Loading...
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.