HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 03-05-1981Minutes of the
March 5, 1981
Page 1.1
Present:
Absent:
Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission
Betty Threinen, John Mullan, Frank Dvorak, Steve Chesebrough,
Barbara Edwards and Alan Brass
James Rice
Staff Present: Eric Blank, Rick Busch, Nancy Helgeson
Staff Absent: Jane Sletten
Others Present: Fred Haas, Mary Anderson Construction; John Worrall, Brauer
and Associates
1. CALL TO ORDER
Commissioner Threinen called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. in the City
Center Council Chambers in the absence of Chairman Rice.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Edwards and seconded by Commissioner Brass
to approve the February minutes as read. Motion carried with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Association Representatives. None were present at this meeting.
b. Others, Their comments will be covered in later agenda items.
c. RRc Busch and Jane Sletten. Ms. Sletten was not in attendance at.this
meeting. Rick Buschannounced that our spring brochure had been mailed during
the last week in February and that registration began March 2. He has been
busy evaluating winter programs and terminating winter staff. Adult softball
registration begins March 1.6. He also discussed our 3 -Man, 3 -Woman Basketball
program. Twenty teams began playing on March 4, and although we had advertised
this program to include 3 -Woman Basketball, only men signed up.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
d. Neighborhood Park Site Development _Udate. Director Blank ave a brief
back—ground on the progress o the ssion Hil-ls and the Timber Shores Park
site design process. Discussion then centered on the third park proposed
for development in 1981 - Schmidt Lake Neighborhood Park. Director Blank
indicated that he had brought the Schmidt Lake Park size and land dedication
question before PRAC because they had not previously reviewed this park
dedication item. Director Blank passed out maps showing the proposed land
dedication from the Schmidt Lake Woods Addition and the Zachary Hills
Addition. The Schmidt Lake Woods Addition is a five acre parcel of which
4.43 acres are above the 100 year flood mark. The Zachary Hills park
dedication was scheduled to be 3.44 acres.. Of this, 2.47 acres are above
the 100 year flood mark Director Blank then showed a series of slides
taken of this proposed park site showing some of the limitations for
development due to steep grades and other constraints on this particular
site. Director Blank indicated that the Zachary Hills development
consisted of 110 acres requiring a park charge of 10.1 acres of land
or cash. Twenty-five percent of this charge has currently been paid
in cash for lots developed north of Hamel Road. This left 7.5 acres of
land or cash to be dedicated. Director Blank suggested that PRAC should
consider not taking 2.47 acres of the land from Zachary Hills Development
but taking 7.5 acres for park dedication. This would increase the park
size and protect more of the shore line along Schmidt Lake. This would
require the developer to give. up the cul-de-sac and six houses, four of
which would have access to Schmidt Lake. Fred Haas, of Mary Anderson
Construction was present at this meeting to dis:.uss the proposed dedication.
PRAC Meeting of March 5, 1981
Page.l2
He pointed out that over the past four years, Mary Anderson Homes had
proposed several plats to the City of Plymouth, and that each time they
made this presentation, they showed a park. dedication of 2.47 acres
and the cul-de-sac with. the houses on Schmidt Lake.. Until this time,
no one on the staff had questioned the size of the park dedication.
His feeling was that it would be unfair of the City to ask for more
land dedication. from this particular plat. He was also worried that
this change in; his preliminary plat would delay final plat approval.
The commission then discussed the pros and cons of requesting additional
Land dedication from Zachary Hills plat for Schmidt Lake Park.
COMMISSIONER DVORAK MOVED AND COMMISSIONER CHESEBROUGH SECONDED A MOTION
THAT PRAC SUPPORT THE PARK AS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED UTILIZING THE SIZE
OF 6.9 ACRES FOR THE PARK. ZACHARY HILLS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DEDICATE
2.47 ACRES FOR PARK AND 1.95 ACRES FOR A TRAIL. MOTION CARRIED WITH
ALL AYES.
In summary, PRAC generally agreed with staff's recommendation for increasing
the size of the park, but felt that it was inappropriate to make this change
after four years had elapsed since the initial preliminary plat showing
the land dedication for park had been presented to the Cita.
a. Park Rental Policies for 1981. This policy relates to the rental of
our facilities for tournaments only. Rick Busch presented this policy
to, the commissioners for their reveiw and approval. After reading
and discussing policy, Commissioner Brass requested some rearrangement
of priorities n terms of giving out permits. He felt that Plymouth
resident groups should be given consideration before non-profit civic.
organizations:. Commissioners also decided that a resident group should.
be made up of at least 50% Plymouth residents. Another item in the
policy dealt with the consumption of intoxicating beverages in the
parks, and the general consensus was that this item should be deleted
from the policy.; It was further decided that the subject of allowing
or disallowing alcohol in the parks should be discussed at the Joint
City Council/FRAC meeting.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER CHESEBROUGH AND SEL_aj,u BY COMMISSIONER
BRASS THAT PRAC ENDORSES THE PARK RENTAL POLICY AND FEE SCHEDULE P°
AMENDED, MOVING UP ITEM A-5, DELETING ITEM C-5, AND AMENDING A-5 TO
READ "PLYMOUTH RESIDENT GROUPS MADE UP OF AT LEAST 50% PLYMOUTH RESIDENTS."
MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
6. NEW BUSINESS
b. PlyTouth Adult Softball Information. Rick introduced this item and
stated that this memorandum would be sent to all softball managers pending
PRAC's approval. Softball registration begins March 16, and this memo.
contains all the information that new and returning teams need to know
in order to register.
COMMISSIONER EDWARDS MOVED AND COMMISSIONER MULLAN SECONDED A MOTION THAT
PRAC APPROVES THE SOFTBALL MEMORANDUM AS PRESENTED BY RICK BUSCH. THE MOTION
CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
PRAC Meeting of March 5, 1981
Page 13
4. PAST COUNCIL ACTION,
Director Blank announced that the City Council had passed a resolution
authorizing boat access to Bass Lake through the: Timber Shores park
with no changes to the topography. The Council also passed a resolution
autiorizing the City Manager to negotiate a contract with Brauer and
Assoziates for the completion of the Comprehensive Park Plan,
6. b. Playfield Update. Director Blank stated that lights are being installed
whenever possible at the various playfields, but some problems are arising
because the trucks have to drive over soft ground, which can cause damage
to the newly laid sod. The purchase of the Zachary Lane playfield site
has not been finalized yet.
c. 1981 LAWCON Grant for the East Beach, Director Blank announced that
President the Heritage onservation an Recreation Service (HCRS) thereby
freezing all 1981 funds. The 25% State matching grant money is. still
available, however. Director Blank said that this would delay the
beginning of construction until fall of 1981. He further stated that
design work had stopped, until we receive further word on this grant.
d. Neighborhood Park Site Development Update (coni.). On February
26, a meeting was held with t i`Centssoo fthe Timber Shores neighborhood
and the Mission Hills/Mission Ridge neighborhood for purposes of reviewing
concept plans. The Timber Shores residents were in favor of keeping the
area "natural" and they liked the idea of a fishing pier. The Mission
Hills residents were in favor of a tot lot, trails and also keeping
their park "natural." Commissioner Chesebrough stated that he greatly
appreciated all the work the'Missfon Hills residents put into their
questionnaire, and proof of its success was evident in the 186 returns
out of 200 questionnaires..
e. Update PRAC Trainin Syession. Director Blank announced that the PRAC
training session scheduled for April 4 from 9:00 to 2:30 would be held
here at the City Center. The morning session will be with John Schultz,
head of Leisure Studies at the University. Following a catered Lunch,
the afternoon session will be spent with Brauer and Associates.
f. Joint Meetino with the City Council - Review Agenda. This meeting
will.. be held on March 30 beginning at 0 p.m, in the conference room
adjacent to the Chambers. The commissioners discussed the agenda
and put items in the sequence they wished to follow, beginning with
a movie, "In Search of Balance," followed by grand opening of the
playfields, the City's relationship with youth athletic associations,
coordination of revie,, of development plans, Comprehensive Park Plan,
distribution of funds from Park Fund accounts, concession sales in
parks, survey of Plymouth residences, and others.
h. Comprehensive Park Plan Introductory Meeting with Brauer and Associates,
John Worrall, representing Brauer and Associates, was present at this meeting.
He passed out a calendar of his schedule and how Brauer sees things progressing.
He also showed the commissioners a chart that Brauer had prepared that
indicated where people have a tendency to spend their leisure time. He
stated that he would be attending all future PRAC meetings until the.
Comprehensive Park Plan is completed.
PRAG Meeting of March 5, 1981
Page 14
g., Park Dedication Policy. Council reviewed the current Park Dedication
Policy and identified some of its problems. Staff then rewrote it and sent
it back to the Council. It is now being presented to PRAC for their
review and approval.
COMMISSIONER DVORAK MOVED AND COMMISSIONER MULLAN SECONDED A MOTION TO
ENDORSE THE UPDATED VERSLON OF THE PARK DEDICATION POLICY TO THE CITY
COUNCIL.. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
6. NEW BUSINESS.
a. New Plats. There were no new plats for PRAC's review at this meeting..
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
Commissioner Brass questioned Plymouth's use of the new playfield at the
Prudential site. Director Blank stated that -Rick Busch would be contacting
Prudential regarding their policy on the use: of their playfield..
Commissioner Edwards requested that Director Blank speak to the police about
the problem of unleashed dogs in City parks.
Commission Mullan would like an update on the progress of the Hennepin County
Regional Park made available at the next meet.ina.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
Director Blank mentioned that we are already receiving requests from residents
for use of picnic tables. He stated that last summer our maintenance people
would deliver the tables to parties requesting them and then later pick up
the tables. This year, we will not be able to do this. He did say, hoever,
that private parties will be allowed to use them if they make their own
arrangements for getting them.
The next FRAC meeting will be Thursday, April 2.. Director Blank asked
commissioners to hold March 26 on their calendars for another neighborhood
meeting with the residents of Mission Hills and Timber Shores.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Chesebrough moved and Commissioner Threinen seconded a motion
to adjourn at 10;00 p.m.