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

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

John Dupont

The Committee approved the December 3, 2003 minutes on a motion by Woody Woodburn, seconded by

Jean Midthun. Motion declared carried.

The Committee interviewed five applicants for possible membership on the Park Committee. Dana Young welcomed the applicants to the meeting and stated that there are four positions available and the Committee is in the process of considering six candidates to fill four available positions. He added that John Flynn, who is also under consideration for membership on the Committee, would be unable to attend tonight’s meeting. The five applicants were asked to talk about themselves, their interests and their interest in joining the Park Committee.

Dick Kreutter, 18310 Rutledge Road – Mr. Kreutter stated that his main interest is Deephaven Beach, followed by Walden Beach. He stated that he swims at these beaches a lot and would like to see the huge boulders that are located within the swimming areas of both beaches removed. He also stated that he is interested in helping to repair the erosion problem underneath the boardwalk at Deephaven Beach, improving the parks, and helping to resolve the goose feces problem. He stated that he is looking forward to the opportunity to become a Park Committee member in order to make a difference.

Melodie Boyer, 18177 Minnetonka Blvd – Ms. Boyer stated that she uses the parks and trails all the time with her family. She stated that she isn’t sure why she wants to be on the Park Committee other than the fact that she uses the trails a lot.

Lucy Hicks, 18025 Hummingbird Road – Ms. Hicks stated that she would like to be on the Park Committee for a couple of reasons. First, she stated that her family has a long history of volunteerism and it was time that she followed that tradition. Second, she stated that she uses the beaches and parks all the time and has a strong sense of ownership of these facilities.

Bryan Sykora, 19385 Azure Road – Mr. Sykora stated that he has worked for Landscape Structures for nine years and because of that experience has a different feel for recreational issues. He stated that he is a member of the National Park & Recreation Association and is a certified playground inspector. He stated that he is very interested in developing activities that are available for everyone.

Hans Larson, 4005 Hillcrest Road – Mr. Larson stated that he moved into Deephaven last May but is a local boy after having grown up in Shorewood. He stated that he would like to start volunteering his services and has no particular agenda if he were selected to serve on the Committee. He stated that he likes to use the trails and the hockey rinks.

The Committee thanked the candidates for coming to tonight’s meeting and stated that Dana Young would contact them with the Park Committee’s recommendations very shortly. After the candidates left, each Committee member voted on the candidates and selected John Flynn, Bryan Sykora, Lucy Hicks and Hans Larson as their top candidates. The Committee recommended the appointment of John Flynn, Bryan Sykora, Lucy Hicks and Hans Larson to the Park Committee on a motion by Charty Oliver, seconded by Woody Woodburn. Motion declared carried.

Dana Young updated the Committee on the improvements that have been made to the ice rinks. He stated that mats have been installed both at Thorpe and Cottagewood to provide a safer walking service between the warming houses and the rinks. A screen has been installed at east end of the Thorpe hockey rink to protect patrons from flying pucks and the east entranceway will be closed to prevent patrons from entering from behind the hockey net.

Dana Young stated that the City Council had authorized the hiring of warming house attendants through the holiday, but the Council recommended last evening that further funding of warming house attendants should come from the Park Improvement Fund. He stated that the Council authorized the Park Committee to spend $3,500 from the 2004 Park Improvement Fund in lieu of some other planned expenditure in order to hire warming house attendants to work through March.

Discussion was held on whether it should be the Park Committee’s responsibility to fund personnel from the Park Improvement Fund. Woody Woodburn stated that he did not favor funding warming house attendants from the Park Improvement Fund for a couple of reasons. First, he stated that he had to respect the fact that both the City Administrator and City Council had originally decided to not fund warming house attendants for 2004. And second, he felt the Park Improvement Fund should only be used for capital purchases and not for personnel expenses. Woody Woodburn made a motion to deny funding for warming house attendants from the Park Improvement Fund for 2004. The motion died for lack of a second.

Jean Midthun stated that her primary concern was for the safety of patrons using the rinks and felt that warming house attendants were needed to improve public safety. Jean Midthun made a motion to fund warming house attendants at a cost of $3,500.00 from the Park Improvement Fund. Seconded by Charty Oliver. Jean Midthun, Charty Oliver and Jennifer Young voted in support of the motion. Woody Woodburn voted against the motion. Motion declared carried.

Motion to adjourn by Woody Woodburn, seconded by Charty Oliver. Motion declared carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.