HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 09-14-1989Minutes of the Park and 'Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
September 14, 1989.
Page 32
Present; Chair Edwards, Commissioners Freels, LaTour, Beach r.nd Hanson;
Planning Commissioner Zylla; Councilmember Sisk; staff Blank, Busch,
Patterson and Pederson
Absent Commissioners Anderson and Rosen
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Edwards called the September meeting to order at 8:11 p.m. in the
Council Chambers
2.. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A :notion was made to approve the minutes of the July meeting as presented.
The motion carried with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None were present,
b. Staff, Rick Busch stated that there had been a total of 210 teams in
the adult softball program, which continues to grow. He indicated
that field space is becoming a concern, and to alleviate the
situation, he has informed non-resident teams that the only league
they can play in next year, will be the Friday Open League.
He stated that the youth. fall soccer program has been underway since
the 5th of September. Six hundred eight children are enrolled between
grades one and nine. The lower age groups (1st -4th grades) are
playing six children to a side and play on smaller fields.
Rick also stated that he is busy planning winter programs, which
include warming houses, skating rinks, volleyball, broomball, 4 -man
hockey and basketball leagues.
Rick distributed a chart to the Commission which was an analysis of
spring/summer field use. The ,chart indicated the number of Plymouth
teams involved in sports sponsored by youth athletic associations and
the number of adult softball teams playing in the Plymouth Park and
Recreation program, It also showed the number of fields that are
available thrpughout Plymouth, both City fields and school district
fields and the number of players ,per field. This analysis was done :n
preparation for a meeting with a member of the NHPAA. who has voiced'
concern over the lack of baseball facilities in Plymouth for younger
age groups, particularly practice fields. A similar concern has been
raised. by a Plymouth resident from the Wayzata School District.
Director Blank indicated that this issue will probably surface more in
the future and further study needs to be done on. how many baseball
fields are needed.
Mary Patterson discussed the success of the rescheduled Water
Carnival, which was rained out in ::uly and postponed until Tuesday,
August 8. Approximately 700 people attended the event which was held
at Parkers Lake. In previous years, it had been held at East Medicine
Lake Beach on a Saturday afternoon and was not well. received. Mary
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feels the excellent at en%,ance tt Parkers had to do with holding it on
a week night as well &a the &-adit oral publicity given when it was
rescheduled.because of the ;rain out
Mary announced that our lifeguard staff took lot place in the 1989 All
Metro Lifeguard Competition held in Edina. She stated that our
beaches closed on August 13, with another safe season, and no major
problems.
She indicated that several summer programs were very successful,
including the pre-school PITS specials and the all day Day Camps that
we ran in cooperation with Hennepin Parks.
Fall programs have begun. Some: special events coming up that staff is
working; on include the Volksmarch, on October 7, the Third Annual Old
Fashioned Christmas on December .10, and the Second Annual Fire and Ice
Featival on February 10,
Another project that takes up some of Mary's time is the rental of the
Parkers Lake Pavilion. It's a popular spot, and is being requested by
groups. on a fairly regular basis.
c• Othgra.
4 REPORT ON ;PAST COUNCIL ACTION,
None..
5. UNFINISHPD BUSINESS
a. ComRrehensive Park and Trail Plan Ucdatg. Director Blank stated that
the Planning Commission has wrapped up their review and has made
recommendations to the City Council. Based on some of the reguid`ing
that has been proposed to change from industrial to residential,
Director Blank feels that the park plan also needs to be reviewed. and
possible changes made. Director Blank is recommending that Brauer and
Associates, look over the park plan and analyze the current facilities.
Our neighborhood park system is mostly passive in nature, whereas
other communities haveein_stalled facilit es such as hockey rinks,
te;tnia courts, backstops, etc.,,, in thein neighborhood parks. We have
stayed away from doing this at the request of the residents, but it
might be time to begin- thinking about making some of our future
neighborhood parks a_ little more "active," Particularly in light of
recent concerns over lack of baseball practice facilities. Brauer
will also, be asked to help site playfields #9 and #10. We currently
have six completed playfield facilities, and we own the land to build
the seventh end eighth ('across from Parkers Lake Park and the 'Bass
Lake location) The third item that Brauer needs to study is where we
might, need future neighborhood parks in those areas where reguiding
has taken place, ;
Director Blank briefly reviewed the seven parcels that have been
proposed for park in the comprehensive park plan. Parcel 1A and 1B
are both owned by Harold Hytjan. He has no objections to the City's
r
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plans, however, he would like to sell the property to the City now.
Director Blank explained to him that we usually dcn't: acquire park
property in this way; we wait for a developer to buy it and then we
get park dedication. However, we would discuss the purchase of his
land if the Council amends the park plan to include his land.
Parcel 1C is directly west of lA and 1B and this owner is not pleased.
with the idea of so much land being set aside for park.
Director Blank stated that -Parcel 2, which is north of Plymouth Creek
Park, has a final plat before the City at the present gime, and the
developer was agreeable regarding the proposed park area.
Parcel 3A and 3B are east of County Road 101 and north of County Road
24. These parcels are east and south of what is currently designated
as park for this neighborhood.
Parcel. 4 consists of 50 acres just east of Dunkirk Lane and south of
Old County, Road 9 near Plymouth Creek Elementary School. Director
Blank feels that this area would be better for the playfield than the
land originally recommended. There Is much better road access here.
Parcel 5 is near Mud Lake, east of Juneau Lane and south of County
Road 47. The owner his already sold the eastern 200 feet to HrYnnepin
P*rks for trail corridor. Director Blank is considering this parcel
fot tb* 04-Fy's 10th playfield site.
Parcel 6 belong* to the Begins and is on the south end of Mud. Lake.
The City currently owns the land on the west, north and east sides of.
Mud Lake and would now like about 75 feet on the south end in order to
continue the proposed trail around the lake. There is a home on this,
parcel, but Director Blank indicated that the 75 feet the City is
interested in does not interfere with this house, or any future
development plans the Begins may have.
Parcel 7 in the Forster property adjacent to and west of Zachary
Playfield. Director Blank would like this parcel to serve as a buffer
between the homes and the park. This parcel would also be good for
youth baseball fields;.
b. Plymouth Greek Parking„Lot/Soccer Field Update. In order to show PRAC
the, progress hare, Director Blank had a video tape for everyone to
view Which included the improvements here, as well as some
improvements at Parkers Lake and the new playground at Kilmer Park.
c, Went Medicine Lake Drive Frail Update. The bids will be in within two
weeks, and the first phare of this project will be done this fall.
d, Kilmer Park Playground Update. PRAC viewed this on the videotape.
e. ryC_e toerUodate. This item was postponed to the end of the
meeting, so the Commission could review the building, plans.
et
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NEW BUSINESS
a. New Plats. There were no new plata.
b. Reguest to''Dredge Parkers Lake, Director Blank has discussed this
item with Fred Moore, Director of Public Works, and has learned that
the DiQ is the official body which sets the normal, water elevation on
Parkers Lake. It would be a very difficult process to change this.
Presently, four feet of storm water is retained here abova the normal
elevation, therefore, if that elevation were raised, flooding could
take place along the eastern shoreline, as well as ,possible flooding
of the Parkers Lake Pavilion, which. has its floor set at two feet
above the ordinary high water mark, Thus, the only way to get water
into the bay would be to dredge-. The dredged material could not be
used for the County Road 6 project as some residents have suggested,
because it's not suitable fill. Also, the County Road 6 project is
producing its own excess fill material, so additional material is not
needed,
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER HANSON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
BEACH TO NOT INCLUDE FUNDS TO DREDGE PARKERS LAKE AT THIS TIME,
BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER HIGHER PRIORITY ITEMS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE
CURRENT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM. THE MOTIONCARRIED WITH ALL
AYES.
c. Joint Meeting with the Planning Coneissiz. This meeting will be held
on September 27 at 9 p.m., following a, regular Planning Commission
meeting. It should last for about an hour.
d. Park Dedication Fund Summary._ Director Blank distributed a copy of
the park dedication fund showing its current balance. He stated that
the City has made approximately $660,000 so far this year in park
dedication, which is up about $100,000 from this time last year.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
None.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION:
Director 31ank announced he is reconvening the. Medicine Lake Task Force in
order to, discuss recent environmental issues affecting Medicine .Lake, such
as the barrels found recently in the bottom'of she lakeand the discovery
of possible Eurasian water milfoil. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday,
a September 19, 7 p.m., at the Plymouth. City Center. Members of PRAC are
invited if they wish to attend.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m
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