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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 11-10-1983Af Regular -Meeting cf the Plymouth Park and Recreation Advisory Commission November 10, 1983 Page 23 Present; Chair Threinen, Commissioners Chesebrough, Mullan, Dvorak and Berg; Planning Commissioner Magnus; Public Works Director Moore; staff Blank, Busch, Patterson and Pederson; Dave Ferrens representing the NHPAA; Len Thiede representing the Pilgrim Lane PTA; and Carol Brownell •representing, the Westminster HOA Absent: Commissioner Edwards 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Threinen called the November meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission to order at 7:32 p.m. in the Plymouth City Center Council Chambers. 2. APPROVAL. OF MINUTCS A motion was made by Commissioner Berg and seconded by Commissioner Chesebrough to approve the October meeting minutes as presented. The motion carried with all ayes. 3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Mar Pltterson and Rick Busch. Mary announced that the next issue of Plymouth on Parade, containing winter program information, will be in the homes the week of November ?1. Sume of this winter's changes include an expanded youth skiing program with the addition of a new Friday Night. High School Ski Trips program, and the change from Breakfast with Santa to Lunch with Santa co-sponsored by the Plymouth Jaycee Women. Rick's new programs include Youth After School Sports at Oakwood and Birchview for 5th and 5th graders offering the sports floor hockey and volleyball. New programs for adults include 4 -man and 4 -:woman broomball and men's floor hockey. Warming houses will open December 17, weather permitting. Rick will begin interviewing warming house attendants in the next couple of weeks. b. Dave Ferrens NHPAA. Mr. Ferrens, the 1984 president of NHPAA, discussed the background ef that organization and the various sports they offer. He indicated that 3,000 individuals participated in the NHPAA this past year, and, 25-30% of those participants were Plymouth youth. He praised Rick Busch for the excellent world he has done with the NHPAA and stated that he would like to continue to maintain the good relationship between the City and the NHPAA. Commission€r Dvorak asked Mr. Ferrens if he had any comments or concerns regarding the Mayor's Task Force Report on Park and Recreation Program Financing. Mr. Ferrens indicated that he was not real familiar with the policies proposed in the report, beat that he did understand fees would possibly be implemented sometime in the future. He would like to be kept infonred of any decisions the City makes regarding the policies outlined in the task force report. Staff will send some additional copies of the report to Mr. Ferrens for distribution to NHPAA board members who are Plymouth residents. 4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION There was nothing to reoort on this item. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. LAWCON/LCMR Grants 1983-84. We now have title to two parcels of land that will e part of WestMedicine Lake City Park. The third parcel is still being negotiated due to the owner's disagreement over the appraisor's valuation of the property. Our application for 1984 grant money has been PRAC Minutes of November 10, 1983 Page 24 ranked number six. Director Blank indicated that funding was available at this time for only projects ranked one through five. b. Play Equipment - Plymouth Creek, LaCom to East Beach. All major pieces of pay equipment for these three parks have Been constructed and installed., Director Blank expects work on these parks to be completed by the end of the year. c. Pilgrim Lane PTA Request. The Pilgrim Lane PTA, represented by Len Thiede, appearedbeforeFRAC at 'their October meeting and presented them with a; model of the proposed playground equipment along with a request for some financial assistance. Staff was directed to review the: safety of the playground equipment prior to PRAC making any recommendation at the November meeting. Director Blank indicated that, after his review, he was satisfied with the safety of the playground model. He also outlined the costs to install and construct the playground equipment at several of Plymouth's other neighborhood parks. Based on these figures, and the fact that Pilgrim Lane currently has three prices of playground apparatus, he is recommending that PRAC approve the allocation of $10,000 over a two year period to help Tund'the project, with the understandiiig that the PTA can make an additional request for funding in future years. He also pointed out that the equipment, once installed, becomes the property of the school district and is their responsibility to maintain and they would also be liable for its safe use. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER DVORAK AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BERG TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ALLOCATE $5,000 FOR THIS PROJECT IN THE YEARS 1983 AND 1984, AND FURTHER THAT THEY BE AWARE THAT THE PTA IS INVITED TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN FUTURE YEARS TOWARD THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT. THE MAINTENANCE AND LIABILITY OF THIS EQUIPMENT WILL BE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S RESPONSIBILITY. The motion carried with all ayes. In anticipation of PRAC's action on this request setting a precedent, the Commission asked Director Blank to establish some written guidelines for other organizations to follow before they make similar requests for funding. These guidelines should stipulate that the organization requesting financial assistance must present a well-planned playground design and the location of the equipment must be a school site that also serves as a neighborhood park. d. Athletic Association Insurance., PRAC began studying this issue last summer when a youth was injured at Lions Park during an athletic association sponsored baseball game. Discussions between staff and the City's attorney and insurance agent have revealed that the City can be held liable for injuries occuring at our facilities inspite of the activity being sponsored by a group other than the City.. PRBC is now considering whether or not outside organizations should be required to carry some form of insurance prior to being given permission to use our facilities. Commissioner Dvorak suggested that the City should take out an additional policy that would cover any injuries that might occur during non -City sponsored events. He believes that this additional insurance would be minimal in. cost. This item will be discussed in further detail during the joint meeting between the City Council and FRAC scheduled for November 29. PRAC Minutes of November 10 1983 Page 25 6 NEW BUSINESS a. Request from Westminster HOA for Neighborhood Park. Director Blank reviewed Tiis regarding t6is request and showed a map to the Commission using the overhead projector. When the Comprehensive Park System Plan was prepared, one neighborhood park was proposed for this area which was to serve both neighborhoods 23 and 27. Neighborhood 27 was also to be served by the development of West Medicine Lake City Park. With the development of new County Road 61, the location of this proposed neighborhood park is no longer suitable. Access to the park for both neighborhoods requires crossing County Road 61 which is unacceptable to the residents in these two areas. Therefore, Director Blank is recommending the development of two parks, one in each neighborhood. This will require a public. hearing and an amendment to the Comprehensive Park System Plan. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER CHESEBROUGH AND SECONDIED BY COMMISSIONER MULLAN TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PURPOSE OF AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE PARK SYSTEM PLAN BASED ON THE REQUEST BY THE WESTMINSTER HOA AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW COUNTY ROAD 61. The motion carried with all ayes. b. Golf in Playfields. Director Blank received a letter from a resident requesting that golfing practice be permitted in the City's playfields. He is recommending against this request due to the increased maintenance it might create and the possibility of injuries occuring to people using the playfield trails or other groups using the playfields. The commissioners discussed the possibility of developing an area where this type of activity could be held, possibly in Plymouth Creek Park or one of the larger City parks. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER BERG AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CHESEBROUGH RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL. MAKE NO CHANGE IN THE CUR°ENT P')I.ICY PROHIBITINGGOLF IN COMMUNITY PLAYFIELDS. The motion carried w"th all ayes. c.. Rental of Canoe Racks and Sailboat Moorings. Director Blank presented the idea of the rental of canoe racks ac- or sailboat moorings at some of the City's lakes beginning next summer. There are a number of lakes he believes where this might be feasible, and he feels that it could be revenue producing for the recreation fund. Director Blank will research costs to install canoe racks and report the findings at the January or February meeting. d. Community Center Review. Commissioner Chesebrough; attended a meeting with Director Blank and Richard. Peterson of North€ Hospital in order to discuss and hear Mr. Peterson's reacti to t;) a wellness based community center. Mr. Peterson seemed to favor it.. A citizen committee to study a community center for Plymouth is in the process of being formed now. Invitations to Plymouth residents and organizations will be mailed out regarding a tour of area community centers to take place on Saturday, December 3. Director Blank ;announced that Alan Brass had returned to Plymouth and will be on the citizen committee. Steve Chesebrough is the chairman of this committee. e. Hidden Vallpy Dev_el o ment. Director Blank showed overhead visuals eepicting a proposed development called Hidden Valley. This development is a rectangular piece of property 40 acres in size lying between Vicksburg Lane nnd. Nathan Trails development just north of 45th Avenue. The Comprehensive Park System Plan calls for a neighborhood park to be developed on this property. Staff indicated that they have worked PRAC Minutes of November 10, 1983 Page 25 with the developer and he has concurred with the inclusion of five and one-half acres of dedicated park on their plat. The developer has asked that a northerly trail connection out of their plat not be required as part of the platting process. Staff recommended that this northerly trail connection be included because it is the only possible location for a north -south trail corridor which would be the primary entrance to the neighborhood park. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER MULLAN AND SECONDED BY ,OWISSIONER CHESEBROUGH RECOMMENDING THE COUNCIL ACCEPT THE PLAN AS PROPOSED WITH THE INCLUSION OF A TRAIL CORRIDOR TO THE NORTH ALLOWING FUTURE RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA ACCESS TO THE PARK. The motion carried with all ayes. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION Chair Threinen reminded PRAC of the joint meeting with the Council to be held on Tuesday, November 29, at 5:30 p.m., and the early work session to be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 8. 8. STAFF COMMUNICATION Director Blank shared with the commissioners a few slides taken during his stay in Kansas: while the NRPA Congress was in session. Slides included a "children's farm," moto-cross bike track, trails, open air shelter and the 10-fiel;; Miller athletic complex. The City has begun advertising the half-time recreation specialist position which will be available beginning in January. Staff has entered into a contract to host another USSSA softball tournament over the Labor Day weekend i'n 1584. Revenues generated would be approximately 6,500 and will help fund the new recreation specialist. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m. Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Regular Meeting December 8, 1483 Page 27 Rres& t Chair Threinen, Commissioners Chesebrough, Edwards, Mullan, Dvorak and Berg; Planning Commissioner Magnus; staff Blank, Busch and Pederson 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Threinen called the December meeting of the Park and. Recreation Advisory Comtnission to order at 7.43 pxm. in the Plymouth City Council conference room. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Threinen made the following corrections in November's minutes: p. 24, item c., 10th line, "prices" to "pieces," and p. 24, item d., 5th line, occuring" to "occurring." A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER CHESEBROUGH AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BERG TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER. MEETING WITH THE ABOVE CORRECTIONS NOTED. The motion carried with all ayes.: 3. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION Director Blank reported that the Council approved the recommendation made by FRAC to fund the playground equipment project at the Pilgrim Lane Elementary School. 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - a. LAWCON/LCMR Grant 1983-84 Update, Director Blank will be attending a mee ung the TeeT-6—fi-Uecetuber 12 to pick up the appropriate paperwork. for completing the 1984 application process.. b. Letter to Athletic Associations. A letter regarding the decision al7out insurance coverage made by PRAC and the City Council at their joint meeting on November 29 will be sent to all athletic associations next week. c. Community Center Tour. Commissioner Chesebrough reported on the tour o* community centers that took place on Saturday, December 3. Approxi- mately 25 people attended the tour, with 12 of those participants representing homeowner associations. Their second meeting will be sometime in January. Commissioner Chesebrough commented that he had suggested to the Mayor that PRAC and the Council should go on a joint tour of community centers. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Review Offer to Sell Property on 18th Avenue. Director Blank, using t e overn ctor, showed the ommissioners maps of the property currently owned by the City for inclusion in West Medicine Lake City Park.. At thi's time, two new parcels have become available; however, both have homes situated on them. The parcel being considered for immediate purchase is located at 11814 18th Avenue North and is owned by Robert Gersbach, who currently rents out the house. The total cost to the City, if purchased now, would be approximately $55,000. The. City would continue to rent the property to the current occupants for a number of years until we are ready to begin construction of the parka Director Clank is recommending acquisition at this time because of the low initial investment of $7,000 with the remaining $48,100 on a contract for deed with a balloon date in 1987.. The second parcel, located at 11808. 78th Avenue, occupied by Ida Lentz, has not been considered for purchase at this time. Director Blank has explored the possibility of having the Plymouth Housing Authority purchase the