HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 03-16-1995Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
March 16, 1995
Page 11
Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Bildsoe, Fiemann, Johnson, Priebe, Wahl and
Willegalle; staff Blank, Mittelstaedt, and Pederson; and visitors Kent Severson, Mr.
and Mrs. Zettel
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Anderson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. in the Council Conference Room.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Wahl and seconded by Commissioner Willegalle to
approve the minutes of the February meeting as presented. The motion carried with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. Kent Severson, from Plymouth -Wayzata Youth Baseball. See
item 5f.
b. Staff Sara Mittlestaedt, Plymouth Seniors Coordinator, made a presentation on the
Plymouth Senior Citizen program sponsored by the City of Plymouth and Senior
Community Services (SCS). She explained that she is an employee of Senior
Community Services and that the City of Plymouth contracts with SCS for her services,
20 hours per week. Sara explained that her background is in teaching and that for many
years she taught art. She had never worked with seniors prior to being hired by SCS.
She stated that SCS is fiunded by the United Way and in order for that fiunding to
continue, she has to fi 1611 certain goals and objectives. Senior Community Services
offers a variety of programs to the seniors living in the western suburbs including
nutritional education, health education, fitness classes, recreational opportunities, trips
once a month, 55 Alive Defensive Driving classes, which upon completion by persons
over 55, gives them a 10% reduction in their auto insurance premiums. Sara explained
that these classes are extremely popular in Plymouth, are offered once a month
throughout the year, and always fill to capacity. Sara stated that there are two active
senior clubs in Plymouth; one with 150 members and one with about 40 members. They
meet at the West Medicine Lake Community Club and St. Mary of the Lake Catholic
Church. These clubs are very socially oriented and have many different sub -groups, such
as the Plymouth Rockers, a senior choir, which has performed at numerous events like
Music in Plymouth, the Fire and Ice Festival, the Minnesota State Fair, etc. There is also
a very active craft group, which makes a variety of crafts and sells them at the Autumn
Art Festival, sponsored by the City. Sara stated that the Plymouth seniors are also very
active in the community, volunteering their time at special events and helping other
seniors. Last year, the Plymouth seniors volunteered a total of 14,000 hours. Sara
concluded her presentation by inviting the Park Commission to attend a special concert
on Sunday, April 9. The concert will feature
PRAC Minutes/March 1995
Page 12
the Minneapolis Community College Gospel Choir, and is being presented by the
Plymouth Seniors and Senior Community Services. Sponsors of the concert are the
Minnesota Humanities Commission, the City of Plymouth and Wayzata Community
Education.
c. Others. Mr. and Mrs. Zettel, residents of the Seven Ponds development, attended the
Park Commission meeting, because they had a concern about the wood chip trail that
crosses over a marsh. During the initial design process of the park, a floating wooden
bridge was proposed to be constricted over the marsh. The purpose of the bridge was to
get people over the marsh to the park. The DNR approved a wood chip path rather than
the proposed bridge. The Zettel's property runs along this part of the trail and they have
had some problems with people trespassing on their lawn. Director Blank commented
that this park isn't finished yet, and if it's necessary put up a split rail fence along the trail
to keep people out of the marsh, we will do it.
4. PAST COUNCIL ACTION
Council accepted the PRAC annual report for 1994
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Private swimming pool update. Classic Lake Aquatics indicated in a letter to PRAC that
they expect to have a feasibility report from St. Thomas, with regard to a pool, by May
1 st and would like to present the findings to PRAC at their June meeting.
b. West Medicine Lake Park update. Director Blank stated that bids are being opened on
March 20 for the removal of trees and brush in the area of the new road. He also
commented that the numerous permits that are required from the different agencies may
delay the constriction of the road by a few months.
c. Unique open spaces - review fiunding options. Director Blank stated that the Council
approved the recommendations of PRAC and the Open Space Committee to proceed with
the acquisition of four properties and directed staff to research possible funding methods.
Director Blank explained that the Council held a special work study session on March 13
to review various funding methods, including a bond referendum. After studying the
capital improvements program budget, staff presented a few options for the Council to
consider as a way to fiend the acquisition of the open space as well as fiunding additional
trail improvements. It was determined that the open space properties could be acquired
for about $2 million and the trails could be done for $1 million. Director Blank then
explained the options and how each would affect the average Plymouth taxpayer with a
150,000 home. He fi rther commented that all options will require an election, which
the majority of the Council prefers to hold in May. Option 1 is to issue general obligation
bonds for $3 million. This will increase the taxes of the average Plymouth homeowner
by about $8 per year. This method also saves all existing community improvement fiends
for fi ture purposes, such as purchasing a golf course, building a swimming pool, an ice
arena, a senior center, etc. Option 2 spends $3 million from the Community
Improvement Fund, which would have no tax increase, but leaves a much lower balance
in the CIF for long-term fi ture projects. Option 3 combines the issuance of $2 million in
bonds with spending $1 million from the CIF. This would have a minimal tax increase
on the average homeowner and only a slight impact on the Community Improvement
PRAC Minutes/March 1995
Page 13
Fund. Director Blank stated that the Council favors option 3. He stated that the Open
Space Committee met on March 14 and recommended option 1, with all $3 milllion
coming from the general obligation bonds and no CIF fiends being spent. Commissioner
Priebe asked how much money was in the Community Improvement Fund at this time
and how it is replenished. Director Blank said that the balance at this time is
approximately $10 million, and it is replenished as bond sinking funds expire.
Commissioner Bildsoe expressed his concern over holding a bond referendum for all $3
million, explaining that school referendums in other cities have been failing lately. He
doesn't think the taxpayers will be very favorable about any tax increase, so he prefers
option 3. He also stated that if a bond referendum is held, it should be done in the spring
rather than in the fall, because the rates are good now, but they have the potential to go up
substantially in the coming months. Commissioner Fiemann asked Director Blank which
trails were to be included in the referendum. Director Blank displayed a map of the City
and pointed out the trails that could be constricted, which equal approximately 11 miles.
To complete the entire trail system as proposed would cost approximately $3.5 million,
according to Director Blank. Commissioner Priebe asked Director Blank if a motion
from PRAC, recommending that Council proceed with the acquisition of open space,
would be helpful. Director Blank indicated that it was not necessary, but said the
Commission was welcome to make such a motion.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER PRIEBE AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER WAHL RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
PROCEED WITH THE ACQUISITION OF FOUR OPEN SPACE SITES AND THE
TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS AND TO FUND THESE PROJECTS BY THE METHOD
THEY DEEM APPROPRIATE.
Commissioner Johnson stated that he disagreed with the Open Space Committee's
recommendation to fiind the entire $3 million with general obligation bonds. He prefers
Option 3, where a portion of the money would come from Community Improvement
Funds. He doesn't think it's right to increase the taxes of the current residents of
Plymouth to pay for something that will be beneficial to fiiture residents as well. After
further discussion, the majority of the Commission came to the conclusion that option 3
was their preferred method of fiinding. They then questioned if they should make a
motion endorsing option 3 and amend their first motion. After a short discussion, it was
decided that it wasn't necessary to do that. A vote was then taken on the orginal motion
which passed with all ayes.
Commissioner Priebe asked if PRAC should attend the meeting on March 21. Director
Blank invited any commissioners who were available to attend the meeting to show their
support.
d. Playfield/highschool update. Director Blank stated that the bids for grading the site
would be accepted in May and that he is attending numerous meetings on this project
now as it progresses.
e. Study of youth sports facilities update. The first meeting of the youth sports task force is
scheduled for Wednesday, March 22. The task force consists of representatives from
PRAC Minutes/March 1995
Page 14
Wayzata Community Education, Robbinsdale Community Education, the City Council,
City staff and PRAC.
f. Adopt proposals for paving hockey rink, two volleyball courts at Parkers Lake and
batting cage proposal from Plymouth -Wayzata Youth Baseball. Director Blank briefly
reviewed this item and went over the costs associated with paving the hockey rink and
installing the volleyball courts. The paving of the rink at Plymouth Creek Park is
estimated to cost $17,500 and the sand volleyball courts at Parkers Lake should run about
3,500. He then introduced Kent Severson, a representative of the Plymouth -Wayzata
Youth Baseball Association. Mr. Severson explained that batting cages would be an
important and very beneficial addition to their youth baseball program. They allow three
to four batters to practice at once, which is an efficient use of time, teams can take batting
and/or pitching practice without tying up a field, and if built on pavement overlaid with
carpet, they can be used shortly after a rain. This allows teams to practice without tearing
up the fields. He predicts that they would be used five to six times a week by the baseball
association, and when not being used by that organization could be scheduled for use by
Park and Recreation programs or by the general public. The first phase of the project
includes two batting cage nets, a paved area, outdoor carpeting, security fence, and
electrical wiring and is estimated to cost $16,500. Mr. Severson has requested that the
City contribute half of this amount, with the youth baseball association contributing the
other half. The second phase of the project, to come at a later date, would include an
equipment building and lighting. Director Blank stated that he supports this project and
agrees that it would be an efficient use of the space at Parkers Lake Playfield. He
recommended that the City's contribution be limited to $6,500, because of the unknown
costs at this time associated with the ninth playfield project. He also recommended that
the City and youth baseball association draw up an agreement whereby the cages become
the property of the City, so that the miaintenance and liability would be our
responsibility. The City would then also be responsible for scheduling its use, giving the
youth baseball association first priority. Mr. Severson was asked if the youth baseball
association had ever done any fiind raising. He stated that they hadn't in the past, but that
he has been working on two fiindraisers; selling caps and cookies.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER FIEMANN AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER PRIEBE TO ACCEPT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION FOR
PAVING A HOCKEY RINK AT PLYMOUTH CREEK PARK, INSTALLING SAND
VOLLEYBALL COURTS AT PARKERS LAKE PARK, AND THE ADDITION OF
TWO BATTING CAGES AT PARKERS LAKE PLAYFIELD. THE MOTION
CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
6. NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
There was no Commission presentation.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
There was no staff communication.
PRAC Minutes/March 1995
Page 15
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.