HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-19-07 Parks Packet rr CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS FILE COPY
PARKS COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA
• Monday, November 19, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.
I. Call To Order
II. Approval of Agenda
III. Approve Parks Commission Minutes — October 15, 2007 (1)
IV. Department /Commission Liaison Reports
1. Arborist
2. Public Works Director
3. Other /Commission Liaison Reports
V. Visitors /Public Comment
This is an opporltrngy for the public to address the Convinssion with pertionr or intern not on the
agenda. Please limit cotwtnentr to three minutes.
VI. New Business
None
• VII. Old Business
1. Park Lighting
2. 5502 Osgood Ave. Property — Meeting Reminder
VIII. Informational
1. Upcoming Meetings:
November 27, 2007 at 5:30 p.m.: worksession with City Council. Meet at
5502 Osgood Avenue.
December 17, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.: Regular Meeting at City Hall
2. Council Representative: November — Nelson
December — Wagner.
IX. .Adjourn
•
Page 1 of 7
3 r
•
This Page Is Left Intentionally Blank.
qtr.:
•
•
Page 2 of 7
? . 0S LIRE
• CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS
PARKS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Monday, October 15, 2007
1. Call to Order:
Chair Zeuh called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Presen C ;onunissioners Dougherty,
Nelson, Wagner and l;stcs; City Administrator J ohnson, Public Works Director Ozzello,
Arborist Widin and Commission Liaison McCornber.
11. .Approval of Agenda: Coininissionei: Nelson, seconded by Commissioner l3stes, moved to
approve the Agenda. Carried 5 — 0.
111. Approve Parks Commission Minutes — Se p tember 17.2007: C.orni Dougherty,
seconded h}l Commissioner l.�stes, moved to approve the Minutes. Carried 5 — 0.
IV. Department /Commission I.,iaison Reports
1. Arborist: Arborist Widin reported that there was a large Bur Oak on the property
located at 5502 Osgood Avenue that had a split and some decay. She stated that it was
agreed that the tree should be removed, and it was removed by a tree service.
Arborist Widin reported that she solicited bids for tree removal and the lowest bid was
• approved by council. She stated she submitted a list of tree removals to the tree sen *ice.
Widin reported that she will be going through the parks this fall to take inventory of the
trees in the active areas of the parks.
Widin stated she received a quote for inanaging the prairie restoration area in Valle
View Park. She stated she will have a summary together for discussion at the next Parks
Commission meeting.
Councilmember McC:omber stated she has noticed quite a few areas where trees are
blocking street lights. She questioned Arborist Widin on the procedure for tree
trimMing around street lights Arborist Widin stated that she recently went around the
City with a member of the Public Works department and made a list of trees that needed
to be trimmed around street lights.
Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Corninissioner Nelson, moved to accept Arborist
Widin's report. Carried 5 — 0.
2. Public Works Director:
Public Works Director Ozzello thanked the commissioners for participating in the parks
walkthrough that evening. He asked that if anyone has anything else that needs to be
added to the list, they should leave him a voicemail or e -mail so that. lie can prepare a
surri nary of the wallithrough.
•
Page 3 of 7
Parks Commission Minutes
October 15, 2007
Page 2 of S •
Public Works Director 0zzello stated that the Public Works department recently
completed repairs on the trail going out to Oakgreen because there was a broken out
area. He stated they also did sore work at Valley View Park including; restoration of the
drain at the bottom of the hill.
Ozzello reported that the vandalism signs have been installed at the parks and rink
painting; at Brekke Park has been completed. He stated that the department was set to
begin frost proofing; of the park buildings that week. He stated that the department
received confirmation that the new picnic tables have been shipped.
Ozzello stated they are in the process of putting; together rink attendant duties and that
they will advertise the openings early to mid- November.
Ozzello reminded residents that fall is a good time to attack buckthorn. He stated that
once all other shrubs have lost their leaves or have turned brown, buckthorn still has
green leaves on it so it will be easy to identify and should be pulled out of the ground.
Ozzello stated that they have turned on the heat in the building located at 5502 Osgood
Avenue to prevent frost and freezing. He stated they are checking the property weekly
and are looking into a monitoring system that will send ai] alarm if anything goes wrong
with the heating system.
Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner F'rtes, moved to accept Public •
Works Director Ozzello's report. Carried 5 — 0.
3. Other / Commission Liaison Reports: Commissioner Liaison McCoinber reported that
her neighborhood recently held a crime watch meeting. She stated that three of the
items udder New Business were a result of discussions at that meeting.
1McCoinber also reported that she will be attending the National League of Cities Annual
Conference in New Orleans and that there will be a lot of vendors at the event. She
asked Parks Commissioners to notify her if there is anything that they have in mil - id that
they want her to look for.
Chair %euli reported that the Autumn Hills Park Shelter ribbon cutting was earlier that
evening and that the park shelter is now officially open.
Commission Liaison McCoinber reported that the F-all Clean -Up went very smoothly.
She reported that the number of loads was similar to the Spring Clean -Up but that the
loads were much smaller during the Fall Clean-Up.
V. Visitors /Public Comment: None
VI. New Business:
•
Page 4 of 7
Parks Commission Minutes
• October 15, 2007
Page 3 of 5
1. Lighting in Cite Parks, Commissioner .l..iaisoa NicComber stated she looked at all the
parks during the day and at night to look at the possibility of having motion sensor lights
installed. She stated that Valley View bark, Cover Park, and lirekke Park are particularly
dark. She stated that Swager is pretty well lit. Shc stated Autumn Hills Park is pretty
well lit but the lights at Autumn Hills are on a timer and are shut off at 9:00 p.m. She
stated the Parks Commission may want to look into adjusting the tuner to leave the
lights on beyond 9:00 p.m.
Chair Zeuli stated that it came up in that evening's park walkthrough that Valley View
Park, Cover Park, and Brekke Park are not well lit and that motion sensor lighting would
be beneficial. She also stated that there are no lights on the exterior of the Autumn Hills
Park Shelter and that one may be needed to help deter vandalisin.
Commissioner Dougherty requested Public Works Director Ozzello get some pricing on
motion sensor lights. Commissioner Dougherty also stated that some of the
neighborhood kids had asked about getting some lights installed on the green space
across from City Hall. Public Works Director Ozzello stated he will obtain pricing for
yard lights for that space.
2. Ordinance 601 — Pet leash Law: Commissioner Liaison McComber reported that there
have been instances where unleashed pets have been on trails and were supposed to be
• under their owner's commands and were not. She asked Parks Commissioners whether
the ordinance should be changed. Commissioner Dougherty stated that the words "by
voice" should be removed from the ordinance. Commissioner Nelson stated She does
not sec anything wrong with the ordinance but she questioned enforcement of the
ordinance. Cite Administrator Johnson stated that enforcement is an issue. He stated
that many tunes complaints are not made to the police department so the officers are
unaware that there is a violation of the ordinance occurring. Councilmember
McComber stated that there is a tip line on the City's website for reporting incidents.
Commissioner Nelson suggested revisiting the dog part{ Issue. Commissioner Nelson
would like the ordinance to stay as is and she encouraged residents to report incidents to
the police department.
Chair Zeuli, seconded by Commissioner Nelson, moved to make a recommendation to
City Council that the ordinance staJ7 as is and that the council find a way to encourage
people to call the non - emergency line. Carried 5 — 0.
3. Oak Park Heipyhts Park and Trail Guide: City administrator Johnson stated lie was at a
planning conference recently and picked up a park and trail guide for the City of
Minnetonka, He stated that many cities and counties publish a guide for their residents.
I-le reported that it would cost approximately $800.00 to $1,400.00 depending on the
scale and number of copies to be printed. Johnson noted it would be a great way to
provide information to residents.
C.onlinissioner Estes asked whether it would inake better sense to Walt until all the trails
•
Page 5 of 7
Parks Commission Minutes
October 15, 2007
Page 4 of 5 •
are complete. City Administrator Johnson stated the guide could be worked on in -house
and not be printed until all trails can be included on the map.
City Administrator Johnson stated the City was hoping to secure some sponsorship for
the guide and that the City wanted the guide', to be of adequate size so that the nlap could
show street names.
Conlnvssioner Dougherty stated he liked the idea of the guide and thought it would be
beneficial to include history of the parks and overlook. Commissioner Nelson stated
maybe the guide could include some Interpretive walks like the one prepared by the
Arborist a few years ago. Chair Zeuli stated she did not feel there were going to be any
large trails or parks in the future so staff could begin working on the guide.
City .Administrator Johnson stated that the trail extension on Oakgreen has now been
staked out, and installation was ready to begin.
Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Dougherty, moved that staff move
forward on the park and trail guide. Carried 5 -0.
4. Park Suns: Commissioner Liaison McCornber stated that this issue was brought up at
her neighborhood crime watch meeting. She stated that the park signs that list the hours
are vet:lr small and are located in the park rather than at the entrance. She stated that her •
neighbors suggested the signs be larger and located right at the entrance. They also
suggested that curfew hours be placed on the signs and that the curfew hours be printed
in the nett City newsletter.
City Administrator Johnson stated that the signs for all parks could be made for less than
$500.00. Commissioner Dougherty suggested leaving the curfew off of the park signs.
Chair Zeuli, seconded by Commissioner Nelson, moved that staff look into extra signage
for park hours for all parks. Carried 5 — 0.
1 Bus
� LI. Old
1. Propert at 5502 Osgood Avenue — Set Meeting Date w /Cite Council (Dates 11 /7 or
11 27 : City Administrator Johnson reported that the November meeting dates for the
City Council are Wednesday, November 7, 2007 and'l'uesday, November 27, 2007.
Parks Commissioners agreed that the best date would be 'Tuesday, November 27, 2007.
They anticipated one hour should be set aside for the worksession.
2. 2 008 Park and ' Frail rail Plan — Scott Ri chards,: Chair Zeuli stated that Scott R ichards had
nothing to report.
VIII. Informational:
•
Page 6 of 7
Parks Commission Minutes
• October 15, 2407
Page 5 of 5
1. Upcoming Meeting: Alonday, November 19, 2007, 6:30 p.m. at City Hall
2. Council Representative: October --- 1_?stes
November — Nclson
3. Skateboard Park Article: Chair %euli reported that Council liaison McComber included
an article on a skateboard park which provides a cost estimate.
11. Adjournment:
Chair '.:.,euli, seconded by Commissioner Dougherty, moved to adjourn at 7:20 p.rn.
Carried 3 -- 0.
Respectfully submitted,
,Jennifer Thoen
Administrative Secretary /Deputy Clerk
•
•
Page 7 of 7
i ,