HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes 05-09-20191 Approved Minutes
May 9, 2019
Approved Minutes
Park & Recreation Advisory Commission
Thursday, May 9, 2019
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Tricia DeBleeckere, Vice Chair Dick Burkhardt, Commissioners: Margie DuPuis, Ann
Hoekstra, Marilyn Sunseri, Michael Swanson, Vita Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT: Parks & Recreation Director Diane Evans, Deputy Director Barb Northway, Recreation Manager
Kari Hemp, Project Coordinator Sonya Rippe, Recreation Supervisor Cindy Anderson, Recreation Supervisor Dan
Lauer, Recreation Supervisor Alyssa Fram, Recreation Supervisor Paul Pearson, Recreation Supervisor Jessie Koch,
Office Support Specialist Sarah Josephs
COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES: City Council Member Alise McGregor, Planning Commissioner Bryan Oakley
GUESTS:
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair DeBleeckere called the meeting to order at 6:58 p.m.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Margie DuPuis was present for the March 14, 2019 meeting, not absent as recorded.
Motion made and seconded recommending approval of the March 14 Park and Recreation Advisory
Commission meeting minutes as written, with edits as discussed. With all members voting in favor,
the motion carried.
3. OPEN FORUM:
4. PRESENTATIONS (NON-ACTION ITEMS):
4a. Plymouth Creek Center Project Update
Recreation Manager Kari Hemp shared with Commissioners that City Council selected HGA as the
architectural firm to be used for the renovation and expansion project at the Plymouth C reek
Center. HGA will be present at the June PRAC meeting to provide a full presentation on their design
concepts based on feedback from Council and staff. Council did request that the building have an
iconic look to it from the outside. Based on resident feedback, Council also requested that updated
designs include a gymnasium(s), track, and mulit-purpose rooms.
Based on current renderings of what could be created on the site, Council preferred to keep active
spaces separate from classroom spaces to help reduce any noise issues. Staff and Council will be
reviewing parking lot options as well with considerations including possibly expanding into the
wooded area including the disc golf course, parking along the hill side, parking to the right of the
current lot, or even a ramp.
Commissioner Hoekstra asked what percentage of the disc golf course would be affected if the
parking lot did head that direction. Staff answered that there are currently 12 holes on the course,
this design would remove one of the holes. Chair DeBleeckere shared that having the secluded,
forested area is a nice feature and would foresee some issues removing any of those trees.
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Commissioner Sunseri asked if Options 2 and 3 were of the same size and number of rooms.
Manager Hemp shared that room numbers and sizes haven’t been determined yet, this is more of an
overall look of where rooms could be placed in relation to other rooms.
Commissioner Swanson shared that he felt it would be helpful for Council to have a listing of what
rooms are available now, how often they are used, when they are used, and by whom. He stated
that the surveys done only show what residents would like to see in the future, not what is currently
available. Chair DeBleeckere suggested there may be utilization report to provide to Council if they
wish to review. Manager Hemp shared that programs are using as many of the classrooms as
possibly available. Often times classes have to switch rooms several times throughout a session due
to outside rental bookings or other room conflicts. There is a tight turn-around time on room set-up
and take-downs that limits what types of classes can be offered after one another. Staff have begun
offering programs within park shelter buildings in the last year due to not having enough classroom
space available at the Plymouth Creek Center.
Commissioners were asked to review several facilities with unique facades to see if they like any to
possibly use as a starting point for designs of the outside of the Plymouth Creek Center.
4b. Recreation Operations
Recreation Manager Kari Hemp introduced her staff of Recreation Supervisors. Cindy Anderson
manages the aquatic program, safety training classes, babysitting classes, and the gymnastics
program. She also runs the Plymouth on Parade event, Water Ski shows, and the Middle School Ski
Club.
Dan Lauer has worked with the City for 20 years. He works with athletic and sport programming.
Preschool sports has really began to grow in the last few years. He runs the Fire & Ice and Bark in the
Park events, softball tournaments, the Pump Park event, and pickleball tournaments.
Alyssa Fram works with arts, theater, and music programs as well as inclusion services. She also
schedules all of the summer concerts and movies in the parks. Alyssa plans the Fire & Ice, Primavera,
and Plymouth Arts Fair events.
Jessie Koch plans all health, wellness, and fitness programs. She also manages the winter warming
houses, farmers market (winter and summer), and schedules field usage. Her events include
Halloween at the Creek, After Hours at the Creek, Walk with the Mayor, Skate the Garden, and Old
Fashioned Christmas.
Paul Pearson programs all education and summer playground programs. He also leads the After
Hours at the Creek event, Bark in the Park, Plymouth o n Parade, and Kids Fest.
Manager Hemp shared that over 66,000 people were served during 2018’s recreation programs and
special events. Staff have several new events schedule for 2019 and 2020 including; Plymouth Sings,
Date Night at the Hilde, and Discover Plymouth.
Several new programs in 2019 include; Park Passport, Beginning Mahjong classes, Pet Safety classes,
a Pickleball tournament, and Glass Blowing classes.
In 2019 three new shelters became available for rental during the summer season of May 1 –
September 30. West Medicine Lake Shelters 1 & 2 (the two closest to the beach) are now available
for full day rentals, as well as the new park shelter at East Medicine Lake Park.
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Sponsorships of recreation programs and events continue to come in and grow throughout the
years. As of April 2019, over $18,000 was already collected in sponsorship dollars to be used for
programs and events this year.
The Parks & Recreation department was recently honored with 5 awards from the state association,
Minnesota Recreation and Parks Association for outstanding achievements in several categories.
Three of the awards were for the recreation division. Awards received were for; Ninja Warriors
Camp, Tree Walk, Skate the Garden Event, Community Engagement, and After Hours at the Creek.
Some recent accomplishments within the division include; record high attendance at Fire & Ice
6,500 people), record high attendance for Halloween at Creek (1,492), record high Kids Fest
attendance (3,100), launched Ninja Warrior class (568 participants), created Skate the Garden event,
and created After Hours at the Creek.
5. NEW BUSINESS (ACTION ITEMS):
5a. Trail Gap Projects Update – Sonya Rippe
Project Coordinator Rippe presented on each of the trail gap and extension options provided in the
meeting packet. On a semi-regular basis staff bring forward a list for consideration and prioritization.
The trail options are typically based on residential requests, safety concerns, usage patterns, and
grant/collaboration availability. In recent years it has become more difficult to complete trail gap
projects because many of the remaining trail sections lack easements, have grade challenges,
require tree removal, and have neighborhood challenges.
Commissioner Wilson asked how trails were selected for consideration and then for completion.
Project Coordinator Rippe shared that staff review areas within the City that have major gaps, areas
where a trail is missing on both sides of the road, and areas where there is strong resident request
for a connection to be made. Staff then ask for a feasibility report to be completed on those sections
by our Engineering department. Staff then present these findings once a year to PRAC for their
consideration for completion.
There are times when trail gaps are completed or added outside of the scope of this process. Those
situations happen when a new road is built by the Streets department. Trails would be added along
any new roads built. Trails gaps also get added when funding opportunities such as grants or
partnerships with other cities or Hennepin County become available and are only available for a
limited time period.
Commissioner Sunseri shared that she loves when there are trails on both sides of the road, but
asked if there was any standard as to when it is worth having a trail on both sides if there is a higher
cost, effort, and building challenges that come with it. Is there is a time that it is okay when a trail is
only on one side of the road? Director Evans shared that since the park system is over 30 years old,
most of the easy trail locations have already been put in place. What remains are the trails in hard to
put locations. What staff try to do is complete as many gaps as possible with the funding budgeted
in the Park Replacement Funds.
Commissioner Wilson shared her disappointment that all of the gaps for consideration were west of
Hwy 494. She suggested completing come of the gaps near Medicine Lake since that was a
destination spot for people from all over the metro region. Specifically, trail gap #73 would provide a
helpful connection to visitors parking and walking to the lake in that area. Director Evans shared that
that specific gap has been on their list of gaps to complete for some time, the problem is that the
street isn’t fully built yet. Staff are waiting for the road to be built out with curb and gutter before
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they add a trail alongside it. She can speak with the Streets department however about striping a
bike lane on the current road.
Commissioner Sunseri asked how neighbors or residents would bring that street project to the
attention of City staff and speed up getting it completed. Director Evans shared that the Streets
department has a full list of road projects, just as we have trail projects, and are getting through
them as fast as they can. As soon as they do build the road, we will complete the trail.
Commissioner Hoekstra asked if all City trails were paved and if there was a possibility to have a dirt
path as a temporary measure. Director Evans shared that staff would ultimately be paying twice for
the once trail if they chose to put down a dirt trail and then remove that and complete a full trail
once the street was finished.
Chair DeBleeckere asked if staff would be able to speak with the Streets department to see where
this street is on their priority list. Project Coordinator Rippe shared that she would meet with Streets
staff to see where this street falls on their priority list.
Vice Chair Burkhardt asked if some of the cost sharing options have expiration dates to them.
Director Evans shared that yes, based on agreements with developers or other partners the City can
either partner now and share costs or pass on the project and pay the full amount later.
Motion by Vice Chair Burkhardt, seconded by Commissioner Sunseri, recommending the approval of
the Trail Gap Recommendations as presented, and that Commissioners will receive a priority road
list to help determine future trail gap priorities. With 6 members voting in favor, and 1 against, the
motion carried.
5b. Plymouth Parks & Recreation 2019 Strategic Plan Update
As part of the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) accreditation
process, staff annually need to provide a Strategic Plan to Commissioners in the beginning, middle,
and end of each year. Tonight we are looking for an approval of the mid -year plan.
Commissioner Wilson inquired about the agreement between the City and R obbinsdale and
Wayzata School Districts and the use of the Community Gyms, wondering which party was
responsible for maintaining the gyms. Director Evans shared that each school district is responsible
for any maintenance and cleaning needs.
Motion by Vice Chair Burkhardt, seconded by Commissioner Sunseri, recommending the approval
of the 2019 Strategic Plan.
5c. Draft 2020-2030 Capital Improvement Program Review (CIP)
Director Evans shared with Commissioners that this is the first time staff have completed a 10-year
CIP. Typically a 5-year CIP of projects has been completed. We have a wide range of large projects
scheduled at the Fieldhouse, Ice Center, and in Parks & Forestry.
The Fieldhouse is scheduled to receive an automation update, to replace its field nets and goals,
repair the southern retaining wall, and replace the turn in the next 10 years.
The PIC is scheduled to purchase a new Zamboni among other projects.
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Parks & Forestry schedule $300,000 a year for land acquisition to complete the remaining parks
and portions of the Northwest Greenway. There are irrigation system replacements and bridge and
boardwalk replacements scheduled as well. The boardwalk along the north side of Lake Camelot is
scheduled to be replaced in 2020 and the south boardwalk is scheduled to be replaced in 2023.
A State of the Trails report will be coming out later this summer. Staff currently budget money
annual to repair or replace trails in the city. Current rates allow to repave approximately 1 mile of
trail for $300,000.
Playgrounds will continue to be replaced every 17-20 years based on their average life span.
Zachary Playground has been removed. Once the ground dries out contractors will be able to begin
installing the new playground equipment.
Motion by Commissioner DuPuis, seconded by Commissioner Sunseri, recommending the approval
of the 2020-2030 Capital Improvement Program.
6. COMMISSIONER/STAFF UPDATE
Bark in the Park will be held on May 18 at the Hilde Performance Center. New this year will be a
Doga class at 10:30 a.m. This is a dog-yoga class.
There will be a Memorial Day celebration on Friday, May 24 at the Veterans Memorial Wall at
City Hall. The event is sponsored by the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Committee.
Beaches in Plymouth will be opening soon. West Medicine Lake Beach will open May 25, Parkers
Lake Beach will open June 8, and East Medicine Lake Beach will open July 5.
The Hennepin County Step to It Challenge is still going strong. Be sure to log in your steps at
www.steptoit.org. Last year Plymouth won the title of Most Active city.
Sue McLean and Associates announced the headliner for the concert on August 17 at the Hilde
Performance Center will be the BoDeans.
This weekend is the Tree and Shrub sale pick up at the Maintenance facility. Over 250 residents
took advantage of reduced cost plants for their yards.
Next weekend is Plant and Pull day. Volunteers and staff work together to plant annuals and
pull garlic mustard and other invasives from parks.
Staff attended an Arbor Day celebration at Pilgrim Lane Elementary School and participated in a
tree planting ceremony.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Commissioner Sunseri, seconded by Commissioner Swanson, recommending
adjournment of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission meeting. With no objection, Chair
DeBleeckere adjourned the meeting at 9:26 p.m.
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