City of Nowthen

CITY OF NOWTHEN PARK AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2010 @ 7:30 P.M. (Minutes will be taped for transcribing purposes only)

Present: Laurie Olmon Rose Ann Ames Dan Williams Paul Reighard Chris Bassett

Others: Joe Glaze and Vonnie Blomberg

Meeting was called to order by Councilwoman Olmon @ 7:31 pm

Time was taken to nominate people for the Park and Recreation Chair position; Olmon nominated Paul Reighard, Ames seconded. Williams nominated himself; no seconds. All those voting for Reighard raised their hands; five hands were raised.

Olmon motioned Paul Reighard to be the new Chair. Ames seconded. All in favor; motion carried.

Approve/amend the meeting agenda. Ames made a motioned to approve the meeting agenda. Olmon seconded. All in favor; motion approved.

Approve/amend the Park and Recreation Meeting Minutes from 12/01/2009. Olmon made a motion approve the minutes from 12/01/2009. Ames seconded. All in favor; motion carried.

1). Floor Items Harlan Meyer, Nowthen resident. He inquired about Park and Recreation having a field drag for the softball fields and asking if they would be willing to share that for the ball diamond to use. He wishes to use the drag to drag the ball diamond field. Glaze mentioned that it can be shared and mentioned that it is stored at the City Pavilion. Glaze mentioned that they will move it to the garage tomorrow (April 7, 2010).

2). Removable Pitching Mound Glaze requests to table this.

Olmon made a motion to remove indefinitely the removable pitching mound item from the Park and Recreation agenda. Ames seconded. All in favor; motion carried. City of Nowthen Park and Recreation Committee Meeting April 6, 2010 Page 2

3). Earth Day Celebration Earth Day celebration this year is May 1, 2010. It will coincide with Recycling Day. Earth Day will take place in Nowthen City Park at the Pavilion from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Nowthen Lions will run the concession stand. Several vendors committed already. Park and Recreation has a $300.00 budget for this event. Money has been spent on one item. This includes seedlings from Viking Tree; cost would be between $40.00 and $50.00; approximately 50 seedlings. These seedlings will be given away at the event. There will also be a seed planting event for the kids. Park projects will include planting around the town hall, the memorial area, and the horseshoe pits.

Flyers and 11 x 17 posters are being printed now. Olmon stated that she could use help putting them up in town and it would be much appreciated. She ordered two banners for the day. She stated that they are printed to state the “First Saturday in May” so the banners are reusable. Northwoods Bar and Grill has agreed to use a placement advertising our storm water and sewer protection plan on one side and on the opposite side information regarding the Recycling Day and Earth Day events. They will use them on weekend breakfasts.

4). Relocating the Fishing Pier Williams asked if we had a grant for the fishing pier. Olmon said that there is an ongoing grant available that we could apply for. Williams asked Glaze how much it would cost for us to move the pier ourselves. Williams and Glaze discussed having it moved by the City Maintenance Department. Ames asked why we wanted to move it. Williams, Reighard and Olmon stated that it is not usable where it is located now because of the water table, etc. DNR has already given us the ok to move the pier. The grant would be used to extend the pier not move it. Olmon will look into the grant for extending the pier. In the meantime the plan is to get the pier moved.

Reighard made a motion to move the pier. Olmon seconded. All in favor; motion carried.

5). Park and Trail Plan Olmon stated that the task force has dwindled. She wishes to place this back to the concern of the Park and Recreation Committee. She will give the information from what was gathered at the task force meeting and share with the Park and Recreation Committee. City of Nowthen Park and Recreation Committee Meeting April 6, 2010 Page 3

6). Tree Ordinance Olmon handed out a copy of the “Tree Ordinance” information packet. She obtained this information from the City of Ramsey. The purpose of this ordinance is to enhance the community. It describes what trees are native to this area. The goal is to have a copy of the ordinance on hand at the City of Nowthen. It would describe what trees are indigenous to our area, etc.

Olmon asked that the Park and Recreation Committee forward this on to the Planning and Zoning Committee.

Reighard asked that if this ordinance goes through if it would affect future growth of the community such as in future “housing developments.” Ames had concerns that it would have control on what the homeowner would plant on their own property. Olmon stated that it would not control what a homeowner would plant or do on their property; she stated that it would give suggestions.

Jeff Pilon, Nowthen resident stated that it is a good idea to protect the native tree that we have. Part of the ordinance is to protect what we currently have. The ordinance helps the community to know what best works for this area. It works for advice for homeowners and for bulldozers from developers. Pilon mentioned that it would not become an ordinance until it went to a public hearing.

Olmon would like this committee to recommend this agenda item to the Building and Zoning Committee. Olmon stated that the biggest benefit for our city from this ordinance would be for future construction of new developments.

Olmon made a motion to forward this agenda item to the Building and Zoning Committee. Bassett seconded. All in favor; motion carried.

7). 2010 Goals Williams talked to Bill (Park and Rec Committee person) in Elk River regarding grant writing to request grant money to match our money. Some grants match 75%. Williams stated that we might want to make a list of things that we would want to get grants for.

Olmon stated that there is interest in our community to work with the Elk River YMCA to get programs here in Nowthen to do community education classes.

Joe stated that one grant could be for the fishing pier. City of Nowthen Park and Recreation Committee Meeting April 6, 2010 Page 4

Reinhardt asked what the easiest way to search for grants. Olmon stated that there are web sites; Minnesota has a grant web site for the State of Minnesota. It tells of grants available and the closing dates for those grants.

Olmon stated that we have three school districts in our community and would like to have activities for the community.

Williams feels that one of the goals is to look into having our own budget for the Park and Recreation Committee, not having a board. Olmon stated that she feels that we are not big enough for this yet.

Reighard brought up adopting an honor pay system at the Twin Lakes Park to raise money for the park; Olmon agreed. Joe brought up the idea of selling ice cream and other snacks at the concession stand to raise money for the park; Olmon agreed.

Olmon feels that we should be marketing our parks and soccer field. Reighard asked about the City of Nowthen website because there is not enough information regarding the parks on it. Reighard feels that with one of our goals being community education one way to do that is via the community website. Olmon feels that we need to get a better trail map for the Twin Lakes Park.

Williams stated that there has been a problem with boats going over the ropes and requesting an area to the East side of the beach for boats. Glaze stated that already this year a boat crossed the rope and cut it. Glaze states that the rope has been out only for 1 ½ weeks and it is already cut. Olmon would like to address putting no wake buoys on the swimming beach farther out. Olmon states that there is a grant we could apply for.

8). Statement of Values/Code of Conduct Olmon had a handout regarding Statement of Values and Code of Conduct. League of Minnesota Cities might come out and talk about this. Olmon is tabling this for now.

Reighard made a motion that we table Statement of Values/Code of Conduct. Ames seconded. All in favor; motion carried.

9). Advertising in the Parks Olmon brought up going to local area businesses for advertisement on 2 x 4 signs around the back of the baseball field and soccer field. Ames asked who would pay. Olmon said we could look at other cities on how they do it; but the businesses would pay for the signs and pay for advertisement. City of Nowthen Park and Recreation Committee Meeting April 6, 2010 Page 5

Harlan Meyers stated that in the past he had a sign on the Nowthen ball field. It was a 4 x 8 foot plywood sign. He paid $250.00 for the sign to be out for a year and an additional cost for creating the sign. An art shop in Otsego created the sign; $175.00 paid for the sign and then the additional cost for advertising. He paid approximately $400.00 for the creation of the sign and for advertising it for the year. Each year the space was renewed for a fee of $250.00.

Olmon asked if anyone in the committee would like to look into what other cities do for advertisement. Williams suggested that everyone go to different cities and everyone bring their information back to the committee to review.

Olmon made a motion to pursue advertisement on the field to pursue cost and services on advertising within the Twin Lakes Park and Nowthen Park. Reighard seconds.

DISCUSSION: Ames asked what parks this would cover; reminding us that we do not have jurisdiction over the Nowthen City Park. Olmon stated it would cover the Nowthen City Park and Twin Lakes Park; also stating that it does have to go to the board for approval.

Meyers added that if we opted to do this we would have to designate someone to sell the space.

All in favor; motion carried.

Williams made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:32 p.m. Olmon seconded. All in favor; motion carried.

Respectively submitted by:

Vonnie Blomberg Park and Recreation Recording Secretary