HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 09-13-1990Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
September 13, 1990
Page 37
Present: Chairman Freels, Commissioners Anderson, Edwards, Hanson, Rosen and
Waage; staff Blank, Busch and Pederson
Absent: Commissioner Beach
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Freels called the September meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the
Council Chambers.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the July meeting were not made available to PRAC at their
September meeting, so they will be approved at the October meeting.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. This item will be covered under 5.a.
b. Staff. Rick Busch presented the Employee of the Month award to Kurt
Pauly for the month of September. He stated that Kurt has been
working for us as a warming house attendant and field attendant for
the past five years and has also worked full time in the park
maintenance department. Rick praised Kurt for his reliability, his
willingness to work whenever he is needed, and his ability to work
with the public in sometimes trying situations. He represents the
department very well. Since there was no August PRAC meeting, Rick
mentioned that the August Employee of the Month was Tamara Jergenson,
who works under Cindy's supervision as a playground leader.
Rick announced that our fall soccer program has been playing since the
first week in September, and registration is up from last year. Our
adult fall softball leagues will be wrapping up the week of September
17. Indoor fall sports will begin next week. Rick also mentioned
that the Upper Midwest Regional Softball Tournament was held in
Plymouth over the Labor Day weekend, with 85 teams participating. The
MRPA sponsored this event.
C. Others. None were present at this meeting.
4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. Playfields. The City Council reviewed the preliminary plans for the
Bass Lake and Parkers Lake Playfields. They added an additional tot
lot at Parkers Lake Playfield, and they added fencing along County
Road 6, in an effort to keep pedestrians from crossing at points other
than designated crossings.
b. 46th Avenue trail. Council awarded the bid on this trail, which has
already been installed and is now in the final stages of completion,
including seeding/sodding along the path itself.
Commissioner Edwards asked if crews had started building the tunnel
under County Road 6. Director Blank indicated that he learned at a
construction meeting last week that the tunnel will be started in
about two weeks.
September 1990 PRAC Minutes
Page 38
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Discussion of non-resident use of playfields. Director Blank
explained to the commissioners and the representatives of the athletic
associations, that PRAC commissioner Carol Beach had suggested the
City consider implementing non-resident fees starting in 1991. This
suggestion came after rumors that Plymouth kids were being denied
participation on some teams, because non-residents got placed on the
teams instead.
Dennis Netland, Chairman of the New Hope -Plymouth Baseball program,
distributed a report to the commissioners outlining this past season's
participation. He stated that 693 kids, ages 9-18, played in the
program, with 393 of those kids living in Plymouth, which had the
largest participation. Mr. Netland stated that no Plymouth kids were
denied the opportunity to play (unless they were under age, or had
tried to register after teams were already full). He explained that
Plymouth kids pay more than New Hope, because of an officials' fee,
which is covered by the City of New Hope for New Hope children.
Gail Dieleman, Secretary of the New Hope -Plymouth Athletic
Association, and current chair of the summer traveling soccer program,
stated that their association is somewhat unique in that it offers
five different sports all under one "umbrella," rather than separate
associations for basketball, football, hockey, soccer, etc. They
currently restrict membership to kids from Plymouth and New Hope
living in District 281, although they will occasionally allow children
from Crystal, Golden Valley and other suburbs to play. Their largest
participation is from kids living in Plymouth, however. He feels
charging non-resident fees to New Hope kids would be difficult and
somewhat unfair, considering that fields are evenly provided by both
the cities of Plymouth and New Hope. He stated that Plymouth children
do pay $14.25 more than New Hope kids, because of the officials' fee,
and that kids from other suburbs pay that fee, plus an additional $3
to help offset the fact that Plymouth and New Hope provides the
fields. He indicated that as far as he knew, no Plymouth children
were denied the opportunity to play.
Ed Cunnington, Plymouth -Wayzata Baseball, stated that 1,150 boys (76
teams) participated this summer, with the largest percentage being
from Plymouth. He did not have exact numbers available. No Plymouth
children were denied membership. He was concerned that if non-
resident fees were charged to kids from Wayzata, that the Wayzata
businesses that help sponsor the teams, might withdraw some of that
sponsorship.
Greg Baufield, representing Plymouth -Wayzata Youth Football, stated
that there are 335 participants this fall from District 284, with most
of these kids being from Plymouth. He explained that they belong to
the Lake Minnetonka Football Association, which includes leagues from
Hopkins, Minnetonka, Orono, Plymouth -Wayzata and Plymouth -New Hope.
Their costs escalated this year because of a problem with the helmets,
requiring them to purchase all new ones. Football registration fees
are currently running $60 for a single and $80 for a family. Last
September 1990 PRAC Minutes
Page 39
year, those fees were $40 and $55. They play their games at Oakwood,
and this year one third of their games at Plymouth Middle School,
because there aren't enough fields available to accommodate them. He
commented that there are about 500 Minnetonka children playing
football, but Minnetonka is not providing any of the fields.
Commissioners were surprised to hear this and wanted to know why. Mr.
Baufield replied that Minnetonka Park and Recreation has decided to
make its fields available only to adult groups willing to pay rent.
He's been putting some pressure on the Wayzata School District to
provide a field and on the City of Wayzata. He also intends to
contact Minnetonka about their lack of cooperation. '
Following the presentations made by the athletic association
representatives, Chair Freels asked the commissioners for their
comments on charging non-resident user fees.
Commissioner Anderson questioned how many non-residents are actually
involved in these youth sports and would charging them $3 or $5 be
worth the possible negative reaction it would generate. Rick Busch
commented that it was somewhere between 200 and 300 kids, excluding
New Hope children, and reminded PRAC that New Hope does provide about
half the fields for their Association's use.
Commissioner Rosen stated that charging non --resident fees would be a
very negative thing to do and would cause lots of ill will between
cities. He also feels that $3 or $5 would not be worth it and would
just be an annoyance.
Commissioner Hanson said that she thinks cities that are not offering
any kind of support in the way of fields or monetary contributions
should be asked to help out, and pressure should be put on the City of
Wayzata and the Wayzata School District to repair some of their fields
or make them available to youth sports.
Commissioner Edwards is not in favor of charging non-resident user
fees. She feels that some families may have trouble affording the
additional charge, especially if they have several children playing
sports.
Chair Freels commented that he doesn't want to charge non --resident
fees either. He doesn't think it would be worthwhile, nor would the
fees generated be enough to cover the costs associated with non-
resident use. Based on the figures presented by the Athletic
Association representatives, non-resident involvement is minimal.
Because Carol Beach was absent, Chair Freels suggested that the
Commission table any action on this item at this time. All
commissioners agreed with this. Chair Freels thanked each
representative for attending the meeting and voicing their concerns.
The representatives in turn thanked the Commission for inviting them,
and they indicated they are very appreciative of Plymouth's support of
their programs. They also stated they would like to nominate Rick
Busch "Employee of the Month," and commented on how grateful they are
for his help and cooperation.
September 1990 PRAC Minutes
Page 40
b. Bass Lake Parkers Lake playfield u date. Director Blank stated that
Council has approved .the preliminary plans with the addition of a
second tot lot at Parkers Lake and a fence along County Road 6. The
final plans and specs are scheduled to go to the City Council on
September 24.
c. Swan Lake neighborhood park. The playground equipment has been
installed, some final grading needs to be completed, and seed and sod
has to be planted.
d. West Medicine trail update. This project is proceeding nicely.
Director Blank will be meeting with residents this week who need an
opening in the fence above the retaining wall for access to their
docks. Property owners must rebuild their stairways themselves. All
work should be completed by October 1.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Norma Lewis land - West Medicine Lake City Park update. Mrs. Lewis
approached Director Blank in recent weeks indicating she was
interested in selling her property, which is part of the proposed West
Medicine Lake City park project. The City is now in the process of
having the land appraised.
b. Forster's land - Zachary Pla field update. The Forster family has
contacted the City regarding selling their property. This is the land
west of Zachary Playfield that the City is interested in acquiring as
a buffer zone between the playfield and residential homes.
C. U.S. Homes land - future playfield update. Two appraisals have been
done on this property; one by the City's appraiser and one by U.S.
Homes. Based on the large difference in the value, the City Council
has stated that no purchase should be considered at this time. The
Wayzata School District is also interested in some of this land for a
future school site.
d. Discussion of special facilities - comprehensive plan. Director Blank
shared some statistics on golf courses and outdoor pools with the
commissioners. According to national standards, there should be one
18 -hole golf course per 25,000 people in a community. Plymouth does
meet this standard, based on its current population, with golf courses
at Elm Creek, Hampton Hills and Hollydale. Although these courses are
not City owned, they are open to the public. Commissioners are
concerned that at some point in the future, these privately owned
courses may be sold to developers who will build houses on this land,
and that the City should consider the purchase of at least one of
these courses in order to preserve it. The standard for pools is one
outdoor pool per 20,000 people. With a projected population of 80,000
to 100,000 when Plymouth is completely developed, we would need
approximately 5.5 outdoor pools if we are to meet the national
standard. Director Blank discussed the costs to build and maintain
outdoor pools and how they usually operate at a loss. He talked about
the new $2.7 million 50 meter outdoor pool that Winona just built that
includes a water slide, and the pool in Crystal that has two new water
September 1990 PRAC Minutes
Page 41
slides. Commissioner Rosen asked Director Blank if wave pools are
still as popular as they once were. Director Blank will research that
question and let PRAC know. He did say that this summer, while
attending a soccer tournament in Blaine, he heard an announcement made
over the public address system that the Anoka wave pool was closed due
to being at capacity for that day. The commissioners discussed the
possibility of an outdoor pool in Plymouth and suggested that a
citizen survey should be done to see if this is what the public wants.
Director Blank indicated that the financial task force appointed by
the City Council may be doing a citizen survey in the future and that
questions like that might be included. It was suggested that PRAC
wait on making any recommendations for special facilities in the
Comprehensive Plan until after a survey is completed.
e, 1990-91 ice rink locations - committee report. The skating rink
committee met to try and distribute more equally throughout Plymouth
the locations of ice rinks. The committee suggested two new rinks;
one in Turtle Lake Park and one in Swan Lake Park. They recommended
closing the rink at Lions Park because of its proximity to Parkers
Lake, and closing the one at 24th & Olive Lane, due to its proximity
to Oakwood. Director Blank pointed out that there will also be two
rinks in the new Bass Lake Playfield. A MOTION WAS MADE BY
COMMISSIONER HANSON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER EDWARDS TO ACCEPT THE
RECOMMENDATION MADE BY THE SKATING RINK COMMITTEE. THE MOTION CARRIED
WITH FIVE AYES. (Commissioner Beach was absent; Commissioner Anderson
left prior to this item being discussed.) It was suggested that staff
research a way to get onto Bass Lake to maintain a rink there, until
the Bass Lake Playfield rinks are available.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
None.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
Meeting dates for October were discussed. Since staff and some
commissioners have conflicts on the 11th and 18th, it was decided to meet
on October 25.
Director Blank made the announcement that after 22 years, Commissioner
Edwards was resigning, because she and her husband will be moving out of
Plymouth at the end of September. Commissioners offered their regrets
that Barbara would be "retiring," and they all wished her well. A MOTION
WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER ROSEN AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HANSON TO
COMMEND BARBARA ON HER 22 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO THE
PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION AND TO THE CITIZENS OF PLYMOUTH.
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m.