HomeMy Public PortalAbout03-16-2011 Park Commission MinutesMedina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
March 16, 2011
Medina City Hall
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The Park Commission of Medina, Minnesota met in regular session on March 16, 2011 at 7:00
p.m. in the Medina City Hall. Park Commission Chair Janet White presided.
1) Call to Order
Commissioners present: Janet White, Paul Jaeb, Jean Beaupre, Ben Benson,
Madeleine Linck, Bill Waytas, and Ann Thies (arrived at
7:07 p.m.)
Commissioners absent: None
Also present: Assistant to City Administrator Jodi Gallup, Public Works
Superintendent Steve Scherer and City Council member
Melissa Martinson
2) Additions to the Agenda: None.
3) Approval of the Minutes
• February 16, 2011 Regular Meeting Minutes
A motion was made by Benson and seconded by Jaeb to approve the minutes with no
changes. Motion passed unanimously.
4) Public Comments (on items not on the agenda): None.
5) City Council Update:
Martinson gave an update that the City Council:
• Adopted an ordinance expanding the zone to allow an animal day care facility as a
conditional use.
• Discussed Hunter Drive North and Hunter Drive South road improvements and
scheduled the public hearings.
6) Eagle Scout Project Request — Jacob Eidenschink
Jacob Eidenschink presented his Eagle Scout project request to the Park Commission
requesting to build six nature benches and install two at Rainwater Nature Area and four
at Medina Lake Preserve.
Eidenschink stated that the benches would be made out of treated wood and would be six
feet long with two feet footings. The benches would have an angled back that would be
secured by three bolts on each side.
Eidenschink stated that the design for the benches came from a former Eagle Scout
project that was done ten years ago and the benches are still in good shape.
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
March 16, 2011
Medina City Hall
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Thies questioned where the benches that were built ten years ago are located.
Eidenschink stated the benches are by the Minnetonka Post Office at the corner of 81 and
Old Crystal Bay Road.
Eidenschink stated that he would be doing all the fund raising and would not be
requesting any City funds to complete this project. He only requests the City's permission
to construct and install the nature benches in the City parks. His plan is to build the
benches off site on June 24, 2011 and install all the benches in the parks on June 25,
2011.
It was recommended that a sonnet tube be put in the ground to help with frost.
Linck stated that the benches should not be put near any of the bird houses so that the
birds are not disturbed.
The Park Commission requested seeing a site plan for the proposed location of each
bench within the parks.
Scherer questioned the Park Commission if they wanted to allow treated wood benches in
the parks, when it was just a few years ago that the City made a switch to all recycled
plastic benches in the parks.
There was a general consensus that the Park Commission would allow natural wood
benches made with Cedar wood in the nature areas such as Medina Lake Preserve,
Rainwater Nature Area, and Tomann Preserve, but not the active city parks.
It was clarified that the nature benches should be completely made out of Cedar, except
the posts should be treated wood.
There was a concern with grass growing too tall under and around the benches in Medina
Lake Preserve because that area is not mowed. Eidenschink stated he would put down a
weed fabric under the benches and cover it with wood chips.
The Park Commission invited Jacob Eidenschink to attend the annual park tour to help
stake the locations of the benches in the parks.
A motion was made by Benson and seconded by Linck to recommend approval to the City
Council of this project to build six benches to be installed in Medina Lake Preserve and
Rainwater Nature Area with final site approval at the Park Tour. Motion passed
unanimously.
7) Park Landscaping Projects
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
March 16, 2011
Medina City Hall
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Medina Morningside
Beaupre stated that she visited Medina Morningside with Scherer to look at the north and
east sides of the park. She stated that the north side has a large hedge of Buckthorn that
has grown up through the power and phone lines. She suggested removing all the
Buckthorn and replacing it with Red Gnome Dogwood. It is a hearty plant that does well
in wet ground. The Red Gnome Dogwood will get up to four to five feet tall.
Linck stated that the Buckthorn would need to be removed early in the season prior to
any birds starting to nest in it.
Scherer stated that he would contact the power company to have them trim the Buckthorn
away from the power lines.
Therewas a general consensus to go with Beaupre's recommendation in planting the Red
Gnome Dogwood along the north side of Medina Morningside. Beaupre said she would
give the City Council an update of the plan at the April 5th City Council meeting.
Beaupre was asked to come back with a plan for the east side of Medina Morningside at
the April 20th Park Commission meeting.
Hamel Community Building and Hamel Legion Park
The Park Commission discussed the possibility of building a pergola behind the Hamel
Community Building, but there was a general consensus not to build one at this time.
The Park Commission reviewed the Master Landscape Plan and prioritized the three
projects they would like to see done this year:
1. Plant Snow Crabapple trees behind the Hamel Community Building to provide
shading.
2. Plant around the entrance signs to give the park more presence.
3. Plant Colorado Spruce trees along the outfield baseball fence to eventually
replace the batter's eye screening.
It was suggested to spade in larger trees near the Hamel Community Building and plant
smaller trees in the park.
A motion was made by Jaeb and seconded by Beaupre to direct Steve Scherer to get
pricing on one inch bare root trees including Snow Crabapple, Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle,
and Colorado Spruce to bring back to the April 20th meeting. Motion passed
unanimously.
8) Staff Report
a) Schedule Park Tour — A motion was made by Jaeb and seconded by Benson to
schedule a special meeting for the Spring Park Tour on Saturday, May 14th beginning
at 10 a.m. at City Hall. Motion passed unanimously. The Park Commission decided
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March 16, 2011
Medina City Ha11
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to visit the following parks at the park tour: Hamel Legion Park, Rainwater Nature
Area, Hunter Lions Park, Medina Lake Preserve and Medina Momingside.
b) Schedule Wild Life Walk — There was a general consensus to schedule the wild life
walk on Saturday, May 14th at 8 a.m. at Tomann Preserve.
c) Annual Clean Up Day — There was a general consensus that the Park Commission did
not need to be formally involved in this year's Annual Clean Up Day.
d) Playful Cities USA Grant Program — The Park Commission requested that staff look
further into the application process for this program.
e) Trail Maintenance Report — Scherer stated that he would be bringing back a trail
maintenance report at a future meeting. Thies reported that a stretch of the trail in
Baker Park near Homestead Trail and County Road 24 is no longer being mowed and
the snowmobile trail signs have been removed. She informed the Park Commissioners
that the City did not take a trail easement when a property along Homestead trail
divided a few years ago because there was a trail inside Baker Park.
A motion was made by Thies and seconded by Benson to ask the City Council to make
a formal inquiry to our Three Rivers Park District Representative, Sara Wyatt, on
where the trails went and when the trails are coming back Motion passed
unanimously.
f) General Items: None.
9) Adjourn
A motion was made by Jaeb, seconded by Thies and passed unanimously, to adjourn the
meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Jodi Gallup.