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MINUTES - UNAPPROVED
OWATONNA PARK AND RECREATION
REGULAR PARK BOARD MEETING
APRIL 26, 2023
6:00 PM
Members Present:
Chair: Jon Thiel
Vice Chair: Gina McGuire
Board Members: Tyler Cochran, Sara Baird, Kara Perry
Members Absent: Greg Posch, Jonathan Douglas
Staff Present:
Jenna Tuma, Parks, Recreation and Facilities Director
Tomas Gorycki, Recreation Supervisor
Eric Anderson, Recreation Manager
Council Member:
LOCATION: Buckham West 15 W Division St. Faribault
OPENING BUSINESS
A. Call to Order at 6:00 pm
B. Roll Call:
APPROVAL OF THE MARCH 13, 2023, MINUTES
Motion by Tyler Cochran to approve the March 13, 2023, Park Board Meeting Minutes
and second by Jon Thiel. All members voted aye.
PERSONS WISHING TO APPEAR
None
NEW BUSINESS
• Tour of the Faribault Senior Center and connect with Faribault Park Board and
staff to share ideas and understanding each parks department, and have a better
understanding of their work plans.
• Buckingham West Senior Facility tour and operations discussion
Tour of the facilities, original facilities, and addition
o
Senior operation is a 501C3, separate from the City operations, staffing
o
and operations is funded through the 501C3.
 3 Full-time staff with volunteer support.
 Operate a thrift store through volunteers, funds used for the senior
center.
 The City pays 45k annually to operations and picks up the utilities
and custodian work. Successful model, well used by seniors,
positive energy.
• Faribault Parks & Recreation information

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Have about 45 parks of various sizes
o
Starting a task force for a new community center, will be at a new location,
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exploring a sales tax funding option. Will kick off this summer.
Recently went through a department reorganization with staffing changes.
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The PR has a park dedication policy on residential, commercial and
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redevelopment.
Their annual CIP is between $400-700k depending on projects.
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Discussion around adaptive programming and meeting the needs of the
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community in programming.
Discussion on their scholarship process and funding ideas.
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Small OPD meeting
Reviewed upcoming May meeting topics and holding workshops during the
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summer at the Social Commons to work on a business or strategic plan…starting
with a SWOT Analysis.
Reviewed upcoming City Council agenda items for
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• May 2: Study Session PM on May 2, TPL presentations,
• May 16th: MP approval, Regional Park naming, ICS agreement, Discussion of
future facilities needs and funding.
OLD BUSINESS
PARK PERMITS
MEMORIALS AND DONATIONS
SENIOR DATE
6. COMMUNICATIONS
Announcements
• In the News
1. Weekly Owatonna People’s Press articles:
http://ci.owatonna.mn.us/Blog.aspx?CID=3
2. Owatonna Live Straight Talk Straight Talk
(owatonnalive.com)
• Actions Requested from past meetings
ADJOURNMENT:
The next board meeting is at the West Hills Social Commons and will be held on
Monday, May 8, 2023, at 4:30 p.m.