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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.