HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/20/1981 • �
CITY OF APPI�E VALZEY
PARK COMMITTEE MINUTES
JANUARY 20t 1981
Pa;ESENT : Chairperson Sterling, I�?iller, Rodriguez, Gutenkauf.
Staff Pr7ember Bassett. City Forester Gullifer.
ABSENT : Hollenbeck, LaComb, Naegeli .
l. Call to Order.
Chairperson Sterling called meeting to order at 7 :05 p.m.
2. Approval of A�enda.
Committee approved.
3 . Approval of 1rlinutes of January 6, 1981 .
iVir. Ivliller questioned what l�r. Naegeli had in mind on saying that
perhaps th.e State of Minnesota should also be considered when nam-
irg�the parks . In the absence of MMr. Naegeli , T�s . Sterling stated
he had meant historical names in the State of I�Zinnesota. That
in. previous discussions he had felt he would just as soon not
change very many of the names , only those absolutely necessary,
and he didn't think there was enough historical names here in
the City for 3� parks . She went on to say that the Historical
Committee would submit a list of their suggestions , and this Com-
mittee would submit their list ta the Council if there is a
difference in the names chosen.
IvI0TI0N : by Gutenkauf, seconded by Miller, to approve minutes as
mailed.
YES - 4. NO - 0. T�otion carried.
4. Forestrv matters laresentedby Dave Gullifer.
Mr. Bassett introduced l��r. Gullifer, and stated when the city
started forestry in 1975 they were just barely meeting state law
by having to have a city tree inspector, and they had a person on
the �ark maintenance crew �vho was appointed to take that role.
He said one of their main goals was to try to do something to save
what t�ees there were, and that there was a lot of tree disease.
He taid they tried to figure out what they could do to approach
it and floundered along doing what state law told them to do
until 1977 or early in 19?8 v�rhen Mr. Gullifer started on a can-
sultant basis, and in the summer of lg'�8 -Ehe City put him on full
time. He said they had made great strides and felt they have tree
di�ease under control . He stated that Mr. Gullifer has done an
excellent job in putting it together and has a lot of good things
going which he wotald be telling the committee about , as well as
�ome of the problems .
Shade tree disPase pro�ram
i�ir. Gullifer stated that the city's shade tree disease program
is funded now by 50o with state funds and SOo with city tax money.
Park Committee Min�es
January 20, 1981 �
Page 2
�Ie said what they try to do with the shade tree program is to
identify and get rid of the diseased trees in Apple Valley, and
to that effect they have three inspectors in the summertime that
do a house to house tree disease inspection all over Apple Valley.
Maintenance erez�as remave diseased trees on public lands , and
there is a con.tract system for diseased trees on private property
where the property owner can get the tree removed through this
cantract at �0/ of the total cost . He stated they don't just drive
dov,rn the streets , they walk th� whole city, and inspect every piece
of property. Under state law diseased trees have to be removed .
Ms . <�odriguez asked if th�re v�as a need for increased state fund-
ing. 1�7r. Gullifer replied that they could always use increased
funding, and without the state funding this program would be in
severe jeopardy. l�s . �odriguez stated that there was a strong
movement underway to cut this funding out, or to cut it back quite
a bit. Nr. Gullifer stated that they are now using a trencher
instead of an auger which physically cuts the roots. He said they
inspect the whole city three times a year, and when a problem is
defined the homeowner is notified that the tree has to come down,
and they decide whether they want �to cut it down -themselves or
have a contractor do it , and whether it has to be trenched . He
said homeowners are allowed 20 days by state law from the date
of city notification till it is down. He stated that they had
fallen. behind last year due to the sdorm damage. He said that
primarily it was the beetle that spreads the disease, but when
tree� grow close together the roots grow together and the fungus
spreads , so the trencher is used which cuts the roots so they are
no longer attached. This is followed up by another inspection to
see if the disea�e is under control .
Storm dama�e clean up pro�ram.
Mr. Gullifer stated they had had a good handle on disease control
' until the July storm, but now they would have to wait until spring
and see. He said during the storm time there were beetles flying
all over the city and that he expected it to be twice as bad as
it vaas last ear o
y s the roba
bl had suffere
Y P d a setback. D'
tree
s in A
le Valle
Y iseased
PP y are primarily oak, that the wooded areas are
probably 8� to 90/ oak trees and � to 6/ elm, and there are no
elm trees an the boulevards . He said the state realizes that if
diseased trees aren't taken out in an orderly, quick fashion. it
can create quite a problem, and in developments where there are
a lot of trees there is a process where they can be removed by a
contractor to get them out. He said that �vith a new development
it sometimes could take two years to get them out so they have
this process to get them out fast . From the storm damage most of
the private property is cleaned up. He stated the st�eetdep�,rtment
had hauled all the storm damage trees and burned them by a special
perrnit from the state. Al1 the parks , except Algimatic , Palimino ,
Cedar Knolls and Carrollwood are cleaned up from the storm. He
said the big one was Algimatic v�rhere �00 trees are down, and they
�vere working on that now with some ceta people funded by the state.
One main reason they like to use winter time is that the beetles
are dormar�t.
Park Committee Ir�in�es
January 20, 1981 •
Page 3
Mr. Bassett reported that they are 50o done at Algimatic , but
the halance would be tougher to get out . The city bought a
bornbarier for cleaning sidewalks , and they had hoped to use it
to push the logs out onto the lake but haven't been able to
because of the lack of snow. �dlr. �assett explained that the city
gets the wood out, cuts and splits it , and then sells to the hoy
scout troups for �80.00 a cord who store it and sell for firewood .
��ir. Miller said that two boy scout troups are working..on it together
with Art Eaton letting them store the wo�d in one of his buildings
and sell from there. Mr. Gullifer reported they had realized $3000
plus from wood they have cut already. Ms. Gutenkauf questioned
if it would pay to have people come in and get it, with Mr. Bassett
replying that there woul.d be too much damage to the park. He said
contractors come in with big equipment and drop trees against other
trees and cause too much damage , and as 2ong as the city can cover
the costs the �rogram can be justified.
Ms . Rodriguez asked if there was going to be a problem with disease
in the area just north of the Apple Valley High �chool . P�r. Gullifer
replied that there weren't too many oak in that area but they have
been through and marked the damaged trees Vahich the school will
remove.
F�Ir. B �
a...s ett state
d once the ark is cleaned u it was his ho e
P P P
to get some ski trails in for cross country ski trails which could
be interrelated with the Burnsville Park trails. He said they
had ju�t got this park cleaned up when the storm damage hit so
they would have to see what disease there is by next spring.
I��Ir. r�iiller a�ked whose responsihility the boulevard trees were,
and i47r. G�llifer replied it was comple�ely the homeowners. He
said they had hauled all of the storm damaged trees from the
b�ulevard that was cut down, but as far as removing boulevard
trees that was the responsibility of the homeowner. Mr. Bassett
asked Mr. Gullifer if he hadn't mentioned to the state that he would
like to see an increased emphasis on a re-establishment of trees
that =Nere Iost by getting into a replanting program where they
would help on the cost. Mr. Gullifer stated he wauld like the
grant for removal to be connected U�ith the reforestation, thereby
providing half the fu.nding for �he ref'orestation. He said that
c�rould be providing the city wanted to fund the other half, which
they don't have -to do .
New tree plantin� pro�ram
i2r. Gullifer said they were planting trees in the parks with the
money acquired from selling the bonds ; all together it was �28 ,000.
The state shade tree program is considering those trees as re-
forestation so they are refunding us �Of of the cost which mean.s
twice as many trees can be planted as planned. ��Ir. Miller asked
where the state say that enough, you can't plant anymore.
ivlr. Gullifer said that in the application it has to be,atated how
much money you have to spend , then they say they will match these
funds . He said it vras a percentage of a11 of those of the city.
i�fr. ivliller asked when the next deadline for applying was , and
i�ffr. Gullifer stated they had already applied for 19$l , and all
of the bond money they have spent applies to 1g81. Ms . Sterling
asked if eventually we weren't going to have enough trees for the
Park Committee T�i�es
January 20 , 1g81 �
Page �
parks with �28 ,000 being matched by their �28 ,000. Mr. Gullifer
said that ��ith the amount of open space we have and some of
the plans for the parks an amount double to tha� wouldn't be
enough. He said all of them could be planted and you would find
where more were needed. He stated a 22 inch ash or linden costs
�50. 0o per tree , and if they bought the same �ree they were
getting somewhere else it would cost �187 per tree. Mr. Miller
:tate�: his point in asking abaut the deadline for application
related to the statement by Ms . Rodriguez that the state was
� thinking of flushing �he program and that the city should plant
w
hile we can stzll et the Oo. M� �
.. . l�odri ez t e
g 5 / gu s at d she had talked
to �eople about this , and they say they realize money is tight and
�hat the
y are recammending is a holding pattern. �Ir. Gullifer
sta-ted they have already bought and applied for the 50o reim-
bursement for 1g81 , and the state matching funds aZready are
appropriated. �Ir. Bassett stated the funding goes through the
end pf December, 1981 , and any tree;; we want to plant the next
snring would be reliant on funding. l�ir. Gullifer stated the
spring trees are already bought, and that he had purchased 150
to 200 �vergreen �rees for fall planting. Ms . Rodrigue� asked
if the grant included the digging, and P�ir. Gullifer replied that
they �ay half af everything except capital improvements to the
program, however they pay for the use of the equiprnent so that
eventually the cost of equipment is recouped. �ie said they are
tightening up on the program, and there are spot checks they
had been infarmed about , so they have to account for everything
and expected that someday they would be audited by the state.
Arbor DaV.
N�r. Gullifer sta�ed he was hoping for a lot of involvement this
year and that they had talked of an "Adopt a Tree Program" ; to
get people interested so they would either call up or come down
and say they vvould like to adopt a tree is such-and-such park,
and they �rrould take care of it from then on. �Rr. Bassett stated
that they have these �trees ordered, and would have to get them
into the ground. P�Is . Gutenkau�' stated. she thought this would be
great for kids . �Tr. N�iller asked if this would be a monitary problem
for the homeowner, and 1tTr. Gullifer replied no .
�Y�s . Sterling stated she has often wanted to clip off some of the
shoo.ts on trees in the park , hut this is public property, and
acked where the dividing line between tampering with things in the
park and helping with the trees fell . l�ir. Bassett stated they
could be trimmed, but not damaged . He stated -�hey needed more
public relation:;programs to get people involvement. I�r. Gullifer
said they try to prune once a year, but they can't do all the
small pruning, however they try to get the structural pruning done.
ilIr. �assett stated they ta�ere talking about getting into a fertili-
zer program even though it �ill cost a little. He said as far as
the park budget they had submitted �2500 the year before and ended
u� �paith ��F00, and though he didn't remember what was submitted
this year, it wasn°t cut. He stated th�y t��ould need to draw up
sorne kind of structures on hova they would want to pu11 off the
adopt a tree program, then get advertising out. Arbor Day tra-
ditionally is the first of 1�Ray, but it could be set on any date
they v�rished .
Park C�mmittee iVli es
January 20, 1981 � �
Page 5
�Jir. I�Tiller stated the main program would be the "Adopt a Tree" ,
and asked if anyone had other ideas. Mr. Gullifer stated he would
like to see at least one public tree plantin�; in our major parks ,
suggesting `�lest View, Diamond Path, and Hagenmeister. l�!s . Sterling
stated the Committee had planned to have ribbon cuttings on buil.d-
ings at two of the parks and questioned the possibility of combining
the two. T=2s . ��odriguez suggested sending out flyers to the neigh-
borhoods getting the notice out to the people. �+�r. Bassett
�aid that they tivanted to put some sod righ�t around the buildings
so there would be so�.e grass and have a nice looking area before
the ribbon cutting, and that they also �vanted to get some play
equipment up. F�Ir. Bassett stated that the City would be sending
out a spring brochure around �;arch g and a notice could be put
in the brochure . t.�r. Gullifer stated that in four weekends the
trees could all be p_lanted. l��r. Bassett said they wanted to
try to do it by June lst, and then again in the fall . He suggested
that he and T�r. Gullifer work out a time schedule on how it might
work, and the Committee help organize people in the community and
the different organizations . Mr. Miller said the Reforestation
Committee could come in on the flyers , information, press releases ,
and the door-to-door campaign. T�:Tr. Bassett stated that a folder
on trees ��ras going out with the next water bills and that possibly
they could get a local printer to run something on the offset on
those that would briefly alert the people �to our Arbor Day program.
He thought there u�as a possibility that the prin-ter might even
donate this to the program. P2s . Gutenkauf stated that the Garden
Club gets the Flower 5hop to donate for their functions , and
the Garden Club puts a special notation on the flowers that they
v^;ere donated.
�:Zr. Bassett stated they would talk to the Fark Commiteee in i�2arch
regarding �r�hat help was needed.
5. �',eview Historical Committee Recommendations on Park Names .
Thc Historical Committee submitted a list of sugges-ted name changes
for eleven ci-�y parks . Ms. Sterling stated that Ms . Hollenbeck
had requested that voting not take place at this meeting because
sh� wanted to be in on the naming. Her suggestion was that they
go through the list , with everyone offering their suggestions ,
and vahen these are voted �n if there should be a difference of
opinion on the names both the Historical Committee and the Park
Committee could submit their lists to the City Council who would.
make the ultimate decision. I�'Iany comments she had heard from
�eople �,vas to make the names easy enough that the children could
pronounce the�n.
T�1s. 2odriguez asked 4�vhen they .vould have a sign for Haye� Field ,
and P�Ir. Bassett replied that it v�rould be done as soon .as the new
router v�a:; received.
Present T�ame : Historical C�mmittee's Su��estion:
Apple Valley East Tousignant Park
Discus:,ion : Historical review stated land was
donated by the Tousignant'a . ia2r. Bassett stated
this came thrnugh park dedication.
Decision: Tvjot necessarily felt to be a valid reason
for naming it Tousignant .
Park Committee Mi es �
January 20 , 1981 �
Page 6
Present Name : Historical Committee's Su�gestion :
Cedar Knolls Hidden Ponds
Discussion: Historical reviev� stated there were
many hidden ponds in the park which cannot be
� seen �'rom the road; also a subdivision there known
as Hidden Ponds .
Decision; Committee felt Cedar Knolls was a good name
and there ,eemed to be no reason to change the name .
Chaparral Drive Park Chaparral Park
� Discussion: Historical review stated that Drive
�hould be dropped .
Decision: Committe� was in a,;reement.
City Hall Park Delaney Park
Discussion: Historical review stated P�ir. Delaney was
�hairman of the Town Board before the City was incor-
porated ; that he owrned land where Northstar Concrete
is located and where no �ark exi�ts . Since he was a
City father they thought it would relate better to City Hall.
Decision : It was felt ��r. Delaney should receive recognition
but that �elaney Park would be a bet-�er name for Greenleaf
Phase IV. All v�rere in agreement that City Hall Park needed
a new name , however, since they felt there couldn't be a
City Park and a City Hall Park.
Cobblestones Park �eflection, Peace , Sunset, P�Iedit-
ation, Prayer.
Discussion : Historical review stated that this u�as a
very peaceful type atmosphere v�rhich should be reflected
i�2 th e nam e.
Decision : 1vIr. l��iller stated he liked F?eflection; and later
also stated he liked Sunset. PkRs . �?odriguez and Ms. Gutenkauf
both felt �irs� choice ��ould be for it to remain Cobblestones,
�,jith their second ch�ice being Sunset.
Farquar Hills i�arquhar (historically c�rrect spelling)
Discussion: That it should be checked to see what spell-
ing the DNP. is using, and that in getting into historical
type things the name should be accurate.
Decision : Change spelling to mateh historical records .
Greenleaf IV Tintah Park
Discussi�nr Historical review stated Tintah was the
Dakota Indian word for Prairie.
Decision: Park be na�ned Delaney Park.
Nordic South N�rdic Park
Discu�sion : Historical review stated that there is no
Nordic North Park. Park Committee also had discussed same.
Decision: Name it PZordic Park.
:?edwood North �ed�vood
��tedvaood South 14icDonald Park
Discussion: Historical �evieU� felt they should be handled
as ttvo separate parks, leaving Red�NOOd North as just Redwood,
Par'-� Committee �i es �
January 20 , 1981 �
Page 7
Present Name : H�storical Committee Su��estions :
�edwood Parks Continued :
and naming 1edwood South for TrTcDonald 's , a historical family
who ov�ned the land.
Park Discussion: It was felt that this really was j�st one
�ark area with the road splitting i-� into . Pr�r. Bassett ex-
plained the names came about through two diffprent park
dedications , and because of :�edt�rood Drive they had develop�d
the name . i�Is . Sterling stated that perhaps the park on the
north, and the po�l and racquet club should all be considered
as one complex. ��ir. Bassett pointed out that there really
isn't a racquet club there, that it is the municipal building
f�r alI of Ap�le Valley, the city pool , and two tennis courts .
N1r. ���°iiller felt that the name racquet club should come off, and
�uggested the park be named Redwood 1VTorth, and the hui lding
named ivTcDonald's. �fr. Bassett stated the McDonalds might have
own�d land on the south but not on the north. Several
different thoughts were expressed for naming the building hotvever
no d�cisions were arrived at ; though there was agreement in
naming the park P:�cDonald Park . (See later discussion) .
Scott Highland Park �"�ill Scott Park
Discussion: Historical ''eview favored. C'�ill Scott Park
in hono_r of the thr. ee generations of �tlill Scott 's .
�`��s . �5terli.ng mentioned that ��Ts . Hollenbeck hadn't wanted
ang� memorial parks , or parks that would carry t�o names .
��Rs . Gutenkauf stated she didn't like just Scott Park, and
i��1r. �t�iller stated he vaasn'-t opposed to the two names , but
�,vould agree on Scott Park as well .
Decision: No tiefinite agreement was reached other than
most �eemed to favor �t�ill Scatt Park to other suggestions
made .
Diarnond Path : Mr. Bassett stated that if they should decide
to change the name of this park his suggestion would be Corrigan
Park after the first Town Constable, v,�ho also has historical ro�ts
in the area.
I��I� . Gu�enkauf suggested that a name the park contest be held ,
particularly in view of a f�a�ture park by Scott Highland School ,
and that this could be announced in the spring br.ochure P�Ir. Bassett
had rnentioned coming out in March. She also mentioned City Hall
Park as a possibility for the contest.
Longridge Listed as being worked on by His-
torical Coznmittee .
Discussion: Mr. Bassett statec� historical committee had
several Indian Names under study, hov��ever one for this
park meant hill below the water. He sta`ted the land in
this addition does form a long ridge vahich was carr�ed over
to the plat.
Findlay ��ay Park Findlay Park
Discussion: Historical Committee felt it should be
called Findlay Park.
Park Coinr�ittee I�Zi es
January 20 , 1g81 �
Page 8 �
Discus�ion : The Committee again returned to the discussion
of naming the pool and racque� club and the Redwood North
and �Zed�vood South Parks . 1vlr. T�Iiller questioned if anyone
cansidered naming a park after Orrin Thompson, stating that
one cannot ignore -that name , and it would be remiss to do
so . Fr1s . Sterling reported that T�Ir. Thompson originally donated
the pool and racquet club, and at that time when a house was
purchased they were given one year free membership; later on
it T�ras turned over to the racquet club. ��s . Rodriguez stated
that It�r. Thompson was very civic minded , and should not be
overlo�ked. . �4Tr. Bassett stated they could name Redwood North
Fark as Thompson Park, and RedvTOOd South McDonald Park. Again
the question arose as to v��ha-t to call the pool and racquet club.
Decision : Agreement was reached to consider Thompson Park for
��edv��ood Tdorth, and change �ed�^rood South to ?�cDonald. 's Park.
T'i� . Sterling stated that these were recommendations only, and
they trvould again be taken up at the next meeting, as ���ell as
others n�at discussed that members felt needed ne�n� names. She
�tated there �vvuld be a problem �Nith the park by the Cedar
Park School . i'�Is . Gutenkauf stated this also could be a suggested
park for a contest.
Other Items .
P�Zr. �iassett stated this vaould be Ms. Rodgriguez 's last meeting,
that he �vould like to wish her well ���ith her other endeavors ,
and that she had been a very good rnember and ���ould be missed.
He stated he hoped she would come back and see the group.
�viL . :�todriguez stated she had really enjoyed it, and regretted
havin.g to resign, but that there probably would have been some
conflict of interest. Gor�7�ittee ���embers also expressed their
regret -that she was leaving, and �!�r. T��iller questioned the
possibility that nTs . Rodriguez be named as an ex-oficio member
so she could con�;inue as an advisory member. He suggested
Chairgerson Sterling ask City Council action.
it2r. Bassett reported the route�^ for the park signs would be in
the ;��eek of the 26th, and that there is a building at Farquar Park
ivhich would make a fine shop for making the signs. He added that
�eople from the Redwood North area have tended to cut through the
park area rather than folloz��ing the road and he uras thinking of
putting some posts in as a deterrant.
Fhc�to 's , a.s ��rell as some iree hand drawings of signs were cir-
culated as samples for neTr� park si�;ris .
T�=i0TI0N : by i2iller, seconded by Gutenkauf, that meeting be adjourned.
�°ES - 4-• NO - 0. P��otion carried.
iY�eeting adjourned at 9 :02 p.m.
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