02-07-2005 PRCEM
MINUTES
Parks, Recreation & Community Education Advisory Board
February 7, 2005
Members present were: Ralph Johnson, Mike Cannon and Lenore Flinn. Also present were Dolf
Moon, Lawrence Winter, Mark Schnobrich, Sara Witte and Karen McKay.
The meeting was called to order at 5: 15 pm.
A motion made by Ralph Johnson and seconded by Mike Cannon approved the minutes dated
December 6,2004. The board unanimously agreed.
OLD BUSINESS
150th Celebration - The kick off was well received. Approximately 1,700 to 1,800 people walked
through the history of Hutchinson display at the Event Center. Summer activities are being planned
with an emphasis on family friendly and affordable.
2005 Budget - The 2005 PRCE Budget will be reviewed at the next monthly meeting scheduled for
March ih.
NEW BUSINESS
Introductions - Sara Witte was introduced to the board as the Natural Resource Coordinator. She
worked part-time in the Parks Division and part-time at Creekside compost facility prior to 2003
and is now full-time in the Parks Division. Some of her responsibilities in 2004 included pruning,
transplanting and re-mulching at the school properties, and organizing the Rolling Meadows
neighborhood residents for a planting project. She also worked on the prairie planting along the
Second Avenue extension.
F orestrv Presentation - Mark Schnobrich, the City Forester, presented a slide show of proj ects from
2004 including:
Boulevard plantings in large developments. Developers are now required to escrow money
for boulevard tree plantings.
The Highway 15 South planting was completed. By a ratio of3 to 1, more trees were
planted in 2004 than were removed due to disease and damage.
Volunteer groups from Sentence To Serve, the Boy Scouts and the High School Ecology
class worked in Miller Woods eradicating foreign plant material from the Oak savannah.
Mark had a controlled burn at the Middle School near the water retention pond to promote
new growth.
When the Highway 7 project begins, there will be some boulevard trees lost due to the widening of
the highway. MNDOT generally will allocate money for landscaping on projects such as this. Dolf
told the board that the city is responsible for the maintenance of water retention ponds and that
PRCE staff will be involved in the planning process.
Minutes
PRCE Advisory Board
February 7, 2005
Page two
Parks Presentation - Lawrence Winter, Park Resource Coordinator, summarized park projects from
2004 including the installation of a shelter and restroom in Rotary Park.
Community development long-range and short-range planning includes seeking sources for funding
development, such as grants and donations from service groups and individuals, and to continue to
utilize volunteers groups.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 pm by a motion made by Lenore Flinn and seconded by Ralph
Johnson. The board unanimously agreed.
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