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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 01-10-1985Minutes 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 PRAC Minutes of _January 10, 1985 Page Z develop a swimming beach here, and that the DNR probably would not approve of adding the amount of sand required., Chair Threinen, again, reiterated that spr-cial planning meetings would be held in the future regarding Parkers LakL City Park and that Mr. Ramsey Mould be invited to attend. Being no additional speakers, Chair Threinen closed the public hearing at 8:14 p.m. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER CHESEBROUGH AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LATOUR,TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PARK AND TRAIL SYSTEM PLANS AS OUTL>INED IN A MEMO FROM STAFF DATED JANUARY 4, 1485. The cmtion carried with all ayes. 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Threinen called `the regular portion of the January meeting to order at 8:15 p.m. in the City Center Council Chambers 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Chesebrough corrected item 5 in the December minutes regarding the, iceman, triathalon, pointing out that the snowshoe race will be 3K gather than 3.5K as stated in the minutes. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER MULLAN AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER EDWARDS TO APPROVE TUE DECEMBER MINUTES AS CORRECTED. The motion carried with all ayes. 3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Athletic Associations. No representatives were present at this meeting., b. Staff. Ruth stated that plans for the: iceman triathalon ,dere proceeding smoothly and.fliers advertising it Were being .,;tributed. Burger King in Plymouth will be a co-sponsor. The events are being divided into five age classes for both male and female, and all finishers will receive a jersey.; Winners will receive a medalion. Commissioner Mullan asked; if this event was receiving any special press attention.. Commissioner Chesebrough responded that an article had appeared in.. the Plymouth: Post, as Well as the Star and Tribune's Sunday edition. Chair Threinen asked how the $25 entry fee was determined, and Ruth stated that other groups who had sponsored triathalons and marathons in the past had charged similar fees. Ruth then discussed the Channel '11 Health Fair, which will beheld at the City -Center on Wednesday, March 6, Ruth is proposing to hold it during the hours cf 3:00 to 9;00 p.m. Chair Threinen suggested that Ruth contact the Sunset Hill PTO group for any comments or suggestions they might have, since they sponsored a Health,Fair site last year and,felt that it,was not very successful. Mary handed out copies of the Janu?ry brochure, explaining that it's delivery to the r6 --,idents had been delayed due to a new regulation imposed by the .postal service requil•ing that the brochure first go to the 'downtown ;post office. She informed the Commission that 70 FRAC Minutes of January 10, 1985 Page people attended. the January 8 free cross-country indoor ski clinic sponsored by Hennepin County Park Reserve District and the Minneapolis Star and Tribune. Over 120people had registered to attend. Mary then discussed a new program that she has been researching for approximately a year -and -a -half on the corporate use of recreation programs. She indicated that larger companies such as Prudential,, Honeywell', C,ener4l+ Mills, etc,, usually have the financial resources to hire full-time staff to provide and/or plan recreational programs for their employees, and that what we are proposing is to assist and/or offer smaller companies the same opportunity to participate: in recreational activities. ` These activities could include such things as exercise programs, volleyball, dancing, weight control,' smoking cessation., etc. She agreed to keep PRAC informed on the progress of this program. Director Blank informed'the Commission that he intends to add the City forester, the park and environmental supervisor and the senior program coordinator to the line-up of staff that make presentations to PRAC every month.. He is considering putting them on a rotating basis, with only two of them making presentations at each meeting. This would then eliminate the need for all of them to be present at every meeting. The procedure would begin with the February meeting, and it is anticipated that each presentation would take no more than 15 minutes. PRAC was in favor of this suggestion, and added that if one of the staff, not scheduled to attend, had important news to convey, he/she could send it via the person making his/her scheduled presentation. 4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION, At their January 7 meeting, the Council approved the 1,985 park and trail projects and the use of park dedication funds as proposed. by PRAC at their December, meeting, 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a Communit Center Update., Director Blank indicated that private; financing oa communityt enter is still being researched including tax laws, long- term tax shelters,, and how that would affect a transaction such as this. b. Annual Re rt. ommiss overs Chesebrough and Threinen questioned whether or not the. Goals and Objectives section of the annual report should be moved to the beginning, rather than being the last section of the report. Commissioner Chesebrough also wondered if an analysis of flow well PRAC did on attaining their goals and objectives should be written Chair Threinen suggested that sentences be made complete., or else begin with the word "to." Since PRAC has had little success in meeting goal #9, it was decided to re=phrase that statement to meet with the Planning Commission when necessary to review plans that are inconsistent." It was also suggested that the last sentence, regarding meeting in April, be dropped. Goal #10 should be changed to read "meet twice annually with. Plymouth's City Council if warranted." Goal #13 should be titled "Comprehensive Park and Trail Plans," and the first sentence should read "To review and update as needed the Comprehensive Park and Trail Plans." Final Fmc minutes or oanuary iu, ivw5 Page 4 copies of the annual report, with the suggested corrections and addi- tions, will be available for the February meeting, 7. NEW BUSINESS a, Park Facilit Rental Policies and Fee Schedule. Director Blank noted t'at the rental policies and, Ifee schedule are the same as last year, with the, proposed, addition of a PA system rental and; scoreboard rental. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER EDWARDS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CRESEBROUGH-TO APPROVE THE PARK FACILIT'Y RENTAL POLICIES AND FEE SCHEDULE AS PRESENTED BY STAFF INA MEMO FROM RICK BUSCH DATED JANUARY 7, 1985. The motion carried with all ayes. b. Town Meeting. A town meeting with "thee residents around the area east o Me is ne Lake is scheduled for January 14. Two of the items being discussed are Middle East park ,and the regional trailalong East Medicine Lake Boulevard. 8. COMMISSION PRESENTATION Chair Threinen discussed a copy of a memo she received from Mayor venport to the City Council regarding the possibility of limiting the leng 3 of time, or number of consecutive toms an individual serves on commissions and boards. The next two Commission meetings are scheduled for February is and March 14. Commissioner Chesebrough asked i'f the problem of people breaking through the barriers at the East Beach for ice fishing purposes had been solved. Director Blank stated that an area north of the east beach had been opened to accommodate the eager angiers. Fte also pointed out that at the west beach, approximately 10 feet from the planned i•ce fishing access, someone had; used a chain saw to cut off poles ha'iding a chain barri;.er, in order to create a second, unplanned access. 1. STAFF COMMUNICATION Director Blank announced that Skiing in Plymouth is January 19th at Plymouth Creek Park. 10. ADJOURNMENT rhe meeting adjourned at 9:34 p.m..