Board of Commissioners Meetings

The agenda for the August 20, 2026, Regular Board Meeting is available here.

The Board Meeting will begin at 5:00 PM 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:

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

Prepared By: Sierra Spicer-Zimmerman, Development & Events Manager

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.

• Jamie Johnson, Plymouth - $8,500 for a tribute bench at Noerenberg Gardens.
• The Schepers Family, Spring Park - $7,000 for a tribute bench at Baker National Golf Course in memory of Daniel William Schepers.
• Jane Berg, Minneapolis - $5,000 for a plaque on the Silverwood Donor Wall in memory of Lorraine Gordhamer.
• Amy and Patrick Hagen, Falcon Heights - $2,000 directed to Parks & Trails.
• Glen Fuerstneau, Edmunds, WA - $500 as an undesignated gift 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

Goal 2: Parks Matter

Goal 3: Lead by Example

Superintendent's Recommendation:

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

Background:

• 2026 Proposed Board Meeting and Study Session Calendar attached.
• Calendar of 2026 Meetings and Events attached.

Update(s):

• River Fest Recap
• Hyland Singletrack Trail Open House
• Carver County Partnership Update
• Trail Project Updates

Attachments:

2026 Proposed Board Meeting and Study Session Calendar.pdf

Calendar of Meetings and Events.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. Modernization Grant Funds Reassignment

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO TERMINATE MODERNIZATION GRANT FOR ADDING SOLAR AT GALE WOODS SPECIAL RECREATION AREA (SG-24P5-09-04) IN THE AMOUNT OF $400,000 AND DIRECT STAFF TO WORK WITH THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL TO REASSIGN GRANT FUNDS TO ROAD AND PARKING LOT PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT AT CARVER PARK RESERVE.

Item 4B. Second Amendment to the Crow River Regional Trail Cooperative Agreement with Rogers

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO APPROVE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE MAY 6, 2020, CROW RIVER REGIONAL TRAILWAY COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH ROGERS TERMINATING THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT A GRADE-SEPARATED TRAIL CROSSING OF CR 144/141ST AVENUE AND THREE RIVERS' AGREED UPON COST CONTRIBUTION OF $160,000.

Item 4C. Diamond Lake Regional Trail Cooperative Agreement: Medina

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO ENTER INTO THE DIAMOND LAKE REGIONAL TRAIL COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF MEDINA ESTABLISHING PLANNING, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, FUNDING, OWNERSHIP AND OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITIES.

Item 4D. Bryant Lake Regional Trail: Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority Permit

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO ENTER INTO A TRAIL CROSSING PERMIT WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY REGIONAL RAILROAD AUTHORITY FOR A PEDESTRIAN/BIKEWAY TRAIL WITHIN HENNEPIN COUNTY REGIONAL RAILROAD AUTHORITY RIGHT-OF-WAY IN MINNETONKA ALONG ROWLAND AND BAKER ROAD.

Item 4E. Approval of Amendment to Accesso Contract

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO APPROVE AMENDED STATEMENT OF WORK CONTRACT WITH ACCESSO FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PARADOX SOFTWARE.

Item 4F. Receive 2026 Second Quarter Financial Status and Projections Report

Superintendent's Recommendation:

NO ACTION REQUIRED.

Item 4G. Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail: Southdale Library Connection Cooperative Agreement

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT, CITY OF EDINA, AND CITY OF RICHFIELD FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A LOCAL TRAIL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE NINE MILE CREEK REGIONAL TRAIL AND THE NEW SOUTHDALE LIBRARY.

Item 4H. Consultant Contract Amendment for Eagle Lake Regional Trail - Plymouth and Minnetonka

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO APPROVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO A CONSULTANT AGREEMENT WITH BOLTON & MENK, INC. FOR PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE EAGLE LAKE REGIONAL TRAIL IN PLYMOUTH AND MINNETONKA, IN THE HOURLY NOT-TO-EXCEED FEE AMOUNT OF $62,132.00 INCLUDING REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES, PLUS A TEN PERCENT CONTINGENCY OF $6,213.20, TO ESTABLISH A TOTAL REVISED CONSULTANT BUDGET OF $338,773.60, WITH FINANCING FROM THE 2025 HENNEPIN COUNTY COST PARTICIPATION & PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM.

Item 4I. Board Minutes of July 16, 2026

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 16, 2026, REGULAR BOARD MEETING.

Item 4J. Approval of Claims for the Period Ended July 31, 2026

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO APPROVE PAYMENT OF CLAIMS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JULY 31, 2026, IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,929,007.57.

Superintendent's Recommendation:

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

Prepared By: Jami Markle, Director of Natural Resources

Background:

At the July 16, 2026 Board meeting, Board members discussed upcoming budget planning for 2027 and implications for future priorities and investments. Natural Resource Management was one topic and a request was made for a general assessment of our natural resource investments and limitations as the Board considers tax levy for 2027. Staff will provide an overview of natural resource management within the Park District including vision and plans, priorities, core work, funding, staffing and partnerships. This overview is to provide information as the Board develops priorities and budgets for 2027.

Relationship to the System Plan:

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

Goal 2: Parks Matter

Goal 3: Lead by Example

Attachments:

NRM Overview Board Presentation August 2026

Superintendent's Recommendation:

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

Background:

Since 2014, the Park District has entered into biannual agreements with the firm of Larkin Hoffman Public Affairs (formerly Larkin Hoffman Daley & Lindgren Ltd.) to represent the Park District's interests at the capitol.

The current agreement with Larkin Hoffman Public Affairs is set to expire on December 31, 2026. With the legislative session starting soon after the first of the year, the Superintendent will discuss options moving forward.

Relationship to the System Plan:

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

Goal 2: Parks Matter

Goal 3: Lead by Example

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 2026 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS TO FINANCE PROJECTS IN AN AMOUNT OF $7,154,000.

Background:

On December 18, 2025, the Board of Commissioners approved the 2026 Asset Management Program (AMP) totaling $19,313,209. 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 primary change in funding needed is due to the reallocation of existing funds from prior bond issues to fund a portion of the projects in the 2026 AMP.

The bond issuance is estimated to generate $7,284,665 in proceeds which will fund $7,154,000 of project costs and bond issuance costs since the bonds are expected to sell at a premium (selling above face value) due to 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.

As mentioned above, in addition to the funding required amount for project costs, the bond issue also funds the cost of issuance. These expenses include, but are not limited to, fees to have the bonds rated, the work of our municipal advisor, bond counsel fees, bond registrar/paying agent fees, and the underwriter's discount (compensation to the underwriter for its role in selling bonds to investors). These fees and charges are estimated to be $75,000.

The bonds are recommended to be 15-year bonds in order to maintain an average property tax levy of $675,000 over the life of the bonds. Bonds supported by ad valorem property taxes are required by state statute to be levied at 105% of debt service; therefore, $675,000 includes the 105% levy target. The following is a summary of the proposed bonds:

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 estimated market value, or $193,432,463. Including the proposed bonds, the total outstanding bonded debt for the Park District will be $59,820,000. The amount of bonds scheduled to be retired during the next five years (including the proposed bonds) is as follows:

2027 $6,325,000

2028 $6,640,000

2029 $6,990,000

2030 $6,525,000

2031 $4,690,000

Note that amounts after 2027 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 Board meeting on October 15, 2026. The resolution will award the bonds to the lowest bidder, set the interest rates, and require the Board to levy taxes in 2027 through 2041 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 municipal 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 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 - 2026.pdf

Superintendent's Recommendation:

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

Prepared By: Shaan Hamilton, Chief Financial Officer

Background:

At the Board meeting on July 16, 2026, the Superintendent and staff provided a general overview of the challenges facing the Park District in 2027 to align its mission, strategic goals, and core operations with the resources it has available. Park use continues to grow, while operating costs continue to increase. The strategic goal of providing high quality facilities, programs, and natural resources management within current budget parameters has become more difficult as higher inflationary pressures in almost all expenditure categories continue to reduce the Park District’s purchasing power. Multiple approaches to balancing the budget have been and will continue to be used, including realizing efficiencies while maintaining service quality, reallocating budgeted expenditures to activities with higher needs, and increasing revenue when possible.

The Park District uses ten operating budgets to manage the Park District’s day-to-day operations:

• General Fund
• Scott-Three Rivers Partnership
• Hyland-Bush-Anderson Lakes Partnership
• Baker Golf
• Eagle Lake Golf
• Glen Lake Golf
• Parkers Lake Golf
• Hyland Greens Golf
• Hyland Hills Ski Area
• Equipment Internal Services

Since the July Board meeting, the Superintendent and staff have been working to develop a balanced 2027 General Fund operating budget. This process has included consulting with many staff throughout the Park District, developing scenarios, and determining the best mission-driven approach. Staff have been focusing primarily on the General Fund Budget, but have also discussed how different General Fund scenarios will impact the other operating budgets.

Staff started building the 2027 budget by considering the larger economic environment and the challenges the Park District faces related to both revenues and expenditures. To develop a balanced 2027 operating budget, the Park District must use several levers within its decision-making control. These levers are part of a larger list of budget variables that include:

• Expenditures
  • Personnel – foundational to this variable is the strategic goal of recruiting and retaining the highest quality employees through cost-of-living and merit increases, current labor agreements, and benefits
  • Contracted Services, such as technology maintenance agreements
  • Commodities, such as utilities and fuel costs
  • Other Charges – largely comprised of Internal Service Fund (ISF) charges, Risk Management Fund charges, and credit card fees

• Revenues
  • Property Tax Levy
  • Park Use Fees
  • State Grants (State lottery-in-lieu-of funding and State/Metropolitan Council Operations & Maintenance funding)

The attached Preliminary 2027 General Fund Budget Recommendation provides more background and details related to these budget variables and outlines a preliminary suggested path to a balanced 2027 budget in the General Fund.

Relationship of Board Action to the Budget

The Park District's budget process, shown in the table below, outlines the steps and board actions that will need to be completed over the next seven months. The table also shows the current status of each step in the process.

Relationship to the System Plan:

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

Goal 2: Parks Matter

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

Attachments:

Preliminary 2027 General Fund Budget Recommendation - 20260820.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