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

Committee Members John Dupont, Barbara Nye, Jennifer Young, Council Liaison Kim Crockett, Staff Dana Young

Woody Woodburn, Charty Oliver, Jean Midthun

The Committee approved the March 5, 2003 Committee minutes on a motion by John Dupont, seconded by Barbara Nye. Motion declared carried.

Discussion was held concerning the Thorpe Park Prairie Grass Project that involved the installation of 266 s.f. of prairie grass near the pond at Thorpe Park. Dana Young stated that there was some concern on the City Council about the proposed cost of this project, both with the installation cost of $1,600.00 and the three-year maintenance cost of $1,500.00. He stated that there seemed to be some sentiment to have the prairie grass installed and maintained by volunteers.

The Committee recommended that City Staff find someone who could provide information on how to install and maintain the prairie grass, lessen the size of the proposed "oasis garden" to 130 s.f., have the city crew undertake the soil preparation and find volunteers willing to plant and maintain the prairie grass. Further discussion will held on this project next month.

Dana Young presented a proposal to apply weed control and fertilizer at Thorpe Park. He stated that two bids in the amount of $4,552.88 have been received from Chemlawn and Greener Pastures for three applications in the spring, summer and fall. He stated that City Staff preferred the bid submitted by Greener Pastures due to their use of organic material instead of chemicals. It was the consensus of the Committee that they had no objection to the City contracting with Greener Pastures to apply weed control and fertilizer at Thorpe Park.

Paul Skrede was present to present a plan to expand the beach area at the Main Beach. He stated many residents have asked him how the beach area can be expanded. He stated that this could be accomplished by removing the boardwalk next to beach and reconstruct it in the asphalt pathway. This would require a substantial portion of the asphalt pathway to be removed. He stated that this project would be undertaken entirely by volunteer labor.

Mr. Skrede stated that he has met with Public Work Supervisor Gerald Hudlow to discuss the potential impact on the public works crew from no longer being able to use the asphalt pathway. He stated that the public works crew use the asphalt pathway to park vehicles to assist them in the removal of seaweed and to deliver sand and lumber for the beach dock. He stated that, in each case, there was a viable solution to completing each of these tasks without having to drive onto the beach area. Dana Young stated that Mr. Hudlow’s biggest objection wasn’t the inconvenience of no longer being able to drive large vehicles next to the beach, but he did feel it would be a mistake to replace the asphalt with the boardwalk. He stated that Mr. Hudlow believed the asphalt would be a much more durable surface than the boardwalk.

The Park Committee recommended that the City Council authorize holding a community meeting to discuss Clm. Skrede’s plan to expand the beach area at the Main Beach on a motion by Barbara Nye, seconded by John Dupont. Motion declared carried.

The Arbor Day Celebration will be held at noon at the Main Beach on Sunday, April 27^th. John Dupont stated that he expected both the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to be in attendance.

Barbara Nye made a brief presentation on the Adopt-A-Park Program that is offered by the City of Minnetonka. She stated that volunteers are enlisted to help with such minor park maintenance as trash pickup and the removal of minor debris. She stated that the only real cost to operate this program is the cost of purchasing signs identifying the volunteers. Ms. Nye stated that she will draft a letter to the public requesting volunteers and will forward a copy to Committee members for their comments. She stated that she would like to have the letter included with the parking permits that the City will be sending out later this month or, if that option is not available, in the upcoming City Newsletter.

Barbara Nye stated that she is working with the Amesbury Homeowners Association to develop a landscaping plan for the Amesbury Park Dedicated property. In discussions with Mayor Tom Anderson, she stated that the City would pay for the cost of the landscaping, the public works department would do the soil preparation and Amesbury residents would provide the labor. Jennifer Young cautioned that the landscaping plan should not include excessive maintenance responsibilities for the public works department. Ms. Nye stated that she would bring the landscaping plan to the Committee for their review in May.

Kim Crockett asked whether the City owned the fences bordering Robinson’s Bay Beach. Dana Young stated that they were not. She stated that the fences were in terrible condition and requested that

City Staff review their condition to see if they should be taken down.

Motion to adjourn by Barbara Nye, seconded by John Dupont. Motion declared carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.