Fees and protocols for future events at the Mineola Nature Preserve took up much of Monday’s Mineola City Council meeting.

After Promise of Peace Gardens non-profit director Elizabeth Dry outlined what the organization has accomplished at the preserve with raised-bed gardens, children’s day camps and more, the council took up a proposed structure for future events at the preserve, which include events put on by Dry’s group.

The council adopted the proposed guidelines for the preserve, but they left out the fees until a future meeting when city staff can come up with a sliding scale that takes into account non-profit status, facilities to be used and such.

City Manager Mercy Rushing said the intent of the fees is not to make money but to cover the city’s costs, especially labor.

Public Works Director Kyle McCoy said that in addition to clean up after events, there is also prep work ahead, such as mowing.

In a separate item, a memorandum of understanding between the city and Promise of Peace (POP) was approved that outlines events such as a tomato tasting July 13 and Okrapalooza, an event previously held in other locations, that will be brought to the preserve in September.

Rushing acknowledged that the improvements POP has made at the preserve should have come to the council for approval, rather than just OK’d by the parks board.

Dry said some $20,000 has been invested in the preserve, and POP has become “kind of a component of the nature preserve.”

Two city board vacancies were filled.

The council named Ryan Pool to an open position on the Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Board and Janell Abbott to an opening on the Mineola Economic Development Corp. board.

A school zone ordinance was adopted for the section of NE Loop 564 adjacent to the new Mineola Primary School.

It will function much like the one in front of the other MISD schools on the west loop, with flashing lights slowing traffic to 35 MPH during designated school hours.

The highway was also recently re-striped to create a center turn lane in the area of the school, which will open in August for fall classes.