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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 01-14-1988Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting January 14, 1988 Page. l Present; Chair Edwards, Co missioners Anderson, Reed, LaTour, Beach and Rosen; Councilman Sisk; staff Blank, Busch, Patterson and Pederson 1. CALL TO aCER Chair Edwardes called the January meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. in the Council Chambers. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUI'E5 A motion was made by Commissioner Reed and seconded by Commissioner LaTour to approve the minutes of the December 1987 meeting as presented. Tte nation carried with all ayes. 3. VISrICR HtFSFNTATICNS a. Athletic Associations: Carol Beech announcedthat the Plymouth Athletic Association is now a reality, and she has been named the Executive Director. She; stated that the Association will use as its boundaries District 284 and the City of Plymouth and that the Association will be a member of the National Youth Sports Coaches Association. Right now the only sport they will be involved in is soccer, but later they will branch out to others. b. „Staff , Mary Patterson stated' that the new recreation specialist would begin her duties on 'Axoday, January 19. She also stated that a youth ski trip planned for Monday, January 18, had 80 participants registered. She mentioned that the winter triathlon is scheduled for Sunday, February 14, at French Regional Park, co-sponeored by Plymouth Park and Recreation and Hennepin Parks. She said that the Old F'whicned Christmas event held at Plymouth Creek Park, in cooperation with saes Plymouth Historical Society, was a great success, and plans are already underway for the event in December 1988. She indicated that plans are being made: now for a special winter event in 1989 in cooperation with the Plymouth Civic League, to be held at Parkers Lake. Sane of the activities being considered are: ice sculptures, medallion hunt, emooesh races, dog sledding, skating, etc. She announced that she had done some research on a. 3ecads of recreation and learned that the number of programs Offered in 1977 was 52 with 1,875 participants and in 1987 was 717 programs with. 28,786 participants. She said than athletics had 1,112 participants in 1977 and 7,590 in 1987. She indicated that she is beginning to plan the, summer recreation progra;._ and asked commissioners if they had any ideas for , programs to contact her. c. None. January 14, 19880 PRAC Minutes Page 2 4 FUCK CN PAST OOLRCIL ACrICN a. Parkers Lake Pavilion, Architect Del, Erickson is making changes to the oonoept plans of the pavilion as recommended by FRAC and approved by the. City Council. b. Neighborhood Park Nees Council approved thenames reaame for the three neighborhood parks built in 1987: Rolling, Hills, Heritage and Turtle Dake. Maintenance crews will begin making signs for installation in the spring. 5. tWtNIS M REDESS a. Parkers_ Lake LWAte. Director Blank announced that with a financial settlement reached for a piece of property on the south end of the lake, the City now owns 104% of this park. He further indicated that rebidding of the Parkers Lake f 2 Feb 25 and that MAC, Pavilion .is cheduled or p.m., ruary may meet the week. of February 29 to review the bids before passing them on to the Council. b. Cont ' d Discussion an Park [save and Cost Study Resort. Discussion continued on this subject which was referred to the Park Commission by the City Council. Director Blank stated that Council has recommended that PRAC hold public meetings to discuss user fees. The commissioners suggested that a meeting with the Athletic Associations shouldbe scheduled for February and, it should be for the purpose of soliciting input on ways to cut costs and/or raise revenues. Chair Edwards wondered in what ways an athletic association could help cut costs. Director Blank stated they could help by being field attendants and doing things such as lining fields, putting out bases, setting up nets, etc. Commissioner Beach, expressed her concern -about charging user fees to youth athletic groups. She is very much against it. Commissioner Rosen stated that it may become a reality at sane point in the future and now is the time to find' out how the athletic associations feel about it. Co muissioner Beach then asked what a typical charge to an athletic association would' be for using a field. Director Blank reeporx3ed that that information Is not available at this time, but the Cost Study Report doer indicate what it costs to maintain one field. Chair Edwards indicated that she feels people don't object to paying user fees for indoor activities such as swimming and tennis, but that they'll be very upset about having to pay for wide open outdoor spaces... Director Blank suggested that PRAC read the philosophy statement frau the "Mayor's Task Force on Park; and Recreation Program Financing" prior to the .February meeting, Director Blank will draft a letter for Chain Edwards to send' to athletic associations inviting them to the February meeting. c. ElyMth Creek Site Planning, Paul Fjare of Brauer and Associates was present to review this subject with PRAC. He indicated that there are three criteria to consider in. J&"ry 14, 1968, FRAC ;Minutes Page 3 selecting a site for the proposed community venter.. They are: accessibility community exposure physical relationship to complimentary land uses. Paul then pointed out Brauer's rem" for preferring a masterly site. They are as follows 1) Plymouth Boulevard is a major collector more suited to handle traffic generated. Good potential for pedestrian linkage to neighborhoods. 2) Good possibilities in relating to existing community buildings. Fair aLility to benefit from existing City Center infrastructure and to share space.. 3) Surrounding land use; public and cwwrcial leas seitive to traffic and noise. Will add to the public exposure of the facility through the area's focus as a city commercial center. The commissioners then discussed what would become of the east site if not selected for the community center, since we own this parcel of land. Director Blank responded that this land is high, dry ground and of very good quality and may, therefore, be considered for facilities such as tennis courts. PRAC then agreed that a westerly site was the best choice for the location of the proposed com mitt' center. A HMICN WAS MALE BY COMyISSICNER BEACH AND SFS BY C C*nSSICNR- FM) TO REO"END A WGSIERLY LOCATICN FSR THE Pl O 00*MM CENM.. The motion carried with all ayes. Commissioner Rosen indicated that he is not ready to make a decision to cut down any trees on site #2, but agree that PRAC needs to more ahead in planning the rest of Plymouth Creek park. This iteemm will be going to the City Council for approval on January 25. Any na, rs of PRAC' wishing to attend the Council meeting should let Chair Edwards know. 6.' NEW BUSINESS a. 1988 Park Facilityity Rental Policies and_ Fee Schedule. Rick Buschdiscussed with PRAC the 1988 Park Facility Rental Policies and Free Schedule and the new proposed policy on Rental of Softball Complexes. He pointed out that the softball complex rental policy has been proposed to help people better understand our policies in regard to using softball complexes and other facilities. He stated that the softball complex rental will apply only to Plymouth Creek and Zachary Playfields and will be for groups wishing to ccrduct tournaments. January 14, 1988, PRANG Minutes Page 4 Commissioner Reed asked Rick about charging youth athletic associations to use our fields. Director Blank then remindLA Commissioner Reed that it has been the policy of the City to not charge youth groups to use fields for normal day to day practices and games. These 'groups are charged, however, if they wish to conduct tournaments Councilman Sisk suggested that the policy on Facility- Rental be changed to reflect that the fee schedule section applies to tournaments and special events only. He further stated that the City Council may begin to feel user fees for youth groups will be necessary in the future if PRAC wishes to-ontinue building new recreation facilities and athletic playfields. Chair Edwards responded that to adopt that type of policy could create ill will among residents and could cause participants to drop out of our programs. She further indicated that it was her feeling that residents would be lean likely to pass a bond referendum for a community center if we Started charging our youth to use facilities on a daily basis. Councilman Sisk reminded PRAC of Council's desire to cut costs and raise revenues and further stated that the park and recreation department's budget requests in future years will be very carefully reviewed. A WITION WAS MALS BY COWISSICNER REEDAND SEOQNIDID BY 0CmWSSION R BE'rAm To REOCMW APPROVAL OF THE 1988 PARK FACILITY RENTAL POLICIES AND FEE SCHEDULE AND THE 1988' SOFTBALL COMPLEX RENTAL POLICIES' AND FEE SCHEDULE AS PRESENTED BY STAFF. The motion carried with all ayes. b. 1987 Annual Hg=t. Copies of the 1987 Annual Report were briefly reviewed for changes and/or corrections. Director Blank asked commissioners to call the Park and Recreation office if they have any changes prior to the February meeting, so that these changes can be incorporated into the final copy, which will be distributed at the February meeting. c New Plats, Director Blank is still working with the Planning Department on the plat north of County Road 9 and west of 494. d. Neighborhood Reservation Policy. At staff's request, PRAC was; risked to consider whether or not neighborhood parks should be reservable by residents and to adopt a policy on this. After brief, discussion, it was agreed that neighborhood parks should be available to residents on a first--owe., first serve basis with the exception of Lions Park ballfield. A MOTION WAS MADE BY CC1*1ISSIQNEt FMEN AND SECONDED BY M+ SSICNER BEACH' M NOT RESERVE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LIONS PARK BALLFIELD. The motion carried with four ayes. Commissioners LaTour and Reed voted nay. It was their feeling that residents should be able to reser1 picnic shelters and tables for family picnics and outings. January 14, 1988, PRBC Minutes Page 5 e. St. ry's NeiahbarPark, Director Blank stated that the City Council had selected Barton Aschman Associates with a not to exceed fee of %,-lno to design the St. Mary's neighborhood park. Neigh-borho-6 11 ,estionnaires will be sent out the week of January 18 with .v first neighborhood meeting scheduled for February 10 if the consultant is available. The second neighborhood meeting would then be scheduled for February 17, with PRAC's normal monthly meeting on the 11th of February. Notices will be sent to PRAC once all meeting dates have been confirmed. 7. CCHMISSICN PPIMATIQN None. 8. STAFF 00"ICATIQN Director Blank indicated that the result the resident survey would be shared with the City Council at meeting on January 25, and that the results would be available for PRAC's review at their February meeting. 9. ADJCURNHWr The meeting adjourned at 10:54 p.m.