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Home My WebLink About01-24-2013 Agenda and Packet PARKS AND RECREATION AND FORESTRY COMMISSION 6:30 P.M. | JANUARY 24, 2013 | MOUNDS VIEW CITY HALL MEETING AGENDA 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL: Commissioners: Kunz, Palm, Kroeger, Aukee, Peterson, Arel, Long, Katovich Staff: Dazenski, DeBar | YMCA: Danielson 3. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS A. Oath of Office for Commission Members (Kroeger, Peterson, Katovich) 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. December 20, 2012 Meeting Minutes 6. PUBLIC INPUT Citizens may speak to issues not on tonight’s agenda. Before speaking, please give your full name and address. Please limit your comments to three minutes. 7. STAFF REPORTS A. YMCA B. Public Works 8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None 9. NEW BUSINESS A. Assign Commission Representative for 2013 YMCA Advisory Group Meetings B. Recommend Funding Request for Bethlehem Baptist Church Donations C. Review 2013 Park Improvement and Maintenance Projects D. Discuss Agenda for Joint Meeting with City Council 10. COMMISSIONER REPORTS 11. REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS / OTHER BUSINESS A. Next Regular Commission Meeting: Feb. 28, 2013 1. Discuss City Forestry Position 2. Review Presentation for Joint Meeting with City Council 3. 4. 5. 12. ADJOURNMENT 1/1 M E M O R A N D U M TO: PARKS AND RECREATION AND FORESTRY COMMISSION FROM: NICK DEBAR | PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR DATE: JANUARY 24, 2013 RE: OATH OF OFFICE The City Council approved the recommendation of the Commission by appointing John Kroeger and Darren Peterson each to another three year term at their December 10, 2012 meeting. The Council also agreed with the Commission recommendation to expand the Commission membership from seven to nine and appointed Steven Katovich as its newest member – welcome Steve! Dale Aukee was appointed to chairperson. Below is the current status of terms and appointments: Commissioner Term Expires 2013 Officers Jerry Kunz 12-31-2013 Cindy Palm 12-31-2013 Secretary Gerald Arel 12-31-2014 Dale Aukee 12-31-2014 Chairperson** Dave Long 12-31-2014 John Kroeger** 12-31-2015* Darren Peterson** 12-31-2015* Vice-chair Steven Katovich** 12-31-2015* *new 3-year term **Council appointment ITEM NO. 3A PARKS AND RECREATION AND FORESTRY COMMISSION Background and Purpose: The Parks and Recreation and Forestry Commission was established by the Mounds View City Council in 1988 for the purpose of advising the Council on the operation of public recreation, parks, and playgrounds (MV Chapter 405). The Commission consists of seven (7) members appointed by the City Council (based on the recommendation of the Commission) from applications submitted by interested Mounds View citizens. Terms and Vacancies: Appointed members of the Commission will serve three (3) year staggered terms with terms expiring December 31 of each year. Appointments to a term of less than three (3) years are permissible in order to establish appropriate staggering of member terms. Both original and successive appointees shall hold their offices until their successors are appointed and qualified. Any vacancies during the term shall be filled by the Mayor with the approval of the majority of the Council for the unexpired portion of the term. Commission members serve without compensation take an oath of office. Organization: Commission officers include a Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary. The City Council appoints a chairperson based upon the recommendation of the Commission. The Commission selects a Vice Chairman from its membership for a term of one year. The Secretary may be selected from the Commission membership or from City staff. The Director of Public Works/City Engineer and Parks Supervisor are City staff liaisons to the Commission. Meeting Dates and Frequency: The Commission regularly meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm in the Council Chambers at the Mounds View City Hall. The meeting dates may be changed or tweaked as needed by the Commission (due to holidays, etc.), but the Commission is required to conduct at least twelve (12) regular meetings each calendar year. The Commission may occasionally have joint meetings with the City Council and/or the Planning and Zoning Commission on an as-needed basis. A quorum, or the majority of appointed members, is required for the Commission to meet. The City Council could remove an appointed Commission member who fails to attend at least nine (9) regularly scheduled Commission meetings per year. All Commission meetings are recorded and televised on local cable television. Primary Duties of the Commission: 1. Operation of City Parks and Playgrounds: Under the direction of the City Council, advise City staff to operate a program of public recreation and playgrounds upon City-owned property or other property made available to the City for such public recreation purpose. 2. Lease and Acquisition of Property: Recommend to the City Council the leasing or acquisition of land or personal property for public recreational use as the Commission deems desirable. 3. Maintenance and Care of Public Recreation Property: Maintain and care for all property that the Commission has acquired and which has been assigned to the Commission for public recreation purposes. 4. Inventories of Services: Make periodic inventories of recreation and park services that exist or may be needed, and interpret the needs of the public to the City Council. 5. Cooperation with Other Agencies: Cooperate with other park and recreation departments, schools, and private agencies for establishment of a joint powers agreement to provide parks and recreation services to the City residents. 6. Policies and Functions of Department: Interpret the policies and functions of the Park and Recreation Department to the public. PARKS AND RECREATION AND FORESTRY COMMISSION PAGE 2 7. Capital Improvement Plans and Budgets: Advise the City Council and City Administrator in the preparation of the annual budget and long-range capital improvement programs. 8. Rules and Regulations: Formulate and prescribe reasonable rules and regulations for the use of the general public of any facilities in any park area. 9. Construction of Improvements: Advise the Council on maintaining and constructing roadways, paths, buildings, fountains, docks, boat houses, bath houses, refreshment booths, community center, pavilions and other necessary structures and improvements in parks. 10. Communication: Communicate regularly with the City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission through joint meetings and meeting minutes. 11. Athletic Awareness: Be aware of the role and services provided by athletic organizations within the community. 12. Sanitation and Reforestation Programs: Advise the City Council regarding sanitation and reforestation programs within the City. 13. Other Duties: Do whatever other acts are reasonable, necessary, and proper to carry out its prescribed powers and functions as set forth. Budget and Finances: 1. Annual Presentation of Proposed Budget: The Commission, through the City Parks and Recreation Division staff, should present, no later than August 1 of each year, a proposed budget, in such details as the Council shall require, of the financial needs for the ensuing fiscal year to operate and maintain the parks and open spaces, as well as provide recreation programs. 2. Fees and Charges: The Commission shall advise the Council to establish charges or fees for the restricted use of any facilities or to make any phase of the recreation program wholly or partially self-sustaining. 3. Rules and Regulations: The Council may establish such rules and regulations for the administration of the Parks and Recreation and Forestry Commission as it may deem necessary and may delegate such rule-making authority to the Commission, and the Commission shall have power to make such rules and regulations pursuant to delegated authority as it deems necessary for the purpose of performing its duties. PARKS AND RECREATION AND FORESTRY COMMISSION 6:30 P.M. | DECEMBER 20, 2012 | MOUNDS VIEW CITY HALL MEETING MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER at 6:31 PM 2. ROLL CALL: Commissioners: Kunz, Palm, Kroeger, Peterson, Arel, Long Staff: Dazenski, DeBar | YMCA: Danielson 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Motion to approve by Kroeger, 2nd by Palm. Motion Passed 6-0 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. November 15, 2012 Meeting Minutes: Motion to approve by Long, 2nd by Kunz. Motion Passed 6-0 5. PUBLIC INPUT Citizens may speak to issues not on tonight’s agenda. Before speaking, please give your full name and address. Please limit your comments to three minutes. No residents present. 6. STAFF REPORTS A. YMCA: 76 people signed up for January programs. Dance recital Friday night 12/21/12. Teen Leaders Club program expansion being considered and worked on with the MV school district. More updates in January. Working on becoming a Silver Sneakers program site with funding from Medicare/Medicaid. Program provides funding for senior exercise and senior programming with requirements each week and month as well as community events throughout the year. Cookies with Santa had 300+ people attend. Christmas concert for seniors by Schmitt Music. Purchased new speakers for Event Center with BBC monies. North Suburban Concert Band has been contacting MVCC about setting a date. Considering other youth bands. Looking for contacts. YMCA hired new COO: Todd Tidbitts. Boys’ Gymnastic Regional Meet January 4-6 at MVCC. Open to the public. B. Public Works: Skating buildings are ready and ice is getting there, depending upon the weather. Plan to open rinks Wed 12/26. Removed MVCC water fountain to prevent hardwood floor damage. Replacing the floor and looking to finish in January. Maintenance being done on mowers and field equipment including nets. 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None 8. NEW BUSINESS A. Discuss Commission Goals for 2013: Verified the proposed items listed as “Infrastructure Projects” from DeBar are on the PIP. Current list includes Silverview playground, Silverview trailway reconstruction, Hillview hockey rink, Hillview building reroofing, and Greenfield parking lot reconstruction. Difficult to prioritize without knowing current budget and opportunities from Special Projects budget. 1. Consider resurfacing tennis courts and basketball court at Greenfield when the parking lot is redone. 2. Add park lighting improvements 3. Planning, Programming, Policies suggestions from DeBar include City Forester position, Trailway Master Plan, Park Focus at Silverview, Codify revisions to parks-related Municipal Code chapters, and update park information for CTV15 and new park facility use guides. B. Discuss/Approve 2013 Meeting Schedule: Motion by Palm to approve meeting scheduled dates as proposed, 2nd by Arel. Option to dismiss December meeting if Commission chooses in November that it is not necessary to meet. Motion Passed 6-0. 9. COMMISSIONER REPORTS A. Discuss Greenfield Parking Lot proposal: Concern for tree in NE corner that seems to be very close to the lot’s edge. Increases number of spaces from 23 to 44. Removes concrete islands. Includes 2 handicapped stalls instead of one. Suggests changing trail to concrete from tennis courts to Hillview Road. Cost estimates will be provided in January. B. City Council agreed to increase the Commissioner seats to up to 9 members and appointed Steve Katovich as the newest Commission member, beginning January 2013. Still have an opening for a ninth member if anyone is interested. Welcome, Steve! 10. REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS / OTHER BUSINESS A. Next Regular Commission Meeting: Jan. 24, 2013 1. Oath of Office for New Commission Terms 2. Assign Commission Representative for 2012 YMCA Advisory Group Meetings 3. Recommend Funding Request for Bethlehem Baptist Church Donations 4. Discuss City Forestry Position 5. Review 2013 Park Improvement and Maintenance Projects 6. Discuss Agenda for Joint Meeting with City Council 11. ADJOURNMENT: Motion to adjourn at 7:27 PM by Long, 2nd by Kunz. Motion Passed 6-0. Mounds View Community Center / YMCA Program Update 1. Programs: 1. Winter Programs: 274 people in programing this winter, on track with last year’s number. In general Tuesday and Thursday nights are very busy, couple nights we are running every room is full with scout meetings, classes, events. 2. 2012 Highlights a. Summer Parks increase 50% and added care and b. AOA / Driver Safety classes 37% increase from last year. c. 216 wedding or large events d. 179 learned to swim e. League participation increase 36% served 300 youth 2. Community Events 1. Gymnastics Meet – Great success, we had upwards of 1,500 people in the building over the weekend. They are looking to us to host the State meet. 2. Basketball Games – We have been hosting a Basketball game or two a week. Great gym usage, lots of traffic through the building Building Happenings: Dec Adults Medtronic Youth Total Gym 174 26 Gym 222 396 Fitness Center 15 Fitness 0 15 Lobby 10 Lobby 97 107 Playland 0 Playland 5 10 Jan Adults Youth Total Gym 135 27 Gym 150 312 Fitness Center 25 Fitness 0 25 Lobby 25 Lobby 73 98 Playland 0 Playland 6 6 Event Center Jan-12 Jan-13 Full 3 5 67% Partial 25 27 8% Feb-12 Feb-13 Full 3 4 33% Partial 29 21 -28% a. Event Center a. Booked all Saturday’s April through August so far and many Friday’s b. Survey sent out – good response so far Other Business a. Coach of the Year i. 3 responses thus far b. Music in the Park – Bands i. Triosemusic 1. Guitar/Pop/Folk ii. Dirty Shorts 1. Jazz Band iii. Teddy Bear Band 1. Great Crowd iv. The Tyrel and Aaron Show 1. Live Country Music 2013 MEETING SCHEDULE PARKS & REC. & FORESTRY COMMISSION LEGEND: REGULAR MEETING OTHER CITY EVENT CITY OFFICES CLOSED Su M Tu W Th F Sa Su M Tu W Th F Sa Su M Tu W Th F Sa Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 27 28 29 30 31 24 25 26 27 28 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 30 31 • Oaths of Office *4-joint meeting with Council?29-Town Hall Meeting • Assign YMCA Adv. Rep.• Rev. CC WS presentation • Rec'd Coach of the Year • Disc. annual parks tour • Rec'd. BBC fund requests • Disc. Sidewalk/Trail System • Rec. HVP Hockey Rink Imp.• Disc. SVP Playground Imp. • Disc. City Forestry position • Rev. 2013 Park Projects • 2012 Annual Report*• Quarterly Report* • Disc. joint Council mtg. agenda Su M Tu W Th F Sa Su M Tu W Th F Sa Su M Tu W Th F Sa Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 28 29 30 31 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 30 • Annual Parks Tour 17-Festival in the Park • Rev./Disc. PIP • Rev./Discuss 2014 Budgets • Rec'd. BBC fund requests • Rec. SVP Playground Imp. • Quarterly Report* Su M Tu W Th F Sa Su M Tu W Th F Sa Su M Tu W Th F Sa Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 27 28 29 30 31 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 29 30 31 *1 week early due to holiday *1 week early due to holiday • Rev. Fee Schedule or potential meeting cancel? • Rec'd Applicants/Officers/Reps. • Quarterly Report* *Quarterly/Annual Reports include PRF activities & fund/expenditure status Rev.=Review Disc.=Discuss Rec'd=Recommend Jan. 2, 2013 September '13 October '13 November '13 December '13 January '13 February '13 March '13 April '13 May '13 June '13 July '13 August '13 The Making of Central Park This article is part one of a two-part series on New York City’s Central Park. The second part, which will discuss the park’s bridges, will be published in the February issue. A MODEL FOR urban parks worldwide, New York City’s Central Park is widely admired for its land- scape architecture. It also deserves recognition, however, as an achievement of civil engineering. Rarely has a state government shown such foresight as did the New York legislature when in 1853 it passed the Central Park Act, set- ting aside a large, rectangular tract of land in the middle of Manhattan for public use. Many city residents favored the idea, thanks in part to the outspoken ad- vocacy of William Cullen Bryant, a poet and newspaperman, and Andrew Jack- son Downing, who, much like Freder- ick Law Olmsted, the founder of Ameri- can landscape architecture, believed that open spaces had a civilizing effect and wanted to achieve that in New York City. Yet three more years would pass before the legal hurdles were cleared and the city appointed two commissioners to lead the project. One of the commissioners’ ﬁrst acts was to hire Egbert L. Viele as the chief engineer. Viele, a graduate of West Point, was so eager to lead the project that he had begun surveying the site, without com- pensation, three years earlier. As the chief engineer, he en- listed four teams of surveyors to help complete the job. The survey divided the park into 50 by 50 ft plots, depicting its topography in minute detail. Viele also created geological proﬁles, a drainage scheme, and a plan for the layout of the park that featured a network of meandering pathways sur- rounding a central parade ground. Viele’s topographical study proved invaluable, but in June 1857 a new, 11-member board of commissioners rejected his landscape plan, which was deemed unimaginative. The new board opted to solicit design proposals in an open competition. Viele retained his [40 ] Civil Engineering JANUARY 2013 L I B R A RY O F C O N G R E S S , B OT H History Lesson A print by George Schlegel depicts the southern third of Central Park and its urban setting in the late 19th century. In the years to come, skyscrapers would rise on every side, further emphasizing the contrast be- tween the park and the surrounding city. position as the chief engineer for a time but soon had a new superior: the park’s ﬁrst superintendent, Olmsted. The design competition attract- ed 33 entries, 12 of which came from park employees, including the engi- neers John Rink, Roswell Graves, Jr., and George E. Waring, Jr. The persis- tent Viele also resubmitted his plan. The proposals reﬂected a variety of competing visions for the park. Some imagined a pastoral setting, while others emphasized fountains, build- ings, and formal gardens. Still others saw the park as a cultural destination and wanted to ﬁll the landscape with zoos, museums, and other attractions. On April 28, 1858, the commission- ers awarded ﬁrst prize to a naturalis- tic entry jointly submitted by Olm- sted and the English architect Calvert Vaux. Their proposal, the Greensward Plan, has since been recognized as a masterpiece of landscape architecture. The Greensward Plan distinguished itself largely because it was conceived as a coherent work of art—a whole that amounted to more than the sum of its parts. Olmsted and Vaux, strongly inﬂuenced by the aesthetic views of Andrew Jackson Downing, envisioned a scenic landscape more sug- gestive of the English countryside than a formal garden. Their Central Park would be less an extension of the city than an escape from it. Inside the park, in fact, the buildings and bustle of the city would virtually disappear from view, at least until the rise of modern skyscrapers, which Olmsted and Vaux could not have foreseen. A few competing proposals offered a similar vision, but the Greensward Plan held an advantage in its innovative approach to transportation. All entries in the design competition were required to provide for the ﬂow of crosstown trafﬁc. Olmsted and Vaux knew, however, that ordinary roads across the park would destroy the continuity of the scenic landscape. They solved the problem by placing their four transverse roads some 8 ft below grade. In this way, trafﬁc between the eastern and western sides of the park would remain unimpeded and be largely invisible to park users, who would pass over the roads on inconspicuous land bridges. In a way, Olmsted and Vaux’s sunken crosstown corridors presaged the city’s subway system. The board of commissioners embraced the concept of below- grade transverse roads, but some of its members were unhappy with other aspects of the plan. Two commissioners in particular, Robert Dillon and August Belmont, insisted that the design- ers add several miles of bridle paths and fully separate the car- riage roads, bridle paths, and pedestrian paths from one another. Olm sted and Vaux complied without sacriﬁcing the park’s sce- nic vistas by including numerous bridges to carry the roads and walkways over one another. The separation of the various types of paths, although not an original element of the Greensward Plan, became one of the park’s most celebrated features. The plan may have been naturalistic, but the process of implementing it would be anything but natural. Olmsted JANUARY 2013 Civil Engineering [41 ] The Greensward Plan distinguished itself largely because it was conceived as a coherent work of art—a whole that amounted to more than the sum of its parts. Olmsted and Vaux, strongly inﬂuenced by the aesthetic views of Andrew Jackson Downing, envisioned a scenic landscape more suggestive of the English countryside than a formal garden. Frederick Law Olmsted codesigned and administered the plan that made Central Park the jewel of Manhattan. and Vaux were imposing an idealized landscape of gentle slopes and sweeping vistas on a rugged, 778-acre site charac- terized by bogs, ridges, plateaus, and rocky outcrops. In fact, the tract ranged from 11.5 ft to 134 ft in elevation. The designers attempted to follow the contours of the land in a general way, but extensive earth- moving, blasting, draining, grading, and planting would be required. Executing the work was a group of engineers who represented a rising professional class. In their book The Park and the People: A History of Cen- tral Park (Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 1998), Roy Rosen- zweig and Elizabeth Balckmar de- scribe the engineers’ role: Central Park’s engineering ‘corps,’ as its members called themselves, primarily determined how the building of the park would be organized and managed. As salaried employees, engineers occupied a position mid- way between a new class of corporate employers...and independent contrac- tors.... [They] brought to the park a professional ideology that linked ex- pertise to efﬁciency and, like Olmsted, they valued discipline and ‘duty.’ The engineers who oversaw the creation of Central Park were typical- ly young men from outside the city who had one or two years of secondary or postsecondary edu- cation as well as some practical experience working on canals or railroads. William H. Grant, who succeeded Viele as the chief engineer, had spent nine years as an assistant engi- neer on an Erie Canal enlargement project. Other notable Central Park engineers included J.H. Pieper, who designed the transverse roads; Montgomery Kellogg, who later became the chief engineer of the New York De- partment of Public Parks; and Addi- son Crittendon Rand, who pioneered the development of rock drills and air compressors for use in excavation. Of particular importance in the early years of the park’s development was George E. Waring, Jr., who at the age of 24 was appointed the project’s drainage engineer. He designed and oversaw the installation of an extensive drainage system consisting of clay pipes and tiles buried approximately 4 ft below the sur- face and 40 ft apart. In addition to improving the condition of the ground, the sys- tem transformed a former bog into the large lake that ﬁgured so prominently in the landscape design. The lake was among the ﬁrst of the park’s amenities to be enjoyed by the public, attracting ice-skaters as early as December 1858, even before it was completed. Other early priorities were the de- sign and construction of the transverse [42 ] Civil Engineering JANUARY 2013 W I K I M E D I A C O M M O N S , TO P ; L I B R A RY O F C O N G R E S S , B OT TO M A N D O P P O S I T E Although Olmsted is better known today, architect Calvert Vaux was an equal partner in the creation of the Greensward Plan. One of the hallmarks of that plan was that it separated carriage roads, bri- dle paths, and pedestrian paths so that all could enjoy the park’s scenic vistas at their own pace. Creating the idyllic landscape illustrated in this print by Currier & Ives required extensive earth- moving, blasting, draining, grading, and planting. roads. The sunken corridors were a novel concept in American roadway design, and some observers predict- ed problems with erosion and ﬂood- ing. Undeterred, Grant and Pieper devised practical techniques for build- ing roads that would endure. Work- ers laid a foundation of rectangular stones at a depth of 7 to 8 in., and this was followed by a 5 in. intermediate layer of smaller stones. On top, pav- ing teams placed a 1.5 in. layer of ﬁne gravel mixed with sand and loam. Fi- nally, they used a horse-drawn cyl- inder weighing 6.5 tons to roll and compact the gravel. The roads were typically 40 ft wide, including 6.5 ft wide sidewalks on each side. Gutters were installed along the curbs to cap- ture storm water. The construction of the park went smoothly, but costs quickly exceeded the original estimates. By the sum- mer of 1860, accusations of misman- agement had prompted the state sen- ate to launch an investigation. The investigating committee interviewed more than 50 witnesses, some of whom reported errors, inefﬁciencies, and political patronage. An indepen- dent assessment by the Swiss engineer Julius Kellersberger, however, seems to have carried the most weight. Noting the high quality of the park’s workmanship, Kellersberger proclaimed the project a suc- cess. In its concluding report, the commit- tee agreed, and the board of commissioners was exonerated. Nevertheless, in June 1861 the board relieved Olmsted of most of his administrative duties and handed them to Andrew H. Green, a commissioner who paid close attention to every expense. When Green took over, the construc- tion effort was already past its peak. By the end of 1863, most of the park was open for walks, carriage drives, and other activities. Some 240,000 trees and shrubs had been planted, and laborers were building a low stone wall along the perimeter. The next task was to incorporate the rugged land between 106th and 110th streets that had been added to the northern end of the park, increasing its total area to 843 acres. Famous for its natural beauty and its contribution to New Yorkers’ quality of life, Central Park stands as an achievement of both landscape architecture and civil engineering. —JEFF L. BROWN Jeff L. Brown is a contributing editor to Civil Engineering. JANUARY 2013 Civil Engineering [43 ] Brown Despite their aesthetic preference for naturalism, Olmsted and Vaux believed a grand, tree-lined promenade was essential to a major metropolitan park. The Mall, pictured here at the beginning of the 20th century, stands in contrast to the narrower, less formal pathways that wind through much of the park. Egbert L. Viele, Central Park’s ﬁrst chief engineer, executed a detailed topographi- cal survey of the site. He went on to serve as an ofﬁcer in the Union army and a U.S. representative from the state of New York. PARKS AND RECREATION AND FORESTRY COMMISSION 6:30 P.M. I JANUARY 24,20131 MOUNDS VIEW CITY HALL MCTUM AGENDA GED', 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL: Commissioners: Kunz, Palm, Kroeger, Aukee, Peterson, Arel, Long, Katovich Staff: Dazenski, DeBar I YMCA: Danielson A. Oath of Office for Commission Members (Kroeger, Peterson, Katovich) t* - •= -,TeT4i7 it Y1l9» Z91f/11 RE601111111INII I A. December 20, 2012 Meeting Minutes 6. PUBLIC INPUT Citizens may speak to issues not on tonight's agenda. Before speaking, please give your full name and address. Please limit your comments to three minutes. 7. STAFF REPORTS A. YMCA B. Public Works E. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None 9. NEW BUSINESS A. Assign Commission Representative for 2013 YMCA Advisory Group Meetings B. Recommend Funding Request for Bethlehem Baptist Church Donations C. Review 2013 Park Improvement and Maintenance Projects D. Discuss Agenda for Joint Meeting with City Council 10. COMMISSIONER REPORTS 11. REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS / OTHER BUSINESS A. Next Regular Commission Meeting: Feb. 20, 2013 1. Discuss City Forestry Position 2. Review Presentation for Joint Meeting with City Council 3. 4. 5. 12. ADJOURNMENT MEMORANDUM ITEM NO. 3A TO: PARKS AND RECREATION AND FORESTRY COMMISSION FROM: NICK DEBAR I PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MODWOMW DATE: JANUARY 24, 2013 RE: OATH OF OFFICE The City Council approved the recommendation of the Commission by appointing John Kroeger and Darren Peterson each to another three year term at their December 10, 2012 meeting: The Council also agreed with the Commission recommendation to expand the Commission membership from seven to nine and appointed Steven Katovich as its newest member — welcome Steve! Dale Aukee was appointed to chairperson. Below is the current status of terms and appointments: Commissioner Term Expires Jerry Kunz 12-31-2013 Cindy Palm 12-31-2013 Gerald Are] 12-31-2014 Dale Aukee 12-31-2014 Dave Long 12-31-2014 John Kroeger** 12-31-2015 Darren Peterson' 12-31-2015 Steven Katovich== 12-31-2015` 1/1 2013 Officers Secretary Chairperson* Vice -chair *new 3 -year term "`Council appointment PARKS \. S t D RECREATION AND i ORLvSi ! iY7 Mo COMMISSION W Background and Purpose: The Parks and Recreation and Forestry Commission was established by the Mounds View City Council in 1988 for the purpose of advising the Council on the operation of public recreation, parks, and playgrounds (MV Chapter 405). The Commission consists of seven (7) members appointed by the City Council (based on the recommendation of the Commission) from applications submitted by interested Mounds View citizens. Terms and Vacancies. Appointed members of the Commission will serve three (3) year staggered terms with terms expiring December 31 of each year. Appointments to a term of less than three (3) years are permissible in order to establish appropriate staggering of member terms. Both original and successive appointees shall hold their offices until their successors are appointed and qualified. Any vacancies during the term shall be filled by the Mayor with the approval of the majority of the Council for the unexpired portion of the term. Commission members serve without compensation take an oath of office. Organization: Commission officers include a Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary. The City Council appoints a chairperson based upon the recommendation of the Commission. The Commission selects a Vice Chairman from its membership for a term of one year. The Secretary may be selected from the Commission membership or from City staff. The Director of Public Works/City Engineer and Parks Supervisor are City staff liaisons to the Commission. Meeting Dates and Frequency: The Commission regularly meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm in the Council Chambers at the Mounds View City Hall. The meeting dates may be changed or tweaked as needed by the Commission (due to holidays, etc.), but the Commission is required to conduct at least twelve (12) regular meetings each calendar year. The Commission may occasionally have joint meetings with the City Council and/or the Planning and Zoning Commission on an as -needed basis. A quorum, or the majority of appointed members, is required for the Commission to meet. The City Council could remove an appointed Commission member who fails to attend at least nine (9) regularly scheduled Commission meetings per year. All Commission meetings are recorded and televised on local cable television. Primary Duties of the Commission: 1. Operation of City Parks and Playgrounds: Under the direction of the City Council, advise City staff to operate a program of public recreation and playgrounds upon City -owned property or other property made available to the City for such public recreation purpose. 2. Lease and Acquisition of Property: Recommend to the City Council the leasing or acquisition of land or personal property for public recreational use as the Commission deems desirable. 3. Maintenance and Care of Public Recreation Property: Maintain and care for all property that the Commission has acquired and which has been assigned to the Commission for public recreation purposes. 4. Inventories of Services: Make periodic inventories of recreation and park services that exist or may be needed, and interpret the needs of the public to the City Council. 5. Cooperation with Other Agencies: Cooperate with other park and recreation departments, schools, and private agencies for establishment of a joint powers agreement to provide parks and recreation services to the City residents. 6. Policies and Functions of Department: interpret the policies and functions of the Park and Recreation Department to the public.