2024 11 12 CC Work Session Master PlanCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the City Council Work Session
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a work session of the Mendota Heights City Council was
held at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Levine called the work session to order at 6:15 p.m. Councilors Lorberbaum, Mazzitello,
Miller (left at 8:00 pm), and Paper was also present.
Parks and Recreation Commissioners present: Jaffrey Blanks (arrived 6:22 pm), Stephanie Meyer,
Michelle Muller, Jo Schifsky, Dan Sherer, Jennifer Weichert, and student representative
Evangeline Fuentes. Michael Toth was absent.
Others present included: City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson, Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek,
Park and Recreation/Assistant Public Works Director Meredith Lawrence, Recreation Program
Coordinator Willow Eisfeldt, and City Clerk Nancy Bauer,
Leon Younger, Brad Aldrich, and Mo Convery of Confluence/PROS Consulting were also present
PARKS SYSTEM MASTER PLAN UPDATE
Park and Recreation/Assistant Public Works Director Meredith Lawrence reported that
Confluence/Pros was hired in January to prepare a Mendota Heights Park System Master an.
They have been working on a non -biased audit of the Mendota Heights parks. The consultants
are here to present their initial findings for the 15-year plan.
Brad Aldrich presented a PowerPoint summarizing the progress of the Parks System Master
Plan, which has completed its first three phases: needs assessment, community engagement, and
an analysis of existing and future needs. He explained that the plan is a high-level system
analysis aimed at evaluating the overall park system. The findings revealed that the parks are
geographically well -distributed, with a minor gap in the southwest area of the city. While the
parks are well -maintained, there is a lack of balance in amenities, along with a clear need for
accessibility improvements and greater diversity in park features.
A comparative analysis of core amenities showed that Mendota Heights meets or exceeds
national standards in areas like ball diamonds, pickleball courts, tennis courts, playgrounds, and
basketball courts. However, it falls short in providing indoor recreation space and maintaining
trails. Additionally, the city has slightly less park acreage per resident than the national standard,
particularly in neighborhood parks, but it far exceeds the standard for open spaces. Aldrich
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emphasized that this does not necessitate acquiring more parkland, as the city is close to meeting
the standard.
The benchmark analysis compared Mendota Heights to similar cities, including Golden Valley,
MN; Green River, WY; New Brighton, MN; New Hope, MN; and West St. Paul, MN.
Consultant Leon Younger provided insights into park system maintenance and staffing, noting
that the city's staffing levels align with the Midwest average of one parks maintenance employee
per 32 acres.
Mayor Levine expressed interest in understanding how local athletic associations influence
staffing needs. Younger explained that such associations are typically not included in staffing
analyses but acknowledged their significant role in programming.
Younger also reviewed the program assessment, identifying areas for improvement, such as
expanding age -specific programs for preschoolers and older adults, diversifying offerings, and
addressing capacity and staffing challenges. He recommended leveraging partnerships to expand
capacity, creating pricing and cost -recovery strategies, standardizing customer service, and using
data to guide decisions and measure performance.
Mo Convery reported on the results of community engagement. In Phase 1, participants
highlighted the importance of preserving the parks' existing scale and character while improving
trail connections and diversifying amenities. Phase 2, conducted between July and October with
594 respondents, focused on gauging support for expanded funding to address community -
identified priorities. These priorities included adding indoor community space, improving
accessibility, developing a new park on the city's west side, and pursuing a general parks
referendum. While the survey results were not statistically valid, most respondents expressed
willingness to support funding increases, with 67% favoring at least one level of tax increase
ranging from $8 to $22 per month.
The community's top funding priorities centered on accessibility improvements, safe trail
connections, and expanded programming and staffing. A preference for enhancements over new
development emerged, alongside a strong recognition of the park system's value to the
community. Specific focus groups provided additional insights, with active adults prioritizing
trail accessibility and indoor gathering spaces, accessibility advocates emphasizing adaptive
features, and sports groups seeking upgrades to fields and facilities.
Discussions also touched on future steps for the plan. Parks and Recreation/Assistant Public
Works Director Lawrence explained that the next phase involves finalizing the 95% draft of the
plan, distributing it for public comment, and ultimately submitting it to the City Council for
approval.
Mayor Levine inquired about integrating the plan with the city's Capital Improvement Plan,
while Councilor Mazzitello raised questions about balancing the maintenance of existing
facilities with new projects stemming from community feedback.
Lawrence confirmed that the master plan aims to remain flexible and adaptable to ongoing and
future needs.
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The meeting concluded with discussions about exploring partnerships, learning from neighboring
cities like West St. Paul, and incorporating accessibility standards into park projects. The next
steps include releasing the draft plan to the public and ensuring it serves as a guiding document
for the city's park system over the next 15 years.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilor Paper made a motion to adjourn the meeting, and it was seconded by Councilor
Mazzitello. Motion passed 44
The meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m.
Stephanie B. Levine, Mayor
ATTEST:
c �—
Nincy B rer, City Clerk
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