HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 09-08-2011MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
September 8, 2011
PRESENT: Commissioners: G. Anderson, N. Carroll, M. Riley, K. Wyse, J. Zwack
Staff: D. Evans, D. Sankey, C. Anderson, A. Krumholz
Planning Commission Liaison: D. Kobusson
City Council Liaison: Bob Stein
ABSENT: A. Vanderwall, J. Vecere
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Carroll called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION was made by Commissioner Anderson and seconded by Commissioner Zwack
to approve the June minutes. Vote: 5 Ayes. Motion carried.
3. OPEN FORUM
4. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS (NON -ACTION ITEMS):
a. Staff Presentations: Cindy Anderson and Alyssa Krumholz, Recreation
Supervisors
Cindy Anderson and Alyssa Krumholz spoke on upcoming special events. The kickoff
for Plymouth on Parade is on Friday night, September 23. There is a Spaghetti Dinner
fund raiser for senior programs at the Plymouth Creek Center and a Movie in the Park,
Megamind," at the Fieldhouse field. The Fire Department has its Fun Run 5K at Fire
Station 2 on September 24 at 9:00 a.m. The Parade starts at 11:30. Chair Carroll
asked about Movie with the Mayor. Krumholz said it is on Saturday, September 10, at
dusk, and the film will be "Secretariat." Carroll asked how the movie program was
working. Anderson and Krumholz said it is going very well. The screen is huge, and
teens, families, and all ages are enjoying it. Carroll asked about picture quality.
Anderson says it is exceptional. Projection is from behind the screen. Director Evans
said the first movie, "Despicable Me," had an attendance of over 800.
Krumholz also mentioned that the Farmers Market continues through October 12 on
Wednesdays from 2:30-6:30 p.m.
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5. NEW BUSINESS (ACTION ITEMS):
a. Three Rivers Park District - Bassett Creek Presentation
Kelly Gruseman from Three Rivers Park District reported that they have been working
on the Bassett Creek Trail project with the city for about a year. Three Rivers currently
has100 miles of regional trails, and more are planned. They are trying to connect
points of interest and provide a continuous route that is cost effective and safe. They
want everyone to be within 2-3 miles of a regional trail. They also want to make the
trail corridor attractive to the users. This project would connect French Park to
Theodore Wirth Park. Plymouth is fortunate to have two existing regional trails already.
The visitor estimate for this new trail is about 175,000 visits per year. The trail in
Plymouth would be along
36th
Avenue. It would be on the north side from Zachary
Lane to Pilgrim Lane, then crossing the street to the south side. They feel it would be a
safer place to cross than at Highway 169. The estimated cost is $330,000. The current
trail on the north side would be expanded from eight feet to ten feet wide.
Commissioner Anderson asked why it needs to cross the road instead of being on the
south side the whole way. Gruseman said there would be a lot of impact on private
properties on the south side. The best case is to have 10 -foot wide pavement with a 2-
3 foot clear zone on each side. There is not a lot of room along 36th Avenue to keep
the trail the desired distance from the road, but perhaps in the future, if the road is
reconfigured, the trail could be reconfigured, too. Anderson asked why the trail jogs
north in New Hope instead of staying along 36th Avenue. Gruseman explained that the
City of New Hope was concerned about right of way along this segment, and they
wanted the trail to go through a nearby park. Chair Carroll asked how long that
section is. Gruseman said about'/2 mile. Councilmember Stein asked about the Luce
Line and the crossing at Xenium Lane. Gruseman said they have a federal grant for
2013 construction. Stein asked whether it would go to the Council. Gruseman said
that could be done. Director Evans asked if it could go through PRAC to showcase it.
Gruseman said that was a very reasonable request, and she would work with Evans to
make that happen.
b. 2012-2016 CIP Draft - (Informational; approval at October meeting)
Director Evans showed the commissioners the proposed 2012-2016 CIP. She said
that we were very careful and fiscally responsible during development of the CIP and
tried to be conservative with Park Replacement funds. We need to carefully maintain
the park system as we go forward. We usually budget $120,000 - $130,000 per year to
do trail gaps. For the 2012 CIP, we budgeted $230,000 knowing some of the gaps are
getting more expensive to accomplish. We are now budgeting every other year so that
more expensive segments can be done. In 2012, there is $2.5 million for land
acquisition budgeted. Part of it is bonding money for the Northwest Greenway. There
is also some for additional land that could be purchased. We show $1.5 million for
2013. A consultant for land acquisition has been hired. Eric Blank will work on these
issues. A trail crossing underpass at Cheshire Lane is budgeted at $250,000 to
connect the Greenway to the regional trail. For the next two to three years, we will be
looking at renovating instead of replacing the playgrounds. The Playfield Lighting
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budget shows the payment to the Community Improvement Fund. Turf replacement
would come from the Fieldhouse fund and from a Hennepin County Sport Grant. The
current turf will only last about one more year. An irrigation replacement project is
budgeted in 2014 at the Ice Center/Lifetime Fitness property. It is coordinated with a
parking lot replacement project. Commissioner Anderson asked if the entire irrigation
system would be replaced. Evans said yes, some of the underground pipes are
broken and the system is not working.
The second phase of Hilde Performance Center upgrades involves the entrance from
Plymouth Blvd, trails, and a playground.
In 2014, we may add an additional hockey rink to the system, probably at Elm Creek
with a possible partnership with Wayzata High School. We would apply for a Hennepin
County Sport Grant.
The Plymouth Creek Splash Pad was removed from the CIP by Council. Chair Carroll
said the splash pads he has seen are wildly popular. Director Evans said perhaps it
can be presented to the Council again at a later date.
We would try to get the Northwest Greenway Trail from Vicksburg Lane to Juneau
Lane constructed in 2014. This is important because we applied for a federal grant for
the overpass over Vicksburg Lane. This would involve $600,000 from city funding and
1 million from the grant.
Millennium Garden enhancements in 2014 could involve a glass atrium and perhaps
another art piece. The Garden has its own funding from the Yard & Garden fundraiser
and Lifetime Fitness donations.
A turf field is shown in 2015 at $1 million, and it would probably be installed at Elm
Creek Playfield. These fields are very heavily used. A turf field would allow groups on
earlier in the season. We would like to do one on the east side as well.
Traditions Neighborhood Park is the old Hampton Hills Golf Course. We have
acquired over 5 acres for a park. The developer is encouraging us to get the park
done as quickly as possible.
Lighting replacement in Parkers Lake Park is scheduled in 2013.
Commissioner Wyse asked about the turf field at the Fieldhouse and how long it can
be expected to last. Evans said about 10-15 years. Wyse asked how old it is. Evans
said about 10 years. It gets a lot of use.
c. Golf Medal Video Submission
PRAC Minutes/September 8, 2011
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Director Evans explained that we are one of four cities of our size in the country up for
a gold medal this year. We prepared a video as part of the application. Since the
audio is not working tonight, we will have to postpone showing the video until our next
meeting.
6. COMMISSIONER/STAFF UPDATES
Director Evans spoke on the following topics:
o Plymouth Dog Park
The project is underway. Most of the sidewalks and curbing have been installed. The
park is still open. We were able to provide access to some parkland to the south of the
park to use for parking. We are also adding water to the site to provide potable water
for the dogs. Amenities like benches will also be added.
o Playfield Lighting
This project will be completed in a couple of weeks at a cost $2.2-2.3 million dollars. A
few change orders have been added. They are currently working at Parkers Lake,
then on to Bass Lake. The lights are all computerized, and we can turn them on and
off from our desks. We have had a lot of positive comments from neighbors and users
of the parks on the new lights.
o Plymouth Creek Skate Park
We worked with a consultant from California on the design of the park. He is a guru on
skate parks, and we are lucky to have him. The cost of the project came in over our
budget. We were prepared for this with a base bid and alternates. Commissioner
Wyse asked when construction starts. Evans said we had a construction meeting
today, and it will start full speed next week. Chair Carroll asked about the green
spaces in the plan. Evans explained that they are items to jump over. We will probably
use artificial turf in those spaces. The facility provides for many different levels of skill.
Commissioner Zwack asked if the facility is at grade. Evans said the main part is at
grade and some parts are built up. The designer worked on the facility in St. Cloud,
which is very popular. They learned from that project and incorporated what they
learned into our project. It is scheduled to be completed the end of October. Gohman
is the contractor.
o Upcoming Community/Special Events
Kathleen Murdock is resigning from Council. They will go through a process to fill that
position.
Bellediva is performing at the Hilde Center tonight. The summer concert series has
been very popular this year. "Secretariat" will be the movie shown at Movie with the
Mayor on September 10. The Farmers Market has had good turnouts this year. The
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last day is Oct 12. Plymouth on Parade activities start September 23 with the Spaghetti
Dinner and a Movie at the Fieldhouse. The Parade is on September 24.
Commissioner Anderson asked about the current year's trail project. Director Evans
said it was approved by Council, but there have been a few glitches. A few utilities and
fiber optics are underground in this space. We looked at the other side of the road,
but there was not enough roadway easement. Because of the fiber optics, we will put
in a sidewalk instead of asphalt. Residents have been advised.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Carroll entertained the motion to adjourn. MOTION was made by Commissioner
Zwack and seconded by Commissioner Anderson. Vote: 5 Ayes. Motion approved.
The meeting adjourned at 8:14 p.m.
The next meeting will be held on October 13 at the Plymouth Ice Center.
Donna Sankey - PRAC recorder