HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 07-23-1998Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
July 23, 1998
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Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Fiemann, Musliner, Priebe, Thompson, Wahl,
Willegalle, staff Blank, Sankey
Absent: Planning Commissioner Koehnen
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
It was pointed out that the second to the last page of the minutes was missing in the
information packets. A motion was made by Commissioner Priebe and seconded by
Commissioner Thompson to approve the minutes of the meeting as presented pending
reading of the missing page. The motion carried with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None were present.
b. Staff
c. Others.
4. PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. Approved architect to begin plans for Activity Center/Field House. Work on a prototype
plan has begun.
b. Approved rental policy for mobile stage. Director Blank reported that the Wayzata
School district had used the showmobile for a 5th
and
6th
grade musical students' concert.
The City of Richfield used it for a Minnesota Orchestra concert. The Park & Recreation
Department is sponsoring a concert with a 40 -person orchestra next Tuesday night. An
ecumenical group will be using the amphitheater (they haven't decided on the stage).
Chair Anderson commented on the higher fees approved by the Council. Blank said the
Commission could review the fees after the first of the year after we see how this first
season goes. Willegalle felt the quality of the stage is excellent and it was a good
investment. Commissioner Thompson asked about Music in Plymouth attendance. Blank
said it was probably over 10,000, the largest ever.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Elm Creek Playfield. Director Blank reported that they had fired the first turf contractor
due to lack of performance. The new one has done a wonderful job. The turf looks
good. The softball fields have been popular and have been well used. The fields will be
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ready for soccer training in September. The city is building a garage with the help of an
institutional work crew.
b. East Medicine Lake Regional Trail. This is very close to being complete. The major
hold up has been with the power companies. Because of the storms this year, the crews
have been pulled out for damage repair. The contractor had to wait for lines to be buried
before they could finish the job. The trail is already being used a lot. Commissioner
Wahl said he has used it, and it is terrific.
c. Activity Center/field house. The architect is working on a prototype design. Director
Blank said that the committee will have meetings with senior citizen groups and athletic
organizations to go over the prototype plans. The plans will be brought to the
Commission when they are ready. A citizen is protesting the site. He will be on August
5 Council Meeting Agenda. Commissioner Fiemann wondered why this person was
protesting. Blank said the man doesn't want it in this park. Commissioner Thompson
asked if the bond specified where the project would be built. Blank said no, it doesn't
specify the location, it just authorizes the money to be spent. However, he thinks we
have somewhat of a moral commitment to the location, since this is what we advertised,
and this is what the public voted for. Ward 10, the ward in which the park is located, had
the largest "no" vote. Commissioner Willegalle pointed out that the costs would not get
better with time; we should go ahead with the project now. Chair Anderson was
surprised the voter turnout was so low. Commissioner Priebe commented that it would
feel better to have this type of vote with the regular fall election so that more people
would have input. Willegalle pointed out that if it were done with a larger election, more
people who have not examined the issue would be voting, so it could actually be more
inaccurate. You can look at it either way.
d. Open Space Committee. Chair Anderson said the committee has pretty much wrapped
up what they want to do. The big issue is how they are going to manage the areas. They
may recommend that the land be turned over to The Minnesota Land Trust Commission.
Priebe asked if the property would come back to Plymouth some day. Anderson said
after a certain amount of time, it would. Wahl said it is a relatively new organization
which has just acquired a very large piece of land by Grand Marais which they will
guide. He isn't sure of all the legal wording, but the land would still be owned by the
city, but managed by the Land Trust. Director Blank said he has received some public
inquiries, especially by those who live near the properties, as to whether they can use or
visit the sites. A nature center has been discussed. Commissioner Wahl asked Chair
Anderson how the high school open space area discussions had gone. Anderson said it
hadn't gone forward, but needed to be addressed. Members of the open space committee
should be at the next commission meeting. A large amount of reading material will be
given to the commissioners to review. Beth Nixon has written a report on the Hartenberg
property, which will be included. Director Blank said that the Open Space Committee
report would be presented to the Park Commission for recommendation, and then
forwarded to the City Council.
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6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Little Peninsula. Director Blank said we have been tracking this piece of land for about
10 years. Interest has picked up in the last 3 years. Homestead Village, a short term stay
hotel, was rejected by the City Council a few months ago. It has been presented again,
reworked. The Planning Commission is reviewing the merits of the hotel, while the Park
Commission is reviewing the peninsula issue. The hotel will go to the City Council for
its August 5 meeting. A staff report and attachments have been distributed to the
commissioners. On one of the maps, the area in question is highlighted. One map shows
the three old foundations on the site, which could pose a safety hazard. A biologist report
included plant life and other details for the area. Entrance and egress from the site would
need fiirther work. Blank pointed out to the commissioners the six most prominent open
spaces that the city now owns. The Open Space Committee, after considering all aspects
of the issue had ranked the peninsula at number 14 out of 15 sites as far as desirability.
He pointed out the options available: to not acquire it, to let the City of Medicine Lake
acquire it, or to acquire it for Plymouth. Staff has discussed the issue and feels acquiring
it would probably be in the best interests of the City. The hazards on the property would
need to be cleaned up, and Homestead Village would need to clarify the easements for
entrance and egress. Acquisition of the property would have to come with "no strings
attached." After acquisition is complete, we would have to determine how the property
would be used. This issue would be discussed in the fiiture.
Erica Urban of 1541 West Medicine Lake Drive spoke: She has lived here for 33 years.
She is a member of the Association of Medicine Lake Area Citizens (AMLAC). She
feels that as long as the peninsula is privately owned, there is no control over what
happens to it. She is very happy with the City's current park system. Open space is
becoming scarce. People and wildlife alike need undeveloped land. Please recommend
that the city acquire this property for a park or similar use.
Terry Christian of 9910 South Shore Drive spoke: She has been on the AMLAC board
for 3 years and has lived here for 14 years. She is very interested in improving the water
quality on the lake, which is deteriorating. The AMLAC board is very much in favor of
the City acquisition of the peninsula. Homestead Village asked for AMLAC's input, and
they were very excited about this opportunity. She would like the land to be returned to
something that could help the water quality. City had very good requirements on Basset
Creek, so the mitigation is now smaller. Planning Director Anne Hurlburt has said that
there are very few sites for mitigation. Perhaps further mitigation could happen on the
peninsula to make more of a wetland, which would assist with the water quality. The
little peninsula could become a space for wildlife instead of a space for people.
Commissioner Willegalle asked if she had been working with the water quality
committee with Shane Missaghi. She said yes, she had. She and 3 others toured the lake
in a boat to do an inventory of certain sites and found it very disturbing. They were
looking for certain types of sedimentation, aquatic vegetation, and algae. They presented
their report to Shane's board. They also presented it to the City of Medicine Lake and the
AMLAC board. They are waiting to present it to the City Council until the water quality
report is ready to be presented. She also mentioned that with the development of the East
Medicine Lake Trail, they had hoped that certain things could be done to reduce the
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amount of chemicals coming into the lake. This didn't happen. There are street drains
that collect water and send it directly into the lake. John Barton has indicated he has been
unable to get information on how these decisions were made. Commissioner Willegalle
asked if she had been involved with the report for Parkers Lake on mitigation. She had
not. She has gone through the AMLAC files on all the studies they have done on water
quality. None of their recommendations have ever been implemented. Willegalle feels if
we can do it, we should do what we can to help this issue.
Jon Kelson of Sunrise Bay Condominiums spoke: The sentiment in his building is that
with the opening of West Medicine Lake Park, it seems like enough parks in this area.
Can't we leave the peninsula alone? If it is developed, we would have to provide police
and fire services, and a road will need to be added. The area people are concerned about
these issues and think they should be addressed now. He is glad the clean up of the
peninsula is being considered. It should be done `surgically" so as not to alter the land
too much.
Chair Anderson wondered if the developer does the clean up, what kind of a job will be
done? Blank said it will take some effort, but it should be possible to have it done
without harming the land. Anderson also wondered if an environmental report exists.
Blank was not sure. Commissioner Wahl said we haven't added roads and satellites in
the other open spaces the city owns, so we wouldn't necessarily need to do so here.
Willegalle said Councilmember Tim Bildsoe was concerned about getting emergency
vehicles down the path into the peninsula. Commissioner Priebe said the peninsula is an
extraordinarily unique resource. He feels the Commission should express a desire to own
it. He feels we shouldn't plan on any development. Treat it as an open space without
encouraged access. If it can help mitigate and clean up the lake, that would be a plus.
Terry Christian mentioned that Homestead Village has really tried to work with the
community, and they have been very flexible with trying to comply. Commissioner
Wahl asked where the project stands. Director Blank said it had been approved by the
Planning Commission and was going in front of the Council. Commissioner Fiemann felt
it was inappropriate to add a path for emergency vehicles because the entrance is so low,
the peninsula becomes an island when it rains. A better use is for mitigation. Chair
Anderson asked about Brown's Market. Blank said it would stay, and the parking lot
would wrap around it. Terry Christian said when the Browns retire, Homestead Village
would acquire it. Wahl asked about cleaning up the lakeshore so people can park boats
there. Blank said people will certainly call and ask if they can go there. We would have
to institute policies so that we will have the correct answers. The commission will need
to address these issues in the future.
Commissioner Willegalle moved to recommend to the City Council to accept staff s
recommendation to acquire the little peninsula as described in the attached report dated
July 17, 1998, Item 4. Commissioner Fiemann seconded. All ayes.
b. Director Blank previewed some upcoming issues. He said the planning commission is
having a public meeting on August 23 regarding northwest Plymouth. Scenarios for no
growth, partial growth, or fiill growth are being discussed. The Commission will next
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start work on the 1999-2003 C.I.P. A new list of potential projects will be developed for
the Commission to consider. Commissioner Thompson wondered when Greenwood and
Central Middle Schools would be considered. Blank said during this fall and winter, site
plans could be worked on. Commissioner Priebe would like to discuss golf course status.
Blank has suggested to the City Manager to do another community survey in 1999 to
explore the community's interest in golf courses. Commissioner Willegalle asked if the
city could build a course. Blank said it is difficult to get the 150-180 acres you would
need at this point. Willegalle agrees we should pursue the point, and a survey sounds like
a good idea. Commissioner Fiemann said that a small par 3 course is something the city
needs and should be considered. Priebe is very interested in having the commission keep
on top of the issue.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
None.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
None.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.