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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 12-13-1984Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission December 13, 1984 Page 29 Present: Commissioners Chesebrough, Edwards, Mullan and Reed; staff Bambenek, Blank, Busch, Patterson and Pederson Absent: Chair Threinen, Commissioners Berg and LaTour 1. CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Chesebrough called the December meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. In the City Center Council Chambers. He then introduced John Reed, the newest commissioner, who fills the vacancy left by Frank Dvorak's resignation. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Chesebrough corrected the November minutes regarding the item about Ryerson Steel painting a mural on their wall facing the Fast Beach. He intended for the minutes to reflect that staff should work cooperatively with Ryerson Steel by co -sponsoring an artists' competition in order to get this wall painted. Following this correction, a motion was made by Commissioner Mullan and seconded by Commissioner Edwards to approve the November minutes. The motion carried. 3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Athletic Associations. No athletic association members were present. b. Recreation Staff. Rick handed out a chart showing team sport enrollments from Commissioner Reed questioned the 'popularity of soccer and whether or not it was increasing. Rick answered that it seemed to be leveling off now, after the past few years of increasing enrollment. Warming houses, scheduled to open December 15, will now open December 22, or sooner if at a,ll possible Warm weather prevented opening on the 15th: 4. Mary showed the commissioners a "Life. Be In It. mug that can be purchased through the Recreation Department, and reminded the Commis- sion that Christmas isn't far off. She then shared with them a chart. showing class comparisons between 1983 and 1984. Some of her programs' enrollments decreased this year, and she indicated that she did not know why. Some new, innovative programs are planned in 1985 including snow- shoe making, and a different type of exercise program geared especially for the over -weight and those who have not exercised for a number of years., This program will be taught by a former instructor with Richard Simmons. c. Others. There were no guests present at this meeting. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION There was nothing to report on past action, however, the Council will be considering the new name for the neighborhood park in planning area #29.. The name "Maplecreek Park," has been proposed. No name has been chosen yet for the Middle East. Park, but the Council, is scheduled to have a Town Meeting with this area sometime in January, at which time the name could be discussed; PRAC Minutes December 13, 1984 Page SO 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS' a:. CIP - Neighborhood Park Pro'ects/Trail Projects. Eric shared with the. Commission a list of proposed neighborhood park and trail projects for 1985, along with the costs associated with each project. He indicated that the list was not necessarily prioritized. he further stated that the $80,000 allocated to buy land at either the St. Mary's site or the Bans Lake neighborhood park site could be divided equally and used as down payments of $40,000 for each of the two sites, with the rest going on a contract -for -deed. Commissioner Mullan asked Eric if he antici- pates citizen pressure to develop the County Road 61 park site in 1985. Eric said that we may get some requests, but he prefers to wait until 1986. He feels that it would be easier to let the park be shaped by develop'rient, rather than designing the park first. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER EDWARDS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER REED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE WORK PROGRAM RECOMMENDED BY STAFF FOR 1985 PARK DEVELOPMENT. The motion carried with all ayes Eric then shared with the commissioners proposed trail improvements for the years 1985, 1986 and 1987. He explained that the 'least expensive trails to improve were the ones where a base already exists. Trails that require asphalt only and will be done by City crews will cost approximately $4 per foot. Trails that require a rack base and asphalt will cost approximately $8 per foot. We have a $60,000 budget to work with. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER MULLAN AND SECONDED BY COMMIS- SIONER EDWARDS TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF STAFF'S PROPOSED TRAIL IMPROVE- MENTS PROJECT WITH A BUDGET OF 560,000., A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMIS- SIONER REED AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MULLAN TO AMEND THE TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT BY MOVfNG THE TRAIL WORK IN PLYY40UTH CREEK PARK FROM THE YEAR 19336 AHEAD TO THE YEAR :1985 I'F MONEY AND CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT. The amendment and the motion both carried with all ayes. Ruth Bambenek gave a short presentation at this point in the meeting on the proposed Iceman Triathalon, which she and Steve Cheseorough are working on, along with representatives from Hennepin County Park Reserve District., The triathalon is scheduled for Sunday, February 10, weather permitting, and will take place at French Regional Park. Events will include a 5K cross- country ski race, a 5K run and a 3.5K snow -shoe race, It is estimated that 150 people will participate. A $25 entry fee will be charged, with every participant completing an event receiving a quality t -shirt or jersey. She discussed some of her other programs,, including the PITS Club for junior high level students which has been scheduled to begin in the spring in the early evening. An attempt to run this program in the fall was not success- ful, because it was offered immediately after school, and too many students had other commitments at that time. She stated that the Plymouth Community Band now has, approximately 40 members and is continuing to attract new people; mostly high school students. If membership continues to increase, the band may be able to perform at a concert in the park next summer. M1 difications are necessary to the Comprehensive Par! System Plan, so it is necessary to hold a public hearing in order to make amendments. It was decided to hold the public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on January 10, followed by the regular January meeting of the Commission.. PRAC Minutes December 13, 1984 Page 31 c. Community Center Update. The Council has informed staff that they wish t poreprivate financing of a community center in order to keep this issue active. Eric stated that a local firm may be interested in financ- ing this project. An attitudinal survey of the community is proposed' for next spring, and some of the questions that will be asked deal with the public's interest in a community center. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Park Dedication Fund. Two years ago, PRAC approved a split in park dedication funds between City Parks, Playfields and Trails (60%) and Neighborhood Parks (40%). Director Blank is now recommending that this split be changed to 70%-30%. He is also recommending that a new category "special facilities" be added to City Parks, Playfields and Trails. This category could include such things as a community center, tennis courts, water slides, etc. Commissioner Edwards was concerned that these new percentages wouldn't leave enovgh money to cover neigh- borhood parks, but Director Blank pointed out that we will be develop- ing only one neighborhood park per year in the future,, and this. proposed split allows sufficient funds to do this. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMIS- SIONER MULLAN AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER EDWARDS TO APPROVE CHANGING THE PARK DEDICATION FUND PERCENTAGES FROM 60-40 to 70-30, AND O ADD THE: CATEGORY ''SPECIAL FACILITIES" TO CITY PARKS, PLAYFIELDS AND TRAILS. The motion carried with all ayes. Commissioner Reed wondered if special facilities should be changed to "speci'al park facilities"? PRAC decided it wasn't necessary. b. Annual Report.- A draft copy of the 1984 annual report will be available. or ' s review at the January meeting. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION Commissioner Chesebrough suggested that staff get in touch with Gloria Segal, a legislator from St. Louis Pare,, who was instrumental in promoting the painting of mural's in the Cedar,Riverside area. She may have some ideas for us regarding the Ryerson Steel project, 9. STAFF COMMUNICATION Eric received a phone call from David Berg indicating that he would' not be seeking re -appointment to PRAC when his term expires in January. It is thought that Carol Beach will be appointed to fill the vacancy. The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled for January 10, with the Comprehensive Park Systems Plan public hearing beginning the meeting at 7:30 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission January 10, 19$5 Page l Present! Chair Threinen, Cortmissioners Chesebrough, Edwards, Mullan, Reed and LaTour; staff Blank, Brown, Busch, Patterson and Pederson Absent: Commissioner Beach Due to lack of a quorum at 7;30 p.m., it was decided; to begin the meet- Ong with a staff presentation from Rick Busch. Warming houses opened December 20th, after a.few days' delay due to warm weather, and ice conditions have been good. Minter 4 -man hockey and co-rec broomball are underway, as well as 3 -man basketball, S -man -basketball and volley- ball leagues,. Commissioner Reed asked about the progress of the ice- man triathalon, and Rick stated that Ruth would be discussing that program during her presentation later in the meeting. 5. PUBLIC HERRING AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PARK. AND TRAIL SYSTEM PLANS Chair Threinen opened the public hearing at 7:36 p.m. and introduced Director Eric. Blank, who gave a brief presentation on the proposed amend- ments, by explaining each one and pointing them out on a map. Ken Peterson, residing at 1325 Kingsview Lane, stated that his main concerns involved the development of Parkers Lake City Park, and the impact that development may have: on the residents currently living on the lake. He requested that the City re -consider any proposed activities that may generate too much traffic on the lake. He then gave Chair Threinen several copies of letters submitted by other concerned residents. Chair Threinen pointed out that, at this time, it is premature to make any definite plans for Parkers. Lake City Park._ She indicatedthat there will be planning meetings in the future, specifically to discuss Parkers Lake, and that Mr. Peterson could expect to receive an ivivitation to those meetings. Neil `Gustafson, residing at 5185 Holly Lane, made a presentation to the Commission and staffs with; the use of maps and the overhead projector, asking them to consider eliminating a proposed trail running west from the Plymouth Gun Club to Peony Lane, just south of 55th Avenue. He indicated that he owns a 2.1 -acre parcel in this area, and that the trail', as proposed, would run across a portion of that parcel. He further indicated that this area is mostly marsh, and is often under water, and that it would be far too costly for any developer to fill it to a level that would support a trail. He also pointed out that ane. of the objectives of the Comprehen- sive Plan was to ``protect natural resources, such as flood plains.: from development," and that any plans; to put a trail here would be in direct conflict with that objective Chair Threinen commented that this trail was originally proposed to provide access to Egan Park, and that any development: of this nature probably would not take place for many years perhaps as late as the year 2,000. She suggested that staff visit the site, and perhaps make some suggestions for an alternate route for this proposed trail. Bill Ramsey, residing at 1215 Kingsview Lane, came before the Commission to comment on the development of Parkers Lake City Park, and in particular, the development of a swimming beach on the north end of the rake. It is, his feeling that excessive amounts of sand would be required in order to