Parks Commission Minutes 01-10-1996
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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING-PARKS COMMISSION
Wednesday, January 10, 1996 - 5:30 p.m.
Members Present: Bruce Thielen, Earl Smith, Steve Andrews, Larry Nolan,
Fran Fair
Staff Present:
Jeff O'Neill, Roger Mack, Wanda Kraemer
1. Call to order.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Thielen.
2. Consideration of approving the minutes for the re~ar meeting December
20, 1995.
COMMISSIONER ANDREWS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE
DECEMBER 20, 1996 MINUTES. SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
SMITH.
3.
Consideration of adding agenda items.
Items mentioned to add were:
1. Pathway grant application
2. NSP contracts with public use ideas
3. Snowmobiles on the pathway
4.
Joan Spence's report on tree inventory
Joan Spence, a consulting forester with the DNR, had been contracted by the
Parks Commission to do an inventory and study of the City's public trees.
Spence divided the City into sections that the Parks Commission could use in
a five year plan. In each section there should be a plan for planting and tree
maintenance. Spence recommended to use this year's tree planting budget to
maintain the trees already planted. She stated that the City should not
plant more trees until the care of the existing trees is complete. The trees
that have been pruned were done very well but there are a many areas that
have not been maintained.
Roger Mack, Park Superintendent, stated that his department can only
prune trees as time allows. This might be an area that the City will have to
contract at this time.
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Regular meeting Parks Commission - 1-10-96
Joan Spence added the city has mostly young, green ash trees. It is
important to have a variety of species and sizes, including shrubs. If the
Commission develops a five year plan non-profit organizations might be
interested in helping. (An example would be every year on Arbor Day the
Lions help plant trees.)
The Commissioners discussed Spence's suggestion of applying the budget for
maintenance only. There was a consensus among the Commissioners to do
some planting this year if possible. It was suggested to use a portion of the
budget for planting and a portion for maintenance. The main area being
studied for planting is for School Blvd. This will be discussed in more detail
at the next meeting. Other ideas that were brought up to look into were:
revise the current city tree ordinance, compile a letter with a list of
recommended trees for homeowners, conduct a workshop for planting and
tree maintenance, and offer trees once a year to residence at a reduce price.
5.
Other
Jeff O'Neill reported on the ISTEA pathway grant that was applied for that
would add another pathway segment from County Road 75 to the Middle
School and to the Briar Oakes Development. This would include a
pedestrian bridge over 1-94.
Because of the 7:00 pm. time limit not all added items were addressed. These
items will be on the next meeting.
6. Adjourn.
COMMISSIONER FAIR MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER NOLAN.
Respectfully submitted,
u)~~
Wanda Kraemer
Development Services Technician
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