062293 PK MINCITY OF SHOREWOOD
PARK COMMISSION MEETING
TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1993
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Dzurak called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
CONFERENCE ROOM
5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
7:00 PM
Present: Chairman Dzurak, Commissioners Andrus, Bensman, Laberee,
Lindstrom, Mc Carty, and Wilson (joined the Commission at 8:30 at
Park Elementry School in Chanhassen); Administrator Hurm;
Council Liaison Benson; Park Planner Chamberlain and Park
Secretary Niccum
Absent
REVIEW AGENDA
Commissioner Fuller
The Commission approved the agenda as it stands.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Laberee moved, McCarty seconded, to approve the minutes of Tuesday, June 8, 1993, as corrected.
Motion carried - 6/0.
REPORT BY G. LINDSTROM AND J. HURM ON A PROPOSAL FOR FREEMAN PARK
MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT
Administrator Hurm explained the proposed "Freeman Park Foundation ". He said it is time to face facts,
the City does not have enough resources to make planned Freeman Park improvements. This "Freeman
Park Foundation" would substitute for the municipality pouring tax dollars into the planned improvements.
He said he feels the plan has real potential. It will get organized sports groups involved in working
together.
He said it's what you call "creative financing ".
CITY OF SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION MINUTES
TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1993 - Page two
Lindstrom said that approximately 2,800 people are involved in using the various fields at Freeman Park at
this time. He said he is in favor of the plan, he feels it is a way to make improvements.
Hurrn said he has talked with the Tonka United Soccer Association. They said they discussed having a
fundraiser, saying they hoped by doing so they could raise at least $5,000 toward playground equipment
this year. Their executive board will meet next week, and the fundraiser will be discussed at that time. The
Adult Softball organization has been donating over the last several years.
The Commission, Council Liaison Benson, and staff discussed the idea at length.
Following are some of the issues discussed:
Concession stands - should the City expect or request a percentage of the profit?
• "The profits would go to a good cause."
• "Concession stands in City parks should be audited by the City because they are
responsible for the parks."
• Freeman Park Foundation or Shorewood Foundation? - would the name affect the
results?
• Freeman Park onlv? Or all parks in Shorewood? - should the donations be used only
for Freeman, or should they be used for all parks?
• "If the donations go to Freeman, then there will be more money available for
the other parks."
• "I would like to see citizen involvement in all parks."
• "Organizations that play at Freeman might not want their donations gong to
other parks."
• We've needed something like this for a long time - All present generally agreed with
this statement.
• User fees vs. donations - Which would be most beneficial? Which would raise the
most revenue?
CITY OF SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION MINUTES
TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1993 - Page three
• What happens down the line if the funds are locked into Freeman. and all the
improvements have been made?
• One of the ideas of this plan is to get the organizations to do the maintenance, funds will be
needed for maintenance and replacement forever, we would not receive enough in funding
to have that kind of an excess. However, provisions could be made to make improvements
in other parks.
• Control
• In Minnepolis, and other areas, organizations like this can become very
powerful, the way it reads now, the Park Commission could be outvoted by
organizations.
"It also says that the Park Commission and the City Council must
approve all changes and improvements to Freeman Park."
"The Council should have the power use a disbandment clause if the Foundation gets
out of control."
Certain control mechanisms can be put in place to avoid this type of situation, such
as maintenance standards, City controlled scheduling, arrangements to handle
mediation of problems, bylaws, etc..
"The majority of control should remain with the City."
Are there anv other Foundations like this in existence?
"The DNR has an organization that works with them."
Basically, the Commission felt Hurm and Lindstrom had done a very good job, and complemented them.
They liked the philosophy of getting people involved, having sports groups talk to each other and work
together, and citizen involvement.
Each Commissioner and staff will study it and make a list of any possible ideas. They asked Administrator
Hurrn to present it to the Council to see how the Council likes it. They would like feedback from the
Council, and have it returned to the Park Commission if the Council feels it is workable.
CITY OF SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION MINUTES
TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1993 - Page four
CONSIDERATION OF A PARK COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION ON THE PURCHASE
AND INSTALLATION OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AT FREEMAN PARK -
PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT COMMITTEE
Commissioner McCarty presented two proposals, one from "Iron Mountain Forge" and one from
"Landscape Structures Inc..
8:20 PM .... THE COMMISSION LEFT CITY HALL TO GO TO PARK ELEMENTRY SCHOOL
IN CHANHASSEN TO STUDY PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT FIRST HAND.
Chairman Dzurak left the meeting at this time.
Laberee moved, seconded by Bensman, to recommend that the City Council approve the purchase
of playground equipment from Landscape Structures Inc. in an amount not to exceed $20,000 for
Manor and $20,000 for the north play area of Freeman Park, as budgeted. Motion carried - 6/0.
FINAL ADJOURNMENT
Benson moved, seconded by Wilson, to adjourn the meeting at 9:05 PM. Motion carried unanimously.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Susan A. Niccum, Park Secretary (City Hall portion)
James C. Hurm, City Administrator (Park visit)