HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 12-10-1992Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
December 10, 1992
Page 50
Present: Commissioners Anderson, Burk, Gutzke, Johnson, Waage,
Wahl; staff Bisek, Blank and Pederson
Absent: Commissioner Watson
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Anderson called the December meeting to order at 7:10
p.m. in the Council Conference Room.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Johnson and seconded by
Commissioner Wahl to approve the minutes of the November
meeting as presented. The motion carried with all ayes.
VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None were present at this
meeting.
b. Staff. Mary announced that the December employee of the
month was Laurie Merz, who has filled many positions
during her part time career with the City. She has been
a warming house attendant, a playground leader, puppet
wagon assistant and most recently, a clerical assistant
in the park and recreation office. Laurie grew up in
Plymouth and now resides in Minnetonka, where she also
teaches private bassoon lessons.
Mary said that the Old Fashioned Christmas event had been
another success with approximately 700-800 people
attending. A wood carver was a new attraction this year.
Plans are in the making for the Fire and Ice Festival
coming up on February 6. This year's theme is country
western. A local country radio station may send one of
their DJ's to do a live broadcast during the festival,
and a country western dance instructor has been contacted
about teaching line dancing on the ice. A few
commissioners volunteered to be some of the students.
Once again, Mary asked the Commission if they would be
responsible for the bonfires. There are plans this year
to have two fires for the late afternoon/early evening
shift.
Mary stated that she is looking for program ideas or
suggestions from the commissioners for the spring
brochure.
December 1992 PRAC Minutes
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4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. Eric announced that the Council approved the purchase of
the wooded Ess property north of County Road 9 and east
of Fernbrook Lane. He also stated that the local Kids
for Saving Earth club wants to be very involved in the
design, construction and maintenance of this project. In
addition, the National Foresters Association has
announced that they are seeking projects to fund in 1993,
and Chevrolet GEO is one of the major sponsors. Eric
said that KSE may be submitting a grant proposal that
would benefit this park property.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Park development projects update. Final payment has been
made to the contractor that worked on the 1992
neighborhood park projects. The playfield projects are
also done for the most part. A few minor items will
carry over to 1993, such as checking the irrigation
system in the spring to make sure it's working. Early in
1993, a request to purchase additional swings for Bass
Lake Playfield will be presented to the Council.
b. Focus groups and surveys report. Commissioner Johnson
explained that some of the purposes of the survey will be
to assess the current level of services that Plymouth
provides to its residents, to consider future expansion
needs, to determine the cost to taxpayers and to set
priorities for future growth. If the Council agrees with
continuing the process, the next step will be to write a
Request for Proposal and submit it to three or four
survey firms. The survey committee is hopeful that the
entire process could be completed by May, so that the
results could be used to help plan the 1994-98 CIP.
C. Playfield site selection update. Director Blank briefly
discussed the amendment to the park plan and some
possible sites for future playfield #9.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Review proposed 1993 capital projects. The capital
projects proposed for next year include: land acquisition
for a ninth playfield, a handicapped accessible
playground at Plymouth Creek, expansion of the Zachary
playfield parking lot, trails, landscaping along South
Shore Drive, and possibly a new neighborhood park. More
detailed discussion will begin on these projects at the
January Commission meeting. Commissioner Burk asked if
the trees at Zachary could be saved where the new parking
lot is proposed. Director Blank responded that the
parking lot may be constructed within the inner boundary
of the tree line, so that the trees may not be disturbed.
December 1992 PRAC Minutes
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b. Playfields grand opening discussion. Staff has begun
planning grand opening festivities and determined that a
weekend in May might be too busy, because so many
families plan other things, such as opening fishing
weekend, Mother's Day, and Memorial Day activities. It
was then suggested that two week nights be considered,
one night for each playfield, maybe back to back. Most
commissioners agreed that a week night would be okay, but
preferred to have them spread at least a week apart,
rather than two nights in a row.
C. 1982 Mayor's Task Force Report on Program Financing
discussion. Copies of this task force report had been
included in the commissioner's packets. Director Blank
suggested that it be reviewed at a future meeting to make
sure it is still accurate.
d. Weed study on Parkers Lake. Barr Engineering recently
completed a weed study on Parkers Lake, which had to be
done in preparation for the sonar treatment of milfoil
proposed for 1993. The weed study identified all the
vegetation growing in the lake, which will be useful
information to have once the sonar treatments begin.
Director Blank announced that the City has received a
9,000 grant from the Soil & Water Conservation District
to treat milfoil in Parkers Lake.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
Commissioner Waage indicated a willingness to serve on the
committee to help design the handicapped accessible
playground for Plymouth Creek Park.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
A draft of the PRAC annual report will be distributed at the
January meeting. Commissioners were asked to have any items
they wish to include in the report submitted to the Park and
Recreation office by January 8.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.