THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING Administrative Center - Board Room 3000 Xenium Lane North, Plymouth, MN Thursday, July 2, 2015 Estimated Time: 11:00 11:30 a.m. Committee Chair: Jennifer DeJournett AGENDA 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Board members who wish to delete or add any item(s) to the agenda shall do so at this time. MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA OF THE JULY 2, 2015, INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING. 3. APPROVAL OF COMMITTEE REPORT OF JUNE 11, 2015 MOTION TO APPROVE THE REPORT OF THE JUNE 11, 2015, INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING. 4. BUSINESS ITEM(S) A. Legislative Update NO ACTION REQUIRED; THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION. 5. ADJOURNMENT MOTION TO ADJOURN.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING REQUEST FOR ACTION Meeting Date: 07/02/15 Business Item: Report Item Number: 3 Department: Superintendent's Office Originating Source: Boe Carlson, Superintendent Agenda Item: June 11, 2015, Intergovernmental and Community Engagement Committee Report MOTION TO APPROVE THE REPORT OF THE JUNE 11, 2015, INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING. Background: Report attached.
THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING June 11, 2015 Commissioners Present: Jennifer DeJournett, Chair; Steven E. Antolak, Daniel Freeman, John Gibbs, John Gunyou, Gene Kay and Penny Steele Staff Present: Boe Carlson, Superintendent; J. Brauchle, J. Cremers, P. Erickson, K. Grissman, H. Koolick, J. McDowell, T. McDowell, J. McGrew-King, J. Vlaming, A. Whiteside and L. Ziegler 1. CALL TO ORDER The Intergovernmental and Community Engagement Committee meeting was called to order by Chair Jennifer DeJournett at the Administrative Center, Board Room, 3000 Xenium Lane North, Plymouth, MN at 12:06 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION by Steele, seconded by Freeman, TO APPROVE THE AGENDA OF THE JUNE 11, 2015, INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING. MOTION CARRIED 3. APPROVAL OF COMMITTEE REPORT OF MAY 7, 2015 MOTION by Steele, seconded by Freeman, TO APPROVE THE REPORT OF THE MAY 7, 2015, INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING. 4. BUSINESS ITEM(S) A. Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park Master Plan Update MOTION CARRIED No action required; this item was prepared by Kelly Grissman, Director of Planning, for information and discussion. B. Silverwood OnStage - Foundation VIP Event Invitations No action required; this item was prepared by Amanda Whiteside, Director of Marketing and Community Engagement, for information and discussion. Paul Erickson, Special Initiatives Coordinator, distributed event invitations (on file), updated the Committee on event details, and stood for Commissioners questions. C. Legislative Update No action required; this item was prepared by Superintendent Boe Carlson for information and discussion.
06/11/15 Intergovernmental and Community Engagement Committee Page 2 5. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Steele, seconded by Kay, TO ADJOURN THE JUNE 11, 2015, MEETING OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE. The meeting was adjourned at 12:12 p.m. MOTION CARRIED
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE REQUEST FOR ACTION Meeting Date: 07/02/15 Business Item: Unfinished Item Number: 4A Division: Superintendent s Office Originating Source: Boe Carlson, Superintendent Agenda Item: Legislative Update NO ACTION REQUIRED; THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION. Background: At the July 16 th Board Meeting, the Park District s legislative consultant will provide a report on the 2015 Legislative Session. At the Committee meeting, the Superintendent and the Intergovernmental and Community Engagement Committee Chair will discuss upcoming activities in preparation for the 2016 upcoming session. This will include potential outreach activities (Reference 4A-1). Relationship to the Vision The Request for Action supports the following element(s) of the Vision Plan: Protect the region's water and natural resources Inspire people to recreate Connect people to nature Create vibrant places Collaborate across boundaries Relationship to the Policy Statement The Request for Action supports the following element(s) of the Policy Statement: Policy I - Purpose of the Park District Policy II - Form of Government Policy III - Role in Intergovernmental Affairs B. Role in the Regional Recreation Open Space System C. Intergovernmental Relations D. Legislative and State Agency Relationships
Reference 4A-1 Legislative Outreach Plan Introduction More than 35 legislators represent suburban Hennepin County and nearby areas containing Three Rivers parks and trails. These individuals comprise what is commonly referred to as the Park District s legislative delegation. Their constituents are most directly impacted positively and negatively by legislative action affecting Three Rivers Park District; therefore they are the legislators most likely to champion legislative action on the Park District s behalf. Consequently, the approximately three dozen lawmakers who make up the Park District s legislative delegation are the focus of this outreach plan. In addition to these legislators, the plan also focuses on members of the committees where legislation affecting the Park District typically is referred for the first time. In the House of Representatives, these committees are the Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee as well as the Legacy Funding Finance Committee; in the Senate, such committees are the Environment, Economic Development and Agriculture Division of the Finance Committee, and the Subcommittee on Legacy (which also reports to the Finance Committee). Objective The objective of the Legislative Outreach Plan is to raise awareness of Three Rivers Park District s mission, facilities and programs among legislators representing suburban Hennepin County and members of committees that act on environment and natural resources issues. Action steps 1. Invite individual legislators to tour Three Rivers Park District facilities in their districts. By offering tours of parks and/or trails in a legislator s district, Park District Commissioners and staff can take time to explain the Park District s facilities, including the opportunities and challenges they face, in detail. If a legislator feels a personal connection with Park District facilities located in his or her district, he or she may be more likely to support legislation that benefits the Park District as a whole. 2. Invite members of the Park District s Legislative delegation to attend select Three Rivers events. Each season of the year, the Park District offers public events that are very popular. Extending personal invitations to legislators to attend these well attended events would provide an opportunity for legislators to experience the vibrant, affordable programming that is available and interact with their constituents in a relaxed and comfortable setting. 3. Organize tours of key facilities for members of relevant legislative committees. The Park District s mission encompasses much more than a typical provider of parks and recreation, including outdoor education and protection of natural resources. Members of the committees identified above make decisions about allocation of funding, particularly funding
from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Tours could be offered that showcase the range of facilities and programs that support the Park District s mission. For instance, one tour could be offered of the Crow-Hassan prairie and the Park District Nursery, and another tour could highlight youth hunter education programs available at the Baker Near- Wilderness Settlement. Tours could be offered for committee members on an individual basis (for instance, committee leadership) or for all members of the committee. Members of other committees that advise the Legislature, such as the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Commission and the Legislative-Citizens Commission on Minnesota Resources, also could be invited to tour select Three Rivers facilities. 4. Mobilize special interest groups to advocate on behalf of the Park District. Groups including the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Minnesota Waterfowl Association partner with the Park District to offer programming at Three Rivers facilities. Part of an effective Legislative outreach strategy can include mobilizing members of these groups (who already are helping with programming in the parks) to contact legislators to share stories about how the collaborative efforts between Three Rivers and the interest groups are helping to teach young people about the outdoors and conservation best practices. 5. Continue Three Rivers Park District Day at the Capitol. In 2014, Three Rivers held its first-ever Day at the Capitol event, which provided opportunities to educate legislators, legislative staff and the public about the wide range of programs, events and facilities the Park District operates in support of the mission. While the other elements of the Legislative Outreach Plan are targeted toward members of the Park District s Legislative delegation and/or members of key committees, the Day at the Capitol event provides opportunities to engage in outreach efforts with lawmakers from the entire Legislature. Additionally, Day at the Capitol provides excellent opportunities to raise awareness of the Park District through social media as legislators, staff and the public who attend the event share photos of the animals and other Three Rivers displays. Evaluation Evaluation of the Legislative outreach plan will take place on an ongoing basis as elements of the plan are implemented. Because legislators time is extremely limited during the Legislative Session, Action Items 1-3 are intended for implementation when the Legislature is not in session (typically from June through December). Due to the fluid nature of legislative activity, outreach efforts during Session will be discussed with Commissioners on an ongoing basis through email and updates at Board and Committee meetings. If Commissioners have questions about the plan, please contact Jason McGrew-King at 763-559-6779 or JMcGrew-King@threeriversparkdistrict.org.