HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-01-16 Parks and Trails Minutes1
Corcoran Parks and Trails Meeting Minutes
January 16, 2025 - 7:00 pm
The Corcoran Parks and Trails Commission met on January 16, 2025, at City Hall in Corcoran, MN.
Present were Commissioners Anderson, Christenson, Nybo, Schmidt, and Strehler.
Absent: Commissioner Erzberger
Present at City Hall was Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck and Community Development Administrative
Assistant Gellman.
1.Call to Order/Roll Call
Chair Christenson called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
2.Pledge of Allegiance
Chair Christenson invited all in attendance to rise and join in the Pledge of Allegiance.
3.Agenda Approval
Motion:Made by Anderson, seconded by Nybo, to approve the agenda as amended to add 10c Watershed
Report.
Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Nybo, Schmidt, and Strehler.
(Motion carried 5:0)
4.Minutes
a.Minutes – December 19, 2024, Meeting
Motion:Made by Nybo, seconded by Schmidt, to approve the minutes as presented.
Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Nybo, Schmidt, and Strehler.
(Motion carried 5:0)
5.Open Forum
(None).
6.Presentations
(None).
7.Unfinished Business
a. Update on Park Enhancement Program and See My Legacy
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck provided an update on the Park Enhancement Program and See
My Legacy. She updated the Commission that the City Council approved the PEP on 1/09/2025. She said
See My Legacy seems to be a good fit due to fundraising opportunities, park enhancement program
opportunities, and volunteer opportunities. She explained that the Garden Club wants more people involved
and that this website/program could provide the opportunity to grow the club. She said all the information
would be on a centralized landing page which would make it more convenient for people as everything
could be found in one place. She said fundraising for the City Park Project can get more specific to
amenities like the splash pad, playground, and building. She said Nighe to Unite would be another option as
well due to the continual donations the program receivesShe said Park Enhancement Program can be a use
for it regarding the benches, bike racks, bricks, etc. like discussed in the December meeting. She said they
will revisit following the 2/13/25 work session and meeting because there will be more direction given from
City Council after that. She said that there might be an opportunity to expand even further with nonprofit
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organizations and outside partners in the community for their own events, but that would be a conversation
for the future when the city understands the website/program better. She asked the Commission what they
thought of the website/program. Chair Christenson asked if this website/program would be linked to the
City’s website to which Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck affirmed it would be. She said there was
also a lot of customer support given by See My Legacy that’s included as well. Commissioner Schmidt
asked whether the City managed the content or would See My Legacy. Recreation Supervisor Christensen
Buck explained that it could be a combination and up to the City to decide. She explained she would let See
My Legacy first help and that she would dive in and make edits as needed but that See My Legacy would do
a lot of the creation of the content. Commissioner Schmidt asked if the fundraising financial aspect was
through the website/program as well to which Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck explained it would
be and that a check would be sent weekly to the City for any funds raised. Recreation Supervisor
Christensen Buck said they have utilized JotForm previously and that the City might use Microsoft Office for
surveys in the future. Commissioner Schmidt was wondering if the website/program would be able to track
financial analytics to look at.
8. New Business
a. Commissioner Term Update
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck gave an update on the terms expiring on February 28,
2025including Commissioners Anderson and Schmidt, as well as now Councilor Friedrich. Commissioner
Nybo inquired about the current vacancy to which Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck was unsure of
the current details of the vacancy or how many current applicants there might be. She said that she could
work with communications staff on further needs or questions regarding the vacancy posting on social
media.
b. City Park Playground
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck reviewed the feedback from the December 19, 2024, Parks and
Trails Commission meeting. She said the recommendation from staff is to go with Option A because it can
incorporate the recommendations the Commission wanted and is generally more economicalChair
Christenson asked to see the renditions again and Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck pulled up the
slide with the renditions. He also said this would not be the final decision on the plan, but just which
company to work with on the plan.
Motion: Made by Commissioner Nybo, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, to recommend Council
approval of Playworld as the playground vendor.
Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Nybo, Schmidt, and Strehler.
(Motion carried 5:0)
9. Reports/Information
a. Planning Project Update – Information Only
Commissioner Nybo mentioned that the A+A site was an interesting project and Commissioner Anderson
inquired about the St. Thomas project.
b. Parks, Recreation, and Trails Update
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck noted items that she had been working on since the last Parks and
Trails Commission meeting, including that baseball registration was open for both residents and the general
public. She explained they have been working through hiring which was successful in the first round in the
hiring of the Community Development Administrative Assistant, Seth Gellman. She said they are in the
process of IT Manager interviews and have started the process for Program Coordinator hiring. She said to
the Commission if they knew of any candidates to send her way. She said that the council discussed the
holiday food drive donations and upcoming 2025 events. Commissioner Nybo mentioned Recreation
Supervisor Christensen Buck received an award. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck said she was
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nominated for the Horizon Award and won. The Commission expressed their excitement and pride for
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck winning the award from the Minnesota Recreation and Park
Association.
10.Subcommittee & Miscellaneous Reports
a. Garden Club Report
Commissioner Anderson said the ground was still frozen. He forwarded some catalogs to other gardeners
who would be interested.
b. Park Dedication Fund
(None).
c. Watershed Report
Commissioner Anderson explained that the watershed is currently in their 4
th generation plan which keeps
up with current trends and how the watershed effects the city. He explained that due to erratic weather that
the precipitation and watershed issues will not remain the same. Commissioner Anderson explained he
would like to help find someone to help fill the spot. He explained that Corcoran is the largest city by land
size in the watershed.
11.Other Business/Announcements
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck reminded the Commission they had a work session before the
next commission meeting and that she would get that information to the commission. She said that Derek
Asche from Maple Grove would come and speak about the South Fork Rush Creek Stream restorationfrom
6:00pm-6:45pm February 20, 2025.
12.Adjournment
Motion:Made by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Nybo, to adjourn the meeting at
7:32 pm.
Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Nybo, Schmidt, and Strehler.
(Motion carried 5:0)
Submitted by Seth Gellman, Community Development Administrative Assistant