HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Packet 12-12-2002Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission
December 12, 2002, 7 p.m.
AGENDA
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes
3. Visitor Presentations
a. Athletic Associations
b. Staff -Diane Evans
c. Others
4. Report on Past Council Action
a.
b.
5. Unfinished Business
a. 2003-2007 CIP - approve plan
b.
C.
d.
6. New Business
a. Millennium Garden rental policies and fees
b.
C.
7. Commission Presentation
8. Staff Communication
9. Adjourn
Next regular meeting - January 9, 2003
n\p arks\staff\eric\prac\agendas\ D ec02. doc
Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
November 14, 2002
Page 39
Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Fiemann, Krahulec, Meyer, Musliner,
Rezabek, Singer, staff Abel, Blank, Evans, and Pederson
1. Call to Order
Chair Anderson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. at the Ice Center.
2. Approval of Minutes
Singer moved and Meyer seconded a motion to approve the October minutes. The
motion carried with all ayes.
3. Visitor Presentations
a. Athletic Associations. None were present.
b. Staff. Evans talked about the Poetry Slam held at the Plymouth Creek Center. Seven
teens and three adults participated, each doing three different pieces of original
poetry. Some members of the audience were judges. It was a fun, successful
evening. Prizes were awarded. The audience was highly involved, getting to cheer
and boo. Poets were allowed three minutes per poem. A slam master hosted the
evening. She was a former national poetry slam winner. Krahulec asked how we
solicited participants. Evans explained that our staff member Karol Greupner, who is
a member of the Fine Arts Council, sent letters to schools, posted flyers at the library,
and sent a news release to the local newspaper. Following the event, Caribou Coffee
asked the kids to come and read poetry at their coffee shop. Another new program
we're doing is intergenerational with seniors and teens. We've held our second
Bridging the Gap session, and this one covered politics. A Wayzata teacher came in
to mediate. Between 30 and 40 people were involved. The Chocolate Sampler was
very successful, with 180 participants. Thirty of those were volunteers. Eight
restaurants participated. We will be doing this event again in 2004, but in the spring.
Old Fashioned Christmas is coming up the first Sunday in December at the Plymouth
Creek Playfield, with most of the event taking place in the Historical Society Building.
Also coming up is New Years Around the World on December 315', at the Ice Center
and at LifeTime Fitness, from 6-9 p.m. Staff is working on other projects including: the
winter/spring issue of the brochure, budgets, annual report, and other housekeeping
items. Evans stated that she is working on the History Fest, and the Yard and Garden
Expo, too. Abel mentioned some hockey tournaments coming up Thanksgiving
weekend and the weekend after Christmas. Evans stated that she was looking at
some financial information for the recreation department. For 2002 we needed to
generate revenue of $668,000. We've exceeded that already, and have one quarter
to go. This summer we had over 11,000 kids participate in our programs. Singer
PRAC Minutes/November 2002
Page 40
asked how the Big Wu concert went. Evans said it had a decent turnout, but not as
many as expected. Blank said he worked on the sound. Because it was such a windy
day, sound did not travel beyond the edges of the park. Evans said she was amazed
at how long it took to get things set up. There was a lot of high tech equipment.
4. Report on Past Council Action
a. Accepted donation of plass trophy cases from PSA. The Plymouth Soccer Association
has donated a trophy case for the lower level of the fieldhouse lobby, which they will
use to display trophies and other awards received by their players, etc.
5. Unfinished Business
a. Millennium Garden update. Blank stated that work on this project has pretty much
wrapped up for the year. We are now focusing on June 15th, 2003, for a grand
opening. Blank said that he discovered some nice bronze statues and other
sculptures at the national parks conference at a very reasonable price. These may be
purchased for the garden.
b. 2003-2007 CIP — review possible update to plan. The City Manager has been
working on a city-wide 10 year budget to figure out how to finance big items, like
another water tower, another fire station, etc. Blank said we have learned that the
price of raw land has been going up at 15% per year. The City Manager is urging
Blank to purchase land sooner rather than later based on this finding. However,
there are no landowners right now willing to sell us any property Blank stated. The
City Manager has given his nod of approval to the parks CIP that staff has been
working on. Blank then reviewed the projects proposed in 2003 and the various
funding sources for those projects. The park replacement fund is meant to generate
funds from interest. We take a certain amount of money from park dedication and
put it in the park replacement fund, he explained. The 10th playfield is a large
expenditure. Blank stated that Mr. Begin recently passed away and that Mrs. Begin is
interested in their property becoming a park, but no further discussions with the
Begin family have taken place at this point. Blank explained that the individual who
wants the Bass Lake hockey rink paved has been out soliciting donations and
signatures on a petition. Blank said he is budgeting the entire cost for paving the rink.
Pat Heising and Bob Kohns were present to discuss their interest in the Bass Lake
hockey rink paving. Kohns said he walked around his neighborhood and discovered
that many of his neighbors were very excited about this. He stated that paving this
rink would help expand the hockey program, especially for Mites. In the summer the
rink sits empty, but if it was paved, inline skaters could use it during that time to
develop their skills. There are many children who will be able to make use of this
facility. Blank said we have one other paved hockey rink located at Plymouth Creek
Playfield. We'll be able to flood an asphalt rink sooner than one built from the ground
up. The amount of labor to maintain it will be reduced as well. Abel said a concrete
surface would make the rink last longer in the winter season. Heising said many of
PRAC Minutes/November 2002
Page 41
the people he spoke to were not real anxious to contribute money, because of the
taxes they pay, and they feel the City should fund it. Blank said there are 11 hockey
rinks in Plymouth and no one else has requested a paved one at this time. Rezabek
asked about advertisers helping out by advertising on the boards around the rink.
Blank explained that there's a city ordinance prohibiting this type of advertising in the
parks. Blank explained that this is a draft document. If all goes well, PRAC should
adopt this at their December meeting. Blank said his feeling is that this rink will likely
go through. Blank said a letter would be mailed to the residents surrounding this
park to give them an opportunity to speak to the Commission prior to the formal
approval. Mark Peterson and Blank have been doing research on the dog park issue.
Blank said people are very interested in dog parks. At a recent parks conference,
Blank learned from Ramsey County that there's no need for a fence at the dog park.
In our situation, we will have very tall grass to act as a barrier. We are going to
recommend trying it without a fence. Blank also learned that the people who take
their dogs to dog parks are very responsible pet owners. It is recommended that we
not put in benches, thus encouraging dog owners to remain standing and actively
playing with their dogs. Blank then talked about the Plymouth Creek maintenance
building and how it is necessary for storing maintenance equipment for taking care
of the Millennium Garden. Blank discussed the repair of four ball fields. He's been in
touch with the Pilgrim United Methodist Church, and they are excited about the BMX
course/skate park being on their property. Fiemann said the new skateboard park in
the industrial park is very large. He thinks it's going to be a premium facility.
Admission is going to be between $6 and $7. It will include a climbing wall, meeting
rooms, etc. The skate park under the bridge in Hopkins may be in trouble due to their
admission fee. They are the largest facility in the Twin Cities. Blank said that $115,000
would fund the BMX/skate park course. The Imperial Hills lighting project will cost
15,000. To finish the Plymouth Creek Center basement will cost $960,000. Blank said
the money is there now, however, if the legislature takes money away from us, as
they are implying, it could come out of this item, leaving us with $600,000. Blank said
we have all the money in the bank right now to do all the 2003 projects. In 2004, we
are proposing trails, land acquisition, park replacement, parking lot/trail repair,
playground replacement, replacing the Ridgemount warming house, a small
playground for the amphitheater, parking expansion at Greenwood, and
development of a new neighborhood park. Blank said that by the December
meeting, costs would be identified for a third sheet of ice. Singer asked how we rank
what year we do things. She thinks the Ridgemount warming house is more
important than the Bass Lake hockey rink paving. Blank said he put the hockey rink in
2003, because the residents came to him asking for it. Anderson feels that the
Ridgemount building will last another year without a problem. It has only an eight-
week skating season for which it is used. This is the first time it's been included in a
CIP with money assigned to it. Musliner mentioned attending Shakespeare in the
Park and how a playground in the amphitheater may interfere with the sound. Blank
PRAC Minutes/November 2002
Page 42
said he's thinking more in terms of a small pre-school playground and locating it
300-400 feet away from the Hilde Performance Center stage. The amphitheater
playground was an internal request by our staff, he stated. Discussion continued on
whether or not there's a need for a playground in the amphitheater. REZABEK MOVED
TO WITHDRAW THE $25,000 FOR THE PLAYGROUND. FIEMANN SECONDED. Blank
suggested taking a year to run the performance center and evaluating the crowds to
see if a playground is needed. Rezabek suggested soliciting comments from the
public. Krahulec said his preference is to leave the money in the CIP for now. Blank
said he is very comfortable taking the money out for 2003 and adding it back in later.
Krahulec asked for clarification of the motion. Fiemann said the funding would come
out now but may go back in next year when reviewing the CIP in 2003 for the 2004-
2008 CIP. MOTION CARRIED WITH ALL AYES. When asked if paving the Bass Lake rink
would bring in more requests for similar rinks, Blank said he doesn't think we will
open a Pandora's Box by paving the Bass Lake hockey rink. Krahulec asked how the
Lake Camelot park is coming along. Blank said it's going well. It's 50 to 60 percent
drained. Blank then continued the capital improvements budget discussion. In 2005,
we propose trails, a spray playground, park replacement, new tennis courts, and
parking lot and trail repair. Rezabek thinks we should build an indoor playground,
like the one in Maple Grove. Blank said it's much less expensive to let Plymouth
residents travel to Maple Grove to use theirs then it would be for us to build one.
Singer asked if we are going to add additional parking when planning the 3`d sheet
of ice. Blank said he could make a case either way for adding parking. Blank said
people walk farther to attend the high school football games than they do to attend
hockey events at the Ice Center. Rezabek asked if there are a certain number of
parking spaces required when you add another hockey rink. Blank said it's based on
the number of spectator seats that are added. There's a code you have to follow. The
final two years of the 2003-2007 CIP are very generic, Blank stated, showing trails,
park replacement, trail and parking lot repair. Staff will be ready for a motion to
approve the parks CIP at the December meeting. Some of the projects that will need
approval early next year include the BMX skate park, the storage shed at the
Plymouth Creek Center, and the dog park. This is so construction can get underway
in the spring of 2003.
b. Update on tobacco policies. Blank said this item was discussed with the City Council
and received mixed reaction. It's on a pending study list for after the first of the year.
The presenter who attended the PRAC meeting may be asked to come and speak to
the Council about it. Study sessions are always posted on the City's web site. Meyer
feels strongly that we should adopt such a policy. Evans talked with Wayzata schools
and their policy is tobacco free on their property. We should be following that policy
when we schedule things at Elm Creek, because that's located on school property,
Evans said.
PRAC Minutes/November 2002
Page 43
6. New Business
a. Ice Center Operations — Bill Abel. Blank introduced Bill and said that he started
working for us about 10 months prior to the Ice Center opening. Abel stated that we
are in our sixth year of operation. He said the Ice Center is home for the Wayzata
and Armstrong high school hockey programs, the Wayzata and Armstrong youth
hockey associations, the Plymouth Pandas Figure Skating Club, our own learn -to -
skate program, and many adult and private ice rental groups that use the facility
during late night hours. Abel stated that there are an average 18.5 hours of ice usage
daily on rinks A & B, and 26+ hours on the two rinks on an average weekend day.
Most of this is paid events. We book over 6,682 hours a year. We rank about number
two in the state. Braemar is only slightly better than us, but they have three sheets of
ice. We've rented over 3,500 pair of skates and have done over $61,000 in
concession sales through the month of October. We've taken in $22,000 in vending
revenue. The learn -to -skate program has 680 kids in it and brought in $90,000 in
revenue. $520 per day is spent on gas and electricity, etc. Abel stated that the Ice
Center uses an indirect refrigeration system with a propane back-up system. As of
the end of October, the Ice Center was operating in the black. There are funds in
reserve for repairs, purchases, etc. About $85,000 a year is set aside to fund these
things. Zamboni s cost about $75,000. Abel stated that we are seeing some
decrease in board revenues due to less advertising. Ice time costs $140 per hour. We
have ice year round. The Ice Center budget is roughly $874,000 per year. Blank said
the parking lot plowing is paid for out of the general fund, but then is reimbursed by
the Ice Center. Blank said if we build the third sheet of ice we hope to get money
from three different sources, one of which would be donated funds. The Ice Center is
open most nights until 10:30 or 11, weekends until midnight. The Zamboni advertising
banners bring in $2,000 per side per year. The Domino's Pizza Zamboni revenue
may be ending, because new owners have taken over Domino's and they are
reluctant to continue advertising. It's getting difficult to secure advertisers. Many
advertisers would rather sponsor teams than pay for ads on the boards. Rezabek
stated that he sells advertising, so Blank suggested that he meet with him and Abel
to discuss strategy. Our capacity is 1,000 on Rink A and 200 on Rink B. This is very
adequate, Abel said. The meeting rooms are given out free to the community. People
having birthday parties can use the meeting rooms for free, but if they wish to skate,
they must then pay for that. LifeTime Fitness members get to skate for free during
open skating time. Blank is negotiating with LifeTime to get some financial assistance
for grounds keeping, etc. Blank said that he thinks we will have to add a third sheet
of ice in the future. We have to be economically viable for 20 years. Wayzata hockey
is going to rent 1,600 hours this year, and they buy additional time elsewhere. We'd
like to have a few more hours of open skating each week, and the figure skaters are
also asking for more time.
PRAC Minutes/November 2002
Page 44
7. Commission Presentation
Fiemann said that he and Rezabek are both coaches in the Wayzata hockey association.
He distributed a facts sheet on the association. It is one of the largest youth associations
in the state. There are over 880 boys and girls in the youth program at all levels (K -12th
grade). The girls' program is up 17% from last year. They have 200 volunteer coaches
registered with USA hockey and Minnesota hockey. They host nine weekend
tournaments during the winter, with many of the teams coming from outside the
Plymouth area, bringing business to many of the local restaurants, hotels, etc. They
purchase 2,900 hours of ice at the Plymouth Ice Center and Wayzata Central Middle
School, plus an additional 800 hours elsewhere. Blank thanked Fiemann for his
presentation and said that it was good information to have.
8. Staff Communication
The next meeting will be on December 12.
9. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m., at which time several commissioners went on a
tour of the Ice Center.
City of Plymouth
2003 - 2007 Capital Improvements Program - Year 2003
Park Projects
Park Park Park
Project Park CIP Planning Park Dedication Dedication Re lacement Community Other
Number Project Year and coastrudim Playfields Neighborhood MSA Improvement Funding Total Other Funding Sources Notes
Design Trails Parks Funding Find C * Sources
Develop new neighborhood park 325,000 325,000
New trails 85,000 85,000
Transfer to park replacement 50,000 22,000 72,000
0
Playground replacement 100,000 100,000
Trail and parking lot repair 75,000 75,000
Land acquisition 10th playfield 1,050,000 450,000 1,500,000
Pave hockey rink -Bass Lake 25,000 25,000
Dog Park 7,500 7,500
Plymouth Creek Park-maint. storage garage 40,000 40,000
Repair old ball fields 20,000 20,000
Skate park/BMX 115,000 115,000
Imperial Hills safety lighting 15,000 15,000
PCC -finish basement 960,000 960,000 Capital Improvement Fund
Open space- land acquisition 544,000 544,000 Capital Improvement Fund
TOTAL 1,372,500 362,000 195,000 450,000 1,504,000 3,883,500
City of Plymouth Page 1 12/9/2002
City of Plymouth
2003 - 2007 Capital Improvements Program — Year 2004
Park Projects
Park Park Park
Project Park CIT Planning Park Dedication Dedication Replacement Community Other
Number Project Year and comtMetton Playfields Neighborhood MSA Improvemen Funding Total Other Funding Sources Notes
Design Trails Parks Funding and (CIF) Sources
New trails 85,000 85,000
Park replacement 57,000 24,000 81,000
Land acquisition 10th playfield 500,000 1,500,000 2,000,000
Trail/parking lot repair 75,000 75,000
Playground replacement 100,000 100,000
Warming house replacement — Ridgemount 50,000 50,000
3rd sheet of ice 5,500,000 Includes parking— cost to be split between
the City and mutual partners
Parking expansion— Greenwood 75,000 75,000
Develop new neighborhood park 3251000 325,000
TOTAL 717,000 349,000 225,000 0 1,500,000 0 8,291,000
City of Plymouth Page 1 12/5/2002
City of Plymouth
2003 - 2007 Capital Improvements Program — Year 2005
Park Projects
Park Park Park
Project Park CLP Planning Park Dedication Dedication Replacement Community Other
Number Project Year and Construction Playfields Neighborhood MSA Improvement Funding Total Other Funding Sources Notes
Design Trails Parks Funding Fund (CIF) Sources
Trails 85,000 85,000
Park replacement fund 64,000 27,000 91,000
New tennis courts 150,000 150,000
Spray playground 100,000 100,000
Trail & parking lot repair 90,000 90,000
TOTAL 399,000 27,000 90,000 516,000
City of Plymouth Page 1 12/5/2002
City of Plymouth
2003 - 2007 Capital Improvements Program — Year 2006
Park Projects
Park Park Park
Project Park CIP Planning Park Dedication Dedication Replacement Community Other
Number Project Year and Comtmcfion Playfields Neighborhood MSA Improvement Funding Total Other Funding Sources Notes
Design Trails Parks Funding Fund (CIF) * Sources
Trails 85,000 85,000
Park replacement fund 68,000 27,000 95,000
Trail & parking lot repair 90,000 90,000
TOTAL 153,000 27,000 90,000 270,000
City of Plymouth Page 1 12/5/2002
City of Plymouth
2003 - 2007 Capital Improvements Program — Year 2007
Park Projects
Park Park Park
Project Park CIP Planning Park Dedication Dedication Replacement Community Other
Number Project Year and Construction Playfields Neighborhood MSA Improvement Funding Total Other Funding Sources Notes
Design Trails Parks Funding Fund (CIF) * Sources
Trails 100,000 100,000
Trails & parking lot repair 90,000 90,000
Transfer to park replacement 75,000 34,000 109,000
TOTAL 175,000 34,000 90,000 299,000
City of Plymouth Page 1 12/5/2002