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010990 PK MIN CITY OF SHOREWOOD COUNCIL CHAMBERS TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1990 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD PARK COMMISSION MEETING 7:00 PM MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Chairman Christensen called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. ROLL CALL Present: Chairman Christensen, Commissioners Andrus, Lindstrom, Vogel, Weatherly, and Wilson (8:00PM); Council Liaison Watten; and Park Administrative Assistant Niccum Absent: Commissioner Laberee FREEMAN PARK BALLFIELDS Present: Jim Jones of Community Services Jim Quast, Jim Latterner, and Leonard George of Tonka Men's Club Ron McKinney, Dick Brown, and Tom Litterer of Chanhassen South Tonka Babe Ruth Dick Brown asked that Jim Jones divide playing time on the fields at Freeman fairly between the existing South Tonka Team and the new teams. The Commission was told that Little League grew by 200 players last year. The people representing the new teams want to start the new League because they feel that the kids west of Vine Hill Road are discriminated against because the players are not known. They feel that because the kids from Hopkins, Minnetonka, and others closer to the fields on 101 where they usually play are known to the coaches, they always get chosen for the important teams. They feel it is important for all the kids to get a chance to play, and want to establish a new league to accomplish this, and to help kids develop. Christensen asked who is running the program, and if it is structured. Dick Brown said they want to get the program in order for the next 10-20 years. They have a committee that is working on it. He said the coaches, board, and teams are in place. Now they need AAU sanction. Christensen said the Park Commission is in favor of having Shorewood player's using Shorewood fields. He said they believe in community use sharing. He said that Jim Jones will be asked to give three days to each team. Jim Quast, President of the Tonka Men's Club, said the Men's Club is interested in making the BMX Track into a Little League Field. They want more fields for the kids. He said a few years ago they approached the City about putting a field in the northeast corner of the park. They would like the City to get the cost, then they would figure out what to donate. He asked whats under the mounds on the BMX Track? PARK COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1990 Page two FREEMAN PARK BALLFIELDS - continued Quast said the Little League Fields are busy 5 nights a week. Quast also said Hennepin County might do the fine grading of the proposed ballfield for practically nothing. The Commission wondered if there was sufficient parking to support another field. The Commission discussed the BMX Track, and decided it does not get enough use to warrant keeping it in existence. Quast said one way of raising revenue would be a concession stand. Quast was asked if the Men's Club had considered working on Cathcart field, and using that field. He said they already use Cathcart. They would like to have the fields close to each other, thats why they picked Freeman Park. NEW COUNCIL LIAISON WATTEN WELCOMED TO PARK COMMISSION Chairman Christensen welcomed Councilman Watten to the Park Commission. SILVERWOOD PARK QUESTIONNAIRE Commissioner Weatherly explained how she had tallied the responses to the surveys. The Park Commission thanked Weatherly for doing a great job. Watten asked if a complete city survey had ever been done. Lindstrom said one had been done when the Comprehensive Plan was done, but that was a long time ago. Weatherly moved, Wilson seconded, to approve the summary of the Silverwood Park Survey, and to present it to the City Council. Motion carried - 6/0 (Laberee absent). PARK PLANNER/LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT DISCUSSION The Commission said they would like to see the RFP's presented by the applicants before the meeting so they have time to study them. Watten asked if the Commission was asking the applicants to present a park proposal for Silverwood Park. He said it is unusual to pick one park, and to mention cost at all. Andrus moved, Weatherly seconded, to recommend to the Council that they instruct Administrator Whittaker to send out RFP's with a return date of February 2, 1990; and that the interviews be narrowed down to a total of 4. Motion carried - 6/0. Wilson expressed concern over cost. He said due to the fees that had been charged by the Engineer, he felt fees were a large concern. He thought hourly fees might be different from total time cost. PARK COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1990 page three PARK PLANNER/LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT DISCUSSION - continued Wilson said he wondered if they would bid lowball for competition, then raise fees later. Watten said the City could offer a set fee to see what can be done in creating a conceptual plan for Silverwood Park, but he didn't know if the City would want to spend that kind of money at this time. The Commission asked Niccum to pass their comment on to Administrator Whittaker and Laberee when they meet to draft the RFP. FREEMAN PARK TRAILS - CROSS COUNTRY SRI TRAILS - GROOMING - MAINTENANCE Niccum reported that the Public Works Department is in the process of putting wood chips on the trails. Lindstrom said he had talked to the Southwest Trail Association. They said they would groom the trails in the park so they can be used as cross country ski trails. Lindstrom suggested making the trails one-way. He said blue diamond signs are used to mark cross country ski trails and orange diamond signs are used to mark snowmobile trails. He also wondered if the trails encompassed a large enough area to light it with low intensity lighting so it could be used at night. John Arnst said he was all for it, that free trail use is an asset to people using the trails. The Commission asked Niccum to talk to Zdrazil about continuing the loop of the trail in the southwest corner of the park. Vogel moved, Weatherly seconded, to recomend to Council that they accept the offer from the Southwest Trail Association to groom the trails in the park while they are grooming the snowmobile trail; and for approval to spend money to purchase the blue diamond signs to put up on the trail for liability purposes. Motion carried - 6/0. Arnst said he had been told by Gagne that no motorized vehicles were allowed in the park, and that snowmobiles are going through the park. Concern was expressed over the snowmobiles using the park trails. Watten said it is our job to see that the trails are policed, and its not happening. He said to find out if the Southwest Trail Association has insurance. The Commission discussed having the groomer lay cross country ski tracks. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR Request for enforcement of snowmobile use in park John Arnst asked for enforcement. He said Freeman Park is being used as a corridor for snowmobiles. He asked Wilson to back him up. Wilson said he couldn't, but he would look at the park. Arnst said the snowmobiles go around the posts and through the ditch. He also complained about a motorcycle riding on the railroad corridor. He is asking the City to monitor the park. He wants Council to direct SLMPSD to stop all violations in the park. PARK COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1990 Page four MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR - continued Little League Contract The Commission asked that the Attorney look at the contract and see if it still stands. COUNCIL LIAISONS AND APPOINTMENTS Chairman Christensen and Vice Chairman Andrus assumed their new positions. Andrus---May and August Laberee--April and September Lindstrom--January and December l990 LIAISONS Vogel----March and November Weatherly-February and October Wilson---June and July SKATING RINKS Niccum asked about "boot" teams using the rinks. Park Commission agreed with her decision that skates always come first. Niccum said that her attendants recommended another set of hockey nets so that more people could use the rinks at one time. Andrus moved, Weatherly seconded, to recommend to Council that they ask Public Works to build another set of nets. Motion carried - 6/0. ADJOURNMENT Andrus moved, Lindstrom seconded, to adjourn at lO:45 PM. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Susan Niccum Park Administrative Assistant