OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Rochester Park Board Meeting - September 2, 2026

Boards and Commissions — Wednesday, September 2, 2026
BodyRochester, Minnesota
SessionBoards and Commissions
DateWednesday, September 2, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 31:54

Transcript — Verbatim
0:17

Yeah, right here, Word 6.

0:19

Marty Cormac Ward 1.

0:21

April 3rd.

0:24

Paul Marina Ward 2.

0:25

Rebecca Guns 45.

0:28

Very good.

0:29

And we have large member and Cindy Morgan, board thing.

0:32

There you go.

0:33

Thank you.

0:34

All right.

0:34

First item on the advantage there is approval the minutes of any relatives.

0:38

Or any questions or changes maybe in the moment.

0:55

Any changes in the order of the agenda?

1:03

Marga in chat, all favor say aye.

1:05

Aye.

1:09

Kelly, can you have any sign up?

1:12

Okay, I'll be just all right.

1:14

Now our open comment periods to explain if you're not on for a later item.

1:19

Uh is that we have a total of 20 minutes on our open comment period and each speaker's limited to two minutes.

1:29

Um negotiation litigation or related personnel will not be discussed for open cabinet.

1:47

Later.

1:48

Later, okay.

1:49

Uh Kyle Larson.

1:54

Um Michelle, uh something.

1:57

Yes, but then okay.

1:59

And then Lee Sangim, are you with the group?

2:02

Yes, we're the group.

2:03

I'm definitely all right.

2:06

So we'll put those off until we get to their item, which is uh item under eight.

2:11

Um nine eight.

2:16

All right.

2:21

Next item on our agenda is our reports.

2:23

I think that's usual done.

2:26

Wonderful job explaining all the different things that they've got going on.

2:30

Are there any questions or Mr.

2:33

Woodman?

2:33

Anything you want to point out to them.

2:35

They're gonna follow those staff reports.

2:39

I think I added in uh one of the reports the uh urban gear hunt um where you just got the legislation, uh the notifications out all the hundreds of participate and we'll be doing some orientations and that we're gonna begin actually August or October first.

2:59

And uh we'll look closer to the communication scheme.

3:02

Can't you get some questions?

3:04

People see archery signs uh that we do the deer hunt in the parks.

3:09

Uh just wanted to assure everybody were planned.

3:20

Regulations to it that keep it safe and uh become good uh goods that are gonna be working with us here, so just yeah.

3:29

Okay, uh more lots of here and very trying to back out of this last year, but we were pushed by neighbors that really want to see it move forward.

3:41

So we've been uh we've got some volunteers helping us, and uh it's a good program.

3:47

Yeah, any questions or comments from any of the board members on our reports.

3:53

Uh one question, what are you gonna talk about when you guys gonna move to the new facility?

3:59

We're doing it this week.

4:01

Uh that's why these guys are looking for fire, they've been up in boxes and equipment.

4:07

So yeah, we're we're in transition.

4:10

I think one thing we want to think of down the road is if you want to take a tour of the building, that's what we have a meeting there, certainly.

4:17

I have that as a request at the end of the meeting, maybe during the October meeting there.

4:25

Anyone else got any questions on the reports?

4:27

If not, I got one and a statement.

4:30

We've got a very good report in here about the park services officers and how they work with the police department and uh a couple months ago.

4:38

The the police chief did a really good job in the staff of explaining how they try and work with uh people hold us that might be in the parks uh kind of compassionate way.

4:48

So if you ever interested in trying to catch it on what meeting that was, but they did a perfect job of explaining how they how they're trying to make that work well and respectful to people.

5:00

Um so nothing else, then we'll move on to our monthly approval of bills.

5:04

Are there any questions on the bills or Paul?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation████████████████████████████████████████████44%
Historic Preservation██████████████████████████26%
Procedural█████████████13%
Veterans Affairs██████████10%
Strategic Planning███████7%
Summary of Proceedings

Rochester Park Board Meeting - September 2, 2026

The Park Board met on September 2, 2026 (as specified) to approve routine consent items, receive monthly reports, and hear a presentation on the proposed expansion of the Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial. Members also discussed updates to the Parks Master Plan and a potential future presentation on mode-shift strategies.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: Minutes from the August 4 and August 18, 2026 meetings were approved unanimously.
  • 8.A. Fall 2026 Private Property Tree Planting Bid Award: Authorized bid award to Hoffman & McNamara in the amount of $62,663.
  • 8.B. Public Prune 2.2026: Authorized bid award with Hathaway Tree Service in the amount of $78,000.
  • 8.C. Gamehaven Agreement Amendment with RASC: Approved the amended agreement with the Rochester Active Sports Club for the purchase of a third snow gun. The club will spend $30,000 of its own funds on the gun, and the city will reimburse that amount. The board discussed the long-standing partnership with RASC, which has raised funds, built trails, and supported snowmaking at Gamehaven Park.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No items were raised under the open comment period. Speakers who signed up were deferred to the corresponding agenda item (Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial presentation).

Discussion Items

  • Parks and Recreation Department Monthly Reports: Staff provided an overview of August activities, including the upcoming urban deer hunt (October 1 start, hundreds of participants, orientations planned). Board members asked about the move to a new facility and commended the park services officers' compassionate approach to park users.
  • Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial Expansion Presentation: The Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial Committee (including Frank, Kyle Larson, Michelle Broadwater, and others) presented a plan to add four curved granite walls to honor Global War on Terrorism (G WOT) veterans. The expansion (estimated cost $3.21 million) would also widen sidewalks, add lighting and benches, and increase paver sales to fund ongoing maintenance. The committee noted the memorial serves a 50‑mile radius, contains over 3,500 names on its Wall of Remembrance, and has hosted international visitors. Board Chair recommended the committee work with staff to refine details before a future vote.
  • Future Agenda Items: A board member requested that the city's mode-shift/transportation demand management team present to the board. Staff reported that the Parks Master Plan (last updated in 2016) will be refreshed in 2027; a consultant will be selected in late 2026, with the update process starting in February 2027 and lasting approximately nine months.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent items (8.A, 8.B, 8.C) were approved.
  • The board received the presentation on Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial expansion and directed the committee to continue working with staff toward a formal vote at a future meeting.
  • The board agreed to pursue a consultant-led strategic planning effort for the Parks Master Plan update, aligned with the City Council's similar initiative.
  • Staff will coordinate with the city's mode-shift coordinator to bring a presentation to a future Park Board meeting.

Meeting Transcript

Yeah, right here, Word 6. Marty Cormac Ward 1. April 3rd. Paul Marina Ward 2. Rebecca Guns 45. Very good. And we have large member and Cindy Morgan, board thing. There you go. Thank you. All right. First item on the advantage there is approval the minutes of any relatives. Or any questions or changes maybe in the moment. Any changes in the order of the agenda? Marga in chat, all favor say aye. Aye. Kelly, can you have any sign up? Okay, I'll be just all right. Now our open comment periods to explain if you're not on for a later item. Uh is that we have a total of 20 minutes on our open comment period and each speaker's limited to two minutes. Um negotiation litigation or related personnel will not be discussed for open cabinet. Later. Later, okay. Uh Kyle Larson. Um Michelle, uh something. Yes, but then okay. And then Lee Sangim, are you with the group? Yes, we're the group. I'm definitely all right. So we'll put those off until we get to their item, which is uh item under eight. Um nine eight. All right. Next item on our agenda is our reports. I think that's usual done. Wonderful job explaining all the different things that they've got going on. Are there any questions or Mr. Woodman? Anything you want to point out to them. They're gonna follow those staff reports. I think I added in uh one of the reports the uh urban gear hunt um where you just got the legislation, uh the notifications out all the hundreds of participate and we'll be doing some orientations and that we're gonna begin actually August or October first. And uh we'll look closer to the communication scheme. Can't you get some questions? People see archery signs uh that we do the deer hunt in the parks. Uh just wanted to assure everybody were planned. Regulations to it that keep it safe and uh become good uh goods that are gonna be working with us here, so just yeah. Okay, uh more lots of here and very trying to back out of this last year, but we were pushed by neighbors that really want to see it move forward. So we've been uh we've got some volunteers helping us, and uh it's a good program. Yeah, any questions or comments from any of the board members on our reports. Uh one question, what are you gonna talk about when you guys gonna move to the new facility? We're doing it this week. Uh that's why these guys are looking for fire, they've been up in boxes and equipment.

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