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040814 PK MINS CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB RD PARK COMMISSION MEETING SHOREWOOD CITY HALL TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014 7:00 P.M. MINUTES 1. CONVENE PARK COMMISSION MEETING Chair Quinlan convened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. A. Roll Call ; Present: Chair Mangold, Commissioners Hartmann, Dietz, Sawtell, and Ische City Council Liaison Hotvet; City Planner Nielsen Absent: None B. Review Agenda Sawtell moved to approve the agenda as written. Dietz seconded the motion. Motion carried. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Park Commission Meeting Minutes of March 11, 2014, Commissioner Sawtell moved to approve the minutes of the March 11, 2014 meeting as amended: Page 1, Item 2A, change 50 to 750; Commissioners discussed whether to change the discussion during the vote for Chair. Sawtell stated he raised the question of whether the vote should be delayed until Commissioner Dietz could be present. Hartmann seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0. 3. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR There were none. New Commissioner Ische introduced himself and discussed his background which will be helpful in his new role as Park Commissioner. It was noted Ische would replace Bob Edmondson. 4. BADGER PARK UPDATE AND FOLLOW-UP ON COUNCIL WORK SESSION Mangold stated the meeting with the City Council was not held, and we are still waiting for financial updates on the park construction. Nielsen stated the two concepts were reviewed in detail. He noted there were flaws in both concepts. He noted everything gets real squeezed on the north end as one leaves the ball park. The original concept envisioned a pathway through the park to the Southshore Center. He stated concept 2 is more angular. On concept 1, the appearance is that of one large parking lot. Concept 1 is more of a tree- lined drive to the parking lot. The Council believed concept 2 tied the Center better to the park. The loop to the Center is under the canopy in concept 1 while the loop is further to the west on concept 2. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014 4 PAGE 2 OF He discussed field orientation and the advantages of having it north/south or east/west. He stated if concept 2 is more expensive with the change in field orientation, they may still go with concept 1. Nielsen stated it was felt that it would be more productive to have a work session when the financial information is available. Mangold agreed we are being held back by not having the numbers. Nielsen felt the information would be available for the next month’s meeting. Nielsen stated the most expensive part of the element will be the picnic shelter. He stated as we progress, the elements are subject to change and relocation. Ische stated he liked concept 1 but believed the two play areas should be next to each other. Mangold agreed. He believed the play area is a lot of space. He stated concept 2 lacks the green space that he thought was our overall goal. Ische also discussed the importance of having the picnic area near the play areas. Hotvet asked where the Watershed District’s collaboration falls. Nielsen stated once the design is selected, the Watershed District will be notified. Reusing the water and circulating it through will be possible issues of concern. Hotvet stated she didn’t think it would hurt to engage them before the concept is selected. Nielsen stated they have been contacted. Hartmann discussed areas where the Watershed could become involved. Nielsen stated the director is very creative when finding projects to partner. Ische stated it will be costly to redirect water to the pond. He stated the impact to wetlands might be a concern. Nielsen stated this is a constructed pond. Dietz asked what a “community display” would involve. Nielsen stated it is community artwork or sculptures. Dietz asked if there would be a clear count for parking spaces in each concept. Mangold noted it is on the site plans. 5. DISCUSS LANDSCAPE STANDARDS FOR CITY PARKS Commissioners reviewed a packet from another community. Nielsen stated it lays out maintenance items for all city-owned property. He noted each piece of property would be categorized into levels of service. He reviewed examples from the packet which talks about how often areas are mowed, fertilized, or aerated. The next step would be to determine what the levels of service will be. He stated the list will be created for Shorewood and brought along on the park tours. Hotvet suggested replacement of equipment be added to the information. Mangold stated it would be nice to have inspection lists for each park as well. Hotvet stated she likes the idea of this and having it published on the website so people know. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014 4 PAGE 3 OF Commissioners and staff discussed complaints regarding the tennis court net and the field at Badger Park. Nielsen stated another complaint is the equipment gate at the hockey rink is left open all the time. Mangold stated the levels of service might also be different from one park to another. Nielsen stated baselines can be set. Ische stated it would be helpful for residents to know when fields, for example, are scheduled to be maintained. Nielsen stated this item will be brought back to the next meeting after input from Public Works. He stated wood chip placement needs to be a regular maintenance item. He mentioned Public Works has been responsible for storm water pond inspections. He stated this task will be shifted to a consultant who does this on a regular basis. Nielsen stated a Shorewood resident will be attending the next Park Commission meeting to discuss the need for more flowers in the parks to attract bees and avoiding certain pesticides that are harmful to bee colonies. Dietz stated it would be important to know what Public Works is spraying now and when. Hartmann suggested Larry Brown also attend the meeting. 6. DETERMINE DATES FOR PARK TOURS Mangold stated park tour dates need to be determined. He stated Brown has indicated May is too early for the park tours and they should be moved back. Ische stated if parks are visited in July, Little League season is over. Mangold suggested the July and June lists be flipped. He also suggested moving Gideon Glen from one list to the other. Ische believed we would want to visit the ball fields as soon as possible in order to help Director Brown develop his list of work projects. Sawtell suggested we visit Freeman Park in May. Hartmann suggested Cathcart also be included in May. Mangold stated the Council work session is in May which is a conflict. Nielsen suggested getting together with the Council prior to their meeting night. Mangold stated another option is to schedule the park tours on a different night. Mangold suggested the work session be the regular Park Commission night and have a park tour of Freeman, Cathcart and Manor Parks on the same night. Commissioners discuss possible nights. Nielsen stated he would send out possible dates to see what works best. Commissioners discussed having the tour on Wednesday, May 7 beginning at 7 p.m. Commissioners continued discussion of other park tours and the parks that should be reviewed. Freeman, Cathcart, Badger, Gideon Glen, and Crescent will be visited starting at 6:30 p.m. on May 7 given the amount of daylight. The remainder of the parks will be done on June 10. 7. DETERMINE LIAISON FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON APRIL 14 PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014 4 PAGE 4 OF Commissioners discussed who will be liaison for the City Council meeting on April 14. Sawtell volunteered. 8. NEW BUSINESS Hartmann asked if there needs to be any discussions with the baseball organizations now that they have merged. Nielsen stated Twila holds an annual meeting to discuss field usage. He stated he would talk with her to see if she has heard anything about changes. Sawtell asked if there has been any discussion of the number of meetings one can miss. Nielsen stated the Planning Commission came up with four as their recommendation. There is always the possibility there would be extenuating circumstances, and the Council would be the final word. In response to a question from Ische, Nielsen stated he would check the ordinance to determine whether it is a calendar year or a “rolling” year. Sawtell moved, Ische seconded to recommend a Park Commission member cannot miss more than four meetings in a calendar year and more than two in a row barring any unforeseen circumstances. Motion carried 5-0. 9. STAFF AND LIAISON REPORTS/UPDATES A. City Council B. Staff Nielsen stated an agenda item to recommend working with a solar consultant to add solar panels to city buildings was on a recent agenda. Hotvet stated the Council would like to move slowly. Hotvet noted the resident concerned about bees would like a resolution adopted. Commissioners and staff discussed this issue. 10. ADJOURN Hartmann moved, Sawtell seconded, to adjourn the Park Commission Meeting of April 8, 2014 at 8:15 p.m. Motion carried. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Clare T. Link Recorder