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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 10-17-1989Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting October 17, 1989 Page 36 Present Chair Edwards, Commissioners Anderson, Freels, Beach, Rosen and Hanson; staff Blank, Creupner, Patterson and Pederson; Councilmember Sisk, Planning Commissioner Zylla 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Edwards called the October meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. in the Council Chambers., 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Commissioner Freels and seconded by Commissioner Hanson to 'approve the minutes of the September 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 introduced Recreation's newest part-time staff member, Karol Greupner, who 'joined the department in June. Karol then made a presentation to the Commission regarding the programs she coordinates, which include preschool special evants, preschool tumbling and play time classes, adult trips, adult workshops and craft classes.. Some preschool special events coming up during the winter holiday break include Homemade Holiday, where children will make decorations and gifts for someone special; Crafts, Cookies b Cartoons,; a morning filled with making a craft project, watching Disney cartoons and enjoying milk and cookies, and Sliding and Snowflakes, where children will enjoy gym games, sliding (weather permitting), crafts and a snack. Karol is also coordinating the adult walking program; Plymouth Pedestrians. Adults who register for this receive a packet of materials which contains maps and distances of several pavedtrails throughout Plymouth, indoor locations where walking is permitted, tips on warm-up stretcheK and cooling down. Participants receive awards after logging 25, 50 and 150 miles. Karol attended a two-day workshop with Rick Busch on Customer Relations where recreation staff leern how to respond positively to all types of personalities using a "blue ribbon approach" where everyone involved comes away a "winner." Karol discussed the Volksmarch held on October 7, which had 89 participants of all ages. People could choose to walk 5K, 10K or 20.K, over a pre -marked route, which in this case was the trail from the - Parkers Lake Pavilion down to the Luce Line and then continuing on the Luce Line to the various check points.. Volksmarch pins, were given to those completing the 1OK or 20K. Karol distributed extra pins she had to each. commissioner, Councilman Sisk and Planning Commissioner Zylla. She stated that Plymouth will be hosting the Walk Minnesota State Walk next May. October 1989 PRAC Minutes Page 37 Karol announced special events coming up this fall and winter, including the Coblin.Walk at Oakwood on October 21 and school. release day events. Mary made a few brief announcements regarding upcoming events she is coordinating, including the Old Fashioned Christmas, held at Plymouth Creek Park, in cooperation with the Plymouth Historical Society, on December 10; and the Fire and Ice Festival, at Parkers Lake, on February 10, cosponsored by the Plymouth Civic League and other community organizations. c. Others. None. 4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION a. Leiecyed Bids on Community Center, Director Blank explained that the r uncil rejected the bids on the community center, although the bids did come in under the cost estimate. The reason for rejection was because this particular bid package combined with all remaining construction estimates totaled '$1,000,000 over the projected budget for the entire project Staff is now meeting with the architect and the construction - manager to come up with cost reductions. b. West Medicine Lake Drive Trail. Council rejected the bids on the construction of the West Medicine Lake Drive trail, as they were 40% over estimated costs. The project will be bid again in the spring 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. ComQrehensive Park b Trail Plan Uedate. Director Blank stated that the Council has not at this time awarded contracts to the consultants who will be working on updating the plans for streets, sewer b water, and parks. New information on the Comprehensive Plan Won't be available until the November PRAC meeting. b.. {West Medicine Lake Drive Trail Mate, Since this project came in 40% over the estimate, it will be bid again next spring. c Community Center Update, Director Blank explained to the commissioners that the architect is working on making a million dollars in cuts to the project. The roof over the ice rink and passive wing has been redesigned to a flat roof system which saves approximately $500,000 to $600,000. 6. NEW BUSINESS a Bass Creek Business Eark Pr000sed Amendment to Trail. Director Blank explained that Opus; Corporation is in the prccess of developing the Bass Creek Business, Park on 175 acres located' at the northwest corner of Highway 169 6 County Road 1.0. As part of this development, Opus wishes to construct a trail which will provide access t6 the PikeLakeRegional Park and run along the northern boundary of their business park, and down the, east side of the development,, and dead-end in the Nathan Court cul- de-sac. Instead of this being a private trail for the Bass Creek Business Park, Opus would like the City to accept it as a public trail and incorporate it into the Comprehensive Plan, thus making the City' October 1989 PRAC Minutes Pate 38 responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the trail and allowing Opus to receive credit against their, park dedication fees. Director Blank further explained that the current Comprehensive Plan shows a. Class I trail on the north side of County Road 10 running between Highway 169 and County Road 61. This trail will provide access to Pike Lake Regional Park. Director Blank, is recommending against accepting this as a public trail because there is no residential property in this area. Hennepin Parks will have many public trails in the regional park and they will have trail connections to the surrounding residential neighborhoods, plus the City of Plymouth will provide public trails to the regional park entrance via County Road 10 and Zachary Lane. Director Blank also pointed out similar business parks that have trails throughout their developments such as Prudential's Northwest Business Campus, Carlson Center and ITT Life -505 Waterford. Park. Miles Lindberg of the BRW consulting firm was present at the meeting to represent the Opus Corporation. He expanded on some of the points made in Mr. Worthington's letter dated October 11 to the commission on Opus' reasons for wanting the; trail within the business park to be accepted as a. public trail, rather than retained by them as a private trail.. They believe that an extension of the trail through their business park will interconnect the city trail segment along Bass Lake Road with the Pike Lake Regional Trail and will also provide the owners and business residents (employees) of Bass Creek an opportunity to participate in the benefits of having such an interconnection. (Opus will be putting in sidewalks on one side of all the streets in the business park as well.) They also feel that it will benefit the residents of other parts of Plymouth by providing them with another access to the. Pike Lake Regional Park. The Bass Creek Business Park is projected to generate $5,000,000 in taxes per year of which the City will receive $600,000; Opus feels that this is more than adequate for maintenance costs if the City were to accept their proposal. Commissioner Hanson asked Mr. Lindberg if he knew the approximate length of the trail. Mr.. Lindberg stated it was around 4,800 feet. She then calculated at $8 a foot, the trail would reduce their park dedication by 38,400. Chair Edwards doesn't see the trail being a benefit to anyone other than the employees of the business park. She contends that residents living south of the business park will use other trail connections to reach Pike Lake Regional Park, rather than routing themselves through Bass Creek. It could be of some benefit to residents north of here, but these would be residents of Maple Grove. Mr. Freels commented that if the trail is intended for the recreational use of the employees of the Business 'Park and is meant as a way for them. to get to the Regional Park, it would take them too long to walk from one end to the other and back again in the period of a lunch hour. He, too, feels it `would be used only by the employees of the business park. Mr., Freels also commented that the location of the trail is closer to the residential areas of Maple Grove than it is to Plymouth neighborhoods. Commissioner Rosen asked Mr. Lindberg how soon the entire Bass Creek e October 1989 PRAC Minutes Page 39 Business Park would be .completed. Mr. Lindberg stated that it would take about 10 years to finish. Commissioner Rosen then asked if half of the business park would be done within five years. Mr. Lindberg responded that it could take about that long to be 50% completed. Commissioner Rosen then; explained to Mr. Lindberg the. City's park development guideline which states that a- neighborhood park will not be constructed until that neighborhood is at least 50% developed, and even though this is not a neighborhood park issue, it is an issue of constructing a trail in on, area that will not be fully developed for 10 years. Chair Edwards :commented, in response to Mr. Lindberg,'s point that tax dollars will be given to the City by the Bass Creek Business Park, that the City is not obligated to provide recreational trails to the business' employees in Plymouth. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER FREELS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BEACH TO NOT AMEND THE CITY'S TRAIL PLAN TO INCLUDE THIS SEGMENT OF TRAIL. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. Commissioner Hanson stated that she wanted the minutes to reflect that the City will have numerous public trails connecting with regional trails' to the Pike. Lake Regional. Park and French Park. Commissioner Freels was concerned that the minutes of the Park Commission meetings may not always impress upon the Planning Commission the thoroughness of the discussions or the concerns of the members. The secretary noted that the minutes stage as accurately as possible the discussions that take place during the meetings. Director Blank commented that PRAC members can appear before the Planning Commission to reaffirm their position on the issues being discussedat their meetings, if they are concerned that their recommendations arc: not being thoroughly communicated. Commissioner Freels volunteered to represent FRAC at the Planning Commission meeting on October 25, when the Opus proposal will be on the agenda. Councilman Sisk commented that regardless of how the Planning Commission interprets them, PRAC' should be firm in their racomnendations and not be apprehensive about getting their message across to the Council. b Medicine Lake Eurasian Water_ Milfoil. Director Blank confirmed to the commissioners that, milfoil, has been located growing in Medicine Lake after a thorough search. Now that it has been found, the DNR will; become actively involved in trying to eradicate it. Along with the City of Plymouth, and the City of Medicine Lake, the DNR will share in the cost to spray the lake next spring with an application of 2-4D. c. Miaggilaneous. Director Blank briefly discussed the petition requesting that the City complete the trail between Zachary and Nathan Lane along 45th/46th Avenue. He commented that the City's draft capital improvement budget does include funding for this segment of trail.. He also pointed out his written correspondence with Judy LaTour on her resignation from FRAC and his response to Henry Willegalle regarding the request to dredge a portion of Parkers Lake. October 1989 PRAC Minutes Page 40 Regarding the letter from Mr. and Mrs. Vander Meeden to the Council on the need for more 90' baseball diamonds, Director Blank stated that there is the option to construct 90' fields in Parkers Lake Playfield and Bass Lake Playfield.. Councilman Sisk suggested that FRAC meet with representatives of the athletic associations and both school districts to discuss these needs. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION Chair Edwards announced that. she would' be attending the National Recreation and Park.Association Congress in San Antonio, Texas, starting October 17. 8. STAFF COMMUNICATION Director Blank shared a memo from the City Manager with PRAC regarding the local government aid cuts being experienced by Plymouth and other cities in the metropolitan area as part of the Governor's 1990 tax bill. Plymouth's aid has been tot4lly eliminated in 1990. When asked flow soon a new commissioner would be appointed, Director Blank said that the Council will probably appoint someone during the month of January, when other commissioners' terms are expiring,. 9.. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9;06 p.m.