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041211 PK MINS CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB RD PARK COMMISSION MEETING SHOREWOOD CITY HALL TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2011 7:00 P.M. MINUTES 1. CONVENE PARK COMMISSION MEETING Chair Quinlan convened the meeting at 7:01 p.m. A. Roll Call Present: Chair Quinlan; Commissioners Robb, Edmondson, Swaggert, Kjolhaug, and Hartmann, who had to leave early; City Council liaison Hotvet; Administrator Heck; and Park Coordinator Anderson Absent: Commissioner Trent B. Review Agenda Edmondson moved, Robb seconded. Motion passed 6/0. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Park Commission Meeting Minutes of March 8, 2011 Item 4, the resulting ‘Motion passed 7/0’ was added to the proposed motion. Robb moved, Edmondson seconded, approving the Minutes of March 8, 2011, as amended. Motion passed 6/0. 3. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR There were none. 4. CONSENT ITEMS (This is a trial to see how the commission likes this.) Chair Quinlan and Coordinator Anderson explained the process for Consent Items for future consideration. The Commission agreed to incorporate this into future agendas. 5. DETERMINE DATES FOR PARK TOURS Edmonson moved, Kjolhaug seconded, accepting the proposed dates for upcoming Park Tours with the addition of a visit to the Southshore Community Center. Motion passed 6/0. 6. ARCTIC FEVER Hotvet asked the Commission to explain what they view their position to be with regard to the supervision of Arctic Fever. She asked what level of participation the Commission would like to commit to with regard to set-up and the use of City resources in the coming years. Chair Quinlan stated that, from his perspective, the planning committee has always been a separate committee made up of members from the Park Commission, other City Councils and Commission, PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2011 PAGE 2 OF 5 as well as members from the Excelsior business community. In earlier years he, Davis, and Norman served on the Arctic Fever committee and the Park Commission was not involved much other than as a funding source from the Park budget. Edmondson noted that the Park Foundation also donated funds towards Arctic Fever. Heck stated that he would be more involved with the committee this year. He indicated that Finance Director DeJong would be tracking the funding and expenses thru the City financial avenues of the City in order to keep better track of the hard costs associated with the event. He pointed out that the Excelsior and Tonka Bay events are funded and supported within their own communities. Hartmann asked how many people typically attend Arctic Fever. Heck stated that approximately 800 people show up at Freeman Park, and as he understood it, Tonka Bay ran out of food last year hosting in excess of 400 people. Hotvet asked if there was a separate committee and whether the City viewed this as a good investment, or return on investment. She suggested the City consider spreading out some of these wonderful activities across the entire winter rather than squeezing them into a one weekend span. Chair Quinlan acknowledged that the current committee should have current Park Commissioners on it. Anderson indicated that she and Park Secretary Grout were beginning to investigate adding to the Fun Friday’s program throughout the winter months. She stated that she had already made contact with the park district about some snowshoeing and other activities. Hotvet suggested a monthly evening bonfire at Freeman, along with a free skate area, to utilize the Eddy Station warming house. Heck agreed, acknowledging that, to date, there has not been ice skating at Freeman. He maintained that the city should provide a free skate area to compliment the sliding hill as something that would be embraced by the community. Heck pointed out that during Arctic Fever earlier this year, many people showed up at Freeman with their skates only to be disappointed to learn there was nowhere to skate. Edmondson asked whether there should be one or two representatives. Heck added that the committee could use a broomball tournament volunteer. Hartmann volunteered to assist with the Arctic Fever committee, and Swaggert was recruited to help with the broomball tournament. Chair Quinlan acknowledged both Davis and Norman for their continued support for the Arctic Fever event. He questioned where the continued funding should come from if this becomes a City sponsored event. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2011 PAGE 3 OF 5 Heck stated that it would continue to be a Park sanctioned event and operated as a separate line item, though donations would be welcomed and designated to an appropriate Arctic Fever fund. Chair Quinlan asked if the Commission would like to flood a free skate area. The Commission agreed and directed Anderson and Heck to work with public works to determine a location for a skating oval. Anderson stated that she would continue to build the Friday programs throughout the winter months and report back on progress made. In addition, she stated that she would work with Public Works to create a free skate area for the winter of 2011. 7. DISCUSS TOBACCO USE POLICY FOR PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES Hotvet distributed some information from the Hennepin County Board which has designated all county owned properties and single-tenant leased sites tobacco free. Hartmann stated that, although she supported tobacco free, she felt it to be impossible to enforce. Robb stated that he, too, struggled with enforcement. He stated that if the City chose to create a tobacco free Ordinance, the City would be obligated to enforce it and have a plan in place to do so. Chair Quinlan questioned what exactly the City wanted to accomplish. It seemed to him to be a solution looking for a problem, in the face of little if any complaints. Hotvet did not view this as a problem, but stated this action would be a more proactive approach to create a supportive healthy living environment. Edmondson maintained that many others have preceded us in this judgment, Minnetonka, Orono, Plymouth, and now Hennepin County. He suggested we pull from the existing policies created by other communities in order to protect our impressionable youth. Swaggert questioned whether it should be up to the Commission, or him in general, to determine healthy living standards for others. He was uncomfortable mandating how people live their life. Although he chooses to run and be smoke free, he found it difficult to mandate to others what they should be doing. Kjolhaug stated that he was supportive of a policy or Ordinance that would eliminate smoking in parks. Although, to be meaningful, he believed it must have support behind it, such as a healthy living initiative. He felt in essence, it did fit with what they want our parks to be. Hartmann left at 7:55pm. Chair Quinlan asked what would be best for Shorewood. He asked how or why other cities joined this effort. Anderson stated that the other cities had been approached by youth organizations or commission members to pursue tobacco free policy. Anderson suggested the Commission direct staff to investigate the cost for signage, draft up a policy to recommend or deny for Council consideration. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2011 PAGE 4 OF 5 Chair Quinlan asked for the distinction between Ordinance and Policy. Heck explained that the City Council can adopt a Policy that recommends a standard, however, if someone violates policy, there is no real enforcement. On the other hand, an Ordinance is a local law with a consequence or enforcement attached. Chair Quinlan asked staff to bring back an estimate and policy for consideration. Heck reiterated that staff would outline a policy, including the costs for mock signs for consideration. He noted that the Commission is at a stage in which they need a policy to react to and debate whether we need to move it forward or not. 8. NEW / OLD BUSINESS There was none. 9. STAFF AND LIAISON REPORTS/UPDATES A. City Council Hotvet reported that the Watershed Commissioner gave an informative presentation. Heck added that the Commission and City may wish to partner with the Watershed to perform the wetland enhancement project slated for Freeman Park nearly ten years ago. Hotvet noted that opportunities exist to partner with the watershed on many projects, such as a paver parking lot at Freeman Park and more. B. Park Commission C. Staff Heck indicated that he had contacted Excelsior and Tonka Bay Park Commissions to try to coordinate a Joint Commission meeting to discuss common issues. Anderson proposed the watershed representative be asked back to provide an abbreviated synopsis of his Council presentation for the joint Commission meeting. Chair Quinlan suggested staff contact the Chanhassen Park Commission to invite them to a joint meeting or, at minimum, to the Park Tour at Cathcart Park. D. Work Program Edmondson asked for an update regarding the drinking fountain. Heck stated that the fixtures had been ordered and that the work should be underway soon, and completed near the end of May. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2011 PAGE 5 OF 5 E. CIP Updated Anderson shared the updated CIP document, adding that there has not been any first quarter expenditures to speak of, thus, no capital expenditures to report. Robb asked about the LRT trail line item in the CIP. Heck stated that, since Hennepin County and Three Rivers will be building an overpass in 2013, the City would like to wait to see what is proposed that can be linked into for the trail before proceeding to locate the trail. F. Quarterly Expenditure Report – No capital expenditures in budget as of yet. 10. ADJOURN Swaggert moved, Robb seconded, adjourning the Park Commission Meeting of April 12, 2011, at 8:30pm. Motion passed 5/0. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Kristi B. Anderson Recorder