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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 09-02-1982Minutes of the Plymouth: Park and Recreation Advisory Commission. Regular Meeting September 2, 1982, 7.30 p.m. Page 23 Present: Chairman Rice, Commissioners Chesebrough, Threinen, and Dvorak, Planning Commissioner Magnus; staff members Blank, Nelgeson and Patterson Absent. Commissioners Berg, Edwards and Mullan; staff member Busch 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Rice called the meeting to order at 7;35 p.m. in the Plymouth City Center Council Chambers 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioners Threinen and Chesebrough pointed out misspellings in items 3, 5=b and d, and 6-b. Commissioner Dvorak moved and Commissioner Chese- brough seconded a motion to approve the August minutes noting the cor,ections.. The motion carried with all ayes.: 3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Athletic Association Representatives. None were present at this meeting. b. Mary Patterson and Rick Busch. Mary explained to the Commission the new reporting format that staff is now using to record class registra- tion. She also discussed class comparisons between the summers of 1981 and 1982. In Rick's absence, Director Blank presented some figures on field use and indicated that our fall soccer program had increased its enrollment from last year by 200 participants for a total of approximately 500 children. Chairman Rice suggested that staff should explore the idea of having a news reporter do a feature on how the recreation programs have grown with the opening of the new playfield:s. Perhaps this sort of article could be done in conjunction with the opening of Zachary Playfield.. Director Blank will discuss this possibility with the City Manager. Commissioner Dvorak voiced some concern over the City offering a soccer urogram and by doing so, are we crossing over into an area that should be offered exclusively by the athletic associations? Staff explained that we started the program at the request of several District 284 residents. Commissioner Dvorak also requested that staff make a greater effort to include athletic association representatives in our monthly meetings. Staff responded that these groups were informed some time ago that they had a place on the agenda, but date, only one or two groups have actually taken advantage of this. PRAC then concurred that staff should start making preparations to hold a large meeting where all athletic associations could be represented, and to use this meeting to discuss the recommendations/philosophies made by the Mayor's Task Force on Park and Recreation Program Financing. November wouldbe the best month to hold this meeting. Following this large meeting, staff should then begin to invite one association per month to attend PRAC meetings and ask them to make a presentation or just have an open forum for sharing ideas, thoughts:, concerns, etc. These meetings should be implemented beginning in January, 1983. 4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION No report was given. PRAC Minutes of September 2, 1982 Page 24 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Negotiations with St. Mary's Church -Update. No additional progress has beenen made at this time. Discussion of purclasing five acres for park purposes will be done at the September 13 City _Council meeting. b. 1983 LAWCON/LCMR Grant Application -Update. Appraisal of the proposed sites should be done within a few weeks. All three landowners have been contacted; two of the sites are currently for sale, and the owner of the third parcel is willing to discuss his property. The grant application should be approved in December. c. 1983 ProposedBudgets and CIP. PRAC received copies of the 1983 budget as recommended by the City Manager. It was noted that his actual recom- mendations agreed with what staff had requested in all but one or two areas. PRAC concurred that it appeared to be a fair budget. Director Blank pointed out that no new tax supported programs were proposed for 1983, and for those existing now, no increases were proposed. Only minimal increases were proposed for fee -supported programs in 1983. Chairman Rice asked that the minutes reflect that PRAC reviewed the 1983 budget and CIP and had no major concerns or questions Director Blank stated that there was no cash available at this time to purchase playground equipment for the East Beach to replace some items that had been damaged and/'or vandalized. He recommended that PRAC amend the proposed 1983-87 CIP to include the purchase of play equipment for the East Beach. COMMISSIONER THREINEN MOVED AND COMMISSIONER DVORAK SECONDED A,MOTION TO AMEND THE 1983 CTP BY ADDING $10,000 TO THE CITY PARKS, PLAYFIELDS AND TRAILS ACCOUNT FOR THE PURCHASE OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT FOR THE EAST BEACH. The motion carried with all ayes. d. Funding Task Force Report. Chairman Rice began the discussion on the. 1` s'k Force f:_ or— try apo ogizing for the commissioners" attendance at this meeting, but also noting that since four members were present, this was enough to make a motion to the City Council on the report. Each commissioner was asked if he or she had any statements to make for inclusion in a report to be prepared for the City Council. Commissioner Chesebrough had a number of concerns regarding the report including a firm belief that a review of the detailed operating costs should be conducted over a period of one years and that, perhaps these costs should be broken down so that users know precisely what their fees are paying for. He also believes that a very difficult question to answer will be ',w much to charge for a particular program. He was concerned too, wi,.h a statement in the report that implied that quality recreation programs were as important to the community as other services offered, i.e., fire and police protection, sanitation, etc. Commissioner Threinen suggested that a subcommittee of PRAC members might be formed to begin studying user fees and the timing for their implementation. The subcommittee should be formed as soon as possible so that any proposed and/or adopted fees might be implemented in 1984. She also requested that the report to the Council should include a "thank you" to the people who formed the task force. Commissioner Dvorak felt that before any formal action is taken by the Council the: report should be shared with all athletic associations and any other organizations that might be impacted by its implementation. Chairman Rice and the other commissioners also agreed M PRAC Minutes of September 2, 1982 Page: 25 that this funding report should be made available to all community groups, COMMISSIONER CHESEBROUGH MOVED AND COMMISSIONER THREINEN SECONDED A MOTION TO ENDORSE THE. FUNDING TASK FORCE REPORT AS PRESENTED INCLUDLNG ALL OF THE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS OUTLINED IN THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 2, 1982 MEETING.. COMMISSIONER DVORAK AMENDED THE MOTION TO READ THAT FORMAL ACTION BY THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE DEFERRED UNTIL AFTER MEETINGS WITH ATHLETIC ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY ITS ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION ARE HELD. The motion carried with all ayes. Staff will prepare a report for presentation to the Council regarding all of the comments made at this meeting. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. New Plats. Director Bunk discussed the Plymouth Creek Estates plat proposed by Charles Belgarde. It covers approximately 80 acres, 60 of which are in the Comprehensive Park Plan as part of Plymouth Creek Park. Director Blank feels that this plat is going to stir up a lot of controversy. This plat will be formally presented to PRAC at their October meeting. b. Joint Meeting with Planning Commission. The date for this meeting has been set at September 23 from 6:30-9:30 p.m., including dinner. The following has been suggested for inclusion on the agenda: 1) Review of Goals and Objectives from City Comprehensive Plan 2) Discussion of the newly adopted park plan including trails 3) Plymouth Creek Estates plat, Hennings plat and others if time allows. Chairman Rice requested that staff conduct a telephone campaign to encourage PRAC's attendance stressing the importance of this meeting.. Pat Moen should also be invited to this joint meeting. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION' None. 8. STAFF COMMUNICATION The next meeting will be October 7 at 7:30 P.M. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m. Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Regular Meeting October 14y 1982, 7:30, p.m.. Page 26 Present: Chairman Rica, Commissioners Chesebrough, Edwards, Threinen, Mullan, Berg (arrived at 8:20 p.m.) and Dvorak; Planning Commissioner Magnus, staff members Blank, Busch, Helgeson and Patterson 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Rice called the October meeting of the Plymouth Park and Recreation Advisory Commission to order at 7:37 p.m.. an October 24 in the Plymouth City Center Council. Chambers. 2, APPROVAL OF MINUEE Commissioner Chesebrough moved and Commissioner Edwards seconded a motion to approve the September minutes with a correction in the third paragraph of item 3. b. The word "to" had been omitted. The motion carried with all ayes. 3. VISITOR,PRESENTATIONS a Athletic Associations. None were present at this meeting. b. Maty Patterson and Rick Busch. nary handed out copies of Winter programs at. theepaaT— rtme-ntw 1 be offering. She explained programs called Santa's Calling" and the "Life.. Be In It." Contest. It was suggested: that we attempt, to get civic group, church group and school support for the contest. Another way, to encourage participation. will. be the awarding of prizes. Mary also discussed an assignment she's been given by Director Blank which is to form a Programming Subcommittee. This group would get together quarterly to plan new programs and activities for the citizens of Plymouth. It would consist of two or three PRAC members and several Plymouth residents from various age groups who have participated. in our recreation programs.. 'RAC ;members will be asked to volunteer for this committee at their November meeting. Rick handed out a list of his summer programs showing total enrollment and the years the programs were: initiated.; He also discussed a chart he had prepared; showing what softball tournaments had taken place this past summer and what costs and revenues had been generated from these tournaments. The chart indicated that where beer` sales had taken place, revenues were higher. The cost of dram shop insurance had prevented some tournament sponsors from selling beer. Rick indicated that the fall soccer program was now finishing op its season, and he anticipates that next year's enrollment will be even higher. 4, REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION Director Blank reported that the Council approved the budget at their October 4 meeting, but that some problems with the CIP have delayed its approval. 5. UNFINISHED BUSYNESS a. Negotiations with St. Mar 's Church. Director Blank has a meeting with St. Marys Paith Council on Tuesday, October 19, to further discuss the purchase of their land,