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041294 PK MINCITY OF SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1994 MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Jennifer McCarty called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD 7:00 P.M. Present: Chair McCarty; Commissioners Wilson, Dzurak, Bensman, Martin and Fuller; Administrator Hurm and Park Planner Bruce Chamberlain. Also present were Gordon Lindstrom, and Planning Commission Liaison Laura Turgeon. 3. REVIEW AGENDA There were no changes to the agenda. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Bensman moved, Dzurak seconded, to approve the minutes of Tuesday, March 22, 1994 with the following technical corrections: Page 1, Item 4A change the word wfowlt to "foul "; and Page 4, Item 7, capitalize Dzurak. Motion carried unanimously with Martin abstaining. 5. REVIEW 1994 PROJECTS AND INITIAL REVIEW OF 1995 -1999 CIP Silverwood Park: Bruce Chamberlain reported that the bid opening is scheduled for this Thursday at 10:00 a.m. All Commissioners are invited. The Engineer's estimate is $61,000. J. Hurm asked why the plan was changed from the trail cut off along the pond from a "Y" formation to a "T' formation. Chamberlain responded that the emphasis was on the trees. A "Y" formation may be at the cost of losing several trees. The actual "intersection" configuration will be determined in the field and will not be a "T'. The removable ballards will also prevent it from appearing as a vehicle entrance. The date chosen for playground installation at Silverwood Park is Saturday, June 25, 1994. Steve Dzurak will talk with Gary Swanson who he feels might be a good foreman to see if he would be willing to coordinate the installation. Trails: Hurm reported that the Old Market Road trail design is now being reviewed by the State Aid Office. He suggested that an informal information meeting be held prior to the next Park Commission meeting to allow neighbors an opportunity to look at the plans and discuss details with the Engineer and the Commission. There was a consensus by the Commission that such an open informational meeting would be held Tuesday, April 26, 1994 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. It will be an open house to discuss the details of the trail. Coffee will be available to residents. SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1994 Page 2 of 4 Hurm will prepare a letter to be mailed within the next several days to residents immediately abutting or across the street from the proposed trail. Commissioner Bensman will review the letter prior to mailing. Freeman Park— Chamberlain stated that a proposal for soil borings for tennis courts at the family area in Freeman Park will be completed prior to the April 26th meeting. The date chosen for installation of the remainder of the playground equipment for the north side of Freeman Park is Saturday, April 30, 1994. Gerry Wenkus of the soccer organization has offered to be foreman. The date chosen for the installation of Freeman Park south playground equipment is Saturday, June 4, 1994. A resident foreman has not yet been suggested for the Freeman Park south installation. Cathcart Park— Hurm reported that he has continued communication with the City of Chanhassen who will be removing the grove of trees and transplanting those salvageable and planting additional for a buffer on the south side of the property. 6. PLANS FOR ARBOR DAY After significant discussion, it was the consensus of the Commission that Arbor Month would be celebrated by writing a letter to the various homeowner's associations (i.e. Waterford, Vine Ridge, Sweetwater, Christmas Lake, and Ridge Road) requesting that they meet and plant a tree in Silverwood Park. This would be done during a ceremony at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 21, 1994. 7. SHOREWOOD PARKS FOUNDATION REPORT S. Dzurak reported on the legal status of the Foundation. At this point it is a legal entity and can purchase equipment. Within the next several days Gordy Lindstrom as Treasurer will be establishing an account at the First State Bank. Representatives from the hockey association and the football association will be contacted by Gordy Lindstrom and Jim Hurm regarding their assisting with funds toward park maintenance, as well as discuss their participation in the Shorewood Parks Foundation. A draft letter was reviewed by the Commission to be sent to various organizations asking them to make a recommendation for members to the serve on the Park Foundation Board. A letter was finalized for civic organizations. Jennifer McCarty will draft a letter for sports organizations, all of which will be mailed later this week. If any of the organizations would like to have a representative of the Foundation discuss the concept at one of their meetings, McCarty, Lindstrom and Hurm volunteered to conduct such a presentation. 8. SCHEDULE OF OPEN HOUSES AT NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS There were a number of ideas discussed for publicizing the neighborhood parks. It was suggested that in the fall the Commission and the Parks Foundation sponsor a walk or ride from park -to -park in Shorewood. This could perhaps include a scavenger hunt. Foundation education could be included. SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1994 Page 3 of 4 Fuller and Bensman were appointed as a committee to develop such a program for the fall. 9. REPORTS Planning Commission Recommendations on Park Related Ordinances: The two ordinances prepared by the Planning Commission were reviewed. There was some concern for what is meant by this sentence: "portable toilet facilities may be used in the parks provided they are screened from adjacent residential properties ". It was the consensus of the Commission that the portable toilet facilities should be screened in the neighborhood parks. Portable toilets in Freeman Park, the large community park, should be screened but perhaps in a different way. There also can be a need for additional portable toilets for short periods (i.e. tournaments). A natural vegetation screening would be good. There is an immediate cost concern if the City were to need fencing and planting in each of the various park areas this year. It could take a number of years for vegetation screening to grow to the proper height, therefore fencing is probably necessary in most locations. Screening needs in Freeman Park, however, may be very different from the neighborhood parks. They have no immediately adjacent residential properties. The Commission asked Laura Turgeon to ask the Planning Commission to be more specific on defining screening for the two different kinds of parks. Jennifer McCarty reported that she had attended the last City Council meeting where the Shorewood Parks Foundation by -laws were approved. Kristi Stover had raised a concern that the sports organizations who represent one -third of the total Board membership of 15 could dominate a meeting if they are all present at a meeting where a quorum of 8 are present and can conduct business. Jennifer stated that the Park Foundation Board would discuss this issue when it is fully constituted. Outdoor Recreation Grant Program: J. Hurm reported on a meeting today with Tom Kranz from the DNR Outdoor Recreation Program. His report on that meeting is as follows: The application for the outdoor recreation grant is due August 1, 1994. It is a 50/50 grant program with a maximum project amount of $100,000 ($50,000 grant). We reviewed the potential park projects on our master list and identified projects which will likely receive priority points in their evaluation system. Those projects are: • Purchase of land for ballfields and wetland • Wetland trails • Development of tee- ball/soccer fields (additional points are given if both purchase and development of land are included) • Improved access to regional trails • Hockey and free skating, which would make the park year -round (this would support items such as the warming house /concession stand • Additional points could be added for overall traffic flow of the facilities /design/safety (i.e. closing off the Highway 7 entrance) • Additional points are given for any intergovernmental cooperation. SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1994 Page 4 of 4 Martin and Fuller will act as a Committee to work with Hurm on preparing a preliminary application for Shorewood's parks. 10. NEXT MEETING DATES Martin may not be in town May 16th, so McCarty will serve as liaison to the City Council at the May 16th Council meeting. The April 26th meeting will start at 7:00 p.m., immediately following the Old Market Road trail public information meeting. The May 10th and 24th meetings will begin at 6:00 p.m. with park tours. Freeman Park will be toured on May 10th. 11. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR There were no matters from the floor. 12. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Wilson moved, Martin seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 9:02 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, James C. Hurm, City Administrator MAYOR Barb Brancei COUNCI L Kristi Stover Rob Daugherty Daniel Lewis Bruce Benson CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD • SHOREWOOD, MINNESOTA 55331 -8927 • (612) 474 -3236 April 14, 1994 Re: Old Market Road Trail Dear Resident: Many improvements to Silverwood Park are scheduled for June and July of this year including landscaping and playground installation. In addition, the City will be installing a trail, which has been planned for the east side of Old Market Road. Although there will be no cost to you, the trail will be located in the City right -of -way adjacent to your property. The Park Commission has planned a special information session for • you and your neighbors to give you an opportunity to look at the plans and visit with the Engineer and Park Commission about details of the project. We encourage your attendance so you are well informed. The information session will be at City Hall, 5755 Country Club Road. It will be very informal. You can come and go as you like and visit on a one -on -one basis. It will be from 5:00 to 7:00 P.m., Tuesday, April 26, 1994 If you are unable to stop by at that time, feel free to stop by City Hall weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to look at the plans at your leisure. We look forward to seeing you at the open house. Sincerely, TY OF SHOREWOOD �� C �ovk awes C. Hurm, City Administrator cc: Mayor & City Council Members Park Commission Members JH /tln A Residential Community on Lake Minnetonka's South Shore y 1 Outdoors By Sandy Sanderson I received a letter from Myrna Menth and Nancy Dart, avid supporters of state parks in general and more specifically Lake Maria State Park in northern Wright County, asking for a little publicity regarding an upcoming fundraiser. These gals put in hundreds of C – h ours each year as unpaid volunteers and are asking the rest of us for just a little of our time and, of course, money. The problem is, parks have historically been underfunded. The use of Lake Maria State Park has tripled in the past three years (50,000 visitors in �r 1993), yet budgets have decreased when in fact, more and better facilities are needed. Lake Maria is not an isolated case of a park in need of funds. City, county, state and national parks throughout the country are experiencing budget cuts along with increased f • ,� usage. If the government can't or won't pick up the tab, then citizens organized by vol- J unteers like Myrna and Nancy have to pitch in and help. Last year they promoted an Earth Day "March for Parks' event that motivated 150 �' ° people to hike two to six miles and generating pledges totaling $1,500. Their goal is to double these numbers in 1994. Not one penny of the monies raised goes for administra- tion or salaries. Hundreds of wild flowers and 2,000 oak seedlings were purchased and planted by volunteers, lumber for building bulletin boards and signs was donated, and much needed equipment was purchased and donated to the park maintenance depart- ment and environmental education programs. That's stretching a few bucks a long way! The date for this year's fundraiser is Sunday, April 24. There are many ways any of us can participate and it does not necessarily mean we have to walk or hike or not partici- pate, just because we have other plans for that date. Suggestions: 1. Simply make out a check and send in a donation. 2. Organize a group of friends and make a party out of it. 3. If you own a business, motivate or encourage your employ - ees to participate. 4. Clubs or organizations could organize their members for a social or business meeting before or after the walk. 5. Educators —make it a volunteer fieldtrip and compete with other classes to see who can raise the most money. 6. Individuals — request several pledge sign -up sheets and distribute them within your family, neighbor- hood or workplace. These are only a few suggestions. I'm sure there are many more ideas through which we could all help a very worthy cause. Lake Maria State Park is easy to find. It's located just five miles west of Monticello on Wright County Hwy. 39. The entrance is on north- bound Cty. Rd. 11. For more information, to send donations, or to request pledge sheets, write to: Lake Maria State Park, Route 1, Box 128, Monticello, MN 55362. You can also call volunteer Nancy Dart at (612) 274 -3639, or Park M Mark Crawford at (612) 878 -2325. •