HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 08-02-1979MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF
PLYMOUTH PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION,
August 2,; 1979
The regular meeting of the Plymouth Park and Recreation ,Advisory Commission was
called to order by Vice Chaitm4n Thoei.nen at 7:45 p.m. on August 2,. 1979 in the
Council Chambers of the City of Plymouth.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Brass, Chesebrough, Mullan, Terry, Threinen
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Edwards, Guddal! Johnson, Rice, Christian, Hanson.
AGENDA REVISIONS
Discuss items #5 and 5A (East Medi.c;ine Lake Boulevard Trail Proposal) as the
first topics due to citizens present for these topics. Citizens present included
Dave Buzzelle, Mark Anderson and Erika Urban all representing the AMLAC (Associa-
tion of Medicine Lake Area Citizens).
MINUTES
Commissioner Brass moved and Commissioner Chesebrough seconded the. Motion to
approve the June 7 1979 minutes, Motion.carried. Commissioner Terry moved and
Commissioner Mullan seconded the Motion to approve the June 28 minutes, Motion
carried, Commissioner Chesebrough moved. and Commissioner Brass seconded the
Motion to approve the July 5, 1979 minutes, Motion carried'. Comments on the
minutes were directed towards typographical errors and the attendance format of
the June 28 meeting.
East Medicine Lake Boulevard Trail Proposal (topics #5, 5A)
Director Born stated that the Metropolitan Council Parks and Open Space Commission.
will reject any, application from the City of Plymouth for the acquisition and
development of the trail corridor along East Medicine Lake Boulevard from 13th
Ave. No. to 36th Ave. No. because this Corridor is deemed by the Metropolitan
Council Parks and Open Space Commission staff (Mr. Jessen) as having Reginal
significance and should be the responsibility of the Hennepin County Park Reserve
District. Director Born stated. that he believed the Hennepin County Park Reserve
District should be th:n agency most appropriate to undertake the acquisition; and
development of the Corridor based on the policy position of the Metropolitan
Council Parks and Open Space Commission,
An alternative proposed by the Association of Medicine Lake Area Citizens (AMLAC)
would favor a series of one-way traffic routes along Southshore Boulevard and
East Medicine Lake Boulevard from East Medicine Lake Park to 32nd Ave. No.
Director Born stated that he had met with the City Engineer on the concept pro-
posal and the Engineer said that one-way streets must be developed in pairs and
that the streets proposed for the one-way trail by the AMLAC group do not meet:
these criteria. Director -Born, recommended that:,
1. The Class II Bike Lane proposed for 13th Ave. No. be installed.
2. The trail in East. Medicine Lake Park be installed at the time of East
Medicine Lake Community Park development.
3. The Hennepin County Park Reserve District be given full support in the
acquisition and development of the East Medicine Lake Boulevard Trail
Corridor.
R. The Trail Corridor proposed for West Medicine Lake Boulevard be implemented
at the time that County Road 154 is relocated.
Discussion centered on the time frame for the i7elocation of County Road 154 and the
potential displacement of homeowners on East Medicine Lake Boulevard because that.
Corridor will require land acquisition. Director Born responded that County Road
154 relocation is not contemplated in the five year Capital Improvements Plan and
that the City is attempting to link Corridor components around the Lake with other
governmental agencies and developers, Commissioner Brass moved and Commissioner
Terry seconded the notion to endorse Director Born's recommendation. Commissioner
Mullan moved an amendment., seconded by Commissioner Chesebrough that "It is assumed
that the Hennepin County Park Reserve District will only acquire property necessary
to assure safety of trail users", Motion to amend carried, Main Motion carried.
Director Born reviewed the topic of East Medicine Lake Trail Corridor Acquisition
and recommended that;
1. The adopted Trail System Plan be revised to indicate the Regional
significance of the East Medicine Lake; Boulevard Trail Corridor.,
2. The Hennepin County Park Reserve District become the agency involved in
the continued acquisition and development of the identified fast Medicine
Lake Boulevard Trail Corridor from 36th Ave. to. East Medicine Lake
Community Park.
3. The Hennepin County Park Reserve District be encouraged to pursue the
Corridor acquisition and development consistent with the existing Joint
Powers agreement between the Hennepin. County Park Reserve District and
the City of Plymuth (May 1978).
Commissioners Mullan and. Chesebrough asked if time frames needed to be placed on
corridor acquisition and the revision of the adopted Trail System Plan. Director
Born stated that the: Hennepin County Park. Reserve District is the appropriate
agency to secure funding and that a timeframe for the acquisition could not be
specified as funding is not an assured factor. Director Born stated that the.
Trail System.Plan needs to be revised in order to reflect the Regional signifi-
cance of the corridor which will assist the Hennepin County Park Reserve. District
in its efforts to secure funding. Commissioner Brass moved and Commissioner
Chesebrough seconded the motion to endorse Director Born's recommendations,
Commissioner Mullan moved and Commissioner Terry seconded an amendment "It is
assumed that the Hennepin County Park Reserve District will only acquire property
necessary to assure the safety of trail users Motion to amend carried, Main.
Motion carried.
Synopsis of the Joint Meeting -(7-24-79)
Director Born stated that he was pleased with the: attendance and the direction of
the discussion of the Joint Meeting on July 24, 1979. He reNiewed a synopsis
relating to Recreation programs, Parks Dedication Fund, Public Works Reserve.
Fund, Development Policy for parks, PRAC policies, Capital Improvements Program
and the Public Information Plan. Projects for the PRAC to undertake and complete
were identified as follows;
l.) Develop a position/policy statement to define the City's role in the
provision of Recreation, Programs presently being offered by a school
district for which there will be no future revenue sources from the
school district.
2.) Develop parks development guidelines and standards dictating the minimum
standard and condition for a park dedicated to the City by a developer.
3.) Develop a policy iiJdressing the acquisition and maintenance of marsh-
lands as public wildlife sanctuaries as potential adjuncts to neighbor-
hood parks.
4.) Develop the 1980 1984. Parks Capital Improvement Program.
5,) Develop and implement the Public Information Plan.
Commissioners discussed Recreation Program input and cooperation with school
districts and the use of a portion of the Public Works Reserve Fund to assist in
the; Capital Improvements Fund, Director Born reviewed the proposed Park Develop-
ment Guidelines and.their incorporation into the Manual of Engineering Guidelines.
The Canmission indicated that developers should be aware of the Neighborhood
Park components so the components will be identified on development plans, Dir-
ector Born indicated that he will provide an analysis of Neighborhood Park sites
by size and neighborhood as well as playfield analysis by location for discussion
at the September 6, 1979 meeting. Director Born stated that he would draft a,
policy statement addressing the acceptance and maintenance of marshes as public
wildlife sanctuaries.
1980 1984 Parks Capital Improvement Program,
Director Born reviewed the draft of the 1,980 - 1984 Parks Capital Improvement
Program and discussed funding options with the Commission. Director Born intends
to prepare the Capital Improvements Program illustrating funding from traditional
and non-traditional methods and illustrating those methods on a timeline so as
to reflect the development impact when using a bond referendum and when not
using a bond referendum. Commissioners discussed the County Road 15 Bike Path
project and the rationale for including La Compte as a Playfield. Plymouth
Athletic. Association representative Len Theide was asked if the Plymouth Athletic
Association would use the La Compte facility and he responded that they probably
would not use it but that it does serve the people in that area and should be
included in the Capital Impprovements Program. Director Born will recommend that the
PRAC endorse the revised,1980-1984 Parks Capital Improvement Program in September.
Director Boni reviewed the -Public Information Program and stated that the Council
authorized the preparation and implementation of a Public Information Program and.
has authorized an expenditure not to exceed $5,000 for the P*•)gram. Director
Born will work with Commissioner Rice and Threinen securing .,e services of a
consulting firm to package the Public Information. Program. Commissioner Mullan
indicated that he felt strongly that the budget for this program should be made
known to each agency at the front end so that the firm selected will know
exactly the funds available to work with..
Director Born reviewed the Gleanloch Park meeting of July 31, 1979. Commissioner
Terry commented that the surrounding residents felt that they would like to have
the park and some of the residents felt the Park as proposed will have components.
quite close to existing property owners. Commissioner Terry stated that she would
coordinate with the staff,; the consultants and property owners and attempt to
move the hard court surface from the location previously recommended by the PRAC.
Director Born stated that he felt the hard surface court should not be relocated
because
1.) There would.be a constriction of the open play area and potential
conflict with the storm sewer.
2.) The, relocation of the court would require trail realignment resulting in
greater visibility of the court than being tLcked into the proposed
berm of approximately two to three feet.
3.) There would be a greater tendency for balls to roll into the marsh area.
creating a potential safety hazard'.
Commissioner Terry moved to amend the Commission's earlier recomnrondation with
a concept which kould reflect the attitude of the Neighborhood that they would
prefer to have the hard court placed in a location further from adjoining
properties, Motion did not carry for lack of a second.
Director Born reviewed the Recreation programs and activities offered from 1975
until 1978 and identified the: programs which the Department proposes to offer in
1480., Director Born responded to questions: relating to budgets and operating
expenses.
Director Born reviewed the storm damage :lean -up report distributed to Council on
July l 3, 1979..
Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:.30 p.m.