HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Packet 02-12-1998Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission
February 12, 1998, 7 p.m.
AGENDA
1. Call to Order
a. Introduce new commissioner, Melissa Musliner
b. Appoint Chair
c. Appoint Vice Chair
2. Approval of Minutes
3. Visitor Presentations
a. Athletic Associations
b. Staff
c. Others
4. Report on Past Council Action
5. Unfinished Business
a. West Medicine Lake park update
b. Elm Creek playfield update
c. East Medicine Lake regional trail update
d. Armstrong High School gym update
e. Activity center update
f. Aggressive skate park update
g. Name for northeast neighborhood park
6. New Business
a. Approve 1997 Annual Report
b.
C.
7. Commission Presentation
S. Staff Communication
9. Adjourn
Next regular meeting - March 12
n\parks\stafAeric\prac\agendas\feb98.doc
Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
January 8, 1998
Page 1
Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Fiemann, Priebe, Thompson, Wahl, and
Willegalle; staff Bisek, Blank, Greupner, and Pederson
Absent: Commissioner Johnson
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Wahl and seconded by Commissioner Willegalle
to approve the minutes of the December meeting as presented. The motion carried
with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None were present.
b. Staff. Mary discussed the TTR system and the packet each commissioner received.
The system is ready to test, so Mary encouraged members to call in and give it a try.
We are looking for comments on how it works or doesn't work. Mary talked about
the Pagemaker training Nancy took for creating a new recreation brochure. Skating
rinks opened on January 2. They are not in very good shape right now because of
the warm weather we've had. Registration for figure skating lessons at the indoor
arena averages about 600 kids per 10 -week session, with 13 skating instructors.
Commissioner Thompson asked about the City's web site and if registration would
ever be available on the site. Mary said she wasn't sure if that would be possible.
There are some concerns about credit card security. Mary mentioned problems with
hiring enough staff to conduct swimming lessons during the school year. Mary
asked PRAC members to think of anyone they might know who would be interested
in teaching swimming. Mary introduced Karol Greupner who was present to discuss
Fire and Ice and the Fine Arts Council. Karol distributed the schedule for Fire and
Ice and an order form for ordering sweatshirts. She mentioned that the logo design
changed and was now much smaller and on the left chest pocket instead of
centered across the front of the shirt. She also distributed the volunteer sign up
sheet for supervising the bonfire. Director Blank said spouses and children could
help out too. New events taking place this year include artistry on the ice where
people can design a large mural on the ice. Each person would be given about 10
minutes time to create something The DNR said the paint is environmentally safe
and because of its content, it will dissipate when the sun comes out. A ribbon
cutting for the new log cabin will take place, and a woman storyteller (The Snow
Queen) will be in the log cabin telling stories. The ice center figure skating school
students will be doing a demo on the ice. Old favorite activities will be tang place,
PRAC Minutes/January 1998
Page 2
also. Plymouth firefighters will be doing an in the water rescue demonstration.
Press releases will be out next week and flyers will be sent to local schools.
Commissioner Willegalle asked about the possibility of snowshoe races or some
other type of race being held at a future Fire and Ice event, or a softball tournament
on the lake. Karol said those were good ideas and would be given consideration.
She then discussed the Plymouth Fine Arts Council and their proposal to have fine
art displayed at City Hall. She discussed a survey that was done with other
communities and learned that many other cities display art in their public buildings.
The proposal was presented to the City Council and it was approved. Fine art will be
displayed in city hall as soon as the appropriate track work can be installed. Next
week, Eric, Karol and members of the Art Council will be meeting to begin
implementing this program. Karol also mentioned that a piece of art was donated
by the Radisson Hotel to the Fine Arts Council and will be displayed at the ice arena.
She indicated that the Fine Arts Council is looking forward to the second annual
Primavera, scheduled for the weekend of April 17, 18 and 19. More entertainment
and more participation by local high school students will be part of this year's
Primavera.
c. Others. There were no other visitors.
4. PAST COUNCIL ACTION
The Council authorized staff to solicit bids on a portable stage, and they approved
fencing modifications at Zachary to convert those fields from adult softball to youth
baseball.
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a. West Medicine Lake Park update. Picnic shelters are under construction. Dark
green metal roofs will be put on each shelter. A gate was put in at the boat launch
area. We want to be first in line to get this area sodded this spring when companies
begin cutting sod. The DNR will be giving us a fishing pier that we have been asking
for for five years. One of the city's residents has written a song about Medicine Lake
and wants to have it performed at the grand opening.
b. Elm Creek Playfield update. Bleachers are being put in. Commissioner Fiemann
asked if a football stadium would ever be built there. Director Blank said probably.
c. East Medicine Lake regional trail. East Medicine Lake Blvd. is now a one way street
going north. Retaining wall portions are in place. When asphalt plants open in May
the trail will be paved.
d. Armstrong High School gym update. The word is that everyone thinks it is the
nicest gym around. Staff will contact the school district to arrange some type of
reception as a grand opening. The project came in on budget. The facility is being
well used.
PRAC Minutes/January 1998
Page 3
e. Activity center update. The Activity Center subcommittee met last night prior to the
City Council meeting. They originally looked at four different designs. Three were
adjacent to LifeTime and one site was halfway between LifeTime and city hall. The
Council did not want it in any of these places, because it would have meant too
many trees would be cut down, so they asked the consultant to look at a totally new
location. They are now considering a site on 34th Avenue between city hall and the
apartments. Activity center/senior center would be owned by the city, the early
childhood center would be owned by the school district. The field house would be
on a lower level of the site. Midway through their study, the Planning Dept. came to
Director Blank and asked about putting some low income senior housing here, too.
The senior housing was originally proposed on a site near the new Rainbow, west of
here on Highway 55. They discovered asbestos on the site when they did some soil
tests, so the housing cannot go there now. Director Blank doesn't really believe
senior housing should go in the park, because it's too near a busy place with many
children coming and going. There are very few sites for senior housing that meet
HUD criteria. The senior housing would be privately owned. The activity center
project will be going to a study session of the City Council on February 11. The
Council will give more direction then. Project may go to a public vote in May at the
earliest.
f. Aggressive skate park update. At the last meeting of 1997, the City Council
approved an indoor skate park at Hwy. 55 & 494. This facility was going to be open
in early January, but they haven't even applied for a permit yet to build the indoor
skate park. Director Blank has been working with eight other communities looking
at the idea of a consortium. A draft document from those communities was
distributed to PRAC. The same people that were planning to do the indoor park
have proposed that they be allowed to be a vendor for an outdoor facility. They
would set up temporary facilities in the various communities. Our cost would be
6,000-$7,000 some of which could be recouped. It would require a joint powers
document between all the communities. Director Blank received a call before
Christmas that Rollerblade Corporation had been purchased by a European
company. They now have lots of equipment for sale very reasonably priced.
Director Blank and City Manager Johnson looked at the equipment which is less
than a year old. It needs to be painted and some lumber needs to be replaced, but
other than that, it's in good condition. The aggressive skate park committee is
recommending that the City buy the used equipment. Director Blank said that a
parking lot at the ice arena/LifeTime complex that was graded but never paved is
now going to be needed, due to the crowded condition of the existing parking lots.
Our agreement with LifeTime says that they pay for curb and gutter, which comes to
about 60% of the total cost. The parking lot will be paved with concrete so it can be
used as a skateboard park, etc. It will be fenced during the summer, and in the
winter, the fence would come down so it could be turned into parking for the ice
center and LifeTime. There is $100,000 budgeted for parking lot and $90,000 for
the skate park. Equipment would cost approximately $35,000, $12,000 to fence the
PRAC Minutes/January 1998
Page 4
site, the gate house would run about $6,000, and $10,000 should cover
miscellaneous items like rain tarps, etc. Director Blank expects some other agencies
to pitch in toward some of these costs (school districts, churches, etc.). The
operating season for a skateboard park would be about 100 days. Staff would cost
about $12,000 and would be two people, one selling tickets and one monitoring
skaters. Other costs include insurance, repairs, supplies, phones, etc., coming to
6,500. One revenue scenario shows 50 kids/day for 100 days at $4 each equals
20,000. This rate will be fixed somewhat on what the indoor facility charges. The
City Council has stated that they don't want the City to undercut the private
skatepark. Director Blank envisions three skating sessions per day. Morning would
include some type of instructional classes. Afternoons could be divided into two
sessions, one for skateboarders, one for inline skating. Director Blank needs
authorization from the City Council to purchase the used equipment offered by
Rollerblade Corporation.
COMMISSIONER FIEMANN MOVED AND COMMISSIONER THOMPSON
SECONDED A MOTION TO RECOMMEND THE CITY PURSUE THE PURCHASE
OF USED SKATEPARK EQUIPMENT. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
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a. Review all 1998 rental fees and policies. Director Blank explained that it's getting
more difficult to provide facilities for youth. He wants the park facility policy to say
we will attempt to provide facilities. Rental rates are proposed to go up a few dollars.
We are proposing to eliminate tournament rentals and providing diamond dry.
Commissioner Willegalle asked about permits to sell or have beer at special events.
Director Blank explained the policy of the City which states groups can only apply for
a permit if the event is going to be at Zachary or Plymouth Creek parks.
CHAIR ANDERSON MOVED AND COMMISSIONER PRIEBE SECONDED A
MOTION TO ACCEPT FEES AND POLICIES AS PRESENTED. THE MOTION
CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
Commissioner Willegalle asked if the City had ever been requested to provide
sailboat buoys on Medicine Lake. Staff said no.
b. Annual report draft. Director Blank stated that PRAC needs to develop a new work
plan for 1998. Some suggestions from commissioners for items to include in the
1998 work plan included comprehensive planning, building a field house
somewhere, youth sports, the activity center, open space/park development, golf
course, statement about art in the parks or community enhancement programs, and
a skateboard park. Commissioner Fiemann asked about a par three golf course in
northwest Plymouth. Should it go in comprehensive planning or in the golf course
category? Director Blank explained that final copies of the annual report will be
distributed next month.
PRAC Minutes/January 1998
Page 5
c. Proposal to donate Little Peninsula on Medicine Lake. A proposal for a 122 unit
extended stay hotel was submitted to the Planning Department as a sketch plan.
The applicant has not made a formal submittal at this time. The proposed site is
wetland near Hwy. 169/Hwy. 55, just east of the Brown's Farmers Market. The
developer purchased the Little Peninsula on Medicine Lake so that he'd have a site
for mitigation, and then his plan was to donate the Little Peninsula to the city for
park purposes. Access to the Little Peninsula lies across a railroad tracks, and other
private property. There are some problems associated with accepting this site for
park purposes. Director Blank said that if this proposal gets to a point where it
might actually happen, then PRAC will need to hold a public meeting to determine
what the site could be used for and to get public opinion on what should be done
with it. It was suggested that it could be another piece of open space. Director
Blank will keep the commission informed of any developments with this proposal.
d. Luce Line trail. Included in the PRAC packet was a hand out from a resident urging
people to contact the DNR about paving the Luce Line trail.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
None.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
None.
1 11j Z11:7`I&1
The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
DATE: February 9, 1998
TO: PRAC
FROM: Eric J. Blank, Director, Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT: Name for Northeast Neighborhood Park
In order for the northeast neighborhood park to be included in the summer recreation
brochure's park grid, we need to come up with a name for it. Below are a number of
suggestions. The Park and Recreation staff recommend either Oak Island Park or Three
Ponds Park.
Big Oak Island
Big Pond
Cardinal Ridge
Emerald Woods
Enchanted Forest
Forest Glenn
Oak Island
Pilgrim Glenn
Pilgrim Hollow
Saratoga Woods/Hills/Forest
The Ponds
Three Ponds
Wild Wings
EB/np