HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 10-09-2003MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
October 9, 2003
Page 40
PRESENT: Anderson, Aamoth, Fiemann, Krahulec, Meyer, Rezabek, Ritchie,
Rodriguez, Singer, Planning Commissioner Weir, staff Abel, Blank, Evans,
and Pederson
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Anderson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. in the Center Ice
Meeting Room.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Singer pointed out an error on page 33 of the September minutes regarding
the size of the lawn area in the Reserve park. It should have read 1/2 acre,
but it had been left blank. KRAHULEC MOVED AND SINGER SECONDED TO
APPROVE THE MINUTES WITH THAT CORRECTION. MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL
AYES.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. No athletic association representatives were
present at the meeting.
b. Staff. Evans talked about the success of Plymouth on Parade last
weekend. There were a total of 85 parade vehicles. Approximately 3,000
people attended the day's event. Following the parade, there were
activities at the Ice Center, LifeTime Fitness and at the amphitheater.
Next year the parade will be September 18 and combined with the
Autumn Arts Fair. Evans also mentioned the pancake breakfast held that
morning which is a fundraiser for the Plymouth Senior Program. Five
hundred people attended, which is an increase of 100 over last year.
Evans said staff is gearing up for next week's programs scheduled during
MEA. We are hosting our third Bridging the Gap event, a Gym, Swim &
Movie event, and the Little Costume Ball. On the 26th of October the
Rockers perform, their first concert of the season. The winter catalog will
be out in early December. It will look a little different this time, because
we are going to a four-color cover. Evans also pointed out that new on
our website is a virtual tour of the Plymouth Creek Center and Millennium
Garden. She stated we would do a virtual tour of the Ice Center in the
future and of the Fieldhouse. Evans recently visited the dog park and
reported that it is very popular. She reminded commissioners that on
October 28, the tobacco policy goes before the City Council.
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c. Others. See item 6a.
4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. Approved ice center architect contract. A contract was approved with
Ankeny Kell for a 6.9% fee on the estimated construction budget of
3,825,000.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Update on Ice Center. See item 6.b.
b. Update on Plymouth Creek Center. The finishing of the lower level is on
the Council agenda for next Tuesday night. The project is estimated to
cost $1,050,000 with four add alternates. We will use all park dedication
funds for this project. Blank would like to begin construction in late
January. Singer reminded commissioners that next Tuesday is also the
farewell reception for the city manager. Nineteen of the 20 Plymouth
Potpourri pictures have been sold. The proceeds help fund the
Millennium Garden.
c. Update on Reserve neighborhood park. The City Council approved the
concept plan. A playground structure was chosen and that is out for bid
now. Blank said he'd like to get the basic grading done this fall, and if
the weather holds, the playground could also be substantially
completed by November. We hope to have the entire park completed
by July of 2004. Krahulec asked about plans for traffic control on Schmidt
Lake Road coming out of the Reserve Park. Blank said he would check
with the engineering department on this.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Review Vietnam Scout Dog Memorial. Blank explained that Don and
Sue Johnson came to see him regarding a memorial bench in West
Medicine Lake Park that honors Johnson's brother, Dick. They now want
to add to that memorial, which they would pay for completely. Blank
explained that we have no war memorials in any of our parks at this
time. We have a plaque at the base of the flagpole at Parkers Lake
honoring all individuals who sacrificed their lives for the sake of peace.
The Johnson's distributed some color photos of the bench and a color
photograph of Dick Johnson with his Scout dog, Buck. They explained
that Don's brother served in Vietnam in the 60's. He became a scout
dog handler, and the dog's job was to sniff out the enemy. Mr. Johnson
said these scout dogs saved the lives of over 10,000 US soldiers. Mrs.
Johnson said we did a very bad job of welcoming home our soldiers
when the Vietnam War was over, and she feels this would be a nice way
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to honor the scout dogs and their handlers. After the war, scout dogs
had to be left behind, because there was fear of the spread of disease
contracted from Vietnamese dogs. Many of the German Shepherds
were destroyed at the end of the war. There are no memorials to these
dogs or their handlers. Mrs. Johnson said the bench is very popular.
People stop and put flowers on it during the winter holidays and on
Valentine's Day. The memorial would consist of a woodcarving next to
the bench and could include the inscription "this sculpture honors the
Vietnam Scout Dog and his US soldier handler whose efforts saved over
10,000 US soldiers' lives." Meyer asked about the size of the
woodcarving. Johnson said it would be life size, but the man would be
kneeling down next to the dog. Meyer questioned if it would be
permanent and seated in a concrete base. Blank said yes. Fiemann
asked how the woodcarvings weather. Blank said the ones in the
amphitheater are seven or eight years old and are still in good
condition. Rezabek asked about the sensitivity of the memorial and who
might object. Blank said it's hard to know how people will react. Blank
reminded commissioners that this area is where a major pavilion may
eventually be built. The bench that is there now may have to be moved
when that occurs. Ritchie asked if there have ever been any other
requests for memorials. Blank said there was a request two years ago for
an angel sculpture to be placed in the Millennium Garden honoring
children who have died. Anderson asked if the Johnson's had
approached anyone else about this memorial. They said no. Fiemann
said if we approve this it could set a precedent for other requests of this
nature. Anderson agreed with Fiemann. Krahulec asked how the bench
came to be. Blank said people can donate money to put in benches,
plaques, trees, etc. Rezabek said Noerenberg Gardens puts in benches
and trees as memorials. Fiemann believes it is a very nice idea. Meyer
asked about the park near Lund's on Wayzata Blvd. She believes that
entire park is a war memorial. The Johnson's said they want it to be in
West Medicine Lake Park, along side the bench. Rezabek suggested
that instead of a life size wood carving, maybe a plaque with the
appropriate wording and a carving of the dog on it would be more
suitable. Anderson said this request needs more thought before a final
decision could be made. Blank said we could do some more research
by checking with NRPA to see how other cities handle these requests. If
the memorial is approved, the Johnson's want it in place by next
Memorial Day, if possible.
b. Review Ice Center operations - Bill Abel. Abel distributed some statistics
on the ice center. He stated our ice center is one of the top six busiest in
the state, with only two sheets. He explained how we host both the high
school boys and girls hockey teams and the youth hockey teams from
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Wayzata and Armstrong. Both high schools have their own locker rooms,
coaches' rooms and equipment storage rooms at the Ice Center. The
Olympic ice sheet seats 1,000 people and has standing room for an
additional 400. The parking lot can accommodate 730 cars. In 2002,
3,414 hours were used on the Olympic sheet. Between the Olympic and
Professional ice sheets, an average of 18.5 hours is used every day.
About 9,000 people have attended public skating sessions this year
through Sept. 30. The concession stand has generated over $50,000 in
revenue through the end of September. Vending machines have
generated $20,000. Our Learn to Skate school has 600 children
participating and receives revenue of $90,000. It costs about $530 per
day in gas and electricity. From mid June to mid August, Abel said he
has to turn people away, because the facility is so busy. Blank explained
that it is Abel's job to operate the ice center as a business. No tax dollars
are used to operate this facility on a day-to-day basis. In order to meet
our future obligations we need to set aside $95,000 per year to run this
facility. This building has never been shut down in six years for anything
other than to close a rink for resurfacing. This facility will be a million
dollar annual operation once the third sheet is up and running. The
number one things we do here is make and sell ice. This is one of the
cleanest facilities in the country, Blank said. Krahulec asked what our
share is of commissions. Abel said 50% comes from games, 35% from
candy and food, and 30% from pop. Coke comes in three times a week
to fill the pop machines. When we don't have enough spectators in the
building to open the concession stand, Abel said people use the
vending machines. Blank said commissioners can take a tour of the
building following the meeting. Blank then talked about the figure
skating program and how its structure has changed over the years. The
position of Skating School Director was recently terminated and has
been replaced by two coordinators supervising the 15 instructors. Blank
said that our commitment to the female skaters continues to be strong
and that we are very proud of the accomplishments of the Figure
Skating program. In their third year at the Ice Center they won the 2000
ISI World Championship. Blank then spent some time going over the
plans for the addition of a third sheet of ice. Rezabek asked how we
figure out how much parking will be needed. Blank explained that one
parking stall is allowed per every four seats, according to the city
ordinance. We will meet that code when the third sheet is added and
the parking lot is expanded. Blank said we have negotiated a contract
with Providence Academy. They have to buy 225 hours from October 1
to the end of March for 15 years. They can buy more, but not less. They
will give us $500,000 cash up front plus another $500,000 five months
later. We are negotiating with Wayzata Hockey as well. We need to go
back to the City Council with a concept plan that all parties agree to, a
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budget, a cost estimate, and signed contracts with all parties. The
architects would then begin preparing detailed construction
documents, followed by an award of bid in Late January or early
February. Site work could begin sometime in April. We would try to have
the project substantially completed by mid to late November. Fiemann
said that he volunteers time with the Wayzata Hockey Association. He
explained that they started a Mites program for girls and that the
program has grown considerably in just two years time.
c. Review outdoor rink locations for the 2003-2004 winter season. Blank
explained how pleasure skating rinks were everywhere when he started
back in 1980, every pond and every small park seemed to have one. We
have maintained 30 sheets of ice over the last 10 years. Our parks crews
also help clear streets, trails, parking lots, etc., before they get to
maintain outdoor ice. These smaller rinks have seen fewer and fewer
hours of maintenance. Sometimes crews could only get to a rink three or
four times during the entire winter season. A decision needs to be made
about possibly closing some of these smaller rinks that are not used as
much as the larger rinks that have warming houses. Our volunteer
coordinator secured two individuals last winter to document
attendance at two of these smaller neighborhood rinks, Green Oaks and
Pilgrim Lane. Attendance was taken twice a day for three weeks. At
Green Oaks, only three people were observed skating during that three-
week period. Pilgrim Lane's attendance was better, but still
disappointing. All of these smaller rinks are in close proximity to larger
rinks with warming houses. Any maintenance hours saved by closing
smaller rinks may be added to the larger rinks. Blank is recommending
the closure of some of the less popular rinks, specifically Circle, Kilmer,
Pilgrim Lane, Sunset Hill & Green Oaks. Rezabek agreed. REZABEK
MOVED TO CLOSE THE FIVE RINKS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF ON THE LIST
OF NINE PLEASURE SKATING RINKS. MEYER SECONDED. FIEMANN
AMENDED TO REQUEST A FOLLOW UP EVALUATION ON THOSE
REMAINING FOUR RINKS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE MAINTAINED.
MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
Krahulec asked if the memorial request would be discussed again at
another meeting. Blank said staff can pose a question at the NRPA website
on how memorial requests are handled by other cities and bring the
findings to the November meeting.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
None.
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ADJOURN
Meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.