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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Packet 06-13-1996Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission June 13, 1996, 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. Awarded contracts on ice arena b. 5. Unfinished Business a. Review ice arena/pool complex b. West Medicine Lake Park update c. Open spaces update d. Playfield/highschool update e. Senior citizen needs analysis update f. Continue golf course discussion - Rich Deziel, owner of Hollydale, will attend meeting g. Request to place log home in Parkers Lake Park update 6. New Business a. Sunset Hill Elementary School playground - request for funding b. Review list of names for ice arena C. 7. Commission Presentation 8. Staff Communication 9. Adjourn Next regular meeting - July 11 Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting May 9, 1996 Page 20 Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Fiemann, Priebe, Thompson and Willegalle; staff Bisek, Blank and Pederson; Councilmember Wold Absent: Commissioners Johnson and Wahl 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Anderson called the May meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. in the City Center Lunchroom. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Commissioner Fiemann and seconded by Commissioner Willegalle 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 announced that recreation division revenues were down the first quarter of `96. She thinks this may have been due in part to the bad weather we had. She stated that staff was working on the City's first ever mail -in registration for swimming. Several hundred registrations were received, and most people did get either their first, second or third choice. Phone inter -active registration is still being studied, and Mary indicated that if all goes according to plan, this process would begin in the fall of `96. An Over 55 Softball league began this past week, and the participants involved are quite excited that this league finally materialized, after having been offered and cancelled in past years due to lack of registrations. Mary announced that the City's volunteer coordinator has now been with the City three years, and in that time, the volunteer work force has tripled. c. Others. 4. PAST COUNCIL ACTION Council approved the feasibility study for the East Medicine Lake Regional trail. Another public meeting will likely be scheduled in August or September. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Review ice arena/pool complex. Director Blank announced that trees have been removed and dirt is being pushed around on the site. Bid packages are out. The project continues to move on the fast track, with a projected opening PRAC Minutes/May 1996 Page 21 sometime between December 15 and March 15. At next month's PRAC meeting, a name for the facility will be discussed. b. West Medicine Lake Park update. The bridge is back on the Council agenda for May 15. Director Blank stated that the road is scheduled for paving in October or early November. c. Open spaces update. The purchase of the Johnson Bros. parcel is on the next Council agenda for final approval. The Seitzer property has numerous spruce trees that are being removed and planted in other parks. d. Playfield/high school update. The bid package for the playfield complex will be out next week. The City's portion of the project should be completed by the end of this year. e. Senior citizen needs analysis update. The report on the needs of seniors in Plymouth will be available by next month's meeting. f. Golf course discussion. Ken and John Hampton, the owners of Hampton Hills golf course, were present to discuss the future of their course. Director Blank explained to them that the City is interested in golf courses continuing to exist in Plymouth, and is concerned that the possibility of future development may cause some golf course owners to. sell their property. The Hamptons asked if sanitary sewer would bypass their course or pass through it? Director Blank responded that according to the map, it appears that the sanitary sewer will pass through the course. The Hamptons indicated they don't need sewer, because they have their own septic system and their own wells, which adequately serve the golf course and the family homes that are located there. Mr. Hampton stated that it is his wish to keep the golf course as long as possible and to pass it on to his children, with the hope that they would then pass it on to their children. He feels that a lot of the course wouldn't even be developable because the land is quite wet. He indicated that the course is about 145 acres in size. He said that he didn't know how many rounds the course does per year, because they don't keep records that way. They keep track of the revenue, instead. Mr. Hampton indicated that he wasn't particularly interested in selling to developers, even though he's had offers, and if he ever did decide to sell, he would rather sell to the City. Director Blank asked him what the City could do to help out and encourage him to stay in the business. Mr. Hampton responded that the course suffers a lot from storm water runoff and that they've had problems specifically with the railroad's culverts being directed toward the golf course. He requested that the City look into the water runoff problems and talk to the railroad. Councilmember Wold directed staff to refer this problem to Dan Faulkner in Engineering, because he is -in charge of the City's new storm water management program. The Hamptons asked Director Blank what the City's thoughts are regarding the golf courses in Plymouth. He stated that the City would like the PRAC Minutes/May 1996 Page 22 golf courses to remain, rather than sell to developers, but that the City also understands how desirable the land is to developers. Mary Bisek asked Mr. Hampton if he could rank the difficulty of his course. He explained that average courses usually have a ranking of 100, and that Hampton Hills' ranking is 106. g. Review northeast neighborhood park plan. Director Blank explained that if PRAC is comfortable with the master plan for this park it needs to be approved this evening and forwarded to the City Council. George Watson, the design consultant, then made a brief presentation to PRAC, explaining that the parcel is 43 acres in size, with 12.7 acres above the 100 year flood plain. After subtracting the areas that are wooded and sloped, about two acres remain that can be developed. He described the various amenities in the park and using a few colored displays, he showed PRAC how the park would look, describing where the children's playground, trails, benches, boardwalk, fishing docks, etc. would be located. He indicated that the majority of the park will be left in its natural state, and the trail will be paved in some areas and crushed rock or wood chips in other areas. He explained that the C.P. Railroad wants to formalize the crossing that people have been using over the years to gain access to that park. He stated that a non -signalized crossing would be the least expensive and that the train would blow its whistle at.a non -signalized crossing, while it would not do the same at a signalized crossing. He explained that the most expensive access at this site would be abridge crossing, however, most people would continue to cross the railroad, tracks where they always have. Another access point to the park could be through the Cardinal Ridge development, but this is a private development, so the access would have to be worked out with them. Another issue of concern to the residents is the color of theplay equipment. They want it to be as neutral as possible, so it blends in with the surroundings. They prefer earth tone colors such as green and beige or wood -type structures. Commissioner Priebe voiced a concern regarding the attraction children have for water and what was being done to keep them away from the water's edge. Mary Bisek responded that there are no steep slopes leading to the water and that the ponds' edges are not manicured but rather have tall grasses and cattails bordering them. She explained that toddlers usually will not wade through this, because they don't like to have things brushing against their faces. As for the bridges and docks, these all have railings, which should help prevent kids from falling off. Commissioner Fiemann commented that he didn't see any plans for a hard court area anywhere in this park, so he was concerned about the basketball players in the neighborhood. George responded that this was not a facility that would really fit well in this park, because of the park's nature. He also felt it would not be a popular activity with the residents around this park. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON, AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PRIEBE TO ACCEPT THE MASTER. PLAN AS PRESENTED FOR THE NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD PARK. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. PRAC Minutes/May 1996 Page 23 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Birchview Elementary School playground request for funding. Marie Egger, representing the playground committee, made a presentation to PRAC and requested funding for their new playground. She explained that this park is the neighborhood park for this area, as well as the school park. She displayed several drawings showing the equipment they've purchased thus far, and the equipment they would like to still acquire. The park is being built in three phases, she said. She indicated that the project is being installed completely by volunteers and that theyve saved thousands of dollars doing it this way. Other sources of funding for Phase I have included about $15,000 from the Birchview PTA's fundraising efforts and cash donations and $2,900 from the school district in various areas, such as securing ADA suitable equipment, site amendment fee, etc. Fundraising efforts will continue as well as soliciting donations from businesses and civic groups, so that the project can proceed with Phases II and III. Ms. Egger requested that the City consider a contribution of at least $15,000 toward this project. Director Blank then explained to PRAC that the first school playground improvement the City helped finance was in 1985, and it was Pilgrim Lane Elementary. After that first request came in, the City decided to develop some guidelines that all school groups had to follow when requesting funding from the City. The guidelines stated that the City would contribute up to $10,000 in matching funds. Director Blank explained that the policy is now over ten years old and should perhaps be updated. A contribution of $10,000 may not be realistic anymore, when you consider that a playground can cost from $50,000 to 100,000 to build. A good time to redo the policy would be at the time of planning the 1997-2001 parks' CiP, according to Director Blank. b. Sunset Hill Elementary School "playground request for funding. Director Blank stated that the City has also received a request for funding from Sunset Hill for upgrading their school's playground, and a request has now come in from Pilgrim Lane, which was the first school to get funding, back in 1985. c. Letter from Carol Creelman. Director Blank explained that Mrs. Creelman is interested in replicating the log cabin on County Road 6 for personal and historical reasons. She has offered to fund the project herself. The log cabin would serve as an educational tool and could be used by the Plymouth Historical Society when discussing the history of Plymouth. Director Blank explained that the cabin is in such poor condition that it would probably fall apart if any attempts to move it were made. Mrs. Creelman is proposing to have an exact replica of the log cabin built somewhere in Parkers Lake Park. It's possible that a log or two from the original cabin, or a block of stone from the chimney, could be salvaged and incorporated into the new cabin. d. Pick date for annual park tour. A couple of dates were discussed, with Thursday, May 30, being the-pi-eferred choice. The bus will leave City Center at PRAC Minutes/May 1996 Page 24 4 p.m. and get back around 9. Box lunches will be served. Invitations will be sent to the Council, the Planning Commission, the Water Quality Committee, and other staff. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION Commissioner Willegalle . announced that the Parkers Lake Improvement Association submitted an application for and subsequently received a full $10,000 matching grant from the DNR for theconstruction of NURP ponds at the new high school site. 8. STAFF COMMUNICATION None. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m. DATE: June 10, 1996 TO: PRAC > FROM: Eric J. Blank, Director, Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: Offer from Carol Creelman to Donate Historic Log Cabin At last month's Commission meeting, we talked briefly about Carol Creelman's desire to donate a log cabin to the City. She is prepared to contract for a reproduction of the log cabin at County Road 6 and Vicksburg Lane for display in Parkers Lake Park. I had Mark Peterson look at the situation, and we feel that the preparation of the site, the subgrade foundation work and electrical work will run around $20,000. Mrs. Creelman has agreed to pay up to $10,000 for this work, above and beyond the total cost of paying for the log cabin. I believe this is a very worthwhile project and will help people understand the history of Plymouth at the time of its early settlement. Therefore, I am recommending that we go forward with accepting the donation to place the log cabin in Parkers Lake Park, with the City contributing up to $10,000 for site work to match Mrs. Creelman's contribution. As I mentioned last month, we are exploring two locations in the park. One is very near the open air picnic shelter, and the other one is further down the west shore of the lake. If the Commission is comfortable, we probably will need another month to evaluate the two sites and come back to you at your July meeting with a specific recommendation on which site. However, Mrs. Creelman is anxious to get the log cabin underway, and is interested in having the recommendation of the Park Commission and City Council as, soon as possible. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the Commission accept the donation from Carol Creelman for the reproduction of the log cabin at no cost to the City, and further that the City will match her contribution up to $10,000 for site work and electrical work for the log cabin project. Mrs. Creelman will donate up to $10,000 for site preparation for the log cabin. I have also requested a letter from the Plymouth Historical Society endorsing the project, which indicates that they are willing to provide the educational material necessary to bring to life the early settlement of the Plymouth area. EB/np Attachment 1 !IMOM0, IORICAL Wlfa MUSEUM: 3605 Fernbrook Lane MAILING: 3400 Plymouth Blvd., Plymouth, MN 55447 6/10/96 Eric Blank Park & Recreation Dept. City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447 Dear Eric; The Plymouth Historical Society wants to express our support of Carol Creelman's project to replicate the Log Cabin located on County Road 6. She is donating the cost of the Log Cabin and it appears that it would be very appropriate to locate the Log Cabin in the Parker's Lake Park. We support this effort and her generosity in this gift to the City of Plymouth. The Plymouth Historical Society will provide historical information and pictures to be used in the structure. SinAry cerely, Vidde .`$ President Plymouth Historical Society cc: Carol Creelman Plymouth Historical Society Our Past /s Present... Help Us Keep !t" `1Rao 4 lordjki A June 5, 1996 City of Plymouth Park and Recreation Advisory Commission 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 Dear Advisory Commission Members: Thank you for considering our request for assistance with funding the playground project at Sunset Hill Elementary School/City Park. Our Sunset Hill community of parents, children, and staff is excited about our plan for a new and safe play experience for the children of our school and the surrounding neighborhood. Last summer we received funding through Independent School District 284 for the following: i) playground drainage correction; (ii) replacement of surface; (iii) blacktop resurfacing; iv) purchase and installation of accessible playground equipment which meets the guidelines of the 1991 Federal Americans with Disabilities Act. As part of these renovations, our tire swings were to be relocated. After they were removed, they were deemed unsafe and could not be reinstalled. Therefore, our PTA decided to purchase some additional playground equipment as well as replace the Tire swings. The following items were purchased and installed in September 1995: (i) one tire swing; (ii) two additional belt swings; (iii) a "Drop Shot'; (iv) a "Toss 'N Score"; and (v) two tether ball units. The Toss'N Score" was purchased through Minnesota(Wisconsin Playground, Inc. All other equipment was purchased through Earl Andersen, Inc. (Landscape Structures). The total cost for the equipment, freight, and installation was $4,426.46. Now we are faced with the challenge of funding the replacement of the remaining wooden play structures see attached photographs), which were originally purchased and installed in 1986. Due to the insufficient water drainage on the playground in the past, the wooden structures are deteriorating and need to be replaced in the near future (see attached letter). Therefore, we are asking for consideration for funding assistance in 1997. We have been working with a representative (Dave Owen) from Earl Andersen, Inc. over the past school year to establish a playground plan. We believe our plan will provide a high-quality, safe, and fun play experience for the Sunset Hill community children. Our goal is to secure all funding for Phase I and Phase H by June 1997. This will be feasible with existing PTA funds, 1996-1997 school fund-raising events, and assistance from the City of Plymouth. Enclosed are the items you have requested for review. These include site plans, outline of phases, cost estimates, and anticipated funding. We appreciate your consideration of our request and look forward to reviewing our proposal with you on June 13. Please contact us with any questions or concerns. Sincerely, Ar", ,ter.,c Q Dr. Karla Thompson LuAnn Culhane Laurie Epstein Principal, Sunset Hill PTA Playground Committee Chair PTA Playground Committee Member 476-3081 544-0334 593-5329 SUNSET HILL SCHOOL 13005 SUNSET TRAIL PLYMOUTH, MN 55441-5699 (612) 476-3080 FAX (612) 476-5035 Sunset Hill Elementary PTA Playground Plan PHASE ONE Estimated Completion: June 1, 1997 Main Play Structure See Attached) PHASE TWO Estimated Completion: September 1. 1997 Spring Ring Humpty Climber (double) Fire Engine Belt Swing Unit Tire Swings (2) PHASE THREE Estimated Completion: June 1. 1998 Metal Benches (3) Metal Trash Cans (3) Total: Estimated Costs 533,000 Volunteer Labor 2,025 S1,400 S5.100 1,500 2.740 12,765 Volunteer Labor 1,800 800 Total: $ 2,600 GRAND TOTAL for three phases $ 48.365 Review of Funding Sunset Hill Playground Equipment Current Funds: $15,000 1996-1997 School Year Fund Raisers: Family Fun Nights Goal: $2,000 Pennies for Playground Goal: $1,000 - $1,500 Cash Donations from local businesses and Civic Groups 5,000 - $8,000 Poinsettia Sale: Goal: $2,000 Other Sources: Future fund raisers Direct donations from families City of Plymouth Tuesday, November 28, 1995 Sunset Hill Elementary PTA c/o Ms. LuAnn Culhane Playground Committee Chairperson 2412 Indian Road West Minnetonka. MN 55305 Dear Sunset Hill Elementary PTA: RODGER SCHAEFBAUER Health/safety specialist 17305 19th Avenue North Plymouth, Mn 56447 • 012/476-5059 Fax: 61214763278 To clarify various topics previously discussed at PTA meetings, I would like to provide a written response regarding existing conditions of the play areas located at Sunset Hill Elementary. First, improvements began in 1993. A large area of pea rock was incorporated into the blacktop area currently serving as a basketball court. The area to the east of the blacktop had black dirt and sod added to improve the quality of playing games outdoors on a flat, grassy area. In 1994, the school board approved the first Playground Safety Management Plan. This initiated several policies which includes equipment inspections and maintaining impact attenuating surfaces in close proximity of climbing and swinging structures. As part of the inspections, it has been determined that the main wood structure does not pass the 1991 Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines. In 1995, funds were approved for the surface at the Sunset Hill Elementary playground to be upgraded to a wood fiber system which will greatly reduce the potential for injuries resulting from falls. This project also improved drainage of the play area, provided handicapped accessible play structures for the first time, researched the traffic patterns of students and local users, and designed some new activities to further reduce the potential for collisions or impact injuries. The future of the wood structure is impossible to forecast. No known repairs are available except replacement. I am trying to inform your organization of this predicament so plans can be initiated. If the structure does become unsafe or a rise in injuries occur, I will not hesitate to remove the hazard. Remember, funding for new equipment is not available through the school district unless the items will assist handicapped students. I hope you find this information helpful in summarizing the district's past and future activities. I have attached my business card for quick reference. Please don't hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, izllow Rodger Schaefbauer Health & Safety Specialist copy: Joe Matson, Supervisor of.Buildings & Grounds Karla Thompson, Principal, Sunset Hill Elem. Natalie Malphrus, Executive Director of Finance & Business Central Services Facility 17305 19th Avenue North Plymouth, MN 55447-2703 FAX 476-3278 j . Y . d 4 y 0 i e.` a 4 y 0 i REDUCED DO NOT SCALE EMSTNG EMUNGSTEPS CCNGRET Jb eixi r'n I EASnuG A'G \\ J EXERGSE wxivn EQUIPMENT rNi in i' Eppy JL ems ME X TINGiar I. I . u::M EXISnW 6' W EXISTING EWIPMENI \\ TX. IIRE S.lG NEW I I TIRE SWING 4: Itl ' di E%ISTUG \ :i SCET-STEP \ y°f ' 13' 0 Sam l nMRER EIMEER \\ REDUCED DO NO SCALF 1 II i. //_-s. NEW \\\ l\ TIRE SWING II // II // J I rMSER MER SUa3124 NOLLE MIENGEHTG^QRV MAVML%T& SCHOOLS I m 1996 by EW I. An6ereen, Inc,. All RI9AIe R—.d. LANDSCAPE STRUGWRESINC SUNSET HILL ELEMENTARY ROUTE 3. 601 7TH ST. SOUTH DELANO. MINNESOTA $5328 (512) 972-33911 -10&328d035 FAX (612) 922d t Zcc R I Al /. PILL l SuN.SEr HILL CeNTER I 7- P AK6pouND all 41 S.SE7' Club Plymouth Plymouth Ice Center Plymouth Skate Center Plymouth Ice Arena Plymouth Skate Arena Plymouth Ice Palace Plymouth Skate Palace Plymouth Ice Forum Plymouth Skate Forum Plymouth Ice Garden Plymouth Skate Garden Plymouth Ice Park Plymouth Skate Park Plymouth Ice Palace Plymouth Skate Palace Plymouth Ice Stadium Plymouth Skate Stadium Plymouth Ice Coliseum Plymouth Skate Coliseum Plymouth Icedrome Plymouth Skatedrome Plymouth Ice Theater Plymouth Skate Theater Plymouth Ice Bowl Plymouth Skate Bowl Plymouth Ice Castle Plymouth Skate Castle Mr. Eric Blank May 13, 1996 Park and Recreation Director 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447 Dear Mr. Blank, Shortly after my presentation to the Park and Rec Committee last Thursday evening, I became aware that my request for $15,000 of funding assistance was in fact "off the top of my head" and based on some outdated information. As a result of the following new information and sensible reasoning, I would like to increase our request for funding to $25,000, ($15,000 of that as matchable). There have been some important changes in Wayzata School District 284's budget plan for the site work and wood chip surfacing of our phase II and III areas. Because the funds to complete that work are realistically only available during the 1997 budget year, we at Birchview need to be ready to install BOTH phase II and III during 1997, rather than delaying some or all of phase III until 1998. It is also very possible that District #284 will not be able to budget for the paving of the 90' handicapped access pathway during the '97 budget year as we had hoped, thereby leaving all "wheeled" access to the handicapped accessible play areas from the parking / sidewalked areas on hold for an indefinite period of time. The ever increasing need for youth soccer facilities (demonstrated by my daughter's team practice to be held at Birchview tonight with no goals), emphasizes the fact that funding to install one (or more) soccer goal sets could benefit MANY more kids beyond just those who attend Birchview or live nearby if it were to become a site for youth soccer practices and games, as it is already for baseball. Lastly, your committee brought up the need for benches or a table more within the play area. Frankly we would love to do just that, but the large price tag attached to high quality playground equipment itself makes ammenities such as these difficult to budget for. Perhaps the city of Plymouth could help us by outright purchasing some of these pieces which will make the park more user friendly. Sincerely, ems_ Marie Egger, Birchview Playground Committee Chairperson