Loading...
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.