PARK COMMITTEE MEETING
March 2, 2005
Minutes
Chairman Woody Woodburn called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
Woody Woodburn, Jennifer Young, Lucy Hicks, John Dupont, Charty Oliver, Hans Larson, John Flynn, Administrator Dana Young
Bryan Sykora, Jean Midthun, Council Liaison John Wheaton
The Committee approved the February 2, 2005 minutes on a motion by Hans Larson, seconded by Lucy Hicks. Motion declared carried.
Woody Woodburn stated that he had received a call from Hugh Jaeger who expressed concern about residential encroachment into fire lanes. Woody Woodburn also welcomed David Paulson, Chairman of the Boat Committee, for his attendance at tonight’s meeting and invited Mr. Paulson to speak on the Boat Committee’s interest in fire lanes.
David Paulson stated that the Boat Committee is currently reviewing the possibility of placing canoe racks and/or slides on fire lanes as a way to broaden recreational opportunities for the community. He stated that he is also concerned about the number of neighboring residential properties that have encroached into fire lanes and stated that the City Council has generally ignored this entire issue. He stated that the Boat and Park Committees could work jointly to develop potential uses for fire lanes.
Hans Larson stated that the Committee should obtain direction from the City Council on fire lanes before becoming too involved in this issue. John Flynn stated that street ends should be retained as fire lanes but didn’t really view them as parkland. He recommended that the City Attorney should be consulted on the fire lane issue.
David Paulson stated that the Boat Committee is developing plans for Carson’s and St. Louis Bay and would like to use the Park Committee as a sounding board prior to bringing the plans to the public. Woody Woodburn thanked Mr. Paulson for his comments and stated that he would contact members of the City Council individually to obtain their feedback on the fire lane issue.
Further discussion was held on whether the Fire Department still wanted to use street ends as fire lanes, their historical status as fire lanes as opposed to park property, and the legal implications of selling fire lanes to adjoining property owners.
Dana Young stated that lifeguard services and swimming lessons have always been provided by MCES at Deephaven Beach, Sandy Beach and at Robinson’s Bay Beach. In 2004, MCES charged Deephaven $30,639 for these services.
Dana Young stated that there have been significant changes at MCES resulting in the resignation of John Raby, the Aquatics Director. He stated that John Raby has now started Minnesota Safety Services, LLC, a private company that now also provides lifeguard services. He stated that John Raby claims to have hired many of the better lifeguards and has offered the City a lifeguard contract in the amount of $30,333 for 2005.
The Committee discussed the future possibility of the City hiring their own lifeguards and an Aquatics Manager who would also provide the City with recreational programming.
The Committee recommended that the City should carefully evaluate the services and costs offered by MCES and Minnesota Safety Services prior to making a final decision. The Committee further recommended contracting with MCES if the services and costs are comparable due to the broader community services provided by MCES and the fact that residents would know where to sign up for swimming lessons.
The Committee reviewed the following list of projects and equipment for 2005:
Project / Equipment Budget
Treatment of Oak Wilt at Burton Park $ 8,000
Purchase New Trees & Treat Diseased Trees at Thorpe$ 4,000
Repair East Tennis Courts at Thorpe $50,000
Remove Basketball Court at Thorpe $ 3,000
Benches & Tables $ 2,000
Misc Park & Beach Improvements $ 5,000
Village Hall Ballfield Backstop $ 4,000
Village Hall Picnic Tables (2) $ 1,500
Village Hall Benches (3) $ 850
Village Hall Ballfield Benches (2) $ 1,000
Village Hall Warming House Siding $ 5,000
Total $84,350
Dana Young stated that the City has obtained quotes from Top Notch Treecare to treat six red oaks in Burton Park and six crabapples and seven Hawthorns in Thorpe Park. He stated that the City staff is not accustomed to treating diseased trees and is not sure of the cost effectiveness of this approach versus tree removal. Woody Woodburn stated that he had several of his oaks successfully treated and would endorse the same treatment for the trees in Burton Park and Thorpe Park. He added that the trees should be treated in the early spring in order for the treatment to be effective. It was the general consensus of the Committee to move forward on the treatment plan proposed by Top Notch Treecare.
The Committee further recommended that the Thorpe Park Subcommittee of Charty Oliver, Lucy Hicks and Jean Midthun tour Thorpe Park and submit their recommendations on the replacement of several dead trees. Dana Young stated that the Subcommittee might want to consider calling Bonne St. James for her advice on the replacement of trees at Thorpe Park.
Discussion was held on developing a maintenance schedule for the City’s tennis courts. Jennifer Young stated that she would like to have the Shuck Park tennis courts color coated as recommended by Neil Tessier at the last Park Committee meeting. Dana Young stated that he would obtain a recommendation from either Neil Tessier or Ray Finley of Tennis West on an appropriate maintenance schedule for the City’s tennis courts.
Discussion was held regarding making further improvements to the ice rinks at Village Hall and Thorpe Park. John Flynn recommended that the Committee consider the following list of improvements:
¨ Improve the walkway from the warming houses to the rink at both Thorpe & Village Hall
¨ Fix the entrance to the Village Hall warming house
¨ Fill in the swale between the open rink and the hockey rink at Village Hall
¨ Install wooden borders surrounding the open rink at Village Hall and Thorpe
¨ Fix the uneven grade in the open rink at Thorpe.
¨ Move the entranceway at the Thorpe hockey rink
Woody Woodburn stated that he was intrigued by John Flynn’s idea to develop a skating rink on St. Louis Bay. Dana Young stated that this proposal would have to be evaluated very carefully due to the liability implications and the impact that this new rink would have on the workload for the Public Works crew.
John Dupont stated that the annual Arbor Day Celebration is scheduled to be held on Sunday, May 1st. Further discussion was held on possible locations. Thorpe Park was mentioned due to the number of diseased trees that needed to be replaced. John Dupont stated that he had talked with Clm. Paul Skrede who recommended planting a tree at the new pocket park at City Hall. Woody Woodburn suggested planting a tree to replace the large oak tree that had been taken down at Children’s Park. Lucy Hicks suggested planting a sugar maple.
The Committee decided to hold the annual Arbor Day Celebration on Sunday, May 1st at Children’s Park and the ceremony will include the planting of a sugar maple.
Woody Woodburn provided an update on the proposed purchase of Big Island. He stated that $3 million has been included in the House bonding bill to buy out the interests of the Board of Governors of the Big Island Veteran’s Camp.
Woody Woodburn provided a summary of the Fields of Play project that intends to improve the Deephaven Elementary School athletic fields and re-design the playground through volunteer donations. The total cost of the project has been estimated at $220,000.
Woody Woodburn stated that he would like the Committee to consider donating $5,000 to the Field of Play project because of the obvious benefit that the athletic fields and playground would have for the entire community. John Dupont questioned the use of public funds that would essentially be used to augment the school’s referendum. Woody Woodburn asked if the City had made similar contributions in the past. Dana Young stated that the City has provided funding to Bennett Park, the Pagel Arena, the Southshore Senior Center and the skating park. Jennifer Young noted that the City authorized these donations due to the fact that none of these projects or activities is provided within the City of Deephaven. She stated that a donation to the Fields of Play project would not be appropriate since the City has playground equipment that is in worse condition than the school’s playground equipment.
The Committee recommended approval of a $5,000 donation to the Fields of Play project on a motion by John Flynn, seconded by Hans Larson. John Dupont and Jennifer Young opposed. Motion declared carried 5-2.
Motion to adjourn by John Flynn, seconded by Charty Oliver. Motion declared carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Park Committee will be held on Wednesday, April 6, 2005.