HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 04-13-1989Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
April 13, 1989
Page 13
Present; Chair Edwards, Commissioners Anderson, Freels, Beach, Rosen, Hanson,
LaTour; staff Blank, Patterson and Pederson; Planning Commissioner
zylla
Absent:
1 CALL TO ORDER
Chair Edwards called the April meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. in the
Council Chambers.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Beach and seconded by Commissioner
LaTour to approve the minutes of the March meeting as presented. The
motion carried with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None were present at this meeting.
b. Staff_. Mary Patterson stated that the May -June issue of Plymouth on
Parade will be delivered to the post office April 17 and should be in
the homes by the end of that week.
She said that a new summer program called Discovery Lay Camp is being
offered to help fill the need created by District 281's decision to
not have summer school. Fliers advertising this program have gone to
all the schools that Plymouth children attend. The day camp is
organized into weekly sessions with each week having a different
theme. So far, the most popular week is the last one, called Disney
Week, with a trip to Valleyfair.
She stated that all softball leagues were filled with the exception of
one, which has only one spot remaining.
She reminded commissioners of the Ethnic Dance Theatre performance at
Wayzata. High School, Saturday, April 22.
Mary announced that a wedding is scheduled at the Parkers Lake
Pavilion Friday, April. 14.. The couple had their first date in. the
park about a year ago.
c. Others. See item 5a.
4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. The City Council approved a budget for the community center building
and a basic building program. They nlso directed the architect to
include plans for a teen center.
April 1989PRAC' Minutes
Page 14
5 UNFINISHED EUSINESS
a. Mooney Lake Plat Lundgren Bros. Homes. Director Blank began the
discussion on this itembyindicating that the plat proposed by
Lundgren Bros. for the Reiser property has not yet been presented to
the Planning Commission. The purpose of PRAC's review is to address
the issue of whether or not there should be public land included in
this plat.
Mike Pflaum, representing Lundgren Bros., then addressed the
Commission and the audience by stating the reasons Lundgren Bros.
wants the same piece of property for a 'home site that the City wants
for park._ He indicated that the site is a very large, Lakeshore site,
with many trees.; It's private and scenic, and thus, is very valuable
to Lundgren Bros. He further stated that the neighborhoods adjacent
to this property are already well endowed wit.;': parks and that the
City's Comprehensive Plan does not propose a park on this property.
He further indicated that Imperial Hills park, which is nine acresin
size, is only one-half mile away, and their residents will have trail
access to the lake. Also, Green Oaks Park is adjacent to this peat-.
Holy Name Lake on 'County Road 24 has a public canoe access and
parking, and is no farther away from the majority of Greentree West
residents than is Mooney Lake. He argued further that this park would
be pretty isolated and would get little use since it is on the western
boundary of the City and is accessible only by pedestrians. He also
indicated his displeasure with the 38% increase in park dedication
fees, and that it was increased only to fund the purchases which have
been scheduled in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan.
He stated if Lundgren Bros. is allowed to keep this lot for a
homesite, they will construct at their expense a large wooden
observation deck for the residents to use.
Following Mr. Pflaum's presentation, Chair Edwards opened the meeting
for public comment.
Sal Testa, 2305 Walnut Grove "Lane, spoke in support of making the
southeast corner of the development a public park,. He has seen marry
residents walk to the lake to fish using this particular area as the
access.
Dave Volker, 2830 Brockton Lane, has known Mr. Reiser for a number of
years, and Mr. Reiser informally granted access to the lake via his
property for anyone who wanted to use it. Mr. Volker claims that the
overlook proposed by Lundgren Bros. is too far away from the lake to
be enjoyed by the residents. He estimates that the distance is 468'
feet and one would neee, a telescope to see the lake.
Donn Wassink, 2345 Walnut Grove Lane, supporta the recommendation to
make a portion of the Lundgren Bros. plat public land.
Paul Wirtz, 2325 Walnut. Grove Lane,, supports the idea of a public park
area but wants to make sure it's not going to be similar to the park
at Parkers Lake.
April 1989 FRAC'Minutes
Page 1
Peggy Cost, 1875 Troy Lane, is concerned that ,the City may not
understand what "kind" of lake Mooney Lake is She stated that it is
very muddy on, the bottom and has lots of snapping turtles that wander
into people's hfiekyards. It isnot a swimming lake. Stye also said
that she didn't want to see big 'boats razing around on it and Wondered
if there was some way to regulate that. Director Blank stated that
there is & five horsepower, motor limitation on this lake, Mrs. Cost
was surprised to hear this, and stated that last summer there were jet
skis being used on the lake. She asked if some sort of notice could
he put in Plymouth on Parade to remind, homeowners that there is a
horsepower limitation in effect., Director Blank suggested that the
homeowner association should co tact all residents on the lake
regarding the horsepower limitation as a first step in enforcing this
policy,
Doris Bullard, 2025 Xanthus L**ne, stated that When they purchased
their home, ,she felt like thfey had moved to paradiae. She described
the area as a bird and wildlife sanctuary, which is very beautiful and
quiet. She supports keeping some of the Reiser property as a public
park rather than letting Lundgren Bros. develop it as a home site.
Doug Miller, 18730 27th Avc lue, also supports public park and thinks -
it would be nice to tie it into the trail system proposed for the east
side of the Lundgren plat,
Following the residents' comments, Chair Edwards asked the
v mmiso overs for their thoughts on thfs issue..
Commissioner Hanson said that she supporte.d.some type. of public access
for those people who wouldnot otherwise have access.. She felt that
the 10% park dedict.ion required of Lundgren should ail be in the form
of land rather than cash
Commissioner Freels supported the idea of bringing, the trail down to
the water's edge and creating some type of public area where people
could sit down on benches, sightsee and fish,
Commissioner Anderson feels that building a home on the southeast
corner of the Lundgren plat would, destroy any natural 'habitat that
exists there, and he feviv. it is important to preserve as much of this
area as possible,
Commissioners Edwards;, LaTour and Rosen also agree that the public has
rights to lake use, and that if Lundgren Bros. wer,1 to build a home on
the southeast corner of the Reiser property, those rights would be
severely limited.
A motion was made by Cotranissioner Hanson and seconded by Consa issioner
Freels to encourage the City Council to require that the lox park
dedication from Lundgren Bros. be in the form of land in order to
provide public access to Mooney Lake for the purpose of canoeing and
k fishing. etc.
4z, A motion to amend the motion was mads by Commissioner Beach to include
that. the City should retain as much natural area as pogsible.
April 1989 PRAC Minutes
Page 16
Commissioner Fr,els then withdrew his second of the motion made by
Commissioner Hanson and amended the main motion to preserve as much of
the southeast corner of the Lundgren plat as possible as authorized by
park dedication. Commissioner Anderson seconded Commissioner Freels'
amendment.
After further discussion, all amendments and the main motion Were
withdrawn
A NOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER HANSON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
ROSEN TO ACQUIRE A NATURAL PRESERVE AREA IN THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF
THE REISER PROPERTY ON [GOONEY LAKE,, WHICH WILL GIVE THE PUBLIC LAKE;
RIGHTS WITH THE SAME REGULATIGNS AS THE HOMEOWNERS ON THE LAKE. THE
MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER FREELS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
BEACH THAT THE PRESERVATION OF THIS PARK LAND SHOULD BE MADE WITH AS
MINIMAL DIT STURISANCE AS POSSIBLE TO THE LAKE. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH
ALL AYES
b. C2=rehenaiy2 Plan Update There are only two park issues being
considered in updating the comprehensive plan, therefore, Director
Blank said that the Planning Commission would be the only group
holding public meetings on this issue. He will continue, to meet With
Blair Tremere to provide input on those two issues which includes
keeping the area of County Road 9 and,Vicksburg Lane guided as public,
semi-public; and changing the guiding of Mud Lake from residential to
public, semi-public..
Planning Commissioner Zylla spoke briefly about the numerous meetings
the Planning Commission has held over the: past thrae months regarding
updating the comprehensive plan. tie. indicated that there has been a
lot of "down" guiding. from LA3 to LA2 and LAI. He said that they are
changing some, residential guiding to industrial and vice versa. He
stated they spent a lot of time on; the area west, of Vicksburg. He
bali ves that the last meeting they will have prior to the public.
hearings will be Tuesday, April 18;
c. West lfedicine juke Drive Trail Update, This item has been turned over
to the Engineering Department. Director Blank indicated that there
are seven houses with driveway access to the area that is now proposed,
for trail.. Strgar-Roscoe is still in the process of preparing their
report.
d. Plymouth Creek Parking Lot Uodate., Bids, were opened Tuesday, April
11. Low hid was $67,839. The awarding of the contract is on; the City
Council agenda for Monday, April 1.7, Director Blank is still planning
on the parking lot be -jog tinished by June 1.
e, C,2M=ity Cent 4r Uo ate. Five resolutivjzv'-ore rc .ently passed by the
n Council regarding the community cen..L One of those was for
negotiating a contract with a construe t,iviA ann:zar. A contract, has
not been signed; yet With the architec^ ,--O %. ie City Manager is in the
process of negotiating with them, Iut Rir-,cer of Barker, Rinker and
April: 1989 PRAC Minutes
Page 17
Seacat (working with the firm of BWBR), was in; Plymouth last week and
met with a group of senior citizens regarding what they'd,like to have
included in the community center.. The Council has also told the
architect to include plans for a teen center. Erie indicated that he
is in the process of developing an es't;imated operating budget for the
community center. This information will go to. the _Council about May
l5.
f • reported briefly on the recreationMarPyReR2rtonRecreation •• Survey_ Y
survey results., Three hundred seventy-seven questionnaires were sent.
to a random sampling of Plymouth residents. Two hundred thirty-two
were returned for a. 62% return. Of those, 31.% participated in
recreation programs ' in 1988, and 90% of the participants were
satisfied with their experiences. Ninety percent also said they would
recommend our programs to others. One item Bary found somewhat
disturbing is that 24% thought registering for our programs was a
minor or serious probl-tm, but only 37% said they would like to
register by phone and charge the classes to their major credit card.
Not too surprising was the fact that about 32% of the adults
responding said their best time to attend classes was between 6 and 8
P.M. On t'he other hand, it was somewhat surprising to learn that
about, 34Xof the adults, want programming on weekends during the
summer. T'o 'irtost requested indoor facilities are: Wayzata Nigh "
School, Armstrong High School and Parkers hake Pavilion. Outdoor
facilities included Zachary Playfield, Plymouth Creek Playfield and
Plymouth Middle School. Adults requested more programming in the
ureas of fitness and one time special events. Forty-nine percent of
those responding, to the survey have children attending school in the
Wayzata School District.
Mary stated that she would do a written report on these and other
results for distribution at a future meeting.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a New Plats. Director Blank announced that the plat for Swan Lake has
been submitted.; Eric feels that the plat has a substandard park pian,
but PRAC Will be given' an, opportunity to review it before any final
decisions are made.
b. Dalefor-Annual Park Tour, May 1.7 was chosen for the date of the
annual park tour. The bus will leave Plymouth City Center at 5:15
p.m. Invitcation+i will be extended to the Planning Commission and the
City Council.
c. Kilmer Park Playground, Director Blank indicated he. has a budget of
for the improvements at Kilmer Park. Of that, $8,000 will be: 20,000
needed for pea gravel, leaving $12,000 for the new equipment. Half of
those responding to the questionnaire requested leaving the basketball
hoop at eight feet. PRAC recommended raising it to 10 feet, however,
because they feel more, injuries could take place by leaving it at
eight feet. Director Blank stated that he is proposing to talk to
several different playground designers to see what each might offer
ti
for $12,000, and choosing the one who offers the most for that price.
April 1989 PRAC Minutes
Page 1.$
A MOTION WAS MADEBY CHAIR EDWARDS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
ANDERSON DIRECTING. STAFF TO CHOOSE THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT FOR: KILMER
NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
i. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
None.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
Director Blank indicated that he had spoken with Bob Wicklund at Hennepin
Parks regarding the playground surface issue. Mr. Wicklund has been in
touch with the; Consumer Products Safety Bureau, and they indicated that
they have received two studies with different opinions on the use of pea
gravel. The only recommendation they are making at this time is against,
the use of concrete, asphalt or packed soil.. Sometime in 1990, the CPSB
will do their own research on the use of pea. gravel, and Director Blank
indicated he will wait until the results of that report are available
before making any decisions on this issue.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The 'meeting adjourned at 10:40 p.m.
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