HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 02-08-1990Minutes of the Park and Recreation. Advisory Commission Meeting
February 8, 1994
Page l
Present: Chair Edwards, Commissioners Anderson,, Beach., Freels, Hanson and
Rosen staff Ayshford., Blank, Busch, Patterson, Pederson and
Peterson
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Edwards called the February meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. in the
Council Conference Room..
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A Motion was made by Commissioner Hanson and seconded by Commissioner
Freels to approve the minutes of the December, 1989, meeting as presented.
There was no January meeting.) The motion carried with all ayes.
3: VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a.. Athletic Associations None were present at this meeting.
b ,Staff. Rick Busch spokeabout the situation regarding the, demand for
more baseball. fields and pre ented the following information to the
commissioners and, staff: When the Plymouth playfields were built in
1981, the Plymouth -Wayzata Baseball. Association abandoned the two
excellent B-ball/C-ball; size fields at the West Medicine Lake
Community CluL, abandoned Gullickson, B-ball/C-ball field at the:
District 284 Administration building property, abandoned Klaprich B-
ball/C-ball field in Wayzata, and substantially reduced their usage of
the ballfields at Wayzata West Junior High. Also,, the Babe Ruth
baseball field at Ridgemount (Wayzata East) was. converted to a soccer
field four years ago, after the Plymouth -Wayzata Baseball Association
said they didn't need it. It had been. used on a minimal 'basis since
Oakwood and Plymouth Creek Babe Ruth size fields were. built.
Also, four years ago, 284 Hockey turned down the City of Plymouth's
offer to build an additional rink at Oakwood' sRying they did not need'
it:
Commissioner Rosen suggested that maybe the baseball associations
could make more use of some of the neighborhood parks;
Rick. Busch commented that our adult softball program did not evolve
until after the playfi;elds were constructed in 1981. The adult
program has grown to such proportions that this year, staff decided to
tighten eligibility. This will provide more fields for youth.
baseball:
Mary pointed out to the commissioners that the youth athletic
associations do -tot pay for normal day to day use of the fields, and
by making the decision to reallocate fields, the City will be losing
some revenue: This is not. necessarily bad, but the impact of that
decision should be understood,. Commissioner Freels asked staff to
prepare a cost report on what the City would lose by turning a
percentage of fields over to the youth baseball groups.
February 1990`PRAC Minutes
rage 2
1
Commissioner Rossu asked if the Wayzata School District was
cooperating by keeping up the maintenance on their fields. Staff
responded that they are not maintained vell, and they charge for sone
maintenance. However, the District claims they are doing their share
by providing indoor facilities for our use with no charge to us.
Commissioner Beach suggested that perhaps the Plymouth -Wayzata
Baseball Association could donate some of the money it raises during
the year to the School District to help with the maintainence of the,
b+seball, field at Wayzata High: School. Apparently the baseball
association is upset with the district; for 4wt maintaining this field
in a playable condition. Carol said that,her soccer club gets
considerable. use of the fields at the Wayzata West Junior High,
because her association paid for some improvements, such as new soccer
nets, paint for the soccer goals, etc.
Regardicig the need for playfield facilities in northern or southern
Plymouth and whether or not Bass Lake Playfield should be built before
Parkers Lake,_ Director Blank stated that there are no baseball
facilities on the north end of Plymouth, while there exist four major
facilities in District 284: Oakwood, Plymouth Creek, Wayzata East Jr.
High., and LaCompte.
c. Others., There were no presentations:
L. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. None
5 UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. 1989 Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Annual A MOTION
II WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER HANSON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ROSEN TO
ACCEPT THE 1989 ANNUAL REPORT AND FORWARD IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL. THE
MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
Mary Patterson informed the Commission that Karol Greupner had done
all of the graphics for the various divider pages. The Commission
thanked staff for their efforts in putting the report together with
special recognition of Karol's contribution.
6. NEW BUSINESS
I
a. Now Plats. None
b. 1990 Facility Rental Policies and Fee ap11tdu1es. Rick distributed a
summary of playfield rentals that occurred in 1989. Rentals consisted
mostly of softball tournament fields at Zachary Playfield_, He
indicated that football/soccer fields are rarely rented out.
Fees for renting fields are proposed to be increased by about 5% for
the year 1990. Commissioner Rosen questioned the large increase
proposed for renting scoreboards (from $15/day to $25/day/scoreboard).
Rick responded that repairs to scoreboards are very costly, and the
large increase is mainly to discourage use.
February 1990 PRAC Minutes
Pae 3
1
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER ROSEN AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
BEACH TO APPROVE THE RENTAL POLICIES AND FEES PROPOSED BY STAFF FOR
THE YEAR 1990. Commissioner Freels pointed out that the cord "permit"
still appears in some of the paragraphs in the Facility Rental Policy
and should be changed to "request" or elivr.inated where appropriate..
The motion carried with all ayes.
Mary presented the 1990 Parkers Lake Pavilion Mult=-purpose Room
Rental Policy and Fee Schedule and noted that these fees were
increased by $1 per hour or about 52. She noted that the fee charged
to the School Districts was not, increased, because they did not
increase, their fees to us. Mary indicated that the proposed increase
to rentthepavilion is due tF:. increased staff costs. Regarding the
rental application form, Commissioner Freels pointed out that we state
the fee to private groups includes an attendant, but we don't mention
an attendant for non-profit groups. The policy will be, changed to
reflect that an attendant is included with all types of rentals.
Bill. Ayshford presented a report. on, the attendance and rentals at the
pavilion during 1989. Total recreation program attendance was 4,381
participants. Warming- house and beach atUnndance totaled 35,455.
Special event attendance (Fire b Lce Festival and the Water Carnival)
totaled 2,950. Rental groups' total attendance was 1,037, with the
pavilion being, rented 21 times in 1989, totaling 59.5 hours. Rental
income of $906 was reported.
Some groups have expressed a desire to serve beer and wine at their
functions. Staff has no plans at this time to pursus this option, but
wanted 'PRAC to be aware of these requests.
A, MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER ROSEN AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
BEACH TO APPROVE THE 1990 PARKERS LAKE PAVILION MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM
RENTAL POLICY AND FEE SCHEDULE AS PROPOSED BY STAFF. THE MOTION
CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. The Commission also thanked Bill Ayshford for
his report on: pavilion usage in 1:989.
Mary thanked the commissioners for volunteering their time to
supervise the bonfire at the Fire and ice Festival. She stated that
attendance estimates ranged from 3,500 to 4,000. Chair Edwards
requested 'that more hay bales be provided at next year's Festival for
people to sit on around the bonfire. Commissioner Freels suggested
that for safety reasons, logs should be used as "chairs," because
sparks from the bonfire could ignite the hay.
Mary briefly updated the Commission on the Olympic Festival Torch Run
which will, pass through Plymouth on, July 6. The entry fee is $15 for
anyone interested in being one of the runners. Conmicsioner Hanson
indicated an interest in participating.
The MRPA annual conference is scheduled for February 28 -March 2 at the
Radisson Hotel South in Bloomington. A special session aimed at park
board members is. scheduled. Mary encouraged interested' commissioners
to inform our office if they would like to attend.
c. 1990 Park Proiects. Director Blank stated the: the City Council has
tentatively approved the 1990 park projects, which include. the Swan
Lake neighborhood park;, the Bass Lake Playfieldx a: portion of trail
along, West Medicine Lake Drive and the 46th Avenue trail.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER HANSON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
FREELS TO PROCEED WITH THE 1990 PROPOSED PARK PROJECTS AS PRESENTED IN
THE 1990-94 CIP. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL 4YE$.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER. BEACH AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
ANDERSON TO kECOMMEND MOVING THE PARKERS LAKE PLAYFIELD TO THE YEAR
1990 OR 1991, AND TO RECOMMEND HIRING A CONSULTANT TO DO A FEASIBILITY'
STUDY ON THE COST TO BUILD THE PARKERS LAKE PLAYFIELD OR A PORTION OF
IT.; THE MOTI.ON CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
A MOT41ON WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER FREELS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER,
BEACH TO RECOMMEND THE ALLOCATION OF $10,000 TO IMPROVE SIX BASEBALL
FIELDS FOR USE THIS SUMMER. THE MOTION CARRIED {WITH ALL AYES=.
Z. COMMISSION PRESENTATION'
Chair Edwards shared a. sample of playground surface material called "Tire
Turf" that she: had picked up at the National Recreation and Parks
Association. Congress in San Antonio, 'Texas. Claims are that it is safe:
and costs less than pea graved.
Commissioner Freels expressed his feelings that he would like some
direction from the City Council on how to proceed with the community
center at this time, It was the general consensus of the entire
Commission that direction is needed from the City Council on this subject.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
None.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned.at 8;32 p.m.