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Parks
and Recreation Commission
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Meeting
Minutes
March 3, 2015
6:30 p.m.
PRESENT: Bogenholm,
Diedrick, D. Holt, M. Holt, Doneen, Gelbach, Newby, Stoner
ABSENT: Azer,
Wall, BOTH notified staff about being unable to attend
STAFF:
Anfang, Brokke
1. INTRODUCTIONS
2. ROLL
CALL/PUBLIC COMMENT
No Public comment at the start of
meeting. Community members in attendance reserved their comments for later in
the meeting.
3. APPROVAL OF
MINUTES - FEBRUARY 3, 2015 MEETING
February 3, 2015 minutes passed
unanimously.
Chair D. Holt recognized and
conveyed appreciation to Assistant Director Jill Anfang on the thoroughness of
the minutes. The Commission agreed.
4. DEER
POPULATION DISCUSSION
Brokke spoke on the upcoming March
9, 2015 Council meeting where the Commission will share the findings from
recent studies, Commission discussions and resident input on the issue of deer
management in Roseville. At this time the Commission will make a recommendation
to the Council for their consideration and action.
Commissioners Newby & Stoner worked
with Director Brokke to draft the report on Roseville?s deer population for the
Council. Newby summarized the key points of the report along with the
recommendation to the Council. Based on Commission findings & Resident
input, the recommendation includes;
·
Continue monitoring and inventorying deer population in Roseville
·
Develop a Wildlife Management Ordinance with penalties &
enforcement strategies
·
Pursue Wildlife feeding restrictions
·
Provide options for a controlled hunt following established
criteria
Commissioner D. Holt reiterated
the objective is to collaborate with Ramsey County and the surrounding
communities on a deer management program. Commissioner Doneen inquired further
into how a coordinated effort might work.
Brokke explained that Ramsey County
will help but the decisions and implementation process is up to the individual
communities. Brokke spoke of how the collaboration will be based on opening
communication among interested communities and encouraging shared knowledge
among those communities participating.
Brokke and commissioners
recognized there is currently a number of deer management and wildlife
management plans available for reference when creating Roseville?s plan and
ordinance.
Doneen added a reminder that the
key objective when managing wildlife is to be sure native plants are not
impacted in the process.
Public Comment:
·
Mary Lou Mohn would like to see any implemented plan be
reassessed in 2 years. Ms. Mohn also questioned how deer population levels will
be assessed if we are unable to get annual counts without the needed snow
cover? Lastly, Mohn voiced her appreciation of awareness of our natural
resources in the process.
·
Cecelia Warner sees this as a nuisance & public safety issue
and recognizes potential health implications. Warner supports a feeding ban,
even though deer do not disappear. Warner added that a hunt may be a more
humane way to manage the deer population.
·
Andy Krawczyk questioned the equation used for land mass when reporting
on the deer population. Since last speaking before the Commission Krawczyk has
stopped feeding the deer and has seen a marked change in the number of deer on
his property (using night vision cameras).
o
Staff responded to the equation question that the criteria is set
by the DNR identifying wetland areas and adjacent delineation.
·
Following further Commission discussion, Ginger Seybold added
that the world is full of choices and choices have consequences. Penalties from
this ordinance could help fund the monitoring & management of the program.
·
Community members suggested using trail cameras in problem areas
to verify deer counts and added that it might be possible to involve community
volunteers in monitoring/counting deer.
Commission Comments:
·
Newby spoke to balancing competing constituencies. The approach
being proposed is not a carrying capacity issue but balancing the carrying
capacity with the problems deer are causing in the City. Hopefully, a feeding
ban will stop the deer from congregating.
·
Gelbach is not sure he trusts the fly-over method used to count
deer and has questions about the designated areas. Gelbach also wondered how we
do a count that is measurable.
·
Doneen recognized that while enhanced monitoring would be useful,
current staffing and funding resources do not allow for the work load this
might require.
Commission Chair Holt spoke to the
community and shared the Commission?s appreciation in the process and the
community involvement in the deer management discussion and recognized how the
shared voice of the community has been valuable in the Commission arriving at a
recommendation for the Council.
Community members in attendance
responded with thanks and applause for the Commission and their work on this
issue.
Commission Recommendation:
Commissioner Diedrick moved that
the recommendation included in the Roseville Deer Population Report be
forwarded to the Council on March 9 for their review & action. Second by
Commissioner Newby. Motion passed unanimously.
5. PARK & RECREATION
RENEWAL PROGRAM STATUS
Brokke summarized Renewal Program
progress.
·
Onsite work for the Boardwalk at HANC has begun.
·
The monthly 3rd Saturday Natural Resource volunteer
efforts have been extremely successful. The third event is scheduled for March
21 in Reservoir Woods.
·
The sidewalk along Victoria from County Road b to B2 will be part
of the 2015 construction program.
·
2015 will see additional community build playground builds,
including 2 in Central Park early in the fall.
6. STAFF REPORT
·
OVAL closes for the season on March 5.
·
Volunteer Appreciation dinner is Thursday, March 5.
·
Staff received an email late today (March 3) regarding Langton
Lake Park classification. Resident asked the commission to look at the current
classification of Langton Lake as an Urban Park. Based on activity & use,
writer feels the park would be better classified as a Conservancy Park.
·
Brokke recognized the contributions of three Commissioners
leaving. Thank you Mary Holt for 6 years of participation and all you have done
for the parks & recreation department and the community. Thank you to Erin
Azer & Nolan Wall for their years of service to the Parks & Recreation
Commission and all they have done to make Roseville a great community.
o
Commission Chair Holt commented on the current applicant pool for
the 3 Parks & Recreation Commission positions (15 applicants). This high
level of interest is thanks to the efforts and involvement of all
commissioners. This is further evidence that this Commission makes a difference
in our community.
7. ELECTION of CHAIR
and VICE CHAIR
·
D. Holt discussed consideration of a succession plan for Parks
& Recreation Commission Chair and Vice Chair positions. In review,
Commission terms are 3 years in length and run from April through March. The
commission chair and vice chair election takes place at the March meeting. Hold
suggested that it would be useful to the parks & recreation Commission if
the Vice Chair was elected with the intention of moving into the Chair position
after one year, the Chair would then move into a past chair position following
their one year term and serve as a mentor and provide a historic perspective.
o
Commissioners around the table agreed with the plan.
§
Current Vice Chair Diedrick explained she does not aspire to
serve as Commission Chair but she will serve the commission however others see
fit.
§
D. Holt had spoke with all Commissioners prior to the meeting and
found interested parties for the Chair and Vice Chair positions who are also
supportive of the succession Plan.
Commission Recommendation:
1. Motion by
Gelbach, second by Diedrick, to nominate Jerry Stoner for the position of Chair
for the Roseville Parks & Recreation Commission.
a. Nomination
passed unanimously
2. Motion by Diedrick,
second by Stoner to nominate Terry Newby for the position of Vice Chair for the
Roseville Parks & Recreation Commission.
a. Nomination
passed unanimously
Brokke thanked Dave Holt and Lee Diedrick
for their service as Commission Chair and Vice Chair.
8. OTHER
·
Diedrick commented on how the Commission and serving as Vice
Chair has been a delightful experience.
·
Stoner commented on how it seems as involvement on Nextdoor.com
has ramped up lately.
Meeting adjourned at 8pm on a
motion my Mary Holt in her final meeting. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jill Anfang, Assistant
Director