02 18 2025 CC Work Session PacketCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING AGENDA
February 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Mendota Heights City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights
1.Call to Order
2.Discussion
a.Dakota County Parks 2050 Vision Plan
3.Adjourn
Alternative formats or auxiliary aids are available to individuals with disabilities upon request.
Please contact City Hall at 651-452-1850 or by emailing cityhall@mendotaheightsmn.gov.
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2.a
City Council Work Session Memo
MEETING DATE: February 18, 2025
TO: Mayor, City Council and City Administrator
FROM: Meredith Lawrence, Parks and Recreation/Assistant Public Works Director
SUBJECT: Dakota County Parks 2050 Vision Plan
ACTION REQUEST:
Lil Leatham, Principal Planner for the Physical Development Department of Dakota County, will
present an overview of the vision framework for the 2050 Vision Plan for Dakota County Parks,
Greenways and Natural Systems and answer any questions the Council may have. More
information can be found on the county's website at
https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/parks/About/VisionPlan
BACKGROUND:
Like the city's effort to update its Park System Master Plan, Dakota County is updating its plan
for parks, greenways, and natural systems. Dakota County completed the last park system plan
in 2008. Much has changed since then and an updated plan is needed to:
•Respond to changing societal and demographic recreation trends
•Evaluate the need for potential new parks, greenways and natural areas
•Identify new partnerships and strengthen existing partnerships
•Establish consistent funding
The project timeline established includes:
•Summer 2024: Research and community engagement
•Fall 2024: Prepare draft vision plan
•Winter 2024-2025: Share draft vision plan and community engagement
•Spring 2025: Finalize vision plan
ATTACHMENTS:
1.Dakota County Parks 2050 Vision Plan Overview
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Dakota County Parks
2050 Vision Plan
Lil Leatham, Dakota County Principal Planner
Niki Geisler, Dakota County Parks Director
City of Mendota Heights, City Council Workshop
February 18, 2025
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1.Project
Purpose
2.2050 Vision
Framework
3.Strategies for
new parks and
greenways
4.Questions and
Discussion
Overview
Process
Spring – Fall 2024:
Research, Community
Engagement
Fall 2024-Winter 2025:
Vision Framework and
Develop Draft Plan
Spring 2025: Public Review
Draft Plan, Community
Engagement
Spring - Summer 2025:
Final Plan and Approvals
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Project Purpose
•Update 2030 Vision
•Respond to changing demographic and
outdoor recreation trends
•Respond to critical issues facing society
•Establish goals for Indigenous engagement
and partnership to protect culturally
sensitive resources
•Evaluate potential for new park, greenway,
and conservation units
•Identify consistent funding sources and
partnerships Page 6 of 19
Vision Framework
Nature
Protected,
Community
Reflected,
All Are
Connected
VISION
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Dakota County Parks will:
1.Nurture the reciprocal relationship between people andnature.
2.Cultivate belonging by engaging and serving the wholecommunity, with an emphasis on those that are under-represented in the outdoors.
3.Provide core services and amenities at a level where peoplefeel safe, have a positive experience, and become returnvisitors.
4.Create dynamic spaces with signature recreationexperiences.
Vision Framework - Goals
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Dakota County Parks will:
5.Expand environmental stewardship through outdoorprograms, learning, and volunteerism.
6.Offer opportunities to improve physical, mental, andspiritual health.
7.Strengthen partnerships with Tribal Nations and Indigenouscommunities to protect culturally significant lands andtraditions within parks.
8.Locate new park units close to people or to protect naturalareas and recreation assets.
9.Lead on ecological health and climate resilience.
Vision Framework - Goals
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Dakota County Parks will:
10.Elevate cultural richness through arts, historicpreservation, and interpretation.
11.Seek values-based and mission-driven partnerships.
12.Care for the system through sustainable and innovativefunding.
13.Invest in a diverse and thriving Parks Departmentworkforce that represents the communities we serve.
14.Support sustainable economic development.
Vision Framework - Goals
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Goal 8
Locate new park units close to people or to protect community open space and recreation assets.
Strategies for discussion:
A.New search areas to locate newparks and greenways close topeople
B.Expand Greenway Collaborativeto partner with cities for morenature-based recreation alonggreenways
C.Community trail loops
New Park and Greenway Units
Park
Service
Area Gaps
Greenway
Service
Area Gaps
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Tools to address needs
Regional System
•Regional Park
•Regional Park Reserve
•Regional Greenway
•Expanded Greenway
Collaborative *
•Bridging Facility*
•Special Recreation
Feature*
•Cultural Landscape
and Open Space
Classification*
County System
•County Park
•County Park Conservation
Area*
•Community Trail Loop*
*New for Dakota County since 2030 Plan
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A . Park Search Areas
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A. Greenway Search Corridors
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B.Expand Greenway Collaborative
B.Expand collaboration efforts to include
partnership to advance equity and
accessibility in the outdoors.
C.Provide more nature-based recreation
offerings.
D.County could help fund, city could
construct and maintain.
E.Examples:
•Fishing piers
•Walking scale accessible trail loops
•Nature play areas
•Overlook
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o Locally led projects
o Potential for political and technical support
(e.g. studies, grant writing) from county
C.Community Trail Loop Concept
•Local trail loops connected to
greenways
•Possibilities for partnership
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Questions and Discussion
Next Steps
•Feb-March:
Development of draft
vision plan document
•April- May: Public
review
•July: Anticipated plan
adoption by Dakota
County Board of
Commissioners
Thank you!
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Park and Greenway Search Areas
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Park and Greenway Search Areas
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