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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 06-11-1992Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting June 11, 1992 Page 22 Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Burk, Gutzke, Johnson, Waage, Wahl, Watson, staff Bisek, Blank, Greupner, and Pederson 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Anderson called the June meeting to order at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Commissioner Gutzke and seconded by Commissioner Burk to approve the minutes of the May meeting as presented. The motion carried with all ayes. 3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Athletic Associations. None were present. b. Staff. Recreation Supervisor Karol Greupner presented the June Employee of the Month certificate to Beth Myers, who has been a part-time employee for five years. Beth's positions have included teaching ballet and tap, day camp counselor, playground leader, concessions manager and currently supervising the Playground in the Streets staff. Beth attends college and is majoring in elementary education. Karol announced the summer Concerts in the Park schedule, with the first concert scheduled for June 18, at Parkers Lake Park, featuring the Robbinsdale Community Band. She indicated that all of the summer concerts this year will be held at Parkers Lake, and are sponsored by Cub Foods and Burnet Realty, both of Plymouth. Mary Bisek made several announcements including part-time summer staff training scheduled for June 13 and 14; the HIPP program, which managed to attract 12 teenagers from the Plymouth area, who will be trained by our staff and then will go on to volunteer at least 40 hours of their time this summer at one of our programs, such as Day Camp or Playground in the Streets. She also stated that articles for the fall brochure are due in mid-July, and asked the commissioners if they had any suggestions or recommendations for programs. C. Others. 4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION No report. June 1992 PRAC Minutes Page 23 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Volunteer program discussion. Director Blank reviewed the list of volunteers used by the Park and Recreation Department during 1991. The list had been compiled by staff and was distributed to Commissioners at the meeting. The total number of volunteers exceeded 800, with 333 involved in the Adopt -A -Park program. This same list had previously been made available to the City Council. Commissioner Burk suggested that staff research the possibility of securing the services of a volunteer coordinator and stated that this individual would coordinate all City volunteers, not just the ones used by the Parks Department. Other commissioners concurred that a volunteer coordinator will be necessary if the volunteer program continues to expand. Commissioner Gutzke believes that if no one is hired, this responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Director Blank, and he doesn't feel that that's appropriate. Staff will research if other cities have hired volunteer coordinators, whether they are full or part-time, and what kind of salary they are paid. A few agencies, such as the school districts and Senior Community Services, have paid volunteer coordinators on their staff. Commissioner Waage thought that perhaps the City of Brooklyn Center or Brooklyn Park might also have a paid volunteer coordinator. b. Park development project update. Contractors are holding off with seeding at Shiloh, Gleanloch and 10th Avenue Parks due to the dry conditions. Work continues on the two new playfields and construction crews will now begin working Saturdays until the playfields are finished. C. 1993-97 CIP. Director Blank reviewed the draft list of projects proposed in the 1993-97 CIP. All of these sites were identified on a map and were pointed out to the Commissioners during the review process. Cost estimates were provided for each project as well. Several of these sites had been visited the night before during the parks tour. Director Blank indicated that acquiring land for playfield #9 is important and that Council wants staff to find an alternative site to the one originally proposed for Dunkirk Lane and Old 9. This also means amending the Comprehensive Park Plan, which requires holding a public hearing. Another important land acquisition to consider is the wooded park site between Fernbrook and 494. The fishing docks for East and West Medicine Lake were discussed. It was suggested that perhaps Ryerson Steel might consider a contribution toward the installation of such docks. Staff will look into this. June 1992 PRAC Minutes Page 24 Trail segments that need to be connected were also pointed out by staff. One of the trails identified for completion starts in Plymouth Creek Park and will eventually lead to West Medicine Lake. Director Blank indicated that this is a key trail in the trail system plan. Other trail projects were discussed including the completion of a trail along West Medicine Lake Drive. Several commissioners feel that lack of trail here is very dangerous from a safety standpoint. People are using the street for walking, biking and rollerblading, and there are several areas where blind spots occur. Commissioners are aware that West Medicine Lake Drive is going to be upgraded and that any trail installed here would later be torn up, but they feel something should be done, even if it's only on a temporary basis. Director Blank said that he would consult with Fred Moore, Director of Public Works, about the feasibility of putting in some kind of temporary trail. Director Blank reviewed the process of adopting the five year CIP. He explained that following PRAC's recommendations for park and trail improvements, the list goes to the Planning Commission, where it is combined with other capital items from other departments. The Planning Commission then holds a public hearing. Following the hearing, the Planning Commission forwards it to the City Council. If the City Council adopts the plan, Director Blank then brings back to the Park Commission, the following January, the items proposed for that year. The Park Commission could, at that time, decide for, or against, going ahead with any given project. Commissioner Johnson asked about the possibility of getting outside funding to complete West Medicine Lake City Park. He feels that if the City doesn't get started on this project, this park will never be built. Director Blank stated that he believes the plan for this park needs to be redone, and that a consultant should be hired for that purpose, because the original plan is now ten years old. Commissioners were asked for their input regarding which capital items they would like to see completed in 1993, 1994, and so on. In past years, Director Blank has prioritized the projects by year, but he stated he wanted some ideas from the commissioners, since many of them were new members. For 1993, Commissioners were in concurrence that playfield site #9 needs to be acquired, wherever it may be, that the Zachary Playfield parking lot needs to be expanded, the building of the handicapped accessible playground at Plymouth Creek Park and some sort of trail along West Medicine Lake Drive. Commissioner Waage suggested that Mud Lake Neighborhood June 1992 PRAC Minutes Page 25 Park be developed, also. It was Commissioner Watson's feeling that the issue of safety should be the main influence in prioritizing capital projects. Commissioner Burk agreed with this, and suggested that old and new could be mixed, when deciding what to do each year. Commissioner Johnson requested that steps be taken to begin the process of developing West Medicine Lake City Park and that the total development could maybe be phased over a few years. Commissioner Burk asked if it was appropriate for tennis courts to be constructed in neighborhood parks? Director Blank stated that our City's Comprehensive Park System Plan calls for tennis courts in the larger playfields. The commissioners agreed that tennis courts should not be considered for inclusion in neighborhood parks. Director Blank indicated that he would have a draft list of projects prioritized by year available for the July meeting, and that it would be necessary for PRAC to make a recommendation either in July or August. d. Review sidewalk and trail plan. Commissioners asked if they needed to make a decision soon on the sidewalk and trail plan. Director Blank said there is no definite time table for adopting the plan, but that commissioners should review it to determine if they agree with the recommendations made by the consultant. Eventually, items will be taken from the plan and placed in the CIP. NEW BUSINESS Discuss focus groups and surveys. Commissioners discussed how a survey could be accomplished and how it might be funded. Commissioner Burk asked if park dedication funds could be used. Director Blank said that that was a possibility, however he was certain that the Council did not wish to hire any outside surveyors, and that it should be done internally with a questionnaire in the City newsletter. Director Blank also stated that the Council had indicated that focus groups should be formed prior to a survey being done. Commissioners stated that they strongly believe a survey needs to be done and that it should be tailored to park and recreation. They also all concurred that it should be done by a professional, because they know what kinds of questions to ask and how to get a broad, overall response. It was the opinion of every commissioner that a questionnaire in the City newsletter was not an appropriate way to seek input from the residents, and that it would not be very scientific. Commissioner Burk stated that he would discuss this issue with the Mayor and report back to Chair Anderson, prior to the July meeting, since he would not be able to attend that meeting. June 1992 PRAC Minutes Page 26 b. Request for park at Xenium Lane and 38th Avenue. Director Blank reminded commissioners that the residents from Neighborhood #23 had visited their May meeting requesting that a park be constructed in their neighborhood. According to the Comprehensive Park System Plan, this neighborhood is served by Heritage Park, and based on this area's projected population, which is down 500 from the 1980 estimate, they do not need additional park land. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WAAGE AND SECONDED BY COMMISSER GUTZKE THAT AN ADDITIONAL PUBLIC PARK IS NOT APPROPRIATE AT 38TH AND XENIUM, BECAUSE THERE ARE ADEQUATE FACILITIES LOCATED NEARBY THAT SERVE THIS AREA. The motion carried with all ayes. C. Amendment to Comprehensive Park Plan - siting of Playfield #9. The City Council recently amended the land use guide plan which reguided the play£ield site at Dunkirk and Old 9 from public/semi-public to LAl/LA2. This reguiding is contingent on the park and trail element of the plan being amended. In order to do that, a public hearing must be held. It will be necessary, as part of this process, to find an alternative site for Playfield #9. PRAC concurred that we should be working toward this end. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION Commissioner Burk will miss the July meeting, and Commissioner Watson will miss August. STAFF COMMUNICATION The next meeting is scheduled for July 9. Director Blank asked if commissioners wanted to take the month of August off, but they all agreed that it was necessary to meet. Director Blank also indicated that during the joint meeting, Councilmember Vasiliou suggested that PRAC review the validity of the Park System Plan. In order to do that, he indicated that PRAC should have a study session with the consultant who did the original plan, Brauer and Associates. PRAC concurred with this, and Commissioner Watson suggested that maybe this could be accomplished in a one day retreat - type setting in September or October. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.