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

Committee Members John Dupont, Woody Woodburn, Charty Oliver, Jean Midthum, Jennifer Young, Council Liaison Kim Crockett, Staff Dana Young

Barbara Nye

The Committee approved the May 7, 2003 Committee minutes on a motion by Charty Oliver, seconded by John Dupont. Motion declared carried.

Dana Young stated that Dyke Williams had met with the Committee on May 7^th to request permission to trim two maple trees in Parkway Park that blocked his view of the Marina from his office. Dana Young stated that Mr. Williams has since revised his request and is now asking to trim only one of the maple trees. He added that that the trimming would be much less than originally proposed, at most removing the bottom row of branches. Dana Young stated that Mr. Williams would contract to have the trimming done at his own cost.

Jennifer Young stated that she was opposed to the idea of trimming trees on public property to provide a better view of the lake. Woody Woodburn stated that he was inclined to support the request since the City had planted the tree and it had always been there. Kim Crockett stated that she was sympathetic with people who wanted a view of the lake. Jennifer Young stated that the request should be sent to the City Council but felt that since the City does not have a sightline ordinance, the request should not be approved. Jean Midthum stated that she agreed with Woody Woodburn’s comment that the City has some responsibility in this matter because we planted the tree. Jennifer Young stated that if the City Council approves this request, the Council could expect numerous requests throughout the community for the City to trim trees to provide a better view. John Dupont stated that he felt the request should be forwarded to the City Council for their approval if the request appears reasonable.

The Committee considered a motion to recommend approval of the request since the City originally planted the tree, the trimming will not harm the tree, the tree is currently blocking Mr. William’s view of the lake and he is offering to have the tree trimmed at his cost.

Further discussion was held on whether the tree needed to be trimmed. Dana Young stated that the tree appeared to be in very good condition and did not require trimming other than to accommodate Mr. Williams’s request. He stated that Public Works Supervisor Jerry Hudlow also did not support the request for that reason and due to his concern that it would open the City to additional requests to trim other trees on City property.

The Committee recommended that the City Council deny Dyke Williams’s request to trim the tree in Parkway Park since it would establish an undesirable precedent on a motion by Jennifer Young, seconded by John Dupont. Woody Woodburn opposed. Motion declared carried.

Clm. Paul Skrede was present to provide an update on the status of the boardwalk at the Main Beach and on the City Webpage. In regards to the former issue, he stated that the boardwalk would be evaluated for one year before any final decision is made on whether it should be removed to enlarge the beach area.

Turning to the City Webpage, he stated that he has designed a separate page for each park, beach and trail, each page providing the public with the ability to provide feedback. He stated that he hoped to include a city map showing the location of each facility at a later date. He stated that what he is requesting are photos of the parks & beaches, upcoming projects, historical information and any information that the Committee had concerning the Adopt-a-Park Program. The Committee thanked Mr. Skrede for his efforts and asked him if he wouldn’t mind taking pictures of the parks, beaches and trails for the City Webpage himself.

Discussion was held regarding the bicycle, skateboarding and in-line skating traffic on the path through the Main Beach. Kim Crockett stated that a number of mothers had expressed concern about the safety of their children and that they had to use the boardwalk as a staging area with their kids due to the amount of traffic on the path. Discussion was held about whether prohibiting bikers, skateboarders and in-line skaters from the path won’t discourage teenagers from using the Main Beach. Jennifer Young stated that there weren’t many amenities for teenagers in our park facilities and most of the present amenities were designed for small children. Paul Skrede stated that he hasn’t seen too many skateboarders or in-line skaters at the Main Beach. He stated that most tend to use the Skate Board Park or Thorpe Park.

The Committee recommended the installation of a "walk your bike sign" on both ends of the path through the Main Beach on a motion by Charty Oliver, seconded by Jean Midthum. Motion declared carried.

Discussion was held on whether it was necessary to post priority rules or a sign-up sheet at the new sports court at the Main Beach to better coordinate the use of the multi-purpose court. The Committee recommended hanging a sign on the sports court that reads "If people are waiting, please limit your play to one hour" on a motion by Woody Woodburn, seconded by John Dupont. Motion declared carried.

Discussion was held on the plan to construct an Oasis Garden at Thorpe Park using prairie grass and a donated bench from the Pezella family as the centerpiece of the garden. Kim Crockett explained that this project did not appear to have much support from the City Council. She stated that the Council preferred to purchase a $200 planting kit and enlist volunteers to plant and maintain the garden. Woody Woodburn stated that the proposed garden is really central to the future vision of encircling the entire pond at Thorpe Park and has to be considered in that context. He stated that there are numerous benefits to encircling the pond, such as environmental benefits and goose control, that need to be considered.

The Committee recommended that the City Council reconsider contracting with Prairie Restoration in the amount of $1,600 to plant prairie grass within 200 S.F. area near the pond at Thorpe Park and establish a two-year agreement with Prairie Restoration to maintain the plantings at a cost of $500 per year on a motion by Woody Woodburn, seconded by John Dupont. Motion declared carried.

Dana Young provided an update of the 2003 Park Improvement Budget. He stated that the 2003 budget has changed considerably since it was adopted last year due to the number of additions and deletions of particular projects. A summary of the current 2003 Park Improvement Budget is as follows:

Project Cost

Completion of Main Beach Project $24,138

Benches $1,486

Thorpe Park Oasis Garden $1,600

Park Signs $2,000

Robinson’s Bay Beach Improvements $1,600

Arbor Day $130

Landscape Architect $4,000

Total $35,194

Discussion was held regarding an email from Barbara Nye on her suggestions as a follow-up to the presentation that she made to the City Council on May 19^th. Her suggestions included:

1. Allow the ANHA committee to mark the north border of the dedicated parkland east of the paddle tennis courts with a spray painted line. This would be a guide for the placement of large rocks found while cleaning up the area.
2. Install the sign recommended by Clm. Middleton – Amesbury Park, A Work in Progress – the east border along Mtka Blvd.
3. Prepare the soil, purchase nine lilac bushes, and have the Amesbury north team plants them on the SE driveway as shown on the plan.
4. Purchase crabapple trees, and have the Amesbury north team plant them along the south border of the wetlands and the open vista from Mtka Blvd. Move the Deephaven sign from the Huber’s lot to the north side of Mtka Blvd in front of the cranberry trees.
5. Shore up the exposed dug out areas to prevent further tree loss and erosion.
6. Formally request a county agriculture agent to review the property and recommend which trees to eliminate, trim and/or keep, and how to care for them.

The Committee did not take specific action on the recommendations but did discuss the need to coordinate the landscaping efforts at the proposed park and at the sites for the proposed Maintenance Shed and Fire Station. The Committee recommended that the City hire a commercial landscaping architect to develop a master-landscaping plan for the park, Maintenance Shed and Fire Station on a motion by Jennifer Young, seconded by Woody Woodburn. Motion declared carried. The cost for the architect would be paid from the Park Improvement Fund.

Dana Young stated that in prior years the Committee did not meet during the summer months due to conflicts with summer vacations. Committee members felt that there were simply too many issues in the works to skip the entire summer but they agreed to cancel the July meeting and meet again in August.

Kim Crockett asked the Committee to consider installing a pump at the beaches to enable parents to more easily wash the sand from their kid’s feet. Woody Woodburn stated that a hand pump would be relatively inexpensive and also fun for the kids to use.

Motion to adjourn by Woody Woodburn, seconded by John Dupont. Motion declared carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m. The next meeting of the Park Committee is scheduled for August 6, 2003.