Board of Commissioners Meetings

The agenda for the September 18, 2025, 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 55441.

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:

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.

• Tim and Cathy Maes, St. Paul - $1,000 for the renewal of a tribute bench on Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail in memory of Susan Morris.
• Amy Offner, Wisconsin - $800 for a Forests Forever tribute tree to be planted at French Regional Park in memory of Hannah (Severson) Wood.
• Destination Concepts, California - $800 for a Forests Forever tribute tree to be planted at Crow-Hassan Park Reserve in memory of Kristin Hoffman.
• Nancy Benzinger, Champlin - $500 directed to support interpretive signage at Elm Creek Park Reserve.

The Three Rivers Park District Foundation provides ongoing support to the Park District through partnerships and directed donations. In August 2025, the Three Rivers Park District Foundation conveyed $17,238.86 for various purposes, including:

• Earl Hetrick - $5,000 directed to Elm Creek Park Reserve for cross-country ski trails.
• Geraldine Nelson - $5,000 directed to the Pathways Internship Program.
• Perkins Foundation - $800 directed to Noerenberg Memorial Gardens.

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:

• 2025 Proposed Board Meeting and Study Session Calendar attached.
• Calendar of 2025 Meetings and Events attached.

Update(s):

• 2026 Proposed Board Meeting & Study Session Calendar - Draft No. 1 attached.
• 2040 System Plan
• Fall Fest Details

Attachments:

2025 Proposed Board Meeting and Study Session Calendar.pdf

Calendar of 2025 Meetings and Events.pdf

2026 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. City of Golden Valley and Three Rivers Park District Cooperative Agreement for the Local Trail Connection within the Bassett Creek Regional Trail - Golden Valley Gap Project

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO ENTER INTO CITY OF GOLDEN VALLEY AND THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL FEES, ACQUISITION COSTS, AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOCAL TRAIL CONNECTION WITHIN THE BASSETT CREEK REGIONAL TRAIL – GOLDEN VALLEY GAP PROJECT.

Item 4B. Hennepin County Amendment No. 1 To Cooperative Agreement PW 05-44-25 for Cost Participation on the Bassett Creek Regional Trail - Golden Valley Gap Project

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO ENTER INTO HENNEPIN COUNTY AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PW 05-44-25 FOR COST PARTICIPATION ON THE BASSETT CREEK REGIONAL TRAIL – GOLDEN VALLEY GAP PROJECT.

Item 4C. Authorize Superintendent to Enter into a Contract with Musco Lighting for Lighting Improvements at Elm Creek Park Tubing Hill

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS AT THE TUBING HILL IN ELM CREEK PARK WITH MUSCO LIGHTING IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $160,600. THIS PROJECT WILL BE FUNDED BY THE 2025 ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

Item 4D. Approval of an Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund – LCCMR Grant for the Mississippi Gateway Shoreline Stabilization and Fishing Improvements Project

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO ACCEPT A GRANT OF $735,000 FROM THE LEGISLATIVE-CITIZEN COMMISSION ON MINNESOTA RESOURCES (LCCMR) FOR THE MISSISSIPPI GATEWAY REGIONAL PARK SHORELINE STABILIZATION PROJECT; AND TO REVISE THE 2024 ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAM BUDGET FOR THIS PROJECT TO $960,000 TO REFLECT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $735,000 FROM THE LCCMR, $150,000 FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, AND $75,000 FROM THE WEST MISSISSIPPI WATERSHED MANAGEMENT COMMISSION.

Item 4E. Approve Consultant Agreement for Eagle Lake Regional Trail to Bolton & Menk, Inc. for the Eagle Lake Regional Trail in Plymouth and Minnetonka

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO ENTER INTO A CONSULTANT AGREEMENT WITH BOLTON & MENK, INC. TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THE EAGLE LAKE REGIONAL TRAIL IN PLYMOUTH AND MINNETONKA, MN, WITH A TOTAL HOURLY NOT-TO-EXCEED FEE IN THE AMOUNT OF $245,844.00 INCLUDING REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES, AND TO ESTABLISH A TOTAL CONSULTANT FEE BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $270,428.40 INCLUDING A TEN PERCENT CONTINGENCY WITH FINANCING FROM THE 2025 ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

Item 4F. Receive Silverwood Park Programming Update

Superintendent's Recommendation:

NO ACTION REQUIRED.

Item 4G. Gale Woods Farm: Boundary Amendment and Acquisition Opportunity

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO APPROVE A PURCHASE AGREEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $420,000 FOR THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY ADJACENT TO GALE WOODS FARM (PID 1511724430001) IN THE CITY OF MINNETRISTA; TO SUBMIT A MINOR ADMINISTRATIVE PARK BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, TO ENTER INTO AN ACQUISITION REIMBURSEMENT GRANT WITH METROPOLITAN COUNCIL; AND TO ESTABLISH A PROJECT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000 WITH LOCAL FUNDING FROM THE LAND ACQUISITION DEVELOPMENT AND BETTERMENT FUND.

Item 4H. Diamond Lake Regional Trail: Corcoran Agreement Amendment

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO APPROVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 OF THE DIAMOND LAKE REGIONAL TRAIL COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF CORCORAN ESTABLISHING CONSTRUCTION AND FUNDING RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE REGIONAL TRAIL SEGMENT THROUGH HERITAGE PARK.

Item 4I. Approve National Park Service Grant for West Mississippi Regional Trail Acquisition

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO ENTER INTO A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PROVIDING $30,000 TO SUPPORT DEMOLITION AND RESTORATION WORK ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEWLY ACQUIRED WEST MISSISSIPPI RIVER REGIONAL TRAIL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 15520 LAWNDALE LANE NORTH IN DAYTON, MN.

Item 4J. Board Minutes of August 21, 2025

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 21, 2025, REGULAR BOARD MEETING.

Item 4K. Minutes of the September 9, 2025, Joint Board Meeting with Scott County

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 9, 2025, JOINT BOARD MEETING BETWEEN THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT AND SCOTT COUNTY.

Item 4L. Approval of Claims for the Period Ended September 11, 2025

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO APPROVE PAYMENT OF CLAIMS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 11, 2025, IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,063,439.38.

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-19 CERTIFYING THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX LEVY AND ADOPTING A PRELIMINARY GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR 2026.

Prepared By: Howard D. Koolick, Chief Financial Officer

Background:

Commissioners are being asked to approve a preliminary 2026 tax levy which sets the maximum amount the Park District can levy in taxes for the upcoming year. Following more detailed budget discussions in October and November, the Board will adopt a budget and final levy in December. The final levy can be lower than the preliminary levy, but not higher.

The Park District is one of many agencies that levy property taxes against suburban Hennepin property owners. In addition to the Park District, cities, Hennepin County, local school districts, watershed organizations, Metropolitan Council, Metropolitan Mosquito Control District as well as others are part of the property tax system. The Park District's tax levy accounts for two to three percent of a property’s property tax bill. Hennepin County, their local city and local school district account for the majority of a property’s tax bill.

The amount of taxes levied (the total dollar amount of taxes needed to operate) is the only amount in the total property tax system that the Park District can control. All other inputs into the property tax system, including property valuation, tax capacity rates, fiscal disparities and tax rates are determined either by state law or the city/county assessor.

The Park District’s property tax levy has two components: the operating levy and the debt service levy. The operating levy is set annually by the Board of Commissioners and can be used to fund any expenditure of the Park District. The debt service levy is set by the Board of Commissioners at the time General Obligation Bonds are sold and must be used only to repay those bonds. The Park District combines both these components into one when it talks about property taxes since that is what taxpayers see.

The Resolution sets the preliminary operating levy at $44,911,110. The overall property tax increase is 4.8% which is lower than was discussed with the Board at the August Board Meeting. Park use fee increases and increases to the revenue estimates have been included in the preliminary General Fund Budget allowing the operating portion of the tax levy to be reduced by $336,735. The "Report on the Preliminary Property Tax Levy" provides more information about the preliminary levy and budget status.

Relationship to the System Plan:

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

This resolution supports the goals of the System Plan by providing funding for the continued operation of parks, trails, facilities, programs and natural resources management activities in a professional and deliberate manner.

Attachments:

Report on the Preliminary Property Tax Levy.pdf Preliminary Tax Levy Resolution.pdf

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO APPROVE DRIVING RANGE AND EVERGREEN COURSE IMPROVEMENTS USING REVENUES FROM THE 2025 GOLF SEASON IN THE AMOUNT OF $196,552.

Prepared By: Howard Koolick, Director of Finance and Jeff May, Director of Enterprise Operations

Background:

Driving Range use at Baker National continues to be at record levels. The consistent use, especially in early and late seasons, has resulted in poor driving range turf conditions throughout the golf season. Staff would like to add an artificial tee line at the back of the upper driving range for use during the spring high school season (before turf growth is possible) and at the end of the season (when turf is no longer growing).

Staff would also like to start the process of installing continuous cart paths on the Evergreen Course (this will be a 2-year project). With our seven Evergreen leagues comprised mainly of seniors, "walking only" days due to wet conditions result in many players being unable to play. Revenues for the 2025 season are projected to be $350,000 over budget.

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:

MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2026 OPERATING BUDGET FOR GLEN LAKE GOLF AND PRACTICE CENTER AND AUTHORIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT TO SUBMIT THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO THE HENNEPIN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR ADOPTION.

Prepared By: Howard Koolick, Jeff May, Mark Hill, Brad Chock and Mark Boonstra.

Background:

Three Rivers operates the Glen Lake Golf and Practice Center under a cooperative agreement with Hennepin County, which is the owner of the facility. The agreement outlines responsibilities of the Park District and the County and creates the Glen Lake Golf Joint Operations Committee, which is composed of staff from the Park District and the County. This committee oversees the operations, maintenance and fiscal affairs of the facility. The agreement also includes a variety of financial issues including how any profits would be allocated between the County and the Park District. The cooperative agreement calls for the Park District to develop an annual operating budget for the facility, including recommended fees. The annual operating budget is proposed by Park District staff, reviewed by the Glen Lake Golf Joint Operations Committee, recommended to the Park District Board of Commissioners for consideration and, once approved, is then submitted to the Hennepin County Board for adoption.

The Operations Committee reviewed the budget at the August 13, 2025, Operations Committee Meeting. The attached budget packet provides highlights and details of the Committee’s budget recommendations. If approved and authorized by the Park District Board, the proposed budget is then forwarded to the Hennepin County Board for consideration. The proposed 2026 budget recommends revenues of $1,221,876 and expenditures of $1,221,876 with a contingency of $159,917 (net revenues).

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

Attachments:

2026 Operating Budget- Glen Lake Golf.pdf

Superintendent's Recommendation:

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

Background:

Commissioners are encouraged to share announcements and discuss ideas for future topics of interest.

Attachments:

Board Proposed Discussion Topics.pdf

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO CLOSE THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING FOR A SECURITY BRIEFING IN ACCORDANCE WITH MINNESOTA STATUTES SECTION 13D.05, SUBD. 3(d).

Prepared By: Josh Foust, Director of Public Safety

Background:

Director of Public Safety Josh Foust will provide a security briefing for Board meetings, including emergency response procedures. The meeting is closed pursuant to the Open Meeting Law, Minnesota Statutes Section 13D.05, subd. 3(d), as disclosure of the information discussed would compromise security procedures and responses.