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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 05-10-20181 Approved Minutes May 10, 2018 Approved Minutes Park & Recreation Advisory Commission Thursday, May 10, 2018 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Tricia DeBleeckere, Vice Chair Aaron Vanderwall, Commissioners: Dick Burkhardt, Marilyn Sunseri, Michael Swanson, Vita Wilson MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Merrilee Riley STAFF PRESENT: Parks & Recreation Director Diane Evans, Deputy Director Barb Northway, Plymouth Creek Center Manager Chris Fleck, Project Coordinator Sonya Rippe, Office Support Specialist Sarah Josephs COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES: Council Member Jim Davis GUESTS: Jono Cowgill - CDG, Danny McCullough – Three Rivers Park District, Stephen Shurson – Three Rivers Park District 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair DeBleeckere called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Commissioner Burkhardt, seconded by Commissioner Sunseri, recommending approval of the February 8 Park and Recreation Advisory Commission meeting minutes as written. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. 3. OPEN FORUM: 4. PRESENTATIONS (NON-ACTION ITEMS): 4a. Plymouth Creek Center Project Plymouth Creek Center Manager Chris Fleck outlined a community engagement campaign to gather resident feedback regarding a potential expansion or renovation of the Plymouth Creek Center. There are four options for providing feedback on the project. The first option is to view interactive boards at either the Plymouth Creek Center or Plymouth City Hall. The boards include a mock -up spatial concept of what the building could include. Visitors can complete a comment card with their thoughts and suggestions. There will also be three Open Houses available to the community to attend. Two will be held in the evening and one during the daytime. Visitors will be able to talk with staff and volunteers. The intention is to spark conversations on what visitors would potentially like to see. A third option would be for feedback to be given via Flash Vote. This website offers surveys that are open for a few days at a time asking specific project questions. The fourth option is to use Social Pinpoint. This website shows the same interactive boards that are displayed in the Plymouth Creek Center and City Hall, but online. Site visitors are able to add 2 Approved Minutes May 10, 2018 comments on the items they like/dislike, what they wou ld like to see, what they enjoy at other community centers, and any other feedback they would like to leave. The Plymouth City website includes a scrolling news page regarding the community engagement process. Those interested in the project can also visit www.plymouthmn.gov/pccproject for details. Chair DeBleeckere asked where this postcard is being posted. Manager Fleck shared that the marketing materials are posted on the City’s social media accounts, in the Fall Parks & Recreation guide, and in the senior Grapevine newsletter. An email will also be sent out to all past participants over the last two years with information on the campaign. Chair DeBleeckere followed up and inquired if feedback can only be on what is presented or if any requests can be taken. Manager Fleck expressed that any comments are more than welcome. The current designs and examples are available to help create discussion and ideas in hopes that it will spark additional ideas and questions. Commissioners are encouraged to share the information with their contacts and networks. Commissioners are also invited to attend several upcoming community events to help answer questions. An information table will be set up at a Farmers Market night, Music in Plymouth, Kids Fest and a Water Ski Show. Commissioner Wilson asked if any “proposed development” signage will be put up at the Plymouth Creek Center to help draw attention to the project. Director Evans shared that at this point in the process it is too early for those signs to be displayed. Once development is approved and the design and bid process has started then signage can be put out at the Plymouth Creek Center. Commissioner Swanson asked how long the comment period will be available. Manager Fleck shared that Social Pinpoint will run from May 15 – August 28, FlashVote will be open July 17 – 19. Both residents and non-residents are welcome to attend any of the Open Houses or online commenting options. 4b. Receive Annual Report (Action) Each year the Parks & Recreation department creates an Annual Report to collectively show all that was completed and accomplished in the previous year. Director Diane Evans was present to present the 2017 Annual Report to Commissioners. The Annual Report will also be available in each Commissioner’s Dropbox account and on the city website. A printed copy is available by request. Edits were discussed and will be made to the chart on page 8 regarding the Department’s annual budget. Motion by Commissioner Wilson, seconded by Vice Chair Vanderwall, recommending the approval of the 2017 Annual Report, with changes as discussed. 5. NEW BUSINESS (ACTION ITEMS): 5a. Trail Gap Projects Update (Action) Project Coordinator Sonya Rippe presented updates on trail gap projects scheduled for 2018. Trail Gap 43 will be completed. This is the gap along the south side of Medina road, running between Greenwood Elementary and the Medina boarder. Construction will begin around the week of July 4 and be completed before the school year begins. Staff were able to acquire 5 right of entry agreements; 4 from residents and 1 from the school in order to complete the gap. 3 Approved Minutes May 10, 2018 Trail Gap 112 along Revere Lane is also being completed this year. The gap runs between Old County Road 15 and 6th Ave. This project will allow residents on the south side of Highway 55 to safely travel north to the commercial development area (near Arby’s). Staff are working with the landowner of the Arby’s property to gain a right of entry access for the trail easement. If right of entry assess isn’t obtained in time, a sidewalk can be put in in place of a trail in this section. This project would start in September and likely be complete in one week. Chair DeBleeckere asked how the trail and sidewalk easements differed. Coordinator Rippe shared that with a 5’ wide sidewalk it would fit within the right-of-way and wouldn’t need an easement. A 10’ wide trail would extend beyond the property right-of-way and require an easement. Coordinator Rippe provided an update on Trail Gap 113 along 32nd Ave. This gap is south of the Fresh Thyme/Goodwill commercial area. As of right now staff are working to combine the trail gap with the Vicksburg Lane mill and overlay project scheduled for 2019. 5b. West Metro Regional Trail Study (Action) Jono Cowgill from CDG and Danny McCullough and Stephen Shurson from the Three Rivers Park District were on-hand to share information on a potential West Metro Regional Trail. They are in the process of completing a community engagement process gathering feedback on creating a north-south trail system that would go through Plymouth. The engagement process is running from December 2017 – November 2018. The group will be meeting with residents and park commissions to share the trail concept. The area would include creating a trail from Bryant Lake Regional Park to Eagle Lake Park. The long term plan would be to connect French Regional Park to Bryant Lake Park and Downtown Wayzata. The team is working with the cities affected to gather feedback. The project could be completed in the next 10-15 years. Feedback from residents and trail users will be gathered and used to create a future master plan for the trail. In addition to attending larger events and park commission meetings, they are also offering smaller group sessions and listening sessions. For those unable to attend a meeting, there is an online survey available at www.trpd.westmetrotrails.com that can be completed. In addition to the survey, you can create routes, highlight current problem areas and designate wishful routes using an online mapping tool. Chair DeBleeckere expressed that a safe crossing will need to be considered if crossing Highway 55. She also shared that when the team is thinking of areas for the trail to go through, be sure to make the trail visible and to keep the trail as linear as possible. She shared that she was very excited about the possibility of these trails, as a north-south route is needed in this area. It is currently hard to find a good route to travel between several cities. Commissioner Wilson shared that it is very important to have inter -community connections to allow people to travel through multiple suburban areas. She asked that public safety be kept in mind so that bikers are not directly on busy, high-traffic streets. She asked whether the regional trails are typically used for recreational use or commuters. Mr. McCullough answered that their trails are used by both pretty evenly, it just depends more on where the trail is located. He has seen an increase in the number or commuter travelers over the last 10 years, especially along the Cedar Lake Trail in Hopkins. Other trails such as the Dakota trail in Wayzata are considered more destination trails” and see more recreational use. 4 Approved Minutes May 10, 2018 Commissioner Burkhardt shared that he enjoys the Dakota Rail trail quite a bit. With living in Plymouth, it is hard to find many trails that connect to that trail as most go east/west instead of north/south. Currently the easiest options are to either ride part of the time on city streets, or drive to Wayzata and get on the trail. Commissioner Swanson asked if the new trails would be designed for bikers only. Mr. McCullough responded that all new trails in this project would be designated as multi-use trails which would accommodate cycling and walking. Mr. Swanson shared that having bikes and walkers and runners on the same trail doesn’t always mix well and suggested lowering bike speeds to make it safer for walkers and runners. Mr. McCullough responded that all of their trails are currently ca tegorized as multi-use”. They continue to work on educating trail users regarding etiquette on their trails. Director Evans shared final thoughts of the City’s support of creating a connection within the west metro. She encouraged the team to consider year-round maintenance options. Parks & Recreation currently maintains over 100 miles of trails each winter and if this connection does get added, they would expect the area to be plowed as well. We have a very active population of trail users year - round. She also shared the same concern as Chair DeBleeckere regarding a safe crossing option at Highway 55, near Hwy 494. That is currently a larger barrier point that should be looked into. 5c. 2018 Strategic Plan Update (Action) Director Evans shared an update to the 2018 Strategic Plan. In order to continue meeting CAPRA accreditation standards, the Commission needs to be provided with, and review the department’s strategic plans at the beginning of each year, in the middle, and at the end of the year. Highlights to this year’s Strategic Plan include: Purchased the Schwappach property – the last property needed to complete the Northwest Greenway Completed Kimberly Lane boardwalk Ice Center hosted two national tournaments in less than a year – US Sled Hockey and High School National tournament East Medicine Lake Park building has been torn down and new helical piers are in place to construct the new building on Close to completion on Crooked Creek Park – will host an open house event late summer The playground at Green Oaks Park has been removed and donated to Kids Around the World Motion by Commissioner Swanson, seconded by Commissioner Burkhardt, recommending the approval of the 2018 Strategic Plan Update. 5d. Draft 2019-2023 Capital Improvement Program Review (CIP) (Action) Director Evans presented Commissioners with a draft of the 2019-2023 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Some highlights of upcoming projects include: Playground renovation at Zachary Park in 2019 Boardwalk replacement at Plymouth Dog Park in 2019, and at Lake Camelot in 2020 The Plymouth Ice Center will be purchasing a new Zamboni and will sell a current one to offset the cost A trailhead will be added to the Northwest Greenway at the south end of Peony Lane Commissioner Wilson inquired if the City keeps track of the number of people using the trails. Director Evans shared that we do have trail monitors that track the number of users, and mode of use (walk, bike, etc). There are two portable units that are moved around the community to 5 Approved Minutes May 10, 2018 randomly track trail usage. The Northwest Greenway does have embedded trail counters along the trail. Commissioner Sunseri asked if any trail data is collected along the boardwalks. She suggested that a trail counter be put along the boardwalk at Lake Camelot Park to see how many people are using that connection. That data may help in the process of either removing the second boardwalk at Lake Camelot Park or replacing it. Deputy Director Northway shared that they will set up one of the monitors along that boardwalk to gather more information on its usage. 6. COMMISSIONER/STAFF UPDATE Sue McLean & Associates has notified the City that they will not be offering a Live at the Hilde concert this year. They were unable to secure a group on the date they needed. The Park & Rec Summer Entertainment series will start in June. A schedule of upcoming concerts and movies is included in the meeting packet. Bark in the Park will be held Saturday, May 19. Council Member Jim Davis and his dog Be tty will help lead the 1K Dog Walk. 7. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Burkhardt, seconded by Vice Chair Vanderwall, recommending adjournment of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission meeting. With no objection, Chair DeBleeckere adjourned the meeting at 8:26 p.m.