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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 03-10-1994MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING March 10, 1994 Page 8 Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Willegalle, Wahl, Johnson, Watson, and Fiemann; staff Blank, Bisek, Buck and Pederson; Councilman Edson Absent: Commissioner Mikula 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Anderson called the March meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. in the Council Chambers and introduced the new commissioners, Ron Fiemann, representing the at -large community, and Henry Willegalle, representing Ward 2. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Commissioner Wahl and seconded by Commissioner Johnson to approve the minutes of the February meeting as presented. The motion carried with all ayes. 3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Athletic Associations. None were present at the meeting. b. Staff Paul Buck, the City Forester, was present at the meeting to explain the projects he's been working on and things he's planning for spring. He invited commissioners to accompany him to Anoka to attend a Time for Trees seminar. He's working with Carlson Companies on a large project called Greening Plymouth's Entryways. Carlson has agreed to supply 100 volunteers to help with the planting. The first area that will be planted is along the Carlson Parkway exit off I-494. MNDot is donating $5,000 worth of planting material for this project. Another planting project is with NSP near French Park. NSP has agreed to donate $5,000 in plants if the City will match it. The trees will be planted beneath the power lines. Arbor Day will be celebrated this year on April 21 by planting 14 trees at Wayzata East Junior High. The YES organization has declared an area behind the school, a Peace Garden, and this is where the trees will be planted. Mary Bisek indicated that with the increase in the senior program coordinator's hours to 20 per week, some new inter -generational programming is being planned. She also stated that a volunteer working with the senior program has started a job exchange service in an attempt to find work for seniors and match them up with Plymouth employers. Mary indicated that the recreation department has begun accepting credit card registrations on a trial basis. The program has not been formally advertised to the general public yet. The recreation clerical staff needs to get acclimated to the process before going full scale with it. The summer program brochure is scheduled for delivery in early April. The department is already getting many calls regarding summer program dates. c. Others. PRAC Minutes/March 1994 Page 9 4. PAST COUNCIL ACTION Director Blank explained that although the CIP has not been formally approved by the City Council, they did approve the $10,000 allocation for the constriction of the Gleason Lake Elementary School playground project. Council also accepted the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission 1993 Annual Report. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. West Medicine Lake Park master plan review - Barry Warner. Director Blank explained the history of the West Medicine Lake Park project for the benefit of the new commissioners and for members of the audience. The project dates back to 1982, when a comprehensive master park plan was prepared for the entire City. A preliminary site plan specifically for this park was prepared the same year. The boundaries of the park were determined at that time. The City has been acquiring property for inclusion in this park for the past 21 years. In 1993, the consulting firm Barton-Aschman was chosen to do a new master site plan. Three public meetings were held to review the plans and to determine the most appropriate road alignment for West Medicine Lake Drive. After a road alignment was agreed upon by the general public and the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission, Barton-Aschman was directed to proceed with preparation of a final site plan for the park. At the suggestion of the general public, a focus group consisting of eight residents, city staff and Barton-Aschman, was formed to review the park plan design options. After two meetings, the focus group endorsed a plan, which was later presented to the general public, where it met with approval. Concerns expressed by the public included speed limits on 26th Avenue, which is outside the boundaries of the park, safe access to the park for children, limiting the number of boats on the lake, and the size of the proposed parking lot for the park. Barry Warner then made a formal presentation of the site plan to the Commission and to the public in attendance. He explained that the road alignment that was approved allows for approximately 20-25 acres of active recreation, and that it divides the active area from the more passive area, which consists of about 40 acres of woods and wetlands. A multi-purpose asphalt trail will wind through the active area, and a wood chip type trail will meander through the passive area, connecting with the parking lot. The road will be constricted like a "parkway" with a boulevard down the center, which will be landscaped with smaller trees and shrubbery, and flowers will be planted at both the north and south entrances to the park. On the north end of the park, an ice fishing access and seasonal boat access will be maintained. The main purposes will be to provide ice fishing enthusiasts and boats with deeper hulls a way to get on and off the lake. The boat launch in French Park is too shallow for larger boats to use. This access will be open only during the winter months and once in the spring and fall to allow the bigger boats and deep hulled sailboats an opportunity to get their boats launched. Mr. Warner pointed out the location of the hard court surfaces which will be for tennis and basketball. He explained that the design theme being considered for the park is based on the WPA projects of the 30's and 40's, using field stone and timbers. The playground stricture could have a nautical look. Floating boardwalks may be built which will get people across the wetlands to the active recreation area. A four way stop may be put in at the intersection of the entrance to the parking lots located on either side of West Medicine Lake Drive. Safety lighting will be installed at key locations. David Gradick, 11730 27th Avenue, a member of the focus group, commented that he and the rest of the focus group were very excited about the park. He visited several of his neighbors during the planning process and reported that they were all very enthusiastic. PRAC Minutes/March 1994 Page 10 Director Blank then explained the budget for building this facility. The entire project will cost approximately $3.3 million. This does not include the acquisition of the three homes located within the park's boundaries. The project will be done in three phases, similar to how Parkers Lake Park was built. Funding for a portion of the project may be sought from the State's LAWCON program. Phase I could include grading, realigning the road, curb and gutter, and paving the parking lots. Phase II could include picnic shelters, the swimming beach, trails, tennis courts and trees. Phase III might include the constriction of the multi-purpose, two story building, which could be constricted to look something like a lodge. The swimming beach may be open the summer of '96. The yearly operating cost, once the park is fiilly developed, would be approximately $75,000. Commissioner Fiemann addressed the issue of lighting in terms of safety. Director Blank stated that lighting would be provided along the trail that winds through the active area, in the parking lots, and along the parkway. There would be no lighting in the passive, wooded area. The trees and shrubbery planted in the boulevard along the parkway would be of the type that would not obstruct a person's view from the parkway into the active park area on the east side of the roadway. Commissioner Willegalle wondered if the road alignment addresses the concerns about speeding on 26th Avenue. Director Blank responded that 26th Avenue is four blocks north of the actual park, and consequently, is not an issue that can be resolved by the Park Commission. This is a matter that the residents must discuss with the Public Safety Department. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER JOHNSON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FIEMANN TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CONCEPT PLAN, AS PRESENTED BY BARTON-ASCHMAN, FOR WEST MEDICINE LAKE PARK, BE APPROVED AND FORWARDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. b. Amberwoods Park update. Director Blank stated that he contacted Pat McDonald, the President of the Amberwoods Homeowner's Association, to learn the outcome of that group's vote on donating their private park to the city. Mr. McDonald informed him that they had decided against giving the park to the city and were now looking into other things they might do with the land. c. Study of unique open spaces update. Commissioner Johnson reported that the fill Open Space Committee, consisting of four PRAC members, four citizens at large, a Planning Commission member, a City Council member, and the City Forester and Park and Recreation Director met for the first time on March 10. Director Blank presented a course of action, which the committee endorsed. Representatives of Eden Prairie will be invited to attend the next meeting, since they currently have an open space policy in effect. The committee may meet twice a month for the next few months. When their work is concluded, they will prepare an open space plan, which they will submit to PRAC for endorsement. If PRAC endorses the plan, the Open Space Committee will then present it to the City Council. 6. NEW BUSINESS PRAC Minutes/March 1994 Page 11 a. Request to rent Plymouth Creek Amphitheater for Christian music festival. Director Blank stated that the City has received a request from Dawn Productions of St. Louis Park to rent the amphitheater for a Christian music festival. The event would take place on Saturday, June 25, in the afternoon hours. Youth groups from area churches would be invited. Director Blank discussed this with the Public Safety Director who indicated that he would be able to provide safety personnel for crowd control and to direct traffic. Dawn Productions estimates attendance of approximately 3,000 to 4,000. The cost for police would be about $2,000 and Director Blank is proposing a rental rate of $500 for the site. Dawn Productions would be responsible for picking up any trash and depositing it in waste receptacles, which City maintenance crews would later remove. Commissioner Fiemann asked if PRAC is the group that decides who is able to use the amphitheater. Director Blank responded that PRAC annually reviews the City's Park Facility Rental Policies and Fee Schedule and that the amphitheater would be covered under that policy. Commissioner Fiemann then wondered if the City has a decibel limit, and Director Blank stated that there is a noise ordinance in effect between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., but since this is in the afternoon, he feels it shouldn't be a problem. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WAHL AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FIEMANN TO RECOMMEND THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVE THE RENTAL OF THE PLYMOUTH CREEK AMPHITHEATER, TO DAWN PRODUCTIONS, FOR A FEE OF $2,500 FOR THE PURPOSE OF A CHRISTIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL, ON SATURDAY, JUNE 25. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. b. Select a date for annual park tour. Commissioners were given a choice of some dates for the annual park tour, and it was determined that Wednesday, May 25, would work out the best. The tour would begin at 4:30 p.m. Box suppers will be served on the bus. Members of the City Council, the Planning Commission, and City staff would be invited to accompany PRAC on the tour. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION None. 8. STAFF COMMUNICATION None. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.