in progress. >> Chesa Parks and Rec Commission, Tuesday, January 13, 2026. Call to order. Roll call, please. Mary >> Jason Branch, >> present. Elizabeth
>> here. >> Michael >> here. >> Zach >> here. >> Keep >> here. >> Danielle, >> here. >> Here. >> Kevin Hill >> here. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mary. Moa number three, adopt agenda. Any changes anybody would like to make? Any comments on the agenda for this evening? If not, I will entertain a motion to adopt the agenda. >> I make the motion to adopt the current agenda.
>> Do I have a second? >> I second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> The agenda is adopted. Uh moving on to number four, visitor presentations. Seeing none, we will move on to item.
Nobody online, right? I missed that earlier. >> Doesn't appear to be >> okay. >> Okay, >> we'll move on to item number five. Approve previous meeting minutes. Uh would be approve September 9th, 2025
commission meeting minutes. Does anybody have any comments, changes, or anything on the minutes from September? Hearing none. Uh, do I have a motion to approve the previous meeting minutes? >> I move to approve the previous September
9th, 2025 admission meeting minutes. >> You have a second. >> I'll second. >> Second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Previous meeting minutes are approved. Moves this on to item number six.
receive council and planning meeting minutes. Um 6A city council meeting minutes from August, September, October, November, and December. It's a lot. Does anybody have any comments
or concerns with the city council minutes? Neither of those months discussion >> planning. Okay. So re remember last time I think there was a planning item missing or
>> two times back >> two times back. We just wanted to point out that that's been accounted for >> on the on the ones you received for tonight. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> So yeah, >> thank you. >> Okay. 6B planning meeting minutes.
>> Any discussion comments on the meeting minutes from planning commission? Hearing none. Okay, we will consider those received. And that moves us on to item number
seven, action items. And 7A, recommendation for city council appointment of the 2026 Park and Recreation Commission Chair. Jason, I'd love for you to continue. You've done a great job and uh I think
it would be great if you're willing to do that. >> It would be in my honor to do so. >> Anybody else? >> That I move to uh appoint or recommend that Jason be appointed chair for 2026.
>> Second. >> Second. >> Everyone's got a [laughter] second. >> All in favor? I >> oppose. Same sign. [applause] >> Okay. On to 7B. Recommendation for city
council appointment of the 2026 Park and Recreation Commission vice chair. And I would like to go ahead and right away and recommend list position if you will. second.
[laughter] >> Sorry, you beat me to it. >> Yeah, >> I think it'd be awesome to have Liz back as >> doing both you guys are super passionate about what's going on here and you're involved and you pay attention. I think you read
all the meeting minute notes, too. >> You look like you read all >> I do read all of them. I read them at soccer this weekend. [laughter] >> This is why you should be the vice >> almost got hit with the ball, but you know Okay. Then do I have a motion to
recommend Liz Weinbean for the city council or I'm sorry for parks and reccks commission vice chair. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor say I.
>> I. Oppose. Same sign. >> Congratulations. >> [applause] >> to you too. >> Thank you. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um okay, that moves us on to item number
eight, discussion items, Marshall. >> Yeah. So I have prepared uh some slides for tonight to go through a variety of updates. Um, so let me just go ahead and share my screen.
Happy New Year, by the way. >> Happy New Year, Marshall. >> Happy New Year, Marshall. >> Thank you, Jason and Liz, for your continued service in your roles. So, appreciate that. Um, okay. Slideshow
from beginning. We seeing that? Yep. All right. Okay. So, not necessarily in any particular order, but just kind of a variety of updates of things going on um in the parks and recreation um department since it's been a little
while since we've had a regular meeting. Um so, first off, I got a few um park updates. Um so looking here at Meadow Park, um which we've, you know, talked about, um throughout the whole planning
process, this is a a picture of the playground. So that did get installed, um you know, right before the snow flew um earlier back in like November. Um but really kind of what's going to
happen here is the remainder of that park will get built out um next spring. So, with this particular park, we're going to be having the pour and play surfacing um coming in once the temperatures get warm enough to do that.
Um we've got the um shade structure that's going to come in on this site. Um we've got the fencing that's got to go in, the pavement of the trails, hookup of the irrigation, things like that. But um our
parks crew does a great job. And I think just it's really weather permitting and getting in there. Um at some point in the spring to finish that out and um at some point next probably summer we'll we'll have that um park to be able to
celebrate and get people using it. >> It's coming along. Um Autumn Woods Neighborhood Park. Um, you know, we talked about that um earlier this evening in a work session. Um, but just to kind of give a high
level recap, um, we kicked off the community engagement for this park back in October with a neighborhood meeting. Um, after that, um, we had an online survey available which we saw over a hundred responses.
Um, and so now staff are just working on um putting together um park plans that respond to the survey results that came back. Um and then um we'll put those plans back up online. We're anticipating
late January, early February. We'll notify the neighborhood um that those are available and um there'll be the ability for people to comment on those plans. You know, what do they like? what do they not like? What would they like to see different? Um and then we'll just
sort of take that next round of feedback and um prepare uh a preferred plan that we'd be be bringing back before um your um commission um likely in March
is probably the most realistic time frame um for your recommendation to then go to city council. >> Very good. And how will the residents be notified just for everybody watching? >> Um so we um through that survey were
able to get um people's email address um and then we'll also um send out a postcard like we did informing people of the initial uh meeting. So, and then we'll rely on a particular commissioner that lives in that
neighborhood. Uh, [laughter] all right. Um, Southwest Park. Um, so with this, um, for those of you that are viewing this online, I did give an update to our city council, um, last
week, Monday, and I went into depth on that. Um, so I'm not going to go into the same depth here. Um, but if you're interested and want to go see that, that is available um online. Um, I think what I'd say here again, um, multiple
conversations, um, to get us to this point, um, we're we're now at a stage where we're really kind of honing in on the layout of the park, you know, and this is really responding to the the feedback
we got from the community through a lot of robust community engagement. Um if you recall that engagement helped shape um three different concept plans that we put out for the community to um react to
and then you know based on that feedback we've kind of whittleled it down to this preferred plan and I think it's really responding to everything quite nicely. Um it's got a nice mix of um nature um
play and sport within it. Um, I think, you know, a couple of city council members had commented that they really like the direction this is going and that there seems to be something here for everybody, which was really the
intent when we embarked on this and for it to be a universal designed playground um, and overall park um, for people of all abilities and interests to really have a special place to go to and and recreate.
Um, some probably the biggest point we heard from city council when I provided that update was to um look at the northwest corner a little bit more as it relates to the athletic um field complexes.
Um, we did have a previous concept um throughout our process that showed a larger um square in that northwest corner with the intention of that being um turf and lined to have two soccer
fields um side by side and then you could have four diamonds um in each of the corners um and then a variety of other striping as well. Um so we're going to um go ahead and take a look at that as well and really kind of treat
that northwest corner as um flexible in our planning uh as we go forward just depending on um you know where we land with that. Besides that, you know, the the real kind of core pieces of this park, um,
and it's it's what we always started with and wanted to build around was the destination sized universal playground along with the Miracle League baseball field. Um, and so you're seeing those here really
kind of um coming in in the central part of the park um where it'll be easy access for people coming into the parking lot to get to those amenities. And then there's sort of the central plaza um that would be between them with
a um park building that would um serve um restroom functions. um potentially concessions. You know, ideally we want to look at even some indoor programmable space. Um and it would be a year- round facility
because it would also act as a warming house um for the sledding hill um that would be available in the winter as well. Um, so one of the things we'll be doing going forward is hiring a a separate um building architect to start
honing in on what the design of that building um is going to look like. Um some other key elements of the park um include a um an amphitheater um that would be built into
um the slope of the park adjacent to the playground. We are showing a water feature um that you know could be just um some spray jets coming from the ground. Um, we're showing a bouldering
wall, a community garden area. We've got pickleball courts, um, basketball courts, um, a nature play area in the woods. [snorts] Um, something that isn't being shown on
here, but um, we're planning for is an 18hole uh, disc golf course that would primarily be in the southeast corner here and work its way up through the prairie. Um, and we've got another separate
parking lot um, that would help serve that um, that function. And then we got several um open play area nodes um that would just be sort of that non-programmed um grassy area for people to um hang out
and play some informal games and whatnot. And then a variety of shade structures that would um be within those open lawn areas. So, you know, with that update with city
council and them generally liking the direction we're going, um, what we're doing is working towards, uh, 30 design, a 30% designed plan. Um, and that's really going to get us some more detail
on what it's going to take to grade the site. Um, starts getting us some more detail on the various um, elements within the park. and then more importantly gives us um a little more ability to estimate what the costs are
going to be. Um and so we'll do that work um before we go through the formal process of bringing it back before you for your recommendation to city council to, you know, approve it formally. um to
then say this is this is the direction we're going and we're going to then continue um designing around that uh all the way through construction plan documents. Um, as far as timeline goes, um,
you know, we're probably generally looking at March or realistically April is probably about when we'd be coming back with that 30% design um for you. Uh, a couple other things. We are coordinating with um our community
development and engineering department as it relates to a um a housing development um that's coming through um on the west side of Savannah Way um on the Hassic property. Um, so they've
they've um submitted their concept plan into the city and that will be going before the planning commission tomorrow night for their review and recommendation to city council and then it'll go to city council on um their
Monday, January 26th meeting. Um so there's some coordination with that developer primarily as it relates to access points um from the park and then over to the development. Um so those discussions will continue and then we've
had recent um conversation with uh leadership at the school as well. Um just knowing that there's future plans for an elementary school on the um southwest corner of the site. Um
and there are some things that they need to take into account for the school such as um storm water requirements. Um so we're working with them to help navigate um what those options are for them and then again just keeping them
informed with the development that's coming in and just setting it up so that down the road when they're ready to um look at that school that um that they're set up for success
when they get to that point. >> Marshall. >> Yep. I apologize because I feel like I ask about this every time you bring up the school, but have they actually committed that they are for sure going to put a school there? I mean, school district enrollment here has dropped 10% in the last six years.
>> Um, I mean, based on the meetings I've had, my understanding is that's what they're planning for. Yeah. Um, obviously they still got to go through a referendum and >> for sure >> they've got a lot of other I think facility priorities that are more
pertinent in the near future. >> Yeah. So, this is definitely further out for them, which is making it difficult to come to the table and be definitive on things, but we're just being good partners with them knowing that our timeline is now
>> and we're just trying to make sure that >> um the edges we're creating are are going to work for them and they're they're happy about that. >> Yeah, and I appreciate that. I just I'm not a not a cynic or anything like that and I can't tell the future but logistically I just don't see how they ever put a school there. At some point
it seems to me like they're probably going to just turn around and sell the property. >> Yeah. >> With all those homes being built though you could imagine >> the growth in Carver may drive it though. >> I don't know. They just they don't have the they don't have the enrollment to justify it unless they close Chan Elementary and put another elementary school there and then shift everybody
over this way. But >> maybe we're talking like 3,000 housing units in Carver. So, >> you know, that that brings up another excellent question though about what are new families coming in and buying these homes or these people that have already
kids have already grown and moved out and they need an elementary school or not. You know, >> I think it's a mix. But yeah, >> another question for another day. I just wanted just curious if they've given any like stuff because it seems to me like if they're future school, it's still like 10 years out and we were saying
that like six years ago, you know. >> Yeah. meaning that's still 10 years out. Every year it's still 10 years out, you know. >> Just curious. >> And that's going to be and we're going to be able to keep that site. I mean, are we going to incorporate it in any
way? Is it going to be maintained? This area where the school is going to be, you know, is there I mean, I assume it's not going to be just a patch of dirt that's sitting there until they put a school there, but is that, you know, is that going to be maintained? And is that going to be maintained by our city staff
or >> how's that gonna >> again? >> Most likely not. I mean it's it's not our site. So >> right. So I maybe >> maybe I'm overshoot. I mean in my eyes I
I just I see an overgrown jungle next to our >> beautiful park. But >> yeah, >> that's obviously >> that could be where the pollinators >> dramatic but [laughter] I mean, just something that >> and maybe there is something where, you
know, we we consider putting in grass for the time being and then it >> maybe they'll loan it to us for a while. >> We'll see. Yep. >> Let the pollinators have their revenge. [laughter] >> There you go. >> Yeah. >> Well, that's that's a good >> that's a good leadin for the for the
record here. >> Kind of looking at the the park. Um when we had surveyed the community um about potential themes for the park
um it a large um a large percentage of people really kind of honed in on the nature um um opportunities within the park and suggested different ideas. Um and the the consultants we're working
with had come forward with this idea around a pollinator's revenge as um something for us to consider and as staff um we've talked about it and we just we really like this idea. Um, you know, I
think there's a story to be told here. Um, with the site, you know, prior to it being, um, the current agricultural site that it is, it was a lot of prairie and and a lot of forest. Um, and
now that we're going to be converting that to parkland with a focus on bringing back nature and restoring that, you know, it's sort of full circle um where we can help create that habitat for um these pollinators to
um sort of come come back and revenge, so to speak, or return um which is neat. And you can see there um the importance of pollinators um on the sustainability
um of the pollinating type plants um and our food system. So it's critical and there's a lot of um neat creatures that you know kids um like to learn about a lot of educational opportunities
um for us to to work with. Um, and here's just kind of showing some colorful ways we could do that. Um, and some different design and education um, options. We did meet with uh uh landscape
structures um last week as a team um to start um honing in on the the playground design and brought forward to them this idea of of pollinators for um some ideas to flow
and for them to start um putting some things together for us. Um so they're going to be working on that. Um through that discussion we did um land on um sort of this potential focus on the
bee in particular and utilizing the bee um to create a statement piece um for the playground with a custom type of a structure and um the potential for just some neat marketing that can come
through that. Um, we'll hit that later. Okay, moving on. Uh, I guess any questions um regarding the park or the theme um that you have before I move
on. >> We're good. Okay. >> All right. Next up, um, Chaza Rocks. Um so here is depicting a shift in one of our um community events that we've done the
last couple of years which uh you've known as Chaza Cares the Chaza Cares music fest that we've typically conducted the last couple of years was in um September and it was the last um community event
um of the summer that we would typically do um and we built it up over the last few years and it's it's a been a successful event, but um it's not quite
uh performing from a fundraising standpoint that we would like it to be based in comparison to the amount of um staff effort and planning going into it. And so, um, this is in partnership with our local Chaza Rotary Club, and
we've had some meetings with them and felt like maybe just a a change in how we're looking at it um could produce some different results. And so, the thought here is we're going to um sort of kick off our summer
programming with this event um in June and rebrand it as Chesca Rocks. um and probably be bringing in more of what we would say that cover band um style of music that you know really
attracts a lot of people. Um and I think that will um play out earlier in the summer versus later in the summer. By the end of summer, everybody's seen all the cover bands, you know, and so it's nothing nothing too exciting anymore. Um
but kicking off summer I think can really attract people. Um whereas in um in our previous um Chesa Cares events we were leaning into more original artists. Um and as much as I think original
artists is really cool and unique to bring to Chaza. um they're expensive um to book and it's just tough to get the marketing out there if people don't know who they are. Um
so for a little bit lower cost, we can bring in a really good um cover band and bring in a lot of people and to sort of kick off the summer. And this year we've already um booked with Arch Allies. Um
they've been here in the past for Fire and Ice. They do a really good job. I think it's like um De Leopard and Bon Joy and um Sticks and Ario Speed Wagon type cover covers. Um we're working on we're
working on securing an opener. And then the other thought would be um to start off the afternoon we would partner with our local um um local schools and the music departments and try to do like a battle
of the bands type of an event with the middle schoolers and high schoolers. >> Rocks. >> So kind of that jazz rocks. Middle schools have an awesome garage band program and they had Middle School West had their talent show Friday night and there were several of the garage bands that play. They're fantastic and these
are sixth through eighth graders. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> It's awesome. >> And they bring out their parents and family and friends and Yeah, >> that's a great idea. I love it. >> Yeah. >> And >> so yeah, we're excited about it and uh planning is is starting to come along.
Um so you'll see more as we go. You thinking like the same format of Fire and Ice for the music like in terms of like the setup and have like food and stuff out there and everything and >> Yep. Yep. Out at Fireman's Park. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Awesome.
>> Is there man that park boy when it gets packed I feel like there has to be some creativity that goes into there a little bit. Not that again, I would never say that you guys aren't doing a phenomenal job because you do a phenomenal job, >> but when it gets really busy those lines
for some of like the food trucks, man, >> how it starts to meander into the crowd and you got crossing over happening. I mean, I wish we could just close down 41 and put all the food trucks out there. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, maybe someday when we're huge, but man, there's got to be something.
>> Yeah. Well, one thing that's helped is just trying to fit more food trucks in there. >> Yeah. >> You know, and that's that's helped minimize lines to some degree. >> Oh, sure. We've been >> Yep.
Do we organize any like prepaid sort of busing transportation from different areas in the city so that people can get a safe ride down, have fun, and get a safe ride
somewhere close to home. Have we ever thought >> Well, we've done that with Southwest Transit. Okay. Um at some of our events. Yep. And they've been really good partners um for us. Um, so yeah. Yep. >> Fireworks at this one.
>> No fireworks at this one. >> Excuse [clears throat] me. Is this thing fireworks at this one, Marshall? That was not a question. That was a statement. [laughter] >> Fireworks are great at these things. >> They are, but I think, you know, right now we're trying to contain our cost
because it's a fundraiser, but I get it. There's also the argument that the fireworks bring people in. So, >> we're we'll find a sponsor for the fireworks this year. Okay, >> there you go. >> Wisconsin's not too far away.
[laughter] >> Marshall, we'll take care of that. >> Yeah, we got it. [laughter] >> Park and Reck Commission has got you covered, Marshall. >> All right. >> Just don't tell the police chief. [clears throat] [laughter] >> It'll be fine. >> Park and Recck Commission cares. Okay,
>> we got the fireworks. Okay, [laughter] slow. I'm moving next slide. All right, [laughter] community center plan, community center master plan update. Um,
so I wanted to bring this forward just uh to let you know that I think this is the year where we're going to start, you know, bringing this back forward again, right? So, we we went through an an awesome
process to create a great vision for the community center. Um, that vision got approved by city council back in 2024. Um, between then and now, we kind of knew we would just be in a little bit of
a holding pattern because we really got to figure out, you know, how we're going to finance the improvements. And if you recall, [snorts] um, at the time we had started to talk about the idea of a local option sales tax,
um, which has been a successful tool, um, that a lot of other cities have been able to take advantage of. Well, at the time that our plan got approved back in 2024, um the state legislature put a moratorum
on that option. Um which lasted a little over a year I believe. Um now it's such though that that moratorum is lifted and the understanding is um that nothing really changed as part of
that moratorum. So I think that tool is available for us to explore again. Um but beyond that, the other thing that I would share is um every year we have a a two-day retreat with our city council
and our city administrator and then all of the department heads. And it's during those two days where we really um look into the future um and come up with a strategic plan and set priorities. And
as you all know, a lot of the priorities over the last four years has also been the variety of building projects uh city buildings that have um needed to get built. um from the public safety facility to the public works facility
and then the future library and then remodel of city hall. Um this year was um the final kind of the fourth incremental increase in property taxes for that
program um to continue to move forward. So, now that that's sort of accounted for, um, our city administrator has indicated that at this upcoming city council retreat, he really wants to bring back the community center and and dive in on that with city council and
start to strategize um what the funding is going to look like. Um, some more to come. I think it's good to just know that, you know, we're we're still pursuing it. Um, I shared this picture as a reminder. I know we went on the
tour um a while back and the theme of the tour was the [snorts] facility leaks. Um well, this is a picture uh just from a week ago when we had warmer weather. It was raining, kind of seting in the morning and we had a lot of snow
melt and this is what staff came into in the morning >> um with water all over the floor. So, this is obviously coming from the roof, penetrating down the wall, and then seeping um out onto our floor. So,
there's there's things we need to resolve just from kind of a standpoint of ensuring the the long-term sustainability of that of that building. >> This is just unacceptable looking, isn't it? I mean, >> yeah, these are >> safety issues.
>> How can people come here and enjoy their activity. >> Yeah, I mean it starts to become a safety issue. Uh becomes a major staffing challenge, you know, chasing these leaks and doing the best we can to
minimize those safety hazards. Um but I think it, you know, >> it just demonstrates the need that we gota we got to start accounting for for that piece of it. um sooner than
later. >> It's always interesting to me going in there and when you walk coming down the stairs and you walk through here and you go over towards the gym towards like the fitness area and you see them like there's like leaks coming through and I'm like but we're like we're in the basement. We're in the lower level.
Leaks are coming through here. We got problems. >> Yep. >> Yeah. [snorts] How old is that building now? Is it like 35 years old now? 3 >> 34 >> 34
35. Yeah. Yep. >> So, and and the leaking is been going on for about 30 of those. [laughter] >> Didn't they say the one in the rotunda was leaking like the first summer during the tour?
>> Yep. Yeah. >> So, >> when it opened, there wasn't a pool. [laughter] I thought this was after Zach's workout. >> Yeah. [laughter] Yeah. >> That's for me walking up the stairs. >> Your flippers.
>> Yeah. [laughter] >> Yeah. But no, I mean, I'm excited to, you know, have the opportunity to spend some time with city council and just again >> present present um, you know, the challenges we're facing and, you know,
more importantly to start strategizing what the future is going to hold. >> And I'd say too, all of us on this commission would 100% back you up and come to that meeting too to just clarify that the community wants this. >> Yeah. Okay.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I'll note that to our city administrator. >> Uh let's see. Uh 10 year anniversary uh celebration at the Chaza um curling and event center. Um super exciting. Um that
facility opened in in December of 2015. So, I mean, technically the anniversary passed, but uh you know, it predominantly took took off throughout uh 2016. So, we're going to take this year to celebrate that. You can see the
logo on the left there. We'll be incorporating that logo um on more things as we go. Um we've got some, you know, fun giveaways to give to our members, um things of that nature. um we'll be, you know, really
highlighting the the fire and ice festival um this summer as well as part of that 10-year um anniversary. And then I'm just showing in the um event center um we budgetarily got
approved for new carpeting and new banquet chairs. Um so you're seeing the what that's going to look like there um in the forefront of that image. Um, so we're going to do away with the purple circles and the purple chairs
and uh go a little more gray gray tone black. Um, some nice wood chairs. I think it's going to look look really sharp. Um so staff have done a really good job um going through the variety of options and coming up with the recommendation
and then working with the installers to get this um prepared um which we're looking at um end of J end of end of January and early part of February for that to happen. Um
the carpet replacement will be um essentially the entire facility. So, not only the event center, it'll be the the staging area in the hallway, the atrium, and then down towards the locker rooms as well. So, >> it's all tile carpeting.
>> What's that? >> So, like tile carpeting. >> Yep. Large square um carpeting, which we found is nice just to be able to >> replace as needed. >> Super easy. Um, so it's great that we're able to reinvest back into that facility at the 10-year mark and just keep it
fresh and, you know, keeping it kind of that high quality um, experience that people expect out of that. >> What's the timing on on making those changes >> or they're already done? >> Um, end of January, early February. >> Okay. >> Yep.
>> Yep. Any plan to uh ride the momentum of the winter Olympics with anything with the curling center or anything like that? >> Yeah. Yeah, I got a slide on that coming up. >> Great. Whoa. >> Chair branch, >> you are reading my mind. Look at that. Yeah. Good. [laughter]
>> So, yes, it's going to be exciting exciting Winter Olympics and the tiein to curling and the fact that we've got uh representation on team USA um in the Olympics. So, in the top left
hand corner there is um team Casper and team Casper um identifies their home club as the Chaska Curling Center. So, you can see in the image here,
um, at one of their qualifying events, you know, they got our logo on their sleeve, um, that they've been wearing. >> Um, so we're super excited about that connection. There was a recent article in the Carver County online news. Um, they were able to connect with some of
the players. Um, and they gave a lot of accolades to our facility and how much it's meant to them throughout their training and things like that. Um, and then you got team Peterson below uh for the w the women's. Um, their home um
club is St. Paul Curling Center. Um, but there's an individual here that I'm circling. Her name's Taylor Anderson Hyde um who's on the team and she happens to be a Chesa resident and works at our facility.
>> So when she's not competing she actually assists um Scott Belvich with some ice maintenance. Um so we'll be you know >> that's great >> rooting all of them on. Um if you're interested uh this Sunday
um both of those teams are going to be at the facility um from 5 to 6 and we're just doing sort of an informal um uh communication that will go out to our
curling center members encouraging them to come to the crooked pint and observe. I think they're going to be doing a practice and then um represent representatives from USA Curling will be there to issue them their USA uniform.
>> So kind of a unveiling of the uniform >> and then I think the hope is that um they would come into the Crooked Pint and do some meet and greets and things like that. Um because I think they they literally fly out the next day um over
to Italy. Um, so that'll be super neat. And then the graphics you're seeing here, um, on the rest of the page, those are going to be huge window decals that we're going to be putting in the players lounge,
>> um, that are going to be visible on the outside. So, people driving by the building are going to see these um, graphics um, on the windows, which would be super cool. >> Is there any way you could put those on the east side of the building that face out to 41?
Yeah, I think that's what they're I think that's the intent. >> Not just the south side of the building, but like >> I think there's technically I'm only showing three of them here. I think there's six of them. >> Oh, sweet. >> Um, so some are going to be visible inside and then there's going to be others >> to the outside.
>> Yeah, those are if you ever driven by hot breakers, they have those on their windows. The silhouettes. It looks like their entire establishment is full, but you know, guests can see out of it. You can't see in it, but you just drive by. It just looks cool. Yeah. >> Add something especially this that's tied to the facility. That's awesome.
>> Yep. So, yeah, it's going to be fun um to cheer them on throughout the Olympics and I think having the uh the games on within the crooked pint and such and maybe coordinating some watch parties
and and stuff like all that. >> What's the time difference between here and there? >> 14. >> Is that 14 hours? >> Really? >> No, it's like six. Uh let's see here. Chaza today newsletter. Moving on. Um
so this is a new initiative with our uh communications department. Um I think they put out put out a couple um additions thus far. The intent is for this to go out um every two months. Um we've partnered with them to get space
um in the middle of the um the newsletter. So you're seeing there on the right the the most recent one that came out. Um so we got some nice space for us to be able to communicate things out to the community. Um which is huge
for us especially now that there we don't have the the Chesa Herald like we did in the past. Um, one thing you're going to see going forward is a little more intentionality with our department um, talking about
uh, wellness and the, you know, the different dimensions of wellness and the role we play as a department um, along with the city to um, have an impact on not only
individual wellness but you know when you think of community wellness And um so we wrote up a kind of a introduction article that's going to be coming out in the next edition and then the plan will be to build on that um in
future editions going forward and then tie it to what we're doing in our department and highlighting um staff that work in various areas and things. So, we kind of want to make it a little bit more engaging versus just uh you
know, promotional, so to speak, and do a little bit of both, but >> like wellness tips and that kind of stuff. >> Yep. >> Like Missy go like do this and this for daily. >> Yeah. >> Stuff like that. >> Yep. >> That's awesome. >> Yeah. Yeah. And I think, you know, I
think there's an opportunity to, you know, over time talk about the ele the the the dimensions outside of what people just kind of assume, which is more of the physical wellness, right, within park and recreation. And in fact,
in the article that's coming out, we t we kind of talk a little bit more about environmental wellness >> um is a big role that we play. And I know a lot of times think of people think of environmental wellness as you
know nature um which is true. >> Mhm. >> Um but another big piece to environmental wellness is [snorts] your home you know and your community and the environment you live in. um and
the facilities that we um maintain and manage and the experience that we're providing people when they come into our facilities and the in the programs they're participating in. That's part of the environment we're creating. You know, so that's kind of a big piece of
what I see our department doing is we create the environment and the programming and and the promotion to invite people into it. um which then leads towards um improved health and wellness for them. But then there's you know social
wellness, intellectual wellness, spiritual wellness. Um and we think we play a role in all of them. Um and we wanted to start highlighting that a little bit more going forward.
Um we've talked about this in the past too. Um but just an update uh regarding Finley Sport uh which would be um a new recreation software um management for our department uh that
we're working on. Um what you're seeing there is uh the start to what would be um the public facing uh welcome page for people to go on and create their account and um view
activities and things like that. Um but this will really uh serve as really our entire operating software for our department. So think about activity registration, facility
reservations, membership management, um league scheduling and league management, um communication, um point of sale transactions, and then all of our financial
um reporting and integration with our finance department. Um so it is a huge undertaking to get this um you know set up and configured on the back end. Um and so
big thank you to the staff. uh this is kind of all hands on deck um effort, but I think in the long run we're doing it ultimately because we think it's going to provide a better service to the community, a better experience
online to register for things and purchase things. Um and I think it'll also be a better experience for our staff. um just the um intuitiveness of their software um I think is going to be improved. And
then probably another feature that I'm excited about and I know a lot of other staff are just more of the reporting capabilities and just accessing data to help inform future decisions I think is going to be improved compared to the
platform we're on now. So, um, still a moving target, but the leadership team did meet, um, earlier this week, um, and I think we're honing in on a July 7th as a target um, to launch that. So, we're going to kind of
keep working towards that. Um, but that would align with our fall registration um, period is essentially kind of what we're building that around. And we think that between now and then should be enough time for us to get up and running with it.
>> More to come. >> Are you going to have anybody on the consumer side of it test it out and give feedback on it before you go live with it? >> That's a good idea. Um >> I know somebody who's not here right now would probably deal >> for I think that's a good idea. Um
>> something like that. I mean, we obviously are going to test it thoroughly internally, but sometimes when we're looking at it and staring at it, we don't see things that somebody else >> Exactly. I highly suggest and recommend that we get a group of users to just test it out to just give you their honest feedback. And
>> it might be all stuff you already know, but it's possible you might learn something right out of the bat that >> doesn't give you a healthcare.gov type of a feel out of it. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, that's that's a great idea. Yeah. And one thing we've found is um Finley Sport has been very receptive
at um developing enhancements, you know, so the feedback we would get, you know, likely we would share it with them and they would they would definitely consider that as an enhancement to customize it for us. >> Yeah. Is there a cost savings to
switching to this too or is it just purely to get better reporting functionality user experience? >> Um actually there would be cost savings too. So I mean yeah there's a lot of lot of benefit in moving this direction. >> Y
>> is it enough to pay for fireworks [laughter] >> bringing back to the experience coming in you know right now when you come in to use the fac. Does any of this impact that or is that could all be pretty much the same?
>> Like a membership card? >> Yeah. When you come in to use the facility, does this would that entrance into it be impacted by this new software? >> Um >> pretty much >> be pretty much the same. Yeah. So, the intent will still be to have membership card
>> um where people would still scan in. Um there will be the ability though for um there to be a a QR code so if people wanted it on their phone they can just >> Oh yeah >> that would be huge.
>> Um and then >> um they're developing an app as we speak too. >> Okay. >> Um so that's supposed to be coming out sometime in the spring. So, we're going to have access to the app. And so, I think there's going to be a lot of um nice features that are maybe better
on the the mobile phone, too, >> right? The digital >> that'd be great. >> Yeah. >> Great. >> So, this is delayed. I think maybe last time we met, you guys were maybe thinking about pushing this to go
December, but that was decision was made to push it. >> Yeah. Yep. Yep. We were uh under a tight t timeline, but we were able to negotiate with our current um
platform to extend extend uh the time. So, yep. All right. Highlight a couple things that happened recently. So this last um Saturday um staff put on a health and wellness expo at the community center in
conjunction with um South um yeah the Southwest um chamber. Um so the chamber really um programmed the gym and brought in a lot of our business community and they brought in I think over 50 vendors um for people to
go uh um per cruise through and get information. And then our staff just did a great job um having information on the variety of things we offer. Um people were able to go down to um the lodge and our tracks and trails area to learn
about respect um respective opportunities there. Um and then the day also included an open house. So the community was able to access the community center for free um throughout the afternoon. um use the pool, ice
skating, you know, you name it. Um but so there you seeing the staff that were there that day to um assist with all of the um people coming through. It was a great event. I had the opportunity to come in. Parking lot was packed. People
were swarming to find a spot, which I always I know it's people don't like that, but I kind of smile. Um it means there's a lot of good activity going on. Um, and it was the second year and I think it um was bigger than last year and I think it's just something we'll
keep building on. Um, and it's kind of a great way to launch the new year to to tie in that health and wellness theme as well. Um, and then also last weekend, um, the curling center hosted the big spiel. Um,
so you're seeing Clay, one of our staff members there. um he really wanted me to get a picture of him to kind of hone in on that scarf because he actually was part of the championship team back in uh I think it
was 2019. Uh their team won this big spiel. Um which is it's a pretty big deal. Um but if you didn't know the big spiel, um it starts Thursday night, goes through the weekend. Um, and there's multiple curling clubs throughout the
metro area, ours included, but then it's St. Paul, Frogtown, and Blaine. And part of, um, the event is teams get guaranteed a game at each of the facilities. So, it's kind of fun. They get to rotate and experience them all. Um, and you're
seeing the huge um, bracket um, there on the window that um, Clay was updating at the time I was there. U,, but good energy. uh 96 teams participate in it. Um so brings a lot of lot of people into our facility. Um so great job to the
staff for doing that. And then a couple things to look forward to. Um coming up on Monday um is Martin Luther King Day. Um so our human rights [snorts] commission puts on an event every year
um a breakfast at the event center. Um, so that's 7:45 to 9 in the morning. Encourage you to attend it if you're able to. If you're not, there also is an option to watch it online. Um, you can access that on the on the website.
Um, but there they recognize recipients of the um, human right human rights award. And then this year the keynote speaker will be um Ethalind Cabba uh who's the executive director for the Anne Braftoft Foundation
and I've I've um come to that in the past and it's just a really good really good event. um um keynote speakers are always good and and things like that. It just uh to the fact that our community does this
I think is pretty special um and takes the time to do it. So encourage you to attend it. And then the other one to highlight um looking uh in the near future would be on Wednesday, January 28th, our mayor um Taylor Hubard is
going to be uh delivering um the first ever state of the city event um at the Chesa Community Center within the theater. And that'll take place from 6:00 to 7:30. It'll start off with her presentation um which I think is going
to be about a half hour, 45 minutes. Um it's really to kind of highlight uh the things that happened in 2025 and then talk about things that um the city is planning for throughout 2026. And then afterwards
um every department is going to have a table with information out in our art gallery so those who attend can come through and meet with city staff and um get any information that they want. So encourage you to intend that as well.
>> We've never done that before. >> Not one with this type of format. So in the past, um the Southwest Chamber has always hosted a lunchon >> during the week at the um event center
and it's included um our neighboring cities as well. And because of that format, each mayor only has about 20 minutes or so >> um to talk. And so this one's going to be just a little bit more of a dedicated address focused on Chaza and allowing
more time. >> That's awesome. >> For the mayor to talk through things. So >> all right, that is it for my updates. Thank you, Marshall. Okay, that moves us on to item number
nine, other business. 9A the round table. Kevin, we will start on your end. >> I've got nothing. >> Okay. >> Uh just happened here. >> Uh I was just gonna say I did attend
that health and wellness expo as well and I was it was well done. It was for a second year I thought they did and they used to have well a wide breath of different vendors. >> Uh so there was something there for everyone. So it was well done. Good.
Um, I enjoy getting the CHASA newsletter that you were kind of talking about. Um, interesting tidbits in there. I don't know if it was there or if it was actually in the city uh, council meeting minutes, but I saw
that CHASA won a water award for having really clean water, and I >> really liked that. I thought [laughter] that was impressive. I drink regular tap water, so I appreciate that. And it kind of goes to the wellness and
>> everything that we support. So, I thought I thought it was interesting. >> Um, I did drive past Meadow Park with my eight-year-old in the car this past weekend, and that park, it looks so different than I think a lot of our
other parks that really like got her attention. And she's super excited to go play there. Cool. >> Yeah. >> Um, yeah. I I was a little in shock because I was like, "Yeah, that's what we landed on. It's really different, [laughter]
>> but it must look fun to play on." So, that's that's good. >> Um, and then, um, summer camp signups are already happening. So, um, I think
the community center has extreme kids. Um, my have attended that program um in the past for a year or so. Um it's a great program and I'm sure maybe that signup's already occurred, but it's just
really hard to get your kid in in all these various camps and on time and you got to be the sign up like right as it hits. So, I understand the importance of the software that you guys are working with and dealing with getting that up
and going, but um yeah, lots on. Lots of fun things happening. So, thanks for all that you shared. >> Great. >> Um, a couple things for me. Um, I was going to mention something about Meadow Park because, you know, I drive by there
now obviously because the road's open because, you know, you can drive by there now. Um, but I walk by there a lot as well. I um, and it's just so cool like walking by there and seeing the public safety campus come to light. And then just literally the other day I just looked over and I'm like I still think it looks like the octenaut space but it
was so cool just like walking by there because of that very thing. It catches your eye >> you know and I think on that side because on that the front side facing angler you see all the doors for the fire trucks and then it's like oh wow and it's just like is that where the fire trucks come in and out you know and
you're just you get on the other side and you see that it's awesome. They've got the the name plate up there now and it's public safety campus and then you look over what's that? And it's this playground. I think it's so cool. >> Yeah. >> But seeing it over the last, you know, especially over the last however many
months, seeing the progress even in these because we haven't, you know, they've been able to do some work on it over the winter obviously, but now they're, you can see him working inside. It's just, it's really cool seeing it come to light. Um, want to thank Jason and Liz for stepping up and being P and
VP again. So, I mean, I think you guys do a great job and wonderful, you know, community members and advocates for the community on this and I think there's a thoroughess that you both bring to this that I think is really necessary and appreciated. So, I know it's extra work for you guys both have families, jobs,
all that stuff. Um, but it's really appreciated. So, thanks for doing that again. Um, you know, and the last thing I want to share is that, um, you know, I think now, you know, we talk a lot about community, and I think now more than ever, a lot of our community needs needs our community right now with a lot of
the federal um, we'll call it um, you know, action in our community right now. You guys almost didn't have a restaurant at the the big spiel this weekend because our entire staff that is Latino that live here in our community are so scared they don't want to leave their houses right now. So, I never want to
forget that. You know, I think um I love living here. I think it's wonderful, but we have a lot of community members out there, you know, families and friends of my children who are scared to go to school right now, >> you know, and >> it's really hard, you know, to see because I work with a lot of people and obviously we all do.
>> We know a lot of people, but I think our community really needs our community right now. >> And I think that so far it's been really nice to see the community rally around our community that needs us right now. >> I just don't ever want to forget that. >> Yeah. You know, everybody's here for different reasons, but I think we're all here for one common thing, and that is
community. >> Yeah. >> So, I just wanted to share that. So, >> yeah. Find ways we can just keep helping each other out. >> Yeah. 100%. Just got to have each other's backs. >> Thank you for saying something. >> Yeah. Nice. >> Terry,
>> I don't have anything from you. >> Yeah. Nothing from me major tonight. Just piggyback. Just love each other. Love each other and go out and try and enjoy a park in the winter time. How about that? >> Good advice.
>> Anybody else? Mary, anything from you? >> No. >> Happy New Year. >> Thank you. Happy New Year. Okay, with that said, that brings us to item number 10, and that's adjourn. Do I have a
motion to adjourn? Motion to adjourn. Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> All oppose. Same sign. >> We are all
>> recording stopped.