HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Packet 03-15-1999Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission
March 15,1999, 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 soliciting names for activity center/fieldhouse complex
b. Approved bids for new playgrounds at Lacompte, Turtle Lake and Green Oaks parks
c. Accepted annual report and '99 work plan
S. Unfinished Business
a. Comprehensive plan update (Barry Warner, SRF consultant group)
b. Activity center/fieldhouse update
C.
6. New Business
a.
b.
C.
7. Commission Presentation
S. Staff Communication
9. Adjourn
Next regular meeting — April 8
n\parks\staff\erfc\prac\agendas\mar99.doc
Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
February 11, 1999
Page 7
Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Fiemann, Musliner, Thompson, Wahl, Willegalle,
staff Bisek, Blank and Pederson; Community Development Director Hurlburt;
Councilmember Spigner
Absent: Commissioner Priebe
1. CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chair Wahl called the February meeting to order at 7 p.m.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ,
A motion was made by Commissioner Willegalle and seconded by Commissioner Musliner
to approve the minutes of the January meeting as presented. The motion carried with all
ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None were present.
b. Staff. Mary stated that Fire and Ice was a success, with near perfect weather. She
thanked those who volunteered. She talked about the power outage at the end of the day.
Mary announced that Rick was officially named the new activity center manager, which
means that we now will need to advertise for a new athletic coordinator to take over his
responsibilities. Commissioner Willegalle asked if Rick would no longer be doing
scheduling of fields. Mary said he will continue in that capacity until the new person is
fully trained. She said that staff is starting to look for summer seasonal people. We are
currently working on summer programs for the next brochure. Baseball/softball
programs were in the February issue. Mary mentioned the E -Connect project, which is
an interactive internet program that puts our recreation brochure out on the internet and
will eventually allow people to register for classes using their computers. It will be a
while before it is available, because there are a number of issues that need to be worked
out. Primavera is coming up on May 14 and 15 and will again be held in this building.
Lots of local artists, high school artists, and local performing groups will be featured.
Mary announced that Karol Greupner is working on her masters program. Her paper is
on the value of special events to the community. Commissioner Musliner asked about
the deadline for submissions to Primavera. Mary said she didn't know. Director Blank
said that the community band has really taken off and is in need of a band director. The
band director from Wayzata High School has applied for the position. They will play at
Music in Plymouth this year. In addition to Music in Plymouth, they will also perform
PRAC Minutes/February 1999
Page 8
another concert in the amphitheater this summer. Mary stated that other smaller groups
are spinning off from the community band, such as a jazz ensemble.
4. PAST COUNCIL ACTION
Council approved the name Gateway Park for the neighborhood park at Schmidt Lake Road
and Vicksburg Lane.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Comprehensive plan update by Anne Hurlburt, Director of Community Development.
Director Hurlburt attended the meeting to discuss the process for updating the city's
comprehensive plan. She explained that comprehensive plans must be updated every 10
years according to state law. A big issue for Plymouth is whether or not to continue to
expand beyond the MUSA (Municipal Urban Service Area). Approximately 3,200 acres
exist outside the MUSA. The city has spent the last year and a half wrestling with that
question. The process involved lots of public participation. In October, the Council
adopted the partial urban expansion alternative. The expanion area is generally limited to
the area east of Vicksburg Lane, with some limited expansion west of Vicksburg along
the Soo Line Railroad and Schmidt Lake Road. This area includes about 1,300 acres and
could develop within the next 20 years. The remaining acres would not be available for
development until after 2020. The Comprehensive Plan will also address other issues,
such as the preservation of wetlands, lakes and woods, and the establishment of
greenways and open space park areas within the urban expansion area. The parks portion
of the comprehensive plan is now 20 years old. Hurlburt explained that a draft overall
comprehensive plan needs to be ready by the end of the year. Since October, the city has
been working with consultants. Hurlburt said that next week the Council is getting the
recommendation that SRF be hired to help finish all the plans and pull everything
together. She stated that currently there is a moratorium on new development in this area
until everything has been ironed out. She handed out drafts of the overall schedule for
updating the comp plan, as well as meetings on the calendar, lists of tasks, key dates for
public meetings, a summary of major events, etc. The first major meeting is March 31,
when the Planning Commission and City Council will hold a joint meeting to discuss
overall goals and policies for major elements of the comprehensive plan. PRAC will be
invited. Hurlburt hopes that PRAC can discuss some of these things prior to that
meeting. Element 6 (Parks, Open Space and Trails Element) is crucial for PRAC. This
schedule will take us to the point of having the plan all in one piece by October,
explained Hurlburt. Adoption of the comprehensive plan is scheduled for March, 2000.
There will be some nights during the next several months when the Planning Commission
and PRAC will all have to meet together. At the March meeting, the consultant Barry
Warner, from SRF, will make a presentation. Neither the 11th or the 18th will work for
Director Blank or Mr. Warner, so the 15th and 17th are being considered. Commisioner
Fiemann asked about the city's policy of putting bike paths along major roads. Director
Blank said the update of the comprehensive plan will address the issue of putting
sidewalk on both sides of the road on some major roads. The comprehensive plan is for
PRAC Minutes/February 1999
Page 9
the entire city of Plymouth, Hurlburt explained, not just northwest Plymouth.
Commissioner Willegalle said by the year 2025, 25% of the population will be over age
65. We are now seeing a trend toward different styles of housing. There aren't as many
large homes on large lots being built. Commissioner Fiemann asked if Vicksburg would
eventually be a four lane road. Director Hulburt said most likely it will, all the way to
Maple Grove. The Interstate will continue to become more congested, so Vicksburg will
be an alternate route. Commissioner Willegalle asked about the surface water plan.
Hurlburt said the City Council did approve the surface water plan and that it was to be
implemented in the year 2000. She said that approval of the capital improvements budget
will dictate when the surface water plan takes effect, but that it is a small part of the
overall plan. She informed Commissioner Willegalle that if he needed more specific
information on the surface water plan, he should get in touch with Dan Faulkner in the
Engineering Department.
Chair Anderson introduced the new Council liaison Saundra Spigner. She stated that she
really is looking forward to working with PRAC. Chair Anderson thanked Director
Hurlburt for her presentation. Director Blank explained the exercise the consultant asked
PRAC to do, a brainstorming session of items they think are important to put in the
comprehensive plan. Commissioner Thompson said sports fields, Commissioner
Willegalle said open space and preservation of golf courses, Commissioner Wahl said
trails in northwest Plymouth and the Elm Creek Watershed, Chair Anderson said open
space and golf courses, Commissioner Fiemann said trails connecting key points,
Commissioner Musliner said neighborhood parks in northwest Plymouth and updating
play equipment. Councilmember Spigner said she is concerned about neighborhoods that
don't have parks and they somehow need to be connected by trials to existing
neighborhood parks. Commissioner Wahl suggested calling it retro -planning.
Commissioner Willegalle stated that it's important to have trails that connect east to west
and north to south, so that people can get across town safely. Director Blank said he had
received a call from the Plum Tree Development saying their private park, put in by
Lundgren Bros., is useless and they want a city park. He also said the current
comprehensive plan prohibits putting tennis courts in neighborhood parks and that
perhaps this issue needs to be reconsidered. He gets calls from people wanting tennis
courts in their neighborhood park. Because they take up so much space, Commissioner
Willegalle said the City has been putting tennis courts in where there's room, which tends
to be in playfields. The activity center was added to the list, along with other facilities
like skateboard parks, disc golf, dog park, etc. Mary suggested calling these special use
parks. Commissioners then were asked to look over the entire list and pick their top
three. These individual lists will be compiled by staff, put in order by most popular to
least, and redistributed to PRAC.
b. Activity center, fieldhouse update. Director Blank stated that the Planning Commission
held a public hearing two weeks ago on the activity center/fieldhouse. Two people spoke
at the public hearing. One was Commissioner Willegalle and the other was Fred Lips,
PRAC Minutes/February 1999
Page 10
one of our volunteer gardeners, who asked about the intersection of 34th Avenue and
Fernbrook Lane and whether or not a stoplight would be installed there. Director Blank
explained that the two new office highrise buildings going in there have dictated that
there will be a stoplight at this intersection. He indicated that the site plan approval is on
the Council agenda for next week, and then we will go back to the city council for
authorization to bid in late March or early April. We hope to break ground in May. Rick
Busch will be the manager of the facility. Part of his duties will be the overall
coordination of athletic associations' use of the fieldhouse. Del Erickson may be at the
next meeting to discuss a number of things. There was some discussion then about
whether or not a PRAC member should attend the Council meeting next week.
Councilmember Spigner said a letter of support would probably be sufficient. Director
Blank said two surfaces for the dome are being bid. The less expensive surface is the
aggregate system. It plays like regular grass and doesn't cause turf burns.
c. Approve annual report and work plan. COMMISSIONER WAHL MOVED TO
APPROVE THE 1999 WORK PLAN AND ANNUAL REPORT AS PRESENTED.
THE MOTION WAS SECONDED BY CHAIR ANDERSON. MOTION CARRIED
WITH ALL AYES. Councilmember Spigner asked what PRAC wants in terms of golf
courses. Director Blank said the goal is to protect for the long term the existing golf
courses. Councilmember Spigner asked if the City lost one, would PRAC support
building one? Commissioner Willegalle said PRAC's current strategy is to protect the
three we now have. Director Blank said the three existing courses are 18 holes, while the
two new proposals are for nine holes and will be geared to seniors and families with
children, etc. They appeal to different clientele, he explained. Commissioner Fiemann
asked if citizens are supposed to make comments to the Council regarding the golf course
Hennepin Parks is proposing. Councilmember Spigner said that comments to the Council
are welcome.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Approve 1999 park facility rental policies and fees. There are nine policies this year.
Director Blank explained the changes that have been proposed. Large groups of over 125
may require the presence of a police officer when renting the performance stages. Under
the Parkers Lake stage, portable stage and amphitheater policies, the clause about lewd or
obscene lyrics and behavior should be removed from the policy according to the city
attorney, because you cannot prohibit free speech. Director Blank thinks we should
strike the clause, because if push came to shove, we would lose on that issue. The
showmobile policy has a statement that says the City can refuse to rent it if we feel it will
be used in an unsafe or hazardous way or if the event isn't considered to be in the best
interest of the city. Commissioner Musliner suggested changing the wording to better
reflect the intent. She felt we should end the sentence after the words "hazardous to the
showmobile or its operators." COMMISSIONER WILLEGALLE MOVED TO
APPROVE RENTAL FEES WITH CHANGES AS PROPOSED; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER MUSLINER. Councilmember Spigner asked about fees for the
PRAC Minutes/February 1999
Page 11
showmobile, what they were last year, how we compare to other cities, and who rented
the showmobile. Director Blank stated the fees are the same as last year and that we are
higher than other communities. He said the Wayzata High School, a church, and the city
of Richfield rented it. The motion was then voted on and carried with all ayes.
Commissioner Willegalle asked if there was a policy regarding the picnic shelters down
by the lake. He knows they are first come, first serve, but there was a problem last
summer during the History Fest, when a group showed up and wouldn't leave, even
though the History Fest was a city run event and had plans to use that shelter. Director
Blank said he and Mary would look into that and try to come up with some kind of policy
that would address the city having priority use of the shelter during city sponsored events.
b. Discuss names for activity center and fieldhouse. The Youth Advisory Council has
suggested the name Plymouth Pavilions. Director Blank pointed out that the name
Pavilion is already attached to the Parkers Lake building and will also be used for the
future Medicine Lake bath house. Commissioner Wahl said he didn't like that name for
the activity center/fieldhouse, because it reminded him more of an outdoor band shell.
Commissioner Musliner suggested Plymouth Community Center and Sports Dome.
Councihnember Spigner suggested that PRAC consider holding a contest asking the
public to help name the complex. Chair Anderson said that was a possibility.
Commissioner Willegalle asked who would judge the names. Councilmember Spigner
said PRAC would decide. She felt by giving the community an opportunity to buy in, it
might make them feel better about the facility.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
None
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
Staff will try to schedule the next meeting for March 15, which is a Monday, because
Director Blank is out of town on the 11th.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
DATE: March 9, 1999
TO: PRAC
FROM: Eric J. Blank, Director, Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT: Brainstorming List
You will recall from our last meeting that we spent some time creating a list of facilities
during our discussion on updating the comprehensive plan. That list is attached. From that
list, each of you was asked to choose your top three. Those choices are also shown.
EB/np
Below is the list that was developed during the brainstorming session at the February PRAC
meeting:
Sports fields
Tennis courts
Open space
Activity center/ice arena
Golf courses
Trails
Special use parks
Elm Creek open space
Recreation programs
Connecting key points w/trails
Neighborhood parks (retro planning)
Play equipment updating
Private amenities
From the above list that was developed during the brainstorming session, these were the top vote
getters (commissioners were asked to list their top three):
Trails — 5 votes
Sports fields — 4 votes
Open space — 3 votes
Neighborhood parks — 3 votes
Golf — 2 votes
Activity center/fieldhouse — 2 votes
02/11/99 WORK TASKS AND PERSON -HOUR ESTIMATE PAGE 9
CLIENT: CITY OF PLYMOUTH CONSULTANT: SRF CONSULTING GROUP, INC.
PROJECT: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
ESTIMATED PERSON -HOURS"*"
TASK NO. WORK TASK DESCRIPTION PRINCIPAL ASSOCIATE SR. PROF. PROF. TECHNICAL CLERICAL TOTALS
5.9 Implementation Plan 6 20 30 10 10 4 80
Working with City staff, identify anticipated timing of future development (10
and 20 years). Use this information, together with the future roadway needs,
to prepare a staging plan for making improvements (10 and 20 years).
Estimate the cost of roadway improvements, transit service improvements,
construction of park-and-ride facilities and TDM strategies.
5.10 Prepare draft report. 10 30 10 10 20 10 90
5.11 Meetings 10 15 0 0 10 5 40
Present draft transportation goals and policies to City Council and Planning
Commission atjoint meeting (March 31), review and discuss.
Present draft transportation element to City Council and Planning Commission
at joint meeting (September 28), review and discuss.
Meet with Hennepin County, adjacent cities, and Metropolitan Council and Mn/
DOT, and present draft report.
5.12 Finalize report based on comments received. 4 10 0 0 10 6 30
SUBTOTAL -TASK 5 82 175 169 168 142 39 775
6.0 PARK, OPEN SPACE AND TRAIL PLAN ELEMENT
6.1 Review Community Characteristics and Demographic Information 4 8 0 24 8 4 48
Review and analyze background population and demographic information;
meet with staff to review development trends and projected growth area; and
analyze existing conditions, trends, and plans to show type, timing and
intensity of future development.
Review current adequacies and inadequacies of the Park System Plan.
6.2 Inventory of Existing Park and Recreation Facilities 16 0 16 64 0 24 120
Locate and inventory state, county, or private -sector park and open space
facilities.
Inventory and analyze school district open space and athletic facilities
available to community residents.
Inventory and assess presently undeveloped park or open space parcels.
Identify potential candidate parcels for acquisition adjacent existing parks.
Identify other natural corridors or cultural easements that may have
recreational value.
Discuss private/commercial recreation facilities and their role in meeting local
needs.
SRF CONSULTING GROUP, INC. ENGINEERS AND PLANNERS MINNEAPOLIS, MN.
02/11%99 WORK TASKS AND PERSON -HOUR ESTIMATE PAGE 10
CLIENT: CITY OF PLYMOUTH CONSULTANT: SRF CONSULTING GROUP, INC.
PROJECT: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
ESTIMATED PERSON -HOURS*****
TASK NO. WORK TASK DESCRIPTION PRINCIPAL ASSOCIATE SR. PROF. PROF. TECHNICAL CLERICAL TOTALS
6.3 Recreation Programs Review and Analysis 4 4 0 12 0 4 24
Review with City staff existing municipal, other public, and private recreational
programs.
Review participation rates and staff perceived needs for program changes.
Identify national trends that may influence recreation programs, today and in
the future.
Provide an overview analysis of existing program adequacy and make
recommendations for additional program types or program expansions to meet
6.4 Needs Analysis 16 8 0 80 0 4 108
Summarize regional SCORP analysis.
Compare existing and future population needs with NRPA and other national
standards.
Conduct a park service area analysis for areas outside of the MUSA line.
Tabulate athletic event activity rates and make projections for the next 10 and
20 years.
6.5 Natural Resources Assessment 8 8 32 24 8 4 84
Identify specific and unique natural resources for preservation, recreation, or
facility development as a byproduct of the 1994 SEH study.
Prioritize development and acquisition of natural resource base facility/
program for enhancement for areas beyond the MUSA and greenway
development.
Review current management policies and practices for maintaining and
enhancing the community's natural resource base.
Identify potential for natural resource based interpretive and recreational
opportunities.
6.6 Recommendations for Land Acquisition and Facility Development 8 8 0 40 8 4 68
A formal policy statement will detail how existing City facilities in parkland can
be adopted to meet both current and future community needs.
Identify parcels for acquisition.
Acquisition priorities for additional parcels within the park and open space
system will be delineated.
Examine development priorities for the park system facilities.
Special -use facilities will be examined according to their present need, and
planning horizons 5- and 10 -years beyond the current period.
SRP CONSULTING GROUP, INC. ENGINEERS AND PLANNERS MINNEAPOLIS, MN.
02/71/99 WORK TASKS AND PERSON -HOUR ESTIMATE PAGE 11
CLIENT: CITY OF PLYMOUTH
PROJECT: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
TASK NO. WORK TASK DESCRIPTION
6.7 Trail System Plan Update
Map existing trails or those committed to.
Establish policies regarding trails on each side of roads and trails within rural
county road right-of-way.
Establish evaluation criteria and methodology for prioritization of future trailway
development.
Intercommunity trail opportunities with adjacent cities and regional agencies
will be identified including greenway corridors.
The existing trail system plan concept will be revised to establish preliminary
corridors for future implementation.
The feasibility for trail extensions and connections will be examined as well as
the potential constraints.
Review Hennepin County Bicycle Plan.
6.8 Community Golf Course
Identify existing or planned courses, and their facilities, with the market area.
Based upon community demographics, determine existing or future demand
for a public course.
Determine available alternatives for a public golf course; existing facility or new.
6.9 System Funding and Financing
Establish preliminary cost estimates for near-term priority projects.
Review and revise park dedication policy.
6.10 Vision Statement .2010 and Beyond
Exhibits, concept plans, and charts will be further defined to provide a general
vision of parks through full development.
6.11 Public Participation and Involvement
Attend and present at up to five (5) meetings to solicit meaningful public and
commission comment.
Present draft park, open space and trail goals and policies to Parks
Commission (March 18), review and discuss
Present draft park, open space and trail goals and policies to City Council and
Planning Commission at joint meeting (March 31), review and discuss.
Present draft park, open space and trail element to Park Commission
September 9), review and discuss.
Present draft park, open space and trail element to City Council and Planning
Commission at joint meeting (September 28) - Parks Commission invited,
review and discuss.
CONSULTANT: SRF CONSULTING GROUP, INC.
ESTIMATED PERSON -HOURS""`
PRINCIPAL ASSOCIATE SR. PROF. PROF. TECHNICAL CLERICAL
16 8 0 60 12 4
12 8 0 40 8
4 4 0 16 0
4 4 0 16 0
24 24 0 24 0
TOTALS
100
4 72
4 28
4 28
0 72
SRF CONSULTING GROUP, INC. ENGINEERS AND PLANNERS MINNEAPOLIS, MN.
02/11%99 WORK TASKS AND PERSON -HOUR ESTIMATE PAGE 12
CLIENT: CITY OF PLYMOUTH
PROJECT: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
TASK NO. WORK TASK DESCRIPTION
6.12 Project Documentation
Provide one (1) set of reproducibles in a document format based upon
technical memorandum produced during the planning process.
Each fore mentioned tasks will produce technical memorandum, graphics, and
mapping that will be refined to collectively form one (1) summary document,
copy ready.
Provide a digital copy of the plan.
Provide a copy ready Executive Summary of the plan.
SUBTOTAL-TASK6
7.0 HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN ELEMENT
7.1 Background Information.
Review historic preservation background information, if any.
Review inventory of historic structures and places, if any.
Review information on historic aspects of community.
Meet with City staff to discuss historic preservation background information
and appropriate aspects to include in plan.
7.2 Historic preservation goals and policies.
Prepare draft historic preservation goals and policies for the community, based
on the City's overall policy direction.
Meet with City staff to review draft historic preservation goals and policies.
CONSULTANT: SRF CONSULTING GROUP, INC.
ESTIMATED PERSON -HOURS*****
PRINCIPAL ASSOCIATE SR. PROF. PROF. TECHNICAL CLERICAL TOTALS
16 40 0 120 80 24 280
132 124 48 520 124 84 1032
0 0 4 4 0 0 8
0 0 0 4 0 0 4
SRF CONSULTING GROUP, INC. ENGINEERS AND PLANNERS MINNEAPOLIS. MN.
Agenda Number:
0V
TO: Dwight Johnson, City Manager
FROM: Eric Blank, Director of Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT: Naming of New Recreational Facilities
DATE: February 17, 1999, for Council Meeting of March 2
1. ACTION REQUESTED: The City Council should pass a motion giving direction to staff
on whether or not to proceed with soliciting public participation in the naming of the new
recreational facilities.
2. BACKGROUND: The Park and Recreation Advisory Commission discussed the possible
permanent naming of the new recreational facilities at their February 11 Commission
meeting. More specifically, they started to discuss the recommendation that had come forth
from the Youth Advisory Council which was "Plymouth Pavilions." During this discussion,
Councilmember Spigner said she thought it would be helpful to have citizen involvement in
suggesting names for the new recreational facilities. The Commission agreed with this
recommendation and has asked staff to explore various methods of soliciting input for
naming the new facility.
If the City Council agrees with this idea, staff will work with cable television and local
newspapers to advertise for suggestions. I think it would be appropriate to allow people three
to four weeks to submit names that could then be reviewed by PRAC.
I anticipate at this time that there will be a groundbreaking ceremony early in May for the
new recreation facilities. It would be nice to have the official name to unveil at that
ceremony, which we could also use on various promotional materials.
EB/np