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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 02-11-1988Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission. Meeting February 11, 1988 Page 6 Present: Chair Edwards, Commissioners Hanson, Reed, Rosen, Latour, Beach and Anderson; Councilman Ricker; Planning Commissioner Tierney; staff Blank, Busch, Patterson and Pederson I. CALL M OR]" Chair Edwards called the February meetirg to order at 7:05 p.m. in the Council Conference Room. 2, APPROVAL OF, MINUTES A motion was made by Commissioner Reed and seconded by Commissioner Roam: to approve the; minutes of the: January meeting as presented. The motion carried with all ayes. 3. VISITOR PRESENIATIONS a. Athletic Associations-, Their presentations; are covered under Item 5-a. b. Staff, Mary Patterson briefly discussed the hand-out she had prepared for PRAC on a decade of recreation statistic that she had mentioned at the January meeting. She also atethat the Winter Iceman Triathlon is set for Sunday:, February 14, beginning at 10 a.m. at French Park. She stated that the recreation department is sponsoring ; another skiing trip to Afton Alps on Monday, February 15 and that two full xaees would be going.; She indicated that the Orlando, Florida, Twins Trip is taking 23 area residents during Spring Break Week, March 26-April 2. c.. (lone. 4. REPCRr ON PAST CODICIL ACTION a. Final . enmt -, Fakers Lake Seed- and'_ Scud. The City Council approved this final payment at their meeting on February 8. b. Selwted West Site :for Oomninity Center in Ply=th Creek Park. Council approved .the selection of a westerly site for the proposed cmumity center. Mayor Schneider recommended that FRAC look into pursuing the purchase of the 15-acre site as the possible .location. c. aMoved the 1988 Fee Schedule/Rental Policies, 5. UNFINISHED BUSniMS a. Park UwKielcost Study Fenort DiMZ&21 n.. Several athletic association representatives were present to be a part of the t: February PRAC Minutes, Page 7 discussion on this item. Director Blank began by reviewing the document he, had prepared for the City Manager and briefly outlining the philosophies of the Task. Force on Park and Recreation Program Financing. He also reviewed the park maintenance operating costs in the areas of neighborhood parks as well, as playfields. He further stated that the City Cotmil has asked. the Park Commission, as well as the Park and Recreation Department, to consider ways to relieve the escalating costs of park maintenance mWor to raise additional reverxxs. Director Blank than vmiated that, he believes there are three possible ways to do this: 1) Cut back some maintenance -(i.e., mowing, trimming, etc.) 2) Solicit, volunteer help firm the :4ssociations (i.e., lining certain areas of the fields, opening and closing the shelter building, supervising the field use) 3) Surcharging direct users. Another option for the City to oormi-`ier is to continuetooperate as we aiways have witnout any changes, although this does not solve the problem of rising costs. Don Vessey, representing the New Hope -Plymouth Athletic Association baseball),, indicated that their organization is losing the use of some fields in order to acoamadate Plymouth's adult softball teems. He's concerned that this is going to continue to happen and certainly doesn't feel right about paying user fees if that is the case. He did agree that some maintenance could be cut, but; only in areas euah as mowing and trimming in locations other than the actual playing fields. All in all, he's been very pleased with the maintenance of fields and would like to see things continue as they have; in the: past. Ron, Wilmot, representing the Wbyzata Plymouth. Soccer Club, has been very pleased with the facilities they've, used and wonders just now much, the maintenance costs could be cut if they did some volunteer maintenance for us. Director Blank responded that if all organizations volunteered`, an across-the-board savings, of '$8,000-' 10,000: might be possible. Gail Dieleman, President of the New Hope Plymouth Athletic Association, stated that he has also been very pleased with the maintenance of fields. He is reluctant to pay user fees, because they try to keep their costs as low as possible. Presently, the City of New Hope pays for the cost of referees for the children livOg in New Hope that participate in youth sports. Plymouth kids re charged an additional $11-$12 for referee fees, since the City of Plymouth does not subsidize in any way the Athletic Association. Plymouth does, however, provide fields for these sports. Chair Edwards asked if participation would drop if the City began charging a $5 user fee per child? Mr. Dielaman responded that it might drop slightly for the New Hope children. February PW Minutes Page 8 Greg Baufield, representing Wayzata -Minnetonka YouthFootball, stated that he has lived in Plymouth for many years. He, served in an advisory capacity on the Park and Recreation Commission when he was a high school student at Wayzata Senior High during the years that. Al, Hilde was Fayor of Plymouth. He indicated that he wcrked very hard on getting the bond passed in 1980 to build our playfields, and he finds it rather ironic now that the City is considering charging user fees to youth groups. He said that their association tries to keep costs down an much as possible inspite. of the fact that football equipment is sane of the most costly athletic equipment -there is. They ooWletely outfit the participant with all the getir they need to play football. He indicated that today a helmet costs $120, and five years ago, it only cost $30. A child can participate in football with their organization for $35. For those children that cannot afford this fee, they do provide some scholarships. He agreed with other representatives that Plymouth has the nicest facilities of, any they've used. He was against charging user fees and cutting back maintenance, but did say they might be able to volunteer sane. help in certain areas of maintenance. Rick Busch asked Mr. Baufield if their group is charged user fees by any other city, and Mr. Baufield raid no. Janet Bogen, representing the Wsyzata-Plymouth Soccer Club, stated that user fees would really hurt their association. She indicated that when they first formed, they did, their own mowing and lining of soccer fields, but that eventually tbe school district took over those responsibilities. So far, they have not been charged for this service, but she eqxcts they will, be billed at some point in, the future for this. She felt that maintenance costs could be cut by not building any more neighborhood parks. She feels the City has enough parks now to meet the needs of all residents. Carol Beach, representing the Plymouth Athletic ABsociation soccer), indicated that the younger age groups that join their organization will be playing soccer on fields at Wayzata West Junior High,, and she doesn't feel it would be fair to charge user fees to Plymouth kids if they don't use Plymouth fields. Their organization is new this year, and kids will be, charged $25 to play soccer this summer. If this fee proves to be more than they reed to cover their costs, it will be reduced in the future to $20 or $22-50. Don Veswy asked if maintenance costs could be reduced by charging adult users more fees. Rick Busch responded that adult softball team will be charged $365 this year to play in Plymouth. He feels that they already pay enough for the one hour a, week. they use the fields. He further stated that they cause minimal wear and tear on the fields as compared to soccer and football.. Bob. Losinger, representing Plymouth -Wayzata Youth Baseball, wanted to know what, percentage of the City's budget is appropriated for park and recreation maintenance. Director Blank said that for every 100 a Plymouth resident pays in property taxes, $14.69 goes to the City of Plymouthand of that amount, $12 goes for general fund purposes and park and recreation activities. Of that $12, $2.73 February PRAC Minutes goes .into the irk and recreation budget, with a; $1.54 to park mainterancei whist is 55% of the park and recreation budget, and: 12.55% of the. overall City budget. He further stated that park maintenance receives no revenues. Director Blank; staUA that he had received a phone call that day frau. an Edina Park commissionermissioner who had a number of questions, on our policies, fees, etc.,, and one, of the questions dealt with user fees. They're doing a survey of ot wr communities in the metropolitan area., Ttay have found that Edina residents have two major concerns about, user fees: they want assurance that the exo es revenue produced by user fees will go bads into the maintenance budget and not into the general fund, and families with three and four children. are concerned about Dow much extra they'd have to pay. After hearing f rei=n all: the athletic associations, Chair- Edwards summarized their thoughts, They made it clear that they do not want surcharges, they don't went maintenance cut back, and they feel they could offer- a little volunteer help. Greg Baufield asked what the next step in this process would be Chair We ards said that PRAC would be discussing their concerns and ideas in order to cane up with some recommendations for the City Council. She urged the athletic associations to continue to give staff their suggestions. Gail Dieleman requested that PRAC give the athletic associations at least six months to prepare for any user fees being implemented if Council decides to choose that cpt on. Staff responded that they would keep the athletic associations informed of all, meetings and. progress on this subject. Commissioner Rosen asked staff to prepare a report on how much money would be generated if all participants in the youth athletic associations were charged $5 each. This information will be available for FRAC by their March meeting. b. Parkers Iakete, Director Blank announced that all final. payments have been suede on the: Parkers Lake City Park project. He stated that so far, 17 'companies have pickedup specs on the construction of the pavilion, and that this project. is. to be bid on February 25. If necessary, PRAC will meet on February 29 to review the bids. c. EJV_gWth Creek Site Planning LWAte This item will be discussed further at the March meeting. d. 1987 Annual B=t , j"roval. A motion was made by Commissioner Reed and seconded by Commissioner Anderson to approve the 1987 Annual Report as prepared by staff and to forward it to the City Council. The motion carried with all ayes. e. St. Mry's Neighborhood Park iodate. A second meeting notice will be mailed` to area residents informing then of the meeting on February PRAiC Minutes Page 10 February 17 Director Blank indicated, that the first resident meeting had 'bei poorly attended, but those who did crane, liked the preliminary, concept pians presented by Parton-Aachmen. If a concept plan is approved at the meeting on the 17th, it will go to the City Council on March 7 for their apprmal, 6. NEW BUSIRS.S a. g&VjGW Camn-nity Attitude a== Paso ts, Director Blank discussed with the Conmission the results of the comxmity attitude survey, including the special written its made by the consultants conducting the survey. It is the opinion of the consultant that if a c m mitt' center bond is to be successful, a very aggressive campaign will have to be conducted. This year's survey indicated that a slightly higher percentage of residents are in favor of a commity center than two years ago. Director Plank also pointed, out that the park maintenance part of the survey scored higher (92%) then any other portion of City services in terms of resident satisfaction.: b. 1988 Pte_Tbur., A motion was made by Ca missioner Rosen and eeccx, led by Commissioner LaTour to hold this year's park tour in the evening rather than on a weekend. The motion carried with all ayes. Thursday, May 19, was chosen as the date for the, tour, beginning at 5:00 p.m. and including dinner. c. Now Plats. "There were no new plats to discuss. 7. 031MISSICN_PRE SERrATICN None. 8. STAFF OO MMICATIGN Mone. 9. ADJOUiMwEhTf The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.