HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 11-10-1999MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
November 10, 1999
Page 52
Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Musliner, Priebe, Willegalle, Thompson; staff
Bisek, Blank and Pederson; Councilmember Black
Absent: Commissioners Wahl and Fiemann
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Priebe and seconded by Commissioner Musliner to
approve the minutes of the October meeting as presented. Motion carried with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None were present.
b. Staff. Mary distributed flyers advertising Old Fashioned Christmas on December 5. She
said we have a new storyteller this year named Charlie Maguire. He's known as the
singing park ranger. Mary stated that the dome opened on November 5, and all reports so
far are very positive. We are taking rentals for the activity center beginning June 1. The
City is in the process of negotiating a contract with Suzanne's Cuisine as the caterer.
Commissioner Musliner asked if the caterer can charge whatever they want. Mary said
they will have a wide variety of price ranges and menu choices that hopefiilly will meet
everyone's needs. The contract is not a specified length of time, but the City can cancel
with 60 days notice and Suzanne's can cancel with a 90 day notice. Mary said we're
thinking about having a grand opening in June. She asked for suggestions for
programming in the activity center and dome. Councilmember Black asked Mary to e-
mail the Council with this information. Mary announced that Sara Mittelstaedt, our Senior
Coordinator, has been working 20 hours a week for the City, but beginning in December,
she will be fiill-time. Her office will be in the new activity center, once it opens.
Councilmember Black asked about congregate dining. Director Blank said we're not sure
if we will offer congregate dining. Apparently it's not a popular concept with our seniors.
Mary said that 175 people attended the Volunteer Recognition event at the Carlson
Towers, which was held Tuesday evening.
c. Others. None.
4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
Director Blank announced that the City Council approved the name Shenandoah Park.
Landscaping is done there and the trails are in. The playground goes in next year.
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5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Comprehensive Plan discussion - open space and golf courses. Director Blank displayed a
new open space map, showing nine sites. He pointed out these nine sites and explained a
little about each one. The sites that were removed from this map will be shown on the
park map and the trail map. A second open space map will include potential acquisitions.
Director Blank stated that the recent city survey revealed that 52 percent of Plymouth
residents play golf on a somewhat regular basis. This is second only to walking as a
recreational activity. The resident survey also shows strong interest in preserving at least
one golf course if it becomes apparent that the land may be sold to a developer. Director
Blank explained the City's policies with respect to golf courses. First, the City will avoid
any action (such as assessments for public improvements) that would encourage
redevelopment of the courses for other uses; second, it's in the city's best interest to keep
at least one 18 -hole course in Plymouth; and third, if we must preserve one of the golf
courses, it should be Hollydale, because of its location, the quality of the course, and the
nearby wetlands. Commissioner Thompson asked what the process is if Hollydale decided
to sell. Director Blank said there isn't much of a process. Hollydale could simply decide
to sell to a developer, and the City would not deny a change to the land use guide plan. If
they were fast tracking, they may be able to sell it within 120 days. Councilmember Black
was interested in percentage of golfers to total population in Minnesota. Upper midwest
has the highest percentage of golfers, according to the SRF consultant. We have a large
number of publicly accessible golf courses in Minnesota. Councilmember Black thinks
golf courses aren't really open space. Commissioner Priebe agrees with Councilmember
Black and feels they are a recreational area. Commissioner Priebe would prefer that golf
courses be called park land, rather than open space. Councilmember Black feels that golf
courses don't meet the criteria for open space. She does not agree that they preserve
native habitats, as mentioned on page one of the golf document. There was discussion
then on rephrasing the paragraph on open space preservation as it relates to golf courses,
and it was agreed that this should be worded differently. Director Blank says there are
two ways for the City to acquire a golf course - have a vote by the people to purchase
one, or go to the Council and ask to do a revenue bond. The golf course in Richfield
generates $150,000 in revenue a year said Director Blank. Councilmember Black
explained that she does not support public agencies operating golf courses, because she
feels a public entity should not be operating something for profit. She went on to say that
golf courses are available to a much smaller segment of the population than other public
park programs. She said she received many phone calls from her constituents saying they
did not support the Eagle Lake golf course, which is being proposed by Hennepin Parks,
and no calls favoring it. Commissioner Priebe stated that for the benefit of its residents,
the City should step in and take over the operation of a private golf course, if it wasn't
economically feasible for a private owner to continue. Other commissioners agreed.
Director Blank asked about the statements on the back page of the golf handout.
Commissioner Thompson suggested rewording it to say "the following policies, in priority
order, will guide fiiture actions with respect to golf courses." Commissioner Musliner
asked if Hollydale were to sell, what happens with Hampton Hills and Elm Creek? Would
the City try to preserve one of them? Commissioner Willegalle said the City would have
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to do a feasibility study to see if it would be worthwhile to purchase one of them.
Councilmember Black said she was talking to Planning Director Hurlburt and the way that
the sewer and water is being developed, it will be very expensive for Hampton Hills to get
sewer service, which could lead to Hampton Hills being very undesirable for any type of
future development. Director Blank then asked the commissioners if they were
comfortable with the golf chapter of the comprehensive plan as it was presented, with the
few changes that had been discussed. Commissioners said they were okay with it.
b. Plymouth Creek Center update. The dome opened and is being used seven days a week.
The main building should be done in March, according to the contractor. Parking lots are
all paved and lighted. Some of the landscaping is underway. The ornamental lighting will
be installed soon. Windows are being installed on the upper level. Constriction is on
track.
c. 2000-04 CIP. Director Blank said the list that was created last month was reorganized by
year. He said we have a 50 year plan for everything we own, and everything has a life
expectancy. Director Blank then explained the park improvements proposed for each year
and how each item will be funded. Bleachers must be totally enclosed now, due to
legislation passed after a child suffered a fatal fall last winter at an indoor hockey arena.
This means that all of our bleachers will need to be replaced, but the cost will be spread
out over the next couple of years. West Medicine Park vault toilets are going to be
installed because portable satellites cannot keep up with the demand. The long term plan
is for a permanent building there someday. Commissioner Thompson asked how we
decide which buildings with bathrooms are kept open? Director Blank said only if
something is going on at the park are the bathrooms available. Parkers Lake is open when
the beach is open. We must have staff available for security reasons. Director Blank
explained the plan to put in a playground on the ESS property (environmental park), west
of I-494. He stated that the Mud Lake Park development is proposed for 2002. This
property could be as nice as Three Ponds Park. It has very beautiful views. Armstrong
Youth Baseball wants a new building at Zachary, but they've been told it's not high
priority. If they can fiend it with a half match, we will try to find fiends for the other half.
In the 2003 plan, we start funding the acquisition of the
I011 playfield. Commissioner
Priebe asked about the trail across 494 at County Road 9. Director Blank said we put
money in the 1999 CIP for that, but it won't be constricted until 2000. The City of New
Hope wants to build a pedestrian bridge over Highway 169 at
36t11
Avenue connecting
New Hope and Plymouth. MNDot agreed this was a good idea but they want both cities
to help fiend it. Director Blank wrote and told them we'd contribute $15,000 in 2003, but
they want $58,000. Mary mentioned her concern that electronic signs to advertise events
wasn't included in the CIP. Director Blank said there could be one at the Ice Center, but
current city ordinance doesn't allow for them at other locations. Commissioner
Thompson thinks more things need to be done to advertise what the City is doing.
Director Blank then discussed things on the list that are desired but not funded. Everyone
wanted to know what a spray playground is. Director Blank said this replaces old wading
pools and is a new concept. It's like playing under a sprinkler, but you capture the water
so it can be reused. Director Blank said the main concern is how much revenue we're
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going to get to help fiend these things. He is confident that the figures he assigned to each
project are 90% accurate. Based on trends he has seen in terms of housing starts, he
believes we can afford everything in the proposed CIP.
Director Blank displayed plans for the athletic fields at Greenwood. There are two
different design plans.
Director Blank also displayed a couple of ideas for the millennium garden. As plans
progress, a professional team will be hired to design the garden.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. There was no new business.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
None.
8. STAFF COMM[_]NICATION
Director Blank said the December meeting might be at the Ice Center for a presentation by
Manager Bill Abel.
9. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.