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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 03/17/1997 i 7 i i 1997 i MARCH 17 MINUTES Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources Commission CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE 1 i AGENDA j PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY,MARCH 17,1997 7:00 P.M.CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD COUNCIL CHAMBERS i COMMISSION MEMBERS: Claire Hilgeman, Chair, Richard Brown„ Bruce Bowman, Don Jacobson,Vicki Koenig,David Kracum,John Wilson STUDENT MEMBERS: Jennifer Frecmyer,Melody Hasse 1 COMMISSION STAFF: Robert A. Lambert, Director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources; Stuart A. Fox, Manager of Parks and a Natural Resources; Laurie Hclling, Manager of Recreation Services i 1. ROLL h 3 k 11. APPROVAL OF AGENDA i l. Ill. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-MARCH 3. 1997 IV. PETITIONS RF,QQESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS 45 V. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS F i VI. nt-D BUSING } A. Trail Priority Rankings for 1997 Proicct Consideration _ f B. Proposed HVAC and Disinfectant System Improvements to Community Center C. Staring Lake Playground Renovation VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Miller Spring Improvements Vill. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF A. Reports of M:nkmer of P;irks.Recreation and Natural Resources l. Policy on Public Use of City Facilities IX. ADJOURNMENT S ( APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES MONDAY,MARCH 17, 1997 7:00 P.M.CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD COUNCIL CHAMBERS COMMISSION MEMBERS: Claire Hilgeman, Chair; Richard Brown, Bnjcs-Bowman,Don Jacobson,Vicki Koenig, David Kracum,John Wilson COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Bruce Bowman COMMISSION STAFF: Robert A. Lambert, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities; Stuart A. Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources; Elinda Bahlcy,Recording Secretary I STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Jennifer Freemycr,Melody Hasse 9 1. ROLL CALL k The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m. j 11. APPROVAL OF AGENDA i f MOTION: Koenig moved, seconded by Wilson, to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried 6-0. a I11. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-MARCH 3,1922 MOTION: Wilson moved, seconded by Koenig,to approve the minutes of the March 3, 1997 Gden Prairie Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission ( � as published. Motion curried 5-0-1 with one abstention by Cmnmissioner Kracum. IV. "ETITIONS. REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS None. V. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS None. I Approved Minutes Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Monday,March 17,1997 VI. OLD BUSINESS A. Trail Priority Rankings for 1997 Project Consideration i Lambert requested this item be continued until the next mecting because some of the recommendations have changed. MOTION: Brown moved, seconded by Koenig, to ,rove Trail Priority Ranking for 1997 Funding until the April 7, 1997 meeting. Motion carried 6-0. B. Proposed IIVAC and Disinfectant System Improvements to Community Center i Staff referred the Commission to two memos dated March 11, 1997 from Bob Lambert,Director of Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources. f Lambert explained what the costs will be and asked for a recommendation i to the City Council to prepare plans and specifications to do either the short term fix or the long term fix. Staff recommended the long term fix because there is already over $4 million invested in the Community Center. It's possible to have the School District help pay for those improvements but i they can't legally do anything unless there is a formal Joint Powers 4 Agreement with the City. r Staff reviewed the long tern fix versus the short term fix. The short term fix would basically bring the pool up to the standard that it was when it was first opened in 1982. The School District would have to use Oak Point Pool for their competitive swim team practices, but could hold their meets at the Community Center. The other swimming groups would have to be told there would be some limitation for competitive swimming on the number of kids allowed in the pool. The long term fix would have a major impact on the r Cl P because$400,000 would be taken out of'thc budget that was not planned for. Wilson asked what the impact on the City's ability to control the water temperature would be if they spent the$400.000. Lambert replied if they improve the air quality and go to ozone,they would be able to raise the water temperature back to at least 83 degrees. There would not be any more problems with chlorine which is the real problem with the breathing. This 2 1 i Approved Minutes Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Monday,March 17, 1997 is the only way to assure going back to warmer temperatures and trying to accommodate all users. Fie explained how the HVAC system works. Wilson asked if there would be it potential of more income from the pool if the FIVAC system is installed. Lambert said no. They would get back some of the lesson programs that dropped off and some of the older people,but there would not be a significant amount of increased revenue. Hilgeman was concerned about why Lambert's opinion about an ozone system has changed from discussion four years ago. Lambert said four years ago there were less than half a dozen facilities in the United States that used ozone. He was not comfortable recommending a $100,000 system on something that nobody could tell him whether it would work or not. At that time,Shoreview had one but they were having problems getting it adjusted. Once they learned how to operate it,the facility has been fantastic for them. He said he is now a believer that an ozone system is the answer for swimming pools when it is heavily used by competitive swimmers or has fountains,water slides or other devices that splash a lot of water into the air. Brown commented he contacted some engineers and they said if the City takes the quick fix route the pool would work equally as well as it did when j it was first built but it would not solve the problem with the air movement. He called the School District and asked them what they would do if the Community Center pool was shut down for some reason. They said they have 1 10 students on the girls swimming team and they could be adequately handled at Oak Point pool. Oak Point pool does not have diving facilities so they would like that to be worked out at the Community Center,as well as synchronized swimming. He suggested the Poxjcls share in the cost of the 1 new system like the hockey Association has done. He was not comfortable i asking the City to absorb all the costs when there is so much debt already. i Koenig was not comfortable voting because the Commission should be privy ; to discussion at the Joint Advisory Committee on Wednesday night. She did not want to recommend to do plans and specifications and go to bidding until they know how they will pay for the system. She was also opposed to using cash park fees for such it high amount. That would be taking a lot of money away from it large group of people and giving it to a smaller group. These people would have to wait for park improvements and cash park fees arc not meant for this kind of repair. 3 Approved Minutes Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Monday,March 17,1997 Lambert explained how it Joint Powers Agreement with the School District would work and the options available for the Commission. Staff recommended either fix the pool with cash park fees or don't fix the pool and maybe pass a referendum. There is no slush fund available for these types of repairs. He noted the commitment the City has with the park system is to keep the buildings, parks and trails they already have in good repair. Keeping them safe and usable always has to be the first priority. Whatever the Commission decides,they must do the minimum to get the pool up to health standards by spending$75,000 to S 100,000. Hilgeman was uncomfortable spending$400.000 for 250 kids because it's hard to justify. She commented that Oak Point pool can not handle the swim meets.Brown noted with two days notice the Community Center could lower the temperature to handle the swim meets. Koenig asked if the rate of$56 an hour is strictly for operating expenses. Lambert replied it'sjust for operating expenses and has nothing to do with improvements or repairs. Lambert explained that the City should be developing a Capital Improvement Program for major repairs of all buildings because many of the major components have a limited warranty and will eventually need to be replaced. When these components go,it's it lot of money unless there's a fund built up for it. MOTION: Brown moved, seconded by Wilson, that one of the Commission's responsibilities to this community is to build a park system with the funds available and since the major funding source is cash park fees, and if the Commission would recommend utilizing that funding source for major repairs and maintenance of facilities like the Community Center, i they're heading down it road that will guarantee that they will not be able to , finish the park system with the cash park fees, and with that in mind, 5 recommend these three options to do the right fix, and the right fix is the major repair and ozone system but not to fund it from cash park fees and fund another source;and the second option would be if the City does not have the funds available,ask the School District and the City Attorney to figure out a way if.in it Joint Powers Agreement,allow the School District to allow the City in paying for this improvement, and if that's not feasible, the third option appears to be to do the minimum fix that allows the Community Center pool to operate and function the way it was originally designed and G i i Approved Minutes Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Monday,March 17, 1997 that would mean recommending moving all competitive swim practices to Oak Point pool and the Community Center could still hold competitive swim meets,diving practices,and synchronized swimming,and move the Foxjcts to Oak Point pool also. Motion curried 6-0. C. Starfng Lake Playground Renovation Staff referred the Commission to a memo dated March 11, 1997, from Bob Lambert,Director of Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources. Lambert explained they have received three bids for the Staring Lake Playground Renovation. Start' recommended accepting Sunram Construction, Inc. to do the job. Staff also recommended to use a vinyl covered chain link fence instead of the aluminum decorative fence,and to i furnish and install the cast connection between the playground and the amphitheatre. All of the other fences are vinyl covered chain link and this is the most the City can afford to spend on it. The cost for the path is a good price and would be similar to the cost for the City to do it themselves. MOTION: Wilson moved,seconded by Jacobson,to accept Sunram's bid for the Staring Lake Playground renovation. Motion carried 6-0. V11. NEW BUSINESS A. Miller Sprint,Improvement s Staff referred the Commission to a memo dated March 4, 1997 from Bob t Lambert, Director of Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources. Lambert commented he sent a letter to the Heritage Preservation Commission and the Environmental Waste Management Commission asking for input from all three Commissions before going to the City Council and eventually to the Watershed District to actually sec if they would go in on a joint project with the City. Staff has met with the engineer for the Watershed District and a board member on the site and showed them the condition of the spring. I lilgcman asked if there would be any effect on the spring by moving it to the cast side. Lambert said no. Hilgeman commented the Historical Society should know about this out of respect for the fact they worked so hard 5 t i Approved Minutes Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources I Monday,March 17,1997 preserving this for the people of Eden Prairie. Lambert explained that part of the review process is not through the Historical Society. It's through the Commissions to the City Council. The Heritage Preservation Commission certainly is the group that has the connection with the Historical Society and he would expect their staff liason to discuss it with the Historical Society. MOTION: Koenig moved,seconded by Brown,to approve the March 4, 1997 memorandum regarding Miller Spring improvements. Motion carried 6-0. Vlll. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS RS AND STAFF A. Reports of Manager of Parks.Recreation and Natural Resources 1. Policy on Public Use of City Facility, Staff referred the Commission to a memo dated March 4, 1997,from Bob Lambert,Director of Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources. Lambert said this is the final draft of what will go to the City Council and thought the Commission would like to see it. IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Wilson moved,seconded by Brown,to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:33 p.m. i s 6