HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 03-10-1988Minutes of the. Park snd Recreation Advisory Commission. Meeting
March 10, 1988
Page, 11
Present:: Chair Edwards, Commissioners LaTour, Rosen, Reed, Beach, Hanson, and
Anderson; Councilman Sisk; staff Anderson, Blank, Patterson and
i
Pederson; and George, Watson of Brauer and Associates
1. CALL TO ORDER
I Chair Edwards called the March meeting to order at 7:30 p.m, in the
Council Conference Room,
2 APPROVAL OF MINUTE
A, motion was mode by Commissioner Rosen and seconded by Commissioner
Basch to approve the minutes of the February meeting as presented., The
motion carried With all ayes.:
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associa%iona,, None were present at this meeting..
b. Staff, Mary Patterson stated that softball registrat.un had began
and: that: .150 teams had registered so far. New this year will be
morning softball leagues. for players who work night shifts..
She announced that NoC'thwedtern Bell Telephone will. be a co-sponsor,
along with The 'Bank Wayzata, this summer for our summer concerts in.
the parks
Shs indicated that we are running; an indoor soccer program in April
for elementary school children and that enrollment is going very -
wells, She said that most of the children signing up are new, and
have not been in our programs at least withinthelast 15 months.
Mary also stated that she is in the process of helping form an Arts
Advisory Board that includes representation from: the Art Center of
Minnesota and Wayzata Community Education. P!smbers, of the board
will be used for program planning, input, marketing and solicitation
of funds. They will also act as a clearinghouse for art activities
coordinating a community calendar of events.
Mary then introduced Cindy Anderson, our neva recreation specialist,
who replaced Mary Tilley. Cindy's last employer w:s the Flagship
Athletic Club:. Cindy has an extensive background in soccer
coaching,aquatics and you..h programming_.
Cindy stated that our youth ski trip to Afton. Alps on Presidents Day
b of Apt -4r4 ants. . Shehadbeenalargesuccesswithtwofulluaeapr
also announced that 45 students had taken the "Learn to Ski" program.
at Hyland, Hills. She in currently busy putting together her summer
staff for aquatics and playground programs.
FRAC Minutes/March 10, 1988
Page 12
4, REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a Parkers Lake Pavilion y- Award`of Bid. Council awarded the bid. for
the Parkers Lake, Pavilion, to Belair-Builders and they also added the,
small picnic shelter to the award,
b. -A nucualAep2XJ2Theyacceptedthe19871Annual 'Report as submitted by
PRAC.
C. St. Mary's Master Plan. Council accepted. the St._ Mary's
neighborhood park master plan and expressed some concern regarding.
the cost to install several large trees. It Was explained that the
trees were included tri provide shade, since the residents had
indicated they were not interested in a picnic shelter..
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. P+rk UsagelCos -Study Discussion. Director Blank, briefly reviewed
the sheet distributed to FRAC, on the. number of participants involved'
in the youth athletic associations. Based on; the number of Plymouth
residents: involved (4,327), approximately $21,635 would be raised if
they were all chargeda $5 user, fee. Discussion then centered.
around how you; make user fees fair?
It was pointed out that much of the wear and tear on school fields
comes from the many phy•, ed, classes using the fields on a daily
basis throughout the fall and spring, and these children would not
be charged any fees., The youth athletic associations use the fields
mainly in the early evening at the school sites, with more use being
seen at Zachary and Plymouth Creek Playfields by the. athletic
associations.
Commissioners then wondered how the City would collect these fees,
and Director Blank stated that: theassociations would be charged a.
lump sum fee for the field and it would be, up to them to collect it
from the participants any way they wanted,
Commissioner Reed asked what account the money would _go into, and
Director Blank stated it. would' be deposited in the park maintenance
fund, or, it could' be Put into a general fund to be used by some
other, department if necessary. He further indicated that the
Council could decide to lower, the , mill levy equal to the amount of
the fees, resulting in a savings to tax payers.
Commissioners continued their discussion and agreed thrt they were
still, not ready to make any recommendations to the Council. Mary
Patterson asked Chair Edwards if it would help the Commission if
staff were to try and survey other cities nationally to see if user
fees are 'being charged.or being considered. Chair Edwards felt that
that sort of information would be extremely useful, so staff will
try to have something available by the April meeting.
b. Parkers Lake Update.Belair Builders was awarded the contract on
the pavilion, and they are very anxious to get started. Director
FRAC Minutes/March 10, 1988
Page 11,
Blank indicated that they were at the park this past week checking
the depth of the frost, because they would like to begin work as
soon apt possible.
C. Plvsiouth Creak Site P annJU, Director Blank reminded FRAC that
Council approved the original concept plan for this park. back in
1982, and at that timet they stated they would not. approve a master
plan until public hearings were held. to get input from the
community. Director Blank stated further that the site and shape of
the park has changed somewhat since then,, because of the additior, of
the Park Place Apartments and the continuation of 34th Avenue out to
Fernbrook Lane
George. Watson then presented th ae new concept plans for FRAC to
review and discuss. A11, three had some features in common, including
the location of the proposed community center, along the western
border of the park, an athletic area in the northeast corner, a
group picnic area) a large water area in all three concepts, but. of
a different size and shape in each one;, a prairie restoration area,
a historic/cultural area, tennis courts, and extensive trails..
Concept #1 was unique in that it had a par 3 golf course located in
the southwest corner near the community center-. Concepts 2, and 3
shored a water slide area and a civic plaza. Concept 1 had a
spectator tennis area, and Concept. 3 had a sculpture garden, boat
rental area, and indoor soccer. Mr. Watson explained that Concept 1
ha,d more active recreation and less passive recreation, Concept 2
had quite a bit more passive recreation than Concept 1, and, Concept
3 had slightly more passive recreation than Concept 2. He also
indicated that in order to construct the community center in its
proposed, westerly location, Concept 1 would: require an additional
five acres; Concept 2, an additional 1.4 acres; and Concept 3 an
additional 2.5 acres.
The commissioners then discussed each concept's features in an
attempt to give Mr. Watson some direction on how to narrow down to
one concept.
The par 3golf course prompted a lot of discussion among PRAC
members.. Commissioner Reed felt that it would be far too costly to
construct and maintain: to justify its inclusion in this park.
Director Blank pointed out that golf is ,a very popular activity And
a big revenue producer, and that 20 years from now, it could be in
very big demand. He feels that its possible. that Elm Creek,
Hollydale and Hampton Hills golf courses might not be there in the
future, once sewer is installed in western Plyr•outh. Most
commissioners agreed that golf courses are an important feature to
have in a city park system, but they weren't sure if it belonged in
this particular park..
jCommissioners then. discussed tome of the other features in each
concept and asked if the tennis court would have a bubble over it,
Director Blank responded that, it may and could then be used in the
winter for tennis.'
FRAC Minutes/March 10, 19$8
Page, 1.4
Mr,. Watson and Director Blank will work on a new concept plan that
does" not: show a par 3 golf course and will have j. ready by the
April meeting,
d. ,, Mary's_Nsisbhorhood Park Update. Director Blank indicated that,
e contractor working on 1-394 will be bringing in free dirt fill for
some areas of this park, which will then be covered with better top
soil. He said that he has not made a final selection on the
playground_ equipment. He indicated that bid letting will be
sometime in May.
5. NEW BUSINESS
a. Now Plats Review Neighborhood Park - _494 6 Co. ad. 9. Director
Blank reviewed the proposed size, shape and location of this future
park and stated that in order to save as many trees as possible in
and around the marsh, the City must hold a public hearing for the
purpose of amending the comprehensive park sytem plan, so that this
park can be: enlarged on the pian. By holding a public hearing, the
current hand owners can be legally notified that the City will be
proposing to take more land from them. Commissioners agreed that it
was a good idea to save the trees.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER ROSEN AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
HAN.SON TO RECOMMEND THAT A PUBLIC HEARING BE CONDUCTED ON APRIL 14
FOR THE PURPOSE OF AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE PARK SYSTEM PLAN. THE
MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
b. Reeort on Plymouth _Crgek Soccer Field. Commissioners reviewed a
staff report from Dan Campbell, Engineering, and from Director
Blank, on the costs of installing a natural turf soccer field vs: an
artificial turf field in Plymouth Creek Playfield. The cost for an
artificial, field would be $361,000. The cost for a natural turf
field would be approximately $33,000. Commissioners agreed that it
was not worth it to install the artificial turf.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER ROS7N AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
REED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY INSTALL A NATURAL. TURF' SOCCER FIELD
AT PLYMOUTH CREEK PARK WITH A BUDGET ESTIMATED AT $50,000 FOR THE,
PROJECT,` AND FURTHER THAT THE COST FOR THIS IS TOCOMEFROM 218-218
COMMUNITY PLAYFIELDS-PARK DEDICATION ACCOUNT. THE MOTION CARRIED
WITH ALL AYES.
Director Blank stated that this field should be operational by
August 31, 1988,
c. Joint Meeting with Council on April 4. Three items were discussed'
by PRAC to be part of the agenda for, the joint meeting: the
proposed community center, Plymouth Creek park site planning, and
the cost usage report. Commissioner Rosen stated that he feels the
sole ,purpose of the joint meeting should be to get firm direction
from the Council on the community center and to find our,, exactly how
they stand on this issue.