Minutes for April, 2017
Date: Wednesday, April 12, 2017 – 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: First Baptist Church, 518 N. Franklin Avenue
Attendance: 24
Quarry Park Cleanup (Betty Bahus)
This event is scheduled for Saturday, April 22nd, from 9am-noon. We’ve been doing this every year for 4-5 years. Garlic Mustard has moved into the area and is extremely invasive. Goal is to get it out of the woods and our yards. Even if you’re unable to come to the event on Saturday, you can make sure that you don’t have it growing in your own yard.
If you do remove Garlic Mustard from your yard, the City doesn’t want you to put in your compost where it would continue to spread, but to put in your trash. Garlic Mustard is probably the only green item that the City is ok with you putting in your trash.
Perennial Planting (Betty Bauhs)
In the past, this group has talked about planting trees or perennials to improve the park and add diversity to what plant species are in the park. The City doesn’t have the funds to do this planting.
The organization currently has $580 in checking.
Voice vote requested to approve a $50 donation. The donation is approved.
Betty will work with City staff and Laura Bauer (park manager and neighbor) on where we can plant. Laura has recommended that we plant in areas where the City mows, like open areas toward the middle.
Friends of Quarry Park Update (Betty Bauhs/Dan Dacko)
https://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/projects/quarry-park-trail-usage-plan
https://www.madcitydirt.com/
A little over a year ago, for liability reasons, the City decided to make trail changes in the park. The park’s risk manager has decided that bikes and pedestrians will travel in opposite directions to minimize chances of a collision. Both City and Friends group not interested in make drastic changes to the park. Some trails will be hiking only. City will create and post 3 maps/kiosks at park entrances. A limited number of narrow, brown posts with stickers indicating direction will be placed throughout park.
On main road that runs from Stevens to Bluff and on to Harvey, there has been erosion. The City has been contacted about this. Bales of leaves suggested as a possible solution. Lifespan of these bales is 1 to 2 seasons as they compost.
CORPS will be making some re-route changes to trails in Southwest area where walking paths cross biking paths (notes path to be closed near Stevens and some contention over that closing). Smaller paths leading out to the main roads and clearings will be closed in an effort to curb erosion and create less disturbance to the forest.
Yellow trail closing signs to be posted, a few at a time. Will be strapped to logs.
City marking locations for Kiosks with red X’s. The X’s painted in the park for Digger’s Hotline are at the locations of the brown trail signs. Not sure if the kiosks are marked yet.
City looking to have signs (13 total?) in the ground by May 1st.
Dan Dacko leading the Friends group of 6 members. Betty Bauhs, BJ Haman, and John Oakey are members representing the neighborhood. Group has made suggestions regarding trails and signage to the City. City has final say.
Action Item(s)
- The Friends of Quarry Park group is an opportunity to get involved in neighborhood. Anyone interested in getting involved with the group can contact either Dan or Betty.
Pedestrian X-ing Sign (Erin Woodard)
Issue raised with safety and kids crossing Bluff Street at Palomino Lane to take the bus. Drivers heading west have a blind spot there as Bluff curves. Drivers cannot see the bus stop because of the blind spot, are often going too fast and have to swerve to avoid accident.
Erin has collected neighbor’s signatures and sent a letter to Alder Shiva Bidar-Sielaff. A flashing pedestrian x-ing sign was requested, but the city declined due to no accidents being reported at that intersection and the street not being busy enough to warrant a sign.
A non-flashing sign is now up, but Erin has reached out again to the Alder to ask if more could be done.
Erin asks if we might group fund some other solution. A crossing-guard was suggested as being cheaper than more signage.
Action Item(s)
- Continue collecting names on petition, involving Sunset Village
- Continue to explore bump out option on Bluff with neighborhood signage
- Explore cost of moving bus stops (need to contact Metro and MMSD)
- Continue conversation at future quarterly meetings, working toward a goal
Place-making (Erik Haroldson)
Where to place a Rocky Bluff sign continues to be an issue to resolve. Waiting to hear back from City re: engineering plan and a space for signage.
Andy reports that possibility of placing a sign off of Hoyt Park is the next Hoyt Park meeting agenda.
Action Item(s)
- Look for someone to construct sign
- Report back from City
- Report back from Hoyt Park meeting
Supporting Bees (Sainath Suryanarayanan)
Our neighbor, Sai, is an Assistant Scientist of Biology & Society at UW-Madison. Sai talks with us about bees in our Neighborhood and what we can do to help support a healthy the bee population.
Sai co-authored Vanishing Bees
https://www.amazon.com/Vanishing-Bees-Science-Politics-Honeybee/dp/0813574595
Betty has sourced and packaged bee-friendly seeds for neighbors to take home for planting.
Action Item(s)
- Reduce use of pesticides
- Practice alternative pest management
- Planting a diverse selection of pollinator-friendly plants (ask if seeds are pre-treated with pesticides)
- Vote with our dollars and support retailers that deal in Integrated Pest Management and organic agriculture
- Consult http://xerces.org/ for more information
Annual Summer Party
Anyone interested in helping to plan the summer party asked to leave contact information.
Action Item(s)
- Contact those interested, setting first meeting