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03.24.2026 PRC MinutesCHANHASSEN PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MARCH 24, 2026 Chair Leisen called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Rob Swanson; Kristin Fulkerson; Michael Leisen; Sean Morgan; Emily Nagel; Kurt Scheppmann; Nora Nashawaty; Clara Christenson MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Jerry Ruegemer, Park and Recreation Director; Priya Wall, Recreation Manager; Luke Kegley, Recreation Supervisor; Jodi Sarles, Rec Center Manager; Mary Blazanin, Senior Center Coordinator PUBLIC PRESENT: None. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Commissioner Scheppmann moved, Commissioner Fulkerson seconded to approve the agenda with an addition of a standing commission member update. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 8 to 0. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: None. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. Approve Park & Recreation Minutes dated February 24, 2026 Commissioner Swanson moved, Commissioner Christenson seconded to approve the minutes of the Park and Recreation Commission meeting dated February 24, 2026 as presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 8 to 0. GENERAL BUSINESS: 1. 2025-2026 Ice Rink Season Evaluation Luke Kegley, Recreation Supervisor, provided an overview of the Ice Rink Season and noted that they were able to run for 58 operational days. He summarized the recorded participants at the different locations, maintenance costs, and additional expenses. Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – March 24, 2026 2 Commissioner Nashawaty asked if the efficiency numbers were weather-dependent. Mr. Kegley answered that the flooding overnight was essential for the rink maintenance and dependent on temperatures. 2. Receive 2025 Park and Recreation Department Annual Report Priya Wall, Recreation Manager, reviewed the 2025 Park and Recreation Annual Report, which identified accomplishments and information for all divisions within the Park and Recreation Department. Youth Commissioner Christenson asked about an update for the Carver Beach Playground. Jerry Ruegemer, Park and Recreation Director, answered that they would provide an update on this topic later in the meeting. Chair Leisen thanked the staff for their update and asked if they could post it online. Ms. Wall answered that the report would go to the City Council and then be updated online. Commissioner Nashawaty moved, Commissioner Morgan seconded that the Park and Recreation Commission recommends that the City Council receive and approve the 2025 Park & Recreation Annual Report. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 8 to 0. 3. Recommend 4th of July Celebration Event Logo Concept Ms. Wall reviewed the historical process for the 4th of July Celebration Event Logo Concept. She stated that the City Staff designed the 2026 logo concepts. Commissioner Scheppmann noted that concept four looked like a postage stamp. Youth Commissioner Christenson liked that concept, which incorporated the maple leaf. Commissioner Nashawaty stated the maple leaf should be in the final logo. Mr. Ruegemer said that it was the nation’s 250th anniversary, so they wanted to tie that in. Chair Leisen appreciated concept three. Commissioner Scheppmann said he appreciated the diamond-shaped concept. Youth Commissioner Christenson suggested not to use cursive in the final design. Commissioner Swanson said he liked concept one. Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – March 24, 2026 3 Commissioner Nashawaty commented that a simpler concept would be better. Chair Leisen asked for a vote on concept one. Commissioners Nashawaty, Morgan, Swanson, and Christenson voted for concept one. Youth Commissioner suggested that concept one include 2026. Commissioner Scheppmann asked about putting the 250th in the red banner. Ms. Wall said that they would add 2026 and make the 250th more prominent. Commissioner Fulkerson moved, Commissioner Swanson seconded that the Park and Recreation Commission recommends logo concept #1 be used for marketing, promoting, and branding the 43rd annual 4th of July Celebration. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 8 to 0. 4. Park Renovation Fund Priority Discussion Mr. Ruegemer recommended that the Park and Recreation Commission identify a list of park priority projects for the next 1 to 10 years and for 2026. He encouraged them to discuss the 2026 park replacement sheet and said that Stone Creek stands out because it is 28 years old. Chair Leisen asked if the playground was well-used. Mr. Ruegemer answered that it was put off because of inspections of the playground. They are going to determine which playgrounds to replace based on the condition. Mr. Ruegemer said they received comments about the equipment available at the Carver Beach site, and they could consider supplementing the container. He said they could allocate $15,000 for this location. Chair Leisen asked if this would satisfy the feedback from the community. Mr. Ruegemer confirmed this information. Commissioner Fulkerson asked about the conditions of Stone Creek, because no playgrounds were proposed to be renovated in 2027 and 2028. Mr. Ruegemer responded that it was getting harder to get replacement parts for the Stone Creek Playground equipment. He said that it would make sense to go through the process this year. Commissioner Fulkerson asked if they could budget $85,000 for the Stone Creek playground, or what would be an adequate number. Mr. Ruegemer said he put $100,000, and he thought it was a conservative number. He stated that if the Park and Recreation Commission wanted to set it at $85,000, they could consider doing so. Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – March 24, 2026 4 Youth Commissioner Christenson suggested holding a neighborhood meeting. Mr. Ruegemer said they would engage with neighbors during the planning process. Commissioner Morgan asked if the funding was just for playground renovation or other park renovation projects. Mr. Ruegemer answered that they can complete other items on the list. Commissioner Morgan said that only a subset of the items could be considered based on costs. He asked for additional information on the color-coding. Mr. Ruegemer explained that the yellow was a short-term project, the blue was a mid-term project, and the green was a long-term project. He stated it was important to have conversations about funding avenues. Commissioner Morgan asked if there were any projects they thought were worth highlighting that were urgent needs. Mr. Ruegemer responded that the pickleball courts at Roundhouse Park would need to be replaced in the future. He requested some other community feedback. Commissioner Scheppmann asked if they could add Pickleball Courts to Bandimere Park. Chair Leisen asked if they could use the remaining funds from the Lake Ann Preserve Project. Mr. Ruegemer answered that the southwestern trail segment at Lake Ann Preserve would not move forward, so there would be $400,000 to $500,000 that they could recommend reallocation of, but it was general fund money that could be utilized elsewhere. He said he could put ideas for the recommendation together for next month. Commissioner Nashawaty asked if they could utilize funds from other community organizations to contribute to projects. Mr. Ruegemer responded that they always welcomed community sponsors. Chair Leisen suggested that for 2026, they complete Stone Creek Park for approximately $85,000; Carver Beach for $15,000, and look for nature park ideas in Lake Ann. Commissioner Fulkerson asked if they do not use money this year, if it would carry over to next year. Mr. Ruegemer confirmed this information. Commissioner Fulkerson confirmed that the community center was a two-year project. Mr. Ruegemer said that maintenance at the community center would be separate. Commissioner Nashawaty asked about the staff having the capacity to install six parks in 2030. Mr. Ruegemer responded that the future installation would be worked out. He did not think they would consider moving any playground equipment replacement up in the schedule. Commissioner Scheppmann clarified that Stone Creek would be a complete replacement. Mr. Ruegemer confirmed this information and noted that the concrete borders would stay. Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – March 24, 2026 5 Commissioner Fulkerson moved, Commissioner Swanson seconded to approve the Park and Recreation Commission Staff’s recommendation for the projects at Carver Beach for $15,000 and Stone Creek at $85,000. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 8 to 0. REPORTS: 1. Recreation Center Quarterly Update Jodi Sarles, Rec Center Manager, reviewed the facility rentals and program updates for the recreation center. She summarized the events hosted at the recreation center and the upcoming events planned. 2. Easter Egg Candy Hunt Preview Ms. Wall stated that the 2026 Easter Egg Hunt would be on April 4th at 9 a.m., north of City Hall. She thanked the businesses that will participate in the event. The Easter coloring contest will be open until April 5th. 3. Senior Center Quarterly Report Mary Blazanin, Senior Center Coordinator, reviewed the patrons served through the Senior Center in the first quarter of 2026. She discussed the new interest groups through the senior center and other activity highlights. She reviewed her work as a liaison for the Chanhassen Commission on Aging and discussed the City of Chanhassen’s Senior Life Guide. She noted that she would be retiring on May 1st, 2026. Commissioner Fulkerson asked if the facilities could be reserved by private groups. Ms. Blazanin answered that they were working on getting the programming into a routine, but they will consider reservations in the future. Mr. Ruegemer stated that they were considering other rental facility options in Chanhassen. 4. Park Maintenance Quarterly Update Mr. Ruegemer reviewed the purchase of a new roller for the back of the tractor. He provided a summary of the work that crews were completing to prepare for spring activities. COMMISSION MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS: Commissioner Nashawaty discussed that they would like to hold multiple events to interest multiple people in the Civic Center opening. She discussed holding modified tours of the Park and Recreation Commission Minutes – March 24, 2026 6 locations and hosting events during the day and evening hours to appeal to different audiences. They suggested allocating most of the funding for one large event for the community to enjoy. She discussed the subcommittee publishing agendas to provide more formal actions. COMMISSION MEMBER PRESENTATIONS: Chair Leisen thanked Commissioner Swanson and Commissioner Nashawaty for their service on the Park and Recreation Commission. ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Nashawaty moved, Commissioner Swanson seconded to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 8 to 0. The Park and Recreation Commission meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m. Submitted by Jerry Ruegemer Park and Recreation Director