PARK COMMITTEE MEETING
September 6,
2006
Minutes
Chairman
Woody Woodburn called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
Woody Woodburn, Jennifer Young, Jean Midthun, Charty Oliver, Hans Larson, Bryan Sykora, Lucy Hicks, Council Liaison John Wheaton, Administrator Dana Young
John
Dupont, John Flynn
The Committee approved the August 2, 2006 minutes on a motion by Lucy Hicks, seconded by Charty Oliver. Motion carried 7-0.
Patrick and Bruce Noll, 20380 Linden Road, were present to provide a final update on Patrick’s Eagle Scout Project at Sandy Beach and present invoices totaling $454.31 for the biff enclosure. John Wheaton stated that he thought that the enclosure looked fabulous.
Motion
by Bryan Sykora to approve payment to Bruce Noll for the supplies and materials
that were purchased for the construction of the biff enclosure at Sandy Beach
in the amount of $454.31. Seconded by
Charty Oliver. Motion carried 7-0.
The
Committee thanked Patrick Noll for his project and discussed whether Eagle
Scouts should receive additional recognition for their work by either
installing a small plaque on their project or by receiving a certificate of
achievement from the City Council.
Further discussion will be held on this issue next month.
Clm. Paul Skrede was present to propose that the Park Committee should consider whether they should recommend to the City Council that the Park Improvement Fund receive the proceeds from the T-Mobile Lease Agreement. Paul Skrede noted that the Park Improvement Fund is supported solely through park dedication fees and after receiving a $50,000 park dedication fee from Deephaven Cove earlier this year, future fees are fairly limited. He stated that the $15,000 annual lease payment might be the only substantial future source of revenue for the Park Improvement Fund. Paul Skrede thanked the Committee for their consideration of this issue and left the meeting.
The Committee continued the discussion on the importance of establishing a reliable source of funding for the Park Improvement Fund. Motion by Woody Woodburn to formally request that the City Council designates the full amount of the T-Mobile lease proceeds to the Park Improvement Fund. Seconded by Jennifer Young. Motion carried 7-0.
The Committee listed several reasons why the proceeds from the T-Mobile Lease would be of such importance to the Park Committee and the Park Improvement Fund:
· The need for reliable and sustainable revenue source due to the future reduction in Park Dedication Fees.
· The importance of parks to the community and the need to maintain the quality of the parks.
· The increasing cost of maintaining the existing park equipment such as the tennis courts.
· The construction of a cell tower would be more palatable to the community if it were known that the lease payments go to the Park Improvement Fund.
The
Committee briefly reviewed Deephaven Days.
Woody Woodburn suggested that Darel & Cindy Gustafson be presented
with a plaque from Mayor Anderson thanking them for their tremendous
contribution to Deephaven Days. Woody
Woodburn added that it would be especially important to have Mayor Anderson
give the Gustafson’s the plaque since organizing a city celebration was
originally the Mayor’s idea.
Woody
Woodburn asked each member to compile a list of comments, concerns or ideas for
next year’s event and to send them along to Dana Young. Dana Young stated that City staff should have
a pretty good idea of the revenues and expenses that were generated at
Deephaven Days by next month.
The Committee reviewed potential improvements at Thorpe Park for 2007. Dana Young also noted that the Deephaven Beach swimming dock is in terrible condition and will need to be replaced next year. He added that the dock had been scheduled to be replaced in 2008 but the public works crew didn’t feel the dock could last another year.
Further discussion was held regarding the Boat Committee’s plans for the St. Louis Bay marina and how the proposed plan would effect the beach area. Dana Young stated that the Boat Committee would be presenting their plan for Council review on September 18th. Woody Woodburn requested that the Park Committee have the opportunity to review the plan before it is formally approved.
Woody Woodburn asked Thorpe Park representatives Charty Oliver and Jean Midthun to compile a list of benches at Thorpe Park that should be replaced next year.
Winter Community
Event
Woody Woodburn stated that the Shorewood Park Committee Chairperson had informed him that the Winter Community Event is scheduled to be held on January 20, 2007. Motion by Hans Larson to recommend that the City of Deephaven not participate in the event in 2007. Seconded by Jennifer Young. Motion carried 7-0.
Open House
Discussion was held on when to hold the date for the annual Skating Party at Village Hall Park. It was decided to hold the event in January next year instead of this December since the attendance last year when it was held in December was so poor. The Committee recommended holding the annual Skating Party on Saturday, January 6th and to advertise the event in the City Newsletter.
2007 Deephaven
Days
The Committee recommended holding 2007 Deephaven Days on the first Saturday in August.
Other
Woody Woodburn provided a suggestion that the sand around the Children’s Park fountain could be replaced with bricks and plants.
Jennifer Young stated that the color-coding at Shuck Park was wearing off and should be looked at. Dana Young stated that he would look into the problem.
Jennifer Young suggested that the Park Committee should consider renaming Amesbury Park. No action was taken at this time.
John Wheaton stated that Mayor Anderson had expressed interest in purchasing a property on Vine Street for a public park. Dana Young stated that he would keep the Committee informed if there was any substantial progress on this issue.
Motion to adjourn by Woody Woodburn, seconded by Lucy Hicks. Motion carried 7-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Park Committee will be held on October 4, 2006.