PARK COMMITTEE MEETING

Wednesday, December 3, 2003

7:00 p.m.

Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.

Members Present

John Dupont, Woody Woodburn, Jean Midthun, Charty Oliver, Jennifer Young, Council Liaison Jon Monson, Administrator Dana Young

Members Absent

Barbara Nye

November 5, 2003 Minutes

The Committee approved the November 5, 2003 minutes on a motion by Charty Oliver, seconded by Woody Woodburn. Motion declared carried.

New Membership

Dana Young stated that four new members are needed to fill the existing vacancies on the Park Committee. He added that one of the four vacancies would be needed to complete the term of Barbara Nye, who has apparently resigned from the Committee.

Jennifer Young stated that after reviewing the Volunteer Application Forms, she recommended that the Committee should give the highest priority to those applicants who only selected to serve on the Park Committee. She stated that there were eight candidates that chose to be a member of the Park Committee only and did not apply to serve on any other committee. She added that the Committee should also consider giving a higher priority to those candidates that had first applied for membership.

Woody Woodburn added that the Committee also needed to consider where the applicant resides to ensure a better geographical distribution of Committee members and whether any candidate had any special education or training that would benefit the Park Committee.

After further discussion, the Committee decided to interview six of the candidates at their January meeting with the intention of recommending four to the City Council for appointment. Bruce Noll, who ordinarily would have been considered for membership, was passed over at this time due to a conversation that he had with Nancy Middleton in which he indicated that he was too busy at this time to consider membership. The final list of candidates, in order of their date of application, include:

Dick Kruetter

John Flynn

Melodie Boyer

Lucy Hicks

Bryan Sykora

Hans Larson

Mike Traxler

Carrie Anderson-Snyder

Ice Rink Improvements

John Flynn, 19200 Cedarhurst, was present to discuss possible improvements to the ice rinks at Thorpe Park and Village Park. His recommendations included:

1. Improved "open skating" rink layouts

1. Enlarge the open skating area at Cottagewood, and possibly Thorpe, which would allow for more

family activity and greater overall use.

2. At Cottagewood, move the open skating area away from the ball field backstop so it does not get

damaged by the plowed snow.

3. At Cottagewood, expand the open skating area parallel with the hockey rink to take advantage of

the lights.

4. At Cottagewood, build a snow dam or sand bag dam to hold the water in place and level out the

open skating rink.

1. Improve the physical safety factors at the rinks

1. Install a rubber mat, or some other surface, between the warming house wood step and the start

of the ice at Cottagewood and Thorpe.

2. At Cottagewood, expand the warming house "step" to reach the walking path.
3. Move the opening into the hockey rink to the side of the boards and close the hole behind the net at Thorpe.
4. Install a protective screen at the end of the hockey rink that faces the walking path at Cottagewood.
5. Install a protective screen at the end of the hockey rink that faces the parking lot at Thorpe.

1. Improve the operational safety factors at the rinks

1. Fix the brush that is used to sweep the rinks to eliminate the loose bristles on the ice, or pick them

up after cleaning.

2. Clean the snow off the boards and edges of the hockey rinks before flooding.
3. Improve the quality of the ice surface by finding a better way to lay down a new sheet of ice, such as a nozzle or portable ice machine.
4. Control the water when flooding so that it does not freeze open doors.
5. Send our "ice making crew" to observe and train at nearby communities (Edina) that make better ice.

Woody Woodburn stated that his top priority was to ensure the safety of the ice rinks and recommended that the Committee give the highest priority to purchasing mats and a new brush. He also wondered if it would be helpful to install windows in the warming house doors so that children are not hit by patrons exiting the warming house. Jon Monson stated that windows may not be practical since they would likely freeze over.

The Committee recommended that City Staff proceed on improving the "open skating" rink layouts as proposed by John Flynn, purchase mats, move the opening into the Thorpe hockey rink to the side of the boards, install a protective screen at the end of the hockey rink that faces the parking lot at Thorpe, fix the brush used to sweep the rinks, and contact Edina to observe how they maintain their ice rinks.

Warming House Attendants

Dana Young stated that the City is not intending to hire warming house attendants for the 2003-2004 ice skating season as these part-time positions were not included in the 2004 Budget. Both John Dupont and Woody Woodburn expressed their concern with the potential liability that may result by not having any warming house attendants on duty. John Dupont suggested that the City should consider closing the warming houses for the season if there are no attendants. Woody Woodburn asked Jon Monson if the Council would consider a recommendation from the Park Committee to hire warming house attendants for the 2003-2004 season. Jon Monson recommended that the Park Committee issue a recommendation to that effect to the City Council.

The Park Committee recommended that the City Council reconsider hiring warming house attendants for the 2003-2004 season on a motion by Woody Woodburn, seconded by Jean Midthun. Motion declared carried.

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn by Charty Oliver, seconded by Woody Woodburn. Motion declared carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:33 p.m. The next meeting of the Park Committee will be held on Thursday, January 8, 2004.