Chairman Woody Woodburn, Jennifer Young, Bryan Sykora, Lucy Hicks, Hans Larson, Jean Midthun, Staff Dana Young

Charty Oliver, John Dupont, John Flynn, Council Liaison Jon Monson

The Committee approved the April 28, 2004 minutes and the June 2, 2004 minutes on a motion by Lucy Hicks, seconded by Hans Larson. Motion declared carried.

Woody Woodburn asked each member to send him their notes on the inventory that each had taken on their assigned parks and beaches. He asked if any member had anything to pass along from their inventory notes that required immediate attention.

Jennifer Young stated her concern that the property lines at a number of parks and beaches, such as the Main Beach and Shuck Park, cannot be easily located. She stated that this is particularly a concern along the hillside at the Main Beach where neighbors appear to be encroaching on city property. Woody Woodburn agreed that it is important to verify the ownership of the hill in order to control the clear cutting and debris that has been thrown on the hillside. The Committee recommended that the City survey the east property line of Deephaven Beach from Lake Avenue to Park Avenue, at a cost not to exceed $1,000.00, on a motion by Jennifer Young, seconded by Jean Midthun. Motion declared carried.

Woody Woodburn stated that he toured Burton Park and was concerned at the amount of buckthorne in the park. He stated that he would like to work on possible ideas on their removal and control. Jennifer Young suggested placing an article on buckthorne and other invasive plants in the city newsletter.

Jean Midthun presented several photos on a number of dead or dying evergreens in Thorpe Park. Dana Young stated that he would bring the matter to the attention of the public works department. Woody Woodburn asked that the ballfield bench be re-installed at the south ballfield.

Woody Woodburn presented the following two resolutions for Committee review:

Resolution No. 1:

The Deephaven Park Committee respectfully requests the Deephaven City Council to support the purchase of the Big Island Veteran’s Camp by the Three Rivers Park District. Further, we support the development and management of a public park on Big Island, open to all, by the Three Rivers Park District, Hennepin County and other appropriate public agencies.

Resolution No. 2:

The Deephaven Park Committee respectfully requests Senator Gen Olson, Representative Barb Sykora, Hennepin County Commissioner Linda Koblick and Metropolitan Council Member Mary Hill Smith to support the purchase of the Big Island Veteran’s Camp by the Three Rivers Park District. Further, we support the development and management of a public park on Big Island, open to all, by the Three Rivers Park District, Hennepin County and other appropriate public agencies.

The Committee recommended the adoption of Resolution No. 1 & No. 2 by the Deephaven City Council on a motion by Woody Woodburn, seconded by Hans Larson. Motion declared carried.

Dana Young stated that he had received a note from Ed Oliver requesting that the Committee consider installing a wood barrier between the asphalt path and the tennis court fence in order to divert water runoff across the tennis courts. Mr. Oliver also requested that the Committee consider removing the silver maple trees between the tennis courts and Cottagewood Road due to the nuisance they were causing by dropping branches and leaves onto the courts.

The Committee toured the tennis courts at the conclusion of the meeting and reviewed Mr. Oliver’s request. Jennifer Young stated that the silver maple trees were worthless trees and should be removed. The Committee asked Dana Young to discuss the removal of the trees with the City Forester and to consider options on the control of water along the path.

Dana Young stated that Clm. Paul Skrede has requested that the Committee consider installing sod in the infield of the north ballfield at Thorpe Park in order to repair the damage caused by Castlerock in trying to improve the ballfield drainage. Woody Woodburn agreed that the infield was a mess and should be corrected. He recommended checking with John Flynn to verify if Castlerock intended to come back in to make final repairs on the ballfield and prepare for seeding the field later this fall.

Discussion was held regarding the August 12^th Town Hall meeting on parks & beaches. Woody Woodburn stated that Clm. Monson has been selected to serve as the facilitator for the meeting. Woody Woodburn asked the members to consider what discussion items should be included at the August 12^th Town Hall meeting. Members suggested that discussion could be held on replacing the set of courts at Thorpe Park, obtaining feedback on the sports court at Deephaven Beach, and provide an opportunity for the public to speak about their own goals and priorities for the parks and beaches.

Woody Woodburn stated that he believed the Town Hall meeting could serve three functions. First, the Park Committee can inform and educate the public on various issues. Second, the Park Committee could receive generalized feedback. And third, the Committee could receive feedback on very specific issues.

Lucy Hicks recommended providing a PowerPoint presentation that would describe each committee members wish list for each city park and beach. The Committee felt that this was an excellent idea.

The Committee decided to hold a final run-through of their Town Hall presentation at their August 4^th meeting.

Bryan Sykora stated Landscape Structures is willing to provide Deephaven with a piece of playground equipment that would enable the company to test and monitor the public’s interest in the play structure. He stated that Landscape Structures would install the playground equipment, the surrounding play turf and border at no cost to the City. Bryan Sykora stated that the piece of equipment required a 20’ x 20’ area and hoped that the public works crew could level the area in preparation for installation. Bryan Sykora provided pictures of the play structure for Committee review. Following discussion on possible sites for the play structure, the Committee selected Thorpe Park as the preferred site.

The Committee recommended the installation of a play structure by Landscape Structures, at no cost to the City, with a final location at Thorpe to be determined at a later date, on a motion by Jennifer Young, seconded by Lucy Hicks. Bryan Sykora abstained. Motion declared carried.

Bryan Sykora provided a brief update on the progress of the Long-Range Planning Group.

Woody Woodburn thanked Lucy Hicks for the Park Committee social last month.

Hans Larson asked if the City is checking the impact of Dutch Elm disease, which he noted on Northome Trail. Dana Young stated that the Public Works Committee would be looking into that issue tomorrow.

Motion to adjourn by Lucy Hicks, seconded by Hans Larson. Motion declared carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:22 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Park Committee will be held on Wednesday, August 4, 2004.