PARK COMMITTEE MEETING
October 4,
2006
Minutes
Chairman
Woody Woodburn called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.
Woody Woodburn, Jennifer Young, Hans Larson, Bryan Sykora, Lucy Hicks, John Dupont, John Flynn, Council Liaison John Wheaton, Administrator Dana Young
Jean
Midthun, Charty Oliver
Eagle Scout Plaque or
Certificate of Achievement
Discussion was held on whether to award a plague or a certificate of achievement to those Eagle Scouts who have undertaken a project on behalf of the City.
Motion
by Woody Woodburn to recommend that the Mayor and City Council award a
certificate of achievement to each Eagle Scout who successfully completes a
project on behalf of the City. Seconded
by John Flynn. Motion carried 7-0.
The
Park Committee reviewed the proposed St. Louis Bay Dock plan that was submitted
by the Boat Committee to the City Council for their review on September 18th. The Park Committee reviewed the three
separate dock plans, the proposed broadwalk along the Shore Space and the
proposed swimming platform over the breakwater structure. There was not definite consensus among the
Committee on the overall dock plan.
Several members questioned why the plan did not include the construction
of a separate City dock to replace the Shore Space and others preferred the
additional open space that would be made available through the removal of Shore
Space. Woody Woodburn asked each member
to vote for his or her favorite plan and a majority of the members supported
the original plan, which proposed a more substantial setback from the swimming
area.
Dana Young stated that Councilmember Crockett, on behalf of several residents, has asked the Park Committee to consider replacing the old basketball backboards & hoop at Thorpe Park and purchasing a tennis court backboard for Thorpe Park. Dana Young stated that the tennis court backboard at Village Hall cost $4,110.
Bryan
Sykora stated that a new basketball backboard & hoop that would fit the
current standards would cost approximately $400.00. Motion by Hans Larson to purchase two
rectangular shaped backboards and hoops for Thorpe Park. Seconded by Jennifer Young. Motion carried 7-0.
Motion
by John Flynn to purchase a tennis court backboard for Thorpe Park from next
year’s budget that is the same style as the backboard at Village Hall
Park. Seconded by Hans Larson. Jennifer Young opposed. Motion carried 6-1.
John Wheaton and John Flynn recommended the following improvements to the ice rinks for this year:
·
Install a berm around the southeast corner of the hockey rink to
prevent water leaking out of the rink.
·
Purchase several PVC walkers for kids.
·
Purchase 6-8 new 1’ x 12’ boards as a replacement for several boards
that are used to border the open rink.
·
Purchase new hockey nets.
·
Acquire an additional fire hose.
·
Purchase two more shovels.
·
Install white plastic sheeting on the rink to help slow down the
melting of the ice surface.
·
Grade the hockey rink.
·
Convert the well to a year round use.
Woody Woodburn stated that John Dupont’s and Jean Midthun’s second and final terms of office will expire on February 2007. He also noted that Charty Oliver has expressed an interest in resigning from the Committee at that same time and stated that there is the possibility that either John Dupont or Jean Midthun could switch terms with Charty Oliver in order to serve Charty’s final year. Woody Woodburn asked John Dupont to discuss this situation with Jean Midthun and let the Committee know who might be interested in serving the balance of Charty’s term.
Woody
Woodburn stated that Darel Gustafson has indicated that he would be interested
in serving on the Park Committee rather than the Boat Committee. Dana Young stated that Darel would be a
natural choice due to his involvement in the Deephaven Days triathlon and the
fact that he serves on the MCE Board.
Woody
Woodburn stated that this would leave one position to be filled next year and
requested that Dana Young contact each of the volunteers who are on the Park
Committee membership list to see if they would be interested in serving on the
Committee.
Discussion
was held regarding the need to replace the Main Beach docks. Woody Woodburn stated that he felt the
residents would prefer the same dock that has always been at the Main
Beach. The Committee recommended that
staff obtain prices on the cost of rebuilding the existing wood dock and on the
cost of replacing it with a crepeau dock of the same configuration. Dana Young noted that the 2007 Park
Improvement Fund Budget would have to be set by next month.
Further
discussion was held on the breakwater structure and whether the structure was
working properly to prevent erosion. It
was the general consensus of the Committee that the breakwater structure should
be removed if it were not working properly.
Motion
by Jennifer Young to recommend an engineering analysis to determine whether the
breakwater structure is working effectively to control the erosion of the
beach. Seconded by Woody Woodburn. John Flynn opposed. Motion carried 6-1.
John Wheaton stated that he had begun a discussion with the City Council about increasing boat fees closer to the fair market value in order to use the additional revenue to help support the parks. He stated that boat fees are currently a good deal for residents and that we were under charging for this valuable resource. He stated that increasing boat fees to where they more closely approached fair market value would not only reduce the current demand for slips but would also provide additional revenue to the parks for those residents who are not able to have a boat slip.
John
Flynn asked if the City would be able to find a space for the Zamboni again
this winter? Dana Young stated that
space is available for the Zamboni this winter in the Police Garage.
Motion to adjourn by John Flynn, seconded by Lucy Hicks. Motion carried 7-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Park Committee will be held on Wednesday, November 1, 2006.