HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 07-13-2006MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
July 13, 2006
PRESENT: Commissioners Davis, Fiemann, Krahulec, Pederson, Singer; Planning
Commissioner Anderson, staff Blank, Busch, Mittelstaedt, Pederson
ABSENT: Commissioners Aamoth, Griwac, Mohagen, Rezabek
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:12 pm.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Singer moved and Davis seconded a motion to approve the June minutes. Motion
carried all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None were present at the meeting.
b. Staff. Blank discussed Music in Plymouth. He said the crowd was estimated at
15,000. He felt it was the best Music in Plymouth event ever held. The goal this
year was to end at 10:30, because we had complaints last year that the fireworks
didn't end until 11. With that in mind it was decided to eliminate the firing of the
cannon. By doing that the event was over at 10:34 p.m. Governor Pawlenty
attended this year's program and spoke briefly to the crowd. Blank said all
departments are now working on their 2007 budgets. Blank stated that Park and
Recreation is hosting the Minnesota Recreation and Parks Association (MRPA)
conference in November at the Plymouth Creek Center and the Radisson Hotel.
Blank is the chair of the event, but Evans is doing most of the work, he said. This
year we are trying to create a paperless conference. All attendees will leave with
a CD containing all the presentations of the conference. Blank mentioned that
mowing has been cut back due to the heat. It normally takes four to five days for
the entire park system to be mowed.
c. Others. There were no other presentations.
4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. Awarded bid for Zachary Playfield upgrade. Council awarded a bid for the
Zachary playfield upgrade. They've started moving the fencing. The Little League
has contributed $100,000 so far, but they still owe $150,000. There is a $61,000
contingency on the project.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Update on comp plan. A final plan has been approved. Blank distributed copies
of the plan. The plan hasn't gone to the Met Council yet. The Met Council could
send it back for changes if they aren't satisfied with it. The parks are spaced
geographically Blank said. The location of the parks was predetermined in the
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Page 2
2000 comprehensive plan. The style of the parks may change depending on the
density in the area. We'll start to look more closely now at the Northwest
Greenway, Blank said. One meeting was held with the Saddle Club. They are
supposed to provide a written description of their needs. Singer asked about
moving Peony Lane. Eric said the location is signified on the map in orange. The
park dedication rate was raised to $5,000 from $4,000. Maple Grove charges
5,500 per unit. Consultants will be hired to look at sewer and water and street
plans.
b. Review Parks CIP Financial Plan. This is the document the finance department
put together on the build -out of the park system, Blank explained. His plan is that
when the last house is built in Plymouth, we should be done building parks. Our
number one resource for money is park dedication. The range on this plan is
2,800 units to 5,300 units at $5,000 per unit. There was never a revenue stream
to buy and build the Northwest Greenway, Blank explained. The park dedication
fund was primarily put in place to build neighborhood parks, community parks,
and playfields. We need to buy the land now that will be needed for the
Northwest Greenway, but we don't have the funds at this time. The way to solve
this problem is to hold a referendum. The community survey came back with a
very positive outlook. The majority of the respondents are in favor of purchasing
open space. The consultant is going to meet with the Council on July 27 to
interpret the results of the survey. If there is going to be a referendum this year,
we have to notify the County by September 15. For a $7 million dollar bond
referendum we'd have the funds we need to buy and maybe develop the
Greenway. If the Council chooses not to do it this year, we may be able to do a
referendum in 2007. Krahulec was concerned about the validity of such a survey.
When a similar survey was done in Golden Valley, he said the results were
positive, but then the referendum failed.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Review Plymouth Creek Center Operations. Blank said the purpose of tonight's
meeting is to get an overview of the Plymouth Creek Center and the senior
program. Sara Mittelstaedt is the senior program coordinator. We may have the
largest senior program in the state, other than Minneapolis and St. Paul,
according to Senior Community Services. We had 170 people attend the 90+
birthday party. Thirty-five of them were over 90 years old, Mittelstaedt said.
Busch welcomed PRAC. He explained that the Plymouth Creek Center opened in
the spring of 2000. They employ a full time rental coordinator, full time clerical
person who works with the seniors primarily, a half time receptionist who works
Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and another part-time clerical
person who relieves the full-time clerical person when she's on vacation, etc.
There is a also full time maintenance person. We have a volunteer who drops in
and does surprise inspections at the Plymouth Creek Center and the Ice Center.
The Plymouth Creek Center had an inspection about a month ago that went
really well. Busch explained that they have a second 7 -month seasonal
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Page 3
maintenance person who works Tuesday through Saturday. When they finish in
October, then a full time maintenance person comes over from the city's
maintenance division, who works over the winter months. There are other
contractual cleaners who come in to clean part-time. They are mentally
challenged individuals, and they do a great job. They get along very well with the
staff and the public. There is another individual who works with senior housing
issues. She works about 20 hours a week. There are a wide variety of programs
offered at the Plymouth Creek Center. The revenue coming in is mostly from
weddings, Busch stated. The rest of the time is taken by recreation programs,
athletic organizations, nonprofit organizations, community groups, etc. After the
recreation programmers and the senior programmer get all of their programs
booked, then the time that is left is open to other groups. Fifty-three weddings are
scheduled from now through December. Residents get to book 18 months in
advance of their event, non-residents 12 months in advance. Other events
include things like bar mitzvahs, bat mitzvahs, etc. The Black Box Theater is
booked quite often. Rehearsals are being held currently in the Black Box for the
Sound of Music." The performances will be held at the Central Middle School
auditorium. The teen groups also use the Black Box. The Thursday night banquet
for the MRPA state conference will be held in the Plymouth Room, as well as the
conference sessions. Approximately 300 people will attend that conference,
which is November 14-17. The Three Rivers Park District is co -hosting the event
with Plymouth Parks and Recreation. Semi-annually Busch goes through the
number of rentals held in each room. The philosophy of the Plymouth Creek
Center is that it is to be used primarily by community groups. The rental that is
derived comes mostly on the weekends. The Plymouth Creek Center is part of
the general fund.
Busch distributed copies of the annual report of the fieldhouse. The fieldhouse is
an enterprise fund, he stated. It is starting its 8th season in November.
Expenditures are about $200,000 a year, including a portion of staff salaries. The
fieldhouse takes in about $300,000 a year, netting $100,000 which goes into an
escrow fund to replace the turf and roof. The roof is in very good shape. The turf
was replaced once already, because it was slightly defective. There are about a
half dozen similar facilities in the metro area, Busch stated. Our rates are very
reasonable comparatively. The soccer groups rent about 50% of the available
time. The next biggest user is lacrosse. A girls fast pitch league plays in the
fieldhouse on Sunday evenings. A golf range is open a couple of afternoons a
week in the dome. The walking track is open daily and is free for everyone. For
both the activity center and fieldhouse rental rates are reviewed and raised
accordingly every other year, rather than yearly. We need to look at rates 18
months in advance, because that's how far out it can be reserved.
Busch explained that the primary function of the building was to be a senior
center. Mittelstaedt talked about the senior newsletter, the Grapevine, which
comes out every other month. The plan is to put the Grapevine on the city
website eventually. Right now 1,600 copies are mailed out. The list was purged
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Page 4
down to 700 about a year ago, but that number climbed right back to where it is
now. Plymouth has a lot more focus groups than any other senior program.
Some focus groups are the tennis club, woodcarvers club, card groups, etc. An
event coming up that everyone looks forward to is Pie Day. "Home made" pies
are baked right at the center and are sold by the slice. This is a fundraiser for the
senior program. This year it will include a craft sale and a used book sale. The
summer picnic was held July 13, indoors, because it was too hot outside.
Another event coming up is the fall Kickoff. This was originally set up to acquaint
people with the lower level. This year's event will be similar to last year's. Now
it's held mostly to showcase the programs held at the Plymouth Creek Center for
the seniors. Blank asked Mittelstaedt to explain more about some of the various
clubs that meet regularly. The Men's Club started with six men, and it has now
grown to 80 that receive their mailing. They go on outings like golfing and fishing,
and they're very involved in the pancake breakfast. The Storytime Players is a
performing group which has been in existence for nine years. They read stories
to the elementary school children in the Wayzata School District. The Plymouth
Pedalers is a huge group that bicycles to various places. Warm Up Minnesota is
a service project that has been going for 10 years. They started out meeting at
Vision of Glory church. Their members knit squares that are turned into quilts and
are then given to Interfaith Outreach. The Fall Focus program will be
concentrating on American history this year. Mittelstaedt said about 2,000
seniors participate regularly in senior programs. Busch said the biggest reason
for the phenomenal growth in the senior program is due to Mittelstaedt. Blank
then asked her to talk a little about the Senior Council. Mittelstaedt said there are
12 people on the Senior Council. They meet once every other month. Their terms
are two years. They help with the fundraisers and act in an advisory capacity to
her. Pederson asked about the seniors' concerns. Mittelstaedt said one is
transportation. Others are access to the park system, and terrain of the paths,
etc. More things need to be done to attract the younger senior, the 55+ group.
Mittelstaedt said she tried to get a focus group started to discuss some ideas, but
it didn't go over. It was assumed people were probably too busy.
Busch talked about the Plymouth Creek Center's caterer who is exclusive to this
building. Suzanne's Catering came from Maplewood Community Center. We
receive a percentage of all liquor and food sales from the caterer. Our
percentage from food sales is 8% on weekdays, and 12% on weekends. We
receive 25% from liquor sales. Over the past seven years, Suzanne's has
received a 95 percent approval rating from the groups it has served at the
Plymouth Creek Center. We have an open ended contract with them. It could
take up 18 months to get out of that contract, due to wedding groups that may
have contracted with Suzanne's.
b. Recommendation to relocate archery range. Blank referred to the picture of the
proposed location at the Wayzata High School. Off street parking is an issue with
this location. It would be to our advantage to keep it where it is in Plymouth
Creek Park. We closed the range about six weeks ago after getting complaints
PRAC Minutes/July 2006
Page 5
from a resident that arrows were landing in his backyard. We've been getting a
lot of calls from individuals wondering when it will re -open. Hunting season
begins September 15. We'll try to meet with the complaining neighbor again. We
may re -open on September 1 and just see how it goes on a day-by-day basis.
Pederson has a concern about making a massive change just for one resident.
Fiemann likes where it's located now. It has plenty of parking, and it's centrally
located. Commissioners asked how far the arrows were traveling. Blank said 70
to 90 yards beyond the targets. Blank said we're exploring getting some money
from the DNR and putting up some type of enclosure that would keep the arrows
from going into the backyards. It does this by preventing the archers from
shooting in an upwards direction. Eden Prairie has this type of enclosure. If we
have to relocate the archery range, we'd do it next spring. The neighbor has had
6 to 10 arrows land in his yard. Mark Peterson is a champion archer, and he
knows it's possible to launch an arrow a very long distance. We won't do
anything that will risk anyone's life. Krahulec doesn't understand why we're in the
archery business in the first place. Davis said you can't eliminate all risks.
Commissioners were not in agreement on how to solve this issue. Blank said
we're still trying to figure out what our options are. Pederson wonders what our
legal liability is, and he suggested staff check with our city attorney on that.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
None.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
The next regular scheduled meeting is August 10. If PRAC goes on a tour in August,
it could include an indoor playground, the Eden Prairie archery range, a spray water
park playground, an in -ground skate park, an art park, etc. Singer wants to see the
in -ground skate park. Pederson wants to go visit a top end dog park, like the one
located in Burnsville. Krahulec would prefer not going as far away as Burnsville or
Maplewood.
Singer wanted the minutes to reflect PRAC's congratulations to Blank for winning the
League of Minnesota Cities Leadership award.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:57 pm.