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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 02-13-19861 I Minutes of the, Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission February 13, 1986 Page 3 Present:: Commissioners Anderson,, }leach (arrived at 5.:30 p.m.), Chair Edwards, LaTour, Mullan.,, Reed and Rosen; staff Blank and Pederson I.,. CALL TO ORDER Chair Edwards called the February meeting to order at 7;36 p.m. in the Council Chambers. 2, APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Commissioner LaTour to approve the minutes of the, January meeting as presented. The motion carried. 3:; VISITOR PRESENTATIONS h,; SYR were no visitors present at this meeting. ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION h Cit C it a roved the 1986 park dedicationvV --otos Blank reported that t e y ounc pp fees, she consultant for the Zachary Park concession building, the 1986 park facility rental policies and tee schedule, the neighborhood park improvements for Queensland and imperial Hills neighborhood parks and the appointment of Joan. Reed to the French Regional Park Advisory Task Force. Council also appointed Richard Rosen, to the Park Commission to replace Betty Threinen. 5. UNFINISHE. BUSINESS a. 1985 Annum Report. The annual report was reviewed for final changes, correctih,,:, and additions. Since no changes were recommended;, a motion was imde by Commissioner Msllan and seconded by Commissioner Anderson apprc.`z'ing the 1.985 Annual Report and forwarding it to the City Council. The motion carried with all, ayes. Commissioner Reed questioned whether or not next year's report should place more emphasis on the proposed capital improvements section. He also is concerned with the Council's peelings regarding priorities relating to the L986-90 CIP. He is recommending that this item be discussed in more, detail during the joint PRAC/City Council meeting b. Parkers LaketTpdate. Director Blank reviewed for tne: commissioners the latest flow chart completed by Brauer and Associates, More topo- graphical work had to be done due to some disturbances that have taken place at the southwest corner of the lake since the last topographical charts were completed. The Commission will hold a special meeting on MarchlOth to review the plans once more and then residents will be invited to review the plans also. Director Blank reported that 550 tons of sand will be; delivered to the swimming beach area within a week or two where it will, be distributed on the ice by our maintenance staff where it will later settle when the ice melts, c. PRAC Training Session Update. Director Blank stated that he had recently met with Paul Fjare from Brauer and Associates to review the content of the: training session. The training is expected to last approximatel.,' triree hours and will be spent dealing mostly with the comprehensive park and trail system plans Supper will be served starting around 5:30 p.m. The Council is being encouraged to attend this training session also. PRAC Minutes of February 13, 1956 Page: 4 d. Zachary Building Updata. Director Blank met with the Zachary concession building consultants to review the size and layout of the structure. There may be a minor snag with the Health Department's regulations that require restrooms within the, same building where there are concessions. At the present time, this building isnot proposed to have any sewer lines. connected to it. If it is required to construct sewer lines to the building, construction may have to be delayed due to the increased cost related to the sewer ].fines, which were not planned for in the original propos'sl. e. it. Mary's Land Update. Final plaits for the St. Mary's development were delivered to the Planning Department recently. If they are approved., they will then go to Council for their approval. Approximately 45-60 days later, the City would be in possession of 1.1 acres of new park lat1n , f. Neighborhood Park Projects Update (Queensland and Imperial Hills). No outside consultant will be hired for the design of these two neighborhood park improvement projects_ according to Director Blank. All work will be done by our own staff. Neighborhood meetings will be held. at the end of March to seek input; From residents surrounding the two parks ;-heduled for improvements. Chair Edwards asked Director Blank if there had been any more incidents of vandalism at Imperial Hills Park.. Director Black said that he had.not heard of anything within the past several months. b.. NEW BUSINESS a. Joint Meeting with PRAC/City Council. Director Blank stated that the date for the joint meeting will have to be changed again. He as well as others have conflicts on March 24. He asked the commissioners for their agenda suggestions and the following are some ofthe recommendations: City budget and hog° it may affect park development, maintenance and recreation programs Conmunity Center Revenue ideas (John Mullan and Carol Beach have volunteered to meet with: the recreation.staf.f to research some ideas for increasing revenues for the recreation fund) Timing of park construction and trail construction as related to the budget Development of future neighborhood parks Commissioner Rosen, based on his interview with the City Council prior to his appointment to PRAC, perceived that the. Council would like more emphasis placed on park maintenance and the development of recreation programs rather than the acquisition of new park land. Chair Edwards and Commissioner Reed also stated that they were given the same impres- sion by Council members. In view of this discussion, it was agreed that this item should be discussed in more detail at the joint meeting. Director Blank reminded the Commission that new park land is. generally acquired through park dedication rather than being purchased with tax dollars. b. Resole tion Su orting the President's Commission. on Americans Outdoors. The Minnesota Recreation: and Park Association has drafted a resolution PRA$ Minutes of February 13, 1986 Page i asking for the support of two commissions: the President's Commission. on Americafis Outdoors and the Commission on Minnesotans outdoors as well as support for the Federal. Land. and Water Conservation. Fund (LAWCON) and the State Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources Fund (LCMR).. Both of these grant programs have been very beneficial to the City of Plymouth in the way of park development as pointed, out by Director Blank. In view of the, benefits received by the City from these two grant programs, Director Blank encouraged FRAC to support the resolu- tion. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER REED AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON TO ENDORSE THE RESOUTION SUPPORTING THE PRESIDENTS COMMISSION ON AMERICAN$ OUTDOORS, THE COMMISSION ON MINNESOTANS OUTDOORS, AND THE REVITALIZATION OF MINNESOTA'S LOCAL AND REGIONAL RECREATION GRANT PROGRAMS.. The motion carried with all ayes. Director Blank then stated that hearings would be held in St. Paula on April 16 regarding the Commis- sion, on Minnesotans Outdoors and several, issues facing Minnesotans in terms of outdoor recreational resources. Issues important to PRA$ included. the continued development of the Luce: Line trail,, Voyageur National. Park, Minnesota. River Valley, St. Croix River and the continued maintenance anddevelopmentof cross-country ski, trails in Minnesota. Commissioner Mullan stated that he had been told cross-country skiing permits probably would not" be required after next year.. Funds from these permits has been one of the sources for financing the grooming of our state's trails. c. Legislative. Commission on Minnesota Resources. Director Blank shared with the Commission a Letter from Doug Carlson., Chairman of the LCMR, which is asking for opinions on which natural resource opportunities should be considered for funding in 1987. FRAC felt consideration should be given to cleaning up: our lakes, rivers, and streams; continued acquisi- tion of high quality park and recreationlands; the possible introduction of white Amur fish into our lakes and ponds to help eliminate weeds, etc.; and the development of river and lake oriented recreation opportunities. f 7: COMMISSION PRESENTATION Commissioner Mullan asked Director Blank if the City requires the architects it hires to have insurance., Director Blank indicated that the City does require these firms to be insured. Director Blank commented further that he attended an insuranceseminarin January where he was informed that legislation has been proposed that would provide local governments the. same limited ;immunity now available to state government and, certain private landowners as related to the risk of injuries from participating in recreation programs. Specifically, this legislation would: provide limited immunity for claims based on the construction, operation or maintenance of parks and recreation areas and for the provisions of recreational services, provide limited immunity for claims, based on the clearing of land, removal of refuse, or the creation of trails without artificial surfaces,, hold municipalities liable for certain conduct - for example, creating dangerous artificial conditions without warnings. PRAC Minutes of February 13 1986 Page b I Director Blank also informed the, commissioners that he believes the City's insurance covers them individually should they ever be sued by a resident injured while participating in a recreation activity. H STAFF PRESENTATION Director Blankstated that Hennepin Parks and. the City are jointly working on acquiring some. property along East Medicine Lase Boulevard which is within the regional trail right -of --way. The property has been appraised at $33,000 but the owner is willing to sell it for $25,000. Since Hennepin Parks is not in a position to buy it at this time, the City is proposing to purchase it and later sell it to Hennepin Parks.. ipayCommissionerBeachaskedDirectorBlank: we have to a. for pool time li when we sponsor a program at the school district's pools. He stated that we. only pay if we require the services of a custodian for over -time. 9 ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m,