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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 12-10-1987Minutes of the park.and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting Deceaber 10, 1987 Page 42 Present: Chair Edwards, Oonmissioners Reed, Anderson, Beach, Rosen and LaTour; Councilmenters Zi.tur and Sisk; staff Blank, Patterson and Pederson 1. CAIS TO CRL1F t Chair "Edwards called- the De enter meeting to order at 7:35 p.m in the Cmne l Cumbers. 2. APF4;0VAh OF M1NUIES A motion was made by Commissioner Reed and seconded by Cormissioner Beach to approve the minutes of the November meeting as :presented. The motion carried with all oyes, 3. VISITOR PRESENrATICNS a. &J let is &=iat-i a. None were present, at- this, meeting. b. Staff, Director Blank announced that Mary Tilley would be resigning - this month in order to raise her family. She is expecting twins in early March and has decided to set aside her career for now to care for her family. Staff is in the process of interviewing candidates to replace her. over 100 applications were received. c. Others. These were no other visitors - 4, RU)ORr ON PAST C NCIL ACTION a. St.M=I aNe,i, bbd Park2plymth Creek So?aer. Field. Council approved proceeding with an ins -house, study on the soccer field, at Plymouth Creek Park: to determine if natural or artificial turf would. be more cost effective, and they approved staff sending out Requests for Proposal on the St. Marytli neighborhood park design. b. Lions .ark..p Y Eau - Counci;l. approved the purchase: of the Licc-a Park play equipment, which will be ordered in the next week or two for installation in early spring. 5. LWINISHM BUS SS a. Parkers 'Lake LWate., The installation of lights has been completed, the bronze dedication plaque has been installed and the County Road 6 bypass lane is in. The final., payment for Phase Ii of Parkers Lake is being processed. b. Waigbh Qrhoori Park Projsgts UZUte. Work at Amhurst, RolliN Hills and County Road 61 parks is now catpleted'. c. Parc Uomm and Cost,_ Stur`1v It=rt Director Blank reviewed for the Canmissivn the report he prepared for the City Manager as part of PRAC Minutes Deer 10, 1987 Page 43 the City Manager's Coals and objectives for the City Council. He indicated that the council has directed staff and PW to begin studying ways to reduce expenditures and increase revenues. He stated that part of this process will mean holding public meetings to get, resident input on issues such as the possible implementation of user fees.It is the Council's wish that these meetings begin samtim, in January or February, 1988. Director Blank's discussion with PRAC included- the current park system plan, which identifies the City's park standards and park usage philosophy; a review of the Task Faroe Report on Park and, Recreation Financing for Facilities and Programs the growth in the: park system in terns of acres and programs sing- 1980; and park maintenance costs for neighborhod, parks, playfields, city parka and costa per facility for things such as ice skating, soccer, softball, etc. Director Blank eonclu6ed his remarks on the Park Usage. and. Cost Study report byreviewing the City's philosophy on building and maintaining park facilities; Build the appropriate facilities in the appropriate locations to meet the need in that population or attendance area. Design facilities so that they can be maintained in a reasonable fashion based on appropriate use., In new parks, create the smallest possible area that will require high maintenance,, Provide safe,; attractive facilities to the public that prevent a good image for the City. Make necessary repairs as quickly as possible, so that unsafe conditions are corrected and further deterioration and poor public image are not created. Commissioners then began a discussion on charging user .fees to athletic associations and whether or not this was a good idea. Chair Edwards stated that she, Commissioner Latour and Commissioner Beach had attended a workshop sponsored by MRPA for board and commission members at Becker Park this past wEek and that the main. topic was on charging user fees. She wondered if it would to appropriate to charge athletic associations a percentage of the maintenance coasts based on what percentage they use the fields Director Blank responders that currently it is the philosophy of the City that youth, athletic associations would not be charged for ordinary maintenance of fields, but could be charged for special events, tournaments, etc,, requiring extra -ordinary maintenance. Director Blank ,reminder the Commission_ that they would be reviewing the Park Rental Policies and Fee Schedule at their January or February meeting and that would be the time to chane fees if the Commission felt it was necessary. Commissisr.^r Rosen stated he was concerned about the increasing maintr,x!,- -m, costs we will incur if we continue to build parks at our preK,V, r=I . other commissioners expressed similar concerns and PRAC Minutes Decanber 100 1987 Page 4 mated wF should build parks with more natural areas requiring Less maintenance. Director Blank stated that staff was already moving in that direction and pointed out that the three parks built in 1987 had very small active areas requiring little maintenance. Director Blank then shared with can issioners a dopy of a survey he received that the 5t. Paul Park and Recreation department had prepared. The survey- listed metropolitan area recreation budgets and their per capit& expenditurea. Plymouth's per capita expenditure is $35 while the average is $36. Councilman Sisk. expressed interest in receiving a copy of this, survey, and Director Blank stated that he had shared it with the City Manager who would likely include it in his next information memo to the Council. The Park Usage and Coat Study report will continue to be discussed at future meetings. d'. uth Greek Site _ Banc . Director Blank has met with Mayor Schneider and the City Manager on this subject.. and will be meeting Frith Brauer and Associates in the next week or two. Four possible sites have been narrowed; down to two for the location of the proposed cam unity center, and the Mayor would now Like the choice to be narrowed to one site. Director Blank stated that the Commission needs to make a recommendation on IzZat site by January or, February. e. Park (_Amhurst). .Director Blank informed commissioners that: letters had been sent to all those who attended the original planning meetings for Amhurst 'Park: inviting thea to suggest a num for this park. Six responses were received. Of those, three had vuyted the name Turtle Lake, one suggested Amhurst,, one suggested Deer Park, and cm suggested Hugo G. Braman. Park in honor of the ,nen who originally* owned the land. George and Mary Carhart 1.4921 450 Avenue, were present at the meeting because they -sere interested in what name would be selected. Commissioner Rosen indicated that he was under the impression we didnot dame parks after people. Other commissioners concurred as well as staff. Cosmmissia-per Reed' asked. the Carharts which name they preferred, and they said they had chosen Deer Park, because so many deer roam the perk. Their second choice: had been Turtle Lake. Ccxmm ssioner Reed then asked if the Carharts felt residents would know which park 'they were talking about if it was named. Turtle rake. They responded that most of the residents living neer the park are new to Plymouth, but they should; know, that Turtle Lake is near this park. A WrICN WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER REED AND SE OCKM By CCWISSICNER BEACH' TO R©OOm4m To THE CITY COUNCIL IWI TliIS PARK BE NAMED E LAKE PARK. The motion carried with all ayes. Director Blank stated that this recori+endavion as well as the one naming. Rolling Hills and Heritage neighborhood parks would be forwarded to the City Council. 1 Pwc Minutes Dar+ember l0, x987 Page 45 f, ftyz&tA gg= Club. Director Blank, and Rick Busch, net with 6.. 7.. representatives of the Weyzata-Plymouth Soccer Club this week to further discuss whether or not the City should take over the. summer wooer program for the house, league children. ,Director Blank pointed out to the Commission that offering this program would mean openi,N it up to the children in the Plymouth -New Nope Athletic Asso- ation as well, which would be an additional 400-500 kids. He indicated that, it would mean a significantincrease in clerical and staff time as well as field use. Commissioner Rosen asked if there would be enough available fields to run the Wayzata -Plymouth traveling program, and this new proposed program if both were offered at the same time?, Director Blank responded that if we take: on the summer houm league, it could involve as many as 1,000 or more children, which would put an added burden on all, our soccer fields. Some groups would get less time, than they have enjoyed in the pest. Director Blank stated that staff expressed to the Soccer Association a desire to have them continue with the program as it is ixw for at least one more year, and that we would provide them with some technical assistance they might need. It was the consensus of t`.? Commission that staff continue to push for the Wayzata -Plymouth Soccer Club to. run the program themselves. The Club will get back in touch with staff after they have. had a chance to discuss with, their other members the City's suggestions. Commissioner Beach asked if it was okay for a commissioner to become involved in an athletic association, and staff said there was no problem with that. Councilman Zitur expressed some concern for the children living in Plymouth that are in the Osseo school district and where these kids play soccer. Director Blank said that Maple Grove, Park and Recreation offers a summer and fall wooer program for these children, and they are also able to join the Plymouth fall sour program., Director Blank pointed out that the new proposed Haas Take Playf"field will be for these kids, also. a. New Plats. 'There were no new plats to discuss. b. 1987 Annual rt. Staff has begun to put together the annual report for 1987. Director Blank stated that it might be wmewhat corxiensed this year 3.n an effort to get more people to read it. Commissioners were invitedto make suggestions for what information to include in the 1987 report. A draft copy will be available by the aanuary PRAC meeting, with the final. report ready by the February meeting.7 aMSSICN PRESENrAT CN Chair Edwards stated that the workshop she attended at Becker Park was excellent. Commissioners Beach and LaTour were 'there. also. She urged other camnmissioners to visit this park and take a look at the building there.:. She feels its about the same size as the proposedParkers Lake Pavilion. 0 PPAC minutes DSOK&er 10t 1987 Page 46 Cowiaeioner Rosen wondered when a new commissioner would be appointed to replace Bruoe Bauman. Director Blank indicated that an arux;xcemrit had been placed in the Plymouth Post inviting people to apply for this vacarxy by January 6. Director Blank was confident that a replacement: would: be on the Cc mission by February. 8i, STAB' 7Q4UNICATICN There was, no coommication by staff. The meeting adjourned at: 9;47 p.m. I