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012495 PK MIN CITY OF SHOREWOOD COUNCIL CHAMBERS PARK COMMISSION MEETING 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1995 7:30 P.M. M I N U T E S CALL TO ORDER 1. Chair Mary Bensman called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. ROLL CALL/INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS 2. Present: Chair Bensman; Commissioners, Puzak, Trettel, Dzurak, Wilson, and Colopolous; Administrator Hurm; and Council Liaison McCarty. Absent: Commissioner Martin. Bensman introduced the new Park Commissioners, Dan Puzak and Sandy Trettel. She also introduced the Park Secretary, Marlene Haptonstall; Council Liaison, Jennifer McCarty; and the City Administrator, James Hurm. REVIEW AGENDA 3. There were no changes or additions. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 4. Dzurak moved, Colopolous seconded, to approve the minutes of Tuesday, December 13, 1994, with the following correction: Item No. 5, Paragraph 10, change motion to read “make the recommendation to remove the development....” Motion carried 4/0. Martin, Puzak, and Trettel abstained. APPROVAL OF MEETING DATES AND TIMES 5. Trettel moved, Dzurak seconded, to approve the Park Commission meeting dates and times to be the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Motioned passed unanimously. CITY COUNCIL LIAISON SCHEDULE 6. The commissioners decided on the following schedule: Colopolous - February and December Wilson - March and June SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1995 Page 2 of 4 Dzurak - April and October Martin - May and August Puzak - July and November Trettel - September Bensman will be a substitute. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TWO APPOINTMENTS TO PARK FOUNDATION 7. Dzurak suggested Colopolous be appointed in March 1995 for a one year appointment. McCarty suggested Trettel be appointed in March 1995 for a three year appointment. APPOINTMENT OF PLANNING COMMISSION LIAISON 8. Bensman appointed Dzurak to be the Park Commission representative to attend the Planning Commission meetings when necessary. REPORTS: 9. A. SKATING RINKS/WARMING HOUSES Hurm introduced Marlene Haptonstall, the Program Coordinator for the skating rinks and warming houses, who would be reporting on the status of the facilities. Haptonstall reported of an incident at Badger warming house which involved a person hitting a hockey puck at a window and breaking it. The cost to replace the window was $200. Hurm sent a letter to the person responsible requesting payment for the damages but has had no response yet. Haptonstall explained problems with the lights at Cathcart warming house. Public Works had an electrician out twice to take a look at the problem. The lights will probably have to be rewired this Spring. Trettel commented on the poor condition of Cathcart warming house. Bensman explained the current building was a donation. Hurm explained that it has been discussed to remove the building and replace it with a rental trailer until a warming house could be built. Colopolous suggested there should be some follow-up on the cost of installing adequate lighting at Cathcart. Haptonstall reported on public requests for the installation of hockey boards at Manor Park. Dzurak felt there was not adequate room to add a hockey rink. The others agreed. Haptonstall suggested additional lighting be installed. Hurm said we could look into the cost and time involved. SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1995 Page 3 of 4 Haptonstall reported on the various problems with the rink attendants not being very responsible. She would like to hire older people next season and increase the pay rate, and maybe even offer a bonus incentive if they do a good job the entire season. Hurm suggested to hire senior citizens. Haptonstall questioned whether there are plans to build a warming house at Silverwood Park. Bensman advised it is in the development plan of the park but not in the 5 year CIP. B. PARK FOUNDATION McCarty reported that the Park Foundation has proposed changing the by laws to indicate only 1/3 of the members need to be present to conduct business and that substitutes be allowed to vote. McCarty reported the Soccer Association is concerned with the user fees charged. Hurm explained there was a meeting with the Minnewashta School officials at which they discussed the possibility of combining soccer and softball fields in the area behind the parking lot. There is also 4 1/2 acres to the north of the school building which is private property which the Soccer Association could consider purchasing. Colopolous questioned whether the participation fees or money contributed to purchase land for parks should be used for a specific sport. He felt the sport organizations probably feel when they contribute money or pay participation fees that they are buying stock in a park and privileges to use the land for a specific sport. Colopolous said the Park Commission should discourage exclusive use of the park facilities with the exception of hockey rinks and softball fields. Colopolous said he would like to encourage as much participation in soccer as possible but there needs to be the cooperation of the sports organizations to plan a joint schedule of events along with the number of games per season. He felt this would help establish the efficient use of the current field space before the City takes on the maintenance responsibilities for additional land. Colopolous volunteered to research the different youth organizations and the scheduling issues. Hurm explained that the original intent of the user fee was to charge one or two dollars per player to help maintain the parks. The City will help build a concession building so the organizations can raise the money without increasing the fees. McCarty said there have been no complaints from the softball participants. She said soccer participants do not want anything to do with the concession building. Wilson added that soccer is a very inexpensive sport and that is the way they want to keep it. McCarty advised that she and Gordon Lindstrom would be meeting on February 15, 1995 to discuss user fees. Puzak will also attend. SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1995 Page 4 of 4 Bensman requested staff to gather additional information about the area behind Minnewashta School for future playing fields and verify the City’s policy on user fees. C. COMMISSIONER REPORTS Dzurak gave a brief explanation of the historical marker that Excelsior wants to move it to the Commons. He said they would continue research on ownership. Bensman felt it should be placed in the Commons. Puzak concurred and said he would like to see the monument donated by Shorewood. Bensman suggested the dedication could take place during the Shorewood Park Festival. Dzurak moved, Colopolous seconded, to recommend that the planned trail for Covington/Vine Ridge Subdivision be considered along with the Silverwood Turf Trail Plan as one trail, and that both trails either be removed from the plan or both trails remain on the plan. Motion passed unanimously. SPRING FESTIVAL PLANNING 10. Trettel volunteered to chair the Parks Festival Committee. Bensman explained they want to have the festival to introduce the public to the new facilities at each park and host fund raising activities. The Committee would like to hold the festival on or near Memorial Day weekend. Hurm commented that the City has budgeted some money for publicity and entertainment. Bensman said that some of the ideas discussed were to design a community run for bikes or shuttles from one park to another; have neighborhood softball games; food and beverages; and have the Teddy Bear Band for entertainment. Bensman, Wilson, and Colopolous volunteered to help plan the festival. Tonka Men’s Club had also expressed an interest. Trettel said she would set up a meeting of the Shorewood Park Festival Committee, which would include members from the Park Commission and the Park Foundation, to discuss the 1995 Spring Park Festival. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 9, 1995. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR 11. There were no matters from the floor. ADJOURNMENT 12. SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1995 Page 5 of 4 There being no further business,Colopolous moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:27 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,