Eagan Advisory Parks Commission Meeting - May 18, 2026
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Eagan Advisory Parks Commission Meeting - May 18, 2026
The Advisory Parks Commission met at Moonshine Park on May 18, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The commission approved routine items, heard public comments on invasive species management, received a communication and engagement presentation, elected officers, and approved a park dedication for the Pines Landing development.
Consent Calendar
- The agenda was approved by unanimous voice vote.
- The meeting minutes from April 21, 2026 were approved by unanimous voice vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jessica McMahon and Catherine Brown, Eagan residents, expressed strong support for establishing a repeated native plant restoration and invasive species removal program in Eagan parks. They noted that many Eagan residents volunteer with Dakota County at Lebanon Hills but would prefer to volunteer in Eagan if such a program existed. Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Jared Flewellen stated that the city has a robust volunteer program and that invasive removal has been a goal that has not yet materialized, and he welcomed further discussion.
Presentations
- New commissioners were introduced by Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Jared Flewellen: Chantelle Fehlandt (occupational therapist, founder of Branch Outdoors), Kelly Hjulberg (University of Minnesota student), and Mehry Khodarahmi (accounting controller).
- Ryan Rupp, digital media and marketing specialist, presented a communication and engagement update. Highlights included a 2024 community survey of nearly 500 residents showing a 96% satisfaction rating for parks and recreation (67% excellent, 29% good, 4% fair). He reviewed 2025 marketing efforts (Eagan Art House, electric bike safety, Discover Eagan digital transition) and reported social media reach benchmarks rising to 20,000–25,000 from 10,000–15,000, over 80% of email recipients regularly opening city emails, and 140–150 new email subscribers per month. Upcoming 2026 priorities include Eagan Community Center improvements, the new parks master plan, Cascade Bay, Food Truck Festival, and Eagan Market Fest’s 20th season.
Discussion Items
- Officer elections were held. Palmer was re-elected as Chair by voice vote. Deanne Merley was elected Vice Chair. Linda was elected Secretary.
- Andrew Pimental, Parks and Recreation Director, presented a development review for Pines Landing, a proposed seven-lot single-family subdivision on four acres adjacent to Holtz Farm. Key details included significant tree removal subject to the city’s tree mitigation ordinance, a wetland conservation easement, and two variances (lot width and cul-de-sac length). The commission’s role was to consider park and trail dedication. Discussion touched on buffering and tree screening near Holtz Farm, with staff noting that tree mitigation funds could support replanting in the area. The commission unanimously moved to accept cash dedication for parks and trails for the net six additional lots at the current per-unit rate of $4,735.
Round Table
- Members offered updates and welcomed the new commissioners. One member highlighted the Spring Festival at Holtz Farm, noting an older couple who had lived in Eagan for 50 years and were unaware of the farm.
Staff Reports
- Jared Flewellen announced that summer program registration is open, with all programs available at DiscoverEgan.com. He noted that part-time summer staff onboarding is underway, including 60 Cascade Bay employees and dozens of recreation leaders and maintenance staff.
Key Outcomes
- Agenda and April minutes approved unanimously.
- Public comments on invasive species removal will be followed up by staff.
- Officers elected: Chair Palmer, Vice Chair Deanne Merley, Secretary Linda.
- Pines Landing cash park/trail dedication approved unanimously.
- Summer registration open; 60 Cascade Bay staff being onboarded.
Meeting Transcript
Well, welcome to the You can advisory parks and recreation commission meeting. Okay. Pledge allegiance to the United States of America and to the Republic. One nation undervisible with liberty and justice for all. Right. Any updates to the agenda? No, Chair, there is not. Do I have a motion to approve? I still move. I second. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. All those opposed. Agenda approved. Approval of minutes for April. Any corrections from what was printed? All right. Do we have a motion? I motion to approve the meeting minutes from the April of meeting. All right. Do you have a second? A second. All in favor? Aye. Hi. Aye. Supposed. All right. Visitors to be heard that aren't already on the schedule. So I think this is come up and just state your name and so my name is Jessica McMahon. Catherine Brown. And we are both citizens of Egan. We met last month at a sustainable Egan education event. And we began discussing native plants. And one of the concerns that came up is the number of invasive species in the parks. And it's it's one of those things that if you don't recognize the native or the invasive plants, you don't notice it, but when you do, they're everywhere. And we would love to get something going to address it. Both of us have been involved with plant work at uh Lebanon Hills, where they have like projects and like garlic mustard picking events that aren't just a one-time thing, but a thing that's actually going to make a difference, a repeated event. And we would just love to see something like that happen because our parks are amazing places to go, and we would just love the birds and the caterpillars and the butterflies and all of that stuff to find them great places to go as well. And right now, with all the invasive crap. Sorry, there's intercrap. Um, all the invasive plants and everything like that, pushing all the native stuff out that are they're just it's terrible for the environment. Yes, and in our experience working with Lebanon Hills, I've I've worked with so many residents of Egan in that space who work for Dakota County or volunteer through Dakota County, but would really like to be working here in Egan, but there isn't really a setup system for them to sign up and show up and do the things that we're doing in Dakota County, but they'd really rather be doing it first at home because there are more residents working there from Egan than there is like any other city. So I guess we would just love to hear from you guys if you have any ideas of ways we could get something like this going. We're also going to be talking to the um Sustainable Egan Advisory Commission after this. Perfect, perfect. Um guessing the staff will take that input and maybe get it. Yeah, Chair Commission uh ladies, thanks for uh bringing that request forward. Um we have uh a fairly robust um volunteer program throughout the city.
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