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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-21-2013 Parks Commission Packet MEL CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS PARKS COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA Monday, October 21, 2013 6:45 p.m.: Continued Parks Commission Vacancy Interviews— City Hall 7:00 p.m., or upon completion of interviews:Regular Meeting—City Hall I. Call to Order II. Approval of Agenda I11. Approve Parks Commission Minutes— September 16, 2013 (1) IV. Department/Commission Liaison Reports A. Arborist B. Public Works Director C. Other/Commission Liaison Report V. Visitors/Public Comment This is an opportunity for the public to address the Commission with questions or concerns not on the agenda. Please limit comments to three minutes. VI. Public Hearings None VII. New Business A. Emerald Ash Borer Insecticide Injection (2) B. Set Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting for Oak Park Crossing Park (3) C. Let's Move Campaign (4) VIII. Old Business A. Parks Commission Vacancy IX. Informational A. Next Meeting: Monday, November 18, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall B. Council Representative: Tuesday, October 22 —Chair Hauble X. Adjourn Page 1 of 12 THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK tA Page 2 of 12 MEL CITY" OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS PARKS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Monday, September 16, 2013 at City Hall I. Call to Order: Chair Hauble called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Vice Chair Eder, Commissioner Krieger, and Commissioner Viers; City Administrator Johnson, Public Works Director Kegley, Arborist Widin, Summer Park Programming Coordinator Zeuli, and Commission Liaison McComber. Absent: None. II. Approval of Agenda: Chair Hauble moved the Parks Commission Vacancy Interviews to after the Department/Commission Liaison Reports on the Agenda. Vice Chair Eder, seconded by Chair Hauble, moved to approve the Agenda as amended. Carried 4-0. III. Approval of Parks Commission Minutes-August 19 2013: Vice Chair Eder, seconded by Chair Hauble, moved to approve the Minutes from August 19, 2013 as printed. Carried 4-0. IV. Department/Commission Liaison Reports: A. Arborist: Arborist Widin reported she received an invoice from St. Croix Tree Service for the tree removal and pruning. She stated she would be checking that work to be sure it was completed. Widin stated that new trees planted within the last five years should be watered at least 10 gallons per week. She also noted she has seen more Dutch elm disease this year compared from previous years. She stated the City does remove diseased elms and oaks from public and private property. B. Public Works Director: Public Works Director Kegley reported that the park shelters would remain open through the month of September. He stated they planned to close them at the beginning of October. He stated that each park would have a portable toilet placed prior to the shelters being closed. Kegley reported that the picnic tables had arrived for the Oak Park Crossing Park, and his department would be placing those once the shelter was built. Kegley reported that he had a discussion with the resident who resided near disc golf hole 8 regarding the fence. He stated the resident did not wish to have the fence removed nor to have it be rebuilt. He stated that since the basket was moved, he did not see any issues with golfers climbing the fence to retrieve their discs. C. Other/ Commission Liaison Reports: Commission Liaison McComber reported that the City Council approved the Parks Commissions recommendation to name the new park Oak Park Crossing. She stated the winner who submitted that name was Shelby Zeuli. Page 3 of 12 Parks Commission Minutes September 16, 2013 Page 2 of 3 McComber also reported that the City received a grant from Playful City USA for $20,000 for another playground build. Summer Park Programming Coordinator Zeuli reported that the summer park program had wrapped up. She requested that if any residents have suggestions, they should go to the City's website to obtain her e-mail. Commissioner Krieger, seconded by Commissioner Viers, moved to accept the Department/ Commission Liaison Reports. Carried 4-0. V. Adjourn to Parks Commission Vacancy Interviews. Commissioner Krieger, seconded by Vice Chair Eder, moved to recess to Parks Commission vacancy interviews. Carried 4-0. VI. Reconvene Regular Meeting: Commissioner Krieger, seconded by Vice Chair Eder, moved to continue the third interview to 6:45 p.m. on October 21, 2013. Carried 5-0. VII. Visitors/Public Comment: None VIII. Public Hearings: None IX. New Business: None X. Old Business: A. Parks Commission Vacancy: Chair Hauble reported that the item would be continued to the next Parks Commission meeting. B. Discussion of Ball Field Use at Oak Park Crossing Park: City Administrator Johnson reported that the Parks Commission met with representatives from the Lacrosse Association and the Baseball Association at Oak Park Crossing Park. He stated he felt the representatives got a good understanding of the area, and they were going to meet together to discuss joint use of the site. C. Park Walkthrough Discussion: Chair Hauble and Commissioner Krieger stated they each did a walkthrough of the parks and did not see anything that needed discussion. Vice Chair Eder stated he did not have an opportunity to walk through all of the parks. Public Works Director Kegley requested the Parks Commission send him an e-mail with any maintenance items they see as they walk through. XI. Informational: A. Next Meeting: Monday, October 21, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall B. Fall Clean-up: Saturday, October 5, 2013 at 7:30 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. at Andersen Corporation Parking Lot C. Council Representative: Tuesday, September 24—Commissioner Viers Page 4 of 12 Parks Commission Minutes September 16, 2013 Page 3 of 3 X11. Adjournment: Vice Chair Eder, seconded by Commissioner Viers, moved to adjourn. Carried 4-0. Respectfully submitted, Jennifer Pinski Deputy Clerk Page 5 of 12 THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK tA Page 6 of 12 Management of Emerald Ash Borer by Insecticide Injection To: City Administrator Public Works Director City Council Parks Commission City of Oak Park Heights From: Katharine D. Widin, Ph.D. Arbori st City of Oak Park Heights 10/3/13 For four years the City of Oak Park Heights has been preparing for the coming of the emerald ash borer (EAB), an insect which attacks and kills ash trees. This insect has already killed millions of ash trees in central and eastern North America and was found in Minnesota in 2009. The city has been doing a systematic "structured removal" of ash trees, which is a recommended management strategy. This involves removing 50-100 ash trees each year from boulevard and park areas to reduce the number of ash trees (originally representing 40% of trees in city parks and r.o.w. areas, now estimated at less than 30%). The trees removed to date mainly included trees in poor condition, those affected by storm damage, ash growing in poor locations (under power lines, limited rooting space, interfering with sight lines at intersections, etc.) or crowding other trees. Many of the ash removed in 2013 were damaged in the June stories and subsequently removed. The city has then replaced these trees with a variety of other tree species to increase species diversity. These strategies together reduce the food source for EAB and help to limit the area affected and reduce the rate of spread of this insect. This program was started initially in OPH through a grant from the Minn. Dept. of Agriculture. As more is learned about EAB, and research into management strategies continues, many municipalities are considering the possibility of using tree injection with insecticide as a tool in managing both the potential tree damage from EAB and the costs of removal and replacement. Ash trees in good condition, and growing in appropriate site conditions and locations, provide many ecosystem services such as production of oxygen, filtering of chemical pollutants and dust, help in stormwater management, produce shade to reduce summer energy costs, and provide wildlife habitat. To learn more about the possibilities of insecticide injection, I perused some EAB management literature on options, and spoke with representatives of three large, local tree service companies which use tree injection as an EAB management tool for their clients, St. Croix Tree Service, Rainbow Tree Care and S&S Tree Specialists. Following is a summary of the information I received from these sources: Insecticide Recommended: Emamectin benzoate ("TREE-age") --trunk injection Tree Size to be Injected: can use on trees over 6 in. in diameter(usually protect larger trees, based on city's goals for canopy cover and protection) Page 7 of 12 EAB Management—Tree Injection 1013113—2 Frequency of Injection: once every other year(protection lasts for two years) Observations of injected trees indicate that repeated wounding does not appear to harm ash trees. Timing of Injection: Anytime during the growing season, when leaves are green. Duration of Injection Cycles: companies I talked with recommended that injections start when EAB has been confirmed within about 15 miles. EAB has not yet been confirmed in Washington County, but has been found in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Once injections start, companies anticipated that injections might have to be done for 10-12 years (approx. 6 injection cycles) to carry trees through the worst of the infestation. It will depend a lot on how fast the insect infests trees and moves through the population. Number of cycles will also depend on goals for EAB management (% canopy cover retention, yearly cost reductions for removal/replacement, etc.). Cost: Estimated costs currently are anywhere from $5. to $10. per diameter inch, based on number of trees, tree location, tree size and the competitive quote process. e.g.this would mean anywhere from $75. To $150. to protect a 15 in. diameter tree (close to average size for city trees) for 2 years. For 6 cycles, it might cost$450, to protect one tree, which is less than the combined removal, stump grinding/site restoration and replacement costs for one tree. Tree Selection: This would be based on an inventory of ash trees in parks, city property, and boulevard rights-of-way. Trees to inject would be chosen on the basis of size, form, condition, location, prognosis for survival of tree for 20 years, etc.. Management Strategies: Tree injection with insecticide can be used as a measure to protect and save as many ash as possible, or simply as a method to slow the infestation down in order to reduce and even out removal and replacement costs over a number of years instead of incurring large costs in several years. I would still recommend removing ash of poor quality, and increasing tree diversity with a range of species; however, I think there are good reasons for looking at an injection program for ash trees in Oak Park Heights. If the City Council decides to pursue injection of selected ash trees, we can explore this topic more in the next 6 months. I will be working on the update to the boulevard and park tree inventory this winter which will yield information on the ash tree population. I will also be contacting other municipalities regarding how they are incorporating tree injection into their EAB management programs. In future, with more information at hand, we can discuss the city's goals for canopy cover, in terms of ash and other species, and which trees would be most valuable to protect. Before spring 2014, 1 also plan to complete an update of the EAB Management Plan for Oak Park Heights. Page 8 of 12 OAKPARKHEIGHTS Memo To: Parks Commissioners From: Jennifer Pinski Date: October 18, 2013 Re: Oak Park Crossing Park Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting Now that the new park has a name, a playground, and a park shelter, you may wish to schedule a Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting ceremony to take place at the new shelter. Please discuss options for a date and time. Page 9 of 12 THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK tA Page 10 of 12 OAK PARK Memo To: Parks Commissioners From: Jennifer Pinski Date: October 18, 2013 Re: Let's Move! Campaign The City received an invitation from the Let's Move! Campaign to participate in the initiative. Cities who chose to participate in the campaign receive national recognition, access to national, regional, and state experts and non-profit organizations, and information through webinars and newsletters. In order to participate in the program, Cities must agree to pursue the campaign's five goals: • Provide children in early care and education settings with a healthy start • Display MyPlate in city owned venues that serve food • Increase participation in school breakfast and lunch programs • Adopt healthy food service guidelines at city owned venues that serve food • Take steps to promote physical activity The City has already demonstrated that it has taken steps to promote physical activity through the recent playground additions. As the city does not own any facilities that serve food, it may be more difficult to reach the other four goals. Mayor McComber had suggested that the Parks Commission consider the goals and benefits, and make a recommendation whether to participate in the campaign, and if so, offer suggestions on how to pursue the campaign's goals. Page 11 of 12 wawW.Mrrwwrrso Aft • • let's # . , • cities,towns&counties • • • ' • • ' :6 Let's Moue! Cities, Towns and Counties (LMCTC) is part of First Lady Michelle Obama's comprehensive Let's Move! initiative, which is dedicated to reversing the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation. With funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,the National League of Cities (NLC) is providing technical assistance and tools to local elected officials who are participating in LMCTC and striving to build healthy communities. HOW DOES IT WORK? LMCTC helps local elected officials develop long-term, sustainable, and holistic strategies that promote improved nutrition and increased physical activity in their communities. LMCTC unifies the efforts of cities, towns and counties across the country in pursuing five measurable and achievable goals,which were developed with input from local elected officials: E. Start Early,Start Smart: Provide children in early care and education settings with a healthy start. F�. MyPlate,Your Place: Display MyPlate in city-and county-owned venues that serve food. ffi. Smart Servings for Students: Inaeose participation in school breakfast and lunch programs. PV Model Food Service:Adopt healthy food service guidelines at city-and county- owned venues that serve food. V: Active Kids at Play: Take steps to promote physical activity. BE RECOGN�ZED.l Participating communities are awarded bronze,silver,and gold medals for achieving specific benchmarks pertaining to each goal. Local elected officials from these communities are able to showcase their accomplishments and learn about the progress their peers make by visiting the initiative's website. [TEES PARTICIPATRI V4 L �ac uv4unr By.. Receiving national recognition when they achieve LMCTC goals, including opportunities to be recognized by the First Lady Gaining access to technical assistance from experts across the federal government and nonprofit sector Having a variety of opportunities to learn what works at the local level NATIONAL Sharing success stories and discussing challenges with peers in other communities LEAGUE Participating in a national movement to build healthy communities for a healthy future OF CITIES NLC is working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,and with the support of the U.S. Department of Agriculture,the National Association of Counties and other nonprofit organizations,to assist local i Q elected officials who join LMCTC as they implement policy and environmental changes to prevent childhood obesity. N�I National Assaiatraa olCovnties Learn about i ve!(ities, Towns and by i www.Healthy(ommunitiesHealthyF)Jture.org Page 12 of 12