HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 09-14-2006MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
September 14, 2006
PRESENT: Commissioners Aamoth, Davis, Fiemann, Griwac, Krahulec, Mohagen,
Pederson, Rezabek, Singer; Councilmember Slavik, staff Blank, Evans,
and Pederson
ABSENT:
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Rezabek moved and Singer seconded a motion to approve the July minutes. Motion
carried, all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None were present at the meeting.
b. Staff. Evans discussed Plymouth on Parade and the schedule for the day's
events. Over 100 units have entered. Davis asked if there was a rain policy on
the day of the parade. Evans said if the weather is threatening, it would be
cancelled, but not for light rain. Other upcoming special events are the Little
Costume Ball and Halloween at the Creek. Summer programs went well. Over
3,700 people attended the summer concerts held at the Hilde and at Parkers
Lake. We brought in a bigger name band this year, the Mary Jane Alm band, and
they drew a large crowd, helping to boost this year's concert attendance. This
was our second summer of doing a children's theatre production. Over 800
spectators attended the performances. The water ski shows went well, although
attendance was down a little. Over 700 attended the Kids Koncerts on
Wednesday mornings. Playground program attendance was up 12%. We had 34
teens assist with 23 programs, putting in more than 1,000 hours. Our Little
Shooters basketball program was a hit, coached by former Gopher Kevin Lynch.
We have 930 kids registered in our fall soccer program. We're gearing up for
winter now and making plans for the annual report. Staff is also working on the
state conference, coming up in November. Evans displayed the conference
brochure on the large TV screens for the commissioners to view. Blank said that
Evans is chairing the state conference, and has been doing a tremendous
amount of work for that. The dates of the conference are Nov 14-17. Fiemann
asked if we ran a little tyke football program over at Plymouth Creek Center last
Sunday. Staff confirmed that it was our flag football program.
c. Others. There were no other presentations.
PRAC Minutes/September 2006
Page 2
4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
There was no report on past council action.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Update on comp plan. Blank said the Council adopted a preliminary land use
guide plan. The planning director resigned recently, so this has caused a slight
delay in the process, but it is moving forward.
b. Review Parks CIP financial plan. The Council adopted the preliminary budgets
for 2007. All departments had to develop a CIP in conjunction with that. Blank
provided a brief review of the parks department's capital improvement projects.
c. Review Zachary Park upgrade. Blank said we ended up needing a watershed
district permit, which caused a two week delay in the project. The outfields are
graded, the infields are laid out; irrigation and fencing will be the next major
components, and sodding is scheduled in early October. The contractor seems to
be doing a very nice job, Blank said. Singer commented on several trees that
appear to have been cut down as part of this project. Blank said this area will be
re -landscaped and filled back in with new trees.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Request from Plymouth -Wayzata Baseball to build building at Greenwood
Park/School. Blank explained that when this complex was designed, it was
anticipated that there would be a future building for concessions, etc. Plymouth -
Wayzata Baseball has now asked the City if they would construct a building to
include bathrooms, concession stand, and an observation room. Bids for this
came in at $230,000 - $240,000. The baseball association will donate the
building to the city, and we will become the owner/operator of it. It will be part of
our infrastructure. They're going to contribute $200,000 toward the cost. We've
asked for a metal roof on the building and a concrete sidewalk around it, which
will increase the cost. The school district must also give us their okay to proceed
with this. Blank is recommending we amend our CIP to include a $30,000
contribution from the city. We'll be saving $40,000 on replacing a playground at
Bass Lake, by doing that project over the winter. Singer asked why it's proposed
as a two level building. It will have an observation area for the scorekeeper and
announcer, Blank said. The observation area is not for the public's use. Rezabek
asked if lighting came up. Blank said yes, but right now it will not be included. He
doesn't see a need for it. Krahulec asked what kind of concessions this will
include. Blank said it's all pre-packaged food like candy, pop, chips, etc. Davis
asked if other people will be able to use the concession building at Greenwood.
Blank said yes, because we will own it. SINGER MOVED TO ACCEPT STAFF'S
RECOMMENDATION TO CONSTRUCT A BUILDING AT GREENWOOD
PARK/SCHOOL. REZABEK SECONDED. Aamoth asked if the city would be
putting money into the building at Zachary for the Plymouth -New Hope Little
League. Blank said we probably would help them out in the same way. MOTION
PRAC Minutes/September 2006
Page 3
CARRIED, ALL AYES. The concession stand will also serve the soccer fields at
this complex as well, Fiemann pointed out.
b. Review parks/open space bond referendum. Blank explained that the Council
held two study sessions earlier in the year to review the future acquisition of the
Northwest Greenway, a community playfield, parks, and trails in northwest
Plymouth. The major components of the comprehensive plan include six more
neighborhood parks, one more athletic complex in northwest Plymouth, and
additional open space, Blank said. The Council then asked staff to prepare a
citizen survey to determine the community's support for the acquisition and
funding of open space and parks. The results of the survey determined that the
community was wholeheartedly in favor of purchasing land. It was decided that
this would be the best year to go out for a bond referendum to fund the
acquisition of property for park purposes. Two school districts may go for bond
referendums next year. The city will put out a 4 -page informational pamphlet on
this referendum, explaining how much a homeowner's taxes would increase
based on their home's value. It will also include the master plan for the Northwest
Greenway. We need to work with the community now to share the information.
We're going to ask the very largest user groups of the athletic complex to get
behind this idea and support it. The first meeting with these groups is next
Monday at 4 pm. Councilmember Black has volunteered to help with this group,
but is looking for a volunteer to chair it. The Sierra Club is also very interested in
this project. They have contacted the McKnight Foundation and it appears they
are also in favor of it. We are hopeful that all athletic associations will be
supportive of this and pass resolutions to that affect. We also hope to get the
Audubon Society involved and other environmental groups. If we get the
9,000,000 through the bond referendum, we'll be that much farther ahead,
Blank said. If we don't, projects will still get done using park dedication funds, but
they will have to be spread out over a longer time frame. By the time we get the
comp plan done, it will be at least 24 months before we see any type of housing
growth. Thus, we won't see any increases in park dedication funds for about two
years. Rezabek asked if the development on 47th & Vicksburg will help pay for
this. Blank said yes. Rezabek then asked if we had heard anything from the
Begins. Blank said no. Blank stated that Hollydale has sent a letter to the City
Council indicating they'd like to be zoned for residential development. Fiemann
thinks all the athletic associations will be in favor of this. Blank explained how the
park dedication account is funded and how the fees we've been collecting lately
haven't been keeping up with the cost of land. Blank said the property west of
Vicksburg wasn't guided until recently. We haven't had many housing starts in
the last couple of years. We raised the park dedication fee in July. It will be
raised again in January. Blank encouraged commissioners to get in touch with
councilmember Black if they'd like to help with the bond referendum process.
PRAC Minutes/September 2006
Page 4
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
Fiemann asked about the vandalism at Timber Shores Park and if we've heard
anything. Blank said the insurance company will be giving us about $40,000 to
50,000 to rebuild the playground. A large reward has been offered for information
about the vandalism, but no one has come forward with anything. Blank said the
archery range west of Fernbrook Lane is closed for now and will remain closed.
We're working with the DNR on a redesign, and we hope to rebuild in that same
location, maybe next year.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
Blank stated that the national parks conference occurs during the October meeting,
so he would like to reschedule for the 5t" of October. Blank distributed adoption
papers for the Ducky Derby and encouraged everyone to attend the day's events.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:05 pm.