PARK COMMITTEE MEETING
March 1, 2006
Minutes
Chairman
Woody Woodburn called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
Woody Woodburn, Jennifer Young, Bryan Sykora, Lucy Hicks, Hans Larson, John Dupont, John Flynn, Jean Midthun, Council Liaison John Wheaton, Administrator Dana Young
Matt
Sorenson stated that he would like to initiate an Eagle Scout Project that
would beautify Sandy Beach by constructing a new box for lifeguard equipment, a
new picnic and/or a new box for lost and found items. John Wheaton added that in addition to these
items, Matt could also enclose the garbage cans or construct beach chairs. He added that Matt must complete this project
by his 18th birthday, which is next month.
Woody
Woodburn suggested that Matt submit a drawing or a sketch on the proposed
project for Committee review. Lucy Hicks
asked what type of wood is Matt considering for the boxes? Matt Sorenson stated that he would use cedar
and coat the wood with paint. Jean
Midthun suggested that Matt skip the beach chairs and added that benches would
be more appropriate and that we shouldn’t add something at the beach that we
don’t need. Jennifer Young also
suggested that Matt don’t paint the box and should seal it instead. Lucy Hicks suggested that the lifeguard box
at Robinson’s Bay Beach could be done as well.
Woody
Woodburn moved to allow Matt Sorenson to construct lifeguards boxes and lost
& found boxes at Sandy Beach and Robinson’s Bay Beach subject to approval
of the design by the Park Bench Committee.
Seconded by Jennifer Young. Motion
carried 8-0.
Darel & Cindy Gustafson were present to discuss preliminary plans for the triathlon. Darel provided a map showing the proposed route for the triathlon, including an extension of the bike route into Cottagewood for more experienced triathletes. He stated that he had reviewed the route with the Police Chief and that David Eaton has volunteered to help with the triathlon. The proposed distance for the three events is as follows:
· Swim route - 150 – 300 yards
· Bike route - 3.6 – 6.2 miles
· Run route - 2.0 miles
Darel Gustafson estimated that there would be around 200 participants this year and that he would need approximately 9 additional volunteers over last year’s total. He stated that he would specifically need volunteers for route direction, water breaks, registration and setup/cleanup.
He stated that he would like to provide T-shirts for all participants and to provide medals for the top three winners in each heat, the best time for a mother/daughter combo, and the best time for a father/son combo. He added that he still has a lot of supplies left over from last year and anticipated that most of the expensive for this year’s triathlon would be for T-shirts and to improve the transition areas.
The Committee reviewed a summary of comments compiled by Darel Gustafson and Lucy Hicks regarding last year’s event. They included:
· The sparkling water at the finish line was not good
· Need to include younger participants
· Need to have a longer bike route
· Need to have water stops
· Need better trail markings
· Need to have quicker race results
· Fewer weeds in the beach
· Water spigots for removing sand on feet
· Bigger shoe coral
· More fruit, including watermelon
Further discussion was held on the specifics of the bike route. The Committee thanked Darel & Cindy Gustafson for their excellent work.
Woody Woodburn stated that he wanted to inform the Committee that John Dupont’s father died several weeks ago and extended his sympathy to John and his family. John Dupont stated that his father had been a resident in Deephaven for 46 years. Jean Midthun stated that it was one of the best-attended funerals ever held in Excelsior.
Darel
Gustafson stated that he also serves on the Boat Committee and stated that the
Boat Committee had presented a dock plan to the City Council on February 21st
that proposed to remove the shore space docks freeing this area for some other
type of park use. He stated that the
Boat Committee had proposed a boardwalk along this area for people to walk or
enjoy the view of the lake.
He
stated that the second item the Boat Committee has considered is the
installation of a swimming platform over the breakwater structure. Woody Woodburn asked where things currently
stand with the dock reconfiguration plans.
Darel Gustafson stated that they had been reviewed by the City Council
and the Council gave enough merit to the plans to ask the Boat Committee to
inform the Park Committee of the proposed boardwalk and swimming platform.
Woody
Woodburn stated that the plan is a visual improvement and would be a nice
improvement overall for the park area at the Main Beach. John Wheaton stated that the discussion on
the boardwalk during the Council meeting was less sticky than any other element
of the proposed dock plan. Woody
Woodburn asked Darel if the Park Committee needed to take any action at this
time on the proposed plan. Darel
Gustafson stated that no action was needed at this time and that he was only
bringing this item to the Park Committee for informational purposes only.
Woody
Woodburn stated that he had nothing new to report from the Shorewood Park
Commission regarding the 2007 Regional Winter Event. He stated that he would email the Committee
when he heard of a proposed meeting date.
He asked that only 4 or less members volunteer to attend the meeting so
that the Committee would be in compliance with the Open Meeting law.
Dana Young stated that the City has been contacted by Nextel and T Mobile about constructing a cell tower in Deephaven. He stated that the City has adopted an ordinance that permits cell towers to be constructed on publicly owned land. He stated that the purpose of this requirement is to try to soften the impact of cell towers by requiring their construction on public land. He stated that both Nextel and T Mobile have expressed interest in constructing a 100-foot cell tower in or around the Village Hall hockey rink.
John
Dupont stated that the City typically celebrates Arbor Day the Sunday following
Arbor Day. It was later learned that the
Arbor Day celebration will be held on Sunday, April 30th at 1:00
p.m. The Committee recommended planting
three White Pine trees at Thorpe Park by the new basketball courts along
Westview Drive to commemorate Arbor Day.
Dana Young stated that he would put notice of the event in the April
Newsletter.
Motion by Jennifer Young to recommend the reappointment Hans Larson, Lucy Hicks & Bryan Sykora to the Park Committee for three-year terms of office effective until March 2009. Seconded by Woody Woodburn. Motion carried 8-0.
Hans
Larson inquired about plans for Paddle Park and how the City Council should be
best approached with design plans. Woody
Woodburn suggested that each Councilmember should be approached individually
about his or her design preference.
Motion to adjourn by John Flynn, seconded by Hans Larson. Motion carried 8-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Park Committee will be held on Wednesday, April 5, 2006.