HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 05-08-2014Approved Minutes
Park Et Recreation Advisory Commission
Thursday, May 8, 2014
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Ned Carroll, Vice Chair Greg Anderson, Commissioners: Tricia DeBleeckere,
Merrilee Riley, Michael Swanson, Aaron Vanderwall, Kipp Wyse,
MEMBERS ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT: Parks & Recreation Director Diane Evans, Deputy Director of Parks &t Recreation Barb
Northway, Office Support Specialist Sarah Josephs
COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES: Council Member Jeff Wosje, Planning Commissioner Dick Kobussen
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Carroll called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion by Commissioner Vanderwall, seconded by Commissioner Riley, recommending
approval of the February 13, 2014 Park and Recreation Advisory Commission meeting
minutes as written. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried.
3. OPEN FORUM:
4. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS (NON -ACTION ITEMS):
4a. Receive 2013 Annual Report
The 2013 Annual Report is now complete and available on the City website at
www.plymouthmn.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=10337. Paper copies
are available upon request.
5. NEW BUSINESS (ACTION ITEMS)
5a. CIP Review
Staff are beginning the process of updating their budget, and part of that includes
updating the CIP. Included in your packets are the 2014-2019 project list and an
internal planning document. This is the time to address any of the upcoming projects
and add any additional ideas for projects. There are multiple funding sources for these
CIP projects. New park development comes out of the Park Dedication Fund. The repair
or replacement of current parks is funded through the Park Replacement Fund. The
Plymouth Ice Center, Plymouth Creek Center and the Millennium Garden all have their
own enterprise funds for projects.
Land acquisition: The Park Bond has $3.2 million dollars remaining in the account. A
purchase offer has been made on a property in NW Plymouth, and staff is waiting for
response from seller.
Trails: Hennepin County is interested in cost sharing the trail gap on CR 24. There is an
estimate of $120,000, of which Plymouth would pay half.
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Co-Grant w/ Hennepin County Hennepin County and the City have applied for a TAP
grant for trail connections to regional trails in the west metro. This project has been
approved for federal funding. This grant will provide a trail connection to the Luce
Line trail from CR 6 by Fernbrook Ln in 2017.
TAP grant A TAP grant was applied for to supplement expenses for NW Greenway
pedestrian bridge. The project is expected to cost around $1.6 million. The grant
request has been denied.
Trail connection under Fernbrook Ln, This project is now being held off on due to the
recent culvert failure on Fernbrook Ln.
Fieldhouse - The dome came down in mid-April. New fabric is scheduled in the 2019
CIP at a cost of $500,000. The dome fabric has been regularly tested for strength and
quality to determine how much longer it can be used.
Play,rounds - Wayzata requested a renovation of the Kimberly Lane Elementary
playground. Since that school playground is also used as a park we contribute $25,000
towards its repair and renovation. The renovation will take place in 2015.
Millennium Garden - Staff are reviewing office lease space with the Plymouth Soccer
Association. The lease agreement will end in 2015 and then the room will be used as a
new bridal changing room. The room will also serve as a small meeting room for
companies or a bridal gift opening room.
Artificial turf - In 2015, there was scheduled to be $1 million available for additional
artificial turf. This project may have to be delayed due to lack of funds in the Park
Dedication Fund. Staff may move the project to a later year or find a new funding
source to supplement funds for 2015.
Parkinsg lots - In 2015, parking lot renovations will take place at the Plymouth Ice
Center and LifeTime Fitness. The City is working with LifeTime Fitness to hopefully
expand the lot and add additional parking spaces.
Zamboni - The City purchased a new Zamboni in 2014. The purchase of another new
Zamboni will be pushed back to 2015 as the current one is working efficiently.
5b. Plymouth Creek Playground Replacement
The Plymouth Creek Playground was installed in 1994 and is one of the City's most
popular facilities. A total of $240,000 from the Park Replacement Fund will be used to
replace the equipment. From the 6 bids that came in, the bid from Little Tykes was
selected. The current playground will be removed by volunteers and Kids Around the
World. The playground will be donated and assembled in a country overseas. The new
playground includes a 14' sky builder, climbing wall, net play area, team raft swing,
Dynamo Quad Pod spinner. A sample video can be found at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gln-GEldJgg. The playground has wheelchair
inclusive features and will be fully accessible. Other renovations include concrete
repairs, painting at the shelter, and ground updates (plantings, tree trimming).
Parking lot lights are now fitted to LED lights.
5c. Trail Rating/Repair Plan (ACTION)
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Staff is looking for approval on the park trail asphalt surface repairs in 2014 and 2015.
There is a total of $200,000 in the CIP and $60,000 in PEtF budget available for repair
expenses. In the fall of 2013, all 140 miles of trails were reviewed and rated by one
person for consistent results. When trails are repaired, they are brought into ADA
compliance by adding truncated domes and grading. There are too many miles of rated
1 (highest extent of distress) trails for all to be completed in 2014 and 2015, but the
staff will repair as much as possible with funding available. Included in these repairs
are; parking lot patching, patching around manholes and other various repairs.
Motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Wyse, recommending to
approve the Trail Rating/Repair Plan. With no objection, motion passed unanimously.
5d. EAB Plan (ACTION)
An Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) plan has been prepared to deal with the closely
approaching EAB infestation. In 2014, the Parks and Forestry department plans to
inject 338 park trees that are 15" or greater in diameter. The City Council has
allocated $17,000 to the Parks and Forestry budget to complete those park trees. All
of the treatments would be done in-house by Parks and Forestry staff. We need to now
consider treatment of the boulevard trees as there are many Ash trees within City
boulevards and ROWS. There is a total of 542 ROW Ash trees 15" in diameter or
greater. These trees provide energy conservation, improve air quality, storm water
filtration and are visually appealing. Staff are asking for a funding change to be able to
treat the boulevard trees in addition to park trees in 2014. Trees on the east side of
the City will be treated in even years, while trees in the west will be treated in on odd
years. This process is projected to take 10 years; at that time EAB should have passed
out of Plymouth. City Ash trees less than 15" in diameter would be left as -is and
removed once infested. The treatment is 99.99% effective in treating and preventing
EAB from infecting the tree.
Motion by Chair Carroll, seconded by Commissioner Swanson, recommending to approve
the EAB Plan. With no objection, motion passed unanimously.
6. COMMISSIONER/STAFF UPDATE (NON -ACTION ITEMS):
Final construction documents are being written up for the PIC Dryland Training Center.
Initial construction documents discovered poor soil conditions at the site, which will
add approximately $300,000 to the project costs. A request for bids has been
published, and the bids will be received on the morning of May 20. At the June 10 City
Council meeting, they will approve the bid along with the agreements between the City
and Acceleration MN and Wayzata Youth Hockey Association.
The next addition to the Northwest Greenway will be a pedestrian bridge over
Vicksburg Ln. Vicksburg Ln is expected to be under construction in 2015 and this bridge
will be built at the same time. SRF will be designing the bridge.
Bids will be presented at the June 24 City Council Meeting for the Hilde Performance
Center Phase III updates and the Veterans Memorial. City staff are working with WSB to
design the park updates; including an improved entrance to the Hilde Performance
Center on Plymouth Blvd for more visibility from the City Center area.
The West Medicine Lake Retaining Wall project is going along quite well. This project
is scheduled to be done June 21. Crews have been working at a steady pace and are
projected to be done by the end of May. The asphalt trail still remains, and will be
worked on next week. After the trail is complete then the fence will be installed and a
seed blanket will be applied. Traffic has proved to be an issue. Many drivers are
cutting through small streets, cutting around barricades and moving signs in order to
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pass through. There are now cement stops at those intersections preventing people
from cutting through.
The Yard &t Garden Expo was held in April 11-12. There were 125 exhibitors and nearly
900 attendees present. Attendance was down a bit from last year and staff is
reviewing to see if the event's purpose is still being met. A total of $10,000 was raised
for the Millennium Garden fund. This year the Kids Environmental Fair was
incorporated into the event, and had 450 kids participate.
Primavera was held April 3-7 at the Plymouth Creek Center. Over 600 people attended
over the weekend. This event was co-operated by the Plymouth Arts Council 8t Parks
and Recreation.
The Kids Garage Sale was held on May 4. Youth are able to register for a table and sell
their goods to other kids. There were 30 kids who participated as sellers and nearly
400 shoppers.
The Walk with Mayor was held May 5 and had over 140 participants. The walkers went
around the Plymouth Creek Center and Millennium Gardens with the Mayor and City
Council members as a kick-off to the Step To It challenge.
Sue Mclean It Associates are moving forward with "Live at the Hilde" on June 6. They
will be bringing in Gear Daddies and two members of the JayHawks to perform. Tickets
are on sale now through their website.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Commissioner DeBleeckere, seconded by Commissioner Riley, recommendi
adjournment of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission meeting. With no
objection, Chair Carroll adjourned the meeting at 8:11 p.m.
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