HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 12-14-2000Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
December 14, 2000
Page 44
Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Fiemann, Meyer, Musliner, Singer; Councilmember
Slavik; staff Bisek, Blank and Pederson
Absent: Commissioner Thompson and Wahl
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Anderson called the December meeting to order at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Singer and seconded by Commissioner Meyer to
approve the minutes of the October meeting as presented. The motion carried with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None were present.
b. Staff Mary stated that Rec—Connect is up and running. Usage was 7% with Rec—Connect
and 56% with Touch Tone on the first day of registration. We expect Rec—Connect to
increase as people become more comfortable with it. Mary announced that Rick had back
surgery and was out for five weeks recuperating. He's back at work now half time and
doing well. Mary discussed a couple of special events coming up. The Plymouth
Community Band is going to be in concert with the Plymouth Rockers at the Messiah
United Methodist Church on Sunday. A New Year's Eve Around the World event will be
held on December 31 at LifeTime Fitness and the Ice Arena. We are having some
concerns about finding volunteers to work that evening. Three different New Year's Eves
will be celebrated on the hour from 6:30-9:30 that evening. There will be music, crafts,
games, ice skating, swimming, prizes, etc. This activity is geared for families. Mary also
mentioned the Fire and Ice Festival on February 3. Mary reminded PRAC that they
usually help with the bonfire. We're hoping to add a theme to this year's event. The idea
of Elvis and Blue Hawaii is being considered. We may have tied down an Elvis
impersonator who is also a DeeJay. Call Nancy Anderson if you can volunteer. Mary
mentioned that Old Fashioned Christmas went well. She estimated that there were about
750-800 attendees. Director Blank discussed the New Year's Eve party and the long term
goals for this. Maybe in future years we will be able to include some activities at the
Fieldhouse and the Plymouth Creek Center. Director Blank is hoping that the Youth
Council will get involved in helping plan this. Mary said we are trying to put more of a
focus on the teen age group by planning more teen programs. The Plymouth Creek
Center has been extremely busy. Figures in the annual report should be interesting.
Seniors are especially thrilled with the facility and activities there. Councilmember Slavik
mentioned the Plymouth Leisure Times and how pleased the Civic League was with this
latest issue. Commissioner Musliner wanted to know if any consideration had been given
to the Seniors having their own brochure separate from the Leisure Times. Mary
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mentioned the newsletter Plymouth Grapevine, which is sent to seniors in Plymouth and
surrounding communities. Mary thinks it's important to keep the Senior section in the
Leisure Times as well, for anyone new to Plymouth who may not know about the
Plymouth Grapevine.
c. Others. There were no others present.
4. PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. Dehumidification system at the Ice Center. We're getting a rebate from Reliant Energy of
about $28,000, because of switching over from electric to gas. We expect to have the
system installed in January. Right now the dehumidification is turned off because it's not
needed, but it will be in use starting in May.
b. Millennium Garden final plans and specs. We have reached our phase 1 goal. We get
about one company a week donating in-kind services. Dundee Nursery has indicated an
interest in designing, planting and maintaining a rose garden on a continuous basis.
We've been mining two constriction sites going on in downtown Plymouth looking for
large boulders. We are picking up thousands of dollars of inkind services. We will plan
groundbreaking in May.
c. Trail snowplowing routes for 2000-01. This comes out of the maintenance division. It
helps determine which of the 75 miles of trails will be plowed in the winter. An approved
plan helps with community relations.
d. Contract cleaning services at the Ice Center and Plymouth Creek Center. Mentally
challenged adults do this cleaning two or three days a week.
e. Ferndale North open space managementlent plan. This item went through the Council on a
consent agenda.
f. Free walking in the dome. Free walking is a big hit. One downside is heating the dome.
This costs about $40 an hour, so we made a decision to turn the heat on at 10:30, so it's
up to 55 degrees by approximately 11 a.m. It's quite comfortable earlier in the morning,
but you need to keep your jacket on. It's not easy to regulate the heat in this facility. We
will be fine tuning this as time goes on. Commissioner Singer asked how many people
are walking. Mary said we're not keeping numbers like we did last year. Mary said it is a
good number of people, and quite a few do show up at 8 a.m. There's a regular group that
shows up early. Mary thinks it's hundreds of people. We allow people to walls when
other activities are going on if it's deemed safe. People are really appreciative of the fact
that it's there and available. Commissioner Meyer asked what the temperature is at 8 a.m.
Director Blank said around 32 or 35 degrees. Staff is keeping track of when it's being
used. If morning is more popular, we may turn the heat on around 7:30 a.m. and then turn
if off for a few hours and turn it on again in the late afternoon, so it's warm in time for
the evening's activities.
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g. Grant application for skate park. This is due January 16, and we are applying for a grant
of $20,000. It would come from the Communities in Collaboration Council of School
District 284. Commissioner Fiemann asked if the odds for receiving a grant were good.
Director Blank said he's not very optimistic, however the Mayor is a member of the
Council. Mary said there are others on the Communities in Collaboration Council who
are excited about a possible skate park, so this may help us.
h. Grant for improvements at Greenwood. We have been notified that we are one of the
recipients of a $100,000 grant from the State of Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission
for improvements at Greenwood's athletic fields.
i. License agreements for Oakwood, Greenwood and East Middle School playfields. These
are 10 year agreements with 10 year extensions. The agreements permit the school
district to use the facilities on school days for school use, and the City has exclusive use
on non -school days and after school. The City is completely responsible for the
maintenance, operation, and scheduling of the facilities.
j. North American Properties park dedication fee. This item went back to Council after
PRAC recommended that the normal fee be charged. It was not contested by North
American Properties.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Plymouth Creek Center update. Next Tuesday the Council will approve final payment to
Shingobee Builders. We are under budget as of now by about $7,500. There will be a
copy of the draft annual report ready by the January meeting, so numbers will be
available in that document. Mary ran into someone from Shingobee, and they are going to
be receiving an award for their work on the Plymouth Creek Center.
b. Millennium Garden update. Brauer and Associates is moving forward with a final design.
Companies that are offering in-kind services need some plans and specs in order to plan
their work. Director Blank discussed the Christmas Box Angel proposal. He stated that
staff attended some meetings where this proposal was being discussed. Not every
sentiment from those other discussions is in their attached minutes. When first discussing
this at the October PRAC meeting, we did not realize that the donation was coming from
a Plymouth resident. The author of the book is planning a trip to Italy next year, and the
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Center would like him to attend the ceremony when the statue
is installed sometime next May. The Maple Grove City Council has approved having the
statue in their arboretum if Plymouth doesn't accept it. The architect has sketched a
couple of possible locations for its placement in the Millennium Garden. Mary and Karol
came up with a vision statement for the garden which is "creating natural connections."
Mary and Karol see this happening by promoting social cohesiveness and community
identity; providing an atmosphere for inspiration, self reflection and renewal; facilitating
a spirit of creativity through the arts; and presenting opportunities for environmental
education and stewardship. Mary posted a question on the National Recreation and Parks
Association website to help staff come up with this vision statement. Mary said that this
is just a draft. It's a work in progress. Two areas in the garden have been looked at for the
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placement of the statue. It would not be in the more formal garden area. It would be off to
the side of the looping trail. Another possible site is the labyrinth area, which is meant to
be a meditative site. Commissioner Singer wanted to know about the December 6
celebration. Director Blank said we would have to challenge the architects to come up
with a design that would accommodate 100 or more people who might attend such a
ceremony. Director Blank asked if this is something we would like to have in the garden?
He stated that he attended a funeral last week of a good friend of his daughter's.
Afterwards, several of her friends talked about buying a brick for the Millennium Garden
to honor her. He also had a conversation this past week with a woman whose grandfather
was once the Mayor of Plymouth. She wants to buy a bench to honor him. Director Blank
says we see a lot of this — people wanting to honor loved ones who have died. Director
Blank thinks the statue could be viewed in a positive light. But when you introduce
religion, it's more difficult to weigh. The Human Rights Commission seemed to have a
problem with it. They had a black and white picture of the angel, and some found the idea
of a white angel to be offensive. Director Blank said the statue is actually bronze. Are
there religious aspects to this? Some people will be offended by the word Christmas in
the title, but we cannot take that out. That's a condition of the author of the story it's
based on. Commissioner Meyer thinks a better place for it is the City cemetary. She
thinks people may be depressed by it being in the garden. Commissoner Fiemann is
concerned also with the title Christmas Box Angel. He has mixed feelings about it, but
sees it as enlightening, also. Commissioner Musliner recently met the author at the Book
Case in Wayzata. She said that people who have read the book seek out the statue, and
this is why it was created. She also thinks it doesn't belong in the Millennium Garden and
would be better in the City cemetary. Chair Anderson is divided on this issue.
Commissioner Singer is sensitive about it as well. She sees it as a Christian issue. The
concept of the Millennium Garden is self renewal, reflection, hope, etc. She doesn't
really want it in the garden. She doesn't have a problem with the angel itself. It's the title
that's the issue. Director Blank said a group of citizens will be meeting under the
supervision of Karol to come up with criteria for the art that will be included in the
garden and other public spaces. Commissioner Singer understands the donation of
benches and bricks with people's names on them. Commissioner Meyer said a lot of the
art in the Landscape Arboretum comes through donations. She said she'll check to see if
there is a policy that the arboretum follows regarding donations of art. Director Blank
will call the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Center and tell them that both the Human Rights
Commission and the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission feel that this is not an
appropriate item for the garden. Commissioner Fiemann asked if there is a place in the
City cemetary that would be appropriate. Director Blank said the Pregnancy and Infant
Loss Center wasn't interested in that location. Councilmember Slavik suggested that the
staff report PRAC received should also be sent to the Council. Chair Anderson said if we
do allow this, we open the door for any group that wants to place something in the
garden. COMMISSIONER SINGER MOVED THAT WE THANK THE DONOR FOR
THE DONATION OF THE CHRISTMAS BOX ANGEL BUT THAT WE BELIEVE IT
DOES NOT FIT INTO THE OVERALL VISION STATEMENT AND PERCEIVED
GOALS OF THE MILLENNIUM GARDEN IN THE CITY OF PLYMOUTH.
COMMISSIONER FIEMANN SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED. There was
discussion then on the need for coming up with some sort of policy for accepting
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donations of art for the garden. COMMISSIONER FIEMANN MOVED THAT STAFF
PURSUE CREATING A POLICY ON WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED
ACCEPTABLE ART FOR THE MILLENNIUM GARDEN AND OTHER PUBLIC
SPACES THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND COME BACK TO PRAC WITH THEIR
FINDINGS AND RECOMENDATIONS. CHAIR ANDERSON SECONDED.
MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. Director Blank asked if PRAC had any fine
tunings for the mission statement. It was suggested that they look it over and come back
to the January meeting with any suggestions, and maybe it could be adopted at that time.
Commissioner Singer said she spoke with someone from Eden Prairie whose two
children play soccer in our Fieldhouse. This individual told Commissioner Singer that our
non—resident fee is less than the resident fee in Eden Prairie. She had high praise for the
Fieldhouse.
c. Comprehensive Plan Director Blank said that $750,000 has been carried forward for
open space. This will be for the Northwest Greenway. He will be asking the City Council
to give us permission to apply for some grants from the DNR on this project.
d. Hilde Performance Center update. We are doing a phase one study right now with the
architects to meet the requirements of the EAW. Contracts have been signed by the
Hilde's and the Civic League. By the next PRAC meeting we may have a draft concept
plan for the building. The name of the facility is part of the contract, because of the Hilde
offer of the million dollars. Commissioner Singer asked about the document included in
their PRAC packet regarding naming public parks. That's why she questioned the name
Hilde Performance Center. Director Blank said if someone wanted to donate a million
dollars toward the purchase of a park, we probably would have no problem naming it
after them.
e. 2001-2005 CIP. Playground replacements — Director Blank found some additional
funding for Swan Lake park. If long term projections of revenue hold true we may be
able to add more playground replacements. For the youth sports improvements at
Greenwood, we received a cost estimate this morning and it looks like we're getting
close. Another $10,000 will make a big difference, so the budget has been increased to
460,000. This will get us three baseball fields and four soccer fields. The large picnic
shelter at Zachary has been moved up to 2001. All other items stayed the same as in the
October draft. We now have a number of $200,000 for the West Medicine Lake bathroom
facility that matches the stone face and rough sawn lumber look of the picnic shelters.
We're looking at riles and regulations on wetland setbacks, etc. This will be a bare bones
facility, including bathrooms only. We will be hooked up to the City sewer system.
Commissioner Meyer asked if these are new fields at Greenwood. Director Blank said the
baseball fields are new. The school district bought the farmhouse along Medina Road,
and this is where the baseball fields will be. All facilities are behind the building on the
west side. Commissioner Singer talked to the MASC, and they are lobbying for
additional monies statewide for more soccer fields. She said they are looking for $6-8
million during the next session. According to state statute this has to be for new fields
only. Director Blank said some of the projects in the 2001 CIP are very time sensitive, so
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action by PRAC is needed tonight. Commissioner Singer asked about the skate park. If
the grant is not awarded would we still go forward with it? Director Blank said yes, if the
City Council approves it. She then asked about East Medicine Lake Park and the
deteriorating condition of the building and boardwalk. Director Blank said we know we
have a problem there, but we don't know what we want to do at this time. We are looking
at removing the wooden boardwalk and replacing with an asphalt trail and we may
replace that building with two bathrooms. COMMISSIONER SINGER MOVED to
ACCEPT THE 2001-2005 CIP. COMMISSIONER FIEMANN SECONDED. MOTION
CARRIED.
6. NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
There was no Commission presentation.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
Staff thanked the Commission for their hard work and wished them Happy Holidays. Chair
Anderson has completed 15 years on the Commission. He's the number two man behind the
chairman of the Planning Commission. Barb Edwards served 22 years on PRAC.
Commissioner Singer thanked the City staff for their dedication to their work and for the card
sent to her husband. He had a triple bypass last week. Councilmember Slavik said the
Council had many positive comments about PRAC when they discussed reappointments to
Commissions last week. Director Blank stated that Mark Wahl has resigned but will attend
the January meeting.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.