City planner presents park-plan survey results; feedback boards to go to Mendota Picnic

City planner Jennifer Haskamp presented initial results from the Mendota Park Plan survey at the Mendota Planning Commission meeting on Aug. 27, 2025, saying the survey remained open longer than anticipated and that seven additional print surveys were collected at the meeting. Haskamp said staff will use the results to shape two community feedback poster boards for an outreach booth at the Mendota Picnic on Sept. 7.

The poster boards will present a curated list of park-project options. Residents attending the picnic will be given two adhesive dots each to place on the boards to indicate their priorities, Haskamp told the commission. SHC staff member Jenna Shoosmith will join Haskamp at the event to discuss priorities with residents and collect the dot-vote feedback. Commissioners reviewed and refined items to include on the boards before directing the Haskamp planning team to finalize and produce the materials.

At the start of the meeting, the commission approved the evening's agenda (motion by Commissioner Dana Schumacher; seconded by Commissioner Rachel Golias) by an action recorded as 4-0. The commission also approved the minutes of the June 25, 2025 regular meeting (motion by Commissioner Dana Schumacher; seconded by Commissioner Jim Rasmussen) by an action recorded as 4-0. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn moved by Chair Debbie Donnelly and seconded by Commissioner Jim Rasmussen; the motion carried 5-0 and the meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m. Minutes were submitted by Commissioner Rachel Golias and are not yet approved.

Next steps: the Haskamp planning team will finalize and produce the feedback poster boards for display at the Sept. 7 Mendota Picnic and will report back to the commission on the compiled community input at a future meeting.