HomeMy Public PortalAbout10-19-2011 Park Commission MinutesMedina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
October 19, 2011
Medina City Hall
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The Park Commission of Medina, Minnesota met in regular session on October 19, 2011 at 7:07
p.m. in the Medina City Hall. Park Commissioner Ben Benson presided.
1) Call to Order
Commissioners Present:
Commissioners Absent:
Also Present:
Ben Benson, Madeleine Linck, Ann Thies, Jean Beaupre
and Bill Waytas
Paul Jaeb and Janet White
City Administrator Scott Johnson, Public Works
Superintendent Steve Scherer and Assistant to City
Administrator Jodi Gallup
2) Additions to the Agenda: None.
3) Approval of Minutes:
August 17, 2011 Regular Meeting Minutes
• Page 4, 7th paragraph: Add "to help with fragmentation" to the end of the
sentence.
• Page 4, 10th paragraph: Delete "Benson"; add "The Park Commission" to the
beginning of the sentence.
• Page 6, 3rd paragraph: Delete "raised up"; add "separated" to the last sentence.
A motion was made by Thies and seconded by Linck to approve the minutes with the
noted changes. Motion passed unanimously.
4) Public Comments (on items not on the agenda): None.
5) City Council Update:
City Administrator Johnson updated the Park Commission on recent City Council
actions.
6) Tobacco Free Parks Presentation
Emily Anderson with Tobacco -Free Youth Recreation introduced herself and the Orono
Youth and Action Group. She summarized their common goal to get communities to
adopt tobacco free parks policies or ordinances. She stated that the Youth and Action
Group from Orono High School most recently was involved in getting tobacco free park
ordinances passed in Orono, Spring Park, Long Lake, and Minnetonka Beach.
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
October 19, 2011
Medina City Hall
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Elizabeth Fossen, Senior at Orono High School, stated many reasons why they want this
policy including the importance of a tobacco -free environment and how it promotes
positive community rolemodeling.
Jake Poepping, Senior at Orono High School, directed the Park Commissioners to a map
in their packet that showed all 141 communities throughout the state that have adopted
tobacco free park policies. He also noted that a study from the University of Minnesota
found that 90% of park directors in cities with policies report that they would recommend
policies to other communities and 58% report less litter. He also addressed the issue of
second hand smoke.
Jack Ellis, Freshman at Orono High School and Medina resident, stated that cigarettes are
the most littered thing in the world and addressed the level of toxicity cigarettes produce.
He also discussed the issue with adults smoking in the parks and children seeing them
might create an idea of it being a "social norm" when in fact it is a minority of people
that smoke.
Elizabeth Fossen stated that a tobacco free parks policy or ordinance could be promoted
in park brochures, community newsletters, and the city website, but the most effective
way would be to post signs that say "Tobacco -Free Grounds". These signs are free to
communities with tobacco free park policies or ordinances.
Thies questioned if communities that had adopted these policies had noticed any
repercussions on not being able to smoke outside of rental halls that are being used by
parties for wedding receptions and family reunions.
Derek Larsen, Program Director for Tobacco -Free Youth Recreation, stated that he
follows up with all the communities that have these policies and had not heard of any
problems. He said the only complaint he has received is from adult softball leagues that
serve beer.
The Park Commission questioned how other communities enforce these policies.
Emily Anderson stated that there are no fines attached to a policy, but an ordinance can
be written to allow for fines and other means of enforcement.
There was some discussion amongst the Park Commission whether to recommend a
policy or an ordinance.
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
October 19, 2011
Medina City Hall
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Waytas stated that he would like to see an ordinance with a fine adopted.
Beaupre suggested that a policy be adopted first and if the city has problems with people
not following the policy, an ordinance could be considered.
Waytas questioned if a policy would carry any weight and noted that enforcement would
be easier with an ordinance.
Thies noted that a policy would at least allow the person smoking to be ejected from the
park.
The Park Commission questioned if there were very many people that even smoked in the
parks. It was noted that a few people had been spotted smoking in Medina parks in the
past.
A motion was made by Linck and seconded by Beaupre to recommend to the City Council
approval of a tobacco free outdoor recreational facilities policy. Motion passed
unanimously.
7) Park and Trail Master Plan Discussion
Beaupre updated the Park Commission that she had met with Paul Jaeb and City Planner
Dusty Finke to begin the process of creating a park and trail master plan. She had stated
that Finke would like to see this plan incorporated into the City's Comprehensive Plan.
Thies clarified that she did not think it was appropriate for this plan to be included in the
Comprehensive Plan because it makes it too restrictive. The plan should be a separate
document that just complements the Comprehensive Plan.
Discussion took place regarding any progress made on working with Orono to get a trail
built down Willow Drive to County Road 6.
There was a general consensus to continue the park and trail master plan discussion at the
November 16th Park Commission meeting.
8) Staff Report
a.) Park Compliments — Scherer noted that the City had received a couple compliments
from residents in Medina Morningside on the work that is being done in the park.
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
October 19, 2011
Medina City Ha11
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b.) Medina Morningside Park Update — Scherer stated that the Public Works crew was
planting the Dogwoods today at Medina Morningside.
c.) Independence Beach Parks — Gallup reported that Park Commission Chair White had
talked to a few residents in Independence Beach and they would all like to see the ice
skating rink stay in Walnut Park. It was suggested that the Park Commission visit the
parks in Independence Beach at the spring park tour.
d.) General Items — Scherer noted that a new entrance sign for city hall had been ordered
to match the uniform park signs. He stated that the dock will be coming out at
Independence Beach for the winter. Linck noted that the bird houses were working,
except for a few were leaking. Scherer noted that the benches that were built by the
Eagle Scout had been installed in Medina Lake Preserve and in Rainwater Nature
Area. Discussion took place on the issue that there is no public access to drive into
Medina Lake Preserve. Waytas noted that he had walked on the trail in the new
Lennar development off Hunter Drive and thought it was a great addition to our parks
system.
9) Adjourn
A motion was made by Thies and passed unanimously, to adjourn the meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Jodi Gallup.