Call Meeting to Order

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

Members Present

Woody Woodburn, Jennifer Young, John Dupont, Bryan Sykora, Lucy Hicks, Jean Midthun, Hans Larson, Council Liaison John Wheaton, Administrator Young

Members Absent

Charty Oliver, John Flynn

October 5, 2005 Minutes

The Committee approved the October 5, 2005 minutes on a motion by Lucy Hicks, seconded by John Dupont. Motion carried 7-0.

Standards for Benches, Picnic Tables, Donated Benches

Jennifer Young stated that last month she was asked by the Committee to take pictures of benches and picnic tables at various city parks for the Committee to review in order to develop standards for benches, picnic tables and donated benches. She passed around pictures of benches and picnic tables that she had taken at Shuck Park, Children’s Park and Walden Beach.

Woody Woodburn asked whether it was the intention of the Committee to develop uniform standards for benches, picnic tables and donated benches? Bryan Sykora suggested that the Committee could develop uniform standards for each park. Jennifer Young suggested the Committee consider purchasing composite picnic tables and benches since made of such long lasting material.

Lucy Hicks stated that perhaps different types of benches should be considered at beaches versus parks. John Wheaton stated that a subcommittee could be formed to develop recommendations on designs and color schemes for the Committee to review. Woody Woodburn stated that he liked the idea of a subcommittee and thought it would be an excellent winter project. He asked if any of the members would be interested in putting together a menu of options on benches and picnic tables for the Committee to consider? Jean Midthun, Jennifer Young and John Dupont volunteered to serve on the subcommittee and John Wheaton offered to assist with the power point presentation.

Woody Woodburn stated that he thinks that the composite furniture looks bad and that it cheapens the quality of the community. He added that Thorpe Park is a diverse park and that uniform furniture would detract from its original design. He stated that selecting uniform benches would also restrict the variety of donations that would be offered to the City. John Wheaton stated that his preference was for a higher quality furniture that emphasized beauty over longevity. Bryan Sykora stated that the brochures that he provided to the subcommittee offer a wide variety of selections and some very unique stuff. Hans Larson asked the subcommittee to pull together a wide range of options for the Committee to review. Woody Woodburn stated that the ultimate goal would be to have the Park Committee establish standards for presentation to the Council.

December 17^th Open House

Dana Young stated that notice of the Open House has been placed in the October City Newsletter and the event is scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m. on December 17th. Bryan Sykora and Lucy Hicks offered to help organize the Open House. Woody Woodburn stated that he was sure John Flynn would also be interested in helping as well.

Discussion was held about the possibility of holding the Open House at Thorpe Park and Village Hall Park in alternate years. Further discussion was held on whether to charge for the lunch and it was decided to keep the lunch free, especially if the Committee can obtain free chili from Captain Ken like they were able to do last year. John Wheaton suggested that donations could be requested to help to maintain the Zamboni and the Deephaven Volunteer Ice Company. The Committee thought this was an excellent idea. Additional discussion on the December 17^th Open House will be held next month.

Weekend Snow Plowing

Dana Young stated that he received the following two bids from contractors to clear snow from the ice rinks over the weekend:

Northern Specialists - $75.00/hr - $110.00/hr

Lynch’s Snowplowing - $65.00/hr

Woody Woodburn recommended contracting with Lynch’s Snowplowing in the amount of $65.00 per hour for clearing snow from the ice rinks over weekends from November 1, 2005 to March 1, 2006.

Seconded by Hans Larson. Motion carried 7-0.

Tree City USA

Woody Woodburn stated that Mayor Anderson had asked the Committee to look into the possibility of the city obtaining Tree City USA status. He stated that he obtained information on Tree City USA from the National Arbor Day Foundation and found out that there are four standards that a city must meet in order to obtain Tree City USA status. He stated that a city must:

1. Establish a Tree Board

2. Adopt a Tree Care Ordinance

3. Spend $2 per capita annually on tree care

4. Observe Arbor Day

He stated that he envisioned a subcommittee of the Park Committee serving as the Tree Board and stated that the current city ordinance on tree care is probably not strong enough in its present form to be accepted as a Tree Care Ordinance. It was suggested that Hans Larson and Woody Woodburn could serve as the Tree Board subcommittee.

Dana Young stated that a more comprehensive Tree Care Ordinance had been presented to the City Council last year and it was rejected at that time as too intrusive. He stated that the Council didn’t particular care to have that much authority over the removal of trees on private property. Woody Woodburn stated that he hoped to improve the city’s current tree ordinance so that it would be accepted as a Tree Care Ordinance yet design it so that it is not so intrusive as to be rejected by the City Council.

Other

Lucy Hicks stated that she is planning to meet with Darel Gustafson, Paul Skrede and MCES Director Tim Lifkin on November 17^th at 7:00 a.m. to discuss the possible involvement of MCES with Deephaven Days. She invited other Park Committee members to attend this meeting as well. Bryan Sykora stated that he would try to make the meeting. Further discussion was held on establishing a date next year for Deephaven Days. Woody Woodburn suggested the 1^st Saturday in August as a preliminary date for the event.

Bryan Sykora presented some price options on a tennis court backboard. The Committee recommended that Bryan go with a flat fiberglass backboard that has a least a 20-foot width.

John Wheaton stated that David Paulson had suggested that the Park Committee consider reconstructing the Village Hall tennis courts using the same type of class 5 material that he has used on his own private court up north. John Wheaton stated that this type of court is very similar to a clay court and would have the advantage of being very inexpensive, around $3,000-$4,000 per court, would never show cracks and the surface would be very easy on the joints. He stated that the disadvantage of these types of courts is that they require much more daily maintenance. He stated that he intends to look into this type of court and wanted to bring this option to the Committee’s attention.

Woody Woodburn stated that he had been contacted by former Park Chairman Jim Armor about a current variance application submitted by Bob Boisclair that proposed to obtain a driveway easement from the city across the Parkway. Dana Young stated that the Planning Commission had denied approval for a driveway easement across the Parkway and the City Council would be reviewing the Boisclair’s request on November 7^th. Woody Woodburn stated that he felt the Committee should have the opportunity to review any variance request that would potentially impact city parks and asked Dana Young to prepare an ordinance that would require the Park Committee to be notified of any action that would impact a city park.

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn by Hans Larson, seconded by Lucy Hicks. Motion declared carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Park Committee will be held on Wednesday, December 7, 2005.