event partner. New components and vendors this market season include:
• Working with Fun Fest on logistical planning and to open carnival rides at the July 2nd market.
Fun Fest runs July 3 & 4.
• New collaboration with Medica on a healthy savings and eating promotion. Select Medica plan
members will receive an email from Medica with a coupon for a free $3 produce voucher for July
9 & August 13 (Health & Wellness Night)
• Market concession vendors expanding by two vendors due to significant public feedback. In
addition to the market’s regular concession stands:
Kowalski’s - back this year after a year off with hamburgers, grilled shrimp, salmon and
veggie burgers.
Gai Gai Thai - stir fry vendor that uses veggies from the market’s produce vendors.
• Produce update – due to the longer winter and rainy spring, produce at the market is expected to
be delayed. Some early produce will be available when market opens but it will take several
weeks to see the full array of vegetables.
• The Eagan Art House had coordinated the following local art exhibits:
• Americana Theme, on display at Byerly’s and Ring Mountain Creamery through July 7th. The
exhibit theme was chosen to correspond with the annual Scoops for Troops 5K event at Ring
Mountain that was held on April 27th. 26 local artists are represented between the two locations.
• Student Artwork from Glacier Hills Elementary School will be on display at the Eagan Community
Center through July 7th.
• The Wescott Library has purchased exhibit hanging equipment for the café area. The Eagan Art
House will assist in scheduling and coordinating exhibits in this space. May and June will be an
extended exhibit of “Heroes,” a youth exhibit that was on display at the Dakota County offices
and the Lakeville library.
• The Eagan Art Festival will take place on June 28th & 29th. The Festival celebrates its 20th year with a
community art project entitled, “Faces of Celebration.” The project will include creating a growing
temporary sculpture of masks, a large mask made up of on-site “selfies,” and a social media element
where participants can post their “Celebration Selfies” to Facebook/FacesofCelebration. Display of the
project and the Facebook page will continue throughout the summer.
Support Economic Development
• Twin Cities Premium Outlets of Eagan will hold a job fair at the Eagan Civic Arena, June 6. They are
estimating 90 merchants will have booths with information on potential employment opportunities.
• Cascade Bay has nearly completed hiring for seasonal positions. 130 employees are hired, annually. Of
those hired, 70% are returning employees. Prior to opening for the season, lifeguard staff will complete
nearly 12 hours of preseason training. All other staff will attend 6 hours of training.
• The City will play host to the largest soccer tournament of the year May 9-11. Nearly 240 teams from
around the region will be taking part.
Promote Health and Wellness
• Summer softball was able to start on time (April 21st), but several nights were rained out April 28th – May
1st. Fall softball packets will be going out by the beginning of June.
• Athletic fields have been hampered by the late winter and wet conditions. Most fields were opened
starting May 5.
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Protect Environmental Resources
• Lake Fest, a free event held biennially, is Saturday, June 14 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Trapp Farm.
Families can enjoy fishing activities (all equipment provided), kid’s nature art, natural resource booths,
water safety vehicle display, puppet shows and more. Planned in collaboration with Eagan’s Water
Resource Dept.
• The project to remove invasive species from the woodlands in Trapp Farm Park has been completed
• Prairie burns at several sites including Thomas Lake and Patrick Eagan went well
• Staff have been working with the City Attorney to refine the disease tree notification process. The Tree
Inspector will be making the rounds soon to verify removals and ID new infection sites.
• Spring fertilization is underway; last year’s effort to eliminate the Japanese Beetle (grub) infestation
seems to have been successful.
Facilitate Community Connections
• Get connected and invite your friends and family to the 7th annual Eagan Market Fest Family Night on
Wed., June 18 from 4 – 8 p.m. at the Eagan Festival Grounds. Free kid’s surprise item to the first 150
kids.
• The new Food On 4 Wheels Festival logo design is complete. The event is scheduled for Sat., Sept. 6
from 3 – 7:30 p.m. at the Eagan Festival Grounds.
• Cascade Bay has partnered with Wise Swim School again to offer swim lessons. Saturday has been
added as an additional option for lessons on the weekend.
• The field use agreement at Faithful Shepard Catholic School has now lapsed and will not be renewed.
The City will no longer be assisting with site maintenance or scheduling. User groups are free to work
directly with the School to schedule field use.
Provide Recreation Experiences
• Eagan Art House summer camps and classes begin the week of June 9th.
• Fields have been very wet, delaying maintenance on then. All were finally opened for general use the
week of May 5th. Crews are still catching up at many sites…players are anxious!
• The wet conditions have delayed the restart of the construction of the new park across from the mall
site. Work is expected to start as soon as conditions allow, completion is expected by late summer.
General Announcements
• Summer-Fall brochure was delivered to the public the week of May 5.
• Park restrooms will be open on daily basis as of Memorial Day weekend, water turn on’s continue.
• New Part-Time Marketing/Clerical Technician started May 5 – Welcome Jeanette Nelson.
• Kerry Phillips was elected as President of the Minnesota Chapter of the women in Leisure Services
(WILS) Organization. Director Johnson is the incoming Chair of the National WILS Organization.
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ADVISORY PARKS COMMISSION
EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE
From: Tony DelDotto [mailto:Tony.DelDotto@cushwakenm.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 11:56 AM
To: Juli Johnson
Subject: Feedback
Hi Juli,
I wanted to share my positive feedback from a recent experience working with Mark Vaughan,
Bob Keeney and the Civic Arena staff. I contacted Mark last October about reserving the
arena for an end of the season party for the Eagan Mite Hockey program and worked with him
and Bob over a few months pulling it all together. It was a concept that had not been done
before with the program but I am pleased to share they worked with me to make it an
outstanding event.
I anticipate the Turf & Ice party which attracted 181 kids and 200+ parents will become an
annual event as the feedback from the debut was overwhelming. Its success was the result of
the team going out of their way with helpful ideas and being open to an out of the box
idea. Being a new concept, I had tons of questions that were always answered with
solutions. Both Mark and Bob also went out of their way to attend the event and make sure we
it went smoothly. The event staff (Connor Schulte) was great too, very friendly and sincerely
interested to help... it could not have gone any better.
Anyway, I just wanted to share the positive feedback. I look forward to working with Mark and
Bob again as it was really an enjoyable experience.
Regards,
Tony DelDotto
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