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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 09-13-1984Minutes of the Regular Vietinq of the Plymouth Park and Recreation Advisory Commission September 13, 11.984 Page ZI Present. Chair Threinen, Commissioners Chesebrough, Edwards, LaTour,:Dvorak, staff Bambenek, Blank and Busch Absent: Conynissioners Berg and Mullan, staff Patterson and Pederson 1., CALL TO ORDER Chair Threinen called the Septf!mber meeting of the Park and. Recreation Advisory Commission to order at 7:30 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Chesebrough corrected Item 7 to read, „FRAC assumed that the parking lot at Mission Hili, Park would be used by those with a handicap and mothers with small chilu,en." Following thiscorrection, A MOTION WAS MADE By COMMISSIONER CHES,,BROUGH AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER L.'1TOUR TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JULY MEETING. The motion carried with all ayes,R: 3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Athletic Associations. No athletic association representatives were present. b. Recreation Staff. Director Blank introduced Ruth Bambenek, who <qas raceitt y iVi a$ a half-time recreation specialist and replaces. Gay Harmon. Rick Busch made a presentation on the sun,:ter softball tournaments and gave a brief accounting ofthe profits made in the recreation 'fund due to these tournaments. The largest tournament ever held in Minnesota in one class was the Labor Day USSSA. Over 170 games were played at Zachary Playfield with teams from 10 different states participating. The tournament was very successflal and Zachary's facilities recei4ed many favorable comments from ballplayers and spectators Plans are already underway for next. Labor Day's USSSA tournament. Eric Blank complimented Rick on; how hard he worked in organizing the tournament and indicated that Rick had put in 60 hours at Zachary Park over the Labor Day weekend, Ruth Batrbenek was again introduced by Eric who discussed her extensive background in aquatics, mentioning that she is the highest ranked Red,Cross lifeguard in the metropolitan area. He stated that Ruth had held mock drownings at the beaches this s uimvr in order to test our lifeguards readiness in such an emergency. Our lifeguards did very well during these tests. Ruth was asked by Commissioner Cr,,t,, O- brough her opinion of why several drownings occurred in 14(inneag, s this past summer. She stated that in one case, the phone wash" workinv properly and that timing is critical when trying to save a drowning victim, Ruth gave a report on summer program attendance. Beach attendance was down this ,year, perhaps because of some cool weather days.. Playground in the Streets stops were increased,, but attendance was about the same as last year. Popular fall programs include gymnastics and break - dancing. Both programs required additional classes being formed to accommodate all those interested. PRBC Mtoute Septzmber 13 1984 Page 2 4 REPORT ON PAT COUNCIL ACTION There was no information to report on past Council action. 5r UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Budgets and CIP. The City Council met to discuss and subsequently appveb- gets on September 10 and 11. Director Blank pointed out that the park maintenance salaries category has been increased to accomimdate more part-time park maintenance personnel which is neces- sary due to increased park acreage. He also announced that the recreation budget was increased in order to make Ruth's position ful`!-time beginning in January, 1985. Re anticipates ti,at recreation programswill bring in $180,000 in revenues in 1985.. As for the overall City budget, the proposed mill rate is Z% less than last year, which will decrease homeowner taxes slightly next year.. b. Middle East and Mapledell Neihg borhood Park Construction. The Middle Fast Par is nearing completion andcuid -T nis ed by the end of September clue to an energetic effort by Barber Construction. Maple dell, Park is a:little behind in construction because of the Dunkirk ane tVrovements Completed projects here include grading, trail. paving and bridge construction: This park should be finished by the end of October. When the Dunkirk Lane improvements are completed, there will be an off-road trail along the east sisde of Dunkirk Lane. Commissioner Edwards mentioned a trail w ich rims into the Four Seasons shopping area. She is concerned. about its safety. Director Blank answered that it will be sighed with warnings about a steep hill and a sharp curve. c. Bond Referendum. Chair Threinen thanked Director Blank and Commis- si`Rer C ese rough for their outstanding work on the community center bond referendum, and both. Commissioner Chesebrough and Director Blank praised each other's efforts on this matter. The vote clearly showed. that the conwnuni'ty is not yet ready for such a facility, inspite of the fact that it is needed, according to staff. Commissioners commented that ir!ost of the negative talk they heard from the community regarded not knowing anything about the proposed center or the bond referendum until: the last minute. There was extensive coverage in the Post, but the. Sailor ha.d no reports in their paper until the day of the election, and the story was combined with one about the Wayzata school bond. Director Blank feels that the bond fail,ed for three reasons: 1) lack of good communication with the community, 2) the Wayzata school bond, and 3) the public's misconceptions about a wave tec pool.. Director Blank intends to produce a short videotape to be aired over. Cable Channel 7 about community centers in otter areas It will include some footage of a wave tec pool 6. NEW: BUSINESS a. Amber Woods. Park The City received an informal request from the tt er oo soon eawners Association to take over the inai ntenance of their neighborhood park, which they would donate to the City. Direutor Blank stated that this: park does not meet the standards established for neighborhood parks in the Comprehensive Park System Plan. Further- more, Greenwood Elementary School was named in the system plan as the neighborhood park to serve this area:. Because of the lack of development. PPAC Minutes September 13, 1.384 Page 23 in this planning neighborhood it was felt that it would be premature to take any action at this time. Instead, it was suggested that PRAC negotiate with the Wayzata School District and the Greenwood PTO on a joint development venture icor Greenwoodneighborhood park, and to table airy further action on the Amber foods request until a later date.. Director Blank pointed out that other requests, such as taking over road maintenance,, have been denied by the City in the past. b, Winter Skating Rinks Pilgrim_Lane. Staff is proposing to dismantle the megrim Lane warming house due to problems with the heater. It has never worked properly, and to replace it with a new one would cost approximately $480. Pleasure skating and lights would remain, at this site, but those skaters seeking shelter and the opportunity to play hockey would have to go to Plymouth Jr. High. Director Blank proposes to send a fetter to the Pilgrim Lane and Four Seasons neighborhoods and to Wayne Rau, principal at Pilgrim Lane, informing them of this plan, i4o action will be taken on the proposed closing of this warming house until next month, or after response is heard from those affected.. A MOTION. WAS MADIE BY CHAIR THREIN N AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LATOUR DIRECTING STAFF TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF DISMANTLItIG THE WARMING HOUSE AT PILGRIM LANE AND DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE WITH THOSE MOST AFFECTED BY THIS ACTIOR, The motion carried with all ayes, c Joint Meetir:: with the CiityCouncil. Some possible items for discussion it a 015t ng incfu e ico557romity center, figures provided by Rick Busch on the summer softball tournamen.t,, a slide show "tour" of our new parks. If a '*oint meeting isn't necessary due to lack of enough agenda items, it was suggested that the Council%PRAC liaisoy-., Pat Moen, attend a FRAC meeting and relay any information back to the Council and vica., versa. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION Commissioner Chesebrough has observed that the new regional park on Medicine Lake is generating a lot of toot traffic Tong 36th Avenue. He has also observed that this road is not safe in some areas for bikers and runners,. of . He is wondering whose responsibility trail improvements would be? D,eector Blank will be meeting with Marty Jessen on, September 14 and will discuss it with him then. 8. STAFF COMMUNICATION Director Blank gave a brief update on our 1385 LAWCON grant application. for Parkers Lake. We have been tentatively approved fci a 75--25 matching grant. If plans proceed on a normal course, phase I development could begin in 1985, with construction starting in 1985. The Oakwood parking lot expansion has been delayed until next spring when the; City will go out for bids on this project. Director Blank may put something in the next Plymouth on Parade asking. for community reaction to the community center bond referendum; "I voted for it because. " or "I voted against it because. g, ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:11 p.m.