HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 11-10-2004MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
November 10, 2004
Page 34
PRESENT: Commissioners Davis, Griwac, Pederson, Rezabek, Rodriguez, Singer, and
Councilmember Slavik, staff Abel, Blank, Evans and Pederson
ABSENT: Aamoth, Fiemann, and Krahulec
CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chair Singer called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. in the Ice Center's Center
Ice Meeting Room. Introductions were made since no meeting was held in October,
and we had a couple of new members who hadn't had the opportunity to meet other
commissioners.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Rezabek made a motion to approve the September minutes; Davis seconded.
Motion carried with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. Greg Gibson, Wayzata Hockey, was present.
b. Staff. Evans updated the commission on a number of things. She stated staff
was working on the winter/spring brochure. In 2005 we'll be celebrating our 25th
anniversary as a department, so the brochures will feature some highlights from
the past. We are also gearing up for the winter warming house season. Dan
Lauer, recreation supervisor in charge of athletics, will make a presentation at a
future meeting on his programs. A few teen events have been held at the lower
level of the Plymouth Creek Center. We've been averaging 125 people at the
Plugged In" events. "Open Mic Night" didn't go as well as hoped for its first time,
but it was in direct competition with another teen event. A week ago, we held our
Little Costume Ball at the Plymouth Creek Center. It was very well attended.
Over 200 registered in advance this time, plus 50 showed up at the door. Over
300 attended this year's Volunteer Recognition Event. Halloween at the Creek
was very successful with approximately 800 in attendance. We collaborated with
five or six community churches to offer a safe alternative to Halloween. We are
already discussing an event for next year. A Veterans Day continental breakfast
was held at the Plymouth Creek Center honoring veterans. A speaker talked
about Pearl Harbor. Singer thought 110 attended. We're getting ready for Old
Fashioned Christmas Sunday, December 5. Evans explained where this park is
for the benefit of the newest commissioners. We partner with the Historical
Society for this event. The event features musical entertainment, a storyteller, a
visit with Santa, horse drawn hayrides, craft activities, and refreshments. We're
also working on the New Year's Eve event, Fire & Ice, the History Fest, the Yard
and Garden Expo, and Primavera. Blank stated that we did not win the Gold
Medal award this year. Schaumburg, Illinois, won. It seems like it takes at least
PRAC Minutes/ November 2004
Page 35
three years of entering to win. Davis asked about New Year's Around the World.
Evans and Blank explained that we celebrate New Year's at 7, 8 & 9 from
different countries.
4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
Council approved the capital improvement budget for 2005 to `09. There is some
interest in putting in a parking lot at Greenwood, which would be shared between
the city and the school district. This is a $50,000 item, Blank said.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
There was no unfinished business to report.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Review facility policies and fees for 2005. Evans discussed the fees for the
various facilities that parks and recreation operates. Most fees were adjusted in
either 2003 or 2004, so we don't feel there is a need to make any fee changes at
this time. The Millennium Garden and the Plymouth Creek Center fees are
included in the packet for information purposes only. Those fees were adjusted
in April. Lifetime members get free use of the open skating sessions. Evans
reviewed the number of rentals that took place in 2004 at our various facilities.
We are putting our tobacco free policy and logo on all of our rental policies and
forms. Rezabek asked about the rentals at the Millennium Garden. Evans said
we had 26 or 27 weddings at the garden. Davis asked about the general purpose
of rental fees. Blank said it is to offset costs and is a small revenue source. Each
facility is a little different. At Parkers Lake we recoup the cost of the building
attendant. We rent one picnic shelter; others are on a first come, first serve
basis. At the Parkers Lake North picnic shelter, we have maintenance crews
come in and clean up between rentals. All of the rental fees collected go into the
city's general fund. RODRIGUEZ MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RENTAL
POLICIES AND FEES AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF, REZABEK
SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED, ALL AYES.
b. Review of ice center operations and tour of facility — Bill Abel. Blank explained
that he likes to get the commission to each of our major facilities on an annual
basis. With the new ice rink, this facility will exceed a million dollar business. This
is an enterprise fund. This facility is not to receive any tax dollar support, Blank
said. We are setting aside a trust fund, an interest bearing account for this
facility, to cover replacement costs, repair costs, etc. The new rink will carry debt
of about $1.5 million, which we hope to pay off in 15 years. We opened this
facility in June of 1997. We have made net profits every year. Expenses revolved
mostly around energy costs. Gibson asked about the money we are generating
in revenue. The revenue generated stays in the ice center fund. It does not go to
the general fund. We spent $250,000 of our reserves to get a new
dehumidification system. We set our rates based on what the city's financial
analyst recommends. Our goal is to have rates that sustain the building. Abel
stated that we vary in revenue from year to year $30,000 to $40,000. We
PRAC Minutes/ November 2004
Page 36
currently have between 300,000 to 350,000 visitors yearly. Abel listed a number
of interesting statistics on ice use, temporary concession wages, concession
sales, and vending machine sales. He indicated that the ice center has 14 miles
of refrigerant pipe, ten locker rooms, one figure skating room with mirrored walls
and ballet bars, offices, meeting rooms, upper and lower level lobbies, upstairs
concessions, restrooms on both levels, and vending machines on both levels.
The Ice Center is home to the Wayzata and Armstrong high school hockey
teams as well as the youth hockey teams. Both schools have their own locker
rooms, coaches' rooms, and equipment rooms. The Olympic sheet has seating
for 1,000 people and standing room for an additional 370. The Zamboni's drive
2.5 hours every day resurfacing the ice. On average, 18.5 hours of ice was used
every day in 2003. Nine thousand people attended public skating sessions in
2003. About 5,000 of those were paid admissions, with the remaining 4,000
being non -paid LifeTime members. Our figure skating program has 500 kids
skating and brings in revenue of approximately $80,000. The third ice sheet is
scheduled to open between Thanksgiving and December 4. This is a
professional size rink. Total square footage is 35,000. The new facility will be
host to Providence Academy boys' high school team and the Wayzata Youth
Hockey Association. Our concession stand will now be open daily with the
addition of this third sheet of ice. It will have a lobby area with cafe style seating
and wireless service for laptop computer users. Abel explained how the meeting
rooms are used and by what groups. Rooms are also booked for birthday
parties. We have two to three of those per week. Rent of $50 is charged for the
meeting room, and this includes 1.25 hours of skating for 12 kids. Providence will
get to use the ice for practice purposes until 6 p.m. After that youth hockey gets
to take over the ice. All three sheets will generate over a million dollars in
revenue. With the addition of the third ice sheet, we will have over 118,000
square feet and over 20 miles of refrigerant piping. There will be three battery-
operated Zamboni's. There will be enough parking for 900 cars, Blank said. We
ranked about third in the state for revenue produced and hours of use. We are
behind Braemar and Bloomington. With the third ice sheet, we will become the
number one ice facility in the state. Our Zamboni's ad space has been sold to
Denny Hecker, along with six board spaces for advertising purposes. We have
also recouped money from Coca-Cola. Our contract with Coke paid for the floor
in the third sheet. Blank then discussed the construction process. There were
some delays in the beginning, but we are now back on track. If everything works
out, we should be open by Thanksgiving. We hope to have all of the construction
out of the main arena by next Friday. They will still be working on the lobby and
concession stand. We may turn compressors on next Thursday to test them.
We'll allow 40-50 hours of compressor time to draw heat out of the building. We
still need to have an occupancy permit, however, in order to open officially. Blank
said this is the best project he's worked on to date. Abel talked about a few other
minor issues that still need to be resolved. Abel said the facility is booked seven
days a week now, with the third sheet. The facility is closed only a few hours a
day. The tentative date for a grand opening is December 4, Abel said. We may
PRAC Minutes/ November 2004
Page 37
have to push this off a week or two. An e-mail will be sent to commissioners
when we have a date confirmed.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
Rezabek asked about the snowmobile parking lot issue. Blank did not have anything
new to report on that.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
Blank distributed some information about Bob's Sleep Out, to raise awareness
regarding the homeless problem in our community. The Mayor will begin her Sleep
Out in conjunction with Bob's Sleep Out. Blank said the city donated the use of the
Plymouth Creek Center last Saturday for a clothing sale to raise money for Interfaith
Outreach, which raised $17,000. In a span of four days, several different large
groups used the Plymouth Creek Center, demonstrating just how diverse that facility
is. Abel said we generate $2 million to the local economy when we have
tournaments, etc. It's good for the hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations,
and other merchants. Maps are given to all tournament participants, spectators, etc.,
showing all the restaurants available in the area plus other items that may be of
interest to them.
9. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 pm.