HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 04-10-1986Mi Utes of the Regular Meeting of the Lark and Recreation. Advisory Commission
April 10, 1986
Page Z
Present: Chair Edwards, Commissioners Anderson, LaTour, Mullan, Reed and Rosen;
staff; Blank, Brown., Patterson and, Pederson; Councilmember Ziitur;
Doug O'Brien, Sunsets Hill Elementary School Principal Bill Bushnell,
Sunset Hill Playground Committee; Georg; Watson, Brauer & Associates
Absent: Commissioner Beach
I CALL TO ORDER
Chair Edwards called the April meeting to order at 7.30 p.m,
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES'
A motion was, made by Commissioner Mullan and seconded; by Commissioner Reed
to approve. the 'February minutes as presented;..
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Staff Mary Patterson discussed the May/June issue of Plymouth on
Parade which is in the process of being printed and will be mailed to
residents about the first week in, May.. She stated that this, summer's
programs will be our largest ever. We are facing space problems at
Wayzata Senior High, which is the only high school available to us in
the summer. We are unable to use District 281 schools without paying
for janitorial overtime. A new program for summer is outdoor exercise
for parents and their children at Zachary Park. Our senior exercise
class "Over 50 and Fit" has been very popular this spring and well
attended, so we are going to continue it this summer.
A request this spring resulted in the City hiring an interpreter to
assist a hearing-impaired mother in our Teeny Tumblers class, where
parents participate with their children,. It is the first time we have
ever had a request of this nature, and nary anticipates that more
requests of this kind could be made in the future, thus necessitating
appropriate budget planning.
Ruth Brownstated that summer classes begin, the week of June 16. She
has begun her summer hiring, since she will be on maternity leave
in May and part of June. She announced that we will be conducting a
joint recreation effort with the City of Wayzata this summer which will
entail offering swimming lessons, tennis lessons and sand volleyball
to the residents of Wayzata. This is being done on an experimental
basis for the summer of 1986 only. If, after reviewing the program
at the end of the summer, it is deemed successful, we may consider
repeating the joint venture in .future summers.
The City Flea Market and Craft Fair is scheduled for Saturday, May 17,
which is the same day as our swimming registration. Holding these
two events at the same time should prove beneficial to both groups.
b. Athletic Association Representatives None were present at this meeting.
c.: Others Doug O'Brien, principal of Sunset Hill Elementary School, and.
Bill Bushnell,; representing the Sunset Hill Playground Committee, were
present to request financial support from the City for the construction
of a, new playgroundat Sunset School,. They are asking the City for a
1.0,000 donation to help with the removal of existing asphalt surfaces;
PRAC Minutes: - April 10 1986.
Fage s
the removal of unsafe, obsolete play equipment; the preparation of beds;
around and: under relocated new play equipment, the drilling of holes
for equipment footings; the purchase of concrete and installation of
concrete in footing holes; the purchase, and installation of 6 x 6
timbers around the structure; the purchase and installation of black
plastic mulch on prepared beds; the purchase, hauling and installation
of peacock in the prepared beds; and the: purchase and installation,
of asphalt basketball court between recycled backboards and; hoops.
They are willing to accept the donation in the form.of money* and/or
labor from our park maintenance crews. Director Blank is recommending
that the donation be in the .form of money only, since it is too
difficult. to judge how much time would be required of our park maintenance
crews in completing this job. Commissioner Rosen: questioned how often
this playground is used after school, hours and, on weekends in order to
justify our involvement In this project. Mr. O'Brien stated 'several
families are seen using the equipment on weekends and in the evenings
after school. Director Blank also stated that the Sunset Hill playground
and the surroudng park is considered the: neighborhood park for this
area, therefore justifying its use by individuals other than. school;
students.. The playground equipment would be owned and maintained by the:
school district and they would also be responsi.bile for the liability.
Commissioner Reed requested th,t if we donate to this project, we should
consider erecting a sign of some sort identifying this playground as
a City neighborhood park, as well as showing that we cozitributec
Financially to the equipment. Commissioner Rosen recommended 0tat before
FRAC donates a: check for $10,000, bids should be received and examined
and, then the money given accordingly. Commissioner Rosen was also
concerned with the precednet PRAC would be setting by becoming involved
with this project. Director Blank pointed out that when PRAC was
approached in 1983 by the Pilgrim Lane PTA to donate matching funds
to their playground improvements, the question of setting a precedent
arose at that time also. PRAG. decided then that they would probably
be asked.by schools with playgrounds serving, as neighborhood parks
to donate to future improvements, and that they would review each
case separately and would likely donate matching funds.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER MULLAN .AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER.
REED RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY CONTRIBUTE UP TO $10,000 FOR THE ITEMS
LISTED IN DOUG O'BRIEN'S LETTER DATED MARCH 21, 1986, CONTINGENT UPON
RECEIVING AN ITEMIZED COST BREAKDOWN ON EACH ITEM, AND FIRM COMMITMENTS
ON VOLUNTEER LABOR AND EQUIPMENT ALL SCHOOL DISTRICT FUNDS ARE TO BE
SPENT FIRST BEFORE CITY FUNDS ARE USED. THE CITY SHALL HAVE THE OPTION
OF SUPPLYING LABOR AND OR EQUIPMENT TO ACCOMPLISH ANY OF THE LISTED TASKS.
The motion carried with four ayes_. Commissioner Rosen voted nay because
he was concerned with setting a precedent. (Commissioner Anderson did
not vote, as he left the meeting prior to this item being discussed.)
Chair Edwards requested that staff bring back to the May meeting a
portion of the minutes from the meeting in 1983 when PRAC approved
the matching funds for the Pilgrim Lane PTO regarding the discussion
on precedent setting. It was suggested that staff also check with
the City engineering department to determine if there are sites
within the City -requesting fill where the old. asphalt surface from
the playground could be discarded.. Staff was also asked to report
back to PRAC by the.: May meeting what other schools may desire in terms
of playground equipment improvements.
PRAC Minutes - April. 10, 1986
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4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION'
a. Joint powers Agreement with Wayzata. Director Blank reported that the
City Council, approved the; joint powers agreement with the City of
Wayzata, a,t their April 7 meeting.: This joint agreement is for one
year only on a trial basis.,
b. Approved Purchase of Property at 3005 East Medicine Lake Boulevard
The Council, approved purchasing the property a:t 3005 Fast Medicine
bake Boulevard for inclusion in the Hennepin County Regional Trail
Corridor, contingent upon the City being reimbursed(including
interest) -within five years. The contingency failed, however, when
the Metropolitan Council, denied the interest portion of the re -payment.
We are now waiting for final, action from the Suburban Hennepin Regional
Parks District.
5 UNFINISHED BUSINESS'
a. Parkers Lake, date George Watson shared construction drawings for
Phase.I development of Parkers. Lake, with the: commissioners. The drawings
included plans for landscaping, grading, planting, etc.. Mr, Watson
also had ,pamples of park benches, lighting fixtures, and the material
that would be beneath the: sand in the beach area. Director Blank
discussed writing our 1987 LAWCON grant application for Phase II
of Parkers Lake City Park which would include the 'coat launch, fishing
docks, and picnic shelters.
b Zachary Bui".din& Director Blank reviewed with the commissioners the
meeting he has held with the architect and with Hennepin County Health
Department regarding the Zachary concession building. Three proposed
plans for the building have been developed. Director Blank is recom-
mending dropping all three plans., two because they are too costly,
and the gird because it is simply an open air shelter and could not
be used for concessions., Director Blank is recommending instead that the
City go ahead with the proposed landscaping, which would allow portable
concession vehicles access to the playfield area, as well as pave: the way
for the construction.of a concession building at some time in the future.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER LATOUR AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
ROSEN APPROVING DIRECTOR BLANK'S RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PROPOSED LAND-
SCAPING AT ZACHARY PLAYFIELD. The motion carried with all ayes.
c St. Mary's Land Acquisition update The acquisition of the property
at St. Mary's will be wrappedup within the week, once the City gives
St. Mary's a check.to pay special assessments..
d. Neighborhood Park Development/Improvements - Queensland & Imperial Hills
Architectural drawings should be ready within a few days for viewing
by the neighborhood residents. Meetings for the residents to view the
plans are tentatively scheduled for April 22. Letters will be sent
to residents the week of April 14
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. New Plats 'There were Ito new plats to review.
b. 1986 Trail Projects Director Blank is recommending following the
basic trail plan established in. 1985 covering the years 1985-87, and
completing those trail projects this year that were to have been done
in 1985, as well as making the Luce Line trail the top priority in
PRAC Minutes - April 10, 1986
Page 10
1986. FRAC approved this recommendation unanimously
c. 1987LAWCON Grant Application Director Blank stated that lie intends
to write our 1987 LAWCON grant application for Phase xT of Parkers
Lake which will include the boat launch, fishing docks, pictxic shelters
and parking lot,
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
Chair Edwards announced that she is planning, to attend a dinner for
Commission and, Board members on Tuesday., April 15, at the Hyland Lake
Park. Reserve in 'Bloomington. Commissioners Rosen and Mullan will: also
attend as well as Director Blank.
Commissioner Reed attended tate first meeting of the French Park Advisory
Board where he learned that $2,.5 million has been set aside for a. water
play area within French Park.
Commissioner Rosen: asked if a parks tour could, be arranged for sometime
in the spring. Director Blank stated he would schedule one for early
in May.
8'. STAFF COMlMUNICATIODT
None.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 10 33 p.m.