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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 05-08-1986Minutes of the. Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission.' May 8, 1986 Page 11 Present: Chair Edwards, Commissioners Anderson, Beach, LaTour, Mullan, Reed and Rosen; Councilmember Zitur; staff Blank, Busch and Pederson 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Edwards called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. in the Council: Chambers. 2. APPROVAL OF 'MINUTES A motion was made by Commissioner Reed and :seconded by Commissioner Anderson. approving the minutes of the April meeting as presented. 3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Athletic Associations. None were present at this meeting. b. Staff. Rick Busch gave a presentation on our adult softball program. which included showing the commissioners the various sizes of softballs used. in our leagues. He indicated that we have 153 adult teams registered this year divided into 20 leagues, and they will play a total of 1,000 games. He discussed the addition of four new electric score- boards at the Zachary Playfield and mentioned the softball tournaments that Plymouth will be hosting throughout the summer. - c. Others. None, 4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION a. Parkers Lake Plans, Specifications & Bid. The Council approved the Parkers Lake plans and specs at a recent meeting. Bids will bead- vertised in local newspapers for 21 days and then received and opened on May 28. b. The City Council approved the contribution to help improve the Sunset Hill Elementary playground. c. The 1986 trail projects were: approved. d;. The landscaping at Zachary Playfield was also approved. 5,. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Neighborhood Park Concept Plans - Queensland & Imperial Hills. Director Blank reviewed the concept plans for Imperial Hills park with the residents in attendance at the meeting. An informal question and answer session was then held between the residents and PRAC. Residents were concerned with what type of surface would be put in for the softball area, whether or not the jogging path could be moved farther north than its present location, consideration of play equipment for older children, tennis courts for the adults, ways to make the park active in order to dis- courage vandalism , extending the proposed path all the way to Troy Lane to give people who live 'south of Troy Lane access to the park. Director Blank responded that a typical neighborhood park is designed primarily for pre-school and elementary age children. He stated that tennis courts are not put in neighborhood parks, but rather are located in larger parks such as community playfields. He indicated that ball field surfaces are generally just grass and are meant for pick-up games DRAG Minutes :May 8, 1986 Page 12 and not formal games like the ones you'd find at Oakwood P Layfield for example. He also explained that there is usually a high level of maintenance on a neighborhood: park, with mowing scheduled weekly and trash picked up on Mondays and Fridays He stated that the budget for this park is approximately $30;000. Installation should run somewhere between $7,000 and $8,000`, and the BigToy play structure will cost approximately $15,000. If our own City crews install the trail running through the woods, that cost could be held down to around 500. The residents then concurred on Plan ##3 calling for the large climber, soccer goals, picnic tables, benches, bike rack, hard surface for basketball,, a backstop for softball, and extending the loopedtrail to Troy Lane. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER MULLAN AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF PLAN #3, INCLUDING THE EXTENSION OF THE TRAIL TO TROY LANE, VOLLEYBALL STANDARDS AND SOCCER GOALS. AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER ROSEN AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BEACH TO EXPLORE THE ADDITION OF MONKEI BARS FOR THE ` OLDER CHILDREN IF MONEY ALLOWS AFTER THE BIDS ARE IN. THE AMENDMENT AND THE MOTION PASSED WITH ALL AYES. This item will be going to the City Council on June 2nd. If it is approved, the play equipment would be ordered and should arrive around mid-July. That work which can be done by City crews would be started as soon as possible after Council approval of the plan. Director Blank then reviewed the Queensland neighborhood park plans stating that two plans were eventually combined into a third "final" plan based on comments received; when the plans were first reviewed. by residents at an earlier meeting. The budget for this park. is approximately $30,000. Residents in attendance were concerned about the trail and how much of it would.be, paved. Director Blank recommended paving the entire length of the trail for easier maintenance. Residents also requested the dredging of the pond within the park to allow for more wildlife and waterfowl habitat, and to make the area more aesthetically pleasing for those jogging or biking on the path. Director Blank responded that before dredging can be considered, a survey must be done to determine if area to be dredged is on public or private property. Residents favored the: proposed plan #3 with the addition of volleyball standards and the requested po:-d dredging. Commissioner Rosen recommended that we do something for all ages in this park and he wondered if we would be setting a precedent if we approve dredging the pond.. He also stated he was not in favor of parking stalls for the park. It was then pointed out that the guidelines for neighborhood parks call for parking fox up to eight cars to accommodate the handicapped, elderly and mothers with .mall children,. Commissioner Beach favored the parking_stal?s and recommended putting the pond dredging in a separate motion. Commissioner LaTour suggested a turn. -around area so people dropping off park visitors would, not have to back in and out of residents' driveways. It was then pointed out that the Hadley Hills residents do not have walking access to this park, so a parking lot would be a nice addition. Commissioner Reed was in favor of the pond dredging, but stated that its location. PRAC Minutes - May 8, 1986 Page 13 will only benefit a few people_. He favors a parking lot for four cars. Commissioner Anderson stated that he is concerned with the cost of dredging the pond. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER BEACH AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MULLAN TO APPROVE PLAN 3, INCLUDING PAVING THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE TRAIL AND ADDING PARKING FOR FOUR CARS, VOLLEYBALL STANDARDS NEAR THE SHELTER BUILDING AND BALLFIELD FENCING, AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER MULL'AN AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LATOUR TO ALLOCATE UP TO $2,000 FOR DREDGING THE POND IN THE SOUTHEAST CORNER. THE AMENDMENT PASSED WITH FIVE AYES. COMMISSIONERS REED .AND ANDERSON NOTED NAY. THE FIRST MOTION AS ONCE AMENDED PASSED WITH SIX AYES. COMMISSIONER ROSEN VOTED NAY.. This. item will go to the Council on June 2nd. b. Parkers Lake Park Update. The 'Parkers Lake bid opening will be May 28. Construction could begin as early as June 15. c. St. Mary's Land' Acquisitoi . The contract for deed is finalized and is being filed by the City's attorney. d. Zachary Playfield Update. The fitness court which was purchased with a donation from the Rotary Club will be installed Saturday, May 10, weather permitting. The landscape plans for the common area between fields 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be reviewed by staff on Thursday, May 15. e. 1987 LAWCON Grant. The Phase II Parkers Lake LAWCON grant was turned in on Friday, May 2. This is a preliminary application only. If it is viewed favorably, a final grant application will be written later. f. Parks Tour. All commissioners with the exception of Barb Edwards, and Councilmember Zitur will go on; a tour of the parks on Saturday, May 10, beginning at 8:30 a.m. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. New Plats. A preliminary application for the Mud Lake plat near the intersection of County Road 47 and I-494 has been received by the ` Planning Department. Dedication for a neighborhood park is included in this plat. b. 1987-1991 CIP. Director Blank reviewed a draft of the 1987-91 CIP. In 1987, three neighborhood parks (County Road 61 Amhurst, and Rolling Hills) are proposed for development. The Plymouth Creek pond dredging has not yet been approved by the DNR. In 1988, staff is proposing the acquisition of land for lest Medicine Lake City Park and the development of two more neighborhood parks. The addition of tennis courts in Plymouth Creek Park is also proposed. Phase I development of West Medicine Lake City Park has been pushed back to 1988 from the 1987 CIP* The proposed Community Center has been moved from;1988 to 1989, and Phase II development of West Medicine .Lake Citi* Park is propoFed for 1989, also. The first phase development of a playfield is proposed for 1990, along with trail construction, neighborhood park acquisition/development, and more Plymouth Creek. FRAC Minutes May 8, 1986 Page 14 pond dredging. The year 1991 calls for more trails, neighborhood. park acquisition/development, playf-+eld development, and pond dredging in Plymouth Creek Park. Director Blank indicated that a local landscaper has been approached about designing and donating a garden area in Parkers Lake. City Pare. Also, a local resident has indicated some interest in donating play round equipment for this park. Director Blank stated that no funds have been allocated in the 1987-91 CIP for the development of school playgrounds, Lions Park improvements or the removal. of the. house on Fernbrook Lane within Plymout"n Creek Park. Commissioner Mullan requested that staff and PRAC return to the original priority list established for the development of neighbor- hood parks which calls, for West Medicine Lake to be developed in 1987. He indicated that lie strongly supports developing this. park. before developing County Road 61, Amhurst and, Rolling Hills, since the Medicine Lake neighborhood has been in existence for many more years than these other areas c. Green Oaks Park. Director Blank indicated that the City Council has requested that PRAC hold a public meeting to discuss the relocation of the play equipment in this park at the request of some of the resi- dents closest to the; park who have complained of the excessive noise and other problems associated with the location of the play equipment. Chair Edwards reviewed the City Manager's recommendation on this item as well as the history of the development of this park, which was originally constructed in 1976-77. She also reviewed the minutes of the Council and PRAC meetings when this park was discussed. in 1985. Director Blank stated that the Council feels the playground is an. unfair intrusion on surrounding residents. They have suggested that PRAC review relocating the equipment.. Director Blank recommended' that FRAC visit the site before making any decisions. He stated that moving the entire play structure could cost somewhere between $20,000 and $30,000. If just a,portion of it were moved, using City crews, the cost could be reduced to around $5,000. Commissioner Mullan stated his concern that moving the equipment could set a precedent, resulting in the City being asked to move any number of other things that residents, find annoying.. Commissioner Rosen indicated that we set a precedent every time we hold a public meeting and make decisions based on only a few residents' comments. He stated that in the future, PRAC must be more conscious of how close they place equipment to people's homes. Commissioner Mullan pointed out that regardless of where equipment ends up, it will be a problem for someone. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER BEACH AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LATOUR TO HOLD A PUBLIC MEETING ON JUNE 12 REGARDING THE PLAY EQUIP- MENT IN GREEN OAKS PARK, THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. PRAG Minutes -- May 8, 198 Page 15 d. Guidelines for Requesting City Contributions to Playground Improvements on School Property. The Commission reviewed proposed guidelines for requesting City contributions to school playground improvements which had earlier been drafted by staff and submittedto the City Council. The City Council reviewed them and passed them back to PRAC for their review and comment. PRAC made two changes in the guidelines and. requested staff to re -submit them to the City Council for theist approval. 7. COKIIISSION PRESENTATION Commissioner Beach indicated a desire to purchase a gift for Ruth Brown's baby. Other commissioners approved and asked her to buy something and bill them individually. 8. STAFF COMMIJNl`CATION None, 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at p.m.