120908 PK MIN
CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5735 COUNTRY CLUB RD
PARK COMMISSION MEETING SOUTHSHORE COMMUNITY CENTER
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2008 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
1.CONVENE PARK COMMISSION MEETING
Chair Norman convened the Park Commission meeting at 7:00 p.m.
A.Roll Call
Present: Chair Norman; Commissioners Young, Trent, Quinlan, and DeMers; City
Engineer Landini; City Council liaison Wellens
Late Arrival: Commissioner Davis
Absent: Commissioner Hensley
B. Review Agenda
Young moved, Quinlan seconded, approving the Agenda as submitted. Motion passed
5/0.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Park Commission Meeting Minutes of November 18, 2008
Page 2, paragraph 6, line 1, was changed to ‘…Bennett Park and Veterans Park…’
Young moved, DeMers seconded, approving the Agenda as amended. Motion passed
5/0.
3. REPORTS
A. Report on City Council Meeting of December 8, 2008
Landini reported that the City Council approved the budget and levy, as well as, repealed
the ‘going out of business’ Ordinance requirements.
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Chair Norman interjected that, during the November 24 meeting, the Council approved
both the Park Commission RFP and tennis court policy.
Trent asked whether the Council acted on the small tax forfeited piece of lake property
discussed earlier.
Chair Norman stated that, due to overlapping setbacks, the city decided to offer it to
either of the neighbor’s for purchase.
Landini continued, stating that the illicit discharge ordinance and other staffing changes
were approved, including a reallocation of funds to assign Twila Grout, park secretary, as
the staff person to parks along with an expanded park role for Kristi Anderson of CRR in
2009.
PARK COMMISSION MINUTES
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2008
PAGE 2 OF 4
B.Update on Arctic Fever
Chair Norman stated that the fundraising efforts for Arctic Fever continue, noting that the
event is 80% funded at this time. He pointed out that they are short an estimated $500 due
to a shortfall of funds expected from the Legion which won’t be available. Norman
indicated that the pond hockey organizers have roughly 65-70% of their teams registered
and will need many volunteers to assist with that event.
Quinlan, volunteer coordinator, stated that while the overall number of volunteers for
Arctic Fever is in good shape, he committed to helping the pond hockey folks recruit more
volunteers for their tournament.
Trent asked how the Commission could help bridge the funding gap or recruit volunteers.
Chair Norman stated there would be a meeting the next day and funding would be
discussed at that time.
4. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR
There were none.
5. REVIEW SIGN ORDINANCE
As a follow-up to a request made by Diamond Sports and STLL to allow advertising
sponsorships on the ball fields at Freeman Park, Landini reviewed the high points of the
current Sign Ordinance with the Commission, as well as, Planning Director Nielsen’s
memo with regard to what changes would need to occur to accommodate such activity.
As Landini reviewed the memo, Quinlan stated that it was clear to him that it has been the
cities intent to remove billboards throughout the city and limit, if not, eliminate this type
of advertising. He suggested they use the Sign Ordinance as a fallback to deny the request.
Landini stated that the Commission should discuss the Ordinance, memo, and request and
decide what they wish to recommend to Council.
Chair Norman stated that, based on other communities ordinances, as well as
Shorewood’s Sign Ordinance, he believed this activity should be limited on public
grounds. He pointed out that the City has a strong sign ordinance currently which has
mostly done away with signs.
Trent felt the Commission should not modify the ordinance based on this request and
feared doing so could be setting a new precedent, ‘walking a slippery slope’.
Wellens stated that he believed the City Council would feel the same way.
Quinlan moved, Trent seconded, denying the request on behalf of STLL and
Diamond Sports to allow ball field signage at Freeman Park by changing the current
Sign Ordinances that are in place. Motion passed 5/0.
PARK COMMISSION MINUTES
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2008
PAGE 3 OF 4
6. DISCUSSION ON LIST OF PROJECTS FOR CONSULTANT SERVICES
Chair Norman stated that the City Council had requested the Commission create a list of
‘deliverables’ which could be used in evaluating the contractor proposals for the park
consulting services in order to further delineate the project list for the applicants.
Trent stated that he felt providing a list at this time was premature and might stifle the
creativity of potential consultants. He suggested the project list be created in January after
the Commission has reviewed the ideas set forth from the RFP respondents.
Chair Norman concurred; however, acknowledged the City Council’s desire to tighten up
the parameters and not leave the RFP so wide open. He suggested that Commission
provide examples of what they were looking for, including picnic shelters at Silverwood,
refurbishing Manor Park, etc.
Young stated that he would prefer to spell out the particulars and specifics once the
Commission has had a chance to review the RFP’s received in January.
Chair Norman asked how the timing would work out and whether the City had received
any requests.
Landini stated that the RFP’s were due by the end of the year to be discussed and
reviewed at the first Park Commission Meeting in January, awarding the work sometime
in February. Landini stated that he had received a couple of calls with questions since
advertising the RFP in the paper.
Chair Norman urged the Commissioners to review the proposals ahead of time before
arriving for the January meeting so that discussion can be focused and handled within one
longer meeting.
With regard to the City of Chanhassen and improvements for Cathcart Park, both Quinlan
and Norman agreed that the City should come up with a concrete plan or vision for the
park, take this to the City of Chanhassen and ask them to share in the capital investment.
Wellens suggested the Commission ask the City Council to renegotiate the Cathcart Park
agreement with the City of Chanhassen, as he believed it was not the Park Commission’s
responsibility to administer this agreement.
7. DETERMINE LIAISON FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON JANUARY
12, 2009
DeMers volunteered to be liaison for January 12, 2009.
The Commission suggested they create a rotating liaison schedule for the year, beginning
with their January meeting.
8. NEW BUSINESS
PARK COMMISSION MINUTES
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2008
PAGE 4 OF 4
Landini announced it was City Council member Wellens last meeting as a member of the
Council. In addition, Landini stated that neither Commissioners Young nor Hensley would
be continuing as members of the Park Commission effective March 2009.
9. ADJOURN
Young moved, DeMers seconded, adjourning the Park Commission Meeting of
December 9, 2008, at 7:50p.m. Motion passed 5/0.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Kristi Anderson
Recorder