HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Packet 07-14-1994Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission
July 14, 1994, 7 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
a. Approved master plan for West Medicine Lake park
b. Approved master plan for Seven Ponds neighborhood park
c. Approved 1994-98 CIP (enclosed)
5. Unfinished Business
a. Study of unique open spaces - review progress
b. Accessible playground update
c. 1994 trail construction projects update
d. Seven Ponds neighborhood park update
6. New Business
a.
b.
C.
7. Commission Presentation
8. Staff Communication
9. Adjourn
Next Regular Meeting - August 11
MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
June 9, 1994
Page 18
Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Bildsoe, Fiemann, Johnson, Mikula, Wahl and
Willegalle; staff Bisek, Blank and Pederson, Planning Commissioner Oja,
Councilman Edson
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Anderson called the June meeting to order at 7 p.m. in the Council Conference
Room.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Wahl and seconded by Commissioner Mikula to
approve the minutes of the April meeting as presented. The motion carried with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None were present.
b. Staff. Mary stated that a concert stage is being built by park maintenance staff for the
summer outdoor concerts held at Parkers lake Park. Concerts start there Tuesday, June
21, and are held every Tuesday evening throughout the summer, except June 28. Mary
reminded commissioners that Music in Plymouth is Wednesday, June 29, and that
Target Greatland is again sponsoring the fireworks show.
Mary announced that an integration specialist and integration aide have been hired with
funding secured from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. They will
work part-time this summer to assist kids with special needs that have registered for our
programs.
c. Others.
4. PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. Acquisition of property on Forestview Lane. The City Council approved the acquisition
of the final piece of property located inside the boundaries of the proposed West
Medicine Lake Park.
b. AMroved 1994 CIP. Council approved the 1994 capital improvements budget.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. West Medicine Lake Park update. Council has scheduled a public hearing on the
proposed master plan for West Medicine Lake Park on Monday, June 20. Notice on the
public hearing was sent to all those who attended earlier public meetings on the park as
well as to the focus group members. Jay Maxwell, from the SunSailor, interviewed
PRAC Minutes/June 1994
Page 19
Director Blank, and an article on the proposed West Medicine Lake park may appear in
the June 16 issue of the Sailor.
b. Unique open spaces update. A biologist from Short -Elliott -Hendrickson has visited all
the sites identified by the Open Space committee for possible preservation and has
ranked the top nine based on ecological factors only. An additional six sites were added
to the list, because the Open Space committee requested that a total of 15 sites be
chosen. The committee will continue to study these 15 sites and should have some sort
of preliminary report available for review by August. Some of the sites that have been
identified may be saved through other means, besides acquisition by the City, such as
ordinances that protect certain types of wetlands, etc. Discussion continued then on
community support for acquiring open space. Director Blank stated that he thinks there
is support for such an acquisition. He stated that the next issue of the Plymouth News
will have an article on the work that the Open Space committee has been doing.
c. Accessible playground update. Director Blank announced that a bid advertisement was
sent to the local paper June 9, and that the process for getting this playground
constructed is moving along as quickly as possible.
d. 1994 trail construction projects update. Director Blank stated that Council authorized
staff to proceed with the construction of the trail segments proposed for 1994. The
Turtle Lake trail is on hold again. The owners of the affected property are not willing
to sell at this time, but have not ruled it out altogether. He indicated that Fernbrook
Lane is being extended north of 45th Avenue, so the trail along Fernbrook will be
extended at the same time. Commissioner Fiemann inquired as to the likelihood of a
trail being built this year along Medina Road from Holly to Jewel Lane. He feels there
is a need for a trail on the south side of the road there, and he also suggested that the
trail plan be amended to show a trait all the way to the Medina border. Director Blank
responded that it wasn't very likely that a trail would be constructed along Medina Road
in 1994, but he did say that trail construction projects for 1995 will be reviewed by the
Commission starting this fall.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Review master site plan for Seven Ponds/Heather Run neighborhood park. Tim
Erkkila, design consultant from Westwood Engineering, presented the proposed master
plan for this neighborhood park to the Commission and staff. He briefly described the
plan, explaining the locations of the various entrances, the types of trees growing in the
park, the locations and types of facilities, such as the play equipment, hard court area,
trails, ballfield, etc. He explained that during high water years, some portions of the
trail will be under water for a brief time. He also stated that bridges may be constructed
over some parts of the trail and may require guard rails to keep bicyclists from driving
off the trail. He explained that the cost estimate to build the park is $126,192, and he
distributed copies of the costs to the Commission. He stated that before construction
could proceed, a permit will need to be secured from the DNR, because some wetlands
PRAC Minutes/June 1994
Page 20
will be disturbed during the construction. He is confident that the permit will be
granted and shouldn't cause any delay in the construction process.
A representative of the neighborhood was present and urged the Park Commission to
approve the master plan for the park. She explained that the neighborhood residents like
the plan and are excited about the park.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER FIEMANN AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER WAHL TO APPROVE THE MASTER PLAN FOR SEVEN
PONDS/HEATHER RUN NEIGHBORHOOD PARK AS PROPOSED AND TO
FORWARD THE PLAN TO THE CITY COUNCIL. THE MOTION CARRIED
WITH ALL AYES.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
Chair Anderson urged members of the Commission to attend the public hearing scheduled
for June 20 on the proposed master plan for West Medicine Lake City Park.
Commissioner Johnson raised the issue of a neighborhood park west of Vicksburg and
north of Co. Rd. 9, which has been requested by residents living in Oxbow, Autumn Hills
and other surrounding developments. There is no park in this area and none is planned at
the present time. Director Blank responded that the Hollydale golf course lies in the
middle of these developments and is the only public land designated on the parks system
plan. He knows of no other land that is available at this time for the purpose of building a
neighborhood park. He indicated that he would continue to correspond with Mona
Domaas, who is acting as the neighborhood representative, regarding this issue.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
Director Blank stated that bike lanes may be striped on the shoulders of Vicksburg Lane,
from 45th Avenue north to County Road 47, when Vicksburg Lane is overlaid with new
asphalt. Because Vicksburg is a rural road north of 45th, it has deep ditches on either side
of it, which do not allow for off road bike lanes. Director Blank received a letter last year
from a young man requesting bike lanes on Vicksburg, because his sister was fatally
injured while riding her bike there.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
July 13, 1994
CITY OFPIYMOUTR
Steven Chase
11901 23rd Avenue N
Plymouth, MN 55441
Dear Mr. Chase:
Mayor Tierney has forwarded your letter of June 28 to me for review and comment. As you
are aware, during the last nine months the comprehensive planning for West Medicine Lake
Park has proceeded on a step by step basis. The development of an overall master plan for
any park facility requires a considerable amount of input from residents who live throughout
the entire City as well as those who live adjacent to the site. This park has had seven review
meetings and a public hearing before the City Council. The staff and the Park Commission
have listened to the concerns of the residents throughout the planning process and have made
numerous changes to the plan based on input received at those planning meetings. Some items
that you may not be aware of are:
The residents on 18th Avenue indicated they did not want additional traffic on their
street, therefore, a design was chosen that minimized traffic on 18th Avenue.
Based on concerns about parking at the site, the master plan deleted over 100
parking stalls because of citizen input.
Security for park users was an issue, therefore, we have planned for the addition of
security lighting in the parking lot and other appropriate areas to help with the
security issue.
The idea of a marina was totally dropped from consideration.
The seven member focus group specifically asked that tennis and basketball be
included because they felt these features would be well used.
As you know, on June 20, the City Council held a public hearing and approved the park
master plan as presented and recommended by the citizens' focus group and the Park and
Recreation Advisory Commission. The plan as approved does show a basketball and tennis
court in the north portion of the park just west of Medicine Lake Drive. Because of the
concerns you have raised, we are going to be thoroughly evaluating whether this is the most
appropriate location for the tennis courts. In the next few months, as the consultant gets into
the detailed design and is able to pinpoint the exact location of these tennis courts, I will be
meeting with you and your neighbors to provide you with more information regarding the
design of the courts.
We Listen • We Solve • We Care
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447 • TELEPHONE (612) 550-5000
In direct response to the questions in your June 28 letter:
Tennis is a game that is contained in a totally fenced area and therefore, we do not
believe there is any inherent danger with it being near West Medicine Lake Drive.
There is never any guarantee that children will be safe in a park, or for that matter,
at any other location. We design all of our parks to be as safe as possible, but that
does not alleviate the responsibility of a child's parents to supervise their children in
an appropriate manner.
The tennis courts will not be lit, therefore, the game cannot be played after dusk.
Associated parking will be just south of the tennis courts but on the west side of the
street. A trail leading from the parking lot to the tennis courts will be installed. If,
in the future, it is necessary to put up a fence between your homes and the park, we
would consider that based on evidence provided.
Whenever anyone is inappropriately using a park, the proper response is to can the
police at 911 and ask for assistance. We have tennis courts at eight other locations
throughout the community, and we have not had any problems with the operation of
those facilities. At our other tennis facilities, we have between three and five tennis
courts and basketball. This location will be limited to only two courts, therefore,
the usage should be quite low with generally no more than four people at one time.
We are just beginning the detail work on all of the grading and how it will affect
flood plains and other drainage patterns in this area. Our consultant is well aware
of these issues and will be taking into consideration your concerns with regard to
filling flood plains.
As we proceed into the more detailed design work in the coming months, I would
be very happy to meet with you and residents of your neighborhood to discuss in
more detail exactly how the tennis courts may fit in this area. At that time we
would also discuss the idea to landscape the area in such a way to create a greater
buffer between the homes and the tennis facility.
If you have additional questions, please feel free to call me at 550-5131.
Sincerely,
54,
Eric J. Blank, Director
Parks and Recreation
EB/np
cc: Mayor and City Council
City Manager
PRAC
Barry Warner
CIPPABKYALS
Popo 1
City of Plymouth
1994 -1998 Capital Improvements Program
Park
Projectj1216,000
Project Park Year Park Detion Park Dedication
Number FMJeet Playricld Neighborhood MSA Slate/Count Tax increment Community lm m Other Funding Total Other Fund ng Sources Notes
Trails Park, Funding Federal FinancingFund CIF)- Sources
1 ecgbuban otop. spuv 1994 250,000 250,000 Gant from CIF
2 CorauuctMcrobly Phyyouna 1994 20,000 65,000 50,000 135,000 FRA/CDBGFwds
3 Land acggddon-Nimh Plgfield 1994 1 216,000
4 RrolaceeplrygroandaHNtmhood Dank, 1 1994 1 200,0001 200.003
5 meonn Lae Dem -School Plvygound 1994 I 10,000 10,000
6 Trub 1994 100,000 100,000 200000
7 Snvn Pend+Ndghbmhod Pok Devel. 1993 1 120.0001 120,000
e lCtodbut Ridge Nbomood Pok -Land A<q 1994 60,000 60,000
9 Comm Paymml-KSE Pde 1994 36,000 36,000
10 wea Medi<vte Lae Pok Lana 1 1994 1435,000 435,000
sabml•I 1,372,000 455,0001 100,000 435,000 250,000 50,000 2,662,000
10 Wen M1ledicuwtA.PokRoad 1 1995 1,565,000 1,565,000
6 nous 1995 100,000 100,000 200000
3 Ninth Playfiddl3mlopmml 1995 250,000 250,000
9 Final Camra Payment-KSE Pok 1995 38,000 38000
8 Coding Ridge NTmhoad Pao Onxlopm 1995 185,000 185,000
12 Tmm Pluyfield A qumio % 1995 140,000 Mow
Subtotal 490,000 223,000 100,000 0 1,565,000 0 0 2,378,000
6 Trail, 1996 200,000 100,000 300,000
11 Park Repbxcment work 1996 99,000 99,000 Park Replacement Fwd
4 PlayFo d Equipment Replxemnu (3) 1996 1 100,000 100000
3 NiaN Plgfield Developmml 1996 500,000 1 500 000
10 Wen gldidne Lae Pok Dnxlopmetu 1996 500,000 50,000 550,000
12 Tenth Plnsfidd Acquisition 1996 140,000 140,000
Subtotal 1,340,000 100,000 100.000 50,0001 0 01 99.000 1,689.000
5 Trail. 1997 200,000 100,000 300,000
7 Neighborhood Park Dnalopmeta 1997 175,000 175,000
11 Pok Reploemmn work 1997 207,000 207,000 Park Replacement Fwd
12 Tooth P1,11,1d Aquiduon 1 1997 140.0001 140.000
SAWA 1 340,000 175,0001 100,000 01 0 01 207,000 822,000
6 Trail, 1998 200,000 100,000 300,000
II Puk Reploemmt wink 1998 383,000 383,000 Park Re Iu<ment Fwd
Subtotal 200,000 0 100,000 383,000 683,000
Total 3,742,000 953,000 500,000 SO,OOD 2,000,000 250,000 739,000 234,000
Popo 1
1. 1994 Acquisition of Open Space
2. 1994 Construct Accessible Playground
3. 1994 Land Acquisition - 9th Playfield
4. 1994 Replace 4 Playgrounds in Neighborhood Parks
5. 1994 Gleason Lake Elem. - School Playground
6. 1994 Trails
7. 1994 Seven Ponds Neighborhood Park Development
8. 1994 Cardinal Ridge Neighborhood Park Land Acquisition
9. 1994 Contract Payment (KSE Park)
10. 1994 West Medicine Lake City Park - Land Acquisition
3. 1995 9th Playfreld - Phase I Development
6. 1995 Trails
8. 1995 Cardinal Ridge Neighborhood Park Development
9. 1995 Final Contract Payment (KSE Park)
10. 1995 West Medicine Lake City Park - Road Relocation
12. 1995 Land Acquisition - 10th Playfreld (Contract for Deed)
3. 1996 9th Playfreld - Phase II Development
4. 1996 Replace Three Playgrounds in Neighborhood Parks
10. 1996 West Medicine Lake City Park - Development
6 1996 Trails
11. 1996 Park Replacement Work
12. 1996 Contract Payment (10th Playfreld)
6. 1997 Trails
7 1997 Neighborhood Park Development
11. 1997 Park Replacement Work
12. 1997 Final Contract Payment - 10th Playfreld
6. 1998 Trails
11. 1998 Park Replacement Work
Will Plymouth Save ,our
Wetlands and Forest?
What'_ sbeen jlR2genlnct
This property is one of 30 that the Open Space Committee has evaluated for possiblepreservation. The consultant the City hired has. ranked this preppy as the fourth mostvaluableenvironmentalsiteinPlymouth, and the Number One most valuable -ft in theareaofPlymouththatiscurrentlyabletobedeveloped. (The fust three will not havesewerserviceuntilatleast2001, so they can't be developed until then-)
The open Space Committee will make it's recommendation to the Park and RecreationAdvisoryCommissiononJuly14at7PMastowhichsitestheCityshouldtrytoProtectTheParkandRecreationAdvisoryCommissionwillthenmaketheirrecommendationto
the City Council
The City Council has already authorized•Eric Blank, Director of Parks and Recreation, tobeginnegotiationswithDanielDevelopmentforthepurchaseofthepropertyeastofHarrisonHills, between 55th Ave N and the SOO Railroad line. The 17 acres include 7acresofwetland, and 10 acres of mostly forested upland. Details of the negotiations are
not yet available.
The developer has given the City the first right of refusal -to purchase this land, with aJuly31deadline. Otherwise, it win be sold to builders, and bulldozers will start their
destruction soon.
What we need to do
To find out how the negotiations are going, contact Eric Blank at 550-5130.
Call the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Members, and speak up at
the Jay 14 meeO= to voice our support for the, purchase of this land:
Donald Anderson
Mary Kay Watson
Henry Wiliegalle
Thomas Johnson
Mark Wahl
Ronald FLemann
I.Yn n Mikuia
Chair, At Large
Ward I
Ward 2
Ward 3
Ward 4
At Large
At targe
545-3608 (home)
559=0446 (home)
473-1069 (home)
557-0822 (home)
553-9563 (home)
476-4152 (home)
595.9924 (home)
449-0447 (work)
593-8845 (work)
638-6352 (work)
482-3886 (work)
883-6545 (Work)
938-5511 (work)
Call and write the City Council Members and urge them to pude this land.
Joy Tierney Mayor 473.1681 (home) 50
55099
message),
David Anderson Ward 1 .
550-5068 message)
Sheryl Morrison Ward
550-5092 message)
Nicholas Granath 3Ward3
Ward 4 557-8633 (home) 550-5067 message)
John Edson
Carole Helliwell At large 557-1530 (home) 550-5066 message)
A At Large 557.0 9 (home) 550-5093 message)
Chuck Lymangoo
If the City doesn't purchase this land before July 31, it will be lost forever!
t'd 62:ET E -1lt' _,_
Robert Kariniemi
18010 33rd Ave North
Plymouth MN 55447
Eric Blank Director of Parks
Plymouth City Hall
3401 Plymouth Blvd
Plymouth MN 55447 6/29/94
I enjoyed our conversation today on possible park placement on 34th and Queensland
Ave. in Plymouth near our home.
Ideas for parks have been pushed for eight to ten years by our family.
i)I attended planning commission meetings where I introduced the plan of
having a park designed in originally in the plan for Boulder Crest. Plymouth was asked
to purchase one or two lots for this purpose at that time about 4 years ago.
I strongly felt at that time that neighborhood planning was inadequate in
inclusion of space for public activities and connectivity between neighborhoods.
Most Planning Commission members were a little slow to respond,and 1 felt we had to
push harder than would seem necessary for such educated individuals. As an example
no one would address my concern that the ski trail in back of the house would be lost
when Boulder Crest was put in. Yet now French Regional Park is so popular in skiing
and ski -skating activity as to have been quite unbelievable at that time. I feel I have
brought up these issue properly to the correct members of our city government, but let
down by the response on their part. We pushed hard for pre-school age park activities
as well, but at the time were misled by talk of pre-school children being allowed to play
at Greenwood school, which is now known to be out, during school days.
ii)My neighbors and myself attended another meeting wherein the adjacent
neighborhood of Amber Woods falsely "talked Plymouth into accepting their privately
owned park at no charge." The reason I say falsely is they then went back to their
membership who denied any intention to give the park away. We were there to get a
park, from Plymouth, and I spoke at that time of Heather Run being private, and Green
Tree West. being way too far from 18010 33rd Ave North for pre-school age children to
play on. I suggested $18,000 worth of playground equipment similar to Heather Run
and we discussed maintainence as costing roughly $4000 per year, which is a paltry
sum for Plymouth. Plymouth is viewed by many as upscale, just as Edina IT say, but
as Edina is now full people are attracted here by the parks that are available and
managed well.
iii) The above concerns being essentially untended to I have been watching
for a neighborhood map, which shows a park planned for our area, but none have
appeared. I feel many opportunities have been missed in the Planning stage and
Plymouth needs to immediately snap up the two lots remaining at 34th and
Queensland for about $120,000 or so. Then drop $18,000 worth of equipment on it
and add two tennis courts for adults and older children if possible. Maintainance is
4000/yr which is easily covered for by the taxes on one home in Boulder Crest already
living there.
If concerns i,ii,iii are all met will I consider the planning and consideration of time I have
spent on this issue to be worth while. I appreciate you returning my phone call to try to
get this park issue resolved once and for all, for our neighborhood. Please try to
address these concerns!! I have lived in Europe also for two years and would have to
say the pleasantness, or the indefineable essence of comfortable, upscale suburban
living is found here but perhaps more easily planned and implemented there than
here, for some reason. I feel Plymouth is closer than most in having adequate
neighborhood planning but have been dissappointed so far in regard to
implementation.
Sincerely yours
Robert KKaariniemi
rrK.
June 20, 1994
Mr. Eric Blank
Director of Parks & Rec
City of Plymouth
Dear Mr. Eric Blank:
Last fall we began discussions about donating the privately
owned park known as AMBER WOODS Park to the City in an attempt to
get a city park within the boundaries of Medina Road, Hwy. 101
and North of Cty. Rd. 24. Since then the residents of Amber Woods
have voted to retain and develop the park as they have in the
past.
Since the Amber Woods solution is no longer available, could
you update me as to what the City plans to do to give the
residents in this area a Park of their own. Currently the
Basketball hoops at Greenwood are just backboards without any
rims and the play equipment is built for children K-6. Is the
City going to update the school property? The new homes built in
the last two years (Bridlewood, Saddlebrook, Churchhill & Boulder
Crest) must of easily generated over a million dollars of taxes
for the City and I think the Homeowners will appreciate some
return on their tax dollars.
Sincerely,
77
Patrick Mc onald
President - Amber Woods Homes Association
1.8625 33rd Pl. N.
Plymouth, MN 55447
612) 449-4855
Parkers Lake Pavilion Calendar
JULY -1994
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2
8-11 JR LIFEGRD
PROGRAM
7:30-10:30 BRIDGE
CLUB
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
INDEPENDENCE 10:45-11:30 FFT 8-11 JR LIFEGRD 9-12:30 PRESCH 10-12 B -DAY
DAY HOLIDAY 11:45-12:30 PROGRAM SPECIAL PRTY-KAYSER
PICNIC & PLAY 449-8985
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
9:30-11:30 SMALL 10:45-11:30 FFT 8-11 JR LIFEGRD 9-12:30 PRESCH
CHANGE 11:45-12:30 PROGRAM SPECIAL
PICNIC & PLAY
1:30-3:30 1:45-2:30 MUSIC
BALLOON ANIM. KINDERFOLK
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
9:30-11:30 SM CH. 9:30-11:30 PLAY 9:30-12 COME 9:30-11:30 PLAY 8-11 JR LIFEGRD 10-4 DITTER
9:30-12 COME PALS OUT & PLAY PALS PROGRAM 551-1165
OUT & PLAY
12-8 SUMMER 1:45-2:30 MUSIC 9-12:30 PRESCH
CARNIVAL KINDERFOLK SPECIAL
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
9:30-12 COME 9:30-11:30 PLAY 9:30-12 COME 9:30-11:30 PLAY 9-12:30 PRESCH
OUT & PLAY PALS OUT & PLAY PALS SPECIAL
31
11-2 L. YOUNG 4:30-8 VOLUNTR 1:45-2:30 MUSIC
644-2294 RECOGNITION KINDERFOLK