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March 10, 2026 St. Anthony Council Work Session - 3 rinks are needed, but what would a rink be replaced with? There needs to be a better message communicated other than closing due to climate change. If we are taking an amenity away from the kids, we need to give them something back. Councilmember Doolan stated she’s been asked the cost per person for maintaining the ice rinks. Mayor Webster stated we need to find out what the residents want as amenities. Councilmember Jenson noted Silver Point rinks are also used by St. Charles. Their use is not a dog park. It needs to be athletic. Emerald Park serves many kids. Silver Point ball fields are used by small kids, and it makes more sense to repurpose a rink into a ball field. Councilmember Elnagdy stated she would suggest Central Park will stay, Emerald Park would turn into a grass field, and Silver Point Park would be converted into a shifted ball field. We have made a commitment to the parents and players for baseball. Councilmember Doolan noted the athletic association has made the commitment for fields they do not own, which the City needs to own and maintain. The organization does not serve all children. There are other cities that have dog parks close to St. Anthony. Councilmember Elnagdy stated that if the goal is to alleviate the traffic, a field could be moved to another park. Councilmember Doolan suggested the “pit”. This is undeveloped City-owned land. Mr. Yunker stated it is very small and not large enough for a ball field. Amenities cannot be put up against residential backyards. There are no buffer zones. Ice skating works because people aren’t in their backyards, and not much noise is created from the rinks. Another use needs to be compatible with the neighbors. Complaints are received due to traffic to the ball fields. A new amenity would need to not add to traffic, disturb the neighborhood, and fit in the available space. She asked if the new ice maintenance equipment would be needed. Ms. Morello stated the City would still need the equipment to maintain the rinks that would remain. Mr. Yunker stated the savings would be from the water and the hiring of some seasonal employees. There was a discussion on basketball in the City. Mayor Webster summarized that there is interest in moving from six rinks to four rinks. Staff will research what amenities would go into the removed rinks and bring back options for Council consideration. It is a storm retention area. Councilmember Elnagdy asked if it was possible to restrict parking in an area. Ms. Morello stated that 29th Avenue is an MSA road. Mayor Webster stated that if one field at Silver Point Park were eliminated, the parking traffic issue would improve. The schedule needs to be adjusted. Other cities would not be open to letting St. Anthony teams use their fields. 5