HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 12-08-2005MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
December 8, 2005
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PRESENT: Commissioners Aamoth, Fiemann, Davis, Griwac, Krahulec, Singer; staff
Blank, Evans, Pederson
ABSENT: Commissioners Rezabek, Mohagen, and Pederson
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Fiemann called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Singer moved and Davis seconded a motion to approve the November minutes.
Motion carried all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None were present at the meeting.
b. Staff. Evans discussed Old Fashioned Christmas, held on Sunday, December
4. Between 300 and 400 people showed up for the event. We are now gearing
up for the New Year's Around the World event on December 31 from 6-9 pm at
Life Time Fitness and the Ice Center. We still need volunteers. Evans shared a
copy of the December issue of the Leisure Times with the commissioners.
We're beginning to plan for summer programs. Staff is working on the annual
report. We are also working with the communities of Roseville, New Brighton
and others researching a public art policy that will meet the needs of each
community. Once a draft plan is available, it will be shared with PRAC.
Krahulec said that Deephaven is working on a similar policy and he suggested
we contact them, too. Evans asked for commissioners to volunteer again for the
bonfire supervision at the Fire & Ice Festival. A sign up sheet was passed
around. Davis asked about the cancellation of the Sleepless Sleepout. Evans
said only five people signed up. Krahulec complimented staff on the Leisure
Times and said it's a first rate publication.
c. Others. There were no other presentations.
4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. Approved facility rental fees and policies for 2006. Rental fees were passed by
the Council with no changes or corrections. Blank discussed staff's proposal to
offer events at the Hilde that would be run by outside promoters. The Council
did not like the idea enough to give it the go ahead for now. The Council does
agree that the Hilde is under used and directed staff to find some bigger and
better events to hold there. The crowd size that staff is shooting for is
somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 people. The budget for events like this
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would need to be increased in order to draw groups that would attract a large
audience. Aamoth asked what the City Council found objectionable about the
idea. Blank said noise — music and crowd noise - as well as traffic issues were
the main concerns. We will continue to look for a middle ground event that
wouldn't overcome the parking availability and that wouldn't create too much
noise to offend anyone, etc. Evans said the Council wants us to be able to do
events, so staff will continue to work on this. We would use snow fence to fence
off the area to keep non -ticket holders out. Fiemann said he really likes the idea
of doing larger musical events at the Hilde. He feels there are a lot of concert
groups out there that would be accepted by the community. Blank said we
might be able to get something organized by 2007, but it's not likely that
anything will occur in 2006.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Plymouth/New Hope Little League Baseball request. Blank re -introduced Brian
Johnson, President of the Plymouth/New Hope Little League. He then
displayed a schematic of the Zachary Playfield and explained the field layout.
The Little League's original request was for three all -grass infields. We have
now reached an agreement with them where they will still get three fields, but
only two of them will be grass infields, while the third will remain an ag-lime
infield. This allows the Armstrong girls' fast pitch team to keep two skinned
infields for their use, as well as allowing park and recreation programs
continued use of the fields. The new plan meets the Little League's needs, our
needs long term, Armstrong's needs long-term, and it meets our maintenance
abilities. The estimated cost for the playfield upgrade is approximately
436,000 according to the consultant. The irrigation upgrade comes to
168,000 and the parking upgrade comes to approximately $48,000, making
the whole upgrade total $652,000. The City's cost after the Little League's
contribution of $250,000 comes to $402,000, which is well within the $455,000
originally budgeted for improvements to Zachary. It makes sense now that the
dollars we are using come from the park replacement fund for things above and
beyond normal maintenance. Blank said it's a good use of our money to turn
this complex into a modern-day youth baseball facility. These changes will last
for at least 25 years. Brian Johnson likes the plan. He feels that everyone wins
with this deal. Fiemann said the deal breaker for him was being able to
accommodate Armstrong girls, and since that's being done, he's on board with
the plan. Blank said we have three plans for parking. We can add 24-48 more
parking stalls, and he feels it will be an even better parking situation. The
parking situation was difficult before, so solving that is also a benefit. Singer
asked if this budget includes the parking. Blank said it does. Fiemann asked by
what date does the Little League need to have their money raised. Blank said
this hasn't been decided yet. We'll spend money on designing in February and
March and get a bid package ready to go. We will actually have a written
agreement with the Little League that will address the funding and their use of
the park. Fiemann asked about a concession stand. Blank said there wouldn't
be a building there for a while. We will have sewer and water lines that will run
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to a location for a building in the future. A concession building would probably
cost about $250,000. We will do all of the maintenance here, just like we do
with all of our other playfields, Blank said. This plan is cheaper to do than
building the retaining wall. SINGER MOVED TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL AS
PRESENTED, AND, FURTHER, THAT THE FINANCIAL PLAN ALSO BE
APPROVED AS PRESENTED. DAVIS SECONDED. Davis agrees that this is a
very good plan. Krahulec is concerned about the lights. Blank explained where
the light poles will be located and how moving some will work out. It won't be
the greatest lighting situation, but the Little League understands and accepts
this. Blank said upgrades to the lighting situation could be addressed at a later
date. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. Brian Johnson was very
grateful and thanked everyone for approving the plan.
b. Comp Plan update. The council and planning commission have held two joint
meetings, both well attended. The Council looked at a lot of demographic
housing issues. Three different scenarios of land use guiding will be done. The
plan is to have the land use guiding done by June of 2006. During the next
meeting on Monday, the public will have their turn to speak up. Evans and
Blank have been talking about the bikeway issue. We have installed 8 -foot bike
lanes on both sides of Schmidt Lake Road, and this has been a great success.
Some time in January or February, we're going to put the word out that we want
to hear from bicyclists who bike to work. Fiemann asked about the 10th
playfield. Blank said that Councilmember Black is asking the Council to study
holding a referendum on this. The park dedication fund was set up to build a
park system, not a greenway. There's going to be a cash gap that will have to
be addressed. The next logical time for a referendum is next November. We
can either do a written mailed ballot mid -year or do one during the next general
election. Council will have a work session sometime in January or February. A
community survey was done last year, Evans said. Residents are concerned
with preserving open space. Preserving open space and maintaining the rural
character are the two top interests. Blank's concern is that there is a small
number of people living in northwest Plymouth who may be dictating the
lifestyle of the 10,000 people that will be living there in the future. Singer
mentioned that there is a senior biking club. Blank said that they would be
invited to that bike group meeting as well. When people talk about open space,
are they talking about the
10th playfield and the Greenway, Fiemann asked?
Blank said there's no way to know exactly what they mean. From a park
commission perspective, Fiemann knows what strains there are on the
playfields, regardless of their use, whether it's soccer, lacrosse, baseball, etc.,
but he also loves the Northwest Greenway. Eden Prairie passed three of their
four referendums and Woodbury passed one as well. Aamoth asked if we stick
with open space, does this affect the park dedication fund? Blank said we
raised our fees for 2006 to help increase that fund. Blank said we would keep
the commission informed as the comp plan progresses.
6. NEW BUSINESS
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a. Brainstorm goals for next year. Some goals for next year include the comp
plan, a public art policy, park use policies and ordinances. Singer wants to
survey our tobacco use policy. Is it working? Blank suggested asking park
maintenance if they're picking up less cigarette butts. Evans said we've handed
out little business type cards advertising that we're a smoke free organization.
Fiemann asked about developing a policy on the use of the Hilde. Blank said
we have a policy in place now for community use. Blank said maybe the goal
ought to be discussing, at the commission level, what the use of the Hilde
should be and how to get bigger events in there. Singer asked if the
Commission should be addressing goals for recreation. Evans said we're
holding the state conference next year, so that is one of our goals. Something
the Commission could look at is our inclusion/adaptive program, Evans said.
We partnered with the Thunder Soccer Camp this past summer, and we
learned at the last minute that one of the kids that signed up through them had
a fatal peanut allergy. We had to do a lot of last minute prep to make sure that
all kids attending knew the regulations that no snacks containing peanuts or
peanut products are allowed to be brought to the camp. We have a lot of kids
attending our programs who have serious allergies, and other medical issues
like ADHD. Fiemann asked if one the goals should be an energy audit to help
reduce expenses. Blank said we could give PRAC a report on this. Davis said
we could see if there is a big change from year to year. We have athletic
associations that want to practice under the lights in May. Blank said we don't
permit that, as a way to conserve energy. Singer mentioned the Edina Task
Force that will be studying the issue of how to schedule their facilities in a fair
manner, so that all groups are treated equally, rather than traveling teams
getting more use than non -traveling. The Golden Valley park director recently
contacted us asking how we handle this. Blank said we don't decide based on
skill level, but rather on the number of kids using the facility. Fields are
assigned based on the numbers needing the space. Singer mentioned that
Paul Bierman is a proponent of the legislature handling this matter.
Commissioners agreed that is a very scary thought. Our policy has been that if
you have a group consisting of at least 50% Plymouth kids, we'll find a place for
your group. Aamoth said this is another reason to add the 10th
playfield.
Blank said we'd have a list of goals in January for PRAC to review. Fiemann
asked about tile at the ice center. The lowest quote is $38,000 Blank said.
When we close the books on the construction of the ice center, we'll be about
40,000 over budget. We will be re -carpeting the Center Ice meeting room. In
the Blue Line room, we may remove the carpet and install tile, because this
room gets a lot of use and wear and tear. Davis asked about commissioner
terms ending in January. Blank said the Council is reappointing Ellie, Ron and
Seth, so everyone now on the commission will remain.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
None.
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STAFF COMMUNICATION
None.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:22 pm.