HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 07-08-1999MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
July 8, 1999
Page 27
Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Willegalle, Fiemann, Musliner, Thompson; staff
Bisek, Blank, Jensen and Pederson; Planning Commissioner Stein; Barry Warner and
Adam Arvidson from SRF
Absent: Commissioners Priebe and Wahl
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. in the Medicine Lake Room.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Musliner, seconded by Commissioner Willegalle to
approve the minutes of the June meeting. The motion carried with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None were present at this meeting.
b. Staff. Mary mentioned the new formatting for the recreation brochure and that it will be
out in August. It will be called Plymouth Leisure Times. She distributed flyers for the
History Fest which is set for August 14 at Parkers Lake Park. Many activities are
planned. Mary mentioned that there are lifeguard shortages all over the country.
Willegalle asked about our program to train lifeguards. Mary explained that we
reimburse them for their training if they take a job with us. Out East they're paying
lifeguards $14 per hour in order to attract them. We have lots of competition for our
guards. East beach is unguarded this summer due to a shortage of staff. We may have
to go to more unguarded beaches in the fiiture if the shortage continues. There has been
some discussion on whether we should discontinue providing lifeguards at the Wayzata
beach in order to adequately staff our beaches, but no decision has been made to do this.
Staffing will continue to be an issue for us. We may have to offer some sort of
guaranteed hours to attract people. Commissioner Fiemann asked what we pay
lifeguards. Matt Jensen said it's $7.55 an hour, which is the same as McDonald's. High
school kids are turning down $10 an hour jobs, because they can get $12 an hour
elsewhere. Minnesota has the lowest unemployment rate in the country. Job
opportunities are good here. We have challenges ahead in providing staff at the new
fieldhouse and activity center, said Mary. Musliner commented on the program Kids
Games and how much her child enjoyed it.
4. PAST COUNCIL ACTION
The Council approved the fieldhouse rates at $210 per hour for primetime and $180 per
hour for non primetime.
PRAC Minutes/July 8, 1999
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5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Comprehensive Plan Study Session - Barry Warner. Revised drafts of the vision
statements and issues and needs were distributed. Barry said that these provide the
framework for future decision making. There are eight specific vision statements.
Director Blank explained who was involved in developing these statements. Musliner
asked about # 10 under the issues and needs list. Barry explained that the Metropolitan
Council's comprehensive plan guidelines suggest that they make comments on whether
an individual city's comprehensive plan is going to have an impact on regional systems.
Hennepin Parks is our regional provider. Director Blank asked PRAC to look at this
document and determine if the general resident would understand it. Fiemann suggested
that item 410 under issues and needs should be changed to say "assess impact on
regional park and recreation facilities." Under the Goals and Policies list, it was
recommended that the words pedestrians and bicycles be omitted from item 2c and make
it "non -motorized users," so that it covers in-line skaters, as well. Musliner asked for a
clarification on traffic volumes under item 2d. Director Blank explained that this refers
to roadways with 20,000 cars or more per day. There was a suggestion that item 2e be
changed to say designated trails. Chair Anderson asked about item 2f - functional
hierarchy. Director Blank explained that winter trail maintenance will be brought to
PRAC in November for an official policy. He further said there is a guideline for the
constriction of trails. We either put them immediately behind the curb, because they
can be maintained by a wing plow, or we put them 8 to 10 feet behind. This way the
snow can be dumped behind the trail. Musliner asked about item 3a. Director Blank
said that LifeTime is an example of this, as well as Four Downs Skate Park. Director
Blank said where appropriate we will look for partnerships to provide recreation
opportunities. Fiemann felt that we don't address cost effective or well used in the main
sentence of item 3. The statements that follow do not seem to address the well used
issue. Mary said the words "well used" are appropriate. The issue is how do you frame
a supporting statement to go with it? Barry suggested that it should read "monitor
recreation trends and user patterns and respond with appropriate programs and
facilities." It was then suggested to change the main statement to read "recreation
programs and facilities." Thompson recommended adding "when appropriate" to the
beginning of item 3a and to also add "new" to recreational facilities. Barry said the
steering committee will get these comments and can work some more with this draft,
prior to the next meeting.
Adam reviewed the open space and natural resources inventory. He discussed the
bulleted items on pg. 3-2 and stated that the City of Plymouth has ordinances in place
that protect its wetlands. Page 3-3 explains what a good open space plan covers:
diversity, proximity, connectivity, and quality. Management practices of open space
were also discussed. There are several ways to manage open space: preservation,
protection, enhancement (needing augmentation), and restoration. He explained that
Plymouth has taken steps to protect its natural resources but is somewhat lacking in its
protection of trees. There are two main methods for protecting natural resources:
acquisition, which is buying the land in order to gain control of the use of a particular
parcel, or legislation, which is passing ordinances that protect natural resources on
PRAC Minutes/July 8, 1999
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privately owned land. This method can cause some opposition as private landowners
could view this as infringing on their rights. Director Blank stated that Councilmember
Bildsoe wants PRAC to consider another referendum for purchasing open space. The
city's former comprehensive plan did not have a chapter on open space, and this is why
we are putting it in this comprehensive plan update, stated Director Blank. In the
citizens survey going out in the next few weeks, questions on open space have been
included. Hopefully data from the survey will be available before this comprehensive
plan process is completed. There was discussion then on the possibility of establishing a
greenway in Plymouth. Barry explained that there is a wetland complex that is very
significant in northwest Plymouth. One way to constrict the greenway is to have it
interconnect with Maple Grove, following the west side of the wetland complex and
then tying into the trail system. Another way would be to do a loop connecting with the
regional park trail system. A third variation is to go around the wetland only and cross
over on a boardwalk. The Commission liked all of these scenarios and wanted staff to
look into them further.
The final item for discussion was golf courses. Plymouth has three 18 -hole golf courses
within its boundaries: Elm Creek, Hampton Hills, and Hollydale. The City should strive
to preserve a public golf facility within Plymouth because of its open space value, the
quality of life it provides and because it's a desired activity in a community with diverse
needs. The four private golf courses in Plymouth represent approximately 400 acres of
open space. If the City ever pursues the purchase of a golf course (should the private
ones become residential developments), a golf feasibility study would have to be done.
Based on information provided by SRF, Plymouth falls slightly short in the number of
18 -hole golf courses needed to satisfy the current population, if you consider only those
courses actually located in Plymouth. However, if you consider courses located outside
Plymouth, but within a driving distance of 20-25 miles, which is considered the
Plymouth golf use area, then we have no shortage. SRF's report on golf courses
recommends that Plymouth continue to monitor the development of golf course facilities
at Begin Oaks and Eagle Lake, establish Plymouth residents' participation in golf
through surveys and trend analysis, ensure that a minimum of one 18 -hole course
remains accessible within city limits, pursue opportunities to purchase an existing course
if it is threatened by development, and monitor the development status of each course
within the City of Plymouth.
b. Plymouth Creek Center update. Director Blank did not report on this item.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Ferndale North issue. At the August meeting, there may be a large audience in
attendance to discuss the Ferndale North park. This may take up much of the evening.
Director Blank pointed out the location of the Ferndale North area on a map. This was
a Lundgren Bros. plat in 1976, and at the time it was platted, one of the conditions was
that Outlot A would be deeded to the City as natural open space and not a neighborhood
park. Director Blank said he told the residents that this issue could be presented to the
Park Commission if it could be proven that there was significant neighborhood demand
PRAC Minutes/July 8, 1999
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for it. A petition was circulated among the residents, and 77% of those polled said they
want a playground. This parcel is in the comprehensive plan as open space.
Commissioners wanted to know the proper way to handle this issue. Director Blank
said it will entail an amendment to the comprehensive plan. Director Blank said the
game plan is the residents will come to the August 12 PRAC meeting. PRAC will get a
full report on the issue with video tapes, slides, etc. It will be a discussion item.
Director Blank said that only the owner of a piece of property can request an
amendment to the comprehensive plan, and the City is the owner in this case. Director
Blank said that PRAC's options are to table it for further study or to make a
recommendation that the comprehensive plan be changed, or not be changed. Then it
will go to the Planning Commisson. If they initiate a change, they will have to hold a
public hearing on it. If the Planning Commission says no, then it goes to the Council. If
they say yes, then the Planning Commission has to hold a public hearing. This could, at
a minimum, take four or five meetings. Then funding would have to be planned for in a
future CIP, if it's approved for park. For playground use, these folks now have to go to
Oakwood, Queensland, or go into Wayzata. There is no access to this site except via
trail.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
None.
8. STAFF COMM[_]NICATION
Luce Line trail constriction will begin next week from Vicksburg east to West Medicine
Lake Drive. The Highway 55 bridge is under constriction. This should be wrapped up by
October. The Xenium trail around the railroad tracks is missing a segment.
Barry said SRF is committed to having a draft report ready by sometime in August, dictating
that a second meeting be held in July. Some possible dates were discussed, and the 28th
was tentatively selected. Commissioner Thompson cannot come to that meeting. The last
chance to look at the comprehensive plan will be September 9, before it goes to the Planning
Commission. There wouldn't be a need for a second meeting in August then. The next
PRAC meetings are as follows: July 28, August 12, September 9.
Willegalle asked about a piece of property on
1011 and Kingsview. Director Blank said the
City bought it and it's now park property and will be a water quality pond for Parkers Lake.
9. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.