HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 02-11-1993Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
February 11, 1993
Page 6
Present: Commissioners Anderson, Burk, Gutzke, Johnson, Mikula,
Wahl and Watson; Councilmembers Edson and Tierney;
staff Bisek, Blank and Pederson
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Anderson called the February meeting to order at 7
p.m. in the Council Conference Room.
Director Blank introduced the new commissioner, Lynn Mikula.
Lynn works for Opportunity Workshop, enjoys playing
broomball and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota,
with a degree in Recreation.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Gutzke and seconded by
Commissioner Wahl to approve the minutes of the January
meeting as presented. The motion carried with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. Councilmember Tierney introduced
a number of athletic association representatives who had
been invited to attend the meeting to discuss a variety
of concerns. Loni Gradick, representing the Plymouth
Soccer Association, reported that over 1,000 children
will participate in their program this summer, and 100-
200 parent volunteers will help out. She indicated that
their concerns include adequate storage space for over
1,500 worth of soccer equipment—and-having-the-City-work--
more closely with them. She indicated that their
organization is very greatful for the coaching clinics
that have been conducted by Recreation Supervisor Cindy
Anderson, and for the ongoing support provided by other
staff members such as Recreation Supervisor Rick Busch
and Soccer Coordinator Greg Finn.
Jim Gleason, representing the Plymouth -Wayzata Traveling
Soccer Program, stated that they will be sponsoring their
16th annual soccer tournament this summer. He indicated
that although they have adequate storage facilities, they
are not very convenient, because they are located at
Klaprich Field in Wayzata. He further stated that he
would like the City to build a better working
relationship with their organization and invite them to
participate when, and if, new soccer fields are planned.
He also wanted the City to know it is the opinion of the
traveling soccer group that the fees charged to rent
soccer fields and lights is too high. They feel that
since they are a community based group, with 90% of the
participants being Plymouth kids whose parents pay taxes,
PRAC Minutes/February 1993
Page 7
they shouldn't be charged rental fees. He went on to
explain that he understands that lights and maintenance
are costs the City incurs for them, and that their
organization would be willing to pay reasonable and fair
fees.
When asked by commissioners how many teams enter the
tournament and what they are charged, Mr. Gleason
responded that last summer 158 teams participated and
were charged $175 per team. Forty-nine of those teams
were either from out of state, or from communities
outside the metro area, and he is confident that this
number will continue to increase with each new
tournament. He feels that this tournament brings upwards
of a $100,000 into the Plymouth community, what with
hotel accommodations, gas, food, etc., and based on this,
the City should take on more of an ownership role toward
this tournament and entirely eliminate, or at least
reduce, the field rental fees. By comparison, Mr.
Gleason explained that the City of Burnsville hosts a
very large soccer tournament every year and does not
charge field rental fees.
Councilman Edson agreed that the City has a
responsibility to provide fields free of charge to the
community's youth athletic groups for their normal day-
to-day practices and games, but not necessarily for
tournaments, since many of the participants are from
outside the community.
Director Blank asked Mr. Gleason if they receive any
contribution from the hotels, such as $5 for every room
rented during the tournament, which is a fairly common
practice. Mr. Gleason indicated that they don't get any
actual money, but the hotels take out ads in the
tournament program, which is their way of supporting the
tournament financially.
Commissioners asked staff how much the rental fees amount
to for the summer soccer tournament. Director Blank
responded that it was approximately $3,000 which included
the actual per field rental, lights, field attendants and
special needs, such as lining the new fields on an as
needed basis for the tournament.
Mr. Gleason stated this amount is out of line, and he was
confident that field lights do not cost the City $20 per
hour. Director Blank responded that we are charged by
NSP based on usage during peak hours. He further
explained that the City does not advocate over charging
groups that rent facilities, nor does it make a large
profit from field rentals.
PRAC Minutes/February 1993
Page 8
Commissioners requested that they be provided with some
information on what other communities charge for field
rental, and they would like to continue to discuss this
item at their next meeting.
In consideration of other athletic association
representatives who wanted to address the Commission,
Chair Anderson thanked Mr. Gleason and Ms. Gradick for
their presentations and invited them to return to future
meetings.
Rich Dilley, representing Plymouth -Wayzata Girls
Softball, stated that last summer 150 girls, ages 7-18,
living in Plymouth, or District 284, participated in
their program. Mr. Dilley's main concern is equipment
storage. They need a space 12 x 16 ft. to store
approximately $30,000-$40,000 worth of softball
equipment. They currently use fields at Oakwood
Playfield and would prefer something near by. They also
would like to erect a batting cage at Oakwood, which they
are willing to finance, but the City would have to
provide them with a 110 volt outlet. Director Blank
indicated that he would have his staff research whether
or not there is a suitable location for a batting cage
and report these findings back to Mr. Dilley.
b. Staff. Mary Bisek thanked the commissioners who
supervised the bonfire at the Fire and Ice Festival, and
stated that despite the weather, it was another success.
She stated that Rick would be expanding youth atletics
this summer to include an evening t -ball league based on
requests the department received last year from several
parents who are not available during the day. She
announced that May 12 is the grand opening for the
Parkers Lake Playfield and May 19 is Bass Lake's grand
opening. She also indicated that a student intern from
St. Cloud will be with us this summer.
Councilmember Edson asked if any type of survey had ever
been done by staff of other communities' facilities.
Director Blank responded that this survey has been done
and is updated annually, and that a copy of the most
recent one would be distributed to them in their next
City Manager Information Packet. Also, a survey of what
other communities charge for field rentals has been done,
as well as a survey of what type of storage is provided
by other cities to their youth athletic groups. Copies
of these surveys will be redistributed to PRAC and
Council.
Commissioners continued to discuss the soccer tournament
fee issue and agreed that it is the City's responsibility
to provide fields to youth athletics, but they also
questioned the City's responsibility to provide these
PRAC Minutes/February 1993
Page 9
same fields to Plymouth residents who simply want to get
together and play a game for fun. These requests must be
considered as well when debating this issue.
Commissioners agreed that this soccer tournament could be
a major fund raiser for the traveling club if properly
handled.
C. Others.
4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. Council approved hiring the Minnesota Center for Survey
Research to conduct the Parks and Recreation community
survey. A questionnaire will be developed with input
from both Council and PRAC, which must then be approved
by Council, followed by a sample testing of the survey,
and then the final survey will be sent out to
approximately 800 residences. It is hoped that this
process could be completed, with the survey results
tallied, by June.
b. Council approved the fees and rental policies for Parkers
Lake Pavilion and playfield facilities as recommended by
PRAC.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Community survey - review - timeline. See 4a.
b. Amendment toap rk plan - playfield site #9 Director
Blank explained the developments that have occurred in
the past several months regarding future playfield site
9. The original proposed site, located at Dunkirk Lane
and County Road 9, consisting of 50 acres, was part of a
larger parcel that was purchased by U.S. Homes. At that
time, it was designated in the City's comprehensive plan
public/semi-public. U.S. Homes requested that the City
change the guiding to residential. When the City decided
against reguiding, U.S. Homes offered to sell the
property to us. Appraisals were secured by both parties
and because of the vast difference in value, efforts to
negotiate a purchase were unsuccessful. U.S. Homes then
brought in a residential development proposal on this
property, which the City gave tentative approval to,
contingent on amending the comprehensive park plan to
remove the designation of playfield on this site and
finding an alternative site. After several months of
research and review, staff found an alternative site
located at the northwest intersection of the Soo Line
railroad and Peony Lane. The site consists of 150 acres,
owned by two separate parties, of which the City needs
only 50 acres. Some of the advantages to this site
include its boundaries, which are a railroad track on the
south, Elm Creek golf course on the west, Peony Lane on
PRAC Minutes/February 1993
Page 10
the east and heavy woods on the north; good road access
via County Road 101 and the future Schmidt Lake Road; a
portion of this site is already identified as future
neighborhood park in the City's comprehensive park plan;
and the site is generally flat, with some areas of trees,
making picnicing a viable option in the development of
the park.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER GUTZKE AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER WATSON TO RECOMMEND THAT THE PLANNING
COMMISSION HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND THE
COMPREHENSIVE PARK PLAN BY REMOVING THE DESIGNATION OF
PARK ON 50 ACRES LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF DUNKIRK
LANE AND ROCKFORD ROAD AND THEN DESIGNATING A NEW PARK
SITE ON 150 ACRES LOCATED NORTH OF THE SOO LINE RAILROAD
AND WEST OF PEONY LANE. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL
AYES.
Director Blank went on to explain that following the
public hearing, a recommendation would be forwarded to
the City Council for review and action, with final
approval coming from the Metropolitan Council.
at Bass Lake piayfieid, South Shore landscaping. Based
on direction from PRAC, Director Blank compiled a list of
22 different trail segments that could be considered for
construction in 1993. In identifying these segments, he
chose some of the trails that had already been
recommended by Strgar-Roscoe-Fausch for construction due
to safety concerns. He stated that there is $175,000 in
the 193 CIP designated for trail improvements. Commis-
sioner Burk stated that his preference would be to close
the gaps in a number of different trails, including the
trail leading from Fernbrook to Vicksburg, the extension
of the Luce Line trail at the southwest end of Medicine
Lake, and extension of trail through Turtle Lake Park.
Several commissioners questioned the possibility of
constructing a trail leading from the Heritage
development north to the shopping areas located along
County Road 9, east of 494. Director Blank responded
that there are no trail outlots in this area, but he
explained that eventually there will be trail constructed
along Xenium Lane that will lead north to County Road 9.
These residents can also access the trail on the east
side of Northwest Boulevard which leads north to 9 as
well. This raised the question then of how to get from
County 9 west to Vinewood, and could a trail be
constructed here along the north side of 9 and at what
cost? Director Blank estimated the distance to be one
quarter mile at $10 a foot. Commissioners wondered why
trail has been proposed on the west side of Northwest
Boulevard, when trail already exists on the east side?
PRAC Minutes/February 1993
Page 11
Director Blank responded that the residents living in the
Heritage neighborhood have long been requesting this
trail, as a way to get to French Park. They feel it is
too dangerous to cross Northwest Boulevard any place
other than the intersection with County Road 9, and a
trail on the west side of the road would provide them
with safe access to County Road 9, where they can then
cross the road and get to the trail leading east into the
park.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER BURK AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON TO RECOMMEND THAT COUNCIL AUTHORIZE
STAFF TO PREPARE FEASIBILITY REPORTS AND COST ESTIMATES
FOR CONSTRUCTION OF TRAIL SEGMENTS 12, 14, 16, 18, AND
THE NEWLY IDENTIFIED SEGMENT ON THE NORTH SIDE OF COUNTY
9 FROM NORTHWEST BOULEVARD TO VINEWOOD LANE. THE MOTION
CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
Director Blank has been in touch with a number of
individuals who have expressed an interest in being
involved in the development of a handicapped accessible
playground, including some handicapped Plymouth children
and adults. He also indicated that he would like one or
two PRAC members to be involved. Both Commissioner
Mikula and Wahl volunteered. Director Blank then stated
that if PRAC wants this project to proceed in 1993, a
motion recommending it would be necessary.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER MIKULA AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER WAHL RECOMMENDING THAT COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND IN
PLYMOUTH CREEK PARK, AND FURTHER THAT A SUBCOMMITTEE
BEGIN WORK ON PREPARING A FEASIBILITY REPORT ON THIS
PLAYGROUND. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
In response to a request made by serveral residents and
by former commissioner Marlene Waage, Director Blank
researched the cost to install additional swings at Bass
Lake Playfield. Park maintenance crews could install
four swings at a cost of about $4,000 which also includes
the retaining wall and a surface of pea gravel.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WAHL AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER GUTZKE TO RECOMMEND THAT COUNCIL AUTHORIZE
THE INSTALLATION OF FOUR ADDITIONAL SWINGS AT BASS LAKE
PLAYFIELD. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
Commissioner Wahl asked if a clock could be installed in
the building at Bass Lake. Mary Bisek said that she
would look into this.
Commissioner Burk questioned the South Shore landscaping
project listed as an item proposed in the 1993 CIP. To
help bring new commissioner Mikula up to speed on this
PRAC Minutes/February 1993
Page 12
subject, he also briefly explained the history of this
proposed project. His concern is that this landscaping
will benefit only a few residents. Director Blank
commented that the trees would be planted on park
property, not private property. Other commissioners
agreed that although the project will benefit only about
10 families, it is something they feel they are committed
to doing, since it is part of the approved 193 CIP.
Commissioner Gutzke suggested that maybe the plan could
be scaled down somewhat from the proposed amount of
7,500. Director Blank will discuss the possibility of a
new plan with the City forester and report back to the
Commission.
d. Approval of 1992 annual report. Commissioners had
received draft copies of the 192 annual report in their
January agendas and were invited to review them and make
any changes they felt were appropriate, prior to the
report being forwarded to the City Council. Suggestions
made included adding the 1993 CIP as an appendix, and
removing a sentence in the Goals and Objectives chapter
about soliciting citizen involvement in the development
of a community center. It was decided to remove this
statement, because community center input is not being
sought at this time.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER JOHNSON AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER WAHL TO RECOMMEND THAT THE 1992 ANNUAL
REPORT BE FORWARDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR
ACCEPTANCE. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
Commissioner Mikula mentioned that on the page listing
the names and addresses of the commissioners, it is
stated that they serve two year terms. She was told that
it was a three year term. Staff indicated they would
look into this and make the necessary correction before
presenting the report to the Council. Commissioner
Anderson will be present at the Council meeting on the
22nd of February to present the '92 annual report.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Additional swings at Bass Lake Playfield. See item 5c.
b. Rental Pol _c_v for Parkers Plavfield picnic shelter and
Bass Lake shelter. Director Blank explained that when
the Parkers Lake Playfield was designed, it was with the
idea that the picnic shelter could be reserved. With
that in mind, staff kept track of the number of requests
received in 1992 from individuals wanting to reserve
picnic facilities. At least 95 requests were tallied
during the picnic season. Based on these requests, staff
is proposing, on a one-year trial basis, that the new
picnic shelter at Parkers Lake Playfield be available on
PRAC Minutes/February 1993
Page 13
a rental basis on Saturdays and Sundays and available on
a first come, first served basis Monday through Friday.
The proposed rental fee is $30 for a half day and $60 for
a full day, with a $25 key deposit for both. Revenue
generated from these rentals would be used to help offset
the cost of maintaining the Parkers Lake Playfield
facilities. Staff would also recommended that the new
Bass Lake shelter be available free of charge, with a $25
key deposit, to Plymouth groups on a first come, first
served basis, as are the shelters at Oakwood, Plymouth
Creek, Plymouth and Zachary playfields.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER GUTZKE AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER MIKULA THAT THESE RENTAL POLICIES AND FEES
BE APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AS PROPOSED BY STAFF.
THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
C. Selection of PRAC chair and vice chair for 1993. Don
Anderson was unanimously approved to be the PRAC chair in
1993, and Wyatt Gutzke was unanimously approved as the
vice chair.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
None.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
Director Blank stated
information for PRAC on
received by the City on
addition to checking on
buildings owned by the
copies of the surveys
tournament field rental
equipment.
that he would be putting together
the expenses incurred and revenues
the traveling soccer tournament in
the availability of storage space in
City. He will also redistribute
done on other cities' charges for
and storage of athletic association
The next meeting is March 11. The April meeting is
scheduled for the 8th, but Director Blank wondered if the
Commission could meet on the 15th instead. The date is not
definite at this point, but if it is necessary to change,
PRAC will be notified in advance by staff.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 10 p.m.