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
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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.