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Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes September 10, 2025 --------- Page 7 of 14 communications department, who provided additional feedback, whether it be in the way the questions were asked or whether it was the questions in the menu of selection for the multiple choice so whether it was two to three times a month vs monthly. Those kinds of things that they have experience in communicating with the public are what they then took the recommendation of through a group of professionals who use communication as their full-time career and knowledge and expertise. He said that is what is ultimately helpful in the process as well. It’s not to say that you guys don’t know what you are talking about. It’s we are leveraging what you guys are providing as feedback as the groundwork in helping to formulate an idea but then putting it on to the group of professionals to help finalize the document. Chair Anderson asked if those two combined recommendations go to the Council and then the Council said this is what they are going to do. Mr. Stremcha said two-fold; one, the Council didn’t vote on it, they are not going to vote on every case-by-case decision that staff might make. Mr. Stremcha said it’s open-door communication to relay information. The recommendation from the commission was carried up to a certain point. Mr. Stremcha said when the group of professionals within the communications department are the ones fielding the phone calls from the people with questions, comments, and concerns relaying answers to questions such as, well how come my neighborhood got this survey about Orono Park but those across the highway didn’t, and not understanding why this zone makes an impact for our survey targeting neighborhood parks. He said the whole conversation revolved around the neighborhood parks having equipment removed from the park. It wasn’t anything to do with future improvements in Orono Park. Mr. Stremcha said the spirit of the survey lost its focus by including a regional park. Then the community as a whole, all it takes is one person to take a picture of the survey and say, how come my neighbor got this survey and how come I didn’t when I am just as equally concerned about what happens at Orono and how come my voice doesn’t matter at Orono. Chair Anderson asked how come our voice doesn’t matter? He said this is the first time in almost 40 years that this has happened. He repeated first time, first time. Chair Anderson said we are a recommending body. We fully understand that, but our recommendations go to Council they don’t go to staff, and it makes one wonder what they are doing there. He said it really does. Chair Anderson asked staff, “Do they really need them? It doesn’t sound like it. Commissioner Niziolek said that what makes it a little bit more bitter is that the staff had a second shot at this. He said that they didn’t’ see it just once and decide at it. It came back a month later, an opportunity for that presentation and dialog to occur, and he is not saying that this survey isn’t going to be great, but a policy that includes everybody, clear relationship, clear discussions is important and he is going to leave it at that. He really hopes he takes that to heart because we are spending a lot of time here, and we really care. We really care. Commissioner Niziolek said this hurts, it is a failure of the policy. 8. ANNOUNCEMENTS Commissioner Niziolek said that he has one. If anyone would like to come to one of the largest sporting events held in the City of Elk River it will happen immediately before this Park and Recreation Commission meeting in October. They will be hosting the Northwest Suburban Conference Championship, at the wonderful Elk River Golf Club. He said it is an incredible venue, and they will probably have 800 participants and well over 1000 spectators, and he is very grateful to have a community that supports it and have the Elk River Golf Club support this wonderful event. He would highly encourage people to come. He will not make it to the meeting because he will be busy cleaning