HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 02-14-1985t
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission
February 1.4._ 198S, 7:30 p.m.
Page;S
Present Vice Chair ChesebTough, Commissioners Reed, Edwards, La'Tour and Beach,•
staff Blank, Cook, Pederson and Peterson
Absent: Commissioners, Throinen and Mullan
1. CALL TO.ORDER
Vice Chair Chesebrough called the .February meeting,to order at 7.35 p.m. and
introduced Carol Beach, PRAC"s most recently appointed commissioner.. Carol.
briefly described her background, interests, family and career.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion to approve the minutes was made by Commissioner Edwards and seconded'
by Commissioner Reed. The, motion carried, with all ayes:
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations.. No athletic association vepresentatives were
present at this meeting.
b. Staff. Director Blank introduced Mark Peterson,, the City's Park and
Environmental Supervisor. Mark gave a brief presentation on the
maintenance: of ice rinks, accompanied by several, slides which took
the commissioners through: the entire process of flooding rinks, from
brooming to the water being applied. He also handed out statistics
on the total hours of labor spent this season so far to maintain each
rink,
Director Blank then introduced Steve Cook, the City's Forester. Steve's
presentation included Mlides of our City's urban forest as compared to
other cities' true population. lie showed the drastic difference between
streets oncepopulated with elms that are now bare due to Dutch elm
disease. He discussed the City's latest proposal: a tree replacement
program which will be implemented this year. This new program allows
property owners who have lost trees to Dutch elm or oak wilt, to receive
up to a maximum of two new -trees in replacement. The City is hoping
that this program will; encourage homeowners to more willingly report
any Dutch elm or oak wilt disease. His slides also showed trees being
planted, tree care, how to recognize certain tree diseases, and encroach-
went problems the City often encounters, such as gardens, trees, play
equipment, etc., begin installed; on City property.
Both Steve and Mark then responded to questions asked by the commis-
sioners-
4.
ommissioners.
4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
Director Blank reported that the Council approved tho Comprehensive Plan
amendments,, and the plan has now been forwarded to the Metropolitan Coun_
ci.l for their approval Once that approval has been granted,, new trail
and park maps will be printed .for distribution. Council also approved.
our 1985 fee Schedule and Park Facilities Rental Policy.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a., Annual Report. It was: suggested that next yearts annual report should.
include, on the attendance chart, when meetings are held on dates other,
than regularly scheduled ones, out of fairness to those who are absent
on those dates. The Commission thanked all who had worked on the report,
PRAC Minutes of February 14, 1985
Page 6
citing how +"professional" it looked. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER
EDWARDS,AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER REED APPROVING THE 1984 PARK AND
RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION ANNUAL, REPORT., AND .FORWARDING IT TO
THE CITY COUNCIL 'FOR THEIR APPROVAL. ''the motion carried with all ayes.
b. Combun ty Center, Update. The Commission reviewed,a copy of a memoran.
dum sent to Chair Threinen, from Mayor Davenport asking PRA; to continuo
their review and study of a community center for, Plymouth'.. It was
docided.that additional public information should be developed prior to
the attitudinal survey scheduled for May, because it is anticipated
that one or more questions in the survey will deal with the issue of
a community center. Commissioner Chesebrough asked staff to research
the lease sale-back option and ,find out if this method will require
that the citizens vote again. Director Blank has been working on a,
video tape that previews community centers, senior centers, etc. It
is his hope that this video could run on cable channel 7 prior to the
attitudinal; survey. At this time, the video presentation is about
half finished. More funds need 'to be allocated in order to complete the
project. A MOTION WAS MADE, BY COMMISSIONER EDWARDS AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER REED RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL: ALLOCATE $$,000
FROM THE UNEXPENDED FUNDS ALLOCATED IN 19840FOR THE PRODUCTION OF
EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS-ON A COMMUNITY' CENTER. The motion ca,ried
with all ayes.
Commissioner Beach recommended that staff include coverage of a con
ventional pool as well as a wave pool in the video nape, so that the.
public will be aware of the differences between them. She believed
that showing only a wave pool in, the video might give the public the
impression that the City was trying to "sell" the leisure pool concept.
If the Council approves the funding, staff will begin working; on the
remainder of the video tape as soon as possible, and will show it to
the Commission at their March meeting if it's finished by then.
c. Parkers Lake date. Our LAWCON grant has been approved by the National
Park Service and is now waiting approval by the L.C.M.,R, We"ve been
informed by the State Historical Society that an archaeological survey
must be performed before any development begins. Staff is now receiv
ing bids from a.variety of archaeologists and hopes to have this survey
completed as soon as the weather permits.
d. Neighborhood Park I rovements U date. Staff has sent proposals to
tree lan scope architects for the design and installation of play areas
at Circle., Green Oaks and the Luce Line trailhead parks. The selection
of an architect is scheduled to be completed prior to the next meeting
of PRAC.
Commissioner LaTour asked, `Director Blank if he had any more information
on the problems at Imperial Hills Park. He indicated that he, along
with Office Bob Nesbitt, would be attending a meeting on Sunday,
February 17,; with the Imperial Halls Homeowners Association. The
association recently designed and conducted,a survey of its residents
regarding their use of the park. The results of that survey will be
discussed at, the, meeting.
PRAC Minutes of Februa 244, 1,985
Page
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. 1985 FRAC Training Ideas. It was decided that training. for 1985
would consist of a bus tour of other cities' parks and Facilities.
Director Blank will put together a list of possible sites from which
PRAC can choose. June was the preferred month for the tour.
7.. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
Commissioner Chesebrough discussed the Iceman 'Triathlon which was held
on Sunday,; February 10. Fourteen people participated, and even though
this number was much lower than anticipated by staff, everyone felt the
triathlon was a success. It was thought that the fee should be lowered
next time to ;attract more people.
S. STAFF CONWNICATI,ON
Director, Blank indicated that staff will: be working on putting together
a summer triathlon which will include swimming across Medicine Lake,
and biking and running around it.
He pointed out the calendar of events which had been distributed to each
commissioner and stated that next month's would not be quite as detailed
since several hours of work were necessary to produce this month's calendar.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9;35 p.m.