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Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes June 11, 2025 --------- Page 2 of 10 Commissioner Niziolek asked how long they have had the trails master plan. Mr. Stremcha thinks that it has been around for about a decade. Commissioner Niziolek suggested that if it had been around for a decade, they would have to relook at it anyway, so they should leave it. He thinks it will cause hiccups in the system if they change the name now. Commissioner Loidolt reiterated that they are just looking at changing the name to get away from the name of “master” plan. He added that was part of the reason they changed the Athletic Facilities Master Plan name to Framework Plan. He believes that they need to keep up with the times and support the changes happening in the community. The world is taking out the word “master” in all sorts of respects, such as “master” bathroom. He pointed out that they would just be changing the name to evolve and keep moving along in 2025. Secretary Larson confirmed that the last time the trails master plan was updated was in 2018. Chair Anderson reiterated that as part of the master planning process, the trails master plan should be reviewed and updated as well, but it can also be reviewed and updated at any time. Commissioner Niziolek said that he feels that with the trail plan having been around for such a long time, they shouldn’t change the name, or they would have to change all the records. He thinks it’s a weird thing to do. Chair Anderson said that in that case, they should also be changing the name of the master plan name tonight, but they aren’t. He said he spent a couple of years and many hours developing the current trails master plan. He says it is useful to the planning department, parks, and developers by giving them a specific location of trails. He said he thinks the name master plan fits very well. He said their only opportunity to complete trails comes with development. He said prior to this plan, they lost the opportunity to gain some trails. He said he thinks it is important. Commissioner Goodwin asked if this is consistent with what other cities use for names of plans. Mr. Stremcha said it is what is in the plan that matters, staff will reference the title of it no matter what it is called. Commissioner Varty asked if the word master is the issue, then they could just get rid of the word and call it the Elk River Trails Plan. Mr. Stremcha reiterated that regardless of what the plan is called, staff will follow the recommended plan. Chair Anderson said he has not seen a negative connotation with the word. Commissioner Niziolek asked staff if they believed the word was bad. Mr. Shelby said he did not believe it was for staff to decide and that it was Paul Paige at HKGI who directed them towards using the word framework during the development of the Athletic Facilities Framework plan. Mr. Paige indicated that there were some cities looking at different languages but there was a lack of industry consensus. Chair Anderson said that he thinks that when they start working on the Parks and Recreation Master Plan that they are all going to agree, like they did with the athletic field plan, that it is a framework plan and needs a lot of flexibility, unlike the trails plan. Commissioner Loidolt said he thinks they should change it. Chair Anderson disagreed. Commissioner Loidolt pointed out that this is the reason they changed the ballfield plan, and that they need to change and evolve. He pointed out that it isn’t used in the housing industry anymore. Moved by Commissioner Loidolt and seconded by Commissioner Fermoyle to change the name of the Elk River Trails Master Plan to Elk River Trails Framework Plan. Motion Failed 3-4. Chair Anderson, Commissioners Niziolek, Varty and Stewart opposed.