HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark Board Minutes 07.13.2017 City of Laurel
Park Board Minutes
Thursday, July 13, 2017
In attendance were Park Board Members: Phyllis Bromgard,Amy Pollock, LuAnne Engh, & Iry
Wilke; Public Works Director, Kurt Markegard; & Ken Olson.
1. Public Comment: None.
2. Minutes from June 15, 2017, meeting were not available. Will have to approve next month.
3. Combining Boards—No updates. Still waiting for Sam to advise on how to change the
ordinances to make it happen.
4. Update on Funds from Dept. of Justice — We were hoping to speak to Alicia Stickney
with the Natural Resource Damage Program via a phone call,but there was no answer.
However, Ken Olson, appointed by the Mayor to represent Laurel on the advisory committee,
attended our meeting and gave some recommendations. He reminded us that the funds were
put in place to offset what was lost by the oil spill, not the flood. Need to request what fits that
parameter to get the most money. He reminded us that some of the money may be in the next
building cycle.
There will be workshops held Aug 9th and Aug 15th to help with the application process. Kurt is
hoping to attend the August 9th workshop and Amy and LuAnne hope to attend the August 15th
meeting. Kurt raised the concern of whether the Park Board had the authority to submit on the
City's behalf without Council approval. LuAnne wondered since it is a "preliminary
application" if we could submit and get approval on the official application. Ken was going to
check with Alicia and see if there was a solution since the workshops wouldn't leave us a whole
lot of time to get them through Council by the deadline of August 25th.
Kurt said he has a call into FWP to try and establish a partnership with concerns to the vault
toilets in Riverside Park. Ken said that partnerships provide a higher ranking of preference and
that might help us achieve assistance in having the toilets installed. It was also mentioned that
we would want to submit multiple applications for the different projects, not just one
application with all projects listed.
It was discussed that the Lions Park/South Pond might be able to apply for some of the grant
money as well due to increased traffic there because Riverside Park was shut down. Phyllis
talked a little about their"wish list" for Lions Park. These included: a path around the park, a
handicap accessible dock, concrete benches, possibly tennis courts or basketball court, and
possibly more windmills to help give the fish more oxygen so they don't die.
5. Update on Riverside Park Master Plan: The advisory committee's first meeting was
held July 10, 2017, for the Riverside Park Master Plan. There were many in attendance
including Amy, LuAnne, and Iry from the Park Board. There will be a public meeting held
i
Monday,August 14, 2017, from 4-7pm at the Jaycee Hall in Riverside Park. This will give the
community an opportunity to help us prioritize our list of improvements to Riverside Park.
Kurt mentioned the annual Exxon easement money in the amount of$15,00o and where those
funds go. Ken Olson suggested we find out where they are currently going and possibly
recommend to Council to direct them to a special fund specifically for parks. This could be a
nice ongoing amount that could be put into the parks. Kurt said he would ask Bethany where
the money was currently going.
6. Lease Negotiations: Iry said the Laurel Gun Club and Laurel Rifle Club had not received
anything from Heidi/the City in response to their May 1, 2017 letter.
7. Swimming Pool Update: LuAnne asked how the pool was doing this year. It looks like
there are a lot more kids in the pool probably due to the hot weather. She asked if we could get
an accounting update on the pool (how much money was coming in). Kurt mentioned that by
painting the pool, it seems to have reduced the amount of water leaking out. This helps to keep
the water warmer because not as much new water has to be added daily. He mentioned the
warmer water does cause the amount of chlorine used to increase due to the increase in
bacteria in warmer weather.
Amy and LuAnne suggested an inexpensive way to add shade might be to cement four posts in
the ground and then with some type of eye hook or carabineer attach a uv protective canopy.
That way it could be taken down in the winter and wouldn't wear out as fast. Kurt and Iry
mentioned they might have a way to get the posts donated. Tom Maack State Farm has already
pledged $l000 toward the project.
8. Other Items: Phyllis also mentioned that a woman had approached her about donating a
tree. The woman said her husband would do the work if the city gave them a place to plant it.
LuAnne and Kurt mentioned that this is an extremely hard time to move a tree due to the heat.
However, they try not to turn down trees. If the couple could wait until September to donate it
and as long as it wasn't a silver maple,they were interested in taking the tree. Phyllis said she
would confirm the type of tree and if the couple could wait a few months before moving it.
Meeting was adjorned at 6:3opm. Next meeting will be held August loth due to Park Board
Member summer schedules.
Respectfully submitted by
Amy Pollock, Park Board Member