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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 06/01/2009 APPROVED MINUTES PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY,JUNE 1, 2009 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER Council Chambers 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Geri Napuck, Chair; Jeffrey Gerst, Vice-Chair (left at 8:30 p.m.); Commissioners, Lee Elliott- Stoering and Derek Gunderson COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Tom Bierman, Hutch Coburn and Joan Oko COMMISSION STAFF PRESENT: Jay Lotthammer, Parks and Recreation Director Laurie Obiazor, Recreation Services Manager Stu Fox, Parks and Natural Resources Manager Wendy Sevenich, Community Center Manager Beth Witt, Aquatic and Fitness Coordinator RECORDING SECRETARY: Carol Pelzel I. ROLL CALLANTRODUCTIONS The meeting was called to order by Chair Napuck at 7:05 p.m. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion: Gerst moved, seconded by Gunderson, to approve the agenda as published. The motion carried, 4-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —May 4 , 2009 Motion: Gerst moved, Gunderson seconded, to approve the May 4, 2009 Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission meeting minutes as presented. The motion carried, 3-0-1 with Elliott-Stoering abstaining because of absence from that meeting. IV. REPORT OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION—May 5 and 19, 2009 Lotthammer reported on the following City Council action: A. TRAIL OVERLAY CONSTRUCTION The City Council awarded the bid for overlay of trails to William Mueller & Sons. This project is part of the Trail and Pavement Management System. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES June 1, 2009 Page 2 B. BUDGET REDUCTIONS On May 19 the City Council adopted certain budget reduction measures including the elimination of the Arts and Special Events Coordinator position. A plan has been developed to reassign programs to individuals within the Parks Department. V. REPORT OF PLANNING COMMISSION Fox reported there was only one Planning Commission meeting in May at which the Commission approved a variance request by RJM Construction for a fence height of eight feet at 13200 Pioneer Trail. United Properties is developing this site and the fence in front of Sterling Electric will be reconstructed and will provide some additional screening of that building. This will affect the entryway into Staring Lake Park. VI. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATION VII. OLD BUSINESS A. SENIOR CENTER EVALUATION Lotthammer reported the City Council asked staff to prepare an informational presentation and recommendation on how they should proceed with regard to closing the Senior Center. A preliminary presentation was presented to this Commission at their last meeting. Staff is asking the Commission to make a motion with a recommendation regarding the closure of the Senior Center. The motion and presentation will be presented to the City Council on June 16. This presentation will include information on what happens at the Senior Center and Community Center including a floor plan of the Senior Center and what each room is used for. The Senior Center also includes rooms for other service providers and the presentation will show what other events occur in and out of the Senior Center. Approximately 11,000 people attend specialized classes at the Senior Center and approximately 4,972 total volunteer hours are offered to help and assist at the Senior Center. The revenue generated at the Center totals $50,202 while expenditures are $280,329. Lotthammer pointed out they have not heard from anyone other than the Budget Advisory Committee that it is a good idea to close the Senior Center. Lotthammer reviewed some of the recent cost reductions at the Senior Center including decreased distribution of the Senior Center newsletter and the purging of the mailing list. They will also be doing a comparison of other communities in the operation of their Senior Center. The presentation to the Council will show the difficulty in moving all of the senior programs to the Community Center including the Community Center compatibility. The presentation will include the Senior Advisory Council's recommendation and will discuss the concept of selling or renting out the facility and some of the difficulties they would face in doing so. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES June 1, 2009 Page 3 Gunderson asked if when the Community Center was redone was it ever a consideration that the Senior Center would be moved to this facility. Lotthammer said if there was any discussion about this there was very little. When the design and building plans were approved it was not considered. They could add onto the roof top area if that was a consideration,however, it would be very unusual to pick a second story location to have seniors navigate to. Gerst explained he was the Chair of an ad hoc committee at the time they were redoing the Community Center and it was not a consideration to house the seniors at the Community Center. Elliott-S toering said the atmosphere of the Senior Center and the Community Center is so totally different. The parking area at the Community Center is not very conducive to seniors. Also, the aging demographics of Eden Prairie will not decrease the use in senior center facilities. Revenue generated by room rentals at the Community Center will be affected by moving the Senior Center to this facility. If a room is not rented at the Community Center but used for senior activities that revenue will be lost. Elliott-S toering said she does not see the benefit of moving the Senior Center to the Community Center. Lotthammer said an e-mail had been received from Bierman pointing out much the same as what Elliott-S toering just stated. Napuck said the Commission has already discussed this issue at their last meeting and stated that this Commission does not agree that the Senior Center should be closed and moved to the Community Center. The Commission must now put this into a formal motion. Elliott-S toering asked if the special needs groups that have been meeting at the Senior Center are still doing so. Lotthammer responded all of the groups that have been meeting there will continue. Napuck said the seniors of this community deserve to have a place of their own. They maintain the facility and care about it and it is not always about the bottom line. Gerst said from all of the discussion this Commission has had about closing the Senior Center the only upside he sees is financial and they haven't even seen any final information on that. They see that the facility is being used and has value and serves a great number of members of the community but they have not seen any demonstrated value in closing the Senior Center. The Community Center was not designed to include a Senior Center. If they had known from the onset that the Community Center would house the Senior Center it probably would have been done differently and parking would have been reevaluated. Elliott-S toering said there are certain issues that have to be considered and the Art Center is an example of another facility with a unique atmosphere. Lotthammer agreed that there is some value of place and atmosphere and that does carry over at the Art Center. From a financial perspective, there is revenue generated from the programs but when you bring something in costs are also incurred for cleaning, heating and lighting and all of that is difficult to measure. Lotthammer said during the PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES June 1, 2009 Page 4 Council presentation they will explain some of the dedicated costs that will occur no matter where the Senior Center is located. Napuck asked if it will be necessary to go through this process to assess and evaluate the closing of the Senior Center on an annual basis. She asked if this should also be addressed in their motion to the City Council. Lotthammer said he believes the Council would like some feedback on that. This same recommendation was before the City Council about a year ago and by not addressing it at that time it was allowed to come back. The Council feels that by reviewing this recommendation now they can look at it and put it to rest. Elliott-S toering said the Art Center has its own atmosphere and that is the same situation with the Senior Center. The gardens at the Senior Center are very therapeutic and relaxing and the seniors have done a lot of work at the Center. They need to recognize the unique amenities at that facility like the wood shop and the gardens and the number of volunteer hours that have been put in to help themselves. MOTION: Napuck moved, seconded by Gerst, to recommend to the City Council to continue operation of the Senior Center as a separate facility for the reasons including but not limited to: (1) potential short-term gains outweighed by long-term consequences and intangible benefits to the community; (2) increasing percentage of aging demographics; (3) Eden Prairie listed as one of the best places to retire and the Senior Center is an integral part of this national recognition; (4) loss of revenue opportunities if merged with the Community Center by loss of rental revenue for conference rooms, meeting rooms and other space rented by the public; and, (5) the Senior Center has a unique atmosphere and unique amenities such as the gardens, workshop and kitchen facility. The motion carried, 4-0. MOTION: Napuck moved, seconded by Elliott-Stoering, to recognize the lack of community support for closing the Senior Center and the angst to the community if the issue continues to be reviewed on an annual basis. The motion carried, 4-0. MOTION: Napuck moved, seconded by Gunderson, to thank the City Council for seeking feedback from the Parks Commission in addressing the closing of the Senior Center. The motion carried, 4-0. VIII. NEW BUSINESS A. FITNESS PROGRAM Beth Witt, Aquatic and Fitness Coordinator presented the Commission with an update on the fitness opportunities provided at the Community Center. The fitness program includes individuals, families, youths, seniors and community organizations. They have approximately 7,500 participants that utilize the fitness center each month. They have had 11,387 individuals attending group fitness classes so far for 2009 and have received $11,574 in revenue from their Silver Sneakers program. Witt explained they PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES June 1, 2009 Page 5 host special programs at the Community Center including MS classes and have had 175 participants in specialty fitness classes for 2009. The classes have generated $8,642 in revenue. They also offer youth fitness opportunities as well as sports conditioning programs. In response to a question from Elliott-Stoering, Witt responded they do explain the different membership programs that are available to people inquiring about membership into the program. B. COMMUNITY CENTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT PARKING PERMITS Sevenich explained staff is proposing a change to the Eden Prairie High School permit parking rates. Currently an annual $350 permit allows open parking to students in the Community Center Lot B or the Round Lake parking lots. Staff is now suggesting they offer a two-tier assigned parking option as a more affordable option to provide consistent parking for those who pay the $350 rate. Gunderson suggested they expand the application to include more vehicles. MOTION: Motion was made by Gunderson, seconded by Elliott-Stoering, to recommend the City Council implement a two-tier fee program for Eden Prairie high School permit parking, with one rate for assigned parking spots at the Community Center and a second rate for open parking at Round Lake Park. The motion carried, 4-0. IX. REPORTS OF STAFF A. RECREATION SERVICES MANAGER FYI: Minnesota Festival of Jazz on the Prairie—June 14 FYI: Concert Series FYI: Miller Park Playground Grand Opening —June 16 FYI: Peter Pan—Summer Musical—June 18-21 and 25-28 FYI: July 4t' Celebration—Round Lake Park B. COMMUNITY CENTER MANAGER FYI: Summer Hours Monday—Friday —5:30 a.m. — 9:00 p.m. Saturday—7:00 a.m. — 8:00 p.m. Sunday —7:00 a.m. —5:00 p.m. C. PARKS AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGER Lotthammer announced that Fox was recently married. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES June 1, 2009 Page 6 D. PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR 1. 2009 PRNR Work Plan FYI: June 16, PRNR presentation to the City Council X. NEXT MEETING The next regular meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission is scheduled for Monday, July 6, 2009. This will be the bus tour and they plan to leave from the City Center at 6:30 p.m. Dinner will not be served. X. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.