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101210 PK MINS CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB RD PARK COMMISSION MEETING SHOREWOOD CITY HALL TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2010 7:00 P.M. MINUTES 1. CONVENE PARK COMMISSION MEETING Chair Norman convened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. A. Roll Call Present: Chair Norman; Commissioners Edmondson, Robb, Trent, Quinlan, and Swaggert; Administrator Heck; City Council liaison Bailey; Park Coordinator Anderson Absent: Commissioner Gaidos B. Review Agenda Item 6A, Arctic Fever, was added to the Summer Activities section. Edmondson moved, Quinlan seconded, approving the Agenda as revised. Motion passed 6/0. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Park Commission Meeting Minutes of September 14, 2010 Robb moved, Quinlan seconded, approving the Minutes of September 14, 2010, as submitted. Motion passed 6/0. 3. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR There were none. 4. REPORTS A. Report on City Council Meeting Administrator Heck reported that the Council discussed road improvement plans and budget during their work session and will be talking about the CIP and enterprise funds at their next meeting. Bailey stated that, while the Council approved the extra five plots for the Community Garden, they suggested the Commission consider how to assign the plots fairly in 2011 and beyond. He indicated that the Council would prefer people not be ‘grandfathered’ in and guaranteed their same lot every year and instead the Commission consider a lottery system for selection. Anderson stated that she would consider revising the Community Garden Guidelines to reflect a lottery after next season, as the approval allowed current users to return next year. Chair Norman agreed that giving everyone a fair shot would be best. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2010 PAGE 2 OF 5 C. Update on Work Program Anderson pointed out that the 2010 Work Program was virtually complete. She noted that the Community Garden th signs finally arrived on October 10, suggesting staff find a new vendor with a faster turn around time. In addition, Anderson stated that the Skate Park drinking fountain would be installed this fall, as state approval had just been given and public works would be working with a plumbing contractor to begin the work. Chair Norman commended the Commission and staff on accomplishing so many of its work items for 2010. D. Update on Manor Park Shelter and Playground Anderson reported that the Manor Park shelter was almost complete; whereas, Building Inspector Pazandak was finalizing some finishing details on the project interior. She reminded the Commission of the Open House scheduled th for Saturday, October 16 at the park from 10am-12pm and invited them to attend to answer questions and meet the neighbors. Edmondson, Quinlan, and Chair Norman thought they would be attending. Anderson explained that public works was awaiting a final load of pea gravel to place back in near the swing set before putting the swings back up on the set for the kids to enjoy. She also noted that, while meeting there on Monday, probably 15 young children and moms were using the play structure. E. Report on Phase 3 of Manor Park Gardens and Patio Anderson segued into details regarding her meeting at the park Monday, stating that Inspector Pazandak, Communication Coordinator Moore, Park Secretary Grout, Mayor Lizée, and Julie Westerlund of the MCWD all met with her at the Park to discuss next steps for the Park. Together they discussed a pervious paver patio, native gardens to aid in water quality improvements, as well as, drainage. Anderson noted that the Julie Westerlund suggested the City consider applying for a Cynthia Kreig Grant to apply to the park. Anderson indicated that the city had applied for and received similar grants in the past with few requirements regarding matching funds etc. With the Commissions support, she stated that Moore, Grout, and herself would be combining a grant application for Manor Park and the Southshore Center, to clean up the creek th area near it, in order to meet the upcoming deadline of October 20. The Commission agreed and requested an update with regard to the application when available. F. Update on Silverwood Park Shelter Anderson complimented the Public Works staff on a great job at Silverwood, noting that the grading, sodding and seeding, and clean up was complete. She stated that the site looks great and encouraged Commissioners to stop by to take a look. She added that each time she has visited the site; residents have been using the new shelter and thanked her on behalf of the city for installing it. G. Update on Arctic Fever Chair Norman stated that many of the same participants have joined ranks again this year and that planning is in full swing for 2011. He stated that there would be an Arctic Fever Committee meeting on Wednesday evening. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2010 PAGE 3 OF 5 Anderson interjected that she had partnered with Arctic Fever on behalf of the Southshore Center and would be creating a Medallion Hunt for adults following clues to a $500 cash prize and a Find Frosty contest, a children’s plush version of the hunt. She mentioned that the Festival would be expanding to two days this year with a hot air balloon lift off Sunday morning in Excelsior followed by a Princess Tea Party at the Southshore Center in the afternoon, featuring the Arctic Fever Princess, harp music, face paint, tea party and American Girl Doll prize drawing. 5. BUILDING A COMMUNITY DVD Anderson introduced the ‘Building a Community DVD’ for the Commission to view stating that Administrator Heck had received it and asked her to view it to determine whether it might be worthwhile of the Park Commission to view. Created in partnership with TPT television and the Mn League of Cities, Anderson stated that it was a thought provoking and locally produced video Following the video, Heck invited the Commission to share what thoughts it sparked for them with regard to what more the Commission or Shorewood could consider doing with its summer programming and the importance of keeping, providing, and nurturing its growth. Edmondson indicated that he was intrigued by what more the City could and should be doing. With regard to adding theatre, recognizing our local history, poetry, and much more, Edmondson urged staff to funnel all of the ideas towards parks. Chair Norman stated that, while art is a broad umbrella and we do want to grow our activities in the park, we offer quite a bit in our parks already for a community our size. Quinlan welcomed new ideas and agreed with Edmondson that we should consider new opportunities. Acknowledging that they may, at times, have limited vision, he welcomed a more artistic approach. He thought the creative verses on the sidewalks were brilliant and an inexpensive way to put a signature on the community. Trent commended staff for bringing this DVD forward for their viewing. He thought it triggered in him and the Commission openness to more artistic opportunities. Swaggert suggested the Commission consider carving out a niche or focus to pursue. Robb noted that, although quite spread out and difficult to instill a real sense of community, Shorewood should strive even more so to build our spaces, as well as, provide green space and art in our parks as suggested by the TKDA proposal in order to create a unique sense of community. 6. SUMMER ACTIVITIES The previous DVD discussion spilled over to a discussion of Summer Activities. Anderson touched on the many successful activates the City provides over the course of the summer and provided the Commission with staff suggestions for their consideration. Anderson strongly urged the Commission to make a recommendation with regard to 2011 programs in order for staff to meet many publication deadlines missed last year. She reminded the Commission that music in the park this year failed because the Commission did PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2010 PAGE 4 OF 5 not choose to move forward on them in a timely enough fashion to make newsletters, newsprint, magazines, or other deadlines for 2010. Chair Norman suggested that the Arctic Fever funding allocation of $1500 be adopted as one of staff recommendation bullet points as well. Trent urged the Commission to consider re-allocating some of the money from the larger music in the park performance and spread it over some new activities spurred by the DVD. Quinlan agreed that, while it is important to have a variety of programs to create a well rounded portfolio, he realized the Commission cannot spend too long debating what to do or they will miss valuable deadlines once again. Chair Norman stated that, having spoken to his neighbors, many of the believe that there are just too many music outlets vying for their attention and that they would be more inclined to attend something else. Robb questioned that, while the music in the park was not meant to compete with other music outlets, what else could the City provide that is not being met. Edmondson suggested they consider the concept of local community theatre. Heck stated that, while he has experience in theatre, Shorewood does not have an amphitheatre in its parks. He pointed out that New Hope and Plymouth have these programs and are successful. Although we do not have the lights, sound, sets, etc, he believed the basic needs could be met on a downscaled version. Chair Norman threw out the idea of hosting different music options, such as big band, blue grass, or swing, if music in the park were to stay. He suggested that the Commissioners provide Anderson with a list of their most creative new park programming concepts in the next one to two weeks so that staff can research and report back at the next meeting and action can be taken. Anderson urged the Commission to take action on all of the bullet point items regarding park programs as possible this evening. She asked whether the movie in the park at Manor appealed to them or if staff could pursue and book some of the other park Friday programs in order to submit them for publication. Trent moved that the Commission proceed with all of the bullet park items, including Arctic Fever funding, except for music in the park. Chair Norman suggested they make separate motions. Trent withdrew his motion. Trent moved, Edmondson seconded, recommending that the Park Commission not move forward with Root City Band for 2011 Music in the Park. Motion passed 5/1. Quinlan opposed to eliminating the music in the park program altogether. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2010 PAGE 5 OF 5 Trent moved, Swaggert seconded, recommending that staff proceed with all of the other bullet items, with the addition of Arctic Fever funding of $1500 for 2011. Motion passed 5/1, Robb dissenting as he did not support the movie. Chair Norman encouraged staff to investigate arts grants. 7. DETERMINE LIAISON FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER October 25 - Trent November 22 - Swaggert December meeting Chair Norman 8. NEW BUSINESS Administrator Heck pointed out that, with the CIP discussion scheduled at the next Council meeting, he suggested the Commission reconsider its line item to create a permanent sliding hill at Freeman Park. In talking with staff, not only did public works find it difficult to attend to the construction of a mound of dirt this summer, they questioned the ongoing maintenance of the hill. They questioned how it would be mowed, and if not, what condition of weeds would be covering it in the summer, creating and eyesore. Heck stated that public works is willing to dedicate time to creating the sliding hill of snow for Arctic Fever in the winter, and in fact enjoy doing so. Not only does building the snow hill provide public works with a place to store the snow, it melts in the spring, thus eliminating any mess. Chair Norman stated that he had no problem removing it from the CIP if public works staff can build the sliding hill each winter. Heck indicated that, if there is snow, public works will build the hill. Swaggert moved, Edmondson seconded, removing the sliding hill from the 2011 CIP. Motion passed 6/0. 9. ADJOURN Edmondson moved, Quinlan seconded, adjourning the Park Commission Meeting of October 12, 2010 at 8:43p.m. Motion passed 6/0. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Kristi B. Anderson Recorder