HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2025/11/20
PARKS AND RECREATION AND FORESTRY COMMISSION
6:30 P.M. | NOVEMBER 20TH, 2025, | MOUNDS VIEW CITY HALL
MEETING MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER at 6:30 PM
2. ROLL CALL: Commissioners: Arel, Bankston, Bosneag II, Lundberg*, Palm, Mills, *Wake Wiesner
Staff: Peterson* | Szurek | Thomas
*To be absent
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Motion to approve by Palm, 2nd by Bankston Motion Passed 4-0
4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM October 29th, 2025, meeting: A couple of minor edits
were provided by Bankston regarding Motion to approve by Bosneag II, 2nd by Bankston
Motion Passed 4-0
5. PUBLIC INPUT
Citizens may speak about 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. Parks and Recreation – Thomas: See attached report. Mills present 6:33 PM
B. Public Works – Szurek: See attached report. Hillview Little Free Library has not been installed,
City Staff has not heard from the Girl Scout group.
C. Move to 8A: Forestry Annual Update — Brad Hold, City Tree Inspector. SEE BELOW
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Parks rules sign review- Szurek: Suggestion to remove the Code numbers because if they
change, the signs have to change, especially the MN State Statute. No QR Code because of
fraud possibilities. There are some grammatical and legal terminology wording that needs to be
corrected. Mills will send suggestions to City Staff. Prefer 3x3 foot signage.
B. Cricket field use review- Guest Speaker & Thomas: MN Tibetan Cricket Foundation and MN
Tibetan Cricket Alliance are present to discuss options of what we could do with the fields for
help with wear-and-tear from the “bowler” (pitcher). Tenzin Lhamo and Kunga Nyima from the
Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota spoke with a request to provide a cricket pitch. 133’
x 11’ dimensions preferred, but could use 66’ x 11’ then 65’ radius for the field. Can you play on
other turf fields? Tournament teams are coming here from Canada, Chicago, and Madison.
They like the two fields at Silverview for tournaments. They purchased a pitch mat to protect
the fields, but it wasn’t the full length, so damage is happening to the turf and it wasn’t safe for
the bowlers to bowl on the pitch. They have a storage facility at Spring Lake Park to store it, but
it is heavy and difficult to move. Pitch would be concrete on the base and turf over. On a
softball field, there is a transition field change between aglime and outfield. If we add in a turf
field for cricket, does that add another set of transitions for players to navigate for safety. There
is extra garbage and cleanup on tournament weekends and even on “off” weekends, there has
been garbage and additional wear-and-tear. They have been paying between $500-$1300 for
the weekend. How does having a pitch affect other sports that use the fields? Where
does this fit into the Park Master Plan? How much does this concrete and turf cost?
How would that impact the irrigation system? If a temporary pitch is required or allowed,
where would things be stored and at whose cost and set up/take down? Would
Edgewood be an option? Can we get feedback from other communities regarding their
experience with the shared use? Does the permanent field have to have concrete under
the turf? Or can it just be turf?
C. Parks pamphlet review-Thomas: Several revisions suggested. Another revision will be emailed
to the Commissioners
8. NEW BUSINESS
A. Forestry Annual Update – Brad Holt City Tree Inspector: Visited about 65 properties, marked
81 trees for removal (ash, oak, and 1 elm). 25 trees have been removed. Some landscaping
around the city at park signs and city signage. Keep an eye out for Sudden Oak Death, a new
condition that is infecting oak trees. For City directions of residential tree removal on private
property, Brad identifies diseased or hazard trees and sends residents a notice in the mail.
Residents can decide to go with their own tree removal service, or can sign a right of entry
agreement for the city contracted tree removal company to come on the property to remove the
tree.
B. Review 2026 Calendar Meeting Dates: Fall Festival will likely be on October 29, so we can
meet on the fourth Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. Motion by Palm to approve the proposed
meeting schedule for 2026. 2nd by Bankston. Motion 5-0.
C. Having a December 2025 Meeting Conversation. Motion by Palm to cancel the December
2025 meeting. 2nd by Bosneag II. Motion Passed 5-0.
9. COMMISSIONER REPORTS: Mounds View High School and Irondale High School has merged
girls fast pitch softball. There may be a potential for increased field usage. Tribute Park for the
Veterans’ Memorial was on Veterans’ Day. It was well attended! The GOAL Committee to finance
our Park Master Plan held it’s second meeting and will be bringing funding ideas forward next year.
Cindy Palm is retiring from the PRF Commission.
10. REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS / OTHER BUSINESS
11. Next Regular Commission Meeting: January 22, 2026. NO MEETING IN DECEMBER!
12. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Palm to adjourn at 8:33 PM