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Staff reviewed typical weekly usage patterns, noting that weekday daytime use is largely <br />meeting-based with fewer evening rentals, while weekends remain the busiest rental periods. <br /> <br />Staff highlighted successes within the rental program, including providing gathering spaces for <br />the community, offering larger gathering opportunities than many residents can accommodate at <br />home, and supporting approved community-good organizations through no-fee use opportunities. <br /> <br />Staff discussed operational efficiencies implemented through the Lead Facility Supervisor <br />model, which allows staff to oversee multiple rentals, improve efficiency of staffing resources, <br />and expand operational capacity without significantly increasing costs. <br /> <br />Future operational goals include expanded online booking capabilities, additional use of lead <br />facility staff, improved customer experience, potential movement toward rental blocks, and <br />increased staffing flexibility through cross training. <br /> <br />Staff also discussed ongoing challenges related to maintaining aging facilities, including <br />replacement of paint, carpeting, audio/visual equipment, and window blinds, while maintaining a <br />high-quality rental experience throughout the Twin Cities metro area. <br /> <br />Staff reviewed opportunities related to park building rentals, including maintaining surrounding <br />park amenities such as playgrounds, trails, and courts, as well as improving renter accessibility. <br /> <br />Picnic shelter usage was also reviewed. Staff noted that shelters including Jaycees, Foundation, <br />Lions, and FOR Parks shelters had 345 rentals in 2025 and continue to attract active groups and <br />events including walk/run events. <br /> <br />Staff highlighted that online picnic shelter reservations have been successful, with 197 total <br />bookings so far in 2026, including 115 online bookings. Staff noted that the shelter reservation <br />system has become a model for transitioning additional park building rentals online. <br /> <br />Future goals for picnic shelters include exploring un-staged or automated access options such as <br />auto-unlock systems or door codes and continuing to maintain high-quality surrounding park <br />amenities. <br /> <br />Staff also reviewed future needs for picnic shelters, noting that many shelter facilities are now <br />30–40 years old and reaching a point where roofing, painting, and concrete repairs will need to <br />be planned for and completed in the coming years. <br /> <br />Additional rental opportunities at the Harriet Alexander Nature Center and Muriel Sahlin <br />Arboretum were reviewed. Staff noted that the Nature Center offers rental opportunities similar <br />3 <br /> <br /> <br />