HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 11-09-1995Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
November 9, 1995
Page 37
Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Fiemann, Priebe, and Willegalle; staff
Anderson, Blank and Pederson, City Manager Johnson
Absent: Commissioners Bildsoe, Johnson and Wahl
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Anderson called the November meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. in the Council
Chambers.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Priebe and seconded by Commissioner
Fiemann to approve the minutes of the October meeting as presented. The motion
carried with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None were present.
b. Staff. Nancy Anderson, the Volunteer Coordinator for the City, was in attendance
at the meeting. She explained how volunteers are used by the Park and Recreation
Department and other departments in the City. She stated that volunteers in the
Recreation Department contributed hours in 1995 equivalent to a half-time person
working a full year. They worked as assistants with our summer playground
program, the puppet wagon, day camp, as aides for pre-school events, summer
softball/baseball programs, equipment check-in, and for youngsters with special
needs. They helped with events such as the Fire and Ice Festival, the Art Fair, the
History Fest, the Goblin Walk, and Old Fashioned Christmas. They also assisted
with park and recreation mailings, swimming registration, newsletter editor for the
senior program, clerical aide for the senior coordinator, drama coach for the senior
Story Time Theater, as interpretors, and in other miscellaneous areas. A total of
5,000+ volunteer hours were given this past year in various departments
throughout the City of Plymouth.
c. Others. A number of Wayzata High School seniors were in attendance at the
meeting to observe government in action.
4. PAST COUNCIL ACTION
PRAC Minutes/November 1995
Page 38
a. Council approved the cost estimate for the facilities outlined in the Recreational
Sports Facility Report as recommended by PRAC.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Private swimming,pool update. Director Blank indicated that there are three
agencies in addition to the City that are interested in a joint effort to build a
swimming pool in Plymouth. Staff will continue to work on this project and keep
PRAC informed of the progress.
b. West Medicine Lake Park update. Work has begun on the road project. A
problem was encountered when the contractor attempted to dig the sewer. A
homeowner on 18th and Forestview was concerned about some large trees on his
property that appeared to be in the way of where the sewer was going to be dug.
The job was delayed until staff could survey the situation. Everything eventually
turned out fine, the sewer was dug, without any damage to any of the trees. The
road surcharge is being placed now and it may be ready for use by next July.
Director Blank says the project is about four months behind schedule. The City is
still waiting for a permit from the Corps of Engineers, but he is confident that it
will be sent in the near future.
c. Open spaces update. Three of the sites have been purchased. An offer has been
made on the fourth site, but because it has three owners, negotiations are
complicated. Director Blank is confident that an agreement fair to all parties will
eventually be reached.
d. Playfieldlhigh school update. The current CIP shows $1.5 million for
development of the playfield, which includes base earthwork (contract already
awarded); irrigation on four softball fields and five soccer fields; softball backstop,
benches, fencing, lighting and building; asphalt walkways; soccer goals; trash
receptacles; bike racks; scoreboards; signage; sod; and miscellaneous contractor
fees. The 1996-2000 CIP shows an additional $100,000 allocated in 1997 for
additional playfield development, which could be used to cover soccer field
fencing, an asphalt trail, and a children's playground. Director Blank commented
further on requests made by the Girls Fastpitch Softball Association and his
feeling that most of these requests can be met. The requests include: a 25 foot
depth for the backstop, bull pens, batting cubicles and cage, electricity at mounds
for ball machines, foul ball netting over the backstop, 8 foot fences to protect
spectators along 1st and 3rd baselines, fenced dug outs, permanent storage at the
fields, scoreboards, etc. Director Blank said that the Coke and Pepsi companies
may donate the scoreboards, not only for the girls fast pitch field, but for all the
fields at the playfield.
PRAC Minutes/November 1995
Page 39
e. Study of sports facilities - adopt report. A RECOMMENDATION WAS MADE
BY CHAIR ANDERSON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FIEMANN
TO ADOPT THE RECREATIONAL SPORTS FACILITY REPORT AND
FORWARD IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL. THE RECOMMENDATION
CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
f. 1996-2000 CIP. Director Blank reviewed the capital improvements program and
explained that the Bass Lake shelter building may need to be air conditioned next
summer. We offer a number of programs there in the summer, and there were
many complaints last year about how uncomfortable it was in the building. He
also stated that the City may have to build a pedestrian bridge across the railroad
tracks for access to Cardinal Ridge neighborhood park. There was some
discussion then about residents' request for a tennis court in Turtle Lake Park.
Commissioners feel that there is a need for tennis courts north of Highway 55, but
they aren't sure if a neighborhood park is the appropriate location. It has been the
City's policy in the past to build tennis courts only in community playfields.
Tennis courts have been in the overall concept plan for Plymouth Creek Park for
many years, and have even been in past CIP's, but for more pressing needs, have
been eliminated, so the money could be used elsewhere. Director Blank then
explained how the CIP is approved. He stated that the parks component is just one
part of the overall CIP and once it is approved by PRAC, it goes to the Planning
Commission, along with the other parts, such as streets, sewer, government
buildings, etc. The Planning Commission then holds a public hearing, after which
the CIP is adopted by the Planning Commission and forwarded to the City
Council. The City Council then adopts the overall CIP at the same time that they
adopt the operating budget for the next year. At this point, PRAC then re-
examines each item in the parks component and decides if they do, in fact, want to
implement it. Director Blank explained that this version of the 1996-2000 CIP
does not include a pool or ice rink, and he anticipates that the Council may give
direction to PRAC to add those items before final approval.
g. Senior citizen needs analysis update. The first meeting of the senior citizen
subcommittee is set for Tuesday, November 14, at 2 p.m. Director Blank believes
that a report may be available by the end of the year.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Discuss golf course ideas. The most desirable golf course in Plymouth is currently
under pressure by developers, but the owners insist they are not going to sell.
Commissioners asked if there was any property in northwest Plymouth that could
be purchased and developed into a course cheaper than buying Hollydale. City
Manager Johnson was in attendance at the meeting and stated that the Planning
PRAC Minutes/November 1995
Page 40
Department will be planning northwest Plymouth in the next six months and that
the Parks Department should be on the lookout for available land for a possible
golf course. It was also suggested that perhaps a study could be done in 1996 to
determine the community's feelings about a City owned golf course. Director
Blank explained that this item will be on all future PRAC agendas until a course of
action is determined.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
None.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
The facilities tour scheduled for November 18 has been postponed until after the
Council work session on November 27.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.