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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 02-10-1981Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. February 10, 1931 Page 7 Commissioners Present. James Rice, Betty Threinen, John. Mullan, Frank Dvorak,; Steve Chesebrough, Barbara Edwards Commissioner Absent: Alan Brass Staff Present: Eric.Blank, Rick Busch, Jane Sletten, Nancy Helgeson Others Present: Boyer Palmer and Pete Thomsen, Bass Lake: residents 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Rice called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m, in the City Center Council Chambers. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Steve Chesebrough moved and Betty Threinen seconded a motion to approve the minutes as read of the January meeting. Motion carriei with all ayes. 3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Athletic Association representatives were not present at this meeting. b. Boyer Palmer and Pete Thomsen were present for Item 5.b. c. Rick Busch: handed out a Park Rental Policy and Fee. Schedule report to the Commissioners for their review. This report will be sent to the Athletic Associations asking for their comments, and then a final policy will be drafted and presented to the Commission at their March meeting. Mr. Busch stated that there had been great turnover this winter with warming house attendants, and that the shelters will be closing about February 16. He indicated that this first year of couples' broomball had gone well. Jane Sletten handed out a memorandum containing statistics on the winter program, and showing comparisons between fall and winter enrollment.. Some of her new programs included Creative Dance and Ballet, Karate, and Jazzercise. She announced that the spring Plymouth Report would be in residents' homes by February 25. Ms. Sletten has several new spring programs, and a. variety of special events taking place during Easter vacation for youth. 4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTIONS The City Council approved the Downtown Plymouth Sidewalk Plan.. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Playfield Update. Progress on the four shelter buildings is 99% complete, and some final inspections have been done. Lights at most facilities are up.; Special vandalism -proof doors have been ordered for the restrooms, and in the meantime, satellites are continuing to be used. Commissioner Chesebrough mentioned that:when flooding is done at Plymouth Jr. High, water runs across the sidewalk, and this is creating a hazzard. Director Blank said the grade would be corrected in the spring. He also announced that he would be meeting with the consultant on the Zachary Lane Playfield on. February 11. We are anxious to begin construction as soon as possible since prices are going up. b. Bass Lake Access Report from Staff and PRAC Sub -committee. Director Blank announced that since January's meeting, two meetings have been held with the Bass Lake Improvement Association, the DNR, staff and the sub -committee 7 Minutes of the February 10, 1981 PRAC Meeting Page $ to discuss Bass Lake. No agreements were reached, and staff now feels that. this item needs to go to the City Council, Two sites are possible for an access to Bass Lake - Timber Shoi,es Park and two vacant lots on the west side of the lake in the Windridge Development. Timber Shores has the: advantage of being publicly owned. Director Blank, said that there are two ways to acquire property on the west side. One is requiring park dedication from Windridge, and the second is purchasing the lots with a LAWCON grant. The DNR would probably help with the cost of developing the access. An access through: Timber Shores needs to be addressed as soon as possible so progress of Timber Shores park can move along. Director Blank has been given no costs on, lots at Windridge. Boyer Palmer and Pete Thomsen, both residents on Bass Lake, were present at the meeting and discussed the issue of an access with the Commissioners. Mr. Thomsen stated that he had been in contact with Camp Courage and Vinland Center regarding their interest in contributing money to help With the development of an access that would accommodate the handicapped.. They have suggested some sort of fishing pier that, could be used by pet -sons in wheelchairs. Mr. Palmer feels that the Windridge site is too shallow for an access, and submitted a map that had been drawn by residents showing -where -an access might be feasible through the park. The Commissioners continued to discuss this item stating concern over the size of the access and its location, and two motions were passed: BARBARA EDWARDS MOVED AND JOHN MULLAN SECONDED A MOTION .THAT PRAC RECOMMENDS THAT NO BOAT/TRAILER ACCESS BE PUT IN TIMBER SHORES PARK. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. BARBARA EDWARDS MOVED AND STEVE CHESEBROUGH SECONDED A MOTION THAT PRAC RECOMMENDS TO COUNCIL THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BOAT/TRAILER LAUNCH SITE AT BASS LAKE, JOHN MULLAN REQUESTED THAT STAFF STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF A LAUNCH ON THE WEST SIDE OF BASS LAKE AT THE WINDRIDGE SITE, INCLUDING THE DEPTH OF THE LAKE HERE, ANO THE COST OF ACQUIRING PROPERTY. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH FOUR AYES.. FRANK DVORAK VOTED AGAINST, BECAUSE HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SIZE OF BOATS THE RAMP WOULD ACCOMMODATE. CHAIRMAN RICE VOTED AGAINST, BECAUSE HE IS NOT IN FAVOR OF ANY KIND OF BOAT RAMP ACCESS FOR BASS LAKE. c. Carlson Center - Request for Neighborhood Park. Director Blank recommended that the City not acquire any property within the Carlson Center Annex for a. neighborhood park. He indicated that the Sunset Hills Neighborhood Park would serve these residents.. Director Blank suggested that a home- owner association might wish to acquive some property from the Carlson Center for purposes of open space. BETTY THREINEN MOVED AND BARBARA EDWARDS SECONDED A MOTION THAT PRAC ENDORSES STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION OF NOVEMBER 6, 1980, TO NOT ACQUIRE ANY PROPERTY WITHIN THE CARLSON CENTER ANNEX FOR A PARK.. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH FIVE AYES. JOHN MULLAN ABSTAINED. Minutes. of the February 10, 1981 PRAC Meeting Page 9' d. Comprehensive Park Plan Selectio^ of Consultant. PRAC Sub -Committee Report, Director Blank met with five firms who had submitted proposals two the City's Comprehensive Park. Plan. 4f those five, three were finally selected to be interviewed by the PRAC sub -committee. Following these interviews, the sub -committee endorsed Brauer & Associates, and sharedtheir views on Brauer's qualifications with the rest of the commission. FRANK DVORAK MOVED AND BETTY"THREINEN SECONDED A MOTION THAT STAFF MEET WITH BRAUER',& ASSOCIATES AND CONDUCT WHATEVER NEGOTIATIONS ARE NECESSARY TO ARRIVE AT A FIRM CONTRACT TO BE CONSIDERED BY STAFF AND PASSED ON TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR FINAL APPROVAL. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH FIVE AYES. JOHN MULLAH ABSTAINED. Director Blank a.sked.the.sub-committee to be available within the next two week; to review the contract before it is submitted to the Council. e. Contract for East Beach Design. STEVE CHESEBROUGH MOVED AND FRANK DVORAK SECONDED A MOTION THAT STAFF SHOULD NEGCTIATE A CONTRACT WITH BATHER, RINGROSE & WOLSFELD (B.R.W.) FOR THE DESIGN OF THE EAST BEACH. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. f. Neighborhood Park Development Update. Director Blank announced that the consultant firm of Design Consortium, Inc._, had been approved by the Council to do the design work for the three neighborhood parks - Timber Shores, Mission Hills!Mission Ridge, and S-hmidt Lake. Design work has begun on. Mission Hills, based on the results of a questionnaire that had been sent to these residents asking them for their ideas. A questionnaire has been sent to Timber Shores and Schmidt Lake residents, and this. design work will begin at a later date. Director Blank indicated that work was progressing according to the time line. g. Set Date for PRAC Training Session. This item has been discussed at earlier meetings, but Director Blank reviewed its purpose for the commissioners. John Schultz, head of Leisure Studies at the University of Minnesota, will attend this training session and lead a discussion on leisure time activities in the 80's during the morning portion of the session. Maple (eve's park commission may also sit in on this part of the workshop. The afternoon session will be spent with the Comprehensive Park Plan consultant. The Commission tentatively settled on April 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. as the date and time for the session. Director Blank will make arrangements for the location. h. Joint Meeting with the City council. Director Blank announced that March 9th had been selected as the Sate -for the joint meeting with the Council. This meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. and will be held in the small conference room adjacent to the Chambers.. The foll(xving items were suggested by PRAC for the agenda: Comprehensive Park Plan, Bass Lake access, concession sales in parks, grand opening of playfields, distribution of funds from park fund accounts, movie "In Search of Balance," and the city's relationship with athletic associations„ i. Park Dedication Policye Director Blank announced that some new guidelines had been written for ,e Park Dedication policy, and that the City Council Minutes of the February 10, 1981 FRAC Meeting Page 10 was passing these policy changes on to PRAC for their information and review. It was decided that this item would be tabled until next month's meeting. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. New Plats. Council requested that PRAC review the location. and alignment R a trail within the Windridge 3rd Addition to determine if it's possible to eliminate the trail on the north side of the Soc Line Railroad tracks. After Director Blank explained that staff feels there is room for a trail here, the following motion was made: JOHN MULLAN MOVED AND STEVE CHESEBROUGH SECONDED A MOTION THAT PRAC SUPPORTS STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION REQUIRING A 30' EASEMENT FOR A STANDARD 8' TRAIN TO BE CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN THE ROAD AND THE RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAY ALLOWING FORA NARROWER RIGHT OF WAY WHERE NECESSARY. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. b. Park Rental Policies for 1981. This item is being sent to the Athletic Associations for their review and comments which will then be brought back to the next PRAC meeting for the Commission's consideration. 1. COMMISSION PRESENTATION Betty Threinen announced that the next Community Education meeting will be held March 11. She also encouraged members to attend a Howard Hunt Appreciation Party on March 8 at the Radisson West which will be in the form of an open house from 2:00-5:00 p.m. Chairman Rice will be out of town on March 5, so Betty Threinen will chair the March meeting. 8. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS Director Blank announced that he had presented the PIP to the Plymouth Civic League and that it had been well received. 9. ADJOURNMENT Steve Chesebrough moved and John Mullan seconded. a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:20 p.m.