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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 03-06-2003MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING March 6, 2003 Page 9 Present: Commissioners Anderson, Aamoth, Meyer, Rezabek, Krahulec, Singer; staff Blank, Evans, Pederson, Peterson, Councilmember Slavik, Mayor Johnson Absent: Commissioner Fiemann 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Anderson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. in the Medicine Lake Room. Don introduced Erik Aamoth, who has replaced Melissa Musliner, and then the rest of the commissioners introduced themselves. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Singer moved and Rezabek seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the February meeting. The motion carried with all ayes. 3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Athletic Associations. None were present. b. Staff. Evans reported that our department has been working on submitting an application for a national award through NRPA. She explained that the national association annually recognizes a park and recreation department in each population category, which says you are the nation's best in your particular category. Evans was very impressed with what she learned about Plymouth Park and Recreation as she prepared the application. Evans stated staff has been busy gearing up for summer. Nancy is working on putting together the brochure. Several events are coming up - Primavera starts Friday, April 11. We had 72 adult artists last year and 53 students. We anticipate similar numbers at this year's event. We are adding a poetry slam this year on Monday, the 14th. It will include teens and adults. Peterson and Evans have been working on the History Fest and the Yard and Garden Expo. Evans also stated that the net is up at the fieldhouse. This was installed to protect walkers from soccer balls that may come flying at them while they walk on the indoor track. 4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION a. Park CIP. The Council did a study session on all projects. We are starting on the Plymouth Creek garage, the trail on Nathan Lane, the skate park at Pilgrim United Methodist Church, and the dog park in Egan Park. PRAC Minutes/March 2003 Page 10 b. Study Session/Ice Center. The Council held a study session to meet with representatives from Wayzata Hockey and Providence Academy. Commissioners Singer and Fiemann attended. Director Blank presented a staff report on the ice arena. A formal letter from Providence was included. In it they offered one million dollars in funding toward the project. Wayzata Hockey said they could contribute $250,000. The Council has set another meeting with them for April 15. Providence Academy had the vice president from Kraus Anderson look at the third ice sheet plans, and he is optimistic that it will cost less than anticipated. Singer mentioned that money, parking and wetlands were the issues brought up. Her other concern is the fair and equitable use of the third ice sheet. Singer thinks Wayzata's numbers were a little optimistic. Director Blank stated that if we build a third ice sheet, we would have to meet code for parking. The question is do we go beyond it and if so, how far? We won't know the impact on the wetland until we do a study. Singer understands that Providence is putting in a big chunk of money, and they are asking for locker rooms for their use only. There are 10 locker rooms in the existing building, Blank said, eight of which are for community use. Meyer said PRAC hasn't seen any report on proposed use for a third sheet of ice. Abel has done a projection of how many hours would be sold. Rezabek asked for a copy of the report. Anderson asked where the money is coming from. Blank explained it may come from Providence Academy, Wayzata Youth Hockey, a revenue bond of $1.1 million, and maybe park dedication. Councilmember Slavik thinks the Council needs more information before making any decisions. Mayor Johnson has received 135 e-mails, and voice mails from Wayzata hockey people regarding this topic. The large majority of these have been in favor of it. She sees that the need is there. Johnson said the hockey enthusiasts have to convince the neighborhood around the ice arena. They need to meet with them and look into the issues regarding this project. Providence wants Council approval by June. More private funding would help this issue go farther. Wetlands are the big issue along with parking. Anderson asked how realistic is it that the Council could approve something by June? That's optimistic timing, at best, was the answer. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Dog Park - approve plan and rules. Blank explained that the Council gave us the green light to continue the planning for the dog park. The residents surrounding the site live on five and 10 acre parcels. They were informed of tonight's meeting, but no one attended, and no one called about it. Peterson has put together a plan and he presented it to PRAC. We have owned this piece of property for a long time, he said. There is an existing parking lot that would need some additional Class 5 gravel. Peterson showed where the high and low ground is on the site. A dog PRAC Minutes/March 2003 Page 11 park program was presented at the national parks conference. Encroachment is an issue, along with fencing. Ramsey County has several examples of dog parks, some fenced and some unfenced. Basically, the property would be unmaintained, other than the path leading to it. This deters the dogs from running off. Ramsey Co has had no complaints. We would opt for not fencing, at least initially. Peterson visited some dog park sites as part of his research. Many of the signs are already made, so we wouldn't have to pay for that. Dog owners would bring their own bags for picking up dog waste. The bulk of the work we would be doing is mowing the path, picking up the trash, signing the perimeter initially, upgrading the parking lot, bridging the marsh with a small boardwalk, 200' feet long. There would be a staging area with picnic tables, water jugs, etc. As people come across the boardwalk, there would be a sign about leash law, etc. They cannot take their dog off leash until they reach the staging area. Meyer asked how far it is around? Peterson did not know, but he said the property is 40 acres. There is a property owner who is mowing the property now, and he is fine with the idea of the dog park going in, Peterson said. Singer asked if what PRAC is to approve is a pilot project. Blank said yes. After a year, we would do some sort of follow up with the neighborhood. Someday we may replicate this in another park if it's successful. As northwest Plymouth develops this is still in the plans as a neighborhood park, so maybe 15 years from now we would reevaluate it for that purpose, Blank stated. Meyer likes the idea of not fencing it. She thinks this is a good location for a dog park. Meyer asked how the resident whose property is closest feels about it? Peterson thinks they are okay with it, because they haven't called us. Anderson questioned if staff had received favorable comments from people in other areas who have dog parks. Peterson and Blank said yes. Aamoth asked for the closest non - fenced dog park. Peterson thought there was one in Baker Park. Bloomington and Burnsville have them, too. MEYER MOVED AND REZABEK SECONDED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DOG PARK. MOTION CARRIED, AYES ALL. Mayor Johnson suggested we put a flyer in Petsmart, or at vet clinics to advertise it Krahulec asked when it would open. Peterson thought maybe in June. The boardwalk is the largest component involved. This will go back to the Council at their first meeting in April. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. View video from 2002 Gold Medal Award program. It was decided to postpone viewing the Gold Medal Award video until a later date. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION There was no commission presentation. The Board and Commission Recognition Dinner is Thursday, March 13. PRAC Minutes/March 2003 Page 12 8. STAFF COMMUNICATION The next meeting will be held on April 10. 9. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.