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020811PK MINS CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB RD PARK COMMISSION MEETING SHOREWOOD CITY HALL TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2011 7:00 P.M. MINUTES 1.CONVENE PARK COMMISSION MEETING Chair Norman convened the Meeting at 7:00pm A.Roll Call Present: Chair Norman; Commissioners Trent, Quinlan, Edmondson, and Swaggert; City Council liaison Hotvet; and Park Coordinator Anderson Absent: Commissioner Robb B. Review Agenda Quinlan moved, Edmondson seconded, approving the Agenda as submitted. Motion passed 5/0. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Park Commission Meeting Minutes of January 14, 2011 Edmondson moved, Swaggert seconded, approving the Minutes of January 14, 2011, as presented. Motion passed 5/0. 3. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR There were none. 4. REPORTS A. Report on City Council Meeting Quinlan reported that Sue Davis, Arctic Fever Chair, gave an update on the annual festival. B. Report on Arctic Fever – Park Commission Chair, Jeremy Norman Chair Norman reported that the Arctic Fever festival had a good turnout, equal if not more than the estimated 500-800 of last year. He noted that the ski-jouring was well attended, as was the sleigh rides with short lines all day. Quinlan asked how the budget is divided. Chair Norman explained that the budget is used largely to promote the event, as well as for expanding activities and advertising. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2011 PAGE 2 OF 4 Anderson interjected that the Arctic Fever Ice Princess Tea Party was sold out with a waiting list and will likely be expanded to two teas over two days next year. C. Update on Summer Activities Anderson mentioned that the summer activities are nearly complete and asked the Commission, given the funds that remain in the budget for summer programs, whether they’d like to offset the $180 cost for the Geo- Caching event with Three Rivers Park District in order for this to be a Free Friday program. Chair Norman suggested we contact Three Rivers to see if they would consider expanding the program to accommodate more children. The Park Commission directed staff to cover the program costs from the summer parks budget and check with Three Rivers whether the numbers can be increased. D. Update on the Step To It Program Anderson stated that she had called a meeting that morning with members of MCE, the Cities of Minnetonka, Shorewood, Excelsior, and Mound to discuss a joint kick-off event for the Step To It Challenge. The kick-off th is proposed to take place on Monday evening May 9 at the Minnetonka High School track beginning at 5:30pm. She noted that TC Bear, of the Twins, may be joining the ice cream social to help us kick-off the program. Anderson encouraged both Park Commissioners and City Council members to get involved and challenge other communities to join the walking program and compete for prizes, Twins tickets, and more. She stated that Hennepin County will be supplying the cities with posters, pdf’s, and managing a website for the public to log there walking hours and conversion activities. 5. APPOINT TWO PARK COMMISSIONERS TO THE TRAIL COMMITTEE Commissioners Edmondson and Quinlan volunteered to join the Committee. Though he was willing to step up to join the Committee, Chair Norman urged the volunteers to consider redefining what a trail really is, whether it is a 4’ sidewalk as opposed to an 8’ wide trail. He felt that, if the definition were broadened, the public may find it easier to support. He was pleased the City was undertaking this effort again. Hotvet stated that the Committee would be made up of two members each from the Council, Planning and Park Commissions. In addition, they would be asking residents to join the committee in the coming months after their initial meetings. Quinlan stated that he hoped the City would revisit their connection vision. Edmondson stated that 25 years ago the city began its discussions on trails and it stalled then. He was delighted to be a part of the committee. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2011 PAGE 3 OF 4 6. REVIEW PARK ENTRANCE SIGNS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL Anderson shared the Park Sign drawings and estimates supplied to her by Signsource, as well as, two masonry contract bids for the stonework for the Commission to consider. She pointed out that Signsource would be supplying the aluminum cabinets with the flush mounted letters, while the masons would be constructing the stone bases to coordinate with the stonework at City Hall. Chair Norman asked staff to ensure that we obtained the usual guarantees and warranties from the contractors. While he supported the installation of the four core park signs, he did not support the construction of the directional sign at City Hall campus using park funds. He recalled that signage for the City Hall campus was a piece of the original City Hall model and argued that this should not be put upon the ark fund simply because the Council ran out of money for the signs. He suggested the Commission consider the trail head and Skate Park and try to maintain their current budget. Anderson confirmed that, originally, the City Hall and directional entrance signs were earmarked by the Council as part of the campus remodel, even though it was tabled last fall. Anderson indicated that she could try to go back to each of the low bidders and negotiate a better price, given the entire package deal in an effort to meet their budget and maximize their impact. Trent asked if we could add the Skate Park to the mix in lieu of the City Hall directional. He suggested they place a smaller directional size sign at the Skate Park instead of Badger or even consider splitting the cost of the City Hall campus directional sign with the Council. He believed, now was the time to do them all, if possible, in order to package together the best rate and make them all uniform. Edmondson concurred, acknowledging that it would be nice to package all of the signs together and get them done all at once. Anderson clarified that the official name of the Skate Park is the Southshore Community Park. Trent moved, Edmondson seconded, recommending the City Council award the aluminum cabinet sign package to Signsource and the stonework to Boorsma Masonry for four parks signs, including Freeman, Cathcart, Silverwood, and Manor, as well as two smaller directional signs for the Freeman Park trailhead and Southshore Community Park subject to the vendors keep within our $30,000 budget. Motion passed 5/0. 7. NEW BUSINESS Quinlan stated that at the January City Council meeting, council members suggested the Commission look into the hockey rink situation. Hotvet indicated that, as a hockey coach, she was told that MYHA has chosen not to use Shorewood outdoor ice because other cities do not charge user fees like Shorewood does. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2011 PAGE 4 OF 4 Anderson stated that Shorewood is not the only City that charges user fees and that she can supply the Commission with a list of neighbors and their rates. She said the organizations like to use this same complaint to all of the cities. Chair Norman maintained that the City should have a free skate rink at Freeman Park. We have a beautiful warming house that is not used at all and all of our other free skate rinks are very small. Hotvet suggested we consider a speed skating oval. She wondered if we should eliminate the user fee or find out at least how other cities bundle the fee. Chair Norman asked staff to bring the subject up to Administrator Heck about adding a free skate ice surface to Freeman. 8. ADJOURN Swaggert moved, Quinlan seconded, adjourning the Park Commission Meeting of February 8, 2011, at 8:10pm. Motion passed 5/0. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Kristi B. Anderson Recorder