HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 2, 2026 Park and Rec Minutes1 | Page
CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS Special Meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission
City Hall 2077 West Larpenteur Avenue MINUTES September 2, 2026 at 6:30 P.M.
A. CALL TO ORDER: 6:32 P.M. B. ROLL CALL: Tom Faust (Vice-Chair) __X___Katie Merriam __X___Kia Moua __ea___ (excused absence)
Robert Haight__X___ Jerry Buckridge__X___Naomi Loud - Heinsch__X___ Chuck Long__X___
COUNCIL LIAISON: Randy Gustafson __ea__ STAFF PRESENT: Kelly Nelson__X___ C. PRESENTATION: D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. August 3, 2026 – Parks and Recreation Commission Special Meeting Minutes Long motioned to approve the minutes; approved 6-0
E. AGENDA: 1. Fall/Winter Programming Discussion 6:30 P.M. 2. Election to Fill Existing Commission Vacancies 6:50 P.M. 3. Continued Discussion Regarding the Vision of Future Parkland at Les Bolstad Development 7:00 P.M.
4. Staff Direction Regarding Community Park Donation 7:45 P.M. 5. Upcoming Event(s) Discussion 8:00 P.M 1. Fall/Winter Programming Discussion Faust asked if pizza would be in the budget as part of another game night. Loud-Heinsch wondered if there was an indoor space available for an open gym. Nelson responded that the commission had interest in an open gym before to be held at Falcon
Heights Elementary, but with dismal attendance at the last game night at City Hall, the commission moved away from holding additional events. The commission could pursue that idea again. She continued that St. Anthony Police Department holds a Cops vs. Kids basketball game
every year in February, and, one, we could see if we could have more representation with Falcon Heights kids on the team, or show more support by publicizing the event in the mailed newsletter. Lastly, Nelson reminded the commissioners that there had been prior support to reach out to
Gibbs Farm to see if they would handle holding a class if the City provided the space.
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Long suggested having consistency and continuity in the schedule of events so residents could
anticipate what events would occur. Faust felt that Friday evenings worked well to hold game nights. Commissioners showed support for staff selecting a date in November to hold a game night and for an open gym. Staff was asked if SAPD would be open to attending open gym night and just shooting baskets with families. Haight wondered if it would make sense to hold a joint meeting with the Community Engagement
Commission to plan the open gym with SAPD. Faust added that there might be potential to hold another programmatic event if Gibbs Farm has a
canned activity and needs a space during the winter. This item was for discussion purposes, and no motion was
needed. Haight asked a question about Fall Fest activities, so Nelson asked commissioners if they minded amending the agenda order to move agenda item #5, Upcoming Event(s) Discussion, to item #2, which would cover discussion of Fall Fest. The commission supported this amendment. 2. Upcoming Event(s) Discussion Nelson outlined the activities that would return to Fall Fest, and also asked the commission for guidance on what to do with some components of the canceled Ice Cream Social event such as a resource fair and the live band. Additional guidance was sought due to the fact that the Community Park playground construction should wrap up during a similar period of time.
Long felt it best to leave Fall Fest as it is and not try to make it an Ice Cream Social.
Loud-Heinsch supported postponing a ribbon-cutting at Community Park until spring, when the park is 100% ready. Haight supported adding the band who typically performs at Ice Cream Social to Fall Fest and also felt it was important to support Karol Coffee, even as a cost. Loud-Heinsch and Merriam suggested buying coffee in bulk or brewed from Karol Coffee as a way to support a local business, while also saving the City money. This item was for discussion purposes, and no motion was needed.
3. Election to Fill Existing Commission Vacancies
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Nelson explained that the commission currently had two vacancies to fill, but in case there was movement within the acting Vice Chairperson title holder, all three positions were described.
Faust stated that they preferred not to be the Chairperson and asked Long if they would consider acting as Chair. Buckridge nominated Long as Chairperson and moved to approve him. Motion carried 6-0 to elect Chuck Long as Chairperson. Faust nominated Haight as Vice Chairperson and moved to approve him. Motion carried 6-0 to elect Bob Haight as Vice Chairperson. Haight nominated Buckridge as Secretary and moved to approve him. Motion carried 6-0 to
elect Jerry Buckridge as Secretary. . 4. Continued Discussion Regarding the Vision of Future Parkland at Les Bolstad Development
Commissioners resumed discussion of their vision of parkland within the Les Bolstad development. Haight stated he would like to make recommendations related to the number of, the size of, the location of, and the shape of the park(s). Merriam said she would like to use the bike baths proposed within the development, but she lives nearby. She reasoned that others may not and that she doesn’t want it to be old Falcon Heights vs. new Falcon Heights. She added that offering a different amenity from either Falcon Heights’ or Lauderdale’s Community Parks might encourage visitors.
Faust shared with commissioners a map that he’d made of how one could bike from Curtiss Field to the golf course, riding through the fairgrounds, through the Grove, and under Larpenteur. Faust is concerned about trees being removed from a parcel nearest the Grove, and highlighted the importance of this area. Buckridge said that, unfortunately, that parcel is proposed to have a nursing home and multi-level
building constructed on it. Long encouraged the commission to make it clear from the start what its non-negotiables are or its insisted-upon items so that we don’t get down the road in the process and be told, “we can’t do that now.” Buckridge raised the question of what the one-for-one tree replacement would truly look like, since a five-gallon tree would not be valued the same as the existing 150+ years old oak trees by residents. At this point in the meeting, Andrew Dresdner, Senior Urban Designer of Bolton & Menk, Inc.
stopped by the meeting to provide a brief update on what the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) has been working on, the development process, and to answer questions to better aid commissioners in identifying its values and developing its mission statement.
Dresdner asked, “How can we define the moment (aspirations of the City) and allow the developer to come up with a plan and meet the moment?” What are aspirations for the park on
this site? What does the park need for this development? The City is already at a park deficit.
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Should this site try to make up for it and go above and beyond? He encouraged commissioners to consider the number, size, shape, and locations of the park(s), and whether they are active or
passive. Haight wondered what we will seek from the public at their next opportunity for input and suggested providing an update to them since there is confusion amongst residents. Dresdner shared examples of values and advised commissioners to identify their values as part of the Parks and Rec Commission’s October meeting to help guide the CAC. 5. Staff Direction Regarding Community Park Donation
At the conclusion of the Parks and Rec Commission’s August meeting, Staff was directed to obtain a bid to resurface the basketball court and to explore refurbishing specific components of
the workout equipment in Community Park. Nelson shared that one bid to resurface the basketball court is $27,500. Painting the court might
add another $2,000 in expense. Nelson showed replacement parts, mostly consisting of sit-up benches and the like, would total approximately $10,000. The commissioners discussed whether the basketball hoops and backboards needed replacement. Loud-Heinsch felt that if the Lions wanted to attract younger membership, redoing the basketball court makes sense as their showcased donation. Commissioners directed Staff to price together all park replacement parts and present to the Lions.
Information/Announcement Before adjournment, Haight asked commissioners if they would be interested in having a guest speaker at an upcoming meeting. Commissioners will determine a date during a future meeting.
G. ADJOURNMENT: 9:16 P.M. Buckridge motioned to adjourn the meeting; Approved 6-0