HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 04-15-1993Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
April 15, 1993
Page 20
Present: Commissioners Gutzke, Burk, Wahl, Watson, Johnson,
Mikula, staff Blank, Buck, Lay and Pederson, Mayor
Bergman, Planning Commissioner Witt
Absent: Chair Anderson
1. CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chair Gutzke called the April meeting to order at 7
p.m. in the Council Conference Room.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Mikula and seconded by
Commissioner Burk to approve the minutes of the March
meeting as presented. The motion carried with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None were present.
b. Staff. Staff presentations are covered elsewhere in the
minutes.
C. Others. Nettie Lynch and Bernadette Walker, residents of
the Seven Ponds development, were present requesting that
their neighborhood park be constructed as soon as
possible. Staff explained that a neighborhood park is
proposed for development in 1994 but that the location
has not been identified at this time. The process for
determining which neighborhood park to build will begin
in May, when staff prepares a list of neighborhoods that
are candidates for parks, followed by PRAC going on a
tour of those sites and existing park sites in June.
Staff explained that at the present time, the City does
not own the land where the park is proposed, and until we
do, the park cannot be constructed. Ms. Lynch and Ms.
Walker asked if there was anything they could do to help
the process along, such as getting a petition going.
Mayor Bergman responded that a petition is an acceptable
form of notification to the Council but sometimes can
raise people's expectations too far. Again, he reminded
the residents that the City cannot proceed with any plans
until we own the land. Ms. Lynch and Ms. Walker were
thanked for their presentation and invited to attend
future meetings of the park commission in order to remain
informed on this issue.
Mayor Bergman made a presentation regarding youth at
risk. He discussed an article appearing in the April
issue of American City & County magazine entitled, "Kid
Tested, City Approved" and requested that copies be made
available to commissioners. He is concerned that some of
the young people in Plymouth are not being served by the
recreation programs offered by the City, and more needs
PRAC Minutes/April 1993
Page 21
to be done. He believes they need a place to go, a place
that they feel is "neat" and "cool," a place that offers
some fun activities for them. He stated that he isn't
suggesting the City build something specifically for
teens, but perhaps space in a warehouse or in the former
racquetball club located at Hwy 55 and Fernbrook might
somehow be secured. He also wondered if the City could
somehow financially support such a program.
Loretha Suggs, representing residents living in the
Harbor Lane Apartment complex, stated that she too is
concerned about the young people living at the apartment
complex. She would like a place for these children to go
during the summer, once school is out, where there would
be some adult supervision. She has had meetings with a
number of organizations such as the Wilder Foundation,
Interfaith Outreach and area churches. They have all
indicated their willingness to help in any way they can.
She has also met with staff from the Park and Recreation
Department to try and arrange some activities
specifically for the apartment complex. The Puppet Wagon
will be making a scheduled stop there this summer every
Monday afternoon. Staff also suggested that the children
from the apartments could attend activities such as
Playground in the Streets at Plymouth Creek Park, which
is within walking distance of this area.
It was the consensus of the Commission that they will
discuss this issue at another meeting after they've had
an opportunity to read the article "Kid Tested, City
Approved."
Rick McCoy, a 10th grader at Wayzata High School, sent a
letter to Mayor Bergman requesting that the City consider
some sort of facility to accommodate skateboarders. The
Mayor in turn forwarded the request to Director Blank.
Director Blank then met with Mr. McCoy to discuss his
request and suggested that he do some research on the
subject and make a presentation to the Park Commission.
Mr. McCoy and two other classmates prepared a school
paper on the subject of skateboarding and used this paper
as the basis for their presentation to the Park
Commission. They also played a short videotape of what a
skateboard facility looks like. They indicated that
skateboarding is a popular activity among many age groups
and that the only place to legally skateboard is at a
skatepark in Minneapolis. But this facility is in a bad
location and is now going to close, leaving skateboarders
with no where to go except the streets and sidewalks,
especially the sidewalks in front of retail stores. But
skating here causes the store owners/managers to order
the skateboarders to leave the area and/or to call the
police. For everyone concerned, it's a problem. The
skateboarders see the only solution being some sort of
PRAC Minutes/April 1993
Page 22
special facility that could be used by them as well as
in-line skaters and bikers. They feel that something the
size of a hockey rink would meet their needs. Ideally,
this facility would have ramps, curbs, planters, etc.,
the same things you see along the sidewalks in front of
stores. Mr. McCoy and his friends realize that insurance
is an issue that must be considered. Director Blank
informed them that the City's risk management coordinator
had researched the subject and based on his findings, was
recommending that the City not establish any type of
skateboard facility. The risk management coordinator
stated that there is no market for skateboard insurance,
and that the City would have to assume all liability.
Mayor Bergman then suggested that perhaps the City could
work cooperatively with a private party as a possible
solution, and a way to cover the insurance costs might be
to charge participants a fee to use the facility. It was
further suggested that the facility could accommodate
bikers, rollerbladers and skateboarders, as well as
offering some other activities that would appeal to the
youth at risk discussed earlier.
The Commission thanked Mr. McCoy for his well researched
presentation and indicated that they would continue to
discuss the issue and staff would keep him informed of
their progress.
4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. The four additional swings proposed for Bass Lake
Playfield were approved by Council and will be installed
prior to the grand opening scheduled for May 12.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. South Shore Drive landscaping. Forester Paul Buck met
with the residents in early April and all parties agreed
that the original landscaping plan prepared by former
City Forester Kissinger was still workable. Paul
prepared two cost estimates, one using City labor and the
other using an outside contractor. The outside
contractor estimate is $5,332 and approximately $700 less
than City labor, and he would guarantee the survivability
of the plants for three years. Based on that
information, it was Mr. Buck's recommendation that the
City choose the outside contractor. Figures were also
presented on the cost to expand the planting project to
include the gravel parking lot, which would include 45
additional plants, as well as removing the gravel and
replacing it with better soil. Again, the outside
contractor cost was about $130 less than City labor to
cover this expanded area.
PRAC Minutes/April 1993
Page 23
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER BURK AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON RECOMMENDING THAT COUNCIL AUTHORIZE
THE EXPENDITURE OF $7,500 FOR THE LANDSCAPING ALONG SOUTH
SHORE DRIVE, INCLUDING THE EXPANDED AREA, REQUIRING THAT
THE CITY REMOVE THE GRAVEL AND REPLACE IT WITH BETTER
SOIL.
b. Community survey - review pretest. Pamela Schumaker and
Rhonda Petrie from the Minnesota Center for Survey
Research reviewed the results of the pre-test survey.
There was a 40% response to the test survey, which is a
good response according to Ms. Schumaker. Based on the
responses, some suggestions were made to change a few of
the questions, giving people a couple more options for
answering. It was suggested that "skateboarding
facility/area" be included as part of the question asking
what new facilities the City should build within the next
five years. Commissioner Johnson suggested that staff
inform the young skateboarders that we are including that
question in the survey as a way to let them know the City
cares. A new draft of the questionnaire will be faxed to
Director Blank and presented to the Council. If the
survey process receives final approval and proceeds as
planned, the full survey results should be available by
the third week in July.
C. Handicapped playground update. The committee has met
twice. Some of the members have children with
disabilities and good information is being shared.
Videotaping is now being done around the metro area in
order to get ideas.
d. Athletic association storage space. The fire department
notified Director Blank that they may have found some
storage space at Fire Station 2, but he feels that it may
not be convenient for the athletic associations because
of its location. The associations requesting space are
located in southwest Plymouth and fire station 2 is in
northeast Plymouth. Security of the space might also
pose some problems.
e. Grand openings for playfields. Director Blank introduced
Travis Lay, the student intern helping the parks
department this spring. Travis went over the schedule
for the grand opening celebrations, indicating that
members of the Council and PRAC have been invited to play
in an exhibition softball game against the police and
fire departments. Other activities include athletic
association softball and soccer games, a tennis clinic,
musical entertainment, and a visit by Ronald McDonald.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Reguest for skateboard facility. See Item 3.c.
PRAC Minutes/April 1993
Page 24
b. Annual park tour date. Director Blank indicated that he
would have a draft of the 1994-98 CIP ready for the May
Commission meeting and that PRAC should set a date for
their annual park tour. June 3rd at 4:45 p.m. was
selected. The City Manager has indicated that he will
attend. Council members and Planning Commission members
will also be invited.
C. Master plan - West Medicine Park - road relocation.
Director Blank stated that the 1994 CIP calls for Phase I
of West Medicine Lake Park. How the plan for the park
develops will be dictated by the relocation of West
Medicine Lake Drive. A feasibility study on the road
relocation has already been done which shows three
possible alternatives. Staff is now recommending that a
consultant should be hired to do an overall master plan
for the park. There is currently a concept plan for the
park that was prepared by Brauer and Associates 11 years
ago.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER JOHNSON AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER WAHL RECOMMENDING THAT A CONSULTANT BE HIRED
TO PREPARE AN OVERALL MASTER PLAN FOR WEST MEDICINE LAKE
PARK. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
Director Blank stated that a grant proposal to fund the
construction of the park may be submitted to the state,
however, no grants are available for the purpose of
hiring a consultant.
Commissioner Johnson suggested that the City look into
the possibility of purchasing the small peninsula on the
southwest end of the lake. He believes it would be a
nice place for people to picnic and didn't think it would
involve much in the way of maintenance or upkeep.
d. Disk golf presentation. Director Blank stated that a
group of disk golf enthusiasts will be making a
presentation to the Commission at the May meeting. They
are interested in moving the existing course from Zachary
park to Plymouth Creek park.
COMMISSION PRESENTATION
Commissioner Burk indicated that he could not attend the May
meeting. Commissioner Mikula stated that she would be at
the April 21 Board and Commission orientation meeting.
STAFF COMMUNICATION
None.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.