1. Tony emphasized that the opening of the May 1 meeting should be positive, setting the tone for the agenda presentations. Perhaps the emphasis should include comments about the Path being a four-mile environmental corridor with the ongoing restoration work. The Path links communities and their resources. The City wants to cooperate with private citizens to create a kind of public/private synergy between the two. To that end, Friends of the SW Path will always be hoping for more participation from those who use the Path.

   Comments about informational signage or way-finding and future kiosks could be mentioned in the introductory remarks since the status of each is inconclusive at this time. Tony also mentioned that Trek has offered to provide up to 22 kiosks placed around the city. (See Addendum below)

2. Mark discussed the spring cleanup and Bike-to-Work Effort and will be the overall contact for both. He talked with Roger Goodwin of Streets who will provide trash bags. Filled trash bags will be picked up at the cross streets of the Path. It is too complicated to use more than one bag, such as one for recyclables and one for general trash. Trash will be picked up the following Monday after cleanup. Needed are people who will be responsible for the various segments of the Path cleanup. Mark said that there would be a Path ride on Wed. night May 22, during the Bike-to-Work Week, to introduce area to riders. The Bike-to-Work activities are not firm at this point. Mark will inform more about what may transpire when more information is available.

3. Sue and Laura will inform the attendees about what has been seeded along the Path from Allied Drive to Regent, plus include more specifically what Laura has done at the Midvale area and Sue with the Odana prairie area. Also included will be Jana, Char, Cami, and Steve's plantings or future plans in their areas.

   Sue commented that mulch had been spread by the Blessed Sacrament students (about 15) and parents in the Children's Park entry and at various access points into the woods along the Glenway to Fox/Sheldon area. Laura said that the neighbor's using the Path near the Odana golf course have ingeniously devised ways to get across the mud by placing doors, boards, and miscellany in the area. Consideration of what to do about these muddy areas might be something for the agenda in the future.

4. Laura suggested that Kris Schutte should talk about the Midvale Gateway area, currently in the final planning stages. There are detailed plans with a sign for Midvale Heights neighborhood, statues done by a sculptor artist in the neighborhood who works with the artist-in-the- schools program plus benches and plantings. (See Addendum below)

5. Invasive species: earlier, Char, Paul, and Laura had said that Bill Barker will be willing to speak concerning garlic mustard.

   There will be a display table with the triptych from Kelly Kearns, the invasive species specialist at the DNR (the same display which we used at the 1st annual meeting). The display will include pictures of garlic mustard, buckthorn, dame's rocket, purple loosestrife, and Japanese knotweed. Laura offered to include her display of knotweed photos. Sue will bring potted plants of garlic mustard and knotweed to display at the table also. (See Addendum below)

6. Path Courtesy, a title change from Rules of the Path, will presented by Ann Clark. Tony pointed out that there are vast differences in interpretation of the rules here within City departments. Arthur Ross, Ann's source, and Tom Walsh have divergent opinions, especially with regard to which side pedestrians should walk on: facing oncoming traffic or with the traffic. Ann commented that she was uncertain how we should handle this difference. Using the term "rules" of the road seemed to be too harsh, so it was suggested that we emphazie the common courtesies which both bikers, pedestrians, and dog walkers (especially clearing feces) should demonstrate. These items could also be posted on the kiosks when kiosks become available.

   Sue has had phone calls regarding feces along the trails, dogs running free, and rude, speeding bikers as topics they would like to have addressed at the May 1 meeting. The consensus of the group was for Path users to exhibit common sense and kindness and for Friends of the SW Path would adjust the title to read "Path Courtesy."

7. Tony will present the new access points and future extensions. The group felt that Tony's presentation should keep the issue of encroachments very low- key and questions on that issue be directed to Tony when attendees move to areas of their interest at display tables. Discussion about where in the program to place this topic seemed logically to place it at the end to avoid any issues regarding encroachments from usurping the meeting, setting a negative tone. There continues to be residents who feel strongly about this topic.

8. Sue added that again users, especially the elderly, disabled, and mothers are feeling that we should think about the addition of benches placed strategically along the Path. Cami noted that there should be one picnic table in the upper entry to the Glenwood Children's Park at the upper level. Sue thought that one picnic table might not be enough. Steve pointed out that there is the one iron bench at the Fox/Sheldon access point. This may be a topic for serious consideration in the near future. It was on the agenda early on in the planning for the path.

9. The kiosk, as Cami noted, will be made of wood and located in the Glenwood Children's Park built in cooperation with Friends of Lake Wingra. Plans are still in process. (See Addendum below)

10. Mark will include in his "closing remarks" at the May 1 meeting comments about wayfinding signage, kiosks, and benches as other projects the Friends would like to undertake.

11. Laura said that Char needed to know how many tables to have set up for the May 1 meeting. ( see below, however there may be more needed)

12. Time allotments for presentations :
    • 5 mins. I. Welcome and opening remarks: Paul Beckett

    • 4 mins. II. Spring cleanup and Bike-to-Work Week: Mark Shahan

    • 6 mins. III. Planting Updates and Future Plantings along the Path: Sue Reindollar and Laura Brown

    • 3 mins. IV. Midvale Gateway Area: Bill Grover

    • 5 mins. V. Invasive species: Steve Glass

    • 3 mins. VI Path Courtesy: Bikes, Dogs, and Peds: Ann Clark

    • 5 mins. VII. Path Maintenance and Upcoming Projects: Tony Fernandez

    • 2 mins. VIII. Closing Remarks: Mark Shahan

    • 15-30 mins. Question and Answers; New Ideas and Suggestions for Improvement

    • Move to topical displays for further information and refreshments
      1. Invasive species (two tables)

      2. City Engineering (one table)

      3. Plantings photo display (one table)

      4. Midvale Gateway display (one table)

ADDENDUM: Kiosks-Trek will fund 11 kiosks and the City has identified 22 locations for the kiosks. The Trek kiosks would be metal. Plans are still uncertain so it was agreed that we would not discuss plans for kiosks at the May 1 meeting.

Midvale Gateway Area-Bill Grover will speak in place of Kris Schutte. Bill is the local artist who is overseeing the project and doing the sculptures. The description of the project might be modified. The plans includesculptures of bison, a limestone semicircle that will function as a sundial and seating, a neighborhood sign, and plantings, including a bur oak tree.

Invasive Species-Steve Glass will be presenting instead of Sue Reindollar and Bill Barker. Steve is the manager of the Land Care Department at the U-W Arboretum and has conducted a class called "weed warriors," an informative class on controlling invasive species.

In discussions between Laura and Sue and with Kelly Kearns of the DNR, the feeling seems to be that we should inform neighbors about the appearance, harmfulness, and pervasiveness of these plants but probably would find it an overwhelming task to develop an inclusive task force of volunteers and leaders. Also, the attitude appears to be that if we wish to take the invasive issue further, we should prioritize and pick the most important areas (perhaps those which are close to drainage streams or pools which empty into Wingra) and focus on those. Sue's feeling is that we should at least inform people about the nature of invasives and realize that what may in one area at present will soon be elsewhere soon. Laura and Kelly Kearns point out that once invasives are removed then something must be planted to replace them or there will just be another nasty offender to take their place. Canada thistle, for instance.

Sue Reindollar
3624 Gregory
Madison, WI 53711
233-9383
ssreindo@tds.net

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