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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-03-2014 Park Commission MinutesMINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. ROLL CALL The Orono Park Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: Chair Rick Meyers, Commissioners Jan Berg, Brenda Johnson, Bryce Johnson, Sarah Lindahl, and Paul Pesek. Representing Staff were Senior Planner Michael Gaffron, Public Works Director/City Engineer Adam Edwards, and Recorder Jackie Young. Council Member Lizz Levang was present. Chair Meyers called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. OLD BUSINESS 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Berg moved, Meyers seconded, to approve the minutes of the Orono Park Commission meeting of July 7, 2014, as submitted. VOTE: Ayes 3, Nays 0; Paul Pesek, Brenda Johnson, and Bryce Johnson Abstained. PRESENTATION 1. EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT PROPOSAL — ALEX KNUEPPEL Alex Knueppel, Eagle Scout, stated he is part of Troop 481 and has been a Boy Scout for the past eight years. Knueppel indicated he is interested in performing an Eagle Scout project at the Seven Nations Park. Knueppel explained that an Eagle project needs to benefit the community, demonstrate leadership, require a considerable amount of time and effort to complete, demonstrate project management, and is a project that the City wants done and that he is here to accomplish those goals. Knueppel stated Seven Nations Park is an incredible addition to the City of Orono but could be improved by adding a historical marker, placing gravel on the entryways, by removing litter, and removing downed branches. Knueppel stated he anticipates the time for this project to take place would be the spring of 2015, which would give him time to work with officials at the City and with the Boy Scouts and order materials. Knueppel stated the historical marker will highlight important historical figures and events in the Seven Nations Park area, Knueppel stated the area was basically a gentleman's farm consisting of a dairy farm owned by some wealthy individuals. Knueppel indicated he researched the sign with Mr. Gasch at the Pioneer Museum and that the text has been approved by Mr. Gaffron. Knueppel stated he would just need to acquire a sign to put the text on. Knueppel stated he would propose placement of the sign in the middle of a circle of plants that is found near one of the entryways and would be facing the bench. Meyers asked what the orientation of the sign would be. Meyers noted as someone comes through the entrance, they would be facing south. Meyers asked if the front of the sign would be facing north. Knueppel stated it would face north. Knueppel stated the language on the sign would read as follows: Seven Nations Park pays tribute to the Native Americans, as the phrase Seven Nations refers to the seven parts or groups of the Dakota Indian Tribe. This name was chosen at the request of Pat Dickey, who gave the land to the City of Orono. Originally this land was part of what was called The Big Woods. This forest covered as much as 5,000 square miles and stretched from western Wisconsin to what is now south - Page 1 of 24 MINUTES OF THIS ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. central Minnesota. Inhabiting these woods were the Dakota Indians. Watertown Road, which runs alongside Seven Nations Park, was originally a Dakota Indian trail. This trail led to buffalo hunting grounds used by the tribe. The Seven Nations Park area could have been a resting place for the tribe going to and from the hunting grounds. Eventually this area was colonized by settlers and the land was turned into a gentleman's farm. Gentlemen's farms are usually small and more Iike a hobby than a business. The gentleman's farm on the Seven Nations area was called Mid Meadow Farms and had prize winning European dairy cows. The farm was owned by a wealthy family who lived in the Twin Cities area. Their homestead remained on the property until around 1990. For more information, visit the WCPA museum in Long Lake. Knueppel stated there are many fallen branches on the park premises, both in the initial entryway and by the roundabout and trails. A possible add-on to the project would be the installation of gravel in the park's driveway and possibly the roundabout area of the park. Knueppel stated it would not be possible for him to place gravel around the entire roundabout since he would not have enough time and that currently there is some grass growing in spots that would need to be removed. Knueppel stated the questions he has regarding the project include, one, whether the City would be able to provide any monetary assistance for the project; and if so, how much; and two, is the City willing to provide the gravel and possibly some tools for branch removal. Knueppel stated he would also like to make sure the City would like all of these proposed additions to take place. Meyers noted the Park Commission is just an advisory board and that the City Council would have the ultimate decision on what to do, especially if City money is allocated toward the project. Meyers indicated he is not sure whether placing gravel in the park would be considered a capital improvement. Pesek stated it would likely be considered maintenance. Meyers stated if placing gravel in there is considered a capital improvement project, the City could perhaps take some of the park dedication money to purchase the gravel and the sign. Meyers asked what the cost of the sign would be. Knueppel stated the estimate that he received a while ago was approximately $200 but that he is not aware if the cost has gone up. Knueppel stated at this time he is not sure what the exact cost would be. Meyers stated the sign would be permanent and would not require a lot of maintenance, but that as part of the project perhaps Mr. Knueppel could research what one of these signs would cost and then provide Staff with that information. Meyers asked if he would be raising money for the project. Knueppel indicated he could do some fundraising but that it would take approximately two months to get all the paperwork completed. Knueppel stated he also is not sure of a vendor for the sign in the area and that he was wondering if the City knew of any. Gaffron asked if Mr. Gasch has given him any information on where he could obtain a sign Knueppel stated he has not. Gaffron suggested he contact Mr. Gasch to see if he has any recommendations. Page 2 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. Meyers stated Three Rivers Park District would likely have different vendors and that they could perhaps help out with this project. Pesek indicated he could ask Three Rivers if they will help with this project. Meyers suggested Alex work with some of the Park Commissioners on this project. Pesek asked if this is to earn a Merit badge. Knueppel stated it is an Eagle Scout project. Pesek asked if he is a Life Scout currently. Knueppel stated he is a Life Scout, and in order to become an Eagle Scout, he has to complete 21 Merit badges and that he is working on the last one right now. Meyers asked if all of the Commissioners are familiar with Seven Nations Park. Meyers noted there are two entrances to the park, and that the sign to the park is located towards the west and that it might be better to put the historical sign in the middle of the park. Meyers noted there is currently buckthorn in that area that perhaps could be cleaned up. Meyers stated he knows what Alex is talking about with the two driveways. Meyers noted there is a trail that goes through the grass but comes around to where the two entrances are. Meyers stated it would be nice to have two defined entrances, the sign in the middle, with a gravel eclipse so people could drive by and see the sign. Meyers noted the trees do need to be trimmed and that the Public Works Department is planning to do some trimming in the coming months. Pesek commented this is a pretty neglected park and that this is a good choice to make some improvements. Berg stated in her view gravel is important all the way around. Berg stated in her view the proposed location of the sign is confusing and that having it in the middle would be a better location. Berg noted the trails appear to be mowed at the present time. Meyers stated there needs to be a logical pathway for the trail and that it is currently defined by mowing, but the scope of the project is to improve the entryways, center the sign, and have a gravel eclipse. Meyers asked if he would be allowed to operate power tools. Knueppel stated he would need adults present if power tools are going to be used and that he was thinking about just picking up the downed branches. Knueppel stated he was wondering if the City could haul the branches away if they were stacked in a pile. Meyers stated in his view it would be possible to find a group of individuals to trim some of the trees. Edwards stated if the branches were placed in a centralized pile, the Public Works Department could go out and chip the branches and that they would appreciate it if a group of volunteers would pick up the branches since that is too labor intensive for the Public Works Department. Page 3 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. Brenda Johnson noted Seven Nations is listed as a specialized park and is preserved due to the possible burial grounds that might be located there. Johnson stated the park is for passive activities only so as to be respectful of the property's history and the fact of connecting the two entrances with gravel is a disconnect in her view. Johnson stated most of the other parks in the City have one entrance and are used by small groups of people. Johnson expressed concern about going in with gravel all the way through the park and that she would encourage Alex to consider the intentions of the park as he contemplates his project. Johnson stated she likes the sign idea and that going to the Pioneer Museum was a good step. Johnson noted nowadays there are such things as QR signs, which are basically an app that is installed on a smart phone which then takes you to a website. If you link a QR to a website, Johnson stated it would be more educational and that he could supervise other students doing that work rather than doing it himself. Johnson stated her major concern is the gravel. Meyers stated currently it is more of a country lane with grass on it and that people can drive on it. Meyers noted there is some gravel on there to help keep it from getting muddy. Brenda Johnson stated she would not even have the turnaround since it does not seem to fit with the sacred concept of the park. Berg noted this park used to have a sweat lodge at one time. Meyers commented there is a lot of history about the park and that the app would be a good way to expand the historical context of the park. Berg noted not everybody that would visit the park has a smart phone. Bryce Johnson stated he would recommend that language be included on how the park is sacred and how important it was to the Indians, which would get to the heart of why the park exists. Johnson stated in his view these types of signs should exist at the other parks as well. Johnson stated it is possible the Native American community might be interested in contributing towards the sign as well. Meyers asked if he has spoken to anybody in the Native Indian community. Knueppel indicated he has not, and that his idea was just to place gravel at the entryways and not the whole roundabout. Meyers stated he is not sure why there are two entrances to the park. Gaffron noted there was a barn on the western part and that there were probably two farm entrances historically. Berg asked if several years ago there was a gathering and a ceremony at the park. Gaffron stated there was a tepee and a sweat lodge in the past but that he is not sure how frequently they made use of that or whether they still periodically have ceremonies there. Page 4 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. Lindahl stated at a minimum some historical information on the City's website would be wonderful and that perhaps that could be linked to the sign. Lindahl stated she appreciates Alex taking the time to do this. Meyers stated he would encourage him to contact somebody from the Native American community since it is their sacred place. Brenda Johnson stated there is the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, which is part of the state government, and they may have some money as well as some national groups. Johnson stated that might be something that could be tapped into and that she could provide some information on that. In addition, there is a communication school in Minneapolis for Native American youth that is training young people to be journalists and that she could provide that information as well. Meyers stated in his view the project is worth doing and pursuing. Meyers noted one question is whether two driveways are necessary at the park and that perhaps the Public Works Director and himself could look at that along with Alex to see what the best way to do it would be. Meyers stated the other commissioners could also come if they are interested. Meyers stated the second thing he would like to see happen is for Alex to develop some partnerships with the Native American community and that perhaps Commissioner Brenda Johnson would be interested in working with Alex so he can explore the electronic links to the website. Meyers stated the other part would be the funding for the sign and determining what the exact scope of the project is, but that it sounds like gravel, trimming some trees, and the sign. Meyers stated in his view the sign will be the big ticket item. Pesek suggested a time table also be created. Berg noted he wants to do it this coming spring. Meyers stated he is not sure what the constraints of the Public Works Department are for getting the work done in the spring. Meyers stated he does not want to promise Alex that the work could be done in the spring. Edwards stated to his understanding the scope of work for an Eagle project could still be accomplished even if all that was done was reworking some gravel on the site and removing a bunch of debris and things like that from the wood line. Berg asked if the sign is required for the project. Knueppel stated an Eagle project is based on hours and that he would not need the sign. Knueppel stated he just feels it would be a great addition to the park. Meyers stated the tree trimming, gravel and the sign is basically the scope of the project. Pesek indicated he would work with him on the sign. Meyers noted Commissioner Brenda Johnson is willing to help him with the Native American component of the project. Meyers asked if the City has gravel available. Page 5 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. Edwards stated the Public Works Department does have some gravel available and that if it is less than a dump truck, that would be easy to work out. Edwards stated in his view Alex is looking for a truck load of gravel to be spread by hand and that the cost would be minimal and something that the City has in stock currently. Edwards stated the tree trimming would not cost the City anything except time to go chip the branches. Meyers asked how much he would have to contribute to the project. Knueppel stated he could possibly come up with some money and that there is some money in a Scout account that he raised that he could perhaps withdraw from. Knueppel indicated there is approximately $2,000 in there. Meyers stated the portion of the project that he could contribute to financially would also need to be determined. Meyers stated the Park Commission could make a motion that they are in agreement with the idea of doing a project at the Seven Nations Park. Lindahl indicated she is confused if it is tree trimming or branch removal. Meyers asked if the whole troop would be involved in this project. Knueppel stated it would not be the whole troop but possibly seven to eight scouts. Meyers stated the adults could operate the power tools and the scouts could carry the branches to a central location so it can be hauled away by the Public Works Department. Meyers moved, Bryce Johnson seconded, to recommend the City support the Eagle Scout project proposed by Alex KnueppeI for the Seven Nations Park consisting of the addition of gravel to the entryways, the addition of a historical sign, and branch removal, with the understanding the Boy Scouts will contribute some money towards the sign. Commissioner Paul Pesek will be assigned to work with Alex on the sign and Commissioner Brenda Johnson will assist him with the technology aspect of the project. VOTE: Ayes 6, Nays 0. Meyers stated he would like a progress report either in writing or in person at the next meeting. Berg requested Alex keep the City updated on the sign in between the meetings. Edwards stated Staff will research to see if this would be considered a capital improvement, which would need to be approved by the City Council. Edwards stated they would need to know the cost of the sign. OLD BUSINESS 3. DISCUSSION ON PARK MAINTENANCE STANDARDS Meyers noted the park maintenance standards were included in the Commissioners' packets and that he attempted to keep the points concise. Meyers indicated he did not want to place a big burden on the Page 6 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. Public Works Department but rather wanted to keep the goals achievable. Meyers stated in his view these are simple, straight -forward objectives. Edwards stated he does feel there is anything in the maintenance standards that is insurmountable and that a number of the items the City has contracts for. Edwards stated what the Public Works Department will be doing is going around next year and following up with the contractors to make sure that they are doing what is required of them. Meyers stated he noticed the baseball diamonds needed some work Edwards noted the Public Works Department currently provides general maintenance of the parks but that the improved portions of the sports facilities are maintained and managed by the Orono Baseball Association. Meyers stated to his knowledge Hackberry Park and Bederwood have baseball diamonds. Meyers asked if the same association would be in charge of both of them. Gaffron indicated he would need to look at the agreements but that to his understanding it would be the Orono Baseball Association. Edwards stated the grass cutting contracts for the parks do not address maintenance of the baseball diamonds or weed pulling and they merely address mowing of the grass. Meyers noted at Navarre Park they merely cut the grass but do not blow the grass and acorns off the trails. Meyers indicated he would like to see a higher level of attention paid to the parks when it comes to routine maintenance. Meyers stated he also noticed the pea gravel tends to get pushed into the grass and that it could perhaps be blown back in with a leaf blower. In addition, there are a lot of weeds that are growing in the gravel. Meyers noted the last standard listed is that the Park Commissioners will check their designated parks before every meeting and report back if there is a problem. Meyers suggested the Commissioners take picture of the problem, send it to him, and then he will send it to the Public Works Director. Meyers asked if the City has contractors that perform garbage removal at the parks. Edwards indicated the City does. Meyers stated in addition he would like to see some wood surrounding the garbage cans and cement added under the garbage cans, which would make them neater looking and less obtrusive. Meyers indicated he would also like toilet enclosures around each of the port -a -potties. Brenda Johnson asked if there are specific safety standards that the parks are kept up to. Meyers stated at the Navarre Park there was a broken swing and he simply called the Public Works Department to fix it. Meyers noted a lot of the play equipment at the parks is fairly new and that the manufacturer was required to meet certain standards at the time the equipment was purchased. Page 7 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. Brenda Johnson asked if there is a specific list of safety issues the Commissioners should check for when they check their parks. Edwards indicated it would be pretty much a visual inspection and that the City does not have a formal safety checklist for each park. Brenda Johnson stated she is aware that nationally there are safety standards for play equipment and that it would be more of a risk management approach. Edwards stated when the City purchased the equipment, it had to comply with all the standards at that time, and that the Public Works is interested in any obvious damage, such as broken chains or bolts missing. Meyers noted the City has different types of parks, such as active and passive and natural areas, and that the big thing is to keep the active parks to a higher standard of maintenance. Meyers suggested a list of Eagle Scout projects be compiled for future scouts who might approach the City. Meyers stated the City has to set some priorities and that the active parks would have a higher priority. Brenda Johnson asked if the Park Commission could look at safety issues as a priority no matter what level of park it is. Johnson stated some of the dead trees and branches are a safety issue. Meyers stated the City Council has identified that as a priority and that the trimming of the trees will be addressed first. Meyers stated he eventually would like to get the buckthorn removed from the parks. Meyers stated addressing safety issues is one of the primary goals and that the Park Commissioners should go through their parks and identify any obvious safety hazards. 4. COMMISSIONER ADOPT -A -PARK ASSIGNMENTS REVIEW Meyers noted two park commissioners have resigned, which leaves Casco Point Park, Tower Park, Bederwood Park, Crystal Bay Park, French Creek Park, and Seven Nations Park without an assigned commissioner. Brenda Johnson indicated she would take Seven Nations Park Meyers noted Commissioner Berg is in charge of all the city -owned beaches and that Commissioner Warner covered Casco Point Park, Tower Park, Bederwood Park, and shared Crystal Bay Park with Lundblad. Meyers stated in his view Crystal Bay Park should have two people assigned to it. Lindahl stated she has Lurton Park, Chevy Chase Park and Saga Hill. Pesek indicated he would take Saga Hill and Highwood. Bryce Johnson commented he lives close to both of them and that he would be able to take one of those. Lindahl stated she could also help with Crystal Bay. Page 8 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. Meyers stated he would take Casco Point Park, Antoine Park, Navarre Park, and the Navarre Fire Station. Meyers requested Commissioner Brenda Johnson cover Crystal Bay, French Creek, and Seven Nations. Brenda Johnson stated she would like to share French Creek. Pesek stated he would like to share Crystal Bay Park with someone. Bryce Johnson indicated he would be happy to share oversight of Saga Hills, Highwood, French Creek, and Crystal Bay Park. Johnson stated he would also cover Bederwood. Meyers asked what parks Brenda would be covering. Brenda Johnson stated she has Seven Nations, French Creek, and would be sharing Crystal Bay. Lindahl stated she would cover Lurton Park, Chevy Chase, and help with French Creek. Lindahl requested another commissioner be assigned to Saga Hills. Lindahl noted she is also in charge of developing the City's park donation policy. Pesek indicated he would cover Saga Hill and Highwood. Meyers suggested Commissioner Lindahl work with Pesek or someone else on the Park Commission in developing the donation policy. Bryce Johnson noted the commissioners are supposed to check their parks monthly and asked if there is anything else that is involved. Meyers stated the commissioners should basically visit their parks to make sure there is no broken equipment or trash lying around. Pesek suggested the commissioners look at their parks every couple of weeks or a month at a minimum. Pesek noted French Creek is basically solid buckthorn and asked what could be done about that. Pesek asked if he would be able to go around and spray some of it. Meyers suggested he meet with the Public Works Director to see what the City can do to get that taken care of. Berg noted there is also a recap of the park tour that the commissioners could review to see what items were highlighted. Meyers stated he would like a similar report to be completed by the commissioners for the parks that are not included in the recap. 5. PARK DONATION POLICY Meyers noted this was discussed earlier by the Park Commission at the time Mrs. Englund made the donation to the Navarre Park. Meyers stated he would like to develop a simple way for people to donate items or money to the city parks. Page 9 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. Meyers asked if Bryce Johnson would be interested in partnering with Commissioner Lindahl on the donation policy. Bryce Johnson indicated he would be. Meyers stated he would like to see some firm direction on that in the near future. 6. HANDICAP PORT -A -POTTIES Meyers asked if the handicap port -a -potties will be placed back at some of the main parks. Gaffron stated the City Council has said that installation of handicap port -a -potties would be considered for installation at Hackberry and Navarre in 2015. The City Council will be reviewing that issue next year and that actual cost would need to be taken into account. Berg asked about Summit Beach. Berg noted there was a port -a -potty there at one time that burned down. Meyers stated it is not a handicap one. Gaffron stated the handicap port -a -potties are only being discussed for Hackberry and Navarre. The rest of the parks will have the same as last year. Pesek asked how many places the City currently has port -a -potties. Meyers indicated it would be Crystal Bay, Bederwood, Hackberry, and Navarre. Meyers stated he is not sure whether all the parks have them but that most of the active parks have them. Meyers stated the port - a -potty at Crystal Bay is somewhat hidden and does not have a surround around and should be in a more prominent location. Berg stated Summit Beach had two at one time, a regular one and a handicap one. The Park Commission took no formal action on this item. 7. MEETING SCHEDULE Meyers asked if the 2015 meeting schedule has been prepared yet. Gaffron stated a meeting schedule will be developed at the beginning of the year, with meetings currently planned for January, March, May, July, September, and November. Pesek stated the minutes reflect that the Park Commission discussed having monthly meetings. Meyers stated the Park Commission did not vote on it since there were very few park commissioners at the time and that they wanted to wait until more people were appointed. Meyers indicated the Park Commission could either meet monthly or simply call a special meeting whenever necessary. Pesek noted participation goes down if there are not regularly scheduled meetings and that the meetings could be scheduled but then canceled if there was nothing to discuss. Page 10 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. Brenda Johnson asked if there was also an issue with staff support on the monthly meetings. Meyers noted the Public Works Director is now going to be working with the Park Commission rather than Mike Gaffron. Edwards indicated he is going to be attending the meetings rather than Mr. Gaffron and that he would entertain meeting more often if that is what the Park Commission would like to do. Brenda Johnson stated she would be willing to attend a monthly meeting. Lindahl stated printing and assembling all of the documents is a lot of work for Staff and that in her view every other month seems more prudent and realistic. Lindahl stated she is in agreement that it might be too much for Staff if the meetings were monthly. Berg stated for continuity the Park Commission might want to consider having monthly meetings in May, June and July, which are the more active times for the parks, and perhaps having meetings every other month the rest of the year. Berg noted she will not be going out in January to look at the beaches. Meyers stated wintertime is also a time to get ahead of what will or can be done at the parks. Meyers noted historically the Park Commission met monthly and that they initially set the meetings for every other month because it was thought that monthly might be too much given the limited number of people on the Park Commission. Meyers stated he can see Sarah's and Paul's points and that the Park Commission might not have a lot of stuff to cover every month but then there might be months where they have a lot of stuff to cover. Meyers stated they could also have work sessions if there is something that comes up that needs to be discussed. Brenda Johnson stated she would also like to hold conversation sessions with the neighbors to get their perspectives on their neighborhood park rather than having a formal meeting. Meyers stated the Park Commissioners could make themselves available for that if that is what the Park Commission decides to do. Brenda Johnson stated she would consider them listening sessions. Levang noted the meetings would need to be formally noticed if more than three commissioners are present. Meyers recommended the Park Commission stay with meetings every other month with work sessions as required. It was the consensus of the Park Commission to hold meetings every other month, with work sessions being scheduled as needed. 8. REPORT ON JOINT BIG ISLAND LAKE TOUR Meyers noted he and Commissioner Berg went on a tour of Big Island with Gabriel Jabbour. Meyers stated they were able to observe some of the improvements that have been done with shoring up the Page 11 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. shoreline, the spraying of the cliffs, and the tree trimming and picking up of trash. Docks are also installed in the spring and there is a nice swimming beach. Meyers noted Big Island is not technically under the control of the Park Commission but that money is still allocated out of the Park Fund for Big Island. Meyers stated he does not believe there will be any other big expenditures for Big Island and that it is his hope they can take care of the main land parks. Pesek asked if there is any record of attendance at Big Island that the City maintains. Gaffron indicated there is no one from Staff out there taking attendance and that Gabriel Jabbour would probably be the best source of information for how many people visit Big Island. Meyers noted the golf course and Big Island are separate from the Park Commissioner and that the Park Commission should focus on the main land parks. Edwards stated the main expense for Big Island current is sign repair and mowing, which is done by the Public Works Department and is not a big expense item. Meyers stated the big ticket items were the dockage and restoration. Meyers commented Big Island is difficult to maintain and monitor by staff and that a number of items are damaged by vandalism. Pesek asked whether Three Rivers has any jurisdiction over Big Island. Pesek stated the Council should consider putting Big Island under the jurisdiction of the Park Commission. Meyers stated Big Island is not under the jurisdiction of Three Rivers. Meyers stated at this time the Park Commission has enough things to monitor and maintain, but that in his view at some point in the future the golf course and Big Island will come back under the control of the Park Commission. Meyers stated the Park Commission should try to fix what is in front of them, and that once the Park Commission has proven they can handle that, the City Council may decide to increase the Park Commission's responsibilities. NEW BUSINESS 9. CITY BEACH AND DOCK STANDARDS Meyers stated Commissioner Berg and himself have toured all of the City -owned beaches. Meyers stated in his view the City has some maintenance issues as a result of not regularly maintaining them for the past few years and that the Public Works Director will be familiarizing himself on those issues. Meyers stated one of the main problems with the swim beaches were the docks and that having a dock at a swim beach is not a good idea since it attracts boats and fishermen, which can cause conflicting issues with the swimmers. Meyers noted the City does have some public docks that are just for boats, such as at Carman and Stubbs Bay, but that they arenot swim beaches and are classified as access points. Gaffron stated North Arm, Stubbs Bay, Carman, Fredrick, and Park Lane have docks Meyers noted those are not swim beaches. Page 12 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. Berg stated they are also not considered parks. Meyers stated if there starts to be issues with people leaving boats, then the Park Commission can revisit whether they should be there, but that there is not a problem currently. Meyers stated the docks at the swimming beaches have been removed and that he would like them to stay removed. Berg stated the City would need to install buoys at the swimming beaches if there is a dock. Berg stated at Lydiard Beach people will pull their boats up on the beach and get out of their boat. Berg stated the City needs to do something that stops that from occurring. Meyers stated at some point the police could perhaps enforce those rules, but that if there are barriers, that should help stop the boats. Meyers stated the Public Works Director will need to see if the City has the appropriate buoys. Berg stated if there are going to be docks at a beach area, there needs to be a designation saying it is just for swimming. Bryce Johnson asked if there are signs prohibiting boats at the swim beaches. Berg indicated there are signs at the road but not at the shoreline. Pesek asked how they can keep non -Orono residents out. Meyers stated they really would not be able to stop non -Orono residents from going to the access points but noted the access points are not publicized and are basically intended for the neighbors. Berg stated people from Navarre tend to come to Lydiard Beach since they have no ability to swim in front of their homes. Berg stated the City used to have a number of people from the neighborhood going to Lydiard beach but that it has been neglected for around the past ten years and the number of people going there has declined. Berg stated Lydiard Beach used to be very well maintained and they actually had swimming lessons at Lydiard Beach. Berg stated she does not know about some of the other beaches but that she knows the neighbors near Sandy Beach do not want anybody knowing that beach is there. Casco Beach is more green space with two houses close by with two or three dock slips, which makes the beach area very narrow. Berg stated the Park Commission will need to look at some of these beaches and make a determination on how to handle them. Meyers noted there is a lake access point near Maple Place and that by not putting docks there will prevent a lot of problems. Berg stated Summit Beach also has some problems and is probably the beach that currently requires the most maintenance. Bryce Johnson moved, Brenda Johnson seconded, to approve and accept the Orono Park Maintenance Standards and Swim Beach Standards. VOTE: Ayes b, Nays 0. Page 13 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. 10. JESSICA WARNER AND DEAN LUNDBLAD RESIGNATIONS Meyers asked if a formal resignation has been received from Dean Lundblad. Gaffron stated Staff has not received a formal resignation from Dean Lundblad. Levang noted City Administrator Loftus will be sending him a letter. Gaffron noted the City has received two additional applications for the Park Commission. Meyers stated he would like to have an alternate or two for the Park Commission. 11. SUBDIVISION REVIEW, RE: TRAIL EASEMENT — 4565 BAYSIDE ROAD Gaffron stated there is a subdivision proposed on Bayside Road consisting of approximately ten acres. The applicant is proposing to split off a two or three acre parcel on the south side of Bayside Road. The City's Trail Comprehensive Plan in the Community Management Plan indicates there could be a future trail along Bayside Road. The intent for the trail easement would cover one of the many places where the City would like to have a trail in the future. Gaffron noted the only opportunity the City has for gaining a trail right-of-way is typically when a subdivision occurs. Gaffron stated the property owner is already aware that the City would like a 10 -foot easement along the entire northern edge of the property for future trails. While the City does not have the funds at this time to finish off the trail, the City has many miles of trails that are planned for the future but have not been funded. Gaffron stated typically what happens in the rural areas is a road without curb and gutter and without ditches and sometimes it is difficult to have enough room to construct a trail, which then requires an easement. Gaffron indicated there are trails along Old Crystal Bay Road that have easements on some sections but then some sections where there are not easements. Stars recommendation would be that the Park Commission requests the developer grant a 10 -foot easement along the north end of the property for future trail purposes but not necessarily require him to construct the trail. Lindahl stated she did review the materials but her first thought was that this should be part of the Planning Commission rather than the Park Commission. Gaffron stated historically the Park Commission has reviewed these types of questions and that it is typically up to the City Council to decide which commission should review it. Gaffron noted it is the first one that has come in since the Park Commission has started up again. Meyers stated historically it is the Parks, Trails, and Open Space Commission, and that the Park Commission was involved in the Dakota Trail and other trails throughout the City. Meyers stated it is part of the Park Commission's bailiwick. Bryce Johnson asked how the easement would relate to the park dedication fees. Gaffron indicated it would be in addition to whatever park fees are required. The park fee for this one new building site would likely be a maximum of $5,550 for the newly created lot and not the existing lot. Page 24 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. Gaffron stated if the developer were to construct that trail, the City would typically give credit back for the fee, but that the easement might never be used. Pesek asked if there is an easement on the rest of the road anywhere. Gaffron indicated there are sections of the road that have easements but that there is no continuous section. Pesek stated in his view the City should obtain the easement. Meyers stated the biggest part of any trail is getting the land, and that if it has to be purchased afterwards, it gets to be expensive. Lindahl asked whether a site visit would be required. Gaffron stated a site visit would be up to the Park Commission. Lindahl stated without a site visit, she does not feel prepared to vote on it. Pesek stated it comes down to the principle of the thing and that the City should get an easement whenever possible. Pesek indicated he would like to connect the Dakota Trail with the Luce Line at some point in time. Meyers asked if there is an aerial photograph of the area. Gaffron stated Staff could provide a Google Earth map or something on that order showing the property. Bryce Johnson noted Hennepin County has interactive maps. Meyers asked if that would be acceptable. Lindahl stated she is new to how the City works with all of the different commissions, but that she assumed something like that has been done in the past. Gaffron stated one of the questions that needs to be answered for the future is whether the trail should be on the north side or south side of Bayside. Meyers stated a site visit would give a better idea on which side of the road the trail should be constructed. Brenda Johnson asked when the decision needs to be made. Gaffron stated to his recollection the application would go before the Council on November 10. Gaffron stated to his understanding the Planning Commission did not have an issue with the layout of the development or the trail. Brenda Johnson noted the easement could be vacated at some point if it is determined that a trail should be constructed on the other side of the road. Page 15 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. Gaffron indicated that is correct. Gaffron stated the casement would not show up on the plat mylars Berg stated it simply ensures that in the future the City can construct a trail in that area. Berg stated it is good prudent planning to have that ability to construct a trail in the future and that the easement does not stop anything or create any impact on the property itself. Meyers asked if Commissioner Berg would have any problem voting on this type of concept given her past experience with the Planning Commission. Berg stated she does not have a problem with it and that it is just a simple document that can be vacated later if it is determined it is not needed. Meyers moved, Berg seconded, to recommend the City obtain a 10 -foot wide trail easement along the northern 10 feet of the property located at 4565 Bayside Road. Bryce Johnson asked how the easement relates to the right-of-way. Gaffron stated it would abut the right-of-way and that the utility companies would also have the same 10 -foot easement. Brenda Johnson stated it appears to be located on County Road 19. Levang indicated it would be Highway 84. Gaffron stated it is approximately a half mile east of County Road 19 Brenda Johnson stated Hennepin County's new bike trail proposal is going to be discussed at the Wayzata Library this Wednesday and that in her view a route along County Road 19 is a future trail system so it is not out in the middle of nowhere due to the proximity to that. Johnson stated if there was nothing else close by, she would likely be against the easement, but that the City does lack connectivity in this area at this time. Johnson noted the City Council had a discussion about the Lakeview plat last week and it was mentioned that there is no trail along the Lakeview golf course. Johnson noted there is one planned in that area but it may not be developed any time soon. Johnson stated in her view it is important to have the ability to connect the trails at some point in the future. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0, Lindahl Abstained. Pesek commented the property appears to be close to Lowry Hills. Gaffron stated it is close but is offset by approximately 1,000 feet. Gaffron stated the trail plan contemplates that there would be some sort of connection from Bayside Road down to the Luce Line but at this time the City does not have access to make that connection. Page 16 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. 12. PARK COMMISSION PROTOCOLS Meyers noted the Park Commission has already discussed this and that they are standard protocols for a meeting. Meyers requested the park commissioners notify Staff or himself if they are not going to be able to attend a meeting. 13. PARK TOURS Meyers noted the Park Commission needs to have comments compiled for Saga Hill, Chevy Chase, Highwood, and Carman. Pesek noted they also did not tour Lowry Hills. Meyers stated some of the commissioners could compile a report on Casco, Highwood, Chevy Chase, and Saga Hills, and Lowry Woods. Pesek stated he would be willing to do a report on all of them. Meyers indicated he would like to tour the parks with Commissioner Pesek. Bryce Johnson and Brenda indicated they would also like to go. 14. 2015 GOALS Meyers displayed pictures of an Eagle Scout project completed in Excelsior by their water tower. Meyers noted the work completed included erecting wooden sections along the cyclone fence and constructing some nice planters and a sign. Meyers stated the project made the area look a lot less industrial. Meyers noted Orono has a similar park to the one in Excelsior and that they could bolt on 8 -foot cedar wood sections and build some planter boxes. Meyers stated in his view that would be a simple, fast and economical fix. Brenda Johnson asked if the park is called something else other than Water Tower Park. Meyers indicated the park is located on Livingston Street and is a little pocket park. Gaffron stated it is called Livingston Tower Park and was created as part of a subdivision. Meyers stated the park is connected to the bike trail on Blaine Avenue. Meyers displayed pictures of Livingston Park. Meyers stated the park is about twice as big than what it looks like in the pictures because the trees have not been trimmed. Meyers noted there is cell phone equipment that does not have a fence around it and that it is possible to open the access panel and turn off the power. Meyers asked if the Public Works Director has had a chance to speak with the utility company. Page 17 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. Edwards indicated it is AT&T's equipment and that he has put a trouble ticket in through their safety office. Meyers stated he would like to fix up this park by erecting the wood and creating a nice little pocket park for people coming off of the trail. Meyers stated a bathroom and drinking fountain could also be installed. Pesek noted the biker survey showed that people like water fountains and restrooms. Meyers pointed out there is parking down at the Navarre Park and that Blaine Road comes up from Navarre Park to this park. Meyers stated an informational kiosk could be placed in that area that would direct people to the trail as well as a sign that says water and bathroom. Pesek stated it would be important to help people find the park. Meyers stated it is a small park, easy to fix up, connects to the trail, and Three Rivers could possibly contribute some money for a drinking fountain and a bathroom. Meyers noted the park is located in the most densely part of Orono and that the Park Commission has a chance to make some good improvements without some major capital expenditures. Meyers stated in this view this could be an Eagle Scout project or the Park Commission could do it for four to five thousand. Meyers stated the kiosk could also list all the Navarre businesses. Brenda Johnson suggested the Navarre business association be contacted. Meyers stated there really is not a business association in Navarre but that it could be a dual project with Three Rivers Park District. Meyers stated the Public Works Director is looking at the fencing and how to secure the area. Meyers noted there is a question about Homeland Security saying the water treatment plants have to be accessible but that it would be accessible and easily viewed from the other three sides. Meyers indicated he simply wants to cover up the ugly equipment since it is an eyesore for the neighbors. Brenda Johnson stated she is not aware of the Homeland Security issues. Johnson asked why this is a park. Johnson stated in her view it has no redeeming value and that there are other places that the City could install a bathroom and a drinking fountain. Meyers stated the Crystal Bay Post Office is located on the other side of County Road 19 and that this park is not used often. Meyers stated they could make the Livingston Park into a nicer park so people might go there from the bike trail. Meyers stated they could also put a picnic table there and that the Dairy Queen is right down the road, which would be a draw to this park, and that there is parking available at the Navarre municipal lot so they would not have to cross County Road 19. Meyers noted Hennepin County has expressed some concerns about putting a trail down County Road 19 due to the traffic and that this park would have safer access. Pesek asked if there is parking available at this park. Meyers stated there is not but that there is parking available at the municipal parking lot. Meyers stated the Dakota Trail is very popular and that this park would be close to that. Page 18 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. Brenda Johnson stated it is important for the local residents to have an area to connect safely to the Dakota Trail and that the Park Commission should look at that and be thoughtful about future planning so there are not all these parking lots. Meyers stated Hennepin County is looking at this and might be willing to pay for the bathroom and water fountain. Meyers stated it is a way of creating a buy -in from other entities. Brenda Johnson stated she would like to get an overview of everything that is needed and determine where the City would get the biggest bang for their money. Meyers stated he is not trying to ram this through tonight but that it is an idea for the park. Meyers noted this park is a half mile from the trail on Blaine. Brenda asked if it is safe to take a turn off of Blaine. Meyers indicated it is a quiet neighborhood street and has less traffic than County Road 19. Meyers stated the Excelsior project caught his attention because it was an Eagle Scout project and was an easy fix. Meyers stated it was merely a discussion item and that the Park Commission could consider this. (Commissioner Lindahl leaves the meeting at 8:57 p.m.) Bryce Johnson suggested they include this park on the park tour. Meyers stated they could do that. Meyers stated he would also like to discuss Summit Beach. Gaffron displayed pictures of Summit Beach. Meyers noted there is a canoe launch at Summit Beach but that it is pretty inaccessible at the present time due to a fallen tree and a big hole in the ground. In addition, the City sign is covered with branches and has a wooden post in front of it. Meyers noted there is a port -a -potty at this beach and that he would like to have a wood enclosure constructed around it as well as a wood enclosure for the trash container. Meyers stated the City would need to kill the weeds off and clean up the beach. Meyers indicated he would also like to get rid of all the wood picnic tables at the beach since they are in poor condition. Gaffron displayed a picture of the parking lot. Meyers noted the lot was completely under water this spring and that the Public Works Department is seeing what they can do to improve the drainage in that area as well as improve the entrance. Berg noted there is also the same issue at Lydiard with the gates. Berg stated she would like to meet with Chair Meyers at Lydiard Beach to talk about the situation with people during the winter bringing snowmobiles down there or backing their vehicles down to get their ice houses off the lake. Meyers stated the main goals for 2015 consist of attempting to get the parks cleaned up. Meyers stated it would be nice to work with some of the community groups on that and that perhaps the Park Commission Page 29 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. could create a list of shovel ready projects and then contact the Boy Scouts Group or other volunteer groups to see if they would be willing to help. 15. PARK SURVEY Bryce Johnson stated he was thinking, now that the Park Commission is starting up again, on how to get input from the community and what their expectations are for the parks. Johnson stated in his view the 2008 survey was a little flawed when it came to the parks and that perhaps there could be some focus groups created or the Park Commission could hold some open meetings with the local neighbors. Meyers stated in the intergenerational study by Mr. Gambone he discusses parks and that perhaps the Park Commission could work with him on that. Bryce Johnson stated his thinking was that it could be a spinoff from that and that with the intergenerational you do not want to have something that is so focused you could create controversy. Johnson indicated he was thinking more broadly and that the Park Commission could pick a project that they would like to do and then put some focus on it. Johnson stated the survey could be used to determine what the public really wants and that by doing the survey it would show the residents that there is a park commission in Orono that is doing more than just maintenance. Brenda Johnson stated to her understanding Jim Gambone is going around some areas and knocking on the doors and obtaining suggestions about what they feel are the big issues. Johnson stated when he meets with the intergenerational group, he will be giving them one or two questions that they will focus on but that those questions come from a larger collection of smaller conversations. Brenda Johnson stated the intergenerational study would not necessarily have parks on the agenda, but that Jim Gambone is getting into environmental related topics, which relates to the parks. Johnson indicated he is also going to be speaking with officials from the City and will likely speak with the Park Commission. Johnson stated it might be a good idea to have him talk to the Park Commission. Meyers indicated he would be willing to meet with Jim Gambone. Meyers stated if Crystal Bay Park is chosen, the Park Commission could meet with the residents and ask them what they what to see happen at the park. Meyers stated he would recommend picking one park as the focus. Bryce Johnson stated he would like to get the input of the community and that this could perhaps be done in preparation for the new Comprehensive Plan. Johnson asked if a park survey is typically a part of that. Gaffron stated it can be. Gaffron stated the 2008 survey did provide useful information that was incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan. Gaffron stated he is not sure it was designed for that purpose but that it helped get an idea of what the residents wanted. Meyers asked if it would be beneficial to the City to have a park survey. Brenda Johnson stated a survey focuses on a methodology and that what the Park Commission wants is an inquiry into what the thinking of the residents is. Johnson stated she would like to keep it at more of a conversation or input level Meyers stated the Park Commission could have a series of conversations on Orono parks Page 20 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. Bryce Johnson commented it could be a combination of things, and that if the City is going to do any kind of generalized opinion gathering for the Comprehensive Plan, the Park Commission could be a part of that. Levang stated the City will want to gather information in preparation for that Comprehensive Plan review and that she would imagine parks would be one of the items the Council would be looking at. Berg stated they would likely get more feedback doing it that way since people tend to be busy and do not have time to attend meetings. Levang stated it would be her choice to do a variety of methodologies. Meyers stated the Park Commission is in agreement of finding some kind of way to poll the residents. Pesek stated the Park Commission cannot make any assumptions. Pesek stated in his view the Rural Oasis means nothing since it basically means that it is a farm country in the middle of a desert. Pesek stated in his view it was a badly designed system and that the last survey was flawed. Meyers stated that is something that can be discussed in the future. Meyers stated the Park Commission might want to consider holding a work session to discuss that, and that if any of the commissioners have some ideas they would like to cover, they could compile a list. Bryce Johnson stated he would like to see how it could be tied in with the Comprehensive Plan review. Brenda asked when the next review is scheduled for. Gaffron stated the system statements will come out in 2015 and the plan itself is probably due in 2018. 16. COMMISSIONER CONTACT INFORMATION Meyers requested the commissioners provide their current contact information so it can be updated on the City's website and that each commissioner will have that information. Gaffron noted he has received that information from Brenda and Bryce Johnson. 17. PARK COMMISSION OFFICERS Meyers stated he would also like the Park Commissioners to have some business cards identifying them as being on the Park Commission. Levang stated he should speak with the City Administrator on getting the cards printed up. 18. 1996 INVENTORY UPDATE Meyers noted the inventory update has been provided to Commissioner Brenda Johnson and asked if it is on the City's website. Page 21 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. Gaffron stated it is probably not on the website at this time, but that if it is in a form the Park Commission is comfortable with, it could be included on the website. Gaffron noted the inventory is not up to date and is 15 years old. Meyers stated in his view it was very well done and that it is a good concept. Meyers stated he likes the idea of people being able to access that and have the ability to look at the maps. Meyers requested the Commissioners review that to see if any updates should be done. 19. NEXT MEETING TOPICS Meyers noted Community Development Director Andrew Mack would be a good person to talk to about reaching out to the community and that Commissioner Bryce Johnson might want to speak to him about polling the residents. Meyers stated he was thinking if the Park Commission decided to install some kiosks, that they could include more information on Navarre or the overall Orono Park system. Meyers noted the City currently does not have anything that shows how the park and trail system connects. Pesek stated he would encourage people to contact the Park Commission if they have any ideas about the parks. Meyers noted the Public Works Director will be assembling a Park Commission manual that could be given to the new commissioners. Bryce Johnson asked who would have the detail behind the concept and evolution of park dedication fees. Gaffron stated Ron Olson, the City's finance director, would have to dig through a pile of old files to determine which subdivisions contributed towards that and that he does not believe there is a spreadsheet that would summarize that. Edwards stated the City's automated financial data only goes back seven or eight years. Gaffron stated to go back to 2000 would require the finance director to go back through a number of old files. Bryce Johnson asked if there is an actual park fund. Gaffron stated the finance director could give him a good sense of how that is all laid out. Bryce Johnson stated the other dimension is that quite a few years ago there was a priority list set up for use of park dedication funds and that he was wondering that has any relevance any longer and whether it is annually chocked. Levang stated she believes that is contained in the capital improvement plan. Meyers stated the other big thing is the camp on Tonkawa Road and that it would be nice for the City to own it if they decide to sell. Page 22 of 24 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. Gaffron stated to his knowledge the City's capital improvement plan is discussed every ten years. Levang stated it is reviewed every year at the time the budget is created. Gaffron indicated the park inventory study was put together 15 years ago in order to establish a basis for collecting park fees. Meyers stated to his understanding Commissioner Johnson is looking at creating a more realistic list of things that the City might want to consider acquiring. Brenda Johnson stated having input from the community would be a good resource to tap into in order to update that. Pesek stated in connection with the Lakeview golf course, the residents were able to raise considerable funds. Bryce Johnson noted that was a specific thing the people were interested in and that it is not as easy to raise funds generally for the parks. Brenda Johnson asked why the Park Commission has not had any input into the Lakeview development. Levang indicated the application is not at that stage in the process. Gaffron noted the Park Commission was not in existence at the time the concept plan was submitted and discussed. At this point it is at the preliminary plat stage and that it has been before the Planning Commission twice and the City Council once. The application was going to be back before the Council on November 10 but the developers have requested a couple of extra weeks. At this point it will be back before the City Council on November 24 with a potential resolution for preliminary plat approval. Gaffron stated the City Council has not specifically directed that the Park Commission weigh in on the whole park concept. Gaffron stated other than a park dedication fee, there are no public parks involved with that development. The City is asking for a trail easement along County Road 19, but because there are no trails along North Arm Drive or West Branch, no one has recommended that be reviewed. Gaffron indicated he is not sure if the Council feels the Park Commission should review it. Berg asked if there is going to be a park in the development. Gaffron indicated there will be a privately owned public space. Meyers noted between now and the next meeting Commissioners Brenda Johnson and Paul Pesek were going to work with the Eagle Scout and that they can report back on how that is going. Meyers stated he would like to go out with the Public Works Director to look at Seven Nations to see what can be cleaned up to help him be able to falfill his goals. Meyers stated the biggest expense would be the sign and that he might need to raise some money for the sign. Meyers stated it would also generate some good press for the Park Commission but that in his view he needs to talk to the Native American community. Page 23 of 24 MINUTES OF TRE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, November 3, 2014 7:00 o'clock p.m. Edwards noted the sign would set a precedent appearance -wise and that that should be considered. Meyers stated the wooden signs are more rural looking but that they do require some maintenance. Brenda Johnson stated the sign could perhaps have some Native American flare. Berg stated in her view all of the signs should look the same but that it should be taken into consideration whether it is a historic marker or a recognition plaque. Meyers stated in his view there should have been some recognition at the Navarre Park for England and that it is common for parks to have some type of dedication plaque recognizing donors. Meyers stated in his view it would be well within the Park Commission's realm to develop some type of sign standard. Pesek commented there are a number of people in the community who might be interested in donating and that the Park Commission needs to get the word out. Gaffron noted the next meeting would be the first Monday of January. Levang indicated that would be January 5. Meyers stated he will be requesting a vice chair be appointed by the City Council. Brenda Johnson stated for the next meeting's agenda she would like to talk a little bit about the educational piece of the parks and how technology can facilitate that. Johnson indicated she would like to do a little presentation. Meyers stated it would be nice to have a way to link into the City's website from a sign. Meyers noted each commissioner should have also received a copy of the Park Commission's mission statement. ADJOURNMENT Meyers moved, Brenda Johnson seconded, to adjourn the Orono Park Commission meeting at 9:33 p.m. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. ATTEST: V- K Rick Meyers, Ofiair Page 24 of 24