Call Meeting to Order

Chairman Woody Woodburn called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

Members Present

Woody Woodburn, Bryan Sykora, Jennifer Young, Lucy Hicks, John Dupont, Charty Oliver, Hans Larson, Council Liaison John Wheaton, Administrator Dana Young

Members Absent

Jean Midthun, John Flynn

April 6, 2005 Minutes

The Committee approved the April 6, 2005 minutes on a motion by Hans Larson, seconded by Lucy Hicks. Motion declared carried.

Discuss City Celebration Ideas with Darel Gustafson

Darel and Cindy Gustafson were present to discuss their ideas for a City Celebration that was first mentioned at the April 12^th Town Hall meeting. Darel Gustafson stated that they proposed to hold a City Celebration called “Deephaven Days” around the end of July or the first part of August. He stated that their plan included holding a family-oriented triathlon, a cookout at Thorpe Park and a softball tournament with each councilmember fielding a competing team. He stated that he didn’t intend for the event to be big and glamorous the first year. Cindy Gustafson added that they intended the event to start small and grow over time.

Darel Gustafson stated that Minnetonka Community Educational Services has offered to help with the triathlon, which he envisioned as a 400 yard swim, a 6 mile bike ride, and a 1.5 –2 mile run. Discussion was held on the amount of volunteers needed to assist with the triathlon and on the potential routes for the event. He stated that he has asked Police Chief Virgil Gustafson to help with crowd control and would like the City to assist with obtaining the necessary permits. He stated that they would need around 6 lifeguards to work 2 hours each to monitor the swimming event. He stated that he felt the entire celebration should cost around $500.

Discussion was held on whether to charge a fee for each individual participating in the triathlon. Darel Gustafson and several committee members stated that they preferred not to charge a fee the first year in order to encourage as many people as possible to participate. Woody Woodburn suggested asking participants to make a voluntary donation. Jennifer Young suggested including an insert in the July Newsletter to advertise the event.

Additional discussion was held on the potential cost of holding the city celebration. Woody Woodburn stated that the Park Committee must clearly understand that this celebration is a Park Committee project and the costs of the celebration will be paid from the Park Fund. It was concluded that Deephaven Days will be held on August 6^th and the focus for the first year will be solely on the triathlon in order to make the event more manageable.

Paddle Park Improvements (Jon Monson)

Jon Monson was present to present his recommendations on landscaping improvements to Paddle Park. The Committee adjourned to tour Paddle Park.

Jon Monson recommended four specific landscaping improvements, including:

· Landscaping with arborvitae to screen the Sand / Salt Shed

· Shape the hill into a more gentle slope

· Remove the south entranceway onto Minnetonka Boulevard

· Landscape the NE entranceway to provide better screening of the park and to provide a more defined entranceway onto Minnetonka Boulevard

Jon Monson stated that he would submit a site plan that outlined his recommendations for the Committee to review at next month’s meeting. The Committee thanked Mr. Monson for his efforts.

The Committee recommended the replacement of the cinder blocks in the paddle tennis court with an inexpensive dark green bench on a motion by Bryan Sykora, seconded by Lucy Hicks. Motion declared carried.

Alternate Uses for Thorpe Tennis Court

Discussion was held regarding alternate uses for the two tennis courts next to Westview Drive at Thorpe Park. Various suggestions included installing a single sports court that can also be used for basketball, removing the existing basketball court in order to expand the soccer practice fields, and adding a 3” overlay the existing tennis courts for a combination skating park, basketball court and inline hockey rink.

Discussion was held on whether to simply overlay over the existing tennis courts or whether a more durable court would result by excavating and replacing the soil and base underneath the courts. Further discussion was held on when to remove the existing basketball court. Several members felt it would be premature to remove the existing court before a new basketball court is installed.

The Committee requested that Dana Young obtain a bid on a 3” bituminous overlay of the tennis courts, a recommendation on the benefits of additional subsurface preparation, and a bid on the cost to remove the existing basketball court to be presented at the June Park Committee meeting.

Thorpe Park Tree Replacement Recommendations

Charty Oliver stated that the Thorpe Park subcommittee would be prepared to give their recommendations on the replacement of certain trees at Thorpe Park next month. Woody Woodburn recommended that the subcommittee review the Thorpe Park Tree Planting Plan that is available at City Hall for ideas. He stated that the Park Committee might want to simply follow this tree-planting plan that has already been established for Thorpe Park.

Park Usage Policy

Hans Larson distributed information concerning a Park Usage Policy. Woody Woodburn stated that further discussion on this item would be held next month.

Sandy Beach Expansion

Woody Woodburn stated that he and John Wheaton have met with Dr. Poage regarding whether he was still interested in the donation of his property for an expansion of Sandy Beach. Woody Woodburn stated that Dr. Poage appears to still be interested in working with his neighbors on the joint donation of property but the neighbors are not interested in donating a portion of their property at this time. Woody Woodburn stated that it is still important to keep the conversations going on this project as positions may change in the future.

Woody Woodburn, John Wheaton and John Dupont offered to meet with the Lymans, a neighbor of Dr. Poage, to discuss whether they had any interest in participating in this project.

MCES Schedule of Uses

The Committee reviewed Minnetonka Community Education’s 2005 schedule of uses at Thorpe Park and Village Hall Park.

Other

Jennifer Young stated that there was an interesting discussion on fire lanes at last Monday’s Council meeting. She also stated that there are branches at Rocky Beach that need to be picked up. Dana Young stated that he would check it out.

Woody Woodburn stated that the Mayor is interested in the City pursuing a Tree City USA designation.

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn by Hans Larson, seconded by Woody Woodburn. Motion declared carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Park Committee will be held on Wednesday, June 1, 2005.