HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Packet 05-19-1999Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission
May 19,19990 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 bids on Activity Center
b. Approved name "Plymouth Creek Center"
c. Approved giving Luce Line Trail to Hennepin Parks
d. Approved disc golf proposal for Plymouth Creek Park
e. Council took no action on skate park proposal.
S. Unfinished Business
a. Comprehensive plan - Barry Warner
b.
C.
6. New Business
a.
b.
C.
7. Commission Presentation
S. Staff Communication
9. Adjourn
Next regular meeting - June 10
n\parks\slaff\erfc\prat\agendas\apr99.d"
Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
April 8, 1999
Page 16
Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Willegalle, Priebe, Musliner, Wahl, Fiemann,
Thompson; Planning Commissioner Stein; Councilmember Spigner; staff Bisek,
Blank and Pederson
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Anderson called the April meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Wahl and seconded by Commissioner Musliner to
approve the minutes of the March meeting as presented. The motion carried with all ayes.
3. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Athletic Associations. None
b. Staff. Mary Bisek talked briefly about her vacation to New Zealand and Australia. She
said the Great Barrier Reef was spectacular. She explained that Rick Busch had
undergone brain surgery on March 26 and that he's doing very well. Staff is a little
behind hiring the individual that will be taking his place when he takes over the activity
center manager position. She indicated that we're going to have a separate recreation
brochure beginning with the August issue of the City newsletter. Mary asked PRAC for
ideas for the new brochure. We will be looking at promotional materials for the new
activity center/sports dome. Primavera is coming up on May 14-15. We are in the
process of doing summer hiring. The summer brochure went out April 1 and
registrations begin April 9. Commissioner Fiemann said it's good news that we're
breaking away from the regular city newsletter.
4. PAST COUNCIL ACTION
a. The Council awarded bids for three new playgrounds at Green Oaks, Turtle Lake, and
LaCompte.
b. Facility rental rates were approved. The Council added the language back in about
obscene lyrics and lewd behavior not being permitted. Director Blank said you could
have the language in the policy, but if anyone contested it, they probably would win.
c. Council approved amending ordinance on having a beach open without lifeguards. We
will be consistent now with Hennepin Parks, who has the same policy. We are having
trouble recruiting lifeguards and may have to cut back the hours on other beaches because
of that.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Comprehensive Plan. There was nothing on the agenda this evening. Fernbrook Lane
alignment north of Schmidt Lake Road is being studied. Eight different alignments are
being reviewed. This is moving forward reasonably. Our contract with the consultant
PRAC Minutes/April 1999
Page 17
allows for only so many meetings. We'll be hitting the park plan hard next month, or the
trail plan. This may be the only thing on the agenda for May.
b. Activity center/fieldhouse. Director Blank said that printing of the specification books
was completed today. Bid date is Tuesday, April 27, at 2 p.m. A general contractor bid
will be opened which will include 90% of the project. A second bid will be for the air
dome structure. There are three such contractors. Bid three will be for the astroplay turf.
Staff expects the Council to award the bid on May 4. The ground -breaking ceremony
will be sometime in May in the late afternoon. Once bids are opened and awarded, a
final budget can be adopted. Director Blank explained that the City Charter requires that
we must hold a public hearing on the issue of using $3 million of community
improvement funds. Commissioner Thompson asked if the public hearing is just to
inform the public. Director Blank said it's necessary to make the public aware that
community improvement funds are being used. Director Blank then opened a discussion
on naming the facility and said he had five suggestions, which had been made by staff.
Director Blank's personal favorite is Plymouth Creek Center. He said he wants
something decided, so a banner can be made available for the groundbreaking.
Commissioner Thompson suggested the Plymouth Activity and Arts Center. She doesn't
like adding Creek to the title, because she believes it makes it too specific to a certain
area. Commissioner Wahl doesn't like Plymouth Creek either. Neither did
Commissioner Priebe. None of the commissioners liked the name Plymouth Pavilions.
Commissioner Musliner liked Commissioner Thompson's suggestion of Plymouth
Activity and Arts Center. Commissioner Priebe wanted to know if the facility will be of
adequate breadth to have community center in the title. Director Blank said the facility
will not encompass all the things that most community center's typically do. Primary
uses will be seniors, arts, and miscellaneous activities. Commissioner Willegalle liked
Plymouth Activity Center and reminded everyone that it has always been referred to as
the Plymouth Activity Center in all written documents and whenever it's been mentioned
in the local newspaper. CHAIR ANDERSON THEN MOVED TO CALL THE
FACILITY PLYMOUTH ACTIVITY AND ARTS CENTER. COMMISSIONER
FIEMANN SECONDED THE MOTION. Commissioner Wahl then agreed with
Commissioner Willegalle and said he prefers Activity Center and so does Commissioner
Priebe. There was some discussion then on whether or not it needed to be voted on or
just a consensus agreement. Chair Anderson decided to withdraw the motion.
Commissioner Priebe suggested a show of hands. The consensus agreement was to call it
Plymouth Activity Center. COMMISSIONER WAHL MOVED TO NAME THE NEW
FACILITY PLYMOUTH ACTIVITY CENTER. CHAIR ANDERSON SECONDED
THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES.
Commissioner Willegalle asked about a new group's plan for a skateboard park. He
wanted to know if this was happening again. Director Blank said the Four Downs Skate
Park closed their doors and that they wanted to relocate to Oakwood Park. Director
Blank discouraged this due to a shortage of parking. The group was asked to take a look
at the rink at Plymouth Creek or to consider the parking lot behind the ice center. They
will be the owners/operators of the facility. They want to be operational by this summer.
Director Blank said they are writing a proposal for submittal to the city manager. It is
PRAC Minutes/April 1999
Page 18
possible that there could be a skate park behind the ice center this summer. Planning
Commissioner Stein asked why Four Downs closed. Director Blank said they couldn't
overcome their financial difficulties.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Disc golf course proposal. Director Blank said that he first met with Mr. Bork two years
ago and said he could put a course in Plymouth Creek Park, but he was informed that it
may have to be removed later. From day one, the course was a popular attraction. Mr.
Bork did all the work, made the baskets, and kept the course fairway clean. Course has
now been removed to make way for the new activity center. Staff is now proposing to
move forward with a new course. It would be in the woods and would follow the creek.
Mr. Bork would be willing to help with the layout of the course. Mr. Bork would donate
the baskets again, help with the installation and also help care for it. We would own the
course. The annual operating expenses would be very minimal. Director Blank hasn't
been back in that area in awhile, but has noticed that there are some erosion problems that
need to be corrected by adding some culverts, and doing some landscaping. Director
Blank proposes that we go ahead and reinstall the course. Commissioner Willegalle
complimented Mr. Bork on the previous course and felt bad that old course had to be
removed. Commissioner Priebe asked what's involved in preparing the property for the
new course. Director Blank said it's a big woods with a canopy of large trees and some
small underbrush trees. Mr. Bork said a typical fairway is 20 feet wide. Director Blank
and Park Superintendent Mark Peterson will go through and choose which small trees
need to be removed. Most of the fairways already exist. There are just a few places
where some trees would have to come out. Director Blank said we'd add some
woodchips to take care of the erosion and to keep it from getting worse. Director Blank
said about two dozen or so small trees less than an inch in diameter would have to be
removed. COMMISSIONER WILLEGALLE MOVED AND COMMISSIONER
THOMPSON SECONDED A MOTION TO PROCEED WITH DISC GOLF COURSE
WITH MR. BORK PUTTING IN $1,500 WORTH IN BASKETS AND THE CITY
WILL BE OWNER/OPERATOR OF THE COURSE. MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL
AYES.
7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION
None.
8. STAFF COMMUNICATION
Director Blank said there will be an Arbor Day Celebration on May 7 at Birchview
Elementary. There is an ice show at the Ice Center May 14-16. Star performer will be
professional Olympic caliber skater from Canada. Director Blank said that Councilmember
Spigner will be holding a Ward 3 Town Meeting in West Medicine Lake Park using the
showmobile. Music in Plymouth is on June 30. Mary Bisek asked if there would be a park
tour this year. Director Blank said it could be in May or June. The problem with the June
meeting might be that the regular meeting night would need to be devoted to working on the
comprehensive plan. The May meeting will definitely be a work session on the
comprehensive plan. Director Blank said he could provide maps and commissioners could
go on a park tour on their own. Director Blank thinks they should visit northwest Plymouth
PRAC Minutes/April 1999
Page 19
and actually see the area that's being planned. It was decided to put it on hold and decide
later if a park tour is necessary.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
SIF No. 0993351
AGENDA
Community'1'rails Presentation and Discussion
19ytuoot1h FRAC Mecting
May 19,1999
1, Introduction
Purposc ol'o•ail system: rccrcation and (ransportaiion
Analysis of barriers, opporiunitics, and constraints (analysis trap)
2. Current Tiail System and Plan
Jurisdiclion
State DNR
I-ienncpin Parks
City of Plymouth
Trail Types (grapbics of typical cross-sections)
On -road Bike Routes
Sidewalks
OILRoad turd Independent Trails
P.xisling/Proposed (according to 1992 Trail Pian Update) (ntap of existing system) Overview of projects awniling compictlon
I Improvements to Trail Plan
Criteria
frail col'ridm's with gaps
Trnil extensions
Connections hetwecn oorridors
Trail upgrades
Two-sided Imlls on primary streets
Projects
Trail corridors with gaps
XL'nlulll Lanc/Northwost Boulevard from Hcrilatyc Park to CR 6
f 13nsbwost connection front Maple Creck Park Trtil to Niagara Lane
Nail extensions
Connections between corridors
Nathan Lane froth Bass Lake Road to Three Ponds Park Trail
Fcrnbrook Lane From CR 6 to the Luce Line Trail
frail upgrades (sidewalk or on -road to bitnminous)
Zachary Lanc ITom TH 55 south to city limits
Larch Lanc
Pioovicw lane
CR 101 from CR 6 co the Luce Linc T'rall
f CR 6 liom Dinkirk Lauc to (hc city limili
Vicksburg Lone from CR 6 to Gleason I,nkV Road
2.
Two Well trmis
Rockford Road from Northwest Rlvd. to Laneasrer Lane (south side)
zacltnry Lane, various segntenlS (east side)
Plass Lake Road from Norwood Lnnc to Nathan Lanc (soul) side)
CR 47 front 13:us Lake Road Io Mud Lake Park (north side)
Northwest Boulevard, various sagntcnts (west side)
Vicksburg Lane from Schmidl Like Road to Rockford Road (cast side)
Fernbrook Line, various srgmcnls (cast side)
CR lot from Mcdinu Road to CR 24 and from 25'x' Ave to CR G (west side)
CR G from Vickshurk Limo to Parkers Lake Murk (south side) New Corridors
Rural Greenway
4, Priority rating criteria
Consimcney will) Ira/ Plan
Safuly
ITso of trail: Iransporlatiolt or rcercatinil
Usigc volume
Geso of implanenlalion
Cost
Others...
5. Rural Creotrwey (curial slap of arra)
Ch:tractorlcross-Scelion
Romdconncclions
G. Roadway Crossings
Dirficult intersections (sce analysis rnap)
Vickhurg and I'll 55
CR 24 and TH 55
CR 101 and 7'H 55
Niagara I,ane/Plymotuh Blvd, and TH 55
Fernbrook Lane and TH 55
Rockford Road and 1.494
South Shom Drive and I'll 55
Rockford Road and Northwest Blvd,
CR 10 I and CR G
G[euson Lake Road and I-494
Rockford Road and ITS 1G9
Bass T,akc Road and US 169
Solulions
Signal attentions
1[lCre:1Se Paloslrian greun lime
Pedestrian jump signal
Inierseclion reconstruction
SaIirmedian's
Disallow true righl lurnc
Grade separation
05/17/99
3 -
Grade Separati(n: ovcrpasscs unit underpasses OCC existing trail system map) F,xisting
Luce Line Trail at 1-491
13ast Medicine Lake/Golden Valley Trail at US 169
Plymouth Cieck'1'rail at Rockford Road
Plymoulh Crcek Trtil at 37°' Ave. N.
Parkcis Laku Park and Playlield at CR 6
Schmidt lake Road at 1-494
CR 47 it I-494
Proposed
Luce Line'Fmil ni Th 55
f Rockford Raul at 1-494
Possible upgrndes and now crossings
Plymouth Crcek at Fcrnbrook Lane
Plymouth Creck al 1.49$
Vicksburg Lane at T1155
Schmidt Lake Road at 1-494
7. Snowmohilc" RUTS
Existing 7Ynils (map of existing trails)
Policy
8. Comnirms and hlscu.cc1011
9. Noxt Steps
05/17/99
rpy)cMay11, 1999 )
PLYMOUTR
Joe Kempf
3125 Urbandale Lane
Plymouth, MN 55447
Dear Joe:
Mayor Tierney has forwarded your letter to me regarding skateboard parks in Plymouth. The
City Council has been very supportive of skateboard parks in Plymouth. They went out of their
way last year to grant permission, and a number of variances, so a private skateboard park could
open in Plymouth. Unfortunately, in recent weeks it has been announced that they were unable
to make it financially and had to close their doors. This sudden closing caught everyone off
guard.
Last year, the City Council also authorized the parks department to install a concrete parking
area behind the ice center which could be used some day for an inline and skateboard park. It is
unfortunate with this short notice that the City does not have an opportunity to adequately study
and plan for an alternative skateboard facility. However, I can tell you that the Mayor and other
members of the Council have been working with various groups and individuals to see if there is
a quick alternative that could be developed within the community this summer. In the long run, I
can assure you that the city staff, Park and Recreation Advisory Commission and the Council
will continue to look at this issue and do what we can to find a proper solution.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Copies of your letter are being sent to both the City
Council and the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission.
Sincerely,
Eric J. Blank, Director
Parks and Recreation
EB/np
cc: City Council
P,12AC
PLYMOUTH A Beautiful Tface 7o Give
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (612) 509-5000
www.d.plymouth.mn.us
May 11, 1999
Ob
OF
PLYMOUTR
Brian Anderson
14425 47th Ave N
Plymouth, MN 55446
Dear Brian:
Mayor Tierney has forwarded your letter to me regarding skateboard parks in Plymouth. The
City Council has been very supportive of skateboard parks in Plymouth. They went out of their
way last year to grant permission, and a number of variances, so a private skateboard park could
open in Plymouth. Unfortunately, in recent weeks it has been announced that they were unable
to make it financially and had to close their doors. This sudden closing caught everyone off
guard.
Last year, the City Council also authorized the parks department to install a concrete parking
area behind the ice center which could be used some day for an inline and skateboard park. It is
unfortunate with this short notice that the City does not have an opportunity to adequately study
and plan for an alternative skateboard facility. However, I can tell you that the Mayor and other
members of the Council have been working with various groups and individuals to see if there is
a quick alternative that could be developed within the community this summer. In the long run, I
can assure you that the city staff, Park and Recreation Advisory Commission and the Council
will continue to look at this issue and do what we can to find a proper solution.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Copies of your letter are being sent to both the City
Council and the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission.
Sincerely,
3&'
Eric J. Blank, Director
Parks and Recreation
EB/np
cc: City Council
FRAC
PLYMOUTH ABeautifu(P(ace7o Live
3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD • PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA 55447-1482 • TELEPHONE (612) 509-5000
d„ mK www.ci.plymouth.mn.us