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.