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05.26.2026 PRC MinutesCHANHASSEN PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MAY 26, 2026 Chair Leisen called the meeting to order at 7 p.m., due to Open Houses scheduled during the usual 6 p.m. start time. MEMBERS PRESENT: Emily Nagel; Zach Wittl; Erick Hanson; Kristin Fulkerson; Michael Leisen; Clara Christenson, youth. MEMBERS ABSENT: Kurt Scheppmann; and Sean Morgan. STAFF PRESENT: Jerry Ruegemer, Park and Recreation Director; Priya Wall, Recreation Manager; and Luke Kegley, Recreation Supervisor. PUBLIC PRESENT: None. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Commissioner Fulkerson moved, Commissioner Wittl seconded to approve the agenda as presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 6 to 0. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: None. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. Special Work Session Meeting Minutes: April 24, 2026 2. Meeting Minutes: April 28, 2026 Youth Commissioner Christenson moved, Commissioner Nagel seconded to approve the minutes of the Special Work Session Meeting dated April 24, 2026, and the meeting minutes of April 28, 2026, as presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 6 to 0. GENERAL BUSINESS: 1. 2026 Lake Ann Park Summer Programs Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – May 26, 2026 2 Luke Kegley, Recreation Supervisor, reviewed the concession stand and watercraft rental facility availability at Lake Ann Park. He discussed the Summer Concert Series at Lake Ann Park. He provided a summary of the waterfront programming and picnic shelter reservations. Chair Leisen asked about the fees for the pavilion and how much neighboring communities charge. Mr. Kegley responded that the prices were justified compared to other cities. 2. 2026 Summer Youth Programs Preview Priya Wall, Recreation Manager, reviewed the youth programs offered by the Chanhassen Park & Recreation Department. Programs are available for different age ranges, including preschool, youth, teens, and special events. Commissioner Wittl asked about the demand for toddler programs for ages younger than three. Ms. Wall answered that often the age range starts at three because of independence from parents. Jerry Ruegemer, Park and Recreation Director, answered that often two-year-olds are not potty trained, so they do not offer activities for that age range. Ms. Wall stated that they offer a tot time for the two-year-old age range. Commissioner Wittl said that he participated in other activities for toddlers in other communities where the parents were actively involved, such as soccer. Youth Commissioner Christenson asked about the sessions that were half-full at Lake Ann. Ms. Wall answered that most of the individuals on the wait list were for week three. Youth Commissioner Christenson asked about the swimming situation at Lake Ann Camp. Ms. Wall responded that Lake Ann lost lifeguards in 2024 due to insurance issues with the school. The city tried to hire lifeguards in-house, which was unsuccessful. Lake Ann Camp was trying to utilize other water activities. Commissioner Wittl asked for more information on the water activities. Ms. Wall responded that the activities included boating, fishing, super soaker fights and the slip-and-slide. Commissioner Hanson asked about an opportunity to offer duplicate sessions or stations all at the same time, as August can be a difficult timeframe for parents with childcare. Ms. Wall answered that the summer discovery play program staff also work at Lake Ann Adventure Camp. They have difficulty with increased staffing hours in the final weeks. Commissioner Hanson questioned whether other cities or counties had solutions for the lifeguard issues. Ms. Wall responded that Minnetonka Schools provided lifeguard contracts for the county Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – May 26, 2026 3 as well. They reached out to private companies as well but the organizations’ insurance would not cover lifeguards off-site. Chair Leisen noted that the micro-trend in other cities was to go without lifeguards. Mr. Ruegemer said that they tried to up the rates for the lifeguards but did not experience success. He stated there was a national lifeguard shortage. 3. Recommend Purchase for Playground Equipment Replacement for Stone Creek Park Mr. Ruegemer reviewed the opportunity to purchase and install new playground equipment at Stone Creek Park and supplemental playground equipment at Carver Beach Park. He noted that they had good conversations with residents at the Carver Beach and Stone Creek neighborhood meetings on May 26, 2026. Chair Leisen suggested getting together the two to three options and getting it to a sub- committee. Mr. Ruegemer said that residents were aware of the budget and how that would impact which playground equipment could be selected. He said he would work with Mike to get options out via email to the residents who attended the meetings to receive feedback. Commissioner Nagel voiced appreciation for the process. Mr. Ruegemer said that it was a unique situation to install supplemental playground equipment at Carver Beach Park. Mr. Ruegemer said that most residents appreciated option C for Stone Creek Park. He noted that most residents preferred the option from Northland Recreation. He noted that he held out $10,000 for engineered wood fiber, along with $75,000 for the playground equipment at Stone Creek Park. Commissioner Wittl voiced appreciation for the online attendance option. He asked about the option with Northland Recreation and why they could provide more. Mr. Ruegemer responded that it could be pricing within their structure. All contractors were given a $75,000 budget within their request for proposal, but contractors can determine how they get to that point. Chair Leisen asked about how much they have worked with the other vendors over the last five years. Mr. Ruegemer provided a summary of the projects with the vendors and said that Northland received about 80 percent of the work. Commissioner Fulkerson moved, Commissioner Nagel seconded to approve the Park and Recreation Commission Staff’s recommendation to the City Council to approve the 2026 Park Playground Equipment Replacement for Stone Creek Park Option C Northland for $75,000. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 6 to 0. Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – May 26, 2026 4 REPORTS: None. COMMISSION MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS: 1. Civic Campus Sub-Committee Update Commissioner Nagel said that the sub-committee would recommend grand opening events be held during the week of August 24th. She stated that there was interest in a musical vendor option, but the grass might not be ready. If the grass was not ready, they would recommend a larger-scale event in 2027. She asked when they would know if the grass would be ready for a musical event. She requested that one or two more commissioners join the subcommittee. Mr. Ruegemer said that they had been working with the project completion team to better understand the schedule. He said that there were different factors, such as the weather. They had little room for error to achieve the July 1 deadline. Chair Leisen suggested not holding an event if it could not be done well. He suggested a smaller, family-oriented event this year and a larger event next year. Ms. Wall suggested that the staff could provide status updates on the project at the June and July meetings. Chair Leisen asked about the August event time frame. Ms. Wall answered that the city was partnering with Market Square the week before on a musical event and the week after was Labor Day, so the week of August 24 was the best option. Chair Leisen encouraged commissioners to consider involvement in the sub-committee. He asked if they needed volunteers for the Summer Concert Series. Ms. Wall responded that she would send out emails with volunteer opportunities for the summer. COMMISSION MEMBER PRESENTATIONS: None. ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Nagel moved, Commissioner Fulkerson seconded to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 6 to 0. The Park and Recreation Commission meeting was adjourned at 7:47 p.m. Submitted by Jerry Ruegemer Park and Recreation Director