HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 12-11-2003MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
December 11, 2003
Page 50
PRESENT: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Aamoth, Fiemann, Krahulec, Meyer,
Rezabek, Rodriguez, and Singer, staff Blank, Evans, and Pederson
ABSENT: Ritchie
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Anderson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. in the Council
Chambers.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Singer moved and Krahulec seconded a motion to approve the November
minutes. Motion carried with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. No athletic association representatives were
present at the meeting.
b. Staff. Evans stated that staff is spending a lot of time closing things out
for the year. We have begun work on the annual report. With this year's
report, we will highlight more of what the department does in the area
of adaptive recreation, arts, sports, etc., so it will look somewhat different
than in past years. Old Fashioned Christmas at the Plymouth Creek Park
was held Sunday, December 7th. It was co-sponsored by the Plymouth
Historical Society. Attendance was down with 250 people attending.
Evans thinks it was due to the warmer weather. Staff is now gearing up
for the New Years Around the World event, which is Wednesday,
December 31, from 6-9 pm, at LifeTime and the Ice Center. Evans talked
about the new 4 -color Plymouth Leisure Times and how she has
received favorable comments on it. Staff is already starting to plan next
summer's programs.
c. Others. There were no other presentations.
4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. Blank stated that the City Council approved the park rental fees and
policies as recommended by PRAC.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
PRAC Minutes/December 2003
Page 51
a. Update on Ice Center. Blank discussed the calendar of how things are
unfolding. We are right on schedule. Site plan application was made last
week to the Planning Department. A public hearing before the Planning
Commission is scheduled in January. The Council asked for a larger
lobby, so a new plan was drawn showing that. Blank said we have taken
steps to cover the additional cost of the expanded lobby and
concession area. We will soon be reviewing bid specs and then the
construction manager will get involved. Blank said we hope to award a
bid at the second Council meeting in February. Fiemann said the new
plan looks like you could get to the back side of the concession stand
when leaving the balcony area overlooking the new rink. Blank said no,
that's not possible.
b. Update on Plymouth Creek Center. Blank said we are out for bid on this
project now with a bid opening scheduled for January 6. We expect to
get the project going in February and hope to have it completed in
May.
c. 2004-2008 CIP. Blank said we have three major commitments next year -
the ice center, the 10th playfield, and the lower level of the Plymouth
Creek Center, all costing approximately $9,000,000. These are the
projects we are focusing on for the year 2004. He stated staff doesn't
have a good handle on how many building permits will be drawn in
2004 to reload the funds for 2005, so we're being somewhat cautious on
that year as well. Blank said we would be picking from the park
replacement fund to do some repairs. 2004 is our primary focus right
now, and it includes new trails on Lancaster Lane, a section along 36th
Ave connecting to New Hope, and a Nathan Lane trail request from
several residents living south of Highway 55. Other projects proposed are
replacing tennis courts at Ridgemount; beginning the replacement of
the irrigation system, starting with Oakwood, playground replacement at
Lions Park, a new warming house at Ridgemount; new picnic tables at
almost every neighborhood park, and new park monument entrance
signs at the playfields. Greenwood parking expansion is somewhat
questionable and may be held off awhile. Projects in 2005 include trails,
park replacement, trail and parking lot repair, new walls and plaza at
Zachary, replacing irrigation, and more park monument entrance signs.
Singer asked about funds for acquiring more open space. Blank said we
will have $700,000 for open space acquisition, but we don't have any
deals in the works right now. It doesn't show in our CIP, but funds are
available. Fiemann asked if we had heard anything from the Begins.
Blank said they responded that our offer wasn't high enough to
purchase their land. Projects in 2006 are trails, park replacement, new
larger neighborhood park in Seven Greens, trail and parking lot repair,
PRAC Minutes/December 2003
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irrigation replacement, and more park monument entrance signs. The
years 2007 and 2008 are very general and show trails, parking lot and
trail repair, park replacement, and irrigation, etc. FIEMANN MOVED TO
ACCEPT THE CIP AS PRESENTED BY STAFF AND FORWARD IT TO THE CITY
COUNCIL. SINGER SECONDED. Aamoth asked about the funds available
in the years 2007 and 2008 and wondered why the amounts are so
much less than the previous years. Blank explained it has to do with the
extension of sewer in northwest Plymouth and how much development
may or may not take place in those years. This determines how much
funding will be available in the park dedication account. Krahulec
asked about the status of Hampton Hills Golf Course. Blank said we keep
hearing rumors that it has been sold, but we haven't been able to
confirm that. We do know however that the golf course is closed. Chair
Anderson reminded commissioners that there was a motion on the table
to approve the CIP. MOTION CARRIED, ALL AYES.
6. NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business to discuss.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
Singer asked about the status of the Vietnam scout dog handler memorial.
Blank said we have no new information. He said he talked to Sonny Clark at
the City of Wayzata. Sonny said they have no memorials in their parks.
Fiemann said there are just a few plaques and flags. Meyer said the
plaques don't honor individuals specifically, but groups in general. Some of
the plaques tell of the history of the site, Fiemann said. Singer requested
that the minutes should reflect that the new Leisure Times is an outstanding
publication.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
None.
9. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.