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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.