Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Packet 04-09-1992Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission April 9, 1992, 7:00 p.m. AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of Minutes 3. Visitor Presentations a. Athletic Associations b. Staff C. Others 4. Report on Past Council Action S. Unfinished Business a. Volunteer program - continue discussion b. C. d. 6. New Business a. Review request from Hewitt -Peterson and Assoc. that City purchase their land for park b. Request for use of soccer field C. d. 7. Commission Presentation 8. Staff Communication 9. Adjournment Next regular PRAC meeting - May 14 Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting March 12, 1992 Page 7 Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Burk, Gutzke, Johnson, Waage, Wahl, and Watson; staff Blank, Greupner, Pederson and Peterson, Mayor Bergman 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Anderson called the March meeting to order at 7 p.m. in the Council Conference Room. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Commissioner Watson and seconded by Commissioner Wahl to approve the minutes of the February meeting as presented. The motion carried with all ayes. 3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Athletic Associations. None were present at this meeting. b. Staff. Karol Greupner, Recreation Supervisor, made a presentation to the commissioners on the International Folk Arts Celebration coming up on Saturday, March 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Wayzata East Junior High. She explained that funding for this event came from a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board through the Minnesota State Legislature. Other sponsors include Burnet Realty -Plymouth and Schneider USA. Additional funds will be generated by booth fees charged to crafters and vendors and the $1 admission fee being charged to adults and teens. Karol also stated she was looking for individuals to volunteer for a two or three hour shift to collect admission fees from visitors attending the event. The employee of the month for March is Julie Sterud, who has been working part time for the Park and Recreation Department since the summer of 1990. She has filled many different positions including pre-school program aide, youth Have -A -Ball instructor, playground leader, warming house attendant and Parkers Lake pavilion attendant. She has also volunteered for special events such as the Fire and Ice Festival. Julie is currently a freshman at the University of Minnesota. Mark Peterson, Superintendent of Parks, made a short presentation on the park maintenance department. He stated that Plymouth now has 700 acres of park land, 300 of which are maintained; and 60 miles of trails, of which 30 are maintained in the winter. Park maintenance crews take care of a total of 20 neighborhood parks, six playfields which contain a total of 18 softball/baseball fields, 12 soccer/football fields, 10 hockey rinks and 20 pleasure skating rinks. With the addition of the Bass Lake Playfield, two more ice rinks will be added to the system. There was some discussion then regarding dropping two of the lesser used rinks. Commissioner Gutzke wondered if we took head counts at all of our rinks. Director Blank responded that we take attendance at the larger rinks where we have warming houses, but at the small, neighborhood rinks, we rely on the maintenance crews to inform us if rinks show any signs of skaters. March 1992 PRAC Minutes Page 8 Director Blank indicated that the commission should discuss which rinks to maintain during the 92-93 season at their August or September meeting. Mark then went on to explain some of the types of maintenance done by park crews: trail plowing in the winter, brooming, shaving and flooding ice rinks, summer dragging, mowing, and painting of lines on playfields, turf renovation, mowing neighborhood and city parks and other city owned grounds, weed inspections totaling about 650 per year, tree preservation and reforestation, identifying and removing diseased trees. He also stated that his division developed a winter building and rink maintenance manual, a summer mowing manual, and a driving test designed specifically for maintenance employees. c. Others. Mayor Bergman attended the meeting on behalf of Councilmember Edson, who had another commitment. He indicated that the City Council would like PRAC to review their long term park development and park acquisition plans and prioritize needs. He stated that the Council is concerned about the acquisition of the Forster property since it was not included in the 1992 CIP. The Mayor went on to suggest that land acquisition in northwest Plymouth should be studied, perhaps in lieu of purchasing the Forster property. Director Blank explained that the Forster property had been included in the adopted 1991 CIP, and at the time the 1992 CIP was being prepared, staff believed that the Forster property would have already been in the process of acquisition, making it unnecessary to list it in the 1992 CIP. Some adjustments have since been made to the 1992 CIP, and once again, the Forster property is listed for acquisition. When questioned by Commissioner Gutzke as to the need for the Forster land, Director Blank responded that it is the only land left available in northeast Plymouth for park purposes, and if purchased, could be used for a number of things, including additional parking for the Zachary Playfield or another soccer/football field. It could also serve as a buffer from noise and lights for the homes located west of the playfield. Mayor Bergman also discussed the city's volunteer program and indicated that the Council would like PRAC to get more involved in this project. 4. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION The City Council accepted the 1991 Annual Report of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Update on milfoil - Parkers Lake. Director Blank announced that he has been meeting regularly with the Parkers Lake Homeowners Association. Milfoil now rings the entire lake, and the DNR has recommended a new treatment called Sonar. It's a fairly strong chemical that will destroy milfoil but not other vegetation or fish. This chemical is quite expensive at $976 a gallon. A public meeting regarding the proposed use of this chemical is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, at 7 p.m., at the Plymouth City Center. March 1992 PRAC Minutes Page 9 b. Update on construction protects. As soon as weather permits, construction will get underway on the three neighborhood park projects approved in 1991. Crews will start with 10th Avenue park, and from there go to Shiloh and then Gleanloch. Construction crews will also get started again at Parkers Lake Playfield and Bass Lake Playfield. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Volunteer program discussion. Director Blank gave a brief overview of the many volunteers used by the Park and Recreation Department and the various projects in which they get involved. Approximately 860 individuals volunteered their time with park and recreation programs in 1991. Some of those programs were: Adopt a Park or Trail, Firearm Safety, Fire and Ice Festival, Goblin Walk, Junior Lifeguard Program, Old Fashioned Christmas, Santa letters, soccer coaches, Seniors Care and Share, gardening program, Water Safety Aide Program, and youth dance recital. Commissioners suggested that Commissioner Waage meet with Mayor Bergman to learn more about how the Council sees PRAC becoming involved in volunteerism. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION Commissioner Watson inquired about the status of getting a canoe rack placed at Parkers Lake. Director Blank indicated that we have two at Medicine Lake, and only one has been needed there. He stated he would need a recommendation from the Park Commission to move one to Parkers. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WATSON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WAHL TO TAKE ONE OF THE CANOE RACKS AT MEDICINE LAKE AND PLACE IT AT PARKERS LAKE FOR THE PURPOSE OF RENTING THE SPACES TO RESIDENTS. The motion carried with all ayes. Information on how to rent a space will be available in the May issue of Plymouth News. 8. STAFF COMMUNICATION Mayor Bergman suggested that the joint meeting with the Council take place at the April 9 Park Commission meeting at their regular meeting time of 7 p.m. One of the items for discussion may be the sidewalk and trail plan being prepared by Strgar-Roscoe-Fausch. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. MEMO CITY OF PLYMOUTH 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447 DATE: April 7, 1992 TO: PRAC FROM: Eric J. Blank, Director of Parks and Recreation FE SUBJECT: REQUEST FROM HEWITT-PETERSON THAT CITY PURCHASE PROPERTY FOR PARK PURPOSES The attached letter dated March 9, 1992, from Hewitt -Peterson, outlines Mr. Peterson's request that the City of Plymouth consider purchasing 10.4 acres of wooded land for park purposes. The property in question lies north of County Road 9 and immediately west of 494. On the attached graphics (A & B), this property is shown in pink. Currently, the city has acquired two other parcels of wooded property in this area, which are highlighted on graphic B in green. The city's comprehensive park plan did contemplate that a portion of this property would be acquired via dedication for park purposes. Because the economics of trying to service this land with sewer are not practical at this time, Mr. Peterson is requesting that the city consider purchasing additional wooded property for park purposes. The area highlighted in yellow is future acquisition contemplated by the comprehensive park plan. This is also property that is mostly wet, heavily wooded on steep slopes, and will have some difficulty in being served by sewer. I anticipate that we would secure this property when the property to the north develops via park dedication. There are three points to consider in this discussion: 1. Part of this property is contemplated to be future neighborhood park as shown on our comprehensive plan. (See Attachment C.) 2. The Commission needs to decide whether it is appropriate at this time to acquire more of the woods than what is originally shown in the comprehensive plan. 3. What is the fair market price for this property? I recommend the Commissioners try to visit this site prior to the meeting. You can get there by going north on Fernbrook Lane from County Road 9 and turning right on 44th Place. Park at the end of the cul-de-sac and walk southeasterly down into the woods. The other way to get to the site is to go via County Road 9, and go north on Berkshire Lane to where the road dead -ends. At that point, you can walk northeasterly into the wooded area, and you will see the wetlands that are laid out to the north. If anyone would like me to accompany them, I would be happy to meet you at 6:15 prior to the Commission meeting. Request from Hewitt -Peterson Page 2 Mr. Peterson is anxious to get this matter before the City Council for review and discussion. If the Commission is comfortable making a recommendation at your meeting this month, we would forward this matter to the City Council on April 20. However, the Commission is not under any obligation to make a decision this month if you do not feel you have enough information to make a well informed recommendation. If the Commission wishes to recommend that the City consider purchasing this property, the only available source of funding at this time is park dedication funds. When considering this request, the Commission should keep in mind other land acquisition or development projects which you may wish to consider in the next five years. As a general rule, I would tend to always put land acquisition projects ahead of development projects. The question here is do you wish to preserve trees, and at what cost? EB/np hEW'16TT PETERSON ASSOCIATES 7000 57th Ave. N. #121 • Crystal, MN 55428 • (612) 531-0076 • Fax (612) 531-0701 Mr. Eric Blank, Parks Director City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, Minnesota 55447 Dear Mr. Blank: March 9, 1992 As a follow-up to our March 9, 1992 meeting, we are interested in determining if the City of Plymouth wishes to acquire property for park purposes from us along I-494 and north of the Plymouth Office Commercial Park. In particular, we desire to initiate a plat application, but we are aware that Plymouth has historically been interested in acquiring some of the project site. We have recently had the attached Sketch prepared for the property, and the following summary is offered regarding park dedication and park acquisition: Gross Property Area 28.7 Acres Gross Park Area 21.2 Acres Net Park Area (above HWL) 13.3 Acres Required Park Dedication Area (10x) ( 2.9 Acres) Net Park Area to be Acquired 10T1 Acres Acquisition Cost 10.4 Net Acres @ $20,000/Acre = $208,000 Using a gross acreage basis the proposed selling price is $11,366 per acre, calculated as follows: Gross Park Area 21.2 Acres Less: Park Dedication Required 2.9 Acres) Gross Park Acyuiition 19.3 Acres We request that you submit this proposal to the City Council in accordance with the following schedule, as we discussed: US. Park Commission City Council April 9, 1992 April 20, 1992 If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Very truly yours, Hewitt Peterson HP:jmj 8 N112 SEC. M I .s' i—'s K' B THIS IS NOT A LEGALLY RECORDED AAP. IT REPRESENTS A COWILATION OF INFORMATION AND DATA FROM CITY, COUNTY, AND STATE ROAD AUTHORITIES AND OTHER SOURCES. i V A t t ti t{.x n:{thMylrt i -a .,an r t fF F ~ ry ell uY iex.ti:r Y 4 n« fit a! .. Lfef ti'LF yF 3 I t1 r b 1 t{.x n:{thMylrt i -a .,an r t fF F ~ ry ell uY iex.ti:r Y 4 n« fit a! .. Lfef ti'LF ATTACHMENT C - m PROPOSED SITE — COMPREHENSIVE PLAN to In IM a n In u wwr f nn 1r y r Hr i IF J' CITY OF March 19, 1992 PUMOUTR Ivadell Farrells 1155 Kingsview Lane Plymouth, MN 55447 Dear Ivadell: Thank you for your kind letter of March 15. You have made a wonderful suggestion, one which deserves further consideration and review by everyone who is interested in helping keep Parkers Lake a beautiful, natural resource for years to come. I have made copies of your letter available to the City Council, the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission and the Water Quality Commission. I would also like to extend an invitation to you to attend a special meeting with regard to the Parkers Lake milfoil problem, which will be held on Tuesday, March 24, at Plymouth City Center. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and will be held in the council chambers. From your letter, you sound like a very concerned and active 71 -year-old. I hope that you will be with us for many years to come, so you can set an example for the youngsters in the community. If I may be of assistance to you in any way, please do not hesitate to give me a call at 550-5131. Again, thank you for taking the time to write. Sincerely, Eric J. Blank Director of Parks and Recreation EJB/np cc: City Manager City Council Park Commission I 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447, TELEPHONE (612) 550-5000 IvadeffFam1Cs 1155 9r"uggA*1V La N Mtaaeipo MN5544,- March 15, 1992 City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, Minnesota 55447 Attention: Mr. Eric Blank, Director of Parks and Recreation Gentlemen: There is just one recommendation Iwould like to suggest after you treat Parkers Lake or any lake for that matter. I think there should be a place by the boat launch providing boat owners water to wash their boats off after leaving the lake. This is the reason all of the lakes are full of milfoil and spreading it to other clean lakes. Purhaps some young people could be interest&d in starting this business similiar to car washes? We have neighbors with boats who water skiand fish in our lake, and take their boars to other lakes to water ski and fish 3; - We all know it takes just one little piece of milfoil to start it in the lakes. I can't see spending time and money cleaning up one lake unless all of them are treated. We have a leasing law for dogs and cats in Plymouth; and there are a few who think that is just for other people. It will be the same few who will enjoy the clean lake and yet, will not help keep it that way. Isn't this a shame? Sincerely, dl;ell Farrvadellre is P.S.--I am 71 years old and very interested in cleaning our world up. Haven't been driving my old 1963 Rambler Clasic over the winter months so I do not attend some of the meetings that are held in the evening hours. I try to make up for it by writing my Comments. I have lived at the above address for 42 years, and have enjoyed every year of it. I PAVILION CALENDAR SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY APRIL 1992 WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY BP=BIRTHDAY PARTY (4-6 YR OLDS) I 1 2 3 4 FFT=FUN FITNESS & TUMBLING (2-4 YR OLDS) I 19:30-10:30 MWO 9:15-12:15 PD MWO=MOMS WORKOUT (FITNESS CLASS FOR MOMS AND TOTS) PD=PLAYTIME DISCOVERY (3-5 YR OLDS) 12:30- 1:30 MWO PS=PRESCHOOL SPECIAL (3-5 YR OLDS) SB=STRING BAND (BAND PRACTICE) SC=SMALL CHANGE (1-3 YR OLDS) I 4:00- 6:00 BP 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 9:30-11:30 SC 9:30-10:30 MWO 9:30-10:30 MWO 9:15-12:15 PD 9:00-12:30 10:45-11:30 FFT I PS SPECIAL 12:30- 1:30 MWO TAP & BALLET? I 4:00- 6:00 BP 6:45- 9:00 SB 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9:30-11:30 SC 9:00-11:00 PS 9:15-12:15 PD EASTER ART 12:30- 2:30 PS 3:30- 7:30 EASTER ART SHAPE -UP CHALLENGE WALK TAP & BALLET? 6:45- 9:00 SB 4:00- 6:00 BP 19 20 2 1 22 23 24 25 9:30-11:30 SC 9:30-10:30 MWO 9:30-10:30 MWO 9:15-12:15 PD 10:45-11:30 FFT RAIN DATE FOR SHAPE -UP WALK TAP & BALLET? I I 4:00- 6:00 BP 6:45- 9:00 SB 26 27 28 29 30 9:30-11:30 SC 9:30-10:30 MWO 9:30-10:30 MWO 10:45-11:30 FFT 6:45- 9:00 SB An Article taken out of the Star Tribune which was in the parer the week of March 2. FOR. THE EARTH Queen Elizabeth says time is running out to save the natural environment from destruction. In her annual Commonwealth Day message in Londay Monday, broadcast internationally, she asked all people of the Commonwealth, of which she is head, to remember they share the world with many other living things. The Queen appealed directly to the young people of the Commori wea l th . There is no time to spare," she said. "It is your future that is at stake."