HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 05-14-1992Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
May 14, 1992
Page 15
Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Burk, Gutzke, Johnson,
Waage, Wahl and Watson; Councilman Edson; staff Bisek,
Blank, Busch and Pederson
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Anderson called the May meeting to order at 7:25 p.m.
in the Council Conference Room.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Waage and seconded by
Commissioner Wahl to approve the minutes of the April
meeting as presented with a correction on pg. 12, para. 6,
that Councilmember Tierney supported the Forster property
acquisiton, and wanted assurance that FRAC was involved in
that process. The motion carried with all ayes.
VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None were present at this
meeting.
b. Staff. Rick Busch introduced himself and briefly
described some of his responsibilities, including being
the staff liaison to all the athletic associations,
attending their board meetings, scheduling all athletic
complexes for the associations' activities, as well as
the programs sponsored by Plymouth Park and Recreation.
Rick stated that the February Employee of the Month was
Amy Lou Asche, one of the temporary employees he
supervises. Amy's positions have included basketball
scorekeeper, youth t-ball/softball/baseball instructor,
and warming house attendant.
Rick explained that over 200 adult teams are playing
softball, Monday through Friday evenings, using Zachary
and Plymouth Creek softball fields. The Zachary complex
is also heavily used on weekends by groups holding
tournaments. Rick indicated that almost all fields in
Plymouth are in use every weekday evening by either
organized youth sports or Plymouth Park and Recreation
sponsored programs. Both new playfields, Bass Lake and
Parkers Lake, will also be in constant use once they
open. Responding to a question from Commissioner Waage,
Rick indicated that groups wanting to get together for an
informal game of softball may find an open field on a
Sunday morning or afternoon. Commissioner Gutzke asked
Rick if there are enough softball/baseball fields in
Plymouth to accommodate all the groups wanting to use
them. Rick feels that even with Parkers Lake and Bass
Lake, there will still be a shortage. He explained that
at the present time, we offer a daytime youth t -ball and
instructional softball/baseball program, because we
May 1992 PRAC Minutes
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haven't wanted to take any fields in the evening away
from the adult sports or the youth athletic associations.
But this year, we have received numerous requests from
working parents who are looking for evening T -ball. We
do offer evening T -ball on Sundays, but many people are
not able to participate on Sunday evenings and want
something during the week. We may consider offering this
program in the evening next year. Director Blank stated
that he feels we have adequate fields to meet current
needs, but we may have a shortage in the future for the
5-9 year old age group.
Mary Bisek presented the May Employee of the Month
certificate to Anna Shmidov, the founder of the Music for
Everyone program, which offers private music lessons in
piano, clarinet, saxaphone, guitar, and voice. The
program is offered in several surrounding communities,
and Anna is the coordinator. She is responsible for
hiring the instructors, securing facilities, and billing
the different communities. Each community oversees its
own registration and coordinates this with Anna. The
Music for Everyone program has been very successful.
Mary indicated that the first day of registration for
summer programs was beyond everyone's wildest
expectations. We took in about $25,000 and over 1,000
individual registrations.
Mary made several announcements about upcoming spring and
summer programs including that the Spring Dance Recital
is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20, at Wayzata East
Junior High. She also mentioned the new volunteer
program Helping in Plymouth Parks (HIPP), for 13-15 year
olds. The program was designed to help teens develop
leadership skills, and to organize and lead children's
activities. Those participating will also assist in the
summer playground program and day camp. The individuals
that enroll in this program would be given first priority
when hiring part-time summer help in future years.
There was a brief discussion regarding the storage of
athletic association equipment on city property.
Currently, the Plymouth -Wayzata Baseball Association
stores equipment in three small sheds, which are located
on Oakwood School property. None of the other
associations have approached the City about providing
storage for them on City property. A phone survey was
conducted by staff to determine if other cities provide
storage for their athletic associations. Of the
communities contacted, about half provide some type of
storage.
C. Others. Sharon Maslow, 13210 35th Avenue, and Eileen
Hedberg, 13420 36th Avenue, were present to discuss the
May 1992 PRAC Minutes
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possibility of their homeowners association purchasing
some land and deeding it over to the City for park
purposes. The parcel they are interested in is currently
owned by the developer who is proposing getting it
rezoned to high density. This item is on the Planning
Commission's next agenda. Mrs. Maslow indicated that she
believes the developer is open to negotiating. He's
asking $625,000 for the land, which is 16.11 acres in
size. Their neighborhood is against the Planning
Commission granting the Conditional Use Permit which
would rezone the land to high density. The land is
bordered on the north by County Road 9, and on the east
by Xenium Lane. The closest neighborhood park is
Heritage Park, located southeast of them at 30th Avenue
and Northwest Boulevard. Director Blank indicated that
the Comprehensive Park Plan does not call for additional
park in this area. He explained that Heritage Park is
meant to serve this neighborhood. He also explained that
this neighborhood is not large enough, by Comprehensive
Park Plan standards, to qualify for an additional
neighborhood park.
Councilman Edson 'suggested that the homeowners
association ask the City Manager to bring this item to
the Special Assessment Committee for their review and
discussion.
Ron Anderson, 14915 46th Avenue, attended the meeting to
request tennis courts in Turtle Lake Park and the
installation of trail from St. Barnabas Church down to
this same park.
4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. Approved demolition of Parkers Lake Park silos. The City
Council was presented with two options for the silos at
Parkers Lake Playfield. The options were to improve them
or demolish them. The Council chose to have them
demolished. The demolition took place the week of May 4.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Volunteer program - continue discussion. Commissioner
Waage reported on her meeting with the Mayor regarding
the use of volunteers. She indicated that the Mayor
would like PRAC to actively seek volunteers for use by
the City. The Mayor is aware of the fact that the Park
and Recreation Department extensively uses volunteers in
many of its programs. He believes that volunteers could
help to create a sense of community in Plymouth.
Commissioner Waage has experience in coordinating
volunteers for the Osseo School District and explained
that it's a very time consuming task. She recommended
that if the City decides to actively pursue volunteerism,
May 1992 PRAC Minutes
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they may want to hire a volunteer coordinator. PRAC
suggested that staff look into the cost to hire a
coordinator on either a part-time or full-time basis.
PRAC also requested that they be provided with a list of
the volunteers used by the City in the past year.
b. Park development projects update. Construction is
progressing on schedule at all park sites. The three
neighborhood parks, Shiloh, Gleanloch, and 10th Avenue,
should be completed by June 1. Some facilities will be
ready for use by mid-July at the Bass Lake and Parkers
Lake Playfields. The athletic fields at these two sites
probably will not be ready until the spring of 193. The
sixth and final trail segment, which winds through
Plymouth Creek Park, will be paved the week of May 18.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. 1993-97 CIP - review draft. Director Blank explained
that the process for selecting items for the 1993-97
Parks CIP includes reviewing the list of proposed capital
projects, visiting the sites, and allocating funds. He
indicated that the park dedication fund is up compared to
this same time last year. He stated that at total build
out, it is proposed that the City will have 10 athletic
playfields, including the new Bass Lake and Parkers Lake
sites. Under the category "land acquisition," Director
Blank pointed out some possible locations for future
playfields. The site labeled #10 is in the southwest
corner of County Road 47 and Fernbrook Lane, immediately
west of Mud lake. It would have to be moved slightly to
the west, because as it is shown on the map now,
Fernbrook Lane, when it is extended to the north, runs
right through the middle of it. Site #9 is south of
County Road 9 and east of Dunkirk Lane and is currently
owned by U.S. Homes. The City negotiated with them a
year ago to purchase this site, but at the time, a price
could not be agreed on. The City had the property
appraised at $875,000, and the developer's appraisal was
1,600,000. Although the site is costly, its advantages
include good road access, guiding for public use, and
proper grading for a playfield. This site has also been
considered by the Wayzata School District as a future
location for a junior or senior high school. Eric
explained that one of the advantages to cooperatively
developing a playfield site with a school site is shared
costs. Commissioners asked about the possibility of
purchasing less expensive land outside the MUSA
boundaries. Director Blank indicated that this is a good
consideration, quite often property outside the MUSA is
owned by more than one person and must be condemned in
order for the City to purchase it. Also, the owners tend
to hang onto their land until they are approached by a
developer who will likely offer them more for the
May 1992 PRAC Minutes
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property than the City would. The last piece of property
under "land acquisition" is the wooded site between
Fernbrook and I-494. As requested by PRAC at the last
meeting, Eric provided some information on the history of
this piece of property. The site is approximately 19.43
acres in size and has an estimated value of $110,000
according to our City assessor. Hewitt -Peterson is
asking $208,000 for the property at this time. The
annual taxes paid on the property are $5,500. The
current owners acquired the property through foreclosure
proceedings in 1990.
Under the category "existing undeveloped land," Eric
listed neighborhood parks at Mud Lake, 22nd Avenue,
County Roads 101 & 24, the northeast site, and the
Fernbrook site. These sites are all currently owned by
the City for future neighborhood parks.
Redevelopment of existing parks includes West Medicine
Lake City Park and Hemlock Neighborhood Park. Director
Blank indicated that it might be possible to get a
federal grant to develop West Medicine Lake City Park. A
new site plan could be designed and could include plans
for a garden or arboretum.
Individual projects include tennis courts at Plymouth
Creek Park, a handicapped accessible playground at
Plymouth Creek Park, and playgrounds at West Medicine
Lake City Park, Schmidt Lake Neighborhood Park, Mission
Hills Neighborhood Park and Timber Shores Neighborhood
Park. Other new development projects include fishing
piers at East and West Medicine Lake City Parks, a
warming house at Ridgemount and the Zachary Playfield
parking lot expansion. General discussion about the
playground at Plymouth Creek followed, when Commissioner
Waage stated her concern about how isolated it was.
Director Blank agreed that the changing times suggest
relocating this playground to a place more visible to the
public, although its current site is quite beautiful
surrounded by the natural woods and woodchip trail.
Also, because this site is within the larger Plymouth
Creek City Park, it has been suggested that this
playground, when redeveloped, be made accessible to the
handicapped, in accordance with the new American
Disabilities Act, recently enacted by legislation.
Commissioner Johnson asked about the possibility of
developing parks in joint cooperation with some Plymouth
businesses or corporations. He cited some examples of
other cities in the metropolitan area where this has been
done. Director Blank indicated that it might be
worthwhile to visit some of those sites and to consider
this possibility in the future.
May 1992 PRAC Minutes
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Citizen requests for capital improvement projects
included an off-road trail along Ridgemount Avenue from
Zachary Lane east to Sunset Hill Elementary School. This
project has the support of many residents living along
Ridgemount as well as the principals of the Wayzata East
Junior High and the Sunset Elementary Schools. Director
Blank pointed out that the sidewalk -trail plan done by
Strgar-Roscoe-Fausch did not recommend changing this
trail from Class II to Class I. There was some
discussion about having the consultant do a feasibility
study on the cost of changing it to a Class I trail.
Although the trail is used by both Plymouth and
Minnetonka residents, Director Blank indicated that there
is actually more available room on the south side of
Ridgemount Avenue, which is the Minnetonka side. To
change the trail to Class I on the Plymouth side would
require building a retaining wall in some areas, which is
a very costly project.
Other trail requests have been received from residents
for a trail from St. Barnabas Church down to Turtle Lake
Park, a trail near Vision of Glory Lutheran Church,
completion of a trail through the Fox Forest Townhome
development to West Medicine Lake Drive along the
railroad tracks, a trail on the south side of County Road
9 going east to Zachary Lane, and a trail from the
intersection of Old Rockford Road & Revere Lane to County
Road 9 & Lancaster Lane. Other trail connections for
consideration with the CIP were indicated on a map
provided to PRAC members.
Another citizen requested project is landscaping north of
the Ryerson Steel facility along South Shore Drive. The
residents living there originally requested this
landscaping during the 1990-91 fiscal year, but funding
was denied at that time. They have resubmitted their
petition for consideration with the 1993-97 CIP.
The City has also received numerous requests from
residents for tennis courts in Shiloh, Green Oaks, Turtle
Lake and Heritage Neighborhood Parks.
Special facilities to consider with the 1993-97 CIP
include an outdoor and/or indoor pool, golf course, ice
rink, senior center, field house and nature center.
b. Pick date for park tour. It was agreed that the park
tour would be on Wednesday, June 10, beginning at 4:30
p.m. Box suppers will be served on the bus.
C. Review sidewalk/trail draft plan. Copies of the
sidewalk/trail draft plan had been distributed to PRAC
members with their agendas for their review. This item
will continue to be discussed at future PRAC meetings.
May 1992 PRAC Minutes
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7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
None.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
Director Blank informed the Commission that the City Council
has been asked to request that Hennepin Parks install a
regional trail from 36th Avenue down East Medicine Lake
Boulevard to Theodore Wirth Regional Park.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m.