HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 04-11-1996Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
April 11, 1996
Page 16
Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Fiemann, Johnson, Priebe, Thompson,
Willegalle; Councilmember Wold; staff Bisek, Blank and Pederson
Absent: Commissioner Wahl
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Anderson called the April meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. in the Mooney Lake
Room.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Fiemann and seconded by Commissioner
Johnson to approve the minutes of the March meeting as presented. The motion
carried with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None were present.
b. Staff. Mary announced that registration for summer programs had begun on
April 9 and that in three days, over 1,500 registrations had been processed.
Some summer classes are already full. She stated that recreation programmers
were busy hiring their part-time seasonal staff.
Mary stated that we continue to have problems with the school districts'
allocation of gym space for our adult programs. More and more space is being
given to youth programs, such as indoor soccer, and now some outdoor
activities like t -ball are starting their seasons early by practicing indoors. To
make matters more difficult, in many cases, these youth programs are not using
the elementary gyms, but rather the larger gyms that are needed for adult
programs. Mary cited some statistics revealing that 75% of the families in
School District 281 do not have school age children. Commissioner Anderson
commented that District 281's attempts at passing a bond referendum have
failed twice now, and perhaps it can be contributed, in part, to this. Mary also
indicated that in the Wayzata School District, adults are given only 15% of the
available gym space.
c. Others. See item 5f.
4. PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. Awarded aradina contract on ice arena.
PRAC Minutes/April 1996
Page 17
b. Adopted 1996 CIP.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Ice arena/pool complex update. The first contract has been awarded on the
grading of the ice arena. The project is on a fast track, with everyone working at
lightning speed. Director Blank stated that an independent person was hired to
do a cost estimate, which first revealed that we were within budget, then later
showed we were $2,000,000 over budget. Everyone went back to the drawing
board to reduce costs, which resulted in a number of things being eliminated
from the facility. When these were presented to the City Council, they decided
to put five of them back into the plans. As of now, one of the things lost was
permanent seating on the practice rink. Director Blank stated that all legal
documents should be signed by all necessary parties by April 15.
Groundbreaking may be scheduled within the next two weeks. Director Blank
would like to invite Governor Carlson to the ceremony.
b. West Medicine Lake Park update. Director Blank said that more sand had to be
placed on the road and settling is still occuring. Also, the bridge had to be re-
bid, and the results this time were higher than before. The bridge situation is
going to require further study.
c. Open space update. Staff is working with the Johnson Brothers on the
purchase of their parcel, which the City acquired for $150,000. They have
decided to discontinue conversations with Mr. Stewart, who wants $1.4 million
for his land. His parcel sits between the Johnson Bros. and Seitzer parcels, and
he's been told he's free to sell it, because the City is no longer interested.
d. Playfield/high school update. This project is moving along on schedule.
Director Blank said that you can now see the high school building from Highway
55.
e. Senior citizen needs analysis update. Director Blank explained that a draft
report is finished and will be forwarded to the members of the youth sports task
force for their review and comment. Following that, it will be sent on to PRAC.
f. Continue golf course discussion. Director Blank introduced Craig Scherber and
Mike Klatte, co-owners of the Elm Creek Golf Course, and then members of the
commission introduced themselves to Scherber and Klatte. Director Blank
explained that he would like the City to always have a golf course available for
the residents to use, regardless of whether it's publicly or privately owned. Mr.
Scherber then asked if the City was planning to buy a golf course. Director
Blank responded that the City probably would not buy a golf course as long as
one of the three that currently exists remains undeveloped. However, if all three
decided to sell to developers, then the City might step in and attempt to
purchase at least one of them.
PRAC Minutes/April 1996
Page 18
Mr. Klatte stated that he would prefer to stay in the golfing business, because it's
been in his family for years, and he loves the game. But he explained that his
taxes keep going up with every improvement he makes to the course. He stated
that it becomes a catch-22. In order to compete with the larger courses, he must
make improvements, but with the improvements come the increased taxes. He
explained that he doesn't charge as much as the other courses and for that
reason, his course appeals to the "working man." He explained that the costs for
maintenance and upkeep of a golf course are very high and that it's a struggle
for him to stay afloat. He can't afford to buy the fancy turf equipment. He would
like to charge more, but feels that Elm Creek is a tough course and not plush
enough to justify a higher fee.
Mr. Scherber was asked what his plans were for Elm Creek. He responded that
if City sewer is extended beyond Elm Creek he probably would opt to develop
the golf course into home sites. He said he would consider keeping it a golf
course if the number of golfers were to increase enough to make it more
profitable than turning it into home sites. Director Blank commented that when
the Elm Creek sewer finally does go through, all property owners will be
assessed. Councilmember Wold asked Director Blank to look into whether or
not Hollydale's owners had to pay an assessment when City sewer was installed
up to their property line. There was some question that the fee might have been
waived.
Commissioner Fiemann commented that he likes to golf as often as possible,
and he supports Elm Creek because of its affordability.
Councilmember Wold stated that the City Council is looking at the price of land
in the northwest part of the City, to which Director Blank added that the City may
consider buying land and building a public golf course on its own if no other
arrangements can be made with the owners of the courses in Plymouth.
Mr. Scherber said that the private golf course owners in Plymouth might be more
willing to keep their courses if the City were to give them all some kind of tax
break. Director Blank responded that the City would probably consider any
reasonable course of action to assure that its residents had at least one course
available in Plymouth.
Commissioners informed Mr. Klatte and Mr. Scherber that their goal is to have
some sort of plan in place by the end of this year regarding the future of golf in
Plymouth.
g. Planning for northeast neighborhood park update. Director Blank displayed
copies of different concept plans for this park and stated that concept A is the
preferred choice at this point. Another planning meeting is scheduled for April
PRAC Minutes/April 1996
Page 19
16, at which time a different plan may or may not be selected. If things go well at
the second meeting, a final plan could be ready for the May PRAC meeting.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Letter from Pilgrim Lane Elementary. The Pilgrim Lane PTO has requested
assistance from the City to help replace their playground, which is approximately
13 years old. Director Blank explained that their request must be included in a
future CIP, which they understand. He also mentioned that both Sunset Hill
Elementary and Birchview Elementary have recently made similar requests of
the City.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
None.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
Director Blank stated that the Henn. Co. regional trail meeting held at Armstrong
High School last month was well attended with approximately 165 people present.
He felt that 75% of those in attendance support the trail. He explained that an
engineering/feasibility report will take about two to three months to complete and
that the steps are in place to plan the trail in 1996 and construct it in 1997. The City
has allocated $100,000 for the trail and Hennepin County has $1.5 million available
to spend. Another public meeting will be scheduled when more information is
available to share.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.