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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 02-10-1994Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting February 10, 1994 Page 5 Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Johnson, Mikula, Wahl; staff Blank and Pederson Absent: Commissioner Watson 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. in the Council Chambers. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Commissioner Wahl and seconded by Commissioner Mikula to approve the minutes of the January meeting as presented. The motion carried with all ayes. 3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Athletic Associations. None were present at the meeting. b. Staff Director Blank thanked the commissioners who volunteered their time to assist with the bonfire and the selling of s'mores at the Fire and Ice Festival. c. Others. None were present. 4. PAST COUNCIL ACTION a. 1994 Park Facility Rental Policies and Fee Schedule. Council approved the facility rental policies and fees as recommended by PRAC. These policies and fees cover the Parkers Lake Pavilion, the Parkers Lake picnic shelter, the Bass Lake shelter, canoe racks and all the major athletic complexes. b. Set 1994 Park Dedication Fees. Council approved the 1994 park dedication fees as proposed by staff Commercial/industrial fees went up from $3,600 per acre to $3,750, and residential fees went from $885 per unit to $940. The new fees go into effect March 1. Fees collected in park dedication in 1993 were approximately $682,000. These fees are used to acquire land for new parks and trails and for improvements to existing parks and trails. c. Appointment of New Commissioners. Council appointed two new Park and Recreation Advisory Commission members at their February 7 meeting. They are Henry Willegalle, representing Ward 2, and Ron Fiemann, representing Ward 1. The new members will begin their service at the March 10 meeting. Director Blank congratulated Commissoner Johnson on his reappointment to PRAC. PRAC Minutes/Febman- 1994 Page 6 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Amberwoods Park Update. Director Blank stated that the Amberwoods homeowners group needs to have a meeting of its members to vote on donating the park land to the City. If the outcome of that vote favors donation of the land, then a formal request will be sent to the City requesting that the land be accepted. Following that, a public meeting would have to be held with the Planning Commission and PRAC, so that the Park System Plan could be amended. b. Review 1994 capital improvement projects. Director Blank reviewed the list of projects proposed for 1994. The Open Space Committee has had all of its members appointed now, except for the Planning Commission representative. As soon as that final appointment is made, the Open Space Committee can get started on reviewing possible land to acquire. The accessible playground committee will reconvene in the near future to select a final plan, so that constriction can begin on this project. The owner of the land proposed for the ninth playfield site has indicated his willingness to sell. This is a joint development project with School District 284. The owners of the land proposed for the tenth playfield site have also indicated their willingness to negotiate with the City. Signs will be posted at the four park playgrounds proposed for improvements this year, asking residents to contact the Parks Department with their ideas. A consultant will be selected to design the tennis courts proposed in Plymouth Creek Park. The Gleason Lake playground committee is anxious to begin their project. Staff has submitted a grant application with the DNR for the possible fiinding of the fishing pier on Medicine Lake. Trails to be worked on in 1994 include closing a 300 foot gap north of City Center that was somehow overlooked in 1993, the trail in the Laukka Development that goes around the wetland from Fernbrook Lane over to Fazendin Park, and the Turtle Lake Park trail. Lundgren Bros. has submitted a final plat for the Seven Ponds development, which means that neighborhood meetings to plan their park can now be scheduled. The acquisition of the Cardinal Ridge property is currently on hold, while an environmental assessment worksheet is prepared. c. West Medicine Lake Park Update. Director Blank stated that the focus group met twice with staff and the design consultant and at their last meeting, unanimously endorsed a concept plan. This plan will be reviewed by the City Council at a study session on February 28. A public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 2, where residents will have an opportunity to view the plan and express their opinion. If the plan meets with resident approval, it will be on the agenda of the March 10 Commission meeting for a recommendation of endorsement by PRAC and may then be forwarded to the City Council. Director Blank stated that appraisals have been done on the three properties remaining within park boundaries, and a relocation firm has been hired to help relocate the three property owners. Director Blank then spent several minutes going over the plan with the Commission. The road realignment and constriction process should take place later this year, along with paving of parking lots, etc. The constriction process would continue throughout 1995 with completion sometime in 1996. d. Study of unique open spaces update. Director Blank discussed some possible meeting dates and times. Members of PRAC who are on the committee indicated that 5 p.m. was PRAC Minutes/Febman- 1994 Page 7 an acceptable time for them to meet. The first meeting of the full committee will be tentatively scheduled for Thursday, March 10, at 5 p.m. Director Blank indicated that at first, two meetings per month may have to be scheduled. e. Review and Approve 1993 Annual Report. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON AND SECONDED BY COMISSIONER WAHL TO ACCEPT THE 1993 ANNUAL REPORT. The motion carried with all ayes. Commissioner Wahl or Chair Anderson will be in attendance at the City Council meeting on February 28 for presentation of the Annual Report to the Council. 6. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business to discuss. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION None. 8. STAFF COMMUNICATION Park tour dates will be discussed at the March meeting. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.