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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 10-13-2005MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING October 13, 2005 Page 1 PRESENT: Commissioner Aamoth, Davis, Griwac, Krahulec, Pederson; Planning Commissioner Weir; staff Evans, Lauer and Pederson; visitor Rachel Indihar from Benilde St. Margaret ABSENT: Commissioner Fiemann, Singer, Mohagen, Rezabek CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Krahulec called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Pederson moved and Davis seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the September meeting. 3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Athletic Associations. None were present at the meeting. b. Staff. Evans reported that Blank is home and doing very well. Evans introduced Lauer, one of our recreation supervisors, in charge of athletics, fields, sports programs, warming houses, etc. Lauer recapped summer programs. He runs multiple programs including daytime baseball, which had 500 kids; golf with 470 kids; tennis with 450, a new day -time soccer program that involved 150 kids. He runs a variety of youth camps, with over 1,000 kids involved in those. We recently wrapped up adult softball with 140 teams playing this year. A revamped flag football program was held this year with high school varsity players helping out. It was held on Sunday afternoons, with 120-130 kids participating. Once the dome goes up we will have several after-school programs — soccer, lacrosse, and flag football. The dome goes up on October 26 or 27. Fields are winding down now with the last weekend of use probably being October 21-23. Warming houses should open on December 17, weather permitting. A lot of programs are set up for winter break, including a soccer tournament in the dome. Several meetings with athletic associations take place over the winter. Lauer talked about the ripple effect of the Little League request, following a question by Commissioner Krahulec. Armstrong High School and Plymouth Middle School use these fields, so there will be some impact to those schools. Davis read an article in the paper of an effort by parents wanting to get away from Sunday programs. Lauer said he would stay away from mornings and afternoons, but overall he may need this day. He used Sundays for the flag football program, because he was using high school players as coaches, and this is when they were available. Evans said on the whole our department doesn't do a lot on Sundays. Most of our games and programs are Monday - Thursday. Aamoth's impression was that the article was aimed more at kids in youth athletic associations. Davis did not get that impression. He thought it was aimed at all youth activities. Rachel Indihar asked about the Plymouth Pandas and if they were disbanding their group. Evans said they are still going. Evans talked about the parade and autumn art fair on September 24. This is the first year they were combined, and all in all, it went well. We are now making plans for next year's event, which also will be combined. Other activities that day were the firefighters 5K Fun Run and the senior's pancake breakfast, which was the most successful they've had in years. Weir said the Ducks on Parade went well, too. It wasn't as good as previous years, but he estimated it took in about $27,000. Evans said there were about 100 units in the parade. The art fair may be moved next year to the Life Time parking lot, Evans said. We try not to infringe too much on Life Time space, but moving the art fair there might be the sensible thing to do logistically. Once the parade was over, most things moved to the Hilde area, and this hurt the art fair, because they were located on Plymouth Boulevard, farther away from the rest of the action. Davis mentioned that next year would be a political year, so there will likely be more units. Evans thought 25 more units could be there. Davis said there was a unit in the parade that looked like a tax man from Maple Grove. Evans said as long as it's a business and they pay the business fee, they can be in the parade. We're preparing for Halloween at the Creek, in partnership with community churches. It's a safe and fun alternative for trick or treaters. Davis said it's for ages 2 and up, but Evans said infants being carried by their parents all the way up to 12 & 13 year olds attend. Evans mentioned the sleepless sleep -out being held in the PCC lower level, which is backed by the Youth Advisory Council. Each teen will have to pay 100 to be involved, with the money going to Interfaith Outreach. There will be music and dancing going on in the Black Box from 8 to 11 p.m. The Mayor may come and speak at midnight. There will be movies shown after the dancing. Games will take place in the field house. The event begins at 7 p.m. and runs through 7 a.m. the next morning. In the coming months we will be talking about fees and rental policies. The Little League baseball request has been placed on hold for now due to Eric's absence and because we are still gathering facts and figures. Pederson wants all the displaced groups to be given an opportunity to speak on this issue and how it affects them. Krahulec asked where the golf programs are held. Lauer said at Parkers Lake and Begin Oaks. Parkers Lake has expanded a little and now includes a small course. c. Others. There were no other presentations. 4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION Evans had nothing to report on this. Davis asked about park and recreation paying for the reader board. That was our request Evans said. Right now there is a city ordinance against electronic reader boards, even though we do have one at the Ice Center. Park and Recreation is supporting this, because we have so many community events that we'd like to showcase on this electronic board. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. CIP Approval. Evans asked if there were any questions on the CIP. Pederson asked about Seven Greens. Evans said she doesn't know when we are going to have the dollars to do it. We're not taking in much money now. We won't be able to purchase the 10th playfield for awhile, so the money set aside for that has been moved to future years. The Begins have not responded to the city's offer. Evans said we may have to look at a new site for the 10th playfield. Evans said there have been several meetings on the process of the comprehensive plan. Everyone is on hold until the land use committee sees how that section of the community plays out. The park portion is pretty much in place, with a few minor changes. We're hoping by the end of this year that the land use piece will be established. DAVIS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CIP AS PRESENTED WITH THE CHANGES NOTED. PEDERSON SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED ALL AYES. b. Plymouth/New Hope Little League Baseball Request. This item will be carried over to future meetings. 6. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business to discuss. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION Davis said he saw something about Eden Prairie wanting to bond for some new parks and fields. Evans said we would be keeping an eye on that to see how it goes. 8. STAFF COMMUNICATION The November meeting will be at the Ice Center, possibly on Wednesday, the 9th We will keep commissioners informed, Evans said. 9. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.