09-13-2004 PRCEM
MINUTES
Parks, Recreation & Community Education Advisory Board
September 13, 2004
Members Present: Bill Arndt, Mike Schiesl, Ralph Johnson and Mike Cannon. Also
present were Mark Schnobrich, and Karen McKay.
The meeting was called to order at 5: 15 pm
A motion made by Mike Cannon and seconded by Bill Arndt approved the minutes dated
August 2, 2004. The motion passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
Summer Projects:
*Rotary Park - The hills in the park area were leveled for the rest room. 100 trees will be
planted Saturday, October 2nd. The Rotary Club funded the tree planting.
*Millers Woods - A grant provided Phase II. of prairie planting. Though the park was
cleared, there are still non-native plants such as Buckthorn present.
*Hwy. 15 South - The trees are planted from Century Avenue to Airport Road.
Northwoods Park - One field will turned to better line up the home plate.
Civic Arena - The City Council approved the $100,000 buyout by Citizens Bank to
shorten the life of the loan for the west arena. The buyout will give Citizens Bank
naming rights. The retirement of the loan will be mean $200,000-$250,000 of revenue to
the arena.
2005 Budget - The Board received a proposed 2005 Budget for the Parks, Recreation and
Community Education Department. Dolf is proposing a budget in 2005 similar to the
2002 budget.
NEW BUSINESS
Pool Issues - On the last day the outdoor pool was to be open, a lifeguard was late for the
6:00 am opening and the pool water was cooler than normal. An individual lap swimmer
wrote a letter of complaint against the lifeguard and the city. The Board reviewed the
letter.
Smoke Free Parks - Quentin Kringle, a resident of Hutchinson, was present and
interested in seeing the parks in Hutchinson smoke free recreation areas. Denise Ertl,
representing McLeod County Public Health was present and in support of the proposal.
Brittany McFaden; representing Tobacco Free Youth Recreation at the state level
presented a slide show and handouts outlining the benefits and policies of other
communities participating in smoke free recreation areas. She told the Board "a tobacco
free environment would protect the health, safety and welfare of the community".
MINUTES
PRCE Advisory Board
September 13,2004
Page Two
The litter created by smoking in parks is also a maintenance problem. There are currently
56 communities in Minnesota that have a smoke free policy or ordinance in place.
Tobacco Free Youth Recreation supplies communities with 100 metal signs that can be
posted in parks. The non-smoking policy or ordinance is generally policed by "peer
enforcement" .
Mike Schiesl told the board that many of the youth organizations already have tobacco
free policies in place. Ralph Johnson told the Board that school properties have been
tobacco free for seven or eight years. Ralph asked Mr Kringle, Ms McFaden and Ms.
Ertl to draft a proposal to be presented to the Board at the October meeting.
Bill Arndt made a motion to take action on the proposal presented by Tobacco Free
Youth Recreation at the October meeting. Ralph Johnson seconded the motion, the
Board unanimously agreed.
October Meeting - Dolfis asking if the Board could meet on Tuesday, October 5th
because of a conflict with Monday. The members present agreed it would work except
for Mike Cannon who had a conflict. Karen will check with the members not present.
BOARD MEMBER ITEMS
The river clean-up is scheduled for Saturday, September 18th.
Ralph Johnson thanked the PRCE Department for the preparation and clean-up in the
Masonic/West River Park for the Relay for Life.
Memorial Trees - Oddfellows Park is designated for memorial trees. The plaques are
flush with the ground for easy mowing. There have been several requests for trees to be
planted in other areas. There is no policy for the city to follow for removal or
replacement of trees in those other areas. It is something that should be considered.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion made by Ralph John and seconded by Mike Cannon adjourned the meeting at
6:45pm. The Board unanimously agreed.
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