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04-23-2024 (Strategic Planning Session - Health & Recreation and the Environment)STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION HEALTH & RECREATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT APRIL 23, 2024 - 3:45 P.M. MINUTES Members present: Mayor Gary Forcier called the session to order. Members present were Tim Burley, Pat May, Dave Sebesta and Chad Czmowski. Others present were Matt Jaunich, City Administrator and other city directors and staff 1) Introduction to the Topic Matt Jaunich, City Administrator, presented before the group. The items of discussion today are related to the City's Core Value Focus #2 (Health and Recreation) and Core Value #5 (The Environment). A summary of these core values include providing safe water and appropriate wastewater treatment; protecting the public from hazardous situations, both manmade and from the environment; providing the appropriate programs and facilities to provide a variety of cultural, recreational, educational, historical, and social opportunities for the community; providing the appropriate programs and facilities and green space, in partnership with the community, to assist the community in maintaining a healthy, balanced life, both physically and mentally; protecting all aspects of the environment so everyone can enjoy a clean, healthy and beautiful city; protecting and enhancing the Crow River; and doing these things for all types of people of all ages, year-round, to attract and retain families. Feedback from the recently completed community survey noted the following: 84% rated the overall quality of the natural environment within the City as excellent or good; 85% rated the overall quality of parks and recreation opportunities as good to excellent; 68% rated the overall health and wellness opportunities as good to excellent; 76% rated recreational centers/facilities and programs/classes as good to excellent; 84% rated the availability of paths and walking trails as good to excellent; 84% rated the City's drinking water services as good to excellent; 88% rated the City's sewer services as good to excellent; 86% rated the City's storm water management as good to excellent; and 83% rated the City's yard waste pick-up services as good to excellent. Resources the City has had completed related to Health and Recreation and The Environment include the 2017 Lakes/River Basin Improvement Study, the 2019 PRCE Master Plan, the 2023 PRCE Annual Report and the 2023 Public Works Annual Report. Mayor Forcier noted that citizens typically communicate to him that taxes are high in the city but residents receive great services for the taxes they pay and they don't wish for anything to be reduced. Council Member Czmowski expressed that he feels the City is doing outstanding on the environment side of things. However, he feels improvements could be made to the parks/recreation facilities compared to west metro facilities, but the parks/recreation facilities are great compared to the local region. Council Member Burley expressed that struggles relate to rural mental/physical health care facilities as well and he feels that should be addressed as part of the City's strategic planning process. 2) State of Health & the Environment in Hutchinson a. Water, Wastewater, Stormwater Systems Mike Stifter, Public Works Director, explained that the City's water and wastewater facilities are class "A" facilities. The water plant was put into service in 2007 with a cost of $14 million. The facility combines biological filtration and reverse osmosis technologies. The plant's capacity is 5.2 to 6.5 million gallons per day and a storage capacity of 3.15 million gallons. The plant contains 100 miles of water pipe and runs at about 50% capacity. Regulations pertaining to the plant include watering restrictions, lead -copper, PFAS, sulfate reduction and wellhead protection. The wastewater facility was put into service in 1988, expanded in 2008 and was upgraded in 2022. The facility is designed to treat an average of 3.67 million gallons per day which is a capacity for a population of 21,000. The plant includes 91 miles of pipe. Regulations pertaining to the wastewater plant include nutrient reductions such as phosphorous, nitrogen and sulfates, PFAS and delegated pretreatment program. The plant utilizes biological and membrane bioreactor processes that reach purity levels that exceed those mandated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. John Paulson, Environmental/Project/Regulatory Manager, spoke on the stormwater system. The system includes 57 treatment best management practices which includes ponds, rain gardens, etc., thousands of catch basins and manholes, along with 94 miles of storm sewer and 76 outlets from the system to the environment. Operations of the stormwater system include maintenance of the infrastructure, street sweeping, fall leaf collections, surface conveyances such as curb and gutter and a variety of public education and outreach activities intended to reduce pollutants entering the storm sewers. A resiliency study is planned which will produce multiple capital improvement concepts to improve drainage/water quality and pond maintenance is ongoing. Regulations pertaining to the stormwater system include MS4 City, chloride, bacteria and nutrient TMDLs and dredged sediment management. b. Environment, Renewables, EAB and the Crow River Mr. Paulson also spoke about other items which included the City's urban forestry which includes over 13,500 trees; emerald ash borer treatment; mosquito treatment; increased interest from the community about alternative landscapes; electric vehicles; energy efficiency improvement; tracking renewable energy market trends and new funding opportunities; and Lakes and River improvements. c. Creekside and keeping the community clean Andy Kosek, Creekside Manager, presented on the Creekside Compost Facility which is only one of seven food waste composting facilities in Minnesota currently permitted by the MPCA. The facility currently processes approximately 1400 tons per yard (TPY) of residential curbside organics (food waste). A new CASP system is being built for 1500 TPY and can be expanded to 3000 TPY. Plans are to expand into accepting pre -consumer and commercial food waste/organics. The facility also transfers $55,000 annually to the diseased tree infestation mitigation fund. Mr. Kosek noted that the facility receives and processes approximately 13,000 TPY yard and wood waste — 5000 TPY comes from Hutchinson with the remaining coming from other communities. The facility is at processing capacity space -wise for yard and wood waste. The facility also is a bagging facility for packaged soils and mulch and brings in $2.6 million in sales revenue. The facility transfers $120,000 annually to the City's general fund. 3) State of Health & Recreation in Hutchinson a. Systems, Programing, Open/Green Space and Facilities Lynn Neumann, PRCE Director, provided an overview of the Health and Recreation System in the city which includes: 41 city parks, 21 park playgrounds, 4 shared school -park sites, 237.5 acres of park, 138 acres of natural areas/open space, 35 miles of paved trails, 3 miles of unpaved trails, 16 miles of bike friendly streets, 33.5 miles of sidewalks, 3 miles of bike lanes, Hutchinson Aquatic Center, Recreation Center, Burich Ice Arena with two sheets of ice, Event Center/Senior Center, municipal campground, Farmers' Market — Depot, terrain park and skate park, dog park, disc golf course, various athletic fields, multi -use tennis courts/pickleball courts and archery range. Ms. Neumann spoke about the PRCE Master Plan that was completed in 2019. The City has a very strong parks system, strong partnership with school district/community education, strong partnerships with community groups/associations/organizations/volunteers, strong playground replacement plan/fund and strong arts and historical culture throughout the community. Facility needs include placing staff in new roles for new expectations of facilities, long-term maintenance plans and funds to keep facilities running at high levels of operation standards, software to track maintenance and facility upgrades that were overlooked in the past. 4) Vision for Health & Recreation and the Environment in the Years to Come Matt Jaunich, City Administrator, provided a list of facilities/programs/improvements that have been identified as community `wants" over the years. These include: increased security at parks (more cameras in areas of concern), rebrand the parks system, prairie maintenance/management plan, more green space that allows for more fields, expansion of the campground, splash pad, indoor pool space with more swim lessons, trail head with a welcome center, stand along pickleball courts, ice arena improvements and connection for rinks and meeting spaces, more special/community events, more inclusive play features and adaptive recreation opportunities, gymnastics program, more enclosed shelter space within parks for rentals, multi -generational community center, historical preservation within the parks system, increased arts culture within the parks system, new park on the south end of town due to new developments and future growth and Roberts Park improvements. Concept plans were distributed for a splash pad park, a campground expansion, pickleball courts, Burich Arena improvements, Linden Park/Rec Center and athletic field site at the former Bernhagen property. Mayor Forcier has heard the need/desire for pickleball courts and a splash pad and asked that perhaps they be listed as higher priority. Council Member May noted he understands the need for a campground expansion and the desire for a splash pad. Council Member Czmowski noted that he can see there are projects that can be completed in a five-year plan. He does have a desire for a splash pad. He feels some of the larger ticket items (Bernhagen athletic field, Burich Arena improvements, Linden Park/Rec Center) should potentially be completed with a sales tax. Additional stand- alone pickleball courts could be placed on a five-year plan but if users want it done sooner fundraising efforts will need to be made. Discussion was held on good practices on accepting organization donations. Council Member Burley also spoke about unfunded mandates and the importance of being mindful of them. Mayor Forcier noted that the water and wastewater plants were very well -planned for capacity. Council Member Burley also spoke about the additional recreational opportunities the Crow River could potentially provide. General discussion was held pertaining to Creekside and materials it can possibly take such as EAB materials, dredged river materials, excess food waste, etc. and how that would affect the facility. 5) What City Sales Tax Options may look like in the Future Matt Jaunich spoke about a state Local Taxes Advisory Task Force that was put in place to review use of local sales tax. The Task Force has put together nine recommendations for the municipality's use of a local sales tax. The recommendations were: 1. The local sales tax should be limited to capital projects that serve a regional population, provide economic development benefits and opportunities or draw individuals to the regions. 2. Cities do not need legislative approval if it meets one of the following projects: - library (as long as it is a part of a regional system); - regional sports complex (no similar facility can be within 15 miles and support from two surrounding communities); - convention center (minimum 50,000 sq. ft.); - airport (regional by function and use); - park (meets three of five criteria of the Trails and Legacy Plan for a regional park); - trail (meets three of five criteria of the Trails and Legacy Plan for a regional trail); - criminal justice facilities (correctional facilities, district court offices and law enforcement centers). 3. Capital projects not regional — need legislative approval. 4. The State Auditor's Office should determine whether or not legislative approval is needed. 5. The cost of the project must total up to a maximum dollar amount or up to a maximum 30-year collection period, whichever comes first. 6. The approval process and timelines must meet the needs of the State Auditor and meet legislative deadlines if needed. 7. Must be approved by the voters at a general or special election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. 8. Money needs to be set aside to defray administration costs of revenue, the state auditor, and small business filers. 9. Limit to 1% in total for each government entity. Mr. Jaunich then reviewed a 2024 bill that was recently heard in the House. 6) Current Challenges/Barriers to Health & Recreation and the Environment Health and Recreation barriers include funding/tax appetite for new projects/facility improvements; full-time staffing/short-staffed in Parks and Recreation; equipment needs to stay current with trends and efficiencies for staff; need to fill the Recreation and Aquatics Programmer position to meet the needs of the department; seasonal staffing continues to get more difficult. Health and Environment barriers include state/federal regulations; appetite for rate increases; potential lack of sales tax option; and full-time staffing. 7) Questions/Conversations/Developing Ideas and/or Directions 8) Next Steps/Action Items/Developing a Plan Council Member May suggested perhaps some of the large projects could be privately - sponsored and have naming rights. Mayor Forcier stressed the importance of maintaining what we have and he feels the city and staff does a very good job at maintenance. The Council feels comfortable with where the city is environmentally, however maybe some ideas could be explored related to Creekside. Ms. Neumann reminded the group the senior center needs to stay high on the priority list as well. Project priority lists will need to be made by the Council. Council Member Burley encouraged the Council to continue to engage the community in discussions on project priorities. Motion by Sebesta, second by Czmowski, to adjourn at 5:20 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.