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102621 Pk Mins CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB RD PARK COMMISSION MEETING SHOREWOOD CITY HALL TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2021 7:00 P.M. MINUTES 1. CONVENE PARK COMMISSION MEETING Chair Hirner convened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. A. Roll Call Present: Chair Hirner, Commissioners Schmid, Heinz, and Tauer; City Council Liaison Gorham; Parks and Recreation Director Grout; Planning Director Darling Absent: Commissioner Gallivan B. Review Agenda Tauer moved to approve the agenda as written. Heinz seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Park Commission Meeting Minutes of August 10, 2021 Heinz moved to approve the minutes of the August 10, 2021 meeting as written. Tauer seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0. 3. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR There were none. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Sam Larson Eagle Scout Project Application Sam Larson, 5490 Wedgewood Drive, gave an overview of his proposed Eagle Scout project. He stated that the project would be to make a compost bin at the Freeman Park Community Garden and gave a presentation about his proposal and answered Commission questions. The Commission discussed the need to find a flat location for the compost bin. Hirner moved to support the Eagle Scout Project application from Sam Larson. Heinz seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0. Commissioner Schmid noted that her husband had been an Eagle Scout and supports this project because she thinks this kind of thing has been missing in the City. Council Liaison Gorham stated that when this comes to the Council he thinks it would be good to know where the bin will be going and what its finish will be. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2021 PAGE 2 OF 5 Sam Larson stated that he is planning to buy lumber that has already been stained so it will not deteriorate due to weather or the compost. He stated that he is also planning on finding lumber where the treating chemicals will not adversely affect the compost materials for the garden. He stated that he could paint the bin if that is something that the City would like. Council Liaison Gorham stated that he just wants to ensure that the bin fits into the park. He asked if this was only for plant composting or if it would also include food compost. Planning Director Darling explained that right now everything from the garden is just thrown into a pile and if it gets too big, Public Works comes and takes it away. She stated that it will be nice to have a bin for this purpose. Chair Hirner suggested that there could be a sign on the bin the outlines what materials are welcome and what is not welcome. Council Liaison Gorham stated that now that he has heard the current practice, he does not think a sign will be necessary. Commissioner Heinz asked if there would be signage indicating that the bin came from an Eagle Scout. Sam Larson stated that he could put up a sign that the project was completed by an Eagle Scout. Following discussion, the Commission supported the suggestion of a sign identifying the participation of the Eagle Scouts and recommended that Communications Director Moore take a look before it is posted. Commissioner Schmid stated her willingness to donate to this project. Park and Recreation Director Grout stated that this item will be on the Consent Agenda at the next City Council meeting. B. CIP with Specific Discussion of Freeman Park North Playground and Southshore Park Planning Director Darling reviewed the proposed CIP for years 2022-2031. She stated that staff’s proposal is in line with the proposal from last year and this would just update it. She noted that the Badger Park tennis courts was finished in 2021; Freeman Park drainage project was completed in 2021; the Silverwood Park playground equipment has been demolished in 2021, however, the new equipment has been delayed a bit. Commissioner Heinz asked if there was a sign posted explaining that the new equipment has been delayed due to transportation and the manufacturer and it is not the fault of the City or the Park Commission. Planning Director Darling stated that there is not a specific sign out there but she can update that information. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2021 PAGE 3 OF 5 Chair Hirner stated that the City needs to make sure that the posts that are holding up the fencing are low enough. He stated that is not completed before winter, there may need to be something done to ensure safety because the posts are metal. Planning Director Darling stated that she is hopeful that the equipment can be installed before it snows. She explained that in 2023 the City is looking at repaving some of the trails in Freeman Park and noted that the City no longer needs to replace the existing handrails on the North Playground. She stated that the Commission needs to decide in what year the replacement playground will be placed. She stated that the City has gotten an estimate to repair the ballpark fencing and noted that they are looking to find grant funds to reduce the cost of that project. The Commission discussed where the fence was heaving on the ballpark fields. Planning Director Darling stated that the concrete pad for the aquatic invasive species equipment at the Christmas Lake boat landing was approved at the October 25, 2021 City Council meeting. She stated that there are a few other repairs at the boat landing that the City is working with the HOA to resolve. She noted that the Commission had expressed an interest in discussing the facilities offered at Southshore Park and noted that it is earmarked for 2028 and suggested that the Commission discuss whether that is the correct timeframe. She stated that staff is working hard to try to find grants for the City’s projects. Chair Hirner stated that in Freeman Park, he thinks the work should all be done at the same time so the park usage is only disrupted once and would like to see the City work with the Three Rivers Park District on the scheduling the trailhead project. There was consensus of the Commission to attempt to schedule the work so Freeman Park is only disrupted once, if possible. The Commission discussed the proposed upcoming CIP projects between the years 2022-2026. The Commission discussed the Cathcart playground equipment and replacement of hockey boards. Chair Hirner noted that he would like to see the City start some sort of program to maintain the hockey boards, such as budgeting a small amount of money each year for that purpose, so the replacement could be pushed out a bit further. He stated that he thinks the Southshore Park is very under -utilized but is unsure why and would like to see the City figure out what they want to do with that park before a decision is made on where it should be in the overall CIP. Council Liaison Gorham noted that he believes the $10,000 allocated in the CIP for Southshore Park is probably too low. The Commission discussed ideas for Southshore Park and ways to shift around projects that may reduce costs, such as combining the tennis court resurfacing projects at the same time. There was consensus among the Commission to move the tennis court resurfacing at Cathcart to 2026 to align with Badger Park; leave Freeman Park trail overlay and Cathcart Playground equipment where they are in the CIP. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2021 PAGE 4 OF 5 Planning Director Darling stated that the available funds for 2022-2026 is $355,000. She noted that the City does not have all of that money currently available so the projects will need to be spaced out. Council Liaison Gorham asked for clarification on budgeting because it does not appear as though there will be enough money to complete the Cathcart playground equipment project. Planning Director Darling confirmed that this project may need to be delayed by a year and reiterated that staff is applying for grants which could help. Council Liaison Gorham asked how urgent the situation is with the current playground equipment. Chair Hirner stated that the playground equipment is in better shape than the swings and the edging material. He stated that if the City can undertake some small improvements by utilizing Public Works, he thinks the full project can be pushed out a year, but would not like to see it pushed out further than that. He stated that he would like the Park Commission, over the next two years to spend time discussing Southshore Park and its future plan. Chair Hirner reiterated the changes that the Commission is suggesting to the CIP: Freeman Park fencing moves from 2023 – 2022; Freeman Park North Playground was already taken care of by the Public Works Department and add the replacement in 2030; Cathcart Park tennis court resurfacing moved to 2026 to align with Badger Park tennis court resurfacing; Cathcart Park playground equipment remains in 2024; Southshore master plan brought to 2024. He noted that this CIP is more than the budget will allow so the Commission can revisit the Cathcart playground equipment from 2024 to 2025, if needed. He suggested that the Commission add replacement of the rubberized playground surface at Manor Park to its CIP in 2031. Heinz moved to accept the revised CIP, as discussed. Tauer seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0. 5. OLD BUSINESS A. Senior Programming Park and Recreation Director Grout stated that at a previous meeting, the Park Commission had asked her to reach out to some surrounding cities to see if they offer park programs for seniors. She gave an overview of what she found out from the various cities. Mound: Does not have senior programming at their park because it is done through their senior center; Chaska: senior programming is handled through their community center; Eden Prairie: senior programming handled through their senior center, they do have a biking club, walking group, and a fall color hike; Victoria: has not gotten back to the City yet; Minnetonka: senior programming is handled through their senior center, they do have a biking club and Adopt-A-Highway, a Night Sky Observation Program, and a Fall Hiking Program. Park and Recreation Director Grout explained that the City offered a painting class this past summer at Badger Park, a nature program at Freeman Park, and Poker Walk at Badger Park, however there were only a few individuals who signed up so they ended up being cancelled. The one successful program was Car Bingo the first time, but not the second time. She stated that she would love to try some senior programming again and see if there is better participation now because she thinks the programs were hugely impacted by COVID-19. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2021 PAGE 5 OF 5 Commissioner Tauer stated that she thinks it is a great idea to try senior programming again. She suggested hosting something like a cribbage night because that could be moved outside if people were more comfortable. Park and Recreation Director Grout stated that there is a cribbage group that meets at the community center so that may be a fun thing to promote. Chair Hirner suggested that the Commission do some homework and think of some ideas for senior programming to send to Park and Recreation Director Grout and be prepared to discuss the ideas at the next meeting. 6. STAFF AND LIAISON REPORTS / UPDATES A. Commissioner Heinz - Summary of Discussion at the Planning Commission meeting Commissioner Heinz gave an overview of the October 5, 2021 Planning Commission meeting as reflected in the minutes. B. City Council Council Liaison Gorham reviewed recent City Council discussions and action items. C. Staff Park and Recreation Director Grout reviewed some of the preliminary plans for Arctic Fever which is scheduled for January 15, 2022 and noted that they will not be having activities Friday night because of COVID-19. 7. ADJOURN Tauer moved to adjourn the Park Commission Meeting of October 26, 2021 at 8:37 p.m. Heinz seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.