HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 09-11-2008MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
September 11, 2008
PRESENT: Commissioners: E. Singer, M. Smith, A. Vanderwall, G. Anderson, D.
Anderson, P. Knight, N. Carroll
Staff: E. Blank, D. Evans, D. Sankey
Planning Commission Liaison: J. Davis
ABSENT: City Council Liaison: B. Stein
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Singer called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion was made by Commissioner Smith and seconded by Commissioner G.
Anderson to approve the June minutes. Vote: 6 Ayes. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Commissioner D. Anderson and seconded by Commissioner
Carroll to approve the August minutes with revisions noted. Vote: 6 Ayes. Motion
carried.
Chair Singer introduced Jim Davis, the Planning Commission Liaison to the
commissioners.
Commissioner Vanderwall arrived after approval of minutes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None
b. Staff: Staff Evans announced the upcoming Autumn Arts Fair, which will be held
September 20. Currently, we have 35 artist exhibits, with senior crafters also on hand.
There will also be a variety of musical entertainment and food to purchase. Plymouth
on Parade will be on October 4 at 1:00. We anticipate 100-115 units. The Grand
Marshal this year is the Plymouth Historical Society. The activities afterward, from 2:30-
5:00, include skating at the Ice Center, swimming at Lifetime Fitness, a petting zoo and
hay rides. The Ducky Derby is sponsored by the Plymouth/Minnetonka Rotary. The
Historical Society is offering a two-hour tour of historic sites in Plymouth. Call Gary
Schiebe if you are interested in taking part. The fee is $7 per person.
Evans explained that the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association Award of
Excellence is for outstanding initiative and projects. Plymouth Park & Recreation has
received over a dozen of these awards over the years. Evans announced two new
awards for the department tonight. The first is for the programming and events area for
the new Rink Rat Hockey program. For the first season, 90 youth ages 5-10
participated. Participant evaluations were outstanding. It is a great alternative to club
hockey. Congratulations are due to Dan Lauer and staff for developing this outstanding
program. The second award is in the sponsorships and partnerships area for the public
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art banner project. This is co-sponsored with the Plymouth Fine Arts Council. Artists
paint original art banners, which are hung on posts in downtown Plymouth. We
currently have 20-30 banners and will add more each year. Congratulations go to
Karol Klint Greupner and staff. Chair Singer congratulated the staff on these awards.
Evans said that next year, we plan to showcase some of the banners at Primavera to
encourage some of the artists to participate.
Staff Blank announced that on September 26-28, the Ice Arena will host the indoor
short track championship. All the top contending skaters will be competing. He
described the intricate set-up for this event.
Blank also spoke on Plymouth's designation by Money Magazine as the #1 Best Place
to Live. He described the process, including the information they asked for and the
photographer coming in from New York. It is a great honor, and having the award has
been great fun. Chair Singer said a lot of credit should go to the city management and
staff.
4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. None.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Chair Singer asked about the sculpture for the Millennium Garden. Blank said that it
hasn't gone to Council yet because we are working out details with the sculptor.
a. Update — Zachary Park Building :
Blank said that the baseball group has been held up by the Health Department. The
City cannot issue a building permit until the project is approved by the Health
Department. The permit should be issued tomorrow or Monday. The footing work will
begin next week. The building will be ready to use by May of next year.
b. Update — West Medicine Lake :
Blank explained that there is a challenge with permitting with Corps of Engineers and
the DNR, but we are working it out. The site plan will go to the Planning Commission
for approval on September 21. An information mailing will go out to the neighborhood.
Drawings are on the website. The site plan moves on to the City Council on October
14. We open bids on October 22 and award the bid on October 28. On November 20
construction will begin. We want to beat the frost for getting the footings in. We are
shooting for a grand opening on the July 4 weekend. The IT Department is working on
high tech equipment and installation. Evans and staff will work on research to have
tools for the programs that we are planning to offer in the building. The coffee shop will
be just a shell until a vendor is found, and then it will be finished to their needs.
Commissioner Smith asked if the notification area of 500-700 feet could be expanded.
Eric said it will be measured from the park boundary, not the building. Any one with a
view will be contacted, plus across the lake to City of Medicine Lake. Chair Singer
pointed out it will also be in the paper. Commissioner Carroll asked about the concerns
of the Corps of Engineers. Wetland filling is the issue explained Blank.
6. NEW BUSINESS
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a. Capital Improvement Program:
Blank announced that next Tuesday the City Council will review the entire Capital
Improvement Plan. It will be back to PRAC for the October meeting. The Planning
Commission will see it at its second meeting in October, then final approval by Council.
Blank discussed and explained the projects listed on the plan.
Commissioner Smith said he feels like $100,000 isn't enough budgeted for trails
because there is a lot of need. Commissioner Carroll asked if a trail is defined as just in
the parks or along the road. Blank said both.
Commissioner Carroll asked if during upgrading of the irrigation systems improvements
are made to the fields if needed, especially one of the fields at Ridgemount. Blank said
that for the field he mentioned there is a storm sewer pipe coming across street from
Minnetonka. The school district built on a swamp, and the ground water is so high,
there isn't much we can do. Commissioner Carroll is concerned from a safety
standpoint. Blank said he will have it looked at. Chair Singer said she had been out to
see this and had reported that it is in very bad shape.
Regarding the tennis courts at Zachary Playfield, Blank explained they could be moved
north in order to free up space for parking expansion. If PRAC approves this idea, a
public notification and hearing would need to be done because there is a house nearby.
The alternative would be to just renovate the present courts. Commissioner D.
Anderson feels we should move the tennis courts and add parking. Commissioner
Vanderwall agreed. Commissioner G. Anderson asked about the trail. Blank said it
would be moved. Commissioner Carroll asked about the number of parking spots.
Blank said that there are a few different layouts, the largest being 78 parking spots.
Commissioner G. Anderson asked about adding bike racks. Blank said absolutely. In
fact, they could be added at any time. There are some by the playground currently, and
more could be added by the ballfields. Commissioner Knight asked how the
homeowners find out about this. Blank said we would send out a letter to everybody on
Arrowood Lane and invite them to come to the November meeting. Commissioner
Knight asked how much opposition we usually get. Blank said you never know - it
varies. Commissioner Smith said he likes the 78 parking space concept and wondered
if there are any other options for placement of the tennis courts. Blank answered that
we have not looked at any other options. There is a concept plan which would have
parking spaces installed in the tree area. Commissioner Carroll asked if any trees
would be left. Blank said that a lot of them would come down.
In discussing the Skate Park upgrade, Planning Commissioner Davis asked where the
old equipment would go. Blank answered that some would be discarded, but some
pieces could be refurbished and put into neighborhood parks. Any piece reused must
be safe and structurally sound. Evans pointed out that the old standard was 3 feet while
the new standard is 4 feet, which makes it more fun. The League of Minnesota Cities
has determined that 4 feet is acceptable as a risk. Commissioner Smith asked if we
discourage skateboarding, since he has seen signs in the parks. Blank said it is OK in
normal places, but not on picnic tables or handrails.
Blank explained that we will be going from eleven outdoor hockey rinks to six, and
Commissioner Vanderwall asked what the space will be used for. Blank said in the
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case of Zachary Playfield, it would probably become the pleasure skating rink. In other
cases, the space would become a grassy area, perhaps for soccer training. Chair
Singer felt it would be a good idea to put concrete under as many rinks as possible
because they are used by roller bladers. Blank agreed that then it becomes a year
round facility.
Blank explained that all of these projects are dependent on money being available. We
currently have about $2.5 million in park dedication funds, but no additional money is
coming in right now because there is no new building. We have the remaining money
from the bond referendum, which is available to purchase land. Money will eventually
come in because Plymouth will build houses again. On the topic of land acquisition,
Commissioner G. Anderson asked if we have to buy entire parcels. Blank said no, we
do lot splits. He is currently looking at an 80 acre parcel and will probably buy 35 acres
of it. Commissioner Vanderwall asked if we have given any thought to upgrading field
conditions due to all the increased usage. Blank said yes, however that would be in the
Park Maintenance budget. We have about 20 days between summer and fall seasons,
and we have resodded during these times. We have also taken a field out of use for 3-
4 months to reseed it, which gives better results. Commissioner Smith asked if we have
considered dog park improvements or the possibility of a second dog park. Blank said
we are monitoring whether we need a second one. Three Rivers Park District is looking
at putting in a major dog park in Plymouth or Maple Grove, although they are leaning
towards Maple Grove. Right now, we are comfortable with the one we have.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION:
Commissioner Smith presented a petition signed by 100 residents of Cornerstone
Commons which strongly urged the City to develop a walkway from the Lowe's area to
Plymouth Station. He expressed great interest in this project and feels it could serve
many people. It would connect two major business centers and would also link to
Plymouth downtown areas. It would be safer than people riding bikes on Highway 55.
He suggested that it could be tied into Maplecreek Park and move it from a $100,000
trail project to a $300,000 park project. Some people in the area thought the $9 million
open space bond referendum would also be used for projects like this. Commissioner
G. Anderson thought it would be a wonderful addition. Commissioner Knight said he
sees the area from Highway 55 and thinks it is a very attractive property. It would be
nice to have it developed. Chair Singer pointed out that this could be a larger project
than originally proposed. Blank said that we typically choose a preferred project in April
for improving the trail system at which time a price would be put on it. $150,000 would
probably be a low figure. If this is the site PRAC wants to do in 2009, he would bring it
to the Council Tuesday night. Commissioner Vanderwall feels it would be a great
project, but from a fiscal prospect, it looks huge. He was not sure about 2009, but
maybe in the next 5 years. Commissioner Smith pointed out that it looks like we are
getting about $50,000 from 8 lots that went in the new development. Commissioner D.
Anderson would like to see more information coming from a cost study. Staff and
engineering should study it first. Commissioner Carroll asked if whether procedurally a
placeholder could be placed on the money until a study has been done. Commissioner
Smith suggested it could it be earmarked as a separate project, pushing some other
projects out a ways. He is looking for a way to keep the project out there for discussion.
Blank said it would be a trail project, not a park project, and we need to take time to
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study the issue. Chair Singer stated that the consensus seems to be to have staff bring
back more information next month.
Jackie Archibold of 16915 32nd Avenue N. spoke to the Commission. She said that the
neighborhood is quite excited at the possibility of biking over to the shopping center
area. She is one of the people who thought the $9 million open space bond referendum
would include additional projects.
Commissioner G. Anderson suggested another site for a trail south of County Road 9
and east of Vicksburg Lane. Blank said that the cable company owns this space, and
we are asking them to sidewalk it.
Chair Singer reported that she has been driving by Kilmer Park, and people are out
there using the new equipment.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
Director Blank spoke on the Ducky Derby, which is a fundraiser for the
Plymouth/Minnetonka Rotary. The Rotary just donated four laptop computers to the
Plymouth Creek Center which were purchased with some of their fund raising money.
The race is at the Hilde Center at 2:45 after the parade.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Singer entertained the motion to adjourn. MOTION was made by Commissioner
D. Anderson and seconded by Commissioner Carroll. Vote: 7 Ayes. MOTION
approved. The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
The next meeting will be held on October 9, 2008 at the Ice Center.
Donna Sankey— PRAC recorder