HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 12-12-1996Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
December 12, 1996
Page 58
Present: Chair Anderson Commissioners Fiemann, Johnson, Priebe, Thompson, Wahl,
Willegalle, Councilmember Wold, staff Abel, Bisek, Blank, and Pederson
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Anderson called the December meeting to order at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Willegalle and seconded by Commissioner Johnson to
approve the minutes of the November meeting as presented. The motion carried with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None were present.
b. Staff. Mary stated that Old Fashioned Christmas went well. The weather was very
cooperative. This was our 10th year. This year we had a new Santa, because the former
Santa moved. The Armstrong Chamber Singers went to Washington, DC, so they were
unable to perform at Old Fashioned Christmas. They've been part of the program the last
nine years. Mary estimated that 600 people attended.
Warming houses open December 21. We are looking for attendants. Fire and Ice is
coming up in February. Karol Greupner is in charge of this event. A sign up sheet for
PRAC members to supervise the bonfire and s'mores was distributed. This year Fire and
Ice will have theme. Staff is talking about the possibility of a new design for the Fire and
Ice sweatshirt.
Mary stated that the City is reviewing salary ranges for hiring part-time seasonal
employees. The job market is very tight right now. We have what is essentially fi ll
employment in the Twin Cities. We may have to raise rates to attract people. Mary asked
PRAC to be on the lookout for possible employees for us.
Mary announced that staff is working on the next brochure. She had one update from last
month. It appears that we will be running recreational soccer for New Hope/Plymouth.
They will still do traveling. We accept children in the program at age 5, because we try to
follow the age guidelines of national soccer.
c. Others. None.
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4. PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. The Council approved the basketball court location in Maple Creek Park.
b. The Council approved the Armstrong agreement.
c. The Council accepted the senior citizen needs analysis report.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Ice arena/pool complex. Most of the metal roof is on, and the southerly wall is up. They
expect to have building totally enclosed by December 20. Floor will then be heated.
Planking for bleachers is in. After December 20, crew will begin putting in heating
systems. It will be at least March before the ice is ready. Life Time is expected to open in
May. We started a month behind them, but we will finish ahead of them. In a few more
weeks, the facility may be ready to tour.
b. West Medicine Lake Park update. The road is open to traffic, but the sidewalk that goes
with the road and the parking bay are not ready yet. The project is shaping up into three
phases. Second phase will be the new beach dredging, and the bridge. The bridge was
designed to be turn of the century but will start with basic bridge and add the canopy
portion later, maybe with our crew doing the work. Phase two will begin next week. They
first have to reroute 120 feet of water line. Then they will start dredging the beach. The
bridge is expected to be completed by late March. Phase three will be everything else,
grading, last parking lot, picnic shelter, trails, sand volleyball, and children's playground.
Consultants have been told to begin final grading plans. They will be at the January
meeting, so PRAC can look at the plans. Director Blank would like to be out for bid in
late March or early April on that work. By mid-May the rest of the work on the park
could begin. Phase 2 & 3 budget is $600,000. Commissioner Johnson asked about the
hard court. Director Blank said it cannot go where it was originally planned, because it's a
flood plain. He stated that there may not be enough space to place a tennis court. The
court will be a major issue. Ice fishing this winter is being discouraged on the west side.
There will be open water in the area where fishermen have gone in the past. There is still
auto access from east and north sides of the lake, but we have closed off access on the
west side. People can still walls onto lake by parking in new parking lot, which is not
paved or maintained at this time.
c. Open space update. Director Blank stated that the first three sites were all single owner
pieces and have all been acquired, but the fourth site had several owners. Seitzer's portion
has been acquired. Stewart (now Gene Lewis is owner) and Johnson Bros. portions are on
hold at this time. They are asking $150,000 for 13 acres of wetland. The City Council
tabled this last acquisition. A subcommittee formed to review the situation, and the finance
department did a fiscal analysis of the three million that was set aside for open space and
trails. There is only $115,000 left in the account to purchase the last parcel. Subcommittee
was afraid that if we proceeded with acquiring Johnson Bros. parcel on the south end,
there would be no way to link sites together because of the site in the middle.
Subcommittee has recommended that we not proceed with Johnson Bros. site, because it's
not connected to the Stewart property. And it's too much money to pay for swamp land.
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They advised staff to continue to negotiate for land from the north to the south and from
the east to the west.
d. Elm Creek Playfield update. Director Blank announced that the light towers have gone up.
The school district is rebidding the installation of fencing in January. The work will
commence in the spring. We now have grass on our soccer fields. The road project and
bridge will be complete when school opens in September, but it's possible that some parts
of the building may not be finished.
e. Golf course. The City wrote off all assessments on golf courses until the time that they
choose to connect to sewer for development purposes. The City has been working with
Hollydale owners on a plat coming in north of the railroad tracks. The alignment of Holly
Lane needs to be determined.
f. East Medicine Lake Regional Trail update. This project is bogged down in details, housing
issues, condemnations, etc. Only 200 feet of trail is at issue out of two miles. Director
Blank expects that within 30 days some issues will be resolved.
g. Ice arena behavior policies. Under the zero tolerance policy, no smoking or use of tobacco
products by anyone under 18 was added. Arena personnel will verbally warn adults but
will not ban them from building. A second addition to the zero tolerance policy is any form
of weapons will not be tolerated. We want to convey an atmosphere that the building is
friendly. Therefore we don't want too many signs telling people what they cannot do. Bill
displayed a metal sign that will be in the lobby. This sign was manufactured by the
Minnesota Ice Arena Managers Association and is in all rinks in the metro area. It contains
12 riles. Bill will attend hockey association meetings to inform them of the riles. Will
expect to have riles reproduced and given to the kids. Commissioner Priebe questioned
item 2 on the Welcome sign which discusses no tobacco, alcohol or drug products being
permitted in the facility. What about a pack of cigarettes in someone's pocket? Bill
explained that what they are trying to convey is no use of tobacco, alcohol or drug
products in the building. Commissioner Priebe thinks that the sign should be amended to
say no use of tobacco products or possession of alcohol or drugs. Commissioners asked if
there was a rile against using foul language? Staff said that item is covered under the
Disciplinary Action Program. Commissioner Priebe suggested adding abusive language
and racial slurs to the rile on foul language and that some key phrases or words should be
highlighted on the various signs, such as item 1 about people assuming all inherent risks
and responsibilities, etc. Bill said additional signs will be in building in obvious places
besides the Welcome sign that lists the riles. All of those other signs will be amended to
include the new language. Bill feels that amending the metal Welcome sign would not be
very economical, because this is a standard sign which hangs in every arena in the
metropolitan area. Commissioner Johnson commented that eventually the Rollerblading
folks will want the sign changed to say in-line skating. Commissioners asked about the
City's right to search a person entering the building. Staff explained that police officers
will be at the entrance to do that sort of thing if the situation warrants. There will be two
police on duty during all high school games. Councilmember Wold wanted to thank the
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commissioner who brought up the issue of weapons and also stated that he thought Bill
did a great job with all the riles and policies. He also commented that he appreciated the
work of this Commission. Chair Anderson wondered what is the definition of weapons
besides the obvious guns and knives? What about hockey sticks off the ice? They could be
used as a weapon. Commissioner Wahl commented that the blades on skates could be
used as a weapon. Discussion continued on other things that could be considered
weapons, until staff said they needed to keep it simple. Commissioner Priebe suggested
that staff should run the language past the City's insurance company to make sure we are
covered from liability as much as possible. Commissioner Wahl noticed in the Rules and
Regulations that no one under 18 is allowed in penalty box or scoreboard areas. It was
suggested that rile be changed to say "except for game participants" for clarity, etc. Staff
indicated that the zero tolerance policy was also changed to say "any form of fighting"
would not be tolerated. Previously, the rile read "any form of off -ice fighting." Staff
explained that they feel it is very important to draw clear lines whenever possible when
explaining the riles and regulations. The police will be asked to handle any situation where
a law is being broken. Staff and the Commission concluded that you cannot define what a
weapon is. Commissioner Priebe commented that error of omission is the greatest risk.
Director Blank indicated that riles, regulations, and policies would all be amended based
on suggestions made and would be available at the January meeting for adoption by
PRAC.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Director Blank discussed two individuals who approached him about a joint soccer/tennis
facility. He will meet with them again in the near future. A double bubble is what they are
looking at that would have four soccer fields that could be broken down into eight tennis
courts. He explained to them that we already have plans in the works for a field house at
the Elm Creek Playfield. Commissioner Wold asked if they had a time frame. Director
Blank said sometime in 1997. The high school site is one possible location, but it might
not be big enough for a double bubble. Another location would be 34th Avenue along the
high hill.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
None.
8. STAFF COMM[_]NICATION
Director Blank suggested that the Commission formally thank Chuck Lymangood, Dave
Anderson and Nick Granath, members of the Council that are leaving office, for their past help
and support. COMMISSIONER PRIEBE MADE A MOTION TO THANK RETIRING
COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT WITH PROJECTS
SUCH AS THE OPEN SPACE PROGRAM, WEST MEDICINE LAKE PARK, THE NEW
WAYZATA HIGH SCHOOL/ELM CREEK PLAYFIELD PROJECT, THE JOINT
AGREEMENT WITH LIFE TIME FITNESS, AND NUMEROUS OTHER TRAIL AND
PARK PROJECTS. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON SECONDED. THE MOTION
CARRIED.
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Director Blank thanked the Commission for a great year and said he looks forward to working
with them next year.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.