Board of Commissioners Meetings

The agenda for the June 12, 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.

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. 25-10; A RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION IN MEMORY OF ADAM BURNS FOR HIS YEARS OF SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT.

Prepared By: Josh Bowe, Senior Manager of Engineering

Background:

Adam Burns, our Senior Engineering Technician, passed away on April 23, 2025, following a courageous battle with cancer. Adam was a member of the Design Department for more than 13 years, starting April 2, 2012.

Adam started his Park District career as an Engineering Technician and was promoted to Senior Engineering Technician in November 2017. Adam was responsible for leading pavement preventative maintenance projects, locating utilities, managing GIS data, and providing surveying services. These many responsibilities allowed Adam to work with nearly every department in the Park District, as well as contractors and consulting engineers. Adam thrived in this environment with his natural ability to build relationships. He connected with many people, provided great service, and continually showed a willingness to help others. Adam served as the public face of the Design Department and interacted with the public during many construction projects. He was always courteous and willing to answer any questions Park users had. Adam’s willingness to help others was recently displayed when a trail user sent a note to the Park District’s General Help commending Adam for helping him fix his bike, as he was many miles from his vehicle. Adam’s hard work and dedication was recognized when he received the Employee Excellence Award in 2018.

Adam will be missed by the Design staff and everyone else at the Park District who had the pleasure of spending time with him.

The attached Resolution of Appreciation is being presented for Board consideration, recognizing Adam’s service to the Park District.

Attachments:

Resolution of Appreciation to Adam Burns.pdf

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-11; A RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION TO KEVIN MARJAMAKI UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT.

Prepared By: Brad Chock, Director of Maintenance

Background:

Kevin Marjamaki started his career with the Park District on February 23, 2000.

Kevin started as a Park Worker in a split position with Hyland Lake Park Reserve and Baker National Golf Course. Shortly after, he transferred to French Regional Park and was responsible for maintenance-related tasks at French, Fish Lake, and Silverwood Parks, the Administrative Center and regional trails in the area.

In July of 2012, Kevin transferred to Carver Park Reserve, he has been an integral part of the Carver maintenance team. Kevin is known and respected for his knowledge of the parks and trails; he is also known by his coworkers to be very dedicated and reliable. Kevin Marjamaki served the Park District for more than 25 years. His last day of work will be June 30, 2025.

The attached Resolution of Appreciation is being presented for Board consideration, recognizing Kevin’s service to the Park District.

Attachments:

Resolution of Appreciation to Kevin Marjamaki.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.

• Correctional Peace Officers Foundation, Sacramento, CA - $7,000 for a tribute bench at Normandale Lake Park in memory of Glenn "Boss Hogg" Mueller.
• Judith Rykken, Bloomington - $800 for a Forests Forever tribute tree to be planted at French Regional Park in memory of Kristine Louise Johnson.

The Three Rivers Park District Foundation provides ongoing support to the Park District through partnerships and directed donations. In May 2025, the Three Rivers Park District Foundation conveyed $4,365.12 for various purposes, including:

• Prior Lake Rotary Foundation - $3,000 directed to Adapted Programming.
• Stoke MTB - $549.52 directed to Adapted Programming.

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.

Updates:

• Bush Lake Open House
• Turtle Fest
• NRM - Recap Burn Season

Attachments:

2025 Proposed Board Meeting and Study Session Calendar.pdf

Calendar of 2025 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. Receive Mississippi Gateway Regional Park Construction Progress Update

Superintendent's Recommendation:

NO ACTION REQUIRED.

Item 4B. Approve Consultant Agreement for Bridge Replacements at Elm Creek Park Reserve to Bolton & Menk, Inc.

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO ENTER INTO A CONSULTANT AGREEMENT WITH BOLTON & MENK, INC. TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THE ELM CREEK BRIDGE REPLACEMENTS AT ELM CREEK PARK RESERVE IN DAYTON AND MAPLE GROVE, MN, WITH A TOTAL HOURLY NOT-TO-EXCEED FEE IN THE AMOUNT OF $203,931.00 INCLUDING REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES, AND TO ESTABLISH A TOTAL CONSULTANT FEE BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $224,324.00 INCLUDING A TEN PERCENT CONTINGENCY WITH FINANCING FROM THE 2025 ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

Item 4C. Rush Creek Regional Trail Construction Cooperative Agreement: Winnetka Avenue Underpass

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO APPROVE COOPERATIVE CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT NO. PW 01-04-25 WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY, CITY OF BROOKLYN PARK, AND THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT FOR THE RUSH CREEK REGIONAL TRAIL UNDERPASS AT WINNETKA AVENUE.

Item 4D. Award of Construction Contract for Baker Campground Electrical Site Improvements at Baker Park Reserve

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO AWARD A CONTRACT FOR THE BAKER CAMPGROUND ELECTRICAL SITE IMPROVEMENTS IN BAKER PARK RESERVE TO LAKETOWN ELECTRIC IN THE TOTAL BASE BID AMOUNT OF $888,524.00 PLUS ALTERNATE NO. 2 IN THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF $182,770.00 FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT SUM OF $1,071,294.00 AND TO ESTABLISH A TOTAL CONSTRUCTION BUDGET OF $1,124,859.00 INCLUDING A FIVE PERCENT CONTINGENCY, WITH FINANCING FROM THE 2024 ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, INCLUDING STATE MODERNIZATION GRANT FUNDS AND PARK AND TRAILS LEGACY FUNDS.

Item 4E. Receive Public Safety Body-Worn Camera Audit Report

Superintendent's Recommendation:

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

Item 4F. Board Minutes of May 15, 2025

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MAY 15, 2025, REGULAR BOARD MEETING.

Item 4G. Approval of Claims for the Period Ended June 5, 2025

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO APPROVE PAYMENT OF CLAIMS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 5, 2025, IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,518,024.42.

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO ADOPT THE 2024 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT AND THE AUDITOR'S SPECIAL PURPOSE REPORTS AND AUTHORIZE THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO FILE THE REPORTS WITH ALL INTERESTED PARTIES.

Prepared By: Howard Koolick, Chief Financial Officer and Julie Mart, Finance Manager and the entire Finance Department staff

Background:

Each year an independent auditing firm examines the Park District’s financial activities. The purpose of the audit is to ensure that the Park District is following applicable laws and standards with respect to the way it receives, expends, and accounts for its revenues and expenditures.

Copies of the 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and the two reports from the auditors are attached. The following is a summary of each report:

• The ACFR is a detailed analysis of each of the Park District’s funds. While the preparation of the ACFR and all supporting information involves the entire Finance staff, the Park District’s Finance Manager Julie Mart and Chief Financial Officer Howard Koolick are responsible for the completion and accuracy of much of the information.
• The two reports from the auditor are required reports communicating the efforts made by the auditors in testing the Park District’s federal grants, internal controls and compliance with state laws and communicating various issues to the Board. There were no findings on noncompliance relating to federal grants or internal controls and no issues during the audit. Each of these reports discussed following the summary of the ACFR. Chris Knopik and Troy Gabler will be at the Board Meeting to discuss these reports with Commissioners.

Annual Comprehensive Financial Report

The ACFR is a complex and difficult document to read. Its format is dictated by accounting standards and is designed to provide a large amount of information to users with varying levels of financial knowledge. The report can be broken into five sections:

1. The Introductory Section which includes a general discussion of the Park District, its history, policies, achievements, and organization (pages 1 to 9).
2. The auditor’s opinion which can be found on pages 10 through 13.
3. Management’s Discussion and Analysis (Pages 14 to 27) includes a detailed discussion of the Park District’s financial activity and condition for 2024 as well as an introduction into the format of the ACFR.

4. The financial statements and accompanying footnotes are on pages 28 to 104.

5. The statistical section (pages 105 to 124) includes a variety of annual comparisons and non-financial information.

The following is a summary of the financial results for 2024 that are presented in the ACFR:

• Net Position (the amount the Park District is “worth”) increased from $234.4 million to $248.6 million. This is not a balance that can be spent since a large portion of the balance is invested in land, buildings, and equipment or is restricted for specific purposes. Only $4.7 million is unrestricted and spendable. (Pages 28-29).
• The General Fund’s fund balance is $20.5 million. This amount increased by $661,613 in 2024. The amended budget had anticipated this amount decreasing by $388,202 due to purchases initiated in 2023 that were completed in 2024. Revenues were $649,621, or 1.3 percent over budget while expenditures were $321,474, or 0.6 percent under budget (page 93).
• The Financial Management Plan includes the following commitments and assignments of the General Fund fund balance:
  
  

• The Park District has met all four required balances and has an unassigned balance of $1,380,152. This balance can be used at the Board’s discretion for purposes outlined in the Financial Management Plan or held to finance future budget variances.
• Scott County partnership revenues for 2024 were $264,321 (7.8%) greater than budgeted due primarily to golf related revenues at Cleary Lake Regional Park. Expenditures were $261,883 (7.0%) under budget due savings in wages and benefits ($133,000) and supplies and services ($75,000). The net result for 2024 is the fund balance increased from $1,261,357 to $1,460,534 (page 94). The Board has approved spending up to $663,000 from the fund balance to help Scott County acquire property in 2025.
• Baker National Golf Course shows net income of $595,900 in the ACFR (page 35) due to a very good year which saw revenue exceed $3.45 million. On a budgetary basis (the budget excludes depreciation and shows the cost of equipment when purchased and funds set aside for future development as expenses), Baker National ended the year with a net income of $603,776 due to golf revenues exceeding budget by $684,043 with all revenue streams exceeding budget while expenses exceeded budget by $118,005 due primarily to higher than expected seasonal staffing costs and preliminary construction of improvements to the clubhouse grill area.
• Eagle Lake Golf Course shows a net loss of $26,153 in the ACFR (page 35). On a budgetary basis, Eagle Lake shows a net income of $76,706 with revenues exceeding budget by $202,526 with most revenues exceeding budget. Expenses were $125,820 over budget due to a variety of staffing costs.
• The Hyland Hills Ski Area reported a net income of $96,431 in the ACFR (page 35). On a budgetary basis, the ski area’s net loss was $494,819 with revenues, exceeding budget by $772,161 while expenses were $1,266,980 more than budgeted primarily due to costs associated with seasonal staff, the cost of food for concessions, increasing unused vacation balances and the purchase of a new Pisten Bully groomer.
• Two of the nine funds with minimum fund balance requirements in the Financial Management Plan have not met their requirements. The Debt Service Fund, which is slightly below its requirement, and the Risk Management fund, has been underfunded for a number of years are both under their minimum requirements by approximately $150,000. The Debt Service Fund should reach its requirement by the end of 2025 while the Risk Management Fund, which will receive an additional $325,000 in funding in 2025, will be below its minimum, but functional, for several years.
• Hyland Greens, which became an enterprise fund in 2025, has a deficit fund balance and will need some time to reach a positive fund balance.
• The Park District’s outstanding general obligation bonded debt (pages 59-61) increased by $180,000 to $59,900 million due to principal paid during the year being less than bonds issued.
• The Park District’s limit for debt outstanding without voter approval as of January 1, 2025, is $178.5 million (based on 2024 valuation data). The Park District’s net debt (bonded debt less funds on hand to pay debt) totaled $53.3 million as of December 31, 2024.

Upon approval by the Board, the Chief Financial Officer and Finance Manager will submit the ACFR to a variety of interested parties. The State Auditor and bond markets will receive ACFRs as required by state law and bond resolutions. In addition, the ACFR will be forwarded to the Governmental Finance Officers’ Association for review under its Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting program. The Park District has received this prestigious award for the past 35 years. Finance staff believes the 2024 ACFR meets the requirements of this program. Finally, the ACFR will be sent to various businesses and others who have requested copies.

Auditor Reports and Presentation

Chris Knopik and Troy Gabler from CliftonLarsonAllen LLP will be present at the meeting to make a presentation and answer any questions from Commissioners. This year was CliftonLarsonAllen’s (CLA) third audit of the Park District.

1. Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards and Other Required Reports - This report highlights the work performed by CLA in testing the Park District's compliance with federal grants, testing the Park District’s controls over its assets and financial reporting and compliance with state of Minnesota laws. The format of the report is different than in past years since the Park District received more than $750,000 in federal grants and therefore was required to have a single audit. There were no findings in any of the areas tested.
2. The Report to the Board of Commissioners is a required report containing various issues to be reported by the auditor to the Board. The contents of the report are mandated by governmental accounting and auditing principles. The report cites a change in accounting policies as required by Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement #101 as well as description of an estimate used. Both of these issues are informational and findings of noncompliance. The remainder of the report outlines various items from the auditors.

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 ensuring the Park District handles its financial resources as required by other agencies and generally accepted accounting principles.

Attachments:

Signed 2024 ACFR - Final.pdf

Signed Single Audit and other Reports.pdf

Signed Governance Communication.pdf

Superintendent's Recommendation:

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

Background:

The Financial Management Plan establishes minimum fund balances for nine Park District funds. These minimum fund balances are designed to provide adequate funding for specific events, future costs or provide ongoing funds for specific operations. The information in this board action summarizes these minimum fund balances and provides options for those funds with excess fund balances.

General Fund – There are four reserves set:

1. Compensated Absences – The cost of future vacation, severance, and associated benefit costs to ensure future costs are fully funded. This reserve totals $4,355,566 and is fully funded.
2. Subsequent Year Operations and Maintenance Funding – Operations and Maintenance funding from the Met Council received in August ($689,013) is reserved so that it can be applied to the subsequent year’s budget. In addition, $1,200,000 received in supplemental Operations and Maintenance Funds are being held to finance $400,000 of the 2025-2027 budgets.
3. Contingencies – One million dollars set aside to be used to fund costs associated with unbudgeted emergencies, natural disasters, and other such events. This reserve is fully funded.
4. Working Capital – Twenty-two percent (22%) of the ensuing year’s budget is reserved to fund operations until property tax revenue is received in June. This reserve totals $11,716,463 and is fully funded.

The available fund balance after funding the above reserves is $1,380,152. This amount represents 2.6% of the 2025 budget. Winter weather adversely impacted revenue during the first part of 2025 so staff is recommending holding the fund balance as it provides a margin for budget variances for the remainder of the year.

Scott-Three Rivers Partnership Fund – A reserve of $150,000 is set to ensure adequate funds are available for unbudgeted repairs, extraordinary expenditures, and revenue shortfalls. The year-end fund balance is $1,460,534. In 2024, the Board approved using $663,000 from the fund balance to aid Scott County in land acquisition of two properties in Blakely Bluffs Park Reserve. Scott County has requested the remaining fund balance be held for future land acquisitions or other unbudgeted needs that may arise.

Glen Lake Golf Course Fund – A reserve of $150,000 is set to ensure adequate funding for unbudgeted repairs, extraordinary expenditures, and revenue shortfalls. The 2024 fund balance is $1,051,051, which results in an excess fund balance of $886,150. The agreement with Hennepin County calls for sharing any fund balance in excess of the reserve. However, the irrigation system is 27 years old, and staff is looking into options for funding the irrigation system replacement with excess fund balance. For this reason, staff recommends not sharing the $886,150 at this time and reporting back to the Hennepin County and Park District Boards later this year.

Land Acquisition, Development and Betterment Fund – The reserve of $500,000 is to ensure that funds are always available to acquire and/or develop park land if needed. The fund balance amount above the reserve is $1,812,384. Staff is recommending the balance in this fund be held for future acquisitions or improvements as there is no permanent funding mechanism for this fund and acquisition opportunities are increasing as demonstrated by two acquisitions (with a total cost of $760,063) that have already occurred in 2025.

Equipment Internal Service Fund – The Financial Management Plan sets a reserve of $500,000 which is designed to provide funds for unplanned equipment repair or replacement. The fund balance is $877,500, meaning there is $377,500 of excess funds. The Park District has been underfunding the Equipment Internal Service Fund for the last several years to draw-down the fund balance. Staff is not recommending using any of this excess fund balance as the balance continues to decrease and once the balance is at the minimum increases to the amount contributed from operating funds will need to increase.

Risk Management Fund – The reserve requirement of $500,000 in this fund is designed to provide funds to cover the costs of future insurance claims. The fund balance as of December 31, 2024, is $357,051. This amount decreased substantially in 2024 due to rising costs of insurance and no increase in the annual contribution to the Risk Management Fund. The 2025 budget includes an increase of $325,000 in the amount the General Fund and Hyland Hills Ski Area are contributing which should start to replenish this balance.

Park Preservation and Rehabilitation Fund – A reserve of $1,000,000 is set to ensure there is adequate funding to maintain and preserve park and natural resource facilities. The existing fund balance results in an excess fund balance amount of $3,008,604, although more than $1.7 million has been previously allocated to fund rehabilitation projects leaving $1.3 million as an excess fund balance. Staff recommends holding this balance to determine if there are projects needed that it could fund.

Debt Service Fund – The Debt Service Fund balance reserve is set at the amount needed to pay the subsequent year’s February 1 bond principal and interest. The fund balance at year-end is less than required and therefore there is no excess fund balance at this time.

Noerenberg Trust Fund – The reserve amount of $1,200,000 is based on the non-expendable balance of the donation. The fund balance is exactly this amount as any interest earned during the year is transferred to the General Fund to partially finance operations at Noerenberg Memorial Gardens.

Conclusion

If Commissioners agree with the staff’s recommendations for each fund, staff will continue monitoring the fund balances for all funds. In addition, staff intends to review the reserve section of the Financial Management Plan to update it and ensure the reserves are appropriate and adequate.

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 ensuring the Park District handles its financial resources in a well thought out and deliberate manner.

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-12, A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A 2026 STATE BONDING REQUEST FOR THE COON RAPIDS DAM IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT.

MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-13, A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A 2026 STATE BONDING REQUEST FOR THE REGIONAL TRAIL NETWORK SAFETY, STEWARDSHIP AND EXPANSION PROJECT.

Prepared By: Jason McGrew-King, Intergovernmental Relations and Communications Supervisor

Background:

The Minnesota Office of Management and Budget (MMB) has issued a call for 2026 State Bonding Projects. State bonding can provide up to 50 percent of the total cost of a capital improvement project.

Staff recommends submittal of two state bonding projects:

1. Coon Rapids Dam Improvements Project
2. Regional Trail Network Safety, Stewardship and Expansion Project

Three Rivers has previously submitted the Regional Trail Network Project for consideration in the 2024 and 2025 sessions, and the Coon Rapids Dam project in the 2025 session. A Resolution of Support for each Project is requested by MMB as part of the submittal process (attached).

The Coon Rapids Dam Improvements project has four primary components:

• Hydraulic cylinder replacement and improvements
• Underwater repairs
• Auxiliary spillway repairs
• Old powerhouse area repairs

The total estimated project cost is $7,084,000. The project funding request submitted to MMB would be for $3,542,000, which is the 50 percent cap of total estimated costs allowed in MMB applications. We will continue to work with the DNR to educate Legislators that the state, via the terms of our joint powers agreement, is 100% responsible for repair costs.

For the Regional Trail Network project, the funding request recognizes that the Three Rivers Regional Trail Network serves dual roles – both as a recreational amenity and as the arterial non-motorized transportation network – and that funding of an arterial transportation network is beyond the scope, mission and ability of a natural-resources based park agency. The project has three primary components: construction of 11.8 miles of new regional trails, improvements on 1.5 miles of existing trails, and reconstruction of 16.7 miles of trails that are at the end of their useful life. These improvements will better develop and maintain the active transportation network in the western metropolitan area and will provide a healthful and safe transportation alternative to the public across Hennepin County. The total estimated cost of the trail network project is $49.4 million. Federal funding of $25.3 million has been secured to help fund this project. The balance of $24.1 million (49 percent of the total) will be requested to be funded through State Bonds. The project reflects Three Rivers’ draft 2026-2030 capital plan for safety improvements, rehabilitation and construction of the regional trail network.

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:

Resolution No. 25-12 Coon Rapids Dam Improvements 2026 State Bond.pdf

Resolution No. 25-13 Regional Trail Network 2026 State Bond.pdf