Board of Commissioners Meetings

The agenda for the October 24, 2024, Regular Board Meeting is available here.

The Board Meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the Three Rivers Park District Administrative Center, 3000 Xenium Lane N., Plymouth, MN.

Superintendent's Recommendation:

NO ACTION REQUIRED.

Background Information:

Any individual wishing to address the Board on subjects which are not part of the meeting agenda may do so at this time. Such items will typically be referred to staff for review, action and/or recommendation for future board action. The public will also be provided an opportunity to address the Board on items which are on the agenda at the appropriate time.

If you would like to submit written comments in advance of the Board Meeting that will be shared with the Board, you may post them below in the comment box under the agenda item you wish to address or under People Wishing to Address the Board if it's a topic not on the Board Meeting agenda. Comments received by 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday before the Board Meeting will be shared with Commissioners at the meeting.

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 24-11; A RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION TO HEATHER KUIKKA UPON HER RETIREMENT FROM THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT.

Prepared By: Kelly Grissman, Director of Planning

Background:

Heather Kuikka served the Park District for 18 years, starting out as a Secretary to the Department of Planning and Development on September 21, 2006. In this role she supported a multi-disciplinary team helping with the construction bid process, open houses, long-range plan preparation, and overall department organization and efficiency. As part of an internal reorganization in 2012 which split the Department of Planning and Development into the Department of Design and Department of Planning, Heather elected to pursue her interest in supporting the long-range planning and acquisition efforts of the Park District. Heather’s good work led to a promotion to Administrative Specialist, and then to the Planning and Research Coordinator in 2021.

Heather is a life-long learner. Throughout her career at Three Rivers, Heather gladly stepped up to assume more responsibility, to increase efficiencies, and to diligently ensure that everyone's voices and perspectives were considered in our long-range planning and research work.

Heather takes and deserves great pride in her work to acquire land for the Park District, building relationships with skeptical residents at open houses, and supervising the Research Section's seasonal staff - which includes developing and managing the Park District's most challenging and complex schedule to ensure statistically accurate survey and count findings.

Heather has played a role in nearly every long-range plan over the course of her tenure. Her community engagement work for Mississippi Gateway Regional Park helped foster an inclusive engagement process and set the framework for a whole new chapter for how community engagement occurs at Three Rivers.

Heather's work on acquisition has helped create a timeless legacy to be enjoyed by future generations.

Heather's last day of work was October 4, 2024. The attached Resolution of Appreciation is presented for Board consideration, recognizing Heather’s service to the Park District.

Relationship to the System Plan:

The Request for Action supports the following goal(s) of the System Plan:

Goal 1: You Belong Here

Attachments:

Heather Kuikka Resolution of Appreciation.pdf

Superintendent's Recommendation:

NO ACTION REQUIRED; THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.

Prepared By: Sierra Spicer-Zimmerman, Donor Relations and Volunteer Supervisor

Background:

Commissioners and/or staff are encouraged to report any special matters, awards, recognitions or other acknowledgements at this time.

Acknowledgement of Donations

The Board wishes to acknowledge the following donations to the Park District of $500 or more made in the past month.

• JC Younger Company, Inc. - $7,000 for a tribute bench at French Regional Park in memory of Eleanor M. Younger.
• Minneapolis Foundation - $6,570.03 to the Jack Lynch Internship Fund at Richardson Nature Center.
• Shirley Hogan, Wayzata - $3,500 for the renewal of a tribute bench on Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail in memory of Dick Hogan.
• Glen Fuerstneau Edmunds - $1,000 as an undesignated donation to Three Rivers Park District.
• Karl Hensel, White Bear Lake - $1,000 for recognition on the donor wall at Silverwood Park in honor of John and Melba Hensel's 50th wedding anniversary.
• Mary Pelzel, Dayton - $800 for a Forests Forever tribute tree to be planted at Elm Creek Park Reserve.

Relationship to the System Plan:

The Request for Action supports the following goal(s) of the System Plan:

• Goal 1: You Belong Here
• Goal 2: Parks Matter
• Goal 3: Lead by Example

Superintendent's Recommendation:

NO ACTION REQUIRED; THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.

Background:

• 2024 Proposed Board Meeting and Study Session Calendar attached.
• Calendar of 2024 Meetings and Events attached.

Update(s):

• 2025 Proposed Board Meeting & Study Session Calendar - Draft 2 (attached)

Attachments:

2024 Proposed Board Meeting and Study Session Calendar.pdf

Calendar of 2024 Meetings and Events.pdf

2025 PROPOSED Board Meeting and Study Session Calendar.pdf

All matters listed under Routine Business are considered to be standard items by the Board of Commissioners and will be enacted by one motion. For background information about any of the items listed below, visit this link.

Item 4A. Receive Mississippi Gateway Regional Park Construction Progress Update

Superintendent's Recommendation:

NO ACTION REQUIRED.

Item 4B. Mississippi Gateway Regional Park Grant Agreement SG-24P6-09-01

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO APPROVE THE MISSISSIPPI GATEWAY REGIONAL PARK GRANT AGREEMENT SG-24P6-09-01 TOTALING $3,000,000 OF FUNDING THROUGH THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

Item 4C. Regional Trail System Winter Use Permits

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO APPROVE WINTER USE PERMITS FOR 2024-2025 FOR THE CITY OF MAPLE GROVE, 2024-2026 FOR THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS PARK, 2024-2027 PERMITS FOR THE CITIES OF MOUND AND ROBBINSDALE ALLOWING EACH PERMIT HOLDER TO CONDUCT WINTER MAINTENANCE ON SEGMENTS OF REGIONAL TRAIL CORRIDORS WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE JURISDICTION AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PARK DISTRICT'S WINTER USE PERMIT.

Item 4D. Medicine Lake Regional Trail: Territorial Road Cooperative Agreement

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF MAPLE GROVE FOR THE CONVEYANCE, REMOVAL, RECONSTRUCTION, AND COST PARTICIPATION OF THE FORMER TERRITORIAL ROAD BRIDGE WHICH SUPPORTS THE MEDICINE LAKE REGIONAL TRAIL AT ELM CREEK PARK RESERVE.

Item 4E. Receive the Third Quarter Public Safety Incident Report

Superintendent's Recommendation:

NO ACTION REQUIRED.

Item 4F. Coon Rapids Dam Trust Fund Request for Funding

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO APPROVE FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $96,000 FROM THE COON RAPIDS DAM TRUST FUND FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF THE DAM INCLUDING THE PURCHASE OF A SPARE HYDRAULIC CYLINDER AND CONTROL AND MONITORING SYSTEM.

Item 4G. Board Minutes of September 19, 2024

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 19, 2024, REGULAR BOARD MEETING.

Item 4H. Minutes of the September 23, 2024, Joint Board Meeting with Scott County

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 23, 2024, JOINT BOARD MEETING BETWEEN THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT AND SCOTT COUNTY.

Item 4I. Approval of Claims for the Period Ended October 17, 2024

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO APPROVE PAYMENT OF CLAIMS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED OCTOBER 17, 2024, IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,648,698.48.

Superintendent's Recommendation:

NO ACTION REQUIRED; THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.

Prepared By: Howard D. Koolick, Chief Financial Officer

Background:

The Superintendent has led senior management through the budget process and is ready to recommend the 2025 General Fund budget to the Board of Commissioners. The 2025 Recommended General Fund budget totals $53,256,649; an increase of $2,414,987 over the 2024 budget. The following table shows the major revenue increases for 2024:

These revenue increases roughly follow the percentage breakdown of the existing budget with approximately 80% of revenue coming from property taxes and 20% from other sources. The recommended revenue increases are in line with the 2024 budget goal to use non-tax revenues to maintain a low annual property tax increase.

Expenditure increases were prioritized based on maintaining existing service levels, providing competitive wages and benefits to employees, meeting contractual obligations, and ensuring Mississippi Gateway Regional Park could operate once it is fully open. The following table shows the recommended expenditure increases:

The 2025 General Fund Budget Book, which will be provided to the Board for the November Board meeting, will contain a narrative description of the Park District, its goals for 2025 and budget changes that will help reach those goals. It will also contain a variety of tables showing breakdowns of the above amounts by department and type of revenue/expense. An initial draft of the narrative portion is attached for your review and comment.

Relationship to the System Plan:

The Request for Action supports the following goal(s) of the System Plan:

Goal 1: You Belong Here

Goal 2: Parks Matter

Goal 3: Lead by Example

by ensuring the Park District's finances are property planned and managed.

Attachments:

2025 General Fund Budget Book Narrative.pdf

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING ON NOVEMBER 7, 2024, AT 5:30 PM, OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS POSSIBLE, TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED 2025 GENERAL FUND OPERATING BUDGET.

Prepared By: Howard D, Koolick, Chief Financial Officer

Background:

The Park District, although not required to, has historically held a public hearing on the General Fund budget before approving and submitting the budget to the Hennepin County Board for their review. The purpose of this hearing is to provide an opportunity for the public to review the budget and provide comments to Commissioners.

Staff recommends that the public hearing be held at the next regular Board Meeting on November 7, 2024. The motion sets the time of the hearing as 5:30 or as soon thereafter as possible, meaning that the hearing should begin at 5:30 pm or, if the Board is in the middle of another agenda item, shortly after the conclusion of that item. Staff is recommending a 5:30 start to allow any interested citizens who may work until 4:30 pm or 5:00 pm time to commute to the Administrative Center to participate in the meeting.

At the end of the hearing, the Board of Commissioners will be asked to approve the budget and authorize its submittal to Hennepin County. Once submitted, the County has fifteen days to review and propose changes to the budget. County staff has not determined if the Park District budget and presentation will be part of their committee meetings on November 12th or go straight to the County Board on November 19th. The budget, with any input from Hennepin County, and final tax levy will be presented to Commissioners on December 19, 2024, for approval which will complete the budget process.

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER TO PROCEED WITH THE PREPARATION OF AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT, SET SALE CONDITIONS AND SOLICIT BIDS FOR THE 2024 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS IN AN AMOUNT OF $5,435,000.

Background:

On December 21, 2023, the Board of Commissioners approved the 2024 Asset Management Program (AMP) totaling $20,023,397. Staff is recommending $1,000,000 be added to the amount to be financed to replenish the funds available for land acquisition.

The Land Acquisition, Betterment and Development (LADB) Fund is used to pay the Park District's share of land acquisition costs. The LADB Fund has an available cash balance of $385,912 for future land acquisitions. The LADB has no on-going revenue sources except for interest earnings (which are approximately $40,000 per year). Annual bond issues used to include funds for land acquisition. The 2013 bond issue was the last issue to include land acquisition since the LADB balance was sufficient to cover existing and anticipated acquisitions (which were minimal since low interest rates made it easier for sellers to sell property).

The Park District has committed to reimburse the City of Plymouth for trail easements that it acquired on our behalf. The LADB would be responsible for $188,000 of this cost meaning, after subtracting the easement costs from the balance of $385,912, the Park District could purchase property with a value of $792,000, assuming the Metropolitan Council funds 75% of the cost. For comparison purposes, the Park District has purchased five properties over the past 12 months totaling more than $3.3 million, demonstrating the need for additional funding.

The AMP is funded by a variety of sources including Park District bonds, cash on hand and federal, state and local grants. The following is a summary of the funding sources:

The changes in funding are a result of the Park District's Lottery-in-lieu-of collections exceeding the planned amount and reallocating existing funds from prior bond issues to fund a portion of the projects in the 2024 AMP.

The $5,435,000 in bonds will generate $5,850,300 in proceeds to fund project costs since the bonds are expected to sell at a premium (selling above face value) due to the Park District's excellent bond rating and current market conditions. The Park District currently maintains a Aaa rating, the highest rating possible, from Moody's Investor Services. This rating allows the Park District to borrow at the lowest possible interest rate.

In addition to the amount needed for the project costs, the bonds need to fund the cost of issuance, which includes fees to have the bonds rated, the work of our fiscal consultant, bond counsel fees and the underwriter's discount ("profit margin" for reselling bonds to the public). These fees and charges are estimated to be $108,480. The bonds also include the cost of the first interest payment (capitalized interest) of $179,657 which is due prior to the collection of property taxes in 2025.

The Bonds are recommended to be 13-year bonds. The following is a summary of the proposed Bonds:

The levy structure for this issue is different than the structure that was included in past debt service projections. The attached "Debt Service Projection Report" shows how this proposed bond issue impacts future debt service tax levies.

The Park District's limit on debt outstanding without voter approval is one-tenth of one percent of the Park District's taxable value, or $181,466,786. Including the proposed Bonds, the total outstanding bonded debt for the Park District will be $59,780,000. The amount of bonds scheduled to be retired during the next five years (including the proposed bonds) is as follows:

2025: $5,990,000

2026: $5,940,000

2027: $6,130,000

2028: $6,380,000

2029: $6,645,000

(Please note that amounts for 2026 through 2029 will increase as bonds are sold in the future)

These maturities represent 52% of the Park District's outstanding total bonded debt. This is a high percentage and is highlighted as a positive factor each time Moody's rates our bonds.

Next Steps

If the proposed motion is approved, the Board will be presented a resolution awarding the sale of the Bonds at the November 7, 2024, Board meeting. The resolution will award the Bonds to the lowest bidder, set the interest rates and require the Board to levy taxes in 2024 through 2036 to fund annual payments.

Approval of the recommended motion is the first step in the bond process. If approved, the Chief Financial Officer will begin working with the Park District's fiscal advisor and bond counsel to prepare an official statement and solicit bids for the bonds. It is important for Commissioners to understand that the bond market views the issuance of an official statement and receipt of bids as a commitment by the Park District to complete the bond sale. Failure to complete the sale would adversely impact the Park District's ability to issue bonds in the future.

Relationship to the System Plan:

The Request for Action supports the following goal(s) of the System Plan:

Goal 1: You Belong Here

Goal 2: Parks Matter

Goal 3: Lead by Example

by financing park improvements as part of a well-planned and managed long-term debt strategy.

Attachments:

Debt Service Projection Report.docx

Superintendent's Recommendation:

NO ACTION REQUIRED; THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.

Prepared By: Josh Bowe, Senior Manager of Engineering

Background:

The Bassett Creek Regional Trail Project in Golden Valley has entered into its final design phase, with construction anticipated to start in the summer of 2025. When completed, the regional trail will be complete and connect French Regional Park to Theodore Wirth Regional Park and Theodore Wirth Parkway. The project includes the regional trail, a local trail and intersection improvements (see attached Project Overview Map).

The local trail segment runs from its intersection with the Regional Trail at Regent Avenue west along Golden Valley Road and Duluth Street to Douglas Drive. Inclusion of the local trail was critical to securing the federal grant as the project then served a major employment node (Residio), services (groceries, pharmacy etc.) and large apartment complexes. The awarded federal grant is $2.56 million. The non-federal portion of the local trail is being paid for by the City of Golden Valley and Hennepin County.

The project also includes a Hennepin County intersection improvement project at the Hidden Lakes Parkway and the Noble Avenue intersections along Golden Valley Road. Inclusion of this project brought addition federal funding to the regional trail project and has helped reduce the total cost of the project for Three Rivers.

Easements needed for construction:

The Board authorized staff to acquire easements required to complete the Project at its regular meeting on June 20, 2024, with the understanding that finalized permanent easements would be brought before the Board for approval at future meetings.

There are at total of 25 parcels requiring easements owned by 23 different property owners. There are 13 parcels that require permanent and temporary construction easements and 12 parcels that require temporary construction easements.

The temporary easements are needed for grading to construct a smooth transition on private property to the new trail. Permanent easements, where needed, are typically for the trail clear zone. The easements are narrow along the public right-of-way to provide smooth grading transitions, local trail pavement, and regional trail clear zones. Easement sizes range from 200 square feet to 5,000 square feet, with the majority under 700 square feet.

Timeline & Federal Requirements:

Easement acquisition has been following the required federal requirements for this project. The acquisition timeline is as follows:

• July 31, 2024: Early Notification Letters and Owner Property Rights sent to all property owners where easements are required.
• August 1, 2024: Started staking Permanent and Temporary Easement areas at properties. This allowed property owners to view the easement area on their property.
• October 18, 2024: Easement drafts for Park District, Hennepin County, and Golden Valley staff review.
• October 22, 2024: Appraisals completed and Park District, Hennepin County, and Golden Valley staff review.
• November 4, 2024: Written offers received by property owners.
• March 18, 2025: Title and Possession received for all Easements.
• April 8, 2025: R/W Certificate obtained for the project.

In February 2024, the Park District, Hennepin County, and Golden Valley held an open house to inform the public on the project progress and schedule. The feedback at the open house was positive, as residents want the project and are excited for the off-road trail along CSAH 66 to provide a safe bike and walking experience.

Land acquisition staff have been in contact with property owners since the early notification letters were delivered. Land Acquisition staff stated property owners are generally supportive of the project and have not communicated any major concerns with granting an easement.

Once the written offers are delivered to the property owners, land acquisition staff will actively negotiate with them to secure the easements. To meet the requirements of the federal grant for this project, all land required for trail and intersection construction must be secured by March 18, 2025. The easement procurement process can have unexpected delays, such as mortgage company signoff, property owner communication, and/or uncertain property owners.

If any of the easements remain unsecured by March 18th, federal funding for the project will no longer be available, and the project will either need to be cancelled, or postponed indefinitely until additional funding is secured. Staff will explore all potential options to expedite securing of easement rights to meet the March 18th deadline.

Staff will provide another update at the November Board meeting. That update will include detailed easement maps and appraisal estimates for each parcel, along with progress to date on acquisitions and a discussion on potential options to ensure acquisition by the required deadline.

Relationship to the System Plan:

The Request for Action supports the following goal(s) of the System Plan:

Goal 2: Parks Matter

Attachments:

Bassett Creek Regional Trail Project Overview Map.pdf