101105 PK MIN
CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
PARK COMMISSION MEETING CITY HALL
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2005 7:00 P.M.
AGENDA
1. CONVENE PARK COMMISSION MEETING
Chair Davis called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m.
A. Roll Call
Present: Chair Davis; Commissioners Young, Farniok, Westerlund, Loheit, and Hensley;
and City Engineer Brown
Absent: Commissioner Moonen and City Council liaison Turgeon
B. Review Agenda
Westerlund moved, Loheit seconded, approving the Agenda as submitted. Motion passed 6/0.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Park Commission Meeting Minutes of September 13, 2005
Farniok moved, Young seconded, approving the Minutes of the September 13, 2005, as
presented. Motion passed 4/0/2 – Westerlund and Hensley abstaining.
3. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR
There were none.
4. REPORTS
A. Report on City Council Meeting
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Brown reported that during the October 10 City Council Meeting the City approved and hired a
new City Engineer, which will allow Brown to serve as Public Works Director. He noted that the
Badger well house was being rebuilt into a block building and that the Southshore Community
Center would be housing a trailer on site to store items for its upcoming attic sale. In addition,
Brown stated that the Bridgeland Development Group petitioned the city to bring municipal water
to the site north of Manor Park, around the bend up Suburban Drive, since the City plans to be
bringing water down Manor Road currently as part of another project. Finally, Brown pointed out
that the staff Appreciation party would be held on December 2, 2005.
B. Music In The Park (Updates on groups)
Chair Davis stated that the city had booked Big Walter Smith for the July 21, 2006, Music in the
Park series.
C. Winter Community Skating Party Event
Chair Davis indicated that she had placed several calls to the City of Deephaven’s Park
Commission and had not heard back from any members regarding the success of their community
event and skating party.
PARK COMMISSION AGENDA
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2005
PAGE 2 OF 4
5. MANOR PARK POND WATER QUALITY TESTING -
(Park Commissioner
Westerlund)
Westerlund presented the Manor Park Pond water quality monitoring results from the summer. To
review, the Commission had visited the site during its annual park tour and agreed that the pond’s
water quality should be addressed via monitoring over the summer. At the outset, the Commission
believed that the pond suffered from algae blooms and free floating green algae, which blocks the
suns rays from reaching the bottom of the lake and decomposes at the bottom using up the little
oxygen that exists for the plant life and forming muck. In an effort to measure the total
phosphorous, both dissolved and particulate, chlorophyll a, and the amount of free floating algae in
the water, Westerlund agreed to collect samples over the summer.
The samples Westerlund collected would check water clarity, how thick the algae growth was, and
the dissolved oxygen at the top and bottom. Westerlund shared slides from the various testing
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dates; June 2 the lake was fairly clear with lily pads and duckweed, though difficult to measure
water quality due to the thick growth of macrophytes, weeds. On 7/14/05, Westerlund pointed out
that mats of filamentous algae had begun to form covering the top in a green slimy algae. On
8/6/05, the entire surface of the pond was covered with the filamentous algae and decomposing
algae covered with gas bubbles.
Westerlund stated that she presented these facts to the Limnologist, who deduced that the pond was
not suffering from a green algae problem, as first thought, but from a filamentous algae problem,
or macrophyte problem.
A difficult problem to solve, Westerlund presented several options. First, she proposed a chemical
fix, which is often costly and requires toxic herbicides. Next, is a biological solution using crayfish
to rid the pond of the macrophytes, but these may creep into the watershed, thus creating a new
problem. A bacterial solution using bags of barley straw could prove to be cost effective and easily
implemented. Finally, a physical solutions such as dredging, an expensive alternative; aeration,
effective only near the aerated area; or shading, a cheap and relatively easy way of dying the water
in order to shade out the growth.
On slides from 8/31/05, Westerlund pointed out that there were several nice stands of native plants
around the shoreline of the pond. However, she also shared slides of the excessive geese fecal
material in and around the children’s plays area, which poses a public health threat. She suggested
that the Commission pursue its original plan to plant native vegetation as a buffer between the play
area and the pond in order to deter the geese. This barrier of plants would be helpful. As the
phosphorous is already in the sediment of the pond and reloads it, Westerlund asked the
Commission for their thoughts on the proposed solutions.
Hensley asked what the goal for the pond was.
Westerlund stated that, initially, the Commission chose to address the water quality issue, but also
wished to use the native plantings buffer as a lakeshore restoration example.
Chair Davis asked how the new development would impact the stormwater volume.
Brown stated that there would be ample pretreatment at the development site. He pointed out that
the outlet to the pond would be improved as the City brings a watermain past the pond. While there
is not a great deal of capacity in a 3’ deep pond, filtering options are necessary to improve the
stagnant waters and quality.
PARK COMMISSION AGENDA
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2005
PAGE 3 OF 4
Hensley commented that, to him, it sounded as if the pond was striving to become a wetland, as
opposed to a pond at all.
Loheit asked if the health issues could be treated hand and hand with the water quality and
aesthetics.
While separate issues, Westerlund maintained that each could be addressed simultaneously.
Young stated that he would like to see a treatment plan to attack each of the options for spring
2006.
Chair Davis agreed that planting a buffer would both deter the geese and improve aesthetics and
could be done so with a limited investment.
Westerlund believed that, with an expert’s assistance, the planting project could be completed for
just a few thousand dollars.
Brown stated that the Kestral Group put together a plan for the Gideon Glen project and could be
approached to do so for Manor Park.
Hensley stated that he believed barley straw bags might be the best options for the City, as an
inexpensive alternative, to the others out there.
Young moved that the Commission endorse Westerlund’s explorations of plantings, collection
of estimates and proposals for those, as well as, barley straw bales, and report back to the
commission to resolve the Manor Park Pond issues for spring 2006. Loheit seconded. Motion
passed 6/0.
Brown suggested that Westerlund put together a brief article for the newsletter, as the study and
proposals for the Manor Park Pond are both interesting and informative.
6. BUCKTHORN BUST EVENT
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Saturday, November 5, 2005, from 9 am – 12 pm. Brown reported that 7 people had signed up so
far, in addition to Commissioners and White. He noted that the weed wrenches had arrived and
would be available for use after the event. Commissioners Davis, Farniok, and possibly
Westerlund and Loheit promised to attend the event.
7. PARKS FOUNDATION ART IN THE PARKS VOLUNTEER SIGN UP
Young stated that the Foundation was looking for additional assistance, though he would be
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volunteering for the event, also scheduled for November 5.
8. DETERMINE DATE FOR NOVEMBER PARK COMMISSION MEETING
Brown indicated that he would investigate the opportunity to hold the meeting at the Southshore
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Community Center on November 15.
Brown reported that the Concessionaire has expressed interest in running the Concessions for
2006, noting that the city received $1500 for the 2005 concessions.
PARK COMMISSION AGENDA
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2005
PAGE 4 OF 4
9. DETERMINE LIAISON FOR NOVEMBER CITY COUNCIL MEETING
November 28, 2005 - Loheit
10.ADJOURN
Weslerlund moved, Farniok seconded, adjourning the October 11, 2005 Park
Commission Meeting at 8:35 p.m. Motion passed 6/0.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Kristi B. Anderson
Recording Secretary