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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 11-14-1996Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting November 14, 1996 Page 52 Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Johnson, Thompson, Wahl and Willegalle; Planning Commissioner Bildsoe; Councilmember Wold; staff Abel, Bisek, Blank and Pederson Absent: Commissioners Fiemann and Priebe 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 Thompson and seconded by Commissioner Wahl 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. Mary discussed Old Fashioned Christmas, explaining that this year is the 10th anni- versary of this program. It is a free event, with a 50 cent donation for the hayride. Last year because of the cold weather, we had to cancel the hayride and marshmallow roast. Mary said that during last year's program, a family came up to her and explained that they have attended all the Old Fashioned Christmases, and Mary hopes that none of them ever have to be cancelled because of the weather. Mary asked the Commissioners to put the Fire and Ice Festival on their calendars for Saturday, February 1. Staff is thinking of a theme for this year. Mary said she attended the national parks conference in Kansas City in late October and the state conference in Duluth last week. At the conference they dis- cussed the marketing benefits of Parks and Recreation. Mary said we need to get back to the roots of why we went into the park and recreation field in the first place. The Novem- ber recreation brochure is out. Some classes are already fill. Mary announced that we have passed the first anniversary of Conect Collaborative. This group makes sure that apartment dwellers know about our services. We've had our first request for renting the new amphitheater. A policy on renting it will be discussed at the January Commission meeting. We're looking ahead to planning spring programs. Mary asked commissioners for input. Commissioner Thompson asked who gets the recreation brochure. Mary explained that every resident of Plymouth is supposed to receive a copy. Commissioner Thompson stated that she is impressed with how many programs for every age group are offered and that this is why she wanted to get involved with PRAC. She asked if there is a contingency plan if Old Fashioned Christmas gets cancelled. Mary said not very likely. We rely on vol- unteers and it would be difficult to get them to commit to another day. Also, entertainers would be hard to reschedule. PRAC Minutes/November 1996 Page 53 c. Others. None. 4. PAST COUNCIL ACTION a. Director Blank explained that the council approved PRAC's recommendation on the rink name, user policies, and low income access to Life Time Fitness. Rental rates were tabled and will be discussed at the next Council meeting. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Maple Creek Park hardcourt referred from City Council. Director Blank explained the his- tory of the hard court issue and the unanimous recommendation by PRAC to not install it at this time. When the Council discussed it, they referred it back to PRAC due to so many citizens attending the Council meeting and speaking in favor it. The Council felt that fiir- ther debate would not delay the constriction of the park, and they wanted staff to find a compromise. Director Blank explained where the court used to be prior to the improve- ments being made this past fall. Expansion of the playground took up all the old space for the basketball court. The new proposed area is west of the playground. Three trees will need to be relocated elsewhere in the park, and the trail will have to be moved four or five feet. Director Blank said that he met with neighbors to get input on the new proposed site. They were generally in favor of it. Letters were resent to all residents explaining where the new location would be and informing them that this item would be on the November PRAC agenda to which they were invited to attend and make comments for or against the new compromised location. Eileen Bohn, 16315 27th Place, said that she finds the compromise location acceptable. She stated that she wants it to be a matter of record that court will have two hoops set at different heights and that a fence will be constricted to keep basketball from going into creek. Milton Bohn, 16315 27th Place, wanted to thank the Commission for reconsidering their earlier recommendation. He appreciated efforts undertaken by staff to come up with a compromise. This will be especially good for kids age 11-13. Robert Cobb, 2760 Zanzibar Lane, stated that he doesn't like where basketball court is going to be, although he agrees that the proposed location is better than the earlier sug- gestion. He does not want the fence, however. Commissioner Wahl stated that this seems like a good alternative, although he hasn't had the opportunity to see the new site. He wondered how much fill would have to go in? Di- rector Blank said that we will need fill over the extension of the culvert and 8-10 inches of sand under the hard court. He also explained that the trail will have to be moved four or five feet, but that the project is do -able. COMMISSIONER THOMPSON MOVED TO RECOMMEND GOING AHEAD WITH INSTALLING BASKETBALL COURT IN NEW COMPROMISED LOCATION. COMMISSIONER WAHL SECONDED. AYES ALL. PRAC Minutes/November 1996 Page 54 Chair Anderson explained to visitors that this item will now go to the Council who will make final decision. Commissioner Johnson wondered where all the anti -court people were during tonight's meeting. He feels that the issue isn't over yet. Commissioner Thompson thinks that the residents that were against it before have now accepted new site. b. Ice arena/pool complex update. Director Blank explained that project is moving along. We're starting to see more development. Some walls are up. Roof is going on over the Olympic size sheet. They may be paving parking lot Friday, November 15. The spancrete walls are scheduled to be there next week. Within two weeks building should be enclosed. Opening date may be sometime in March for one sheet of ice. We had to give up on hold- ing the Peewee Boys tournament in mid-March because we could not be guaranteed that arena would be open by then. c. West Medicine Lake Park update. Director Blank stated that by tomorrow night the new road will be ready to drive on. Crews have removed most of the asphalt off old road. They will pull culverts out of Plymouth Creek next. Rest of work will be trails, sodding, seed- ing, trees, etc. Commissioner Johnson asked about a large utility pole, which Director Blank said would be moved. d. Open spaces update. Recommendation on purchasing the Johnson Bros. parcel was de- ferred to a subcommittee consisting of Councilmembers Lymangood and Black and new Councilmember Bildsoe for review. e. Elm Creek Playfield update. Director Blank stated that the athletic fields have been seed- ed. Light towers will go up this winter. Need to have frozen ground for tricks to drive on. Soccer, softball/baseball, and football fields are in good shape. f. Senior citizen needs analysis. This report will be on next Council agenda, which is No- vember 20. PRAC members who served on task force are encouraged to attend to answer any questions Council may have. g. Continue golf course discussion. Director Blank explained that the City Council is going to consider deleting the golf courses from assessments for sanitary sewer, in an attempt to dissuade them from selling to a developer. He stated that he hasn't gotten a response to the letter he sent to the various owners this past summer after all of them made presenta- tions to PRAC. Mr. DeZeil saw Eric recently and said he still feels strongly about not sell- ing his golf course to a developer, but if he changes his mind, the City would be first to know. Commissioner Willegalle stated his belief that PRAC would want the City to buy one of the courses if the opportunity presented itself. Director Blank said he feels that there is no imminent threat at this time, so there is still time to study the issue. Coun- cilmember Wold asked about the City's right of first refiisal option on the golf courses. Eric said this idea has been discussed by PRAC. h. East Medicine Lake regional trail update. Director Blank said that this project is close to being resolved. The driving issue is still condemnation of two private residences. Hennepin PRAC Minutes/November 1996 Page 55 Parks would like to build trail without having to resort to condemnation. They are looking at realigning the roadway, but need cooperation from homeowners. The Park District wants to see project move forward. They are hoping to come up with a compromise soon, by the end of the year. If PRAC hears anyone discussing it, Eric said to have them call him. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Review ice center behavior policies. Director Blank stated we want to market the ice are- na as being a good, clean, safe place for people to visit. To that end, Bill has put together a set of policies that speak to those issues. Director Blank explained that no action by the Commission is necessary tonight, but he would like to have the policies adopted in De- cember. There are two different sets of policies. One is a disciplinary action program, and one is a zero tolerance program. The disciplinary action program is put into effect when persons visiting the ice arena disobey the riles and regulations of the building. These riles are as follows: no spitting anywhere in the building, except on the ice; no use of sticks or pucks in off -ice areas; no obscene language; no wearing skates without skate guards on bleachers or any other areas not protected by ribber flooring; no being on ice during re- surfacing or while Zamboni gates are open; no smoking or chewing tobacco in building; no being in penalty, player or press box or any areas not allowed without permission; no having food or beverages on ice or in player boxes; no rollerblading or skate boarding in building. Violating the riles carries the following discipline: I st offense—warning (your name, phone number, parent name and rile broken is recorded); 2nd offense—removal from building for three days (your name, phone number, and rile broken is recorded and your parent is notified); 3rd offense—dismissal from building for seven days including all practices and games, and your parent is notified; 4th offense—dismissal from building for entire season and participation in any hockey program is denied. Commissioner Willegalle asked how the rile on rollerblading would be enforced when rollerblading events are tak- ing place in the arena. Bill responded that during a sanctioned event, rollerblading would be permitted only on the dry floor arena, and no where else in the building. The rile is in- tended to protect the hallways and carpeted areas from damage. The zero tolerance program states that the following acts will not be tolerated: vandalism and/or damage to the building; any form of off -ice fighting; any theft or stealing; any use of alcohol or drugs; any form of discrimination. Violating these riles carries heavier disci- plinary action.. On the first offense, you will be dismissed from the building for seven days, including all practices and games, and parents and/or police will be notified. On the second offense, you will be dismissed from the building for entire season, including any hockey programs and parents and/or police are notified. All riles and regulations will be posted in the arena in very visible locations, so there will be no excuse for people not knowing about them. Bill presented these policies to Wayzata Hockey Board when he met with them last week. They were very favorable about them. Generally, parents will stand behind these kinds of policies, Bill explained. Commissioner Willegalle asked if all arena visitors would be expected to follow these riles. Bill said yes. Commissioner Willegalle said that it probably would be a littler more difficult to enforce these riles with open skat- ing participants, because they don't visit the arena as often as the kids in hockey programs. PRAC Minutes/November 1996 Page 56 Councilmember Wold stated that he was behind the zero tolerance policy 100%. He was, however, concerned with the off -ice fighting rile. He thinks it should be the policy all over the arena, on the ice and off. Bill explained that referees will have the right to kick kids off the ice if they are fighting while on the ice. Commissioner Wahl agrees that the statement about fighting off ice should be changed. Councilmember Wold then said he wants the off- ice fighting statement to stay in the riles, but an on -ice fighting statement could maybe be added elsewhere in the policy. It was then suggested that the on -ice fighting statement could be added to the disciplinary action policy. Commissioner Johnson pointed out that you cannot use the term "rollerblading," because it's copyrighted. He suggested that it be changed to in-line skating. It was also suggested that no weapons should be added to the zero tolerance policy and to check with the police department on how this should be worded. Eric said he discussed this already with the City Manager. Mary asked why spitting on the ice is tolerated? Director Blank said it's because hockey players consume lots of water when they're on the bench after playing several minutes of a very fast and intense sport, and when they go back out on the ice, it's always been an ac- ceptable method of getting rid of it. Bill said another reason it is acceptable on the ice is because the Zamboni comes along and resurfaces the ice often, eliminating the need for the ice surface to be cleaned or touched by human hands. A more difficult place to control it is in the locker room and in the halls, and this is where the disciplinary action program comes into play. Bill said he would like to be able to control it on the ice as well, but doesn't think it's feasible. Mary then commented that drugs and alcohol are in zero toler- ance but smoking is in disciplinary action policy. She wanted to know if that was inten- tional? Bill said yes. He explained that you might occasionally catch an adult smoking in the restroom, and you probably would not want to ban an adult from the arena, which is what you would have to do if you put smoking in the zero tolerance policy. Commissioner Johnson asked about the rile regarding no food or beverages being brought in to arena. He said that kids now get assigned to bring juice, etc., for the rest of the team. Bill said he understands this and explained that rile states it can be done if you get permission ahead of time. Commissioner Thompson was concerned regarding parents who drop kids off at the arena and then leave them unescorted. She thinks there should be a statement in the riles and regulations specifying a minimum age allowed in the arena without a parent or guardian being present. Director Blank commented that this might be difficult to en -force, because adults who are members of Life Time may drop their child off to play hockey while they go to Life Time to exercise. He agrees that it needs to be addressed in policy, but maybe we need to make the coach the responsible adult for his entire team while they are in building. Planning Commissioner Bildsoe stated there is a curfew in Plymouth that goes in- to effect at 10 p.m. for anyone under 12 who is out without a parent. Arena manager Abel commented that parents dropping their kids off and then leaving to go shopping, etc., are usually not a problem during the week, but could be a problem on weekends. Parents have been known to drop their children off in the morning with a few dollars for concessions and then not return to pick them up until much later in the day. It's a cheap form of babysitting. He would like to have this issue addressed in the policy, also, and is checking on policies the police dept. may have. PRAC Minutes/November 1996 Page 57 Councilmember Wold recommended that the smoking issue be in the zero tolerance poli- cy, because the Council has adopted a zero tolerance policy in the City of Plymouth re- garding smoking in public buildings. Adults in Minnesota know they cannot smoke inside, so this will not come as a surprise to them. Commissioner Wahl was concerned about how you would enforce it. Do you really want to ban an adult from the arena for an entire sea- son if you catch them smoking in the building? It was agreed that more discussion was necessary on the smoking issue and how it would be enforced. Councilmember Wold asked who would be enforcing the policies? Bill said that he would, along with his staff. He explained that lists would be posted in the arena office identifying the names of indi- viduals found disobeying the riles. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION Commissioner Thompson asked if the Council had approved the CIP yet? Director Blank said that the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the CIP on November 26th, and that it will go to the Council on December 18. 8. STAFF COMM[_]NICATION North Memorial Hospital's spinal cord injury prevention group wants to buy advertising on one of the Zambonis, Director Blank announced. Mary and Eric attended a session on skateboard parks while at the State Parks Conference. A skateboard park is being built in Burnsville by a group of people that formed a non-profit cor- poration. They leased land from the city, so that the City of Burnsville, itself, is not really in- volved. This protects Burnsville from liability matters. Liability laws in Minnesota are very lib- eral, and this is why so many cities have not pursued skateboard parks. Eric said that the legis- lature may consider an immunity law for skateboard parks. Mary and Eric will explore this matter fiirther and will keep PRAC informed. Chair Anderson congratulated Tim Bildsoe on being elected to the City Council. The next PRAC meeting is December 12. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.