HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 09-08-1993Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
July 8, 1993
Page 33
Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Mikula, Wahl, Johnson,
Gutzke; staff Blank and Pederson
Absent: Commissioners Burk and Watson
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. in
the Council Chambers.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made
Commissioner Mikula
meeting as presented
VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
by Commissioner Wahl and
to approve the minutes
The motion carried with
a. Athletic Associations. None were present.
b. Staff. None were present.
C. Others. None were present.
REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
There was no past action to report on.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
seconded by
of the June
all ayes.
a. Review results of park and recreation survey - Pam
Schomaker. Pam stated that 508 responses had been
returned out of 752, which is a 68% return, and that is
considered an- excellent response rate. Eight hundred
total surveys were sent, with 48 coming back, due to
people moving to other communities or states, or having
incorrect addresses, etc. Pam went on to explain that
with a 68% return, you can assume that 950 of the time,
the answers given are within +4 or -4 in accuracy. Some
interesting results of the survey were: 89% of the
respondents want the City to continue controlling weeds
in our parks, with 77% approving using chemicals, the
highest attended activity is one-time special events,
such as Music in Plymouth and the Fire and Ice Festival,
followed closely by Concerts in the Park. Regarding what
programs the City should offer more of, the number one
answer was Concerts in the Park, followed by one-time
special events. In reference to the activities done in
Plymouth parks, the number one response was walking,
followed closely by biking, and third was using
children's playground equipment. Of the respondents who
do not participate in our programs, 56% indicated that it
was because they did not have the time. Eighty-eight
percent feel that recreation programs are priced fairly.
Regarding what, if any, improvements can be made in our
parks, respondents want more satellites. In reference to
PRAC Minutes/July 1993
Page 34
whether or not the City should build any new facilities,
the number one response was trails, second was a nature
preserve, third, a teen center, fourth, children's
outdoor playground and fifth, an outdoor pool. Director
Blank indicated that a study session with the Council is
scheduled for July 19, and the results of the survey will
be reviewed with them at that time. Director Blank asked
Pam to cross tabulate some of the responses, such as what
three (highest) activities the respondents participate in
when they go outside the City. Director Blank also
requested that PRAC review the survey over the next
couple of weeks, looking for other results they might
want cross -tabulated, so that Pam can do them all at
once.
b. Accessible playground update. Requests for Proposal are
being sent out to playground manufacturers.
C. West Med Park master plan update. This project is still
in the information gathering phase, and the consultant is
contacting a variety of different agencies such as
Hennepin Parks, the City of Medicine Lake, the DNR, the
Watershed District, etc.
d. 1994-98 CIP discussion. Director Blank reviewed the
items proposed for 1994 and stated that although park
development has been identified for Seven Ponds and
Cardinal Ridge, we still do not own all of the property.
Some of the other projects include the replacement of
four neighborhood park playgrounds, Plymouth Creek
tennis/basketball court, a fishing dock at Medicine Lake,
a contract for deed payment on the park land located
north of County Road 9 and West of 494. Director Blank
explained that the Council authorized the park
replacement fund in 1989, and that it was funded with
monies from the park maintenance budget and the park
dedication account (which consists of community
playfields/trails fund and neighborhood parks fund). It
is an interest earning fund, and it will grow each year.
The fund was established with the hope that only the
interest earned would be spent. Last year, the Council
authorized a transfer of $2,000,000 into the fund.
Commissioner Gutzke asked if PRAC should recommend the
start of a teen center fund for 1996? Director Blank
responded that funding a teen center could come from
three possible sources, a bond referendum, community
improvement funds, or park dedication funds.
Other items to consider that have not been included in
the CIP is the relocation and renovation of the old log
cabin on County Road 6, a skateboard area, moving the
disc golf course, additional parking at Zachary, a
permanent shelter building. at Ridgemount Playfield, a
PRAC Minutes/July 1993
Page 35
teen center, senior center, outdoor pool and golf course.
Director Blank suggested that PRAC might consider using
focus groups on some of the items ranked high in the
survey.
Director Blank asked that PRAC review the results of the
survey when further considering the 94-98 CIP.
A resident wrote to Director Blank requesting that some
play equipment be installed in Oakview Pond Park. This
is a small, passive park located a couple of blocks from
Gleanloch, which recently had its playground upgraded.
e. Lions Park. The City Council recently heard the case
against playing ball games at Lions Park. Director Blank
indicated that some relief may come next year, because
the Wayzata School District will permit Sunset Hill
Elementary to be used. This could reduce the games at
Lions Park to one per night, with none being scheduled on
Saturdays. The small parking lot at Lions will also be
striped, allowing cars to park more evenly, thus
permitting a few more cars access to the lot. 14th
Avenue has been signed "no parking" on the north side of
the street.
NEW BUSINESS
a. Athletic Association equipment storage It was suggested
by the Council that PRAC form a sub -committee to come up
with ways to solve the storage problems for the athletic
associations currently using the sheds at Oakwood.
Director Blank said that he would continue to research
the issue and report back to PRAC. Commissioner Gutzke
suggested that if a permanent shelter is built at
Ridgemount, it could be made large enough to provide
storage. He thought another possibility would be to
include storage space when the City Center is expanded.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
None.
STAFF COMMUNICATION
Director Blank stated that approximately 5,000 to 6,000
people attended Music in Plymouth.
The regular meeting in August will be cancelled unless
something comes up. It's possible that a special meeting
could be called in late August to discuss the West Medicine
Lake Park project with neighboring residents.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.