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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 10-09-2008MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING October 9, 2008 PRESENT: Commissioners: M. Smith, G. Anderson, D. Anderson, P. Knight, N. Carroll Staff: E. Blank, B. Abel, D. Sankey Planning Commission Liaison: J. Davis ABSENT: Commissioners Singer and Vanderwall, City Council Liaison: B. Stein 1. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Smith called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. in the Ice Arena Center Ice Room. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion was made by Commissioner G. Anderson and seconded by Commissioner Knight to approve the September minutes with revisions noted. Vote: 4 Ayes. Motion carried. Commissioner Carroll arrived after approval of minutes. 3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Athletic Associations. None b. Total Energy Concepts. Bill Abel introduced Jeff Peterson from Total Energy Concepts who spoke on energy updates to the ice arena. Jeff explained how his company installed a power protection and energy optimization system, and they guarantee a 15% savings. Abel pointed out that the panels guard against electrical surges, which in turn makes the light bulbs and motors last longer. Commissioner Smith asked how the usage is monitored. Peterson said his company compiles the statistics and produces reports. Abel said that the refrigeration equipment is using this system, and they expect a 3-4 year payback. Peterson explained that this facility has been certified as green because of the upgrades. He presented a plaque and stickers to put on the door to publicize this certification. Commissioner Smith asked whether this green certification involves other organizations. Peterson said it is a tech certification for now, but they are working towards LEED and Energy Star certifications. b. Staff: Director Blank spoke on Plymouth on Parade, which was held last Saturday. The parade consisted of 105 units, with an estimated crowd of 5300. On Tuesday, the annual Volunteer Recognition Event took place with an attendance of 273 volunteers. The contract for the artwork for the Millennium Garden is on the Council agenda for October 28. We hope to have it installed prior to April 25 2009, since the garden opens May 1 for weddings. Coming up is the Little Costume Ball on October 17, Halloween at the Creek on October 31, the Lower Level for teens on October 24, Art Camp, Prokart Racing, and several other programs. The dome goes up on October 21 and will open 5-6 days later. Staff is now working on the winter brochure, which goes out in November. PRAC Minutes/October 9, 2008 Page 2 4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION a. None. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Update — Zachary Park Building : Blank explained that the project got hung up by permitting from the County Health Department, but we now have the permit. A ground -breaking ceremony will be held at 3:00 tomorrow afternoon. We expect to begin digging for footings next week. The building should be enclosed by Thanksgiving. b. Update — West Medicine Lake: Blank said that this project went before the Planning Commission for site plan approval. Residents were there who did not want any building or thought that it was too big. The commission voted 6-0 to approve because it met all ordinance guidelines. Blank said that we are still concerned with the residents and their feelings. Engineering is planning a project with three water quality ponds. We will hold a joint meeting with presentations on both projects, probably on November 6 starting at 6:30 p.m. Commissioner Davis asked if Blank anticipates any changes in the plan. Blank said he did not; the meeting was just for information. The next step would be to put it on the Council agenda. Commissioner Smith asked about the construction start date. Blank said it depends on how it plays out, but he would like to start yet this fall if possible. c. Approve Capital Improvement Program 2009-2013 Blank explained that the Council held their study session on the Capital Improvement Program. They changed the East Side Skate Park to 2011. The next step is for it to go to the Planning Commission to have a public hearing. Then it goes back to the Council. COMMISSIONER D. ANDERSON MOVED TO ACCEPT THE CHANGES AND FORWARD THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. COMMISSIONER SMITH SECONDED. 5 Ayes. MOTION APPROVED. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Review Ice Center Operations — Bill Abel Blank introduced Bill Abel, the Ice Arena Manager. Bill came from the City of Wilmar, where he ran a tremendous ice rink operation there. He came to us when we were in the middle of the design process for the facility and was able to suggest several valuable changes. Abel explained that the Ice Center is the hockey home of Wayzata High School, Providence Academy, and Armstrong High School. It is also home for Wayzata Youth Hockey Association, which has 1480 kids — the largest in the U.S. Because of the size of the facility, it is not crowded even when there are many events, and visitors feel comfortable here. We recently hosted the America's Cup Speed Skating event, which featured premier speed skaters from all over the country. Many Olympic athletes were here, including the top relay team, although Apollo Ono did not make it. The event was hosted by the Plymouth Wayzata Speed Skating club. In four years, they have grown from 12 to 58 members. PRAC Minutes/October 9, 2008 Page 3 The Center Ice Room seats 175, and the Blue Line Room seats 39. Parent and Board meetings are held here almost every night. The Booster clubs hang out in the Center Ice Room during the games. In the lower level, there are 16 locker rooms and a figure skating room with mirrors and ballet bars. The concession stand gross sales are over $100,000, with a net of about 50%. Commissioner Smith asked if volunteers work at the stand. Abel said no, it is all employees. The concession stands at other facilities that are run by volunteers generally do not do as well. Advertising helps with income also. There are two pamphlet boards, TV sets in the lobbies that feature half advertising / half locker room schedule, and of course dasher boards. Commissioner Carroll asked how much advertising brings in. Abel said about $36,000 average per year. Advertising on the zambonies was sold to Denny Hecker for $30,000 for 5 years. Commissioner D. Anderson asked who handles the advertising. Able said the staff does. Commissioner D. Anderson asked about the price of dasher board advertising. Abel said it goes for $700 per year or three years for $1800. Able said the arena often opens as early as 5:30 am and closes at midnight many nights. The facility is generally open seven days a week, and it is closed on a few holidays. Because of adding the third sheet of ice, we have started getting the largest tournaments. The Minnesota Super Series runs Thursday through Sunday on all three sheets. We gross $13,000 in concessions during those tournaments. The returning tournaments have been growing larger, too. Local restaurants want schedules of games and tournaments because of the increased business they experience. During the Super Series, they double or triple their business. It is estimated that $85,000 goes to local community businesses, including hotels and restaurants. Open skating is held four times per week, with an average of 150 skaters right now and over 200 during the busiest time. Learn to Skate School starts with age 3. There are 360 children currently in classes. The program is starting to grow again. Blank mentioned that the original building cost $8 million to build. Adding the third sheet cost $5.3 million. Lifetime cost about $8 million. There is a total of about 200,000 square feet. We have a 40 -year agreement with Lifetime. We wanted the architecture to look seamless in case we ever come to own their facility. Women rave about how clean our bathrooms are. The goal is to be the cleanest ice arena in the country. We also take pride in the quality of the ice. The budget is $1.4 million. Revenues have exceeded our expenses. We have put away a half million dollars to be used for improvements and replacements. $154,000 debt payment is made each year on the third sheet. On the 20 -year horizon, the amount of kids in the area will probably decrease. We are set up to accommodate this with staffing. Commissioner Knight asked about the cost of ice time. Blank said it is $170, but we will be recommending a $10 increase as of April 1 of next year. This would generate about 35,000. Commissioner Carroll asked about the reserve fund. Blank said we have spent $400,000 on upgrading the building. Staff reviews this often. Things have a life expectancy and need to be replaced. Council by resolution said the facility must pay for itself. Two years ago, Wayzata Hockey pledged a $725,000 donation. They PRAC Minutes/October 9, 2008 Page 4 have surcharged people to pay this off. We delayed a rate increase one year longer in order to help them. We must go through with it now. Able said going to $180 would be right in line with other rinks in the area. Lifetime attendance is 1 million per year. The Ice Arena is over 400,000 per year. This is the busiest facility in the park system. Hockey people pay their way and expect a good product. Commissioner G. Anderson asked which sheet they would shut down if necessary. Able said the B rink could easily be taken down because of its concrete floor. It can go up again in three days. We could hold events such as roller hockey, indoor soccer, a car or boat show. The summer ice rate is $155. We do earn better revenue if we keep the ice up. b. Approve outdoor skating rink plan Blank explained that this plan could change if people started wanting more outside ice time. We would like to cut down this year from 11 to nine rinks and gradually over five years cut down to six. This is strictly because of usage, not budget. We will keep open whatever Wayzata Hockey needs for their mite program. Boards need to be replaced. A concrete base would require more capital, but it would provide better rink use year round. Blank said nobody is using the Plymouth Middle School rink. We had left it open for phy ed classes, but they aren't using it anymore either. COMMISSIONER SMITH ENTERTAINED A MOTION TO ENDORSE THE LONG RANGE SKATING RINK PLAN. COMMISSIONER KNIGHT MOVED TO ENDORSE. COMMISSIONER SMITH SECONDED. 4 Ayes. MOTION APPROVED. c. Select name for neighborhood park Blank said that staff liked all the suggested names but preferred Legacy Greenway Park. Commissioner Knight asked for the rationale. Blank explained that the development is Legacy Park and it is along the Northwest Greenway. It will probably make good sense to the park's neighbors. COMMISSIONER CARROLL MOVED TO NAME THE PARK LEGACY GREENWAY PARK. COMMISSIONER G. ANDERSON SECONDED. 4 Ayes. MOTION APPROVED. d. Review Hilde plans Blank said the Hilde plans were presented to the Council at their work session to bring them up to date. Right now, the estimated cost is $3.3 million, with $1 million for the first phase. The Council was very excited about it and wants to bid the whole thing as a base bid with alternates. Staff met with the consultant on how to do this. The consultants are putting together a proposal. We need to find out what the design cost will be. We will bring the proposal to the Council to see how they want to proceed. No work on the project can start until after Music in Plymouth. Any work must then be completed before the following Music in Plymouth. If the Council wishes to proceed, the project would be bid next spring. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION: 00 PRAC Minutes/October 9, 2008 Page 5 8. STAFF COMMUNICATION Blank mentioned that the Woodland Trails Neighborhood Park has been seeded, and we will hold a grand opening in the spring. Commissioner G. Anderson asked about a grand opening for Legacy Greenway Park. Blank said it would also be in the spring. 9. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Smith entertained the motion to adjourn. MOTION was made by Commissioner Carroll and seconded by Commissioner Knight. Vote: 4 Ayes. MOTION approved. The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m. The next meeting will be held on November 13, 2008 in the Council Chambers. Donna Sankey — PRAC recorder