Call Meeting to Order

Chairman Woody Woodburn called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Members Present

Woody Woodburn, Bryan Sykora, Jennifer Young, John Dupont, Charty Oliver, Jean Midthun, Hans Larson, John Flynn, Council Liaison John Wheaton, Administrator Dana Young

Members Absent

Lucy Hicks

May 4, 2005 Minutes

The Committee approved the May 4, 2005 minutes on a motion by Charty Oliver, seconded by Hans Larson. Motion declared carried.

Deephaven Days

Darel & Cindy Gustafson (19030 Rutledge Road) and Councilmember Paul Skrede were also in attendance to discuss the Deephaven Days Celebration.

The Committee recommended that Deephaven Days should be held on August 13^th instead of August 6^th due to a conflict with the installation of playground equipment at Deephaven Elementary School as part of the Fields of Play project. The Committee further recommended that the starting time for the triathlon should begin at 10:00 a.m. and the picnic held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Darel Gustafson discussed the proposed route of the swim, the bike race and the marathon. He suggested that the 200 yard swim begin at Deephaven Beach at 10:00 a.m., with bikes stored in the tennis court area, followed by a 3.67 mile bike race ending at Thorpe Park, and concluding with a 2 mile run. Woody Woodburn asked if a triathlon would be too ambitious an event for the first year of Deephaven Days and asked everyone present to vote on whether they would be in favor of holding the event this year? The Park Committee members, the Gustafsons, Council Liaison John Wheaton, Administrator Dana Young and Councilmember Paul Skrede all voted in favor of holding the triathlon this year as part of Deephaven Days.

Woody Woodburn asked each member to serve on a subcommittee to help organize the triathlon or the picnic. Jean Midthun, Charty Oliver, the Gustafsons, Lucy Hicks, Dana Young and Virgil Gustafson were all selected to serve on the triathlon subcommittee. The first meeting of the triathlon subcommittee will be held on Thursday, June 9^th at City Hall. Bryan Sykora, John Wheaton, John Flynn, Woody Woodburn and Jennifer Young were all selected to serve on the picnic subcommittee. The first meeting of this subcommittee will also be held on Thursday, June 9^th at Woody Woodburn’s residence.

Councilmember Paul Skrede encouraged the Park Committee to come up with their own ideas regarding the picnic and other related activities rather than any ideas developed by the City Council. The Committee decided to concentrate on just providing a picnic and food for this year.

Paddle Park Site Improvements (Jon Monson)

Jon Monson was present to present a plan for the improvement of Paddle Park. Jon Monson described his plan as a simple plan that included the following elements:

The addition of grass on the east side, which would require the excavation of the hard pan clay to a depth of one foot and replaced with black dirt. Jon Monson recommended hydroseeding this area after the installation of black dirt.

A total of at least 8 trailer parking spaces, five located north along the LRT trail and three located east along Minnetonka Blvd. The plan does allow for an additional 6 or more parking spaces for trailers.

The south entranceway would remain open to retain circulation, with the possibility of closing this entranceway at a later date.

A total of three parking stalls for individuals using the paddle tennis court. The three stalls would be located southeast of the court with the possibility of adding a fourth stall.

Jon Monson estimated the cost of the dirt work and hydroseeding at $5,000-$10,000.

Discussion was held as to the future use of this park and whether the future use was as a landscaped parking lot or as a park that happened to provide several parking spaces. The Committee recommended reviewing the park site and proposed landscaping plan at next month’s meeting.

Bids on Thorpe Tennis Court Project

Dana Young stated that he had obtained a bid from Plehal Construction and Barber Construction that included base work and a 3” overlay of the Westview tennis courts. The bids are as follows:

Entire Site (120’ x 120’) 50% of the Site (120’ x 60’)

Barber Construction $18,401 $14,401

Plehal Construction $18,920 $11,340

Discussion was held on how much of this area the Committee felt would be appropriate to overlay. The Committee recommended constructing a collegiate basketball court of approximately 60’ x 120’ with final dimensions to be established by Chairman Woody Woodburn, Administrator Young and any other interested Park Committee members on a motion by Hans Larson, seconded by Woody Woodburn. Motion declared carried 8-0.

The Committee further recommended that the existing basketball court be removed and the site hydroseeded on a motion by Hans Larson, seconded by Woody Woodburn. Motion declared carried 8-0.

Thorpe Park Tree Replacement Recommendations

Dana Young presented a site plan showing the varieties of trees planted at Thorpe Park. The Committee asked the Thorpe Park subcommittee to submit their recommendations on which trees should be removed prior to Deephaven Days. Woody Woodburn stated that the Committee could develop a tree replacement plan for Thorpe Park later this fall.

Park Usage Policy

The Committee tabled discussion on a Park Usage Policy until the fall.

Cell Phone Towers

Dana Young stated that he has been notified by Liz Van Zomeren, Site Acquisition Specialist with FMHC Corporation, that they were now focusing their search for a cell phone tower site on the Xcel Energy substation site. Dana Young stated that they will likely need zoning approval to construct a cell tower in Deephaven, regardless of the site location.

Maintenance of Gardens

Discussion was held on the need to provide basic weeding at several of the City parks.

Other

The Committee asked Dana Young to contact Ray Finley of Tennis West about obtaining his recommendations on a general repair schedule for the city tennis courts.

Discussion was held on fixing the erosion problem around the Children’s Park fountain by installing sod. Dana Young stated that the City had intended last year to contract with a landscaping company who was installing sod at City Hall but the company showed little interest in working on such a small project. The Committee suggested placing notice that the fountain area will be sodded in the July 1^st Newsletter.

Bryan Sykora stated that the canoe launch down at Deephaven Beach turned out very well.

John Wheaton and Woody Woodburn provided a brief update on the Dr. Poage’s park proposal.

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn by Woody Woodburn, seconded by Jennifer Young. Motion declared carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:03 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Park Committee will be held on Wednesday, July 6, 2005.