HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 09-11-2014Approved Minutes
Park Et Recreation Advisory Commission
Thursday, September 11, 2014
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Ned Carroll, Vice Chair Greg Anderson, Commissioners: Tricia DeBleeckere, Merrilee
Riley, Michael Swanson, Aaron Vanderwall, Kipp Wyse
STAFF PRESENT: Parks & Recreation Director Diane Evans, Deputy Director of Parks & Recreation Barb Northway,
Parks Supervisor Lowell Luebeck, Parks Supervisor Dan Heitke, Office Support Specialist Sarah Josephs
COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES: Council Member Jeff Wosje, Planning Commissioner Dick Kobussen
GUESTS: Steve Fowler, Elizabeth Wahlstrom
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Carroll called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner DeBleeckere, recommending
approval of the June 12, 2014 Park and Recreation Advisory Commission meeting minutes as
written. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried.
3. OPEN FORUM:
Mr Fowler and Ms Wahlstrom attended as representatives from the Garden Reserve Townhouse
Association. Their Association borders Begin Oaks Golf Course along Cheshire Lane, with
approximately 40 members living directly along the golf course. The residents in this association
are concerned about what will happen to the Begin Oaks Golf Course property once it is sold and
developed. The members are hoping that the Parks and Recreation Department will work to
secure or protect any land within the golf course that would be near their association instead of
having large developments happen on the property.
Director Evans explained that as soon as a developer is announced, the City will work with them
to try to secure land near Lake Camelot Park. The City would like to complete trail loops in that
area if able to purchase land from the developer.
4. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS (NON -ACTION ITEMS):
4a. Staff Presentation - Trail Rating System - Barb Northway
Currently there are over 140 miles of asphalt trails in Plymouth. Last summer an intern walked
or biked all 140 miles and rated each section of trail for use and wear. Parks and Forestry staff
are able to use a mobile app with GIS programming to keep track of each trail section. Trails are
rated between 1 (critical condition) to 5 (excellent condition). Each section is listed on a
spreadsheet ordered by priority of repair. This year was spent repairing as many rated 1 trails as
possible. The asphalt work is bid out each year to find the best rate. Currently an 8' wide trail
can be overlaid for $10 per foot, or $52,800 per mile. The year after a trail is overlaid, a seal coat
is applied to help it last longer. In 2014, $260,000 was available for asphalt repairs.
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5. NEW BUSINESS (ACTION ITEMS)
5a. Trail Gap Prioritization (ACTION)
Commission members were asked to recommend trail gaps to be completed in 2016 and 2018.
Trails will begin to be constructed as 12' wide trails. After discussion, gaps 43, 49 and 56 were
strongly favored based on location, funds available and engineer recommendation. Trail Gap 43
is along Medina Road between Greenwood Elementary and Brockton Lane. Trail Gap 49 is along
Old Rockford Road between Vicksburg Lane and Dunkirk. Trail Gap 56 is along Old Rockford Road
between Vicksburg Land and Rockford Road.
Motion by Commissioner Riley, seconded by Commissioner Wyse, recommending to complete
Trail Gap 56 in 2016 and Trail Gap 43 in 2018. After discussion, motion passed with 6 yes votes
and 1 no.
5b. 2014 Department Strategic Goals (ACTION)
A current list of strategic goals was included in the meeting packet. Director Evans gave a brief
status update on the department's goals.
Motion by Commissioner Riley, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, recommending to approve
the 2014 Department Strategic Goals. With no objection, motion passed unanimously.
5c. Northwest Greenway Trail (Non -Action)
An open house will be held on September 15 at the Plymouth Creek Center. SRF Project
Managers will be onsite to give an overview on the project and show photos and renderings of
the trails and bridge. Staff will take feedback from residents and use that to make their final
recommendation to Council. SRF will be at our October PRAC meeting to discuss the project and
get input from Commissioners.
5d. CIP Update (Non -Action)
An updated CIP has been provided in the PRAC packet. There is $700,000 designated for the
Northwest Greenway project and $1,600,000 for the pedestrian bridge over Fernbrook Ln for
2015. Staff is hoping to receive a Hennepin County Sports Grant to help install 1 or 2 artificial
turf fields. Currently there is $1,000,000 planned for the turf field improvements at Elm Creek
Playfield. Improvements at the Plymouth Ice Center will be shifted back by one year.
5e. Invasive Update (Non -Action)
Parks & Forestry staff began treating the ash trees on the east side of the city. Between May -July
of this year, 407 ash trees, greater than 15" in diameter, were treated. A partnership with
Rainbow Treecare allowed for 103 ash trees to be treated with a new experimental treatment
that is believed to also protect from Emerald Ash Borer. Each treatment averages 10 minutes to
apply and requires two staff members. One staff person drills the holes around the tree while
the other injects the treatment into the tree. In 2015, the ash trees, with a diameter greater that
15", on the west side of Plymouth will begin receiving treatments. The treatment the City is
using has a 99% success rate. The trees will receive treatments every other year for a total of ten
years.
Earlier this year the City Council provided $50,000 to the Parks and Forestry budget to tackle the
quickly growing buckthorn issue. An ICWC crew works two days a week, under the supervision of
the Forestry Technician, to remove buckthorn. Since April, they have worked 43 days and
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treated 39.95 acres of buckthorn, averaging nearly an acre a day being treated. The ICWC crew
will work year-round to continue removing buckthorn. A key benefit of removal is that it is
allowing native plants to grow back in. Education sessions are being held throughout the city
allowing residents to learn how to identify and remove buckthorn from their property. The Park
Maintenance office has fifteen buckthorn pullers available to residents to remove buckthorn on
their own.
6. COMMISSIONER/STAFF UPDATE (NON -ACTION ITEMS):
Prairie Ponds Park: The playground and exercise equipment have been installed. Crews are
working on the final grading, asphalt work and landscaping. This park has been found to be very
popular already with families in the community. Prairie Ponds Park will be a pilot program site
for a Garden Program. A shed and raised planting stations will be available to teach kids
gardening skills.
Hilde Performance Center: The center trail has now been cleared. A new bridge going over the
creek is now in place. Helical piers have been put in place for work on the deck next to the pond.
There was a small setback with the vault toilet facilities. Due to city codes, the vault toilet is no
longer an option. Staff will be asking Council to either approve a portable restroom enclosure or
a restroom building instead.
Plymouth Ice Center: Helical piers that will be stabilizing the building are now in place. All four
walls to the facility are up in place. By the end of September the building should be enclosed and
the interior work will begin. The project is moving along on schedule and is expected to be
complete by December 1.
Plymouth Creek Playground: The original playground equipment was taken apart and removed
from the site by the group Kids Around the World. The playground is now on it's way to Africa to
be reinstalled. The new equipment was dropped off at Plymouth Creek Park and unfortunately
found in flames in the middle of the night. The playground equipment was valued at $82,000.
All necessary equipment and parts were reordered and delivered to the site. Staff is working
closely with Police to have extra patrols monitoring the site. The Police Department has received
several tips as to who caused the arson.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Commissioner Riley. seconded by Commissioner Anderson, recommending
adwournment of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission meeting. With no objection, Chair
Carroll adjourned the meeting at 8:46 p.m.
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