HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 11-14-1985Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission
November 14, 1985
Page 34
Present! Commissioners Anderson, Beach, Edwards, LaTour and Reed; staff Blank,
Brown, Busch, Patterson and Pederson; George Watson of Brauer
and Associates; and Councilmember Vasi[iou
Absent: Commissioner Mulian
1. CALL TO ORDER
Commissioner Edwards called the November meeting of the Park and Recreation
Advisory Commission to order at 7:33 p.m.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Reed and seconded by Commissioner Anderson
to approve the October minutes as presented. The motion carried.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS.
a. Athletic Associations. No representatives were present.
b. Staff. Rick Busch explained the enrollment charts for his programs
that had been distributed to PRAC members with -their packets. Team
sports enrollments continue to increase from year to year. Some of
the special events held at Plymouth playfields this past summer
included the 1985 Boys World Softball Tournament, and the Minnesota
Recreation and Park Association Co-Rec Softball Tournament. Currently
Rick is reviewing applications from warming house attendants. Rinks
are scheduled to open. December 21. Other winter programs starting soon
are broombafl, 5 -man and 3 -man basketball, power and unofficiated co-rec
voHeybail, 4 -man hockey a;sj whirfleball.
Mary Patterson discussed enrollments in her programs from January through
September. Fall figures are not available since most of those programs
are still in progress. A new program for winter is In the Heart of the
Beast °uppet Theatre's presentation of La Befana at Wayzata Senior High.
This program is being jointly sponsored by Plymouth Park and R -creation,
the Art Center of Minnesota and Wayzata Community Education. The
November/December issue of Plymouth on Parade was distributed to residents
in early November and the January/February issue will be out the week
between Christmas and New Year's. Skiing in Plymouth, sponsored by the
Plymouth Civic League, is scheduled for January 18.
Ruth Brown discussed the programs she is involved in which include
aquatics, wallyball, waterpolo, and special events for families and
children. She recently took over the supervision of the youth fall
soccer league which continues to have high enrollment. There were
only a few complaints regarding tears assignments this year. We've
been invited to participate again in 1986 in the TV11 Health Fair.
Because the 1985 Health Fair here at the City Center was only success-
ful due to high employee participation, we will not get involved in
1986. The second annual item;n Triathion is scheduled for February 8.
Some of the holiday programs Ruth is running include making a Ginger-
bread house, an event for -families Santa's mailbox and a Christmas
with Mother Goose, events for children. Ruth is also involved in a
New Year's Eve overnight party at Robbinsdale Community Center. This
program is being sponsored by MADD and SADD (Mother and Students Against
Drunk Driving)'. Ruth will be introducing some programming for single -
parent families in 1986, and also some programming for industrial
PRAC Minutes
November 14, 1985
Page 35
employees in Plymouth. Director Blank announced that the park and
recreation department has begun the initial planning for computerized
registration. We hope to start using it for our summer programs. He
also stated that we have begun thinking of some "unusual" revenue-
producing programs that PRAC can review in the future.
4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
The Council recently approved the Parkers Lake budget, Brauer's contract
for Phase I development of Parkers Lake park, and tho CIP and 1986 budget.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Parkers Lake Phased Construction Plan. George Watson of Brauer and
Associates was present to discuss the Phase I construction of Parkers
Lake park which will include the trail loop around the park, basic
grading, storm sewer, seed and sod, one picnic shelter, three comfort
stations (restrooms), entry signs, the road and parking area on the
south side of County Road 6, beach, underground utilities for the
bathhouse, artificial pond and fountain at the park entrance and
buffer plantings. At the present time, there is enough funding for
only one picnic shelter. If bids are reasonable, there may be enough
money to construct two or three. Commissioner Reed questioned the
necessity of the fountain and pond in Phase 1. Director Blank stated
that he felt it was necessary from an aesthetic/visual standpoint and
that it would help to "identify" our first City park. It's an unusual
feature that no other park in Plymouth has. Flowers will be planted
around the fountain, and it will help attract people to the park.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER BEACH AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
LATOUR TO APPROVE THE PHASE I CONSTRUCTION PLAN FOR PARKERS LAKE CITY
PARK AS PRESENTED BY GEORGE WATSON OF BRAUER AND ASSOCIATES, LTD. The
motion carried. Commissioner Reed asked to be sent some information
on •the fountain.
b. Neighborhood Park Improvements Update. Green Oaks park is basically
finished, with trails paved, playground equipment in, and re -sodded.
A bike rack is stili to be installed. At Circle park the playground'
equipment is in place but Is not cemented in, and sand is not installed
yet.
c. PRAC Education. It was suggested that PRAC training for new members
and new Council members should be sometime in January. This item
will be discussed again at the December meeting: PRAC encouraged the
Council to replace Betty Threinen as soon as possible.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Proposal for Wells Fargo Gamefield Grant -Fitness Court. Director
Blank reviewed PRAC's earlier action approving the submittal of a
grant for a fitness court to be installed in Zachary park. He
announced that we had received a grant in the amouni of $3,600 from
Wells Fargo Bank. The additional cost of $4,280 will be required
from park dedication's city playfield account. This fitness court
will be installed in the spring with the help of a community group.
The court will include a number of exercises -t•o help athletes prepare
for their activities at the park, as well as follow-up exercises which
are a cool -down process that should be completed prior to leaving
the park.
FRAC M i nutes
NovemLer 14, 1985
Page 36
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER LATOUR AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
BEACH TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF A FITNESS COURT FOR ZACHARY PLAYFIELD
USING FUNDS FROM THE PARK DEDICATION CITY PLAYFIELD ACCOUNT TO COVER
THE BALANCE OF THE COST. The motion carried.
b. 1985 PRAC Annual Report. A draft copy of the 1985 annual report will
be available for the January meeting with the final report ready by
February 13. Commissioners should review their 1984 reprv's for changes
in style, content, etc. In December, commissioners shoo 6 .s prepared
to Fist their 1986 goals and objectives.
c. Lake Ridge Estates Plat. Director Blank briefly reviewed this new
plat which was recently submitted to the City. It is Located on the
northern border of Plymouth, west of 1-494, and includes most of the
shoreline around Mud Lake. Director Blank pointed out that this site
Is one of the two that was proposed for neighborhood park when the
comprehensive plan was first developed. The other alternative was
Pomerleau Lake, but it has become apparent that that site will not be
available to us. Therefore, it becomes very im;-irtant to consider
this site for park dedication from the developer. A MOTION WAS MADE
BY COMMISSIONER EDWARDS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LATOUR TO PRESERVE
AS PLATTED THE SHORELINE AROUND MUD LAKE WITH CONDITIONS THAT BECOME
APPROPRIATE AS PLAT IS REVISED FOR LAKE RIDGE ESTATES. The motion
carried..
7 COMMISSION PRESENTATION
Commissioners Edwards, Beach and LaTour will be attending some of -the
sessions of the Minnesota RecreationandPark Association's Annual
Conference in St. Paul, November 20-22.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
Director Blank briefly reported or) the National Recreation and Park
Association Congress which was held in Dallas in October. One of the
more interesting ideas he learned about while there was a White Amur
fish developed in China which eats lake weeds and algae. These -fish
are currently being used in 17 states in the U.S., but are illegal in
Minnesota. A written report on the White Amur fish will be sent to each
commissioner.
Councilmember Vasiliou was present at the PRAC meeting and spoke to the
commissioners reassuring them that she is not against parks and recreation.
She indicated that she is supportive of our programs and is very pleased
with our diversity. However, shp pointed out that Council's first respon-
sibility is to see that necessary services such as fire and police protec-
tion, sewer, streets, etc., are provided first. She stated she supports
acquiring land for parks through nark dedication only, but that -the City
must then maintain that land which does cost the taxpayer.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.