HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 09-10-1992Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
September 10, 1992
Page 41
Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Burk, Gutzke, Johnson,
Waage, Wahl and Watson; staff Bisek, Blank and
Pederson; Councilman Edson
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Anderson called the September meeting to order at 7
p.m. in the Council Conference Room.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Gutzke and seconded by
Commissioner Wahl to approve the minutes of the August
meeting as presented. The motion carried with all ayes.
VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None were present at this
meeting.
b. Staff. Mary stated that fall soccer was underway, with
about 700 kids playing this year. Fall program
registration began on the 8th of September, and some
programs were already full as of the 10th. The Bass Lake
Playfield shelter is a site for some of our fall classes,
and Mary indicated that registration for these classes
has been very good. Also this fall, we will be doing
some joint after school programs with School District
281, in addition to continuing after school programming
with District 284. Mary asked commissioners for their
input on the new layout of the recreation brochure. Mary
stated that the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)
will require changes in our programs and facilities, as
well as in job descriptions. Public hearings will be
held in the near future. Mary announced that the
Minnesota Recreation and Park Association fall conference
is scheduled for November 19-21, in Rochester. There
will be a special session for park board members on
Saturday, the 21st, and if any commissioner is interested
in attending, the registration fee will be covered by the
department. Mary said that Hennepin Parks Beach on the
north end of Medicine Lake had to close this summer for a
brief time due to the fecal coliform count in the water
caused by goose droppings). There was some concern on
the part of our lifeguards that the same conditions might
exist at Parkers Lake. Parkers' water was tested and
found to be acceptable, but the goose situation there and
in other Plymouth parks is becoming a real concern
according to Mary. Director Blank agreed as did the
commissioners and councilman Edson. Mr. Edson indicated
that the Council has strongly urged the Legislature to do
something about the goose population in the metropolitan
area.
PRAC Minutes/September 1992
Page 42
C. Others. No presentations.
4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. Ice rink locations. Council approved the ice rink
locations and maintenance modes as recommended by PRAC.
b. 10th Avenue Park name. Council approved the name South
Shore Park as recommended by PRAC.
C. R_idgemount sidewalk/feasibility study. Council approved
conducting a feasibility study on the need for a
sidewalk/trail on Ridgemount Avenue as recommended by
PRAC.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Volunteer program. Director Blank introduced Annette
Hohytya, the Volunteer Coordinator from the City of
Brooklyn Park. Annette explained that she was the first
volunteer coordinator in the state to go to work for a
city, and that she began on a half-time basis. She
indicated that she now works 39 hours a week, but quite
frequently goes over 40 hours, particularly during
special events such as Brooklyn Park's Tator Daze. She
stated that finding volunteers to help with one time
special events is easier than finding volunteers for
management" positions. She indicated that she recruits
by using a "tear off form" that people can mail in. She
recommends that when getting volunteers involved, it is
best to begin with easy tasks and then branch out to more
complex jobs. She stated that when she began as a
volunteer coordinator in 1983, most people at that time
were volunteering in nursing homes and hospitals. The
trend toward volunteering for cities and social agencies
is fairly new. In addition to recruiting volunteers for
special events and for the parks department, Annette also
works with the Community Resource Center by finding ways
for individuals to fulfill community service time, doing
things such as cleaning up Shingle Creek Park. She also
works with educational institutions, finding college
students to do tutoring for high school students. It has
been her experience that most volunteers want to continue
with the same type of volunteering. If they help with
special events or with cleaning up parks, etc., this is
where they will likely continue to volunteer their time.
Much of Annette's time is spent "networking" with other
agencies. She indicated that she has a very
comprehensive list of other volunteer agencies and their
coordinators, and she works with these other agencies
quite extensively. She said that she would make this
list available to Director Blank. When looking for a
volunteer coordinator, Annette stated that a person with
a degree is nice in some ways, but that more important,
PRAC Minutes/September 1992
Page 43
is a person familiar with the community. Annette's
background includes a major in music and communciations,
and extensive volunteer work with the park reserve, Camp
Fire, and the gifted program. She also stated that
having six children kept her involved in the community
and the schools.
Commissioners questioned Director Blank on what direction
they were to take in terms of the volunteer coordinator.
They were still somewhat unclear about this assignment.
Director Blank said he understood that PRAC was to
research the benefits a volunteer coordinator might
provide to the City, which departments besides park and
recreation have needs, and how to justify a paid
position, be it full-time or part-time. It was suggested
by Chair Anderson that at this time, it might be
appropriate to appoint a sub -committee to look into this
further. Those volunteering were Chair Anderson,
Commissioners Waage and Watson, and staff members Bisek
and Blank. They will meet prior to the next regular PRAC
meeting.
b. Review sidewalk and trail plan. Director Blank said that
it would be necessary for PRAC to recommend approval of
the sidewalk/trail plan. A MOTION WAS MADE BY
COMMISSIONER WATSON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WAHL
RECOMMENDING THAT COUNCIL ADOPT THE REVISED
SIDEWALK/TRAIL PLAN (FIG. 8) AS PROPOSED BY THE
CONSULTANT. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
C. Park projects update. The three neighborhood parks were
all seeded and the grass is growing nicely. We will take
ownership of the Bass Lake Lake Playfield within'a week
or two. Tennis and basketball courts are open at both
playfields. The bridges at Fazendin and Four Seasons
neighborhood parks are now in place.
d. Focus groups and surveys. Commissioner Johnson agreed to
chair the sub -committee, and a date for their first
meeting will be chosen following tonight's regular PRAC
meeting.
e. Amendment to park plan - playfield site selection. No
discussion.
f. Proposed 93-97 CIP. The Planning Commission held a
public hearing. An addition to the CIP in 1993 is a
trail along Zachary Lane as part of the road reconstruc-
tion if approved by Council.
6. NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business to discuss.
PRAC Minutes/September 1992
Page 44
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
Commissioner Gutzke visited the area along South Shore
Drive, where the residents have asked for landscaping to
block out the noise and the view of Ryerson Steel. He feels
that it would be a waste of money, since it would not
accomplish either objective. Commissioner Wahl and Chair
Anderson have both visited this area as well and agree that
the situation would not be significantly improved by this
requested landscaping. It was the general consensus of PRAC
that this money could be more wisely spent on some other
project.
Commissioner Wahl stated that he and his children recently
visited Swan Lake Park and were impressed when police
reserve officers stopped by, handed out stickers and talked
to the children.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
The Willow Woods residents have officially adopted South
Shore Park. It was suggested that a grand opening
celebration be conducted yet this fall. Director Blank and
Mary Bisek will come up with a date.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.