Parks Commission Minutes 02-21-2002
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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - PARKS COMMISSION
Thursday, February 21, 2002 - 4:30 p.m
"To 1'11//111I(.'1' (.'oIlY11IIIIily pride IIIroll~II del'dopill~ IIl1d
II/llilllllillill~ d~l' IJlII{;' ...illl IIlli~II Mlllldllrd ()lqllllli~l'''
Members Present:
Larry Nolan, Fran Fair, Rick Traver and Council I jaison, Roger Carlson
Members Absent:
Nancy McCaffrey and Earl Smith
Stall:
Public Works Director, John Simola and Parks Superintendent, Adam
Ilawkinson. Deputy City Administrator, Jeff CfNeil1 arrived at 5: 1 O.
I. Call to Ordel'.
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Chair Larry Nolan called the meeting to ordcr at 4:30 p.m and declared a quorum present. Chair
Nolan welcomed the students in attendance at the rnccting.
Approve minutes of .Januarv 17,2002 Parks Commission meetinl!.
RICK TRA VI-:J< MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF TilE JANlJARY 17.2002
PARKS COMMISSION MEETING WrrH A CLARIFICATION ON PAGE 4, ITEM If!!
TllAT TilL AREA IN QUESTION WAS THE BATTLE RAPIDS PARK. FRAN FAIR
SECONDED TilE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Consideration of addine: items to the ~H!enda.
John Simola added a discussion of the markers at Riverside Cernetery to the agenda.
4. Citizens requests.
None.
S. Introduction of Adam Hawkinson, Park Superintendent.
6.
Adanl Ilawkinson the new Park Superintendent was introduced to the Parks Comrnission. Adam
Hawkinson provided a brief summary of his work experience in parks.
Entrance Signs - Update.
Nancy McCaffrey was not present to update the Parks Commission on the progress of the design for
the entrance signs. Larry Nolan noted that the new park superintendent had some experience with
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Park Minutes - 2/21/02
sign design in his previous position and the Parks COlnmission at this time updated Adam Ilawkinson
on thc cntrance sign project. John Simola reported that hc submittcd inf(lnnation to the sign
committec rclating to types and arnounts of sign materials available. Therc were also some sign
locations suggested including: I) Thc southwest corner of the intcrsection at Bridge Park: 2) The
School Boulevard intersection with TH 25: 3) On east CSAII 75 in the area of Libcrty Bank: and
4) On the pathway going west on CSAII 75 in the area of the Ottcr Creek Park. Larry Nolan will
contact Nancy McCaffrey and ask her to mect with Adam Ilawkinson prior to the next meeting
regarding thc cntrance signs.
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Park Maintcnance Items.
Adam Hmvkinson summarized somc of the work completed in the past month which included the
closing down ofthc ice rinks for thc season. tree cutting/pruning in various areas and assisting the
Sewcr and Water Department who will bc short on personnel until the two vacant positions arc filled.
Larry Nolan complimented the Parks Departlnent on the good job of snow removal from the
pathway. John Simola stated that because of the soft ground they werc not able to plow the cemetery
road after the last snowf~dl because it would causc ruts. Fran Fair pointed out for those students
present that the City rnaintained Riverside Cemetcry.
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West Bridl!e Park - Swine:s.
It was noted previous plans for the park did not includc any swings but the Parks Commission felt
that may be this should be reconsidcred. John Simola statcd that beforc a decision was rnade on
installing swings at thc park. a detcrmination nccds to be made on where thc ice rink should be
locatcd. John Simola and Adam Hawkinson will study this furthcr and bring it back to the Parks
Commission. Earl Smith and Larry Nolan will work with John Silnola and Adam Hawkinson on
coming up with a location. The Parks Commission briefly discussed arca needed llw the swings.
surfTIec material and ADA requiremcnts.
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Listing of permitted volunteer activities on park land.
John Silnola reviewed the city ordinance dealing with shoreland managenlcnt which spccifies
allowablc activities within the shoreland area of thc rivcr. Cutting and removing of vegetation within
the building setback froln the nonnal high \vater mark (75 feet j())' unscwered areas) is restrictcd.
John Simola stated there was a violation of this ordinancc since the area of the Battle Rapids Park had
been clcar cut. John Simola felt the in/(H"ll1<ltion about the restrictions should be put into booklet fonn
so it could be distributed. He also felt that a permit should be issued f()r any group or individual doing
work in any area along thc river and that the work should be supervised by thc Park Department.
Larry' Nolan suggested that the party who had been doing the clearing work be advised that no
additional clcaring was to be done. John Simola will try to have the handout on clearing/cutting
prcpared for the next meeting.
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Park Minutes - 2/21/02
10.
Selection lis(of items for park donations.
John SinlOla did not have a selection list of items for park donations. In discussion of what type of
items should be on the list. the Parks Commission felt that the park benches should be of a durable.
vandal resistant design. Adanl Hawkinson has been reviewing vendor catalogs and he felt that giving
donors a choice of two benches should be sufficient. The tagging and placement of any donated item
would be at the discrction of the Parks Department. Adam I--lawkinson will try to have exarnples of
the type of benches and donor tags available at the next meeting. Both John Sirnola and ^darn
I-Iawkinson felt that similar to what was done for Rivcrside Cemetcry. a plan for placement of benches
and other donations Il.)!" each park could be drawn up.
Other Items.
Larry Nolan wantcd to express his thanks to Tom Grossnickle fl.)!' his work as interinl park superintcndent.
John Simola submittcd a memo to the Parks Conllnission rcgarding irregular size Inarkers in Riverside
Cemetery. It was notcd that the cemetery rules and regulations recently adopted by the City Council did not
specify marker thickness. The ecmctery caretaker. Bill Kearin. felt the rnarkers should be uniform in
thickncss and suggested 4" as the standard. John Simola will prcpare a modilication to the rules and
regulations governing marker thickness for the ncxt mecting.
^dam I Iawkinson stated that the Parks Dcpartment had adopted a Inission statcment which he subnlitted to
the Parks Commission. The mission statcment reads. "To enhance cuml11unity pride through developing and
maintaining city parks with a high standard or quality:.
r:ran Fair explained that group doing thc plantings at East Bridge Park would also be doing the plantings at
West Bridge Park. They are looking at planting some grasses and a 111ix of perennials. They will revicw their
planting plan vvith the Park Superintendent. Larry Nolan explained the ^dopt-a-Park program that is in
place noting that thc Ellison Park. Otter Creck. Bridge Park and a segment of the pathway wcrc areas that
were adopted by various groups in the past year.
^dam Ilawkinson talked about the capital improvements program and the rnoney set asidc fl.H the irrigation
systenl at West Bridge Park. \-Ie would like to see the irrigation system designcd before too much other work
is done beeause it could impact the layout of what else is done at the park. I-Ie notcd that thc park stall is also
looking to do something different as far as mowing the bank at thc park sueh as may be planting ground
eover. It was also suggcsted that plantings be looked in East Bridge Park so that in the wintcr people didn.t
slidc towards the river. Larry Nolan stated that it appeared that snowrnobiles had driven over the plantings at
East Bridge Park and asked i I' stall eould look at that and see if therc was somc way to prcvent it frolll
happening again.
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Park M i rnnes - 2/2 1/02
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Adjourn.
RICK TRAVER MOVED '1'0 ADJOURN AT 5:25 P.M. FRAN FAIR SECONDED Till.:
MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
D~,_~-~s~ _
Record ]Ilg Secretary
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