HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 01-16-1992Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
January 16, 1992
Page 1
Present: Commissioners Anderson, Gutzke, Johnson, Waage, Wahl and Watson;
staff Bisek, Blank and Pederson, Councilman Edson
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. in the council conference room.
Director Blank recommended that a Chair and a Vice Chair needed to be
appointed by the members of PRAC. Commissioner Waage nominated Don
Anderson to be Chair. No other nominations were made. Commissioners
voted unanimously to appoint Anderson as the new Chair of PRAC. Tom
Johnson and Mark Wahl nominated Marlene Waage to be Vice Chair. No other
nominations were made. Commissioners then voted unanimously to appoint
Waage as Vice Chair.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the December
meeting as presented. The motion carried with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None were present.
b. Staff. Mary announced that the employee of the month for December is
Bonnie Dow, one of our fitness instructors. Bonnie teaches three
different types of fitness classes, body conditioning workout, which
focuses on toning and strengthening the body without aerobics, yoga,
and a back -in -shape class, especially for people experiencing back
problems. The employee of the month for January is Joanne Shore, who
teaches art workshops for adults and children. Joanne started as a
participant in one of our classes and later became an instructor.
Mary stated that 202 students from Plymouth Middle School have
enrolled in the Plymouth Middle School Ski Club which is sponsored
cooperatively by the school and our department. Members of the club
can go on ski trips Fridays after school to various locations such as
Afton Alps, Trollhaugen, and Welch Village.
Mary mentioned the Fire and Ice Festival coming up on February 1, and
that she needed volunteers from the Commission in two-hour shifts to
supervise the bonfire. A sign-up sheet was distributed.
Another special event coming up is the International Folk Arts
Celebration, which will feature ethnic folk artists displaying and
selling their crafts, ethnic food and entertainment. The event will
be held in March at the Wayzata East Junior High School. Staff member
Rarol Greupner applied for and received a $1,200 grant from the State
Arts Board to help fund this project.
4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
There was no past Council action to report.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
There was no unfinished business.
PRAC Minutes/January 1992
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6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Review 1992 Park Facility Rental Policy and Parkers- Rental Policy.
Mary stated that the Parkers Pavilion fee schedule is proposed to be
raised by three percent, with the school district group rate going
from $7.25 per hour to $7.50, non-profit Plymouth group rate going
from $16.50 to $17 per hour, and all other groups going from $27 to
28 per hour. The hourly rate includes a building attendant who is
always present during a rental. Building attendant duties include
opening and closing the building, setting up tables and chairs if
needed, and general clean-up following an event. Commissioners asked
who typically rents the pavilion and for what purposes. Mary reponded
that the school district uses it for meetings, workshops and small
banquets, and other groups use it for the same purpose as well as baby
showers, birthday parties, graduation parties, wedding receptions,
wedding rehearsal dinners, and even weddings themselves. Kitchen
facilities are not available, so groups wanting food must either have
it catered or do potluck. Occasionally groups will decline to rent
when they learn there is a "no alcohol" policy. All group rentals are
scheduled around the park and recreation department's use of the
pavilion. Many classes are held there throughout the year, and in the
winter, it is used as a warming house for about six to eight weeks.
A MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER WATSON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
WAAGE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE 1992 PARKERS LAKE PAVILION RENTAL
POLICY AND FEE SCHEDULE. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
Commissioner Watson asked if the new open air picnic shelter on the
north side of County Road 6 would be available for groups to rent.
Staff responded that the City Council had discussed that possibility,
but that for now, it should be available on a first-come, first-served
basis. Several commissioners stated they felt it was the ideal
facility for company picnics and family reunions, and that groups like
that would typically want to be able to make reservation. Without
that option available, the commissioners believed the new shelter
would not be used to its fullest potential.
With the 1992 Park Facility Rental Policy and Fee Schedule, Mary
pointed out that fees had not been raised, and that the $5 non-
resident fee charged to youth athletic associations was being dropped.
The other changes in the policy included requiring a 14 -day advance
request instead of a 7 -day advance, and the loss of a group's damage
deposit if they cancel an event with less than a 30 day notice.
Deposits are required only on rentals of $200 or more.)
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WAHL AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
GUTZKE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE 1992 PARK FACILITY RENTAL POLICY
AND FEE SCHEDULE. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
b. Review 1991 Annual Report Draft. Director Blank explained that by
City code, the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission must do an
annual report of its activities for presentation to the City Council.
He explained that several years ago, the annual reports were much
lengthier, and that it was decided the same information could be
PRAC Minutes/January 1992
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conveyed in a more concise manner with the use of graphs and charts
and less written text. Director Blank then reviewed the annual
report, section by section, and asked the commissioners to note the
section on Goals and Objectives. He noted that this section had also
at one time been much longer, with 20 or more goals, but had since
been reduced to these twelve. He invited the commissioners to review
this draft of the annual report and to feel free to make suggestions
for additional goals, to change any goals if they felt it was
necessary, or to change any other part of the annual report, since
this was a draft copy.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
Commissioner Waage asked if there
Council. Director Blank said he
interest in having such a meeting.
would be a joint meeting with the new
believed the Council had indicated an
Commissioner Johnson asked Director Blank if there was any long term
vision of park and recreation's role in Plymouth. Director Blank
responded that there is a goals and objectives section dealing with park
and recreation in the City's Comprehensive Plan. This portion of the
Comprehensive Plan will be copied and made available at the next PRAC
meeting.
Commissioner Johnson also stated that several members of the Plymouth
Speed Skating Club would be attending the council meeting on January 27 to
request that the maintenance of Parkers Lake speed skating rink be moved
to a higher position on the priority list. At the present time, winter
maintenance of trails is number one, hockey rinks follow in the number two
position and the speed skating oval is number three, with neighborhood
pleasure rinks being the fourth priority.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
Director Blank announced that the American Disabilities Act could have an
impact on public playgrounds constructed or remodeled in the future. This
act may require that all new playgrounds be accessible by the handicapped.
At the present time, only the new 10th Avenue Park will have a structure
designed with handicapped accessible features.
Director Blank encouraged commissioners to think about items of discussion
for future meetings, and after a comment was made that 7 p.m. is too early
for PRAC meetings to begin, he said that the meeting time could be changed
back to 7:30 if that would be better for everyone.
The Wayzata School District recently informed the City that we would be
charged $750 per pool this summer when we offer our swimming lesson
program. Director Blank stated that the district is experiencing some
financial difficulties, and that we might face similar charges in the
future for the use of school district facilities to run our programs.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:34 p.m.