HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 01-11-2001Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
January 11, 2001
Page 1
Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Musliner, Singer, Wahl, Thompson, Meyer,
Fiemann; Planning Commissioner Neset; staff Bisek, Blank, and Pederson
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Anderson called the January meeting to order at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Meyer and seconded by Commissioner Singer to
approve the minutes of the December meeting as presented. Commissioner Singer had a
correction regarding her statement on the Christmas Box Angel. The minutes read that she
sees it as a Christian issue, but she said that the minutes should have read that she sees it as a
religious issue and that it does not fit into our vision of the Millennium Garden. The motion
carried with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None.
b. Staff Mary stated that Nancy Anderson will call the commissioners on the day of Fire
and Ice to see if anyone wants to volunteer, if no one has signed up by then. Rick Busch
is back fiill time following his back surgery. Fire & Ice is February 3. This year we have
a theme: "Tropical Heat." There will be a surprise visit from "Elvis." On March 24th
we're going to be doing something new at Plymouth Creek Center. The Landscape
Arboretum and the MN Horticultural Society will be doing their spring gardening event
there. In conjunction with that, the Solid Waste Recycling folks, along with the City's
forestry program, will be doing a yard and garden expo. Seven speakers are signed up so
far. The expo will be in the Fieldhouse. The weekend right after that is the beginning of
the Primavera Art Show. This year it will be a week long event for the first time. There
will be an author's night and some musical entertainment. For February, we're working
on getting some youth art work to hang in City Hall to celebrate We Love Our Kids
month. We are re-evaluating the stricture and job responsibilities in the Recreation
Department. We are currently working on summer program ideas, new arts programming,
and new youth programming. We anticipate that staffing will be a challenge again in
2001. Commissioner Meyer asked how the online registration was going. Mary said we
had 7% usage the first day. TTR registration has been successful for us since its
inception. Commissioner Musliner wanted to recognize staff member Greupner and
Commissioner Wahl for helping to judge art work and photography at the Oakwood
Elementary School. Mary said that we have received a letter suggesting that it's time to
add on to the Plymouth Creek Center. Commissioner Fiemann asked how we are going to
evaluate when we need to expand this facility? Mary said we do keep statistics on use. A
soccer association came to Director Blank and said that when we do expand the building,
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they want a full office. We will keep a list of all suggestions over the next few years and
make decisions when appropriate.
Director Blank said an idea being mulled over for a new program at the Plymouth Creek
Center is a Friday night dance, maybe once a month, for adults that don't like the bar
scene. We might get a dance instructor to come in and teach some dance steps for about
15-20 minutes prior to the dance. Commissioner Meyer thought it would be a good idea.
Others agreed that it sounded fun and should be tried.
c. Others. There were no other presentations.
4. PAST COUNCIL ACTION
Director Blank stated that the Council reappointed Commissioners Musliner and Anderson.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Millennium Garden Update. Council authorized staff to proceed with plans and
specifications. Architects are working on that, pulling together final details. The target
date to break ground is the latter half of May. Fundraising continues. People are buying
bricks everyday. The grandaughter of a mayor from 1953 wants to buy a bench to honor
him. We're still trying to raise as much cash as we can, along with in—kind services. At
next month's meeting, we may have the comprehensive plan consultant come in to do a
short presentation on the plan. Commissioner Singer asked about a draft report on the
chocolate tasting. What did vendors think of it? Are there any other fiundraisers planned?
Mary said the yard and garden expo is the next fundraiser. If people are not part of the
program, they will be asked to pay a $2 admission fee, or bring an item for the foodshelf.
Mary stated that we netted $3,000 from the Chocolate Sampler. There was a suggestion
to hold the Chocolate Sampler in February around Valentine's Day. If a "Friends of the
Garden" or some other type of garden support group gets involved in the Chocolate
Sampler, we could continue to have it in October. But if it must be planned and run by
park and recreation staff, October is a difficult month. Commissioner Singer likes the
timing of having it in the fall, due to weather and driving being more favorable than in
February. An afternoon English Tea is another idea Commissioner Singer likes. Mary has
mentioned to the caterer the possibility of a Mother's Day Tea. Director Blank said we're
excited about the "Friends of the Garden" idea. We may unveil this at the dedication or
shortly after. Commissioner Meyer asked about the Christmas Box Angel statue. She said
she sent the arboretum's policy on accepting donations to Director Blank. Director Blank
said we are working on our policy and that he forwarded that information to Karol. Karol
heads up a committee that is looking into developing guidelines on the types of art
appropriate for display in public places. Mary mentioned that Karol is interested in a
PRAC member being on this committee.
b. Comprehensive Plan update. Barry Warner, the consultant on the comprehensive plan,
may come to next month's meeting to make a presentation. The Northwest Greenway
will be discussed at that time as well. Director Blank said this is the number one item
PRAC will be discussing over the next year or so.
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c. Hilde Performance Center update. Director Blank said this is not moving along as quickly
as some had hoped. They have looked at three different concepts. Two are way over
budget and the third is barely at budget. Something will be submitted to the Planning
Department soon. Fifteen different agencies have to review the plan as part of the
Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW). Mr. Hilde will have to approve the final
plan, too. Director Blank hopes to have plans for PRAC to look at next month.
Commissioner Fiemann asked if the plan involves a building. Director Blank said it's
about 2,000 square feet in size. The Plymouth Civic League and their consultant are
overseeing this project.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Park and facility rental fees/policies for 2001. Director Blank explained that the fees and
policies for our various facilities need to be reviewed annually. He explained that we
don't rent very many softball fields, other than for tournaments. Rick Busch doesn't think
these prices need to change. Director Blank said the Bass Lake shelter fee has been the
same for a number of years. We think it's appropriate to raise that by a couple of dollars.
He stated that staff discovered that persons renting a canoe rack need a sticker to identify
their canoe. Last year we encountered a problem with an individual using a rental rack
without paying. Parkers Lake North Picnic Shelter rates will remain the same. Based on a
survey of surrounding communities, we have higher rates than others. We are proposing
to raise the fee for the Pavilion by $1 for the school district and $2 for all other groups.
The only change for renting the stages is to add a clause that school districts pay direct
costs only. This will be just a year long policy, because we expect to have the Hilde
Performance Center up by 2002. We added Hopkins as a surrounding community to the
Showmobile policy, because they would like to use it this summer for the Raspberry
Festival. Rick is working on policy changes and fees for the Plymouth Creek Center.
These will be reviewed at the February meeting. Commissioner Musliner asked about
hanging decorations at the Pavilion. The policy states that you cannot use tape, nails or
tacks, but the Bass Lake policy only mentions nails and tacks. Mary said you are not to
attach anything to the walls at the Pavilion, because the surface is similar to wallpaper,
but the walls at Bass Lake are concrete, so tape is permissable. COMMISSIONER
SINGER MOVED TO ADOPT THE 2001 PARK FACILITY FEES AND POLICIES
AS PRESENTED BY STAFF. COMMISSIONER THOMPSON SECONDED. ALL
AYES.
b. Review draft of 2000 annual report. Director Blank explained that this is required by City
Code. Commisioners should look it over and give any corrections to Nancy. We need an
updated letter from Chair Anderson. Director Blank then briefly reviewed each section of
the annual report. He said the highlights are not in any specific order. The bridge over
494 cost $380,000. Our share was $185,000. Director Blank asked Mary to explain how
we count beach attendance. Mary said we use the Jopherd system. She believes this
method involves counting people at the same time every day. Previously, we were doing
counts every hour or every two hours, so people were being counted more than once,
which inflated the numbers. Adult softball numbers continue to decline. This isn't just
happening in Plymouth. It's all over the metropolitan area. Sports bars run their own
leagues, and some players have switched to these leagues. Director Blank thinks adult
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sports enrollment numbers will rise again, but it will be because of soccer. Director
Fieman pointed out the tremendous growth in soccer over the last 10 years. Director
Blank said we're also looking at the growth of rugby and lacrosse. Groups have to be at
least 50% residents to use our facilities. Rick does statistics on the bubble using a
different time frame. Commissioner Wahl asked about indoor golf in the dome. Director
Blank said we offer it on Tuesday and Wednesday from 11-1. One of the better things
the City has done is offer a volunteer program explained Director Blank. He said that
Nancy Anderson works in every department of the City to find volunteers. There has
been a general amazement over the quality of the volunteers that help out in Plymouth.
Commissioner Singer said she uses our City as a model when speaking to other groups
that have volunteer programs. Director Blank said the numbers of high school hockey
attendees are not very impressive. Commissioner Fiemann asked how many we seat at
the ice arena. Director Blank said we seat 1,000 in the Olympic arena. The girls high
school hockey tournament is shown live from our arena over the Christmas holiday
weekend. The world championship was the highlight of the year for our figure skating
program. Director Blank said he would have Paul and Mark attend a future meeting to
discuss park maintenance. He explained that in the Environmental section of the annual
report court improvements should say hard courts. Park maintenance does a wonderful
job at special events. We contract with the State of Minnesota for the Institutional Work
Crew. They get paid $1.50 to $1.90 an hour. Part of this goes toward restitution. No sex
offenders are allowed in the program. Projects we would never have the manpower to do
get done by these crews. We have never had a major complaint about these workers.
Union problems did arise, but they have been worked out. Beat the Heat is a grant
program from the State.
The 2001 Work Plan was then discussed. The comprehensive plan would include the
Northwest Greenway and open space. Youth sports will continue to be listed in the Work
Plan, along with golf courses. Dog parks are causing problems in Minneapolis. Staff has
been collecting information on them. It's difficult to imagine the perfect place for this.
We should try to make some headway on this in 2001. Commissioner Wahl asked how
much space is needed for that. Director Blank said he didn't know, but estimated
probably an acre or two. Other items in the Work Plan include Art in the Park and the
policy on acceptable art, the Millennium Garden, the skate park, and the Hilde
Performance Center. We need to add a vision statement under the Millennium Garden.
Commissioner Thompson asked if it was too soon to add the Plymouth living farm.
Director Blank said it's not in the CIP yet. Director Blank said he's not certain anymore
if a third sheet of ice is necessary. Plymouth does already have three sheets, if you
consider that Central Middle School has one. Minnetonka is adding a third sheet.
Commissioner Fiemann said the Golden Valley Ice Center is coming down. Chair
Anderson said he read that Plymouth is the ninth largest city in Minnesota. Commissioner
Musliner wants to add to the highlights section something about the programming for
kids and other ages and the art classes that are offered at the Plymouth Creek Center.
Director Blank explained that this report needs to be adopted at the next meeting.
Commissioner Singer asked if the New Years Eve event was successful. Director Blank
felt that it was. He said we were trying to gauge whether the facility could handle what
we had planned, and we found out that they could. What Director Blank perceives
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happening is a family event held at LifeTime and the Ice Center and a teen event at the
Fieldhouse/Plymouth Creek Center. He prefers that registration be done in advance rather
than at the door. He thinks we could handle 400 at LifeTime and 300 at the
Fieldhouse/PCC. Mary said 150 attended the New Year's Eve event, but we lost money,
mainly because we had to pay a DeeJay, and it was a holiday.
The skate park grant is due next Tuesday. Director Blank will be going to the City
Council on January 23 for approval on three playgrounds, the skate park grant, and
permanent bathrooms at West Medicine Lake beach.
c. Recognize outgoing member Mark Wahl. Director Blank thanked Mark and said he'd
been on the Commission since 1991. He's helped out with a lot of projects, such as open
space, West Medicine Lake Park, the Ice Center, Plymouth Creek Center and Fieldhouse,
Elm Creek Playfield, and numerous others, not to mention that he's a tremendous
photographer. Mark said he's working on putting together a portfolio of park pictures that
he will bring back to PRAC when he's finished with it. Mark said he's had a great time
during the last 10 years and enjoyed working with the commissioners and staff
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
None.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
Kelli Slavik will not be our Council liaison in 2001. Sandra Hewitt is the new liaison from
the City Council, but she was unable to attend the January meeting due to a previous
commitment.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.