022597 PK MIN
CITY OF SHOREWOOD COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PARK COMMISSION MEETING 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1997 7:30 P.M.
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Colopoulos called the meeting to order at 7:32 P.M.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Colopoulos; Commissioners Puzak, Wilson, Trettel,
Dallman, and Arnst; Council Liaison McCarty; Administrator Hurm.
Absent: Commissioner Bensman.
Also Present: Police Chief Young and Officer Jeff Keller
3. REVIEW AGENDA
Chair Colopoulos added “New Business” after item number 11. Colopoulos also referred to
Jim Hurm’s memo dated 2/25/97 regarding suggested meeting dates. The rationale for
changing the regular Park Commission meetings from the 4th Tuesday to the 2nd Tuesday of
each month would be to allow upcoming Park Commission agenda items to be included in the
monthly newsletter.
Wilson moved, Dallman seconded to add “New Business” agenda item; to accept the
date changes of the regular Park Commission meetings; and accept the addition of
work session meetings as outlined in Hurm’s 2/25/97 memo. Motion carried
unanimously.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Arnst requested two grammatical changes: page 2 “yearend” changed to “year-
end”; and page 3 “we’ve got” to “we have”.
Puzak moved, Dallman seconded to approve the Minutes of January 28, 1997 as
amended. Motion carried unanimously.
Colopoulos would like to see the Park Commission minutes on the web site, if possible.
5. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR
SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION MINUTES
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1997
page 2
George Harrison, 24710 Amlee Road, stated that he lives on the trail and loves snowmobiles.
He has a strong concern, however, that mixing snowmobiles and pedestrians on the trail is
dangerous. The number of accidents in the state reinforces this concern. It is time for the
City to put a stop to the combined usage of snowmobiles and pedestrians on the trail.
Kent Adams, 25170 Glen Road, said that the biggest issue is safety. He has observed daily
the same situation as Mr. Harrison: the mixture of people, dogs, and snowmobiles on the trail.
“It is not a question of “if” but “when” someone will get hurt”.
Duane Laurila, 5595 Eureka Road, stated he uses the trail every night to walk his dogs.
Snowmobiles do not slow down even when he wears a reflective jacket. There is a safety
problem.
Ingrid Schaff, 25605 Smithtown Road, stated her concern about enforcement of the
Snowmobile Ordinance, and the safety issue on the trail. Ms. Schaff quoted from a
Memorandum dated 12/27/96 from Chief Young to Mayor Bean: “Another reason for
working together is the officer safety factor. A single officer working snowmobile
enforcement must often deal with large numbers of snowmobiles, late at night, in remote hard
to get to locations, when many of the snowmobilers have been drinking. This represents a
very significant officer safety issue.” Ms. Schaff “did not think it was fair that we are
presenting officer safety issues here, and also...if we’re putting our police officers in safety and
it’s better for them to work in pairs, what happens to the pedestrian who doesn’t have
anybody there with them?” Also, the City is supposed to be practicing zero tolerance.
According to Officer Keller’s memo dated 1/28/97: 93 tickets were written; 40 written
warnings; 33 verbal warnings; and 7 arrests. These total 173 citations. There should have
been 173 tickets written under the zero tolerance policy.
Tom Brown, 5570 Harding Lane, has been supportive of the City’s efforts to bring
snowmobilers into compliance, however efforts to curb speeding have been unsuccessful. He
also agrees not to mix power machines with pedestrian traffic on the trail.
6. TRAIL PLAN REVIEW
Chair Colopoulos tabled discussion until March 11, 1997. The Park Commission would like
clear identification of goals from City Council regarding trail plan reviews including direction
on how to employ the use of citizen work groups (neighborhood meetings) or citizen
committees in the differing neighborhoods. Colopoulos listed the three priorities in the Trail
Plan (March 1992):
1) Develop the Chicago-Northwestern Railroad corridor as a regional trail
SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION MINUTES
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1997
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2) Develop trail corridors which link parks/open space with residential
neighborhoods
3) Develop recreational trail “loops” within large parks/nature areas and around
lakes
and wetlands
Administrator Hurm noted the additional handouts (Goal Statement of the Park Commission
and the Transportation Section of the Comprehensive Plan) will be reviewed also during the
March 11, 1997 work session.
7. SNOWMOBILE ORDINANCE ENFORCEMENT REPORT
Ginny Kolstad, Snowmobile Task Force Member, outlined key points of several documents
for the Park Commissioners: Council Resolution 95-53 (Resolution Establishing Purpose and
Objectives of Snowmobile Task Force); Policy Change Areas (listing 19 categories for
snowmobile policy considerations); Snowmobile Task Force Final Recommendations;
Implementation Plan Review (social impact, economic considerations, political opinion, and
safety issues); and Data (to measure the effectiveness of the enforcement effort).
Ms. Kolstad stated that the Council approved all recommendations of the Snowmobile Task
Force except a side trail and the grooming of Freeman Park for cross country skiers.
Councilmember McCarty stated that the reason Council did not approve the side trail was that
several Councilmembers did not see any point in cleaning out brush to expose people living on
the trail to more use of the trail and turning walkers and cross country skiers into second-class
citizens. It was not the Council’s intent to be unsafe.
The issue before the Park Commission is to discuss if snowmobiles should be allowed in the
City and on the trail; whether alternatives should be considered such as a side trail; or whether
snowmobiles should be banned in Shorewood.
Chief Young commented that a “zero tolerance” policy could still allow police officers to
have some discretion privileges when dealing with any situation, and that enforcement contact
is made when a violation is addressed.
Chief Young will deliver an Activity Reports System (ARS) report to the City of Shorewood
prior the Park Commission meeting on April 22, 1997. ARS reports are the “911” data. A
memo from Mike Hammer of the Department of Natural Resources (fax date: February 23,
1997) was handed out.
Commissioner Trettel asked if snowmobiles were prohibited on the trail, would they go
elsewhere and cause more problems? Officer Keller felt that they would still use the trail.
SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION MINUTES
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1997
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Chair Colopoulos said that the data will be used to determine the safety of the trail. The
Commission needs to determine how to analyze the data to ensure an objective analysis.
George Harrison commented that the snowmobiles create a noise problem and the ground
vibrates also.
Commissioner Wilson stated that Mr. Harrison has lived on the trail for 20 years. The trains
produced “noise” on the trail, and now the snowmobiles are producing “noise” on the trail.
Wilson moved on to the safety issue by commenting that snowmobiles were the primary users
of the trail in the winter time; and bikers and pedestrians were the primary trail users in the
summertime. After the LRT trail upgrades, we saw a carryover of that summer use into the
winter months. Safety issues were raised at this point due to the mixed usage of the LRT trail.
Mayor Dahlberg, speaking as a resident, responded to Mr. Harrison’s noise comments in that
we should not de-emphasize the noise/nuisance issue.
Chair Colopoulos reiterated that the Commission would evaluate the snowmobile data during
a work session on April 22, 1997; schedule a public hearing based on the findings of the
Commission; and then make a recommendation to the City Council.
8. FREEMAN PARK CONCESSION TRAILER
Todd Strot reported that Dan Kuzlik, Minnetonka Community Services, was supportive of
Mr. Strot’s efforts to rent a concession trailer from PEPSI for use at Freeman Park this
summer. Mr. Strot’s proposal went to the Minnetonka Community Services’ New Programs
Committee on February 24, 1997. The proposal was approved, and they were in favor of
helping to seed
this program. Following a meeting with PEPSI on March 5, 1997, a business plan will be
reviewed by Minnetonka Community Services’ Advisory Committee on March 13, 1997.
Strot will return to the Park Commission on March 25, 1997 to report on Minnetonka
Community Services’ recommendations.
Mr. Strot said that PEPSI figures approximately 75% of the people in attendance at an
outdoor event will purchase “something”. Mr. Strot and Mr. Kuzlik figured pop sales alone
would net $5,200 profit from sales beginning early May through the end of July. Profits
would be split between the Park Foundation and Minnetonka Community Services.
Hurm suggested a communication with Minnetonka Community Services may be warranted
regarding the “seeding” process. Would Minnetonka Community Services be willing to take a
minimum profit, and apply the balance of the profits as “seed” money for the concession
building?
Commissioner Wilson suggested they continue with the Request For Proposal (RFP) process,
as a formal commitment from PEPSI has not been signed. Commissioner Puzak agreed, and
would like to see proposals from organizations/entrepreneurs in this area working with
students to create jobs of this nature. Commissioner Dallman does not want to stop the RFP
SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION MINUTES
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1997
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process because the PEPSI concession trailer is only one option for this season. Dallman
stated that the continuation of the RFP process would allow proposals from entrepreneurs
who may be able to run a concession stand more efficiently or better managed than the PEPSI
trailer. The Commission may gain broader knowledge of what would/would not sell at a
concession trailer if a broader spectrum of items were offered for sale (possibly including
sports equipment).
Hurm said that the RFP process could be completed prior the next regular meeting of the
Commission (March 25, 1997). Strot’s proposal with the PEPSI trailer would be considered
along with the other bidders submitting an RFP.
9. PARK FESTIVAL
Commissioner Trettel said attempts to find someone to orchestrate the Park Festival activities
have failed and therefore the subject was tabled indefinitely at the last meeting.
Hurm stated that the Council thought the festival was a good idea, and asked the Commission
to continue to explore options of a City party.
10. ARBOR DAY
Governor Carlson has proclaimed Friday, April 25, 1997 as Arbor Day. Arbor Month will be
May, 1997. The Park Commission recommends observing Arbor Day on Saturday, April 26,
1997. The City of Shorewood will conduct its celebration at Freeman Park on Saturday, April
26, 1997 at 10:00 a.m.
Administrator Hurm reported that a quote had been received for two different kinds of trees:
Swamp White Oak
$165 Delivered $250 Planted
2” diameter/12’ tall
Autumn Blaze Maple
$165 Delivered $250 Planted
1
2 /” diameter/12’ tall
2
Mr. Bob Reutiman had expressed a desire to purchase a tree for the planting ceremony for
Arbor Day. Hurm contacted Mr. Reutiman regarding the tree information. Mr. Reutiman
would like to purchase two maple trees for Freeman Park (at the $165 delivered rate). One
tree could be planted near the Reutiman Way street sign. Public Works will prepare the holes
and complete the planting process.
11. CITY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
Administrator Hurm summarized the City’s Communication Plan which was developed to
increase the awareness and probability of citizen’s early and frequent involvement in City
projects.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1997
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An example of increased communication with a project affecting a small group of citizens is
the proposed light at Manor Park (west end). Commissioner Bensman offered to call these
citizens
informing them of the proposed light and discussion at the next regular Park Commission
meeting on March 25, 1997.
12. NEW BUSINESS
Chair Colopoulos reported that the Little League will be notifying the Park Commission of
their financial status, and making a request for a partial deferment of their financial
commitment to the City for park services.
13. ESTABLISH NEXT MEETING DATE
A working session is set for Tuesday, March 11, 1997 at 7:30 P.M.
14. ADJOURN
Trettel moved and Dallman seconded to adjourn the
There being no further business,
meeting. Motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 10:01 P.M.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,