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120820 Park Minutes CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB RD PARK COMMISSION MEETING SHOREWOOD CITY HALL TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 220 7:00 P.M. MINUTES 1. CONVENE PARK COMMISSION MEETING Chair Mangold convened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. A. Roll Call Present: Chair Mangold, Commissioners Schmid (arrived at 7:40 p.m.), Hirner, Gallivan, and Garske; Planning Director Darling and Park and Recreation Director Grout Absent: None B. Review Agenda Hirner moved to approve the agenda as written. Gallivan seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: Ayes – all. Motion carried 4-0. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Park Commission Meeting Minutes of November 10, 2020 Gallivan moved to approve the minutes of the November 10, 2020 meeting as written. Garske seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Hirner, Gallivan, Garske. Abstain – Mangold Motion carried 4-0-1. 3. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR There were none. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Determine Liaisons for January and February City Council Meetings January – Commissioner Mangold February – Commissioner Hirner B. Silverwood Park Playground Rehab Planning Director Darling explained that she would like the Commission to begin to set the parameters, including the size and scope of the Silverwood Park playground project. She asked if the Commission would like to see this project be a rehabilitation or a redevelopment and explained some of the options to the Commission and noted that there may also be grant options available to fund this project. Commissioner Hirner stated that he thinks there will need to be two playground areas based on the presence of the sledding hill. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020 PAGE 2 OF 6 Chair Mangold suggested that the Commission begin with broad parameters to help bookend the discussion. He asked if there was general agreement amongst the Commission that they do not want a smaller playground at this park. There was consensus of the Commission that they do not want a smaller playground at this park and feel the existing general footprint with two play areas makes sense, including keeping the green space and sledding hill area intact. Commissioner Hirner asked what general age group the City was targeting for this park. He noted that he lives near this park and what he tends to see when driving by is teenagers at the basketball court and smaller children and families up to age 10 or so near the equipment. Chair Mangold stated that he considers this a neighborhood park and not a destination park, such as Freeman Park. He stated that this distinction will determine what type of equipment should be installed at a neighborhood park. Commissioner Garske stated that he would like to see public involvement in this process. He stated that removal of the slides will be part of this project which he assumes is being done because of safety concerns. He stated that he would like to have buy-in from the public on what this park will look like and who it will serve. Planning Director Darling noted that there are large slides on the market that are enclosed rather than long, metal, open chutes. Chair Mangold stated that he supports community involvement, but noted that he thinks it will work better if the Commission presents a proposed plan to the public rather than asking them what they would like up front. He stated that he would like the end product to be cohesive and polished. Commissioner Hirner stated that he would advocate for the swings being replaced because they are not as sturdy as others around the City. He noted that this also has pea gravel that will need to be replaced. Chair Mangold reiterated that there was consensus of Commission for this to remain two spaces and that it will cohesively match which means replacement of both areas. He stated that he thinks this may be a park that is kept fairly simple without a lot of bells and whistles. He stated that he doesn’t want something that is trendy right now because it will soon look dated. Commissioner Gallivan stated that he agreed that this park may be a good place for more traditional equipment. Commissioner Garske stated that he would like to still have a slide component to this park and suggested that there also be some musical component for smaller children to bang on. Planning Director Darling explained the themes that she had considered: modern climbers; traditional play structures; geometric design; and imaginative structures. Commissioner Garske stated that he would like to see something more traditional or the geometric design. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020 PAGE 3 OF 6 Chair Mangold stated that he would support a traditional structure. Commissioner Hirner stated that he also likes the traditional structure including the fact that the example shown has shade built in because this park gets very hot during the summer. Commissioner Gallivan stated that he also likes the example shown of the more traditional equipment. Chair Mangold asked if the Commission felt that they should try to match color schemes throughout parks in the City in order to show unity. Commissioner Hirner stated that he would be fine with that and likes the idea of being able to move some of the reusable parts between parks if some of the equipment is being replaced. Commissioner Garske stated that he does not have a strong feeling either way unless it would be helpful from a maintenance perspective or would provide some sort of cost savings. Planning Director Darling repeated back what feedback she feels the Commission had given: a younger kids playground; a more traditional structure with a cover rather than themed; and incorporate some musical components into the equipment. Chair Mangold suggested that staff use this feedback to dial in a bit more about what should be in this park and once the Commission is in agreement then they can move forward on getting some neighborhood feedback on the proposal. Commissioner Hirner asked how much of the handicap accessible area will be kept. He noted that the current surface is pretty worn down and not easily useable for someone in a wheelchair. Planning Director Darling noted that chips or poured in place rubber are both wheelchair accessible. Chair Mangold stated he would like to see all the existing material be torn out and replaced because it is at the end of its life but noted that there is a huge cost difference between chips or poured in place rubber. Commissioner Hirner noted that if the poured in place rubber is used it will also change the type of equipment that is installed. He asked if the City should consider Manor Park as the City’s one true handicap accessible park from a playground equipment perspective. Commissioner Garske stated that he likes the idea of making the swing set area handicap accessible and would support the other play area having chips as its surface. Chair Mangold noted that chips are considered handicap accessible so that could be used for the swing area. He noted that the City has gotten feedback that this material is not good enough and wanting the poured in place rubber surface. He shared a rough estimate of the difference in price for those two surfaces for Badger Park. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020 PAGE 4 OF 6 The Commission discussed surface material options for this park and supported chip use since this is not a specialty use park but is a more traditional neighborhood park. The Commission asked staff to bring back options for potentially replacing the existing slides. Chair Mangold asked what dollar amount had been included in the CIP for this park and expressed concern that this may come in over what was set aside in the CIP. Planning Director Darling stated that $90,000 had been earmarked for replacement of the slides and $150,000 for the other playground equipment for a total of $240,000. Commissioner Hirner suggested that the Commission insist on bollards near the basketball court in order to keep the port-a-potty truck from driving on the surface. C. 2021 Work Program and Meeting Schedule Chair Mangold noted that this is the opportunity for the Commission to throw out ideas of things that they would like to spend time talking more deeply about in the coming year. He stated that in general they should look at what their overall theme is with regard to plans for the parks and what are the ‘squeaky wheels’ or needs within the park system. Commissioner Gallivan suggested that the Commission discuss: Southshore Park plans; Movie in the Park or other events in light of possible continuing COVID-19 restrictions or come up with other creative ways for people to be able to get out; and discuss whether there are any opportunities to do anything about getting a park south of Galpin Lake to help the residents in that area feel more connected. Chair Mangold stated that he feels the Commission can spend some time discussing possible park locations in the corner of the City that doesn’t currently have one. He asked Park and Recreation Director Grout to talk about COVID-19 restrictions and whether the City has any control of these events. Park and Recreation Director Grout noted that for Movie in the Park and Music in the Park, this past summer they were set up with the chalk paint spray that provided areas 6 feet distanced for families. She noted that there were quite a few families who participated in both events despite the social distancing, but noted that the rest of the summer programs did not take place. She stated that Arctic Fever should be coming up, but as of right now that also would not be able to be held with the current restrictions. She explained that they will find out after December 18, 2020 when the current restrictions expire whether Governor Walz will impose new restrictions. She shared what events, if any the surrounding communities were doing due to COVID-19. She noted that she will begin working on summer programs with or without COVID-19 restrictions that may be present. Chair Mangold asked when would be the best time to have an update on the COVID-19 programming discussion. Park and Recreation Director Grout suggested that this item be revisited by the Commission in March of 2021 in order to make plans for summer of 2021. Chair Mangold stated that he has the discussion regarding programming and COVID-19 penciled in for March and the discussion about a possible park south of Galpin Lake for April, but that could PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020 PAGE 5 OF 6 be moved around as needed. He suggested that the discussion about Southshore Park be moved to the second half of the year since it has been bumped out a few years in the CIP. He stated that he would also like to suggest two other future agenda discussions: exciting playground equipment for Freeman Park; the possibility of pulling the park tours into May rather than in the summer months. 5. OLD BUSINESS A. Property Located North of Highway 7 Between Eureka Road and Seamans Drive Planning Director Darling explained that there was someone who attended Matters from the Floor in October of 2019 who asked if the Park Commission would consider making a recommendation to purchase the property north of Highway 7 between Eureka Road and Seamans Drive. She stated that it is about a 7 acres parcel and there have been a number of sketch plans with development proposals presented to the City. She stated that the resident had asked if the Park Commission would recommend to the Council that this property be purchased in order to be left as open space in the City. She stated that this suggestion had never been brought back for a more in-depth discussion by the Commission. She stated that the current developer, Stoddard Development has a request for PUD development plan and a preliminary plat on the property which is currently under review. She stated that they have had the property under contract since April of 2019, and noted that she knows that they are paying a higher price than the assessed amount. She asked the Commission whether they would like to make a recommendation on this property. Commissioner Gallivan stated that he had asked Planning Director Darling to place this item on the agenda because Mr. Greenfield had contacted him expressing concern about this parcel. He stated that he had apologized to Mr. Greenfield because he did not remember to bring this issue back before the Commission for further discussion. He gave an overview of the past discussion regarding this property. Commissioner Hirner stated that he thought the Commission was thoughtful in its discussion regarding cash in lieu of parkland for this parcel. He stated that it is always nice to have the land, but does not want to get into a bidding war with a developer and is not sure that this falls within the Commission’s purview. He stated that he is in favor of moving forward with the past discussion that cash in lieu of parkland makes the most sense for this property. Commissioner Gallivan stated that he agrees with Commissioner Hirner that the decision about this property being developed is not within the Commission’s purview and also supports the decision to accept cash in lieu of parkland. Chair Mangold gave an overview to Commissioners Garske and Schmid about past discussions on this parcel since they had happened before they joined the Commission. Commissioner Schmid noted that the only thing she had heard regarding this property were concerns about the proposed development and buses stopping for kids along Eureka Road. Chair Mangold explained that his thoughts, since this seems to keep coming back before the Commission in different forms every few years, is that it is dangerous for the Commission to look at these pieces of property as adding to the park system if it is not already a goal that was set by PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020 PAGE 6 OF 6 the Commission. He gave the example that if the Commission had already established a goal to obtain more park land in this part of town, then it would make sense to pursue a property that comes up within that already established parameter. He stated that he feels this particular parcel is not one that the Commission would have sought out or matches the vision for the City’s park system. Commissioner Gallivan stated that he agreed with that assessment and feels the Commission needs to make decisions based on a larger strategic vision, but this property does not fit into that vision. 6. STAFF AND LIAISON REPORTS / UPDATES A. City Council Planning Director Darling gave an overview of the November 23, 2020 Council meeting as reflected in the minutes. B. Staff a. Update on Freeman Park Drainage Correction Project Park and Recreation Director Grout noted that this project has been substantially completed. b. Fire Lanes Joint Meeting Scheduling Planning Director Darling stated that she is proposing that this meeting will take place at the January 12, 2021 Park Commission meeting. She noted that the fire chief will also be present at this meeting for the discussion. c. Update on Buckthorn in Parks Park and Recreation Director Grout stated that the City has applied for a grant to address buckthorn in the parks and staff should hear back in early 2021. Planning Director Darling noted that she thinks there will need to be a more mechanized approach instead of the goats. She stated that the Eagle Scouts that worked on Freeman Park had a pretty good impact on the areas where they worked. Commissioner Hirner asked if there were any other parks besides Freeman Park that were impacted by buckthorn. Planning Director Darling stated the other parks are not impacted to the same as Freeman Park. 7. ADJOURN Mangold moved to adjourn the Park Commission Meeting of December 8, 2020 at 8:40 p.m. Gallivan seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: Ayes – all. Motion carried 5-0.