OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Rochester Park Board Meeting - April 8, 2026

Boards and CommissionsWednesday, April 8, 2026
BodyRochester, Minnesota
SessionBoards and Commissions
DateWednesday, April 8, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record

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Transcript — Verbatim
0:09

Perfect finding.

0:12

All right.

0:22

All right.

0:24

First animal's meeting this is our roll call and our appointment.

0:29

Starting with Martin.

0:30

Marty Cormac, Ward One.

0:32

Chad Raymaker, Ward Six.

0:35

Cindy Morgan, Ward 3.

0:36

Paul Marina Ward 2.

0:38

Rebecca then for five.

0:42

At large member.

0:43

All right.

0:44

So there are any questions or changes on the order of agenda if you said we don't.

0:50

We're going to look at okay.

0:54

All right.

0:55

Next item is approval and amendments of the meeting of March 3rd.

0:59

For any questions or certifications of party members meet on that.

1:04

Seeing none, is there a motion to approve?

1:06

So I'm on Marty's first.

1:08

Is there second?

1:11

All in favor say aye.

1:13

Aye.

1:13

I motion is approved.

1:15

Okay.

1:20

Next item is our open combat comment period.

1:25

And our rules are essentially the same as the city council using.

1:29

Limited to 20 minutes.

1:30

Each speaker may speak for up to two minutes until the 20-minute period is exhausted.

1:42

Typically, the board doesn't respond to comments made at open comment.

1:47

We usually if uh do that if there needs to be a clarification or a written response for setting up a meeting that happens after the open comments.

1:56

So with that, Kelly, have you got a list?

1:58

None?

1:59

Okay.

2:00

Well, it's unusual.

2:02

Thank you for coming, but maybe so all right.

2:06

Gary, yeah.

2:08

Can I just um in reading the notes from the last open comment?

2:12

There was just a name on there, but there's no even issue that's on there.

2:16

And I wonder if we can just include at least the issue that they were speaking to, so we have some context.

2:22

I actually am guessing it was RAPA was the person who spoke in the open comments.

2:28

But um I just thought, gosh, we should at least capture what they're saying.

2:34

I think that's a good idea, at least right on top of it.

2:37

So we'll do that forward here.

2:39

Another space on the on the form that people sign up for.

2:43

Okay.

2:44

All right.

2:44

Now we go into the park and rec department monthly reports.

2:48

Uh there's quite a few interesting ones in there.

2:50

Um, do you have any comments you need to make or any of your staff on those?

2:54

Well, try to give you a lot of the great information in this uh month, this past month, some are a team, and it's uh first the theme is uh past few months has been transitioning now again into spring.

3:09

Well whether it's not cooperating with them.

3:12

It's uh our intent to be to be ready for spring.

3:16

Uh so you have some uh information about golf, information about our wildlife management efforts, uh namely um use management and uh hope that if you get any questions or comments uh that you'll review the materials that we provided and work uh being one to me.

3:39

And then um a lot of great programming.

3:44

Uh I'm always impressed to see how uh facilities transition during this time stay uh very busy regardless of the seeking, and that seems to be the theme throughout our system.

3:58

Thank you.

3:59

Okay, well I'm assuming because I saw pins and the greens at the courses that they're open now.

4:07

Yeah, we we are open as far as the weather is permitting and we did that as a kind of a soft opening that we'll make an official announcement uh once we get through this course now, just to make sure everyone's aware it just allows us to kind of work out kinks and not overrun uh it's kind of marginal as far as when we're frost and moisture and everything else, so it gives the break to the courses as we kind of gear up in the season.

4:37

Just a question for when spring arrives, hopefully.

4:40

Um we have a number of new facilities and some excellent facilities, which sometimes are hard or not as easy to get to.

4:48

I was wondering down the road if the board wants to take a tour like the new name that's only or something.

4:54

We would find a date that would be convenient without a very you know something like that.

5:00

We would love to facilitate and have uh actually the uh there's a lot to see up there right now.

5:06

We can work with Mr.

5:07

Shawberry to get that set up.

5:09

Um maybe as we get ready to open, we there's uh uh meeting rooms we we can actually have our meeting.

5:17

Okay.

5:18

So like board members find that there's other facilities they might want to tour, we can go into too.

5:23

I mean the volleyball center is very interesting.

5:27

When's uh when are we gonna get to see this uh silver like uh if you want a date to go look at it, probably uh mid to late May?

5:40

Okay, closer to that because prior to me.

5:42

Uh we're still doing quite a bit of work up there.

5:44

So and then we could discuss whether we want to do that.

5:49

Well, the one we could have a meeting at that mention, but some of the other ones maybe off meeting date.

5:56

So we go just go see if they if any of you are interested, let me know otherwise if you're not, we'll just we don't so if three wanna go, we can go take a take a tour of that too.

6:06

Okay, all right.

6:08

But the new building is so large and unique, so a nice partnership between a maintenance of our put by this other departments, and so that's a pretty context.

6:18

So okay.

6:20

Okay, I guess I have one more question.

6:24

Uh can you then relinquish the mail park one?

6:28

Yes, uh we'll be moving completely out of that facility, and we're in currently in discussions on the timeline of mail field and how that will transition.

6:39

Uh we're not under any pressure right now.

6:42

Uh but uh we're trying to come up with a timeline for that.

6:46

Okay, all right.

6:48

Moving on to the next item for parks erect department monthly bills that are in your package.

6:54

All anything we need to note in there, or just go by and stand right there.

6:59

We see fertilizer and fuel.

7:02

Um but uh there obviously a few more trends like that over the nuts.

7:10

Okay, uh is there a motion to approve the monthly note?

7:15

Motion ID, is there a second?

7:17

Second, all favor say aye.

7:20

Aye.

7:23

Next item is the park and wreck financial performance year today.

7:27

This makes a lot more sense towards the end of the year than earlier the year.

7:30

But are there any questions anybody has on the financial performance date?

7:36

Hearing none, is there a motion to approve?

7:39

Oh, this over five final dates, yeah.

7:41

Okay, all right.

7:42

So then we're on our consent agenda.

7:45

And on these items, uh yeah, we have to say we're approving A, B, C, and D and one motion, or if we want to pull items for discussions.

7:55

Which items might you want to pull?

7:59

Anybody I would like to pull A C and D.

8:04

A C and D.

8:05

Okay.

8:07

Are there any others?

8:12

So if there's none, then can I have a motion to approve items A and A B in the consent agenda?

8:20

So second.

8:22

All in favor say aye.

8:26

All sides.

8:28

So and you had C and D, right?

8:31

Yeah.

8:31

Okay.

8:32

Why don't you ask you a question or see the question?

8:34

Oh, sure.

8:36

Okay.

8:43

Or the playground.

8:48

Um are these the actual pictures of what we're expecting equipment.

8:58

I believe so.

8:59

Jeff can walk us through that.

9:01

Yeah, those are literally actually over the ordering.

9:06

So okay.

9:10

Is this gonna be wood chips or like the rubber bits or so the the part that you see that's green will be that board in place uh rubber surfacing?

9:20

And actually the brown is gonna be um chrome rubber.

9:24

Okay.

9:25

That we like the one on the other side of Silver Lake, yeah, exactly.

9:30

Yeah, the combination of the two.

9:32

Okay, yeah.

9:35

Any more questions on HC.

9:39

So Jeff, are there any shade elements?

9:43

Um, you know, actually, we don't in this particular um playground or band or the park.

9:51

Um, just because we've got so many mature trees out there that um they'll they'll be able to cast enough shades.

9:59

Okay.

10:00

Okay.

10:00

I don't see a lot of benches like for the grown-ups to sit on.

10:04

A lot of the other parks kind of have benches around the outsides.

10:08

Is that something we do, although you can't see them here, so that's why you're not seeing any.

10:15

Um we do have there's three benches around the perimeter of the playground facing the playground.

10:24

And we also got bike racks back.

10:27

Um yeah, so okay.

10:29

Okay, so jump in kind of as an overview.

10:32

This is we have one at 1.8 million dollar brands above.

10:36

Yeah, yep.

10:37

And these are phases over.

10:39

And I notice this one is uh, you know, there's some funding left over and then the remaining funding with fund sidewalks, excavation benches, parking and site, which would be a separate action, possibly at our main meeting or at our main meeting.

10:54

Yeah, okay.

10:55

Oh so benches are not included in this portion.

10:58

Not in that price, yeah.

11:00

They're not in the sidewalks either.

11:02

So do you want to you know, mentions in here on to cut two of these contracts and for some of the folks who might be who says that they're part of like state contract purchase.

11:12

You want to just mention what the advantage of that is and why we go that route sometime to three and stuff like that.

11:18

Yep, yep.

11:19

So both of these are being purchased through those programs, and what that is is basically the state kind of goes out and does the the bidding for us, so they get a bunch of numbers uh from contractors, and then they kind of average those out.

11:35

Um find the yeah, I guess the average price.

11:39

So what that allows us to do is kind of take advantage of that pricing that they've already gone out and received, and we can choose um you know one of the one of the contractors or designers that participates in that program.

11:53

And they're probably cheaper than we could get because they have volume.

11:56

Yeah, there's volume and then I'll yeah, there's you know, it can range from 5,000 to 15,000, depending on the size of the project in terms of what we get off of the list price, I guess you'd say.

12:11

So okay.

12:13

All right, but we approved that item.

12:15

We did go now.

12:16

That is our motion to approve.

12:20

So Marty, is there second?

12:23

All in favor say aye.

12:26

And you have some questions on eight D Becky.

12:29

Yeah, I think that's similar.

12:31

Uh just the pictures, is that what we're expecting for this dash tab as well?

12:40

Yes, yeah.

12:43

There's a couple of other features that I think the silver lake pool have, let's say the silver light one is gonna be getting.

12:54

And then one in this picture, like a slide and a couple other things.

13:00

I mean it was pretty minimal.

13:09

Definitely doesn't have the budget that's silver lane can.

13:12

So we um yeah, that's why comparatively, or even so there's two.

13:21

And then the same question, are there gonna be benches?

13:25

Yes, same same thing here.

13:27

The the benches were on part of the overall site improvements.

13:32

So that's why they're not shown on this particular set of renders.

13:38

And then for this for the shade for this one, are there shade trees on where this is going to be as well?

13:44

There are, I mean, we had to take a couple out to make room for this, but there are definitely mature trees in that area.

13:51

So is this compared to the one in the north lesson?

13:57

Um, I'd say actually it's fairly comparable to that.

14:01

Yeah, it's not questions on AB.

14:10

Oh is there a second?

14:19

Okay.

14:20

Um I don't know that we have any other new business Mr.

14:25

Uh no, just uh coming in forward in using this on that.

14:34

Yeah, there's been a lot of questions about the remainder of the project that in LK Park naming the sidewalk around the framework or on the uh west side of the park.

14:46

Um we have uh shared some information uh with the board uh in previous meetings and then in response to some of the concerns that have come off with uh copy of the board uh on emails and uh plan to bring all that together next month where those items will actually be uh before the board for for approval.

15:00

forward in using this on that yeah there's been a lot of questions about the remainder of the project at MLK Park naming the sidewalk that we're on the three or on the uh west side of the park um we have uh shared some information uh with the board uh in previous meetings and then in response to some of the concerns that have come up with uh copy the board um on emails and uh plan to bring all that together next month where those items will actually be uh before the board for for approval any questions anybody has on that because that'll vote on the remainder of things that i mentioned that um treats potentials and those things that are still needed for the project is that correct oh yeah yeah i'm sorry all right any additional questions i guess that's our done for the thing is there are a motion to adjourn so second or second fall all favor say aye aye aye okay thank you folks uh see on this next question

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation█████████████████████████████████████████████84%
Procedural█████████16%
Summary of Proceedings

Rochester Park Board Meeting - April 8, 2026

Note: The agenda and minutes list the meeting date as April 7, 2026, but the provided date is April 8, 2026. This summary uses the provided date.

The Rochester Park Board met on April 8, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. in City Hall Conference Room 104. Six members were present (Chad Ramaker, Martin J. Cormack, Gary Neumann, Rebekah Kunz, Cynthia Morgan, Paul P. Marino); Mark Bilderback was absent. The board approved routine items, discussed capital improvements at MLK Park, and authorized several contracts.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: Unanimously adopted the minutes of the March 3, 2026 Park Board meeting as the official record. Motion by Cormack, second by Marino.
  • Monthly Reports: Received and filed the Parks and Recreation Department monthly report for March 2026. Director Paul Widman highlighted the transition to spring, golf course soft opening, geese management, and facility transitions.
  • Monthly Bills: Unanimously approved the department’s monthly bills as presented. Motion by Kunz, second by Morgan.
  • Financial Performance YTD: Received and filed the year-to-date financial performance report through March 2026. Informational only.
  • Consent Agenda Items 8A and 8B: Approved as a block: (8A) Authorization of a quote from American Fence for $82,687 for Quarry Hill asset preservation fencing; (8B) Approval of support for installation of an intergenerational outdoor fitness area at Soldiers Field Park, coordinated by FitLot, Inc. Motion by Cormack, second by Ramaker. Unanimous.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public spoke during the open comment period. The board did note a procedural improvement: future minutes will include the topic of public comments, not just the speaker’s name.

Discussion Items

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Park Improvements – Playground (Item 8C) Commissioner Rebekah Kunz pulled this item from the consent agenda for discussion. Park Planner Jeff Feece confirmed that the renderings shown are the actual equipment being ordered. The playground will feature poured-in-place rubber surfacing (green and brown). Kunz asked about shade elements; Feece noted that mature trees on site will provide sufficient shade. Regarding seating, Feece stated that three benches will be placed around the playground perimeter, plus bike racks. Board President Gary Neumann noted that the project is part of a $1.8 million grant-funded phased improvement, and that the playground equipment is being purchased through a state cooperative purchasing program, which saves an estimated $5,000–$15,000 off list price. The current quote covers only playground equipment and installation; benches, sidewalks, and other site improvements will be part of a future action.

MLK Park Improvements – Splash Pad (Item 8D) Commissioner Kunz also pulled this item. Feece confirmed the renderings are accurate. Kunz observed that the splash pad features appear minimal compared to the Silver Lake Pool splash pad; Feece explained the budget is smaller. He noted that the splash pad is comparable to the one at Lincolnshire Park. Benches and shade trees (some were removed for construction) will be provided as part of overall site improvements, not included in this quote. The quote from Aquatix by Landscape Structures is $465,246.81.

Other Business – MLK Park Sidewalk Director Paul Widman reported that the sidewalk on the west side of MLK Park will be presented to the board for approval at the May 2026 meeting. This follows previous discussions and community concerns.

Key Outcomes

  • Unanimous approval of minutes, monthly reports, monthly bills, and financial performance report.
  • Unanimous approval of Consent Items 8A (Quarry Hill fencing, $82,687) and 8B (FitLot fitness area at Soldiers Field).
  • Unanimous approval of Item 8C: Authorization of playground quote from St. Croix Recreation for MLK Park playground equipment and installation. Motion by Cormack, second by Marino.
  • Unanimous approval of Item 8D: Authorization of splash pad quote from Aquatix by Landscape Structures for $465,246.81 at MLK Park. Motion by Ramaker, second by Morgan.
  • Future agenda: The MLK Park sidewalk project will be presented at the May 2026 meeting.
  • Board tour: The board discussed a potential tour of new facilities, including the new park operations building, Silver Lake Pool, and the volleyball center, possibly in late May.

Meeting adjourned unanimously.

Meeting Transcript

Perfect finding. All right. All right. First animal's meeting this is our roll call and our appointment. Starting with Martin. Marty Cormac, Ward One. Chad Raymaker, Ward Six. Cindy Morgan, Ward 3. Paul Marina Ward 2. Rebecca then for five. At large member. All right. So there are any questions or changes on the order of agenda if you said we don't. We're going to look at okay. All right. Next item is approval and amendments of the meeting of March 3rd. For any questions or certifications of party members meet on that. Seeing none, is there a motion to approve? So I'm on Marty's first. Is there second? All in favor say aye. Aye. I motion is approved. Okay. Next item is our open combat comment period. And our rules are essentially the same as the city council using. Limited to 20 minutes. Each speaker may speak for up to two minutes until the 20-minute period is exhausted. Typically, the board doesn't respond to comments made at open comment. We usually if uh do that if there needs to be a clarification or a written response for setting up a meeting that happens after the open comments. So with that, Kelly, have you got a list? None? Okay. Well, it's unusual. Thank you for coming, but maybe so all right. Gary, yeah. Can I just um in reading the notes from the last open comment? There was just a name on there, but there's no even issue that's on there. And I wonder if we can just include at least the issue that they were speaking to, so we have some context. I actually am guessing it was RAPA was the person who spoke in the open comments. But um I just thought, gosh, we should at least capture what they're saying. I think that's a good idea, at least right on top of it. So we'll do that forward here. Another space on the on the form that people sign up for. Okay. All right. Now we go into the park and rec department monthly reports. Uh there's quite a few interesting ones in there. Um, do you have any comments you need to make or any of your staff on those? Well, try to give you a lot of the great information in this uh month, this past month, some are a team, and it's uh first the theme is uh past few months has been transitioning now again into spring.

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