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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 02-14-1991Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting February 14, 1991 Page 6 Present: Chair Freels, Commissioners Anderson, Beach, Rosen and Waage; staff Bisek, Blank, Pederson and Public Works Director Fred Moore Absent: Commissioner Hanson (due to death in family) 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Freels called the February meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. in the Council Chambers. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Commissioner Beach and seconded by Commissioner Waage to approve the minutes of the January meeting as presented. The motion carried with all ayes. 3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Athletic Associations. None were present. b. Staff. Mary Bisek thanked the commissioners for their help with the bonfire at the Fire and Ice Festival and briefly discussed the success of this year's event. Chair Freels commented that the wood chips that were delivered by maintenance really helped to control the mud that had developed around the bonfire and he suggested that additional s'more sticks would be helpful next year. Mary discussed the warming house situation explaining that they had been closed for several days in a row in early February due to unseasonably warm weather. Then when temperatures did get back to normal, it took a few days to get the ice back in good condition, after which it snowed, followed by a day of extremely cold wind chills, all of which added up to 11 days in a row of being closed. She added that rinks are scheduled to close for the winter season on February 18. The employee of the month is a warming house attendant, Brian Olson, who was unable to be at the meeting to receive his certificate, because he was taking a test at the University of Minnesota. Mary explained that the Plymouth Middle School Ski Club had a good season with several Friday after school ski trips, including one over night trip to Spirit Mountain on February 8. The final trip of the year is scheduled for March 1. A Youth Leadership Retreat is planned in March for Grades 8-11, co- sponsored by Plymouth Park and Recreation, the American Red Cross, Minneapolis Camp Fire and the Robbinsdale and Wayzata School Districts. The two-day retreat will be held at Camp Tanadoona in Chanhassen. Scholarships are available for those who cannot afford the $28 fee. Chair Freels indicated that his company would be willing to help financially with any future events of this kind. February 1991 PRAC Minutes Page 7 Mary briefly discussed how budget cuts may affect some programs for the summer season, such as closing of the West Beach and a reduction in the Playground in the Streets program. Further cuts could affect other programs. C. Others. 4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION a. 1991 Rental Policy and Fee Schedule. Council approved the fees and policies proposed for park facilities in 1991. b. Parkers Lake Rink Lights. Approval of lights at Parkers Lake skating rinks is pending further research by staff. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Special facilities - continue discussion. No discussion. b. Annual Report. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER ROSEN AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BEACH TO ACCEPT THE 1990 ANNUAL REPORT AND FORWARD IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. C. Plavfield Project Update. The Financial Task Force has meetings scheduled through the first week in March, so no recommendations on the playfield projects have been made at this time. Director Blank has received no information indicating if one, both or neither playfield will be recommended for development. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Comprehensive Plan Review Public Hearing - Schmidt Lake Road Trail and Neighborhood Park. Director Blank stated that approval by the Park Commission of the park and trail portion of the Comprehensive Plan occurred in July of 1990 as part of the overall updating of the City's System Plan. These updates were then forwarded to the Metropolitan Council for their approval. Since that time, new requests have been received by the City for a trail on Schmidt Lake Road and funding at the new Kimberly Lane Elementary School by School Dist. 284. Director Blank reviewed with PRAC the trail plan they adopted in 1990, and asked them to consider if a trail is necessary on Schmidt Lake Road and if so, should it be a Class I or Class II. He further stated that if PRAC feels a trail is necessary on Schmidt Lake Road, should the proposed trail along the railroad track be eliminated. He explained the problems that would be encountered if the City attempts to construct the trail along the railroad tracks, including the wetlands it would cross, steep terrain in some areas, and constructing a trail under the Soo railroad bridge which would mean getting an easement from the railroad. Arden Doering, 5210 Yorktown Lane, spoke in favor of installing trail along Schmidt Lake Road between Highway 169 and Zachary Lane, due to the extremely heavy traffic and the fact that there is no place to currently walk along there. He prefers that it be placed on the north side of Schmidt Lake Road and that it be a Class I trail. February 1991 PRAC Minutes Page 8 Shawna Fleming, 10745 55th Avenue, lives in Harrison Hills and stated there are at least 50 children living in this development, and they do not have safe access to Zachary Playfield or Timber Shores Park, because Zachary Lane has no sidewalks. She is requesting that when Zachary is upgraded to four lanes, sidewalk or trail be put in with a crosswalk of some kind to get people safely across Zachary. Right now Zachary has no paved shoulder, only gravel, and she feels this situation is very dangerous. She asked if the intersection of Schmidt Lake Road and Zachary would have a traffic light. Director Blank stated he wasn't certain. Chair Freels suggested that this issue be referred to the City engineers and a traffic consultant. He feels that an extra stop light along Zachary Lane that would allow people to cross over to the playfield or Timber Shores Park would not be very practical due to the high cost of installing it, and although a marked crosswalk is not a costly item to install, he feels that people do not pay attention to them. The other commissioners agreed with this. Commissioner Rosen stated that based on past experience, he believes the City would not install trail on both sides of Zachary Lane. Mrs. Fleming said she was told at the time they purchased their home that Zachary would have trail on both sides of the street. City Engineer Fred Moore arrived at the meeting at this time.) Director Blank explained that a trail is proposed to be constructed along the west side of Zachary providing access to Timber Shores Park and the Zachary Playfield. This would permit residents living in Harrison Hills to travel south to Schmidt Lake Road and then cross over to the west side of Zachary at the intersection, which may have a traffic light within five years or when traffic counts warrant, according to City engineer Fred Moore. Mrs. Fleming asked about the possibility of a crosswalk somewhere in the vicinity of 53rd or 55th and Zachary. Mr. Moore stated that there are City guidelines for constructing sidewalks, which is based on concentrations of the population crossing streets at certain points, and this would have to be studied. He stated that just because you install a crosswalk doesn't mean people will cross there. Director Blank stated he believes it would be appropriate to get a recommendation from a traffic consultant on how best to get people from the east side of Zachary over to Timber Shores Park and the Zachary Playfield. Mr. Moore agreed that if there are concentrated numbers of pedestrians crossing Zachary at 53rd Avenue, a crosswalk might be appropriate here. Mrs. Fleming said she brought this issue up now because she feels it should be considered along with the widening of Zachary to four lanes. Commissioner Rosen agreed and suggested that the City consider all future trail locations and trail connections at the time that roads are being developed, so these projects could be done in conjunction with one another. He indicated that PRAC is very concerned about the safety of Plymouth's residents who use the trails and parks. He February 1991 PRAC Minutes Page 9 further suggested that the routing of the proposed trail along Zachary should be studied carefully when the widening of Zachary is undertaken. . Chair Freels closed the public hearing at 7:49 p.m. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER BEACH AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON TO RECOMMEND AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPREHENSIVE TRAIL PLAN TO INCLUDE A TRAIL ON SCHMIDT LAKE ROAD, TO REMOVE THE TRAIL ALONG THE RAILROAD TRACK WHERE IT IS NOT YET BUILT, AND FURTHER, TO WORK WITH THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE TRAIL SHOULD BE ON THE NORTH OR SOUTH SIDE OF SCHMIDT LAKE ROAD. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. The City has recently received a request from District 284 to help fund a playground at the new Kimberly Lane Elementary School, sited at Old 9 and Kimberly Lane. If PRAC believes that a park at Kimberly Lane makes more sense than a full scale neighborhood park proposed elsewhere in the Elm Creek driving neighborhood, the comprehensive plan must be amended. Other issues that must be addressed include the 150,000-$200,000 that would be saved by building a playground as opposed to building a full neighborhood park, would County Road 9 be a deterrent for people on the north side getting to and from Kimberly Lane school, and will there be a need for an additional neighborhood park if Hollydale remains a golf course. Another issue to consider at this time is that sewer will only be extended west of Vicksburg as far as the new school, but this will allow for development southeast of the school. City engineer, Fred Moore, believes there will be a high concentration of residential development in this area. He also stated that the school district bought more land than it may need and thinks maybe the City could negotiate a deal with them for park use. Commissioner Beach pointed out that even though Kimberly Lane school could be designated as the new park site in this neighborhood by amending the comprehensive plan, it still must meet other funding criteria before funding will be granted. She feels it would be better to stick with the original plan to build a neighborhood park in the southwest corner of Hollydale golf course, assuming that if a developer buys Hollydale, he would have to dedicate land or money to the City for a neighborhood park. Mr. Moore commented that at the present time, Hollydale is guided public/semi-public, and before a developer could do anything, he would have to request reguiding of this area. He believes this area could be fully developed within 10- 12 years, with some development taking place within five years if sewer goes in north of County Road 9 within that time frame. At the present time, it is assumed that Hollydale will remain a golf course indefinitely. Commissioner Rosen commented that he hopes the City would acquire it for use by the residents rather than allowing a developer to buy it if it does go up for sale. A MOTION WAS MADE BY CHAIR FREELS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ROSEN TO AMEND THE COMPREHENSIVE PARK PLAN DESIGNATING KIMBERLY LANE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS THE NEW PARK/SCHOOL SITE IN THE ELMCREEK DRIVING NEIGHBORHOOD. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH FOUR AYES. COMMISSIONER BEACH VOTED NAY. February 1991 PRAC Minutes Page 10 Commissioner Waage asked if the originally proposed location for a neighborhood park in this area could be reinstated at a later time. Director Blank said that it could, because the comprehensive plan is reviewed every other year due to changing development plans. b. Review Land Acquisition Needs. Director Blank reviewed land acquisition needs that he believes are crucial for the continued growth of the park system. The Forster property lying immediately west of Zachary Playfield is for sale and is the best property available east of I-494. Some advantages of acquiring this site include its location, size, and easy access from County Road 9 and Zachary Lane. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER ROSEN AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON RECOMMENDING THAT THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZE NEGOTIATING WITH THE FORSTERS TO ACQUIRE THEIR LAND WEST OF ZACHARY PLAYFIELD. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. The proposed playfield site owned by US Homes at the corner of Dunkirk Lane and Old 9 is being considered by the School District as their primary site for a junior or senior high. Director Blank stated he believes it would be in the best interests of the community to work jointly with the school district in the planning and development of a park/school project, but each group would separately own their sites. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER ROSEN AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WAAGE RECOMMENDING TO THE COUNCIL THAT STAFF BEGIN NEGOTIATING WITH U.S. HOMES FOR THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY AT OLD 9 AND DUNKIRK LANE, AND FURTHER, THAT THE CITY WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE FUTURE SITING OF A PARK/SCHOOL FACILITY THAT WOULD BE JOINTLY PLANNED AND DEVELOPED BUT SEPARATELY OWNED. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. Land may need to be acquired north of County 9 between Fernbrook Lane and I-494 for a future neighborhood park. Director Blank stated that some development interests have surfaced at this time, but nothing is definite. He explained that park dedication probably would not be enough to meet the needs of this park and that additional land may have to be acquired. Staff will keep the Commission informed on development in this area. C. 1991 CIP Proiects. Director Blank explained that the City Council has not yet officially adopted the 1991-95 CIP. PRAC has the opportunity to further review the projects proposed for 1991. He stated that the northeast neighborhood park will have to be delayed because the necessary land dedication has not occurred. Commissioners responded that if no neighborhood park is being considered in 1991, the City may wish to use those funds for the construction of more trails, including the trail along Schmidt Lake Road. In choosing trails, safety should be the number one priority. It was decided that the construction of four tennis courts in Plymouth Creek Playfield should remain in the 1991 CIP, along with the improvements to the Shiloh and Gleanloch neighborhood park playgrounds. Bridges should be replaced in Fazendin and Four Seasons neighborhood parks. Playfield irrigation at February 1991 PRAC Minutes Page 11 Ridgemount should also be done. Projects recommended for delay until 1992 include the expansion of the Zachary Playfield parking lot and parking along Zachary Lane for the Timber Shores city park. It was suggested that this be done at the same time as the upgrading of Zachary Lane. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ROSEN APPROVING THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE 1991 CIP. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. d. Proposed Expansion of Public Safety Building/Amphitheater Area. Director Blank explained that the proposed Public Safety building may be sited in the area of the City Center natural amphitheater. Construction will not affect this summer's Music in Plymouth but could have an effect on the concert the following year. Director Blank will keep the Commission informed as the public safety building plans take shape. e. Parkers Lake Pavilion Rental Policy & Fee Schedule. Mary Bisek presented the 1991 rental policy and fee schedule for the Parkers Lake Pavilion and noted that fees are proposed to increase in all areas by about four percent. The other recommended change is allowing fund raising by rental groups with prior approval by the City Council. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER ROSEN AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE 1991 PARKERS LAKE PAVILION RENTAL POLICY AND FEE SCHEDULE. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. f. Park Closing Times. The only park that has an official closing time stated in a City ordinance is Parkers Lake Park, which was established at 11 p.m. Director Blank feels it would be helpful if all parks had official closing times. All parks currently have signage stating when they close. Director Blank's recommendation is to close East and West beach at 9 p.m., all neighborhood parks at 10 p.m., all community playfields at 10:30 p.m, and Parkers Lake at 11 p.m. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WAAGE APPROVING THE OFFICIAL CLOSING TIMES OF PARKS AND BEACHES AS RECOMMENDED BY DIRECTOR BLANK. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION Several commissioners commented that they could not attend the March meeting if it is held on the 14th, so it was decided to postpone it until the 21st. Chair Freels will be out of town on that date, so Vice Chair Rosen will preside over the March meeting. 8. STAFF COMMUNICATION The City of Chaska is having an open house to celebrate their new community center and has invited City of Plymouth officials to attend. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:34 p.m.