HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 02-09-1989Minutes of the Park. and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
February 9, 1989
Page 5
Present: Chair Edwards, Commissioners Anderson, Beach, Freel:s., LaTour,
Hanson, Rosen; staff Blank, Busch, Patterson and Pederson
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Edwards calledthe February meeting to ordrr at, 7:34 p.m.' in the
Council Chambers.
Director Blank introducedthenew commissioner, Frank creels. Frank spoke
briefly about his background, how long he had lived in Plymouth and Why he
wanted to be a, member of the "Park Commission. Chair Edwards then, asked
the commissioners to introduce themselves to Frank to help get better
acquainted.
2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Rosen and seconded by Commissioner
LaTour to approve the minutes of the January meeting, as presented. The
motion carried with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a• Athletic Associations. None were present at this meeting.
b. a,, Rick Busch talked a little about the upcoming adult summer
v tball registration which.begins February 27.. He mentioned the. free
11row shooting contest to be held February 25 at Wayzata East Jr.
High. He stated that a boot hockey tournament would be held on
February 20, which in the last day that rinks are scheduled to be
open. He informed the Commission that three separate indoor soccer
camps were being held' in June - all the same week by three different
roupa.
Rick then presented two items from the agenda for updrting by the
Commission. The first was the 1989 Softball Complex Rental Policy and.
Foe Schedule:: The items which have changed from last year are:
o DLscontinued giving a $30 discount to tournaments: sanctioned by the
Minnesota Recreation and Park Association., Rick rotated that we
haven't, had any problems in the past with groups that are not
sanctioned, so he didn't see a need to differentiate: between the;
two.
o Added to the policy that no batting practice is allowed at Zachary
Elestentary, School. The park staff received complaints in previous
years from residents living north of Zachary that flys balls were
landing in their, yards when players warmed up prior to the games by
practicing at Zachary.
o Raised fees an average of five to six percent for renting Zachary
and Plymouth Creek softball fields There is a substantial.
difference in the cost to rent Zachary over Plymouth Creek, and
Chair Edwards wanted to know why. Rick responded that Zachary is
more, because it has four fields and Plymouth Creek has only two..
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February 1989 PRAC Minutes
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Commissioner Rosen via• confusedby the fact that the policy states
that no alcoholic beverages can be consumed, on. park property, but the
application form asks the question "Mill beer be sold?" Rink
responded that the question about beer was left in by mistake and will
be deleted before the policy is formally adopted by the Council.
Cossmissioner. LaTour wondered about the $100 damage deposit being kept
by the City if the park required special maintenance following a
tournament. She wcnted to know 'what constituted special maintenance_.
Director Blank said that special, maintenanca would be something like
our crews having to pick up trash scattered- around the park, rather
than just emptying the barrels..
Commissioner Freels asked, if the fees quoted in the policy are per
field and Rick stated that they are per complex.
A MOTION WAS MADE, BY COMMISSIONER BEACH' AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
HANSOM TO ACCEPT THE 1989 SOFTBALL COMPLEX RENTAL POLICY AND FEE'
SCHEDULE AS 'PRESENTED' Y STAFF. THE ,MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES'.
The second item presented by Rick was the Park Rental Policy and Fee
Schedule. Once again, he explained, all the proposed changes and/or
deletions from previous years.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER LATOUR AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
BEACH TO ACCEPT THE 1989 PARK FACILITY RENTAL POLICY AND FEE SCHEDULE
AS PRESENTED BY STAFF. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.,
Mary Patterson then talked briefly about how the Parkers Lake 'Pavilion
policy had been changed to drop the priority list when determining
which groups to rent to. She indicated that if a group reeerved the.
pavilion for a specific, date and time, and another group came along;
that wanted it at that same time, she would not kick ottt the first
group just because they were "rower" on the priority list. She also
pointed out that staff was recommending to drop the hourly rental
charge if School Districts 281 or 284 wanted; to use the pavilion.
These two groups would only be charged $7 per hour for a park
attendant. This recommendation was made:, because a representative
from District 284 questioned the policy based on the fact that they
don't: charge us a. rental fee when we use their facilities.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER BEACH. AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
HANSON TO ACCEPT THE 1989 PARKERS LAKE. PAVILION RENTAL POLICY AS
PRESENTED BY STAFF. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH. ALL AYES.
Mary then discussed the resident. survey that was sent out in January.
So far,, the return rate is: 541, and Mary is hoping that more
questionnaires will come in. She would like a return rate of 70-75X..
She indicated that lots of the respondents are single, and that the
most dissatisfied residents are those living on the northern fringes
of Plymouth.
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Mary stated that the Plymouth Middle School has contacted t;s about j
starting a ski club for their students and they are anxious to get
some trips arranged for this winter. Cindy Anderson has already
started working on this.
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February 1989 PRAC Minute:
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A company in Plymouth has contacted the park and recreation department
about starting a corporate recroation program for its employees. Mary
indicated that at the present time, there simply is no space available
to run extra recreation programa,.
After the success of the "Twins Trip" to spring training camp in
Orlando last, winter, staff is planning other "adventurous" types of
trips for the. residertt,s of _Plymouth,. A unique opportunity this summer
will be to "sail a tall ship" out of the Boston harbor and along the
New England coast, The ship is a replica of an old schooner, and
participants would spend five days crewing the 125 foot tall ship,
standing watch, steering, setting course, etc. The cost would be
about $1,000 per person and would include round trip air fare, all
Accommodations, all meals while on the ship, a full day excursion in
Boston and a departure dinner. Space is limited to 20 people.,
Mary updated the Commission on the Fire and Ice Festival and What
their 'duties would be regarding the supervision of the bonfire,, She.
informed them where parking would be allowed, and that they should,
report to the pavilion to get _a badge identifying, them as .a, Fire and
Ice Festival. worker.
c• Other Hone
4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. West_ Medicine Lak2 Drive- Trail, The Council approved the
recommendation by staff to have the City's consulting engineer, Strgar
Roscoe, prepare a preliminary design report for a trail on West
Medicine Lake Drive from 26th Avenue to approximately 23rd Avenue.
b. inguth Creak Parking Lot Exnangion, Council approved staff's
recommendation to proceed with preparing the plans and specifications
for the parking lot at Plymouth Creek Park.
5, UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Plymouth Creek -Park MasterPlan, Director Blank reviewed the document
submitted by George Watson and explained the cost difference between
lake construction alternate 1 and lake construction alternate 2.
Alternate 1 includes approximately 24 acres of lake, while alternate 2
shows only four acres of lake. Director Blank indicated that he and
the City Manager would be presenting the master plan cost estimate to
the City Councils He also stated that FRAC would be having another
joint meeting with, the Council to review the master plan at some
future date.
Commissioner Beach noticed that the estimate provided by George did'
not include the cost for a third soccer field and she understood that
this had been discussed at one time.
Commissioner Rosen asked Eric how much money was available in the 1989
CIP to begin constructing the tennis courts in this park and would
a this project get underway this year. Director Blank.: said $150,000 was
in the CIP, and ha wasn't sure if we would be able to build this year.
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February 1989 PRAC Minutes
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b. goaRrehenaivt Plan. Director Blink briefly reviewed the comprehensive
plan and told the Commission he had been contacted by the Northwest
Trails Snowmobile Club, because they would like the trail along
Niagara. Lane from. County Road.6 to Highway 55 officially designated in
the plan as a snowmobile trail. They currently use it to get .from
Parkers Lake to the Highway 55 snowmobile corridor even though it is
not recognized as an official snowmobile trail. Commissioners
expressed some concerns over the safety of snowmobilers crossing
County 'Road `6 to get to the Niagara. Lane trail and the noise they will
create as they drive past the townhomes in Cimarron East and Mallard
Points They were not eager to officially designate Niagara. Lane as
snowmobile grail at this time. Director Blank then discussed other
trails and parks in the plan that are either being deleted, relocated,
or added:_ He, stated that, the 'Planning Commission, is the group that
will, hold the public hearing, but. that PRAC can, hold a public.
informational meeting regarding the parks portion of the comprehensive
plan, To stay in line with the Planning Commission's timetable
regarding the comprehensive plan., staff suggested holding the public
informational meeting, in March or April. Director Blank inaicated
that letters would. be sent to alll property owners affected by the
proposed changes.
Commissioner Rosen asked about the guiding of golf courses.. Director
Blank responded that it is the consensus of the City Manager, the
Planning Director and himself that golf courses are considered
public, semi-public," and that is probably the best guiding at this
time.
c. Comunity Center_ Meeting Schedule, Director Blank. stated that, the
concept plans from the architects are due Friday, February 10, n11'a
they will be delivered to the commissioners and the City Couricil
Friday night. Commissioner Beach suggested distributing PRAC''s copies
to them at the Fire and Ice Festival on Saturday. The copies intended.
for the public, will go on display in tho Council Conference Room on
Monday, February 13. Saturday, February 19, the architects will make
formalpresentation* to the Architectural Selection Committee and any
other interested parties. A; second public meeting will be held
Monday,; February 20. PRAC and the architectural selection committee
will hold a joint meeting, on February 23 at tthich time the committee
will make a recommendation on the winning architect. The Council, will
make their eecision on February 27.
d. Annual ReRort, A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON AND
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LATOUR TO ACCEPT THE 1988 PARK AND RECREATION
ADVISORY COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT AND FORWARD IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALI..., AYES.
6, NEW BUSINESS
a. New Plats. Lundgren Bros. has submitted a plan for the north end of
Mooney Lake. The plan shows a house where staff would like to see a
parka Negotiations will continue.
A. development plan has been submitted for the Swan Lake area, and it.
does not meet the intent of the park plan. It shows houses all the
f, way around the shoreline. Director Blank will continue to meet with
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them to try and work something out.
February 1989 PRAC Minutes
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A preliminary plat was approved For the northwest section of the, I-494
and County Road 9 area, but nothing ever came of, it. The developer is
in the process of replattng, and staff is work:ing, on getting some of
the hardwood forest area for park purposes.
b. Park Rental Policies and fee Schedules. This item was covered under
3b.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
Chair Edwards asked if the publication "How to Survive an a Park. and
Recreation Board Member" had been ordered for the Commission. Staff said
that one copy was ordered and when it arrives, it Will be xeroxed for each
member.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATLON
Eric reminded the commisaoners once again about the Fire and Ice Festival
scheduled for Saturday, February 11.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:53p.m.
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