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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 06-12-1986Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Park and. Recreation Advisory Commission June 12, 1986 Page 16 Present: Chair Edwards, Commissioners Anderson, Reed, LaTour, ,Beach and Rosen; staff Blank and Pederson; Gouncilmembers Vasiliou andLitur; residents of Green Oaks Absent: Commissioner Mullan 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Edwards called the meeting to order at 7.43 p.m. in the Council Chambers.. 2., APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Donald Anderson ani seconded by Carol Beach to approve the minutes of the May meeting as presented. The motion carried with all ayes. 3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Athletic Associations. None were present at this meeting. b.. Staff. Recreation staff members were not present at this meeting. c. Others. There were no guest speakers present at this meeting. 4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION a. Award of Bid for Parkers Lake City Park. Council awarded a bid to matt Bullock Contracting Co. in. the amount of $459,000 for Phase I construction of Parkers. Lake City Park. Work shouldbegin there by the end of the week. b. Queensland and Imperial. Hills Neighborhood Park Improvements. Budgets and concept plans for these two neighborhood parks were approved with the exception of the pond dredging .for Queensland park.: c. Council approved the guidelines for requesting City contributions to school playgrounds. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Play Equipment at Green Oaks Park, Director Blank briefly reviewed the history of the problems at Green Oaks park which resulted in the Council directing FRAC to hold a public meeting to hear the concerns of the residents. Director Blank reviewed his staff report for PRAC which listed four options for dealing with problems at Green Oaks along with his recommendation to partially re -locate some of the equipment. Chair Edwards read aloud letters received from Faye Lang, 18205 30th Place, who supported leaving the equipment as is; Janice Rakos, 18725 27th Avenue, who supported moving the equipment; and Audrey Johnson, 1,8835 30th 'Place, who supported moving the equipment. FollotTing the reading of the letters) Chair Edwards called people from the audience to speak. 1. Rick Vanderford, 2615 Zircon Lane, favored moving the equipment, but not to the west side of the hill. He suggested the Southeast side. 2. Dave Volker, 2830 Brockton Lane, spoke on behalf of the Creentree West Homeowner's, Association. The:Association met recently and passed a resolution supporting the total relocation of all playground equipment to an area approximately 30-35 yards north of the undeveloped farm land, on the south end of the park, maid -way between the two housing develop- ments. When questioned by the Commission that this location might interfere with the softball diamond, he stated that it did not. He further stated the diamond is very rarely used. Minutes of the June 12, 1986 FRAC "meeting Page .11 3. .teff Grates, 18630 26th Avenue, stated his home borders the park on the northeast corner. He is home during the day and also stated that the ball diamond is rarely used. He favors the total relocation of the equipments 4. Jim Richter, 2625 Zircon Lane, stated that he enjoys the park very much, but suggests moving the equipment to an.area near the first base foul line of the ball field. 5. Kent Carlson, 18705 27th Avenue, stated he borders the park and: his property is 15-20 feat from the slide. He complimented the Commission on the fine play equipment, but he feels it attracts older kids. He favors total relocation to a more central point in the park. 6. Carolyn Sternad, 18415 30th Place, has lived in the Green Qal^s area for 21; years and: has enjoyed. the park with her children and,adchildren. She does not think that moving the equipment will solve the nu.&bJa problem. She .feels it would be better to wait at least a year to see if use tapers off'. She suggested implementing the curfew if teenagers are a problem after 10;00 P.M. 7. Chuck Johnson, 275:0 Xanthus Lane, lives around the corner from the park.. He stated that a noise problem existed long before the new equipment, was installed, and. he favors leaving the equipment as is. 8. Fred Ra.tzloff, 2700 Xanthus Lane, stated that he and his family enjoy using the park and think that, the equipment should be left where it is. He agrees it's noisy, but feels regardless of where equipment is located, there, is going to be noise.. He indicated his concern with the high tension wires being above the equipment if it is moved to the south end of the parka He favors leaving equipment alone for at least a, year to see if situation improves: 9. Peter Busch, 18905 30th Avenue, feels equipment should be left where it is. He also stated his concern with Rick Rosen being on the Commission and discussing this issue, Which he felt was a conflict of interest. He suggested that Commis -7 ner.Rosen remove.himself from the voting process. 10. Carl Nelson, 18625 26th Avenue, stated that the only solution to the problem is to move the equipment to a.central location in the park. 1.1. Elliot Kjus,. 2720; Zircon Lane, lives on the northwest end. of the park, and he recommends moving equipment to an area which would be an equal distance from all homes. He also suggested the removal of the shelter building, as it attracts teenagers who throw rocks on the tin roof, which creates a lot of night disturbances and noise., He also questioned the planter at the entrance to the park and wondered who was to maintain it. He indicated that it is full of weeds and looks very unsightly. 12. Dan Barnard., 2210 Xanthus Lane, bikes to the park frequently and enjoys it very much. He feels equipment should be left where it is for now to see if situation changes with time. He also indicated his concern with Commissioner Rosen being involved in any decision-making, process regarding this issue. r. . 13. Jim Jestus, 18805 27th Avenue, stated that his backyard is, on the park, but he has not heard any noise at night from teenagers. He worries that if equipment is movedto _an aree near the hill, it might not be; visible by the parents`. 14. Karen Deters, 19020 26th Avenue, lives one block west of the park. She favors moving the equipment down closer to, the farm land'. She indicated that she has visited in the Rosen and Carlson homes on numerous occasions and that the noise.comi,ng into these homes is unbearable. She also stated she is aware that teens throw rocks on, the top of the shelter building which is very noisy, since it has a tin roof. She favors replacing the pea gravel with sand and suggests better patrol of the park at night.. 15. Linda Rosen, 18715 27th Avenue, indicated that she met with a rep- resentative of the pollution control agency in April. The PCA. stated that the ideal situation, would be to have the equipment lower than the homes, but in this case, the equipment is higher. The PCA also felt that the equipment is too close to the three. homes in the corner, and that these three homes are -providing a buffer for the rest of the neighborhood'. Mrs. Rosen favors moving all, of the equipment to an area southwest of the ballfield.. 16. Jean Carlson, 18705 27th Avenue, stated that she did not think the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission listened to the residents during the earlier planning stages of this play equipment. She recommends its total relocation to the south central portion of the park. She also suggests removing the picnic shelter and replacing all rocks with sand. 17. Fred Retzloff spoke a second time and said that after heating, all, the comments made, he understood the problems to be noise,; increased traffic, and insufficient patrolling of the park at night• He recommends that before any: decis.on6 be made, the opinion of the noise pollution control agency should be sought, 18. Carolyn Sternad spoke again, and her finalrecommendation was to plant trees in the corner where the play equipment is located to act as a screen for the residents living closest to the playground. 19. Jeff Grates stated again that the noise problem must be dealt with, and the equipment should be moved. 20. Dan Barnard spoke a second time and supported. leaving the equipment alone, replacing; the rock with sand to cut down on some of the noise, and that any study done by the pollution control agency should be r monitored for sometime before any decision is made. f h 3 12 1986 pRAC MeetinMinutes Page 1} Following all the comments from the residents, Chair Edwards asked the commissioners for their input and ideas on solutions to the problems at Green Oaks. Carol Beach stated that once the Queensland and Imperial Hills parks: are improved, some of the pressure will be taken off Green Oaks. Children who arenow using Green Oaks will: more than, likely switch back to Imperial Hills or Queensland. Donald Anderson thinks that dissipation of noise should be PRAC's goal.: Judy LaTour suggested the total removal of some of the equipment with relocation to an entirely different park. She; feels that there is too muco equipment for this size, park.. She also recommends planting trees in the corner where the toddler equipment is located to cut down on the noise. Donald Anderson feels that DRAG is not quite sure what to do to solve the problems at Green Oaks, how much equipment to move, or where to put the equipment. Judy LaTour stated that she supports removing the roof from the shelter building, and moving, the larger play equipment. A motion was made by Carol Beach to table any action on Green Oaks until July in order to do further research on: proposed locations. The motion died for lack of a second. Commissioner Reed recommended re-hiring'Brauer and Associates for their opinion on relocation. He agrees that more information is necessary before any site is chosen. Rick Rosen reminded FRAC of Council's directive to make a recommendation that evening. A motion, was made by Carol Beach and seconded by Donald Anderson recommending that staff research proposed locations for moving the play equipment and make a decision no later than August 15. The motion failed on a 1-4 vote, with Caro; Beach voting aye, and Donald, Anderson, John Reed,, Barbara Edwards and Judy LaTour voting nay. Rick.Rosen abstained. A MOTION WAS MADE BY JOHN REED AND SECONDED BY DONALD ANDERSON RECOMMENDING PARTIAL RELOCATION OF TETE PLAY EQUIPMENT AS SOON' AS POSSIBLE TO A LOCATION TO BE DETERMINED BY A PROFESSIONAL. HE FURTHER RECOMMENDED SEEKING THE OPINION OF'BRAUER AND ASSOCIATES TO HELP DETERMINE THE BEST LOCATION. The motion carried with four ayes. Carol Beach voted nay and Rick Rosen abstained. A KOTION WAS MADE BY DONALD 411DERSON AND SECONDED BY JUDY LATOUR TO TOTALLY REMOVE THE PICNIC SHELTER FROM GREEN OAKS PARK. The: motion carried with a 3-Z vote. Barbara Edwards. and John Reed voted nay. Rick Rosen abstained. Carol Beach asked staff to get a. cost estimate on removing the shelter and suggested that replacing the roof with something other than tin may solve the noise problem. Minutes, of the June:. 12, 1986 PRAC Meeting Page 20 b. Parkers Lake Park Update. Construction should, begin within the next two Weeks. The bid was awarded. to Matt Bullock Constracting Co. in the amount of $459,000. c. Zachary Playfield Update., Because the bid for Parkers Take was higher than.anticipated, Director Blank decided to eliminate the picnic shelter from Phase l construction in order to reduce the cost. He also decided to use :Funds proposed for the Zachary Playiield landscaping for Parkers Lake instead. The Zachary landscaping will be moved to the 1987 CIP. d. 1987 LAWCON Grant. Our 1987 LAWCON grant has been submitted for Phase 11 of Parkers Lake City Park, e. 1987-91. CIP. Director Blank indicated that he had received a letter from residents regarding improvements for Lions Park. John Reed stated that he was a member of the Lions Club and that they have $500 to donate toward the purchase of some equipment such as a climbing structure and sand diggers. He also stated they were willing to provide some labor. Director Blank indicated that no allowances have been made for funding improvements at Lions Park. Barbara Edwards asked if funds set aside for Rolling, Hills or County Road 61 parks would be used ,for Lions if it's decided to go ahead with improvements there? Director Blank responded that $100,000 has been set aside for Rolling Hills, Amhurst and County Road 61 parks and that it would probably be okay to spend an, additional $1.2,000 on Lions. Director Blank also stated that the City has received a lot of pressure to install, a trail along County Road 15, which will cost approximately $1.38,000. If the Council chooses to proceed with this construction this year, it will affect the 1987 CIP, Rick Rosen asked if there was an inventory of what's in each of our parks,; which ones need updating and when they were last. improved. Director Blank said that he would prepare such a list and provide copies for all commissioners. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. New Plats.None. b. Bass Lake Dock. This DNR approved dock has been ordered, and once it is installed, it will remain in the lake year round. c. Plymouth Creek Park Planning. Pond dredging within Plymouth Creek Park is in the 1966 CIP. A concept plan was prepared for this park a Few years ago, but has never been formally approved. Copies: of the plan will be made available to each commissioner For review. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION Carol. Beach informed the commissioners that she had purchased a quilt for Ruth Brown's baby, and she let each know how much they owed her for that gift. 8. STAFF COMMUNICATION Director_ Blank announced that Ruth gave birth to a son (11 lbs. 8 oz.) on May 14., 9. Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 11:00 p.m.