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09.23.2025 PRC MinutesCHANHASSEN PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 23, 2025 Chair Leisen called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Rob Swanson; Kristin Fulkerson; Michael Leisen; Emily Nagel; Kurt Scheppmann; Nora Nashawaty; Clara Christenson, youth. MEMBERS ABSENT: Sean Morgan STAFF PRESENT: Jerry Ruegemer, Park and Recreation Director; Priya Wall, Recreation Manager; Luke Kegley, Recreation Supervisor; and Jodi Sarles, Rec Center Manager. PUBLIC PRESENT: None. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Commissioner Scheppmann moved, Commissioner Fulkerson seconded to approve the agenda as presented. All voted in favor, and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 7 to 0. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: Jerry Ruegemer, Park and Recreation Director, stated that the Homecoming Parade was on September 26th at 4 p.m. Some local roads would be closed at 3:30 p.m. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. Approve Park & Recreation Minutes dated August 26, 2025 Commissioner Swanson moved, Commissioner Nagel seconded to approve the minutes of the Park and Recreation Commission meeting dated August 26, 2025, as presented. All voted in favor, and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 7 to 0. GENERAL BUSINESS: 1. Chanhassen Estates Mini Park Discussion Jerry Ruegemer, Park and Recreation Director, discussed whether the Chanhassen Estates Mini Park was worth re-investing in since it had reached the lifespan. He discussed the potential to Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – September 23, 2025 2 keep it as a nature area. He stated that they would invite the neighborhood in to provide input about the park. Chair Leisen asked how they typically get the neighbors involved. Mr. Ruegemer answered that he would invite the whole neighborhood south of Highway 5. He stated that they could go all the way down to Rice Marsh and include that neighborhood in the comment. He thought that the park reach was not very wide. Chair Leisen suggested the Park and Recreation Commission could provide feedback for the neighbors to ask. He asked if they could provide concept pictures of a pollinator garden to provide for residents. Mr. Ruegemer answered that they could contact a consultant, get concept pictures, and discuss them before including the neighborhoods. Commissioner Nashawaty said she talked with community members who expressed excitement about a community garden. Mr. Ruegemer responded that they likely would not install a community garden since there is no parking. Commissioner Nashawaty agreed. Commissioner Scheppmann said that there was no crosswalk or parking, so there was no access to the park. He asked how people would benefit from the park. He suggested that they could continue to maintain it and not replace the playground equipment and basketball court. Mr. Ruegemer stated that the playground and basketball court are at the end of their lifespan. He suggested developing it into a little office complex or selling the property to abutting property owners. Commissioner Scheppmann commented that he had been by the park, and he never saw anyone utilizing the structure. Youth Commissioner Christenson expressed the importance of prioritizing projects that help more of the community. She suggested leaving it as a space that did not require a lot of maintenance or upkeep, so they could allocate funds to projects that are more widespread. Chair Leisen said that they all agreed to remove the aging playground and basketball court and either have a green space or a botanical garden. REPORTS: 1. 2025 Lake Ann Park Concession & Watercraft Rental Evaluation Luke Kegley, Recreation Supervisor, provided an overview of the 2025 Lake Ann Park Concession and Watercraft Rental Evaluation. He said they had a strong year for concessions and watercraft rentals, and they maintained their partnership with Gray Duck Water Rentals. He Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – September 23, 2025 3 said that paddle boat and paddle board rentals decreased, but other watercraft rentals decreased. He reviewed concession improvements, including menu items and updated signage. He summarized the payment process and the benefits of the Square Reader card reader. He stated that they had low turnout for the paddleboard yoga classes, but they want to continue with the partnership to allow time to get the word out. He commented that they would be numbering the lottery canoe and kayaks to make sure the heavier watercrafts stay at the bottom. He reviewed the concession stand pricing and said he would look at surrounding cities to make sure the pricing is appropriate. He thanked the concession stand manager for all his work. Commissioner Scheppmann asked if they offer yoga in the park, or if it is just a paddleboard option. Mr. Kegley responded that it was only a paddleboard, but he could look into other options. Commissioner Scheppmann said that the watercraft rentals were trending down. Mr. Kegley said they could get to the above point, so they are not just breaking even if they continue to advertise the watercraft rentals. Mr. Ruegemer responded that there was a large increase in programming post-COVID. He also said the costs for services and labor have increased, so he thought they could increase revenue. Commissioner Scheppmann asked about signage for boat rentals and concessions in the park. Mr. Kegley answered that there was room for additional signage. Commissioner Nagel asked about the concession stand on the hill. Mr. Kegley responded that the concession stand was for the associations. Chair Leisen encouraged the need to increase awareness. He suggested introducing paddleboarding so people can try it once, so they know how to do it. Youth Commissioner Christenson said she would do the introduction to paddleboarding classes. She suggested providing spaces for people to rent for their personal watercraft rentals. Mr. Kegley answered that they had a 24-spot lottery system for people to use, and 34 people signed up last year. They can look to expand this option. Commissioner Nashawaty suggested advertising the paddleboard yoga at the recreation center. Commissioner Swanson asked if concession sales have dipped because they do not have lifeguards after 2024. Mr. Ruegemer stated that they received initial concerns when they did not have lifeguards, but they did not receive a lot of comments. 2. Recreation Center Quarterly Report Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – September 23, 2025 4 Jodi Sarles, Rec Center Manager, reviewed the new equipment purchases for the recreation center. She said they had plenty of facility usage for Chanhassen events and rentals. She said they started the Dance for Fun Season. She said they hosted sports programs and were hosting Girls Flag Football and an All-Star Day Off. Kid’s Night will be hosted in November. They hosted successful e-bike rides. She reviewed the different events at community day. She reviewed the Barnyard Boogie event. She stated that they had ten colorful bones in Chanhassen. She said that the Halloween Costume Swap and Artisan Fair was coming up. She stated that Puzzle Palooza was coming in November. Chair Leisen asked if they got a lot of questions about the new recreation center. Ms. Sarles answered that people were excited. She said there was an information station in the lobby of the recreation center, which included information and the Mayor’s letters. Commissioner Swanson said that the Barnyard Boogie was the same night as the Bluff Creek Birthday, which made the parking difficult. Ms. Sarles said that they would work with Bluff Creek School to talk about future events and coordinate. Commissioner Scheppmann asked about the sign-up for Girls’ Flag Football. Ms. Sarles said the sign-up was not as strong as they were hoping, but they were hoping to do some small leagues indoors in the winter. Commissioner Scheppmann asked if the ages were included in the flyer. Ms. Sarles answered that she would make sure the ages were added. 3. Halloween Party Preview Priya Wall, Recreation Manager, reviewed the Halloween Party event. She thanked South Lake Legacy Insurance for their title partnership for the event. She said they had a large attendance after COVID, but the numbers have lowered slightly. She said the volunteers help with the event. She stated that they would have a sensory safe room this year, which would be staffed by an occupational therapist. She reviewed the different advertising options for the event. Commissioner Fulkerson expressed gratitude for the sensory safe room. Chair Leisen asked if they wanted more pre-registration. Ms. Wall said she would like to see pre- registration, but they do not offer refunds for the larger events. Chair Leisen said it was great to hear that South Lake Legacy Insurance wanted to come back to sponsor the event and wanted to make sure they received a good highlight. 4. Park Maintenance Quarterly Report Jerry Ruegemer, Park and Recreation Director, said that they were starting fall fertilization and cleaning up the fields for the fall. He stated that they would be buying a roller to improve the Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – September 23, 2025 5 playing surfaces of the athletic fields. He said they were starting to go through the irrigation systems to winterize them. He stated that they worked on the dugouts and provided storage sheds to help with the efficiency of the Chanhassen Athletic Association. He discussed trail maintenance in the winter to provide safe passage for the users. He discussed the new playground equipment at Carver Beach Park. He discussed the snow removal around the new Chanhassen Civic Campus. He said that the new Holiday Tree would be planted soon, and they had a specific area it had to be planted to avoid the Fiber Optics. He commented that they had a great summer park maintenance crew. Commissioner Fulkerson voiced appreciation for the sign painting at a park. Chair Leisen asked about the robot painting lines. Mr. Ruegemer said it was fully operational. 5. Senior Center Quarterly Report Jodi Sarles, Rec Center Management, discussed the excitement for the senior center to move to the new location. She discussed programming for seniors on October 6-10. She reviewed the summer programs at the senior center and noted that they slow down. She discussed the different events, such as tours, an Elvis-infused performance, coffee, cops, and cones, and games and gathering groups. She reviewed attendance for the summer events. She said there were two open houses for the Civic Campus, including one specifically for the senior center. COMMISSION MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS: None. COMMISSION MEMBER PRESENTATIONS: None. ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Swanson moved, Commissioner Nashawaty seconded to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor, and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 7 to 0. The Park and Recreation Commission meeting was adjourned at 7:18 p.m. Submitted by Jerry Ruegemer Park and Recreation Director