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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 02/01/1988 .� � .. ..�. .....'':. � '... Y.�f..r. �::.:..1.11... .....'. .r..:: :'.....w.. l... .- n..,�..�t ��...., . .. ._i7ti'rt� � .•.. 3. ..''�:'.:.'[..?...�..,...,���.e.��.1...C.Y117MS:..:nr1.Au r •[ 1988 1 FEBRUARY TE l�/�I1�TU S CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE • AGENDA EDEN PRAIRIE PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1988 7:30 P.M. CITY HALL - 7600 EXECUTIVE DRIVE COMMISSION MEMBERS: Pat Breitenstein, chairperson; Raiford Baker, Moe Cook, Gary Gonyea, Karon Joyer, Brian Mikkelson, Charles Shaw COMMISSION STAFF: Bob Lambert, Director of Community Services 7:30 I. ROLL CALL II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - DECEMBER 21, 1987 w IV. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS A. None V. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS None VI. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS, BOARDS AND STAFF A. Reports of Superintendent of Recreation 7:35 1. Day Care Center Update 7:40 2. Outdoor Center Program B. Reports of Athletic Coordinator 7:45 1. Season Ending Reports a. Racquetball : Fall 1987 b. 3-Women Basketbal : Winter 1988 c. Table Tennis: Fall 987 League C. City Council Meetings - January 5 & 19, 1988 VII. OLD BUSINESS 7 :50 Community Services Department Proposed Projects for 1988 VIII. NEW BUSINESS 8:05 Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources Commission Goals for 1988 8:30 IX. ADJOURNMENT APPROW-:h MTN11'1'r.S EDEN PRAIRIE PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION C Monday, February 1 , 1988 7:30 p.m. , 7600 Executive Dr. COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Breitenstein, chairperson; Bud Baker, Moe Cook, Gary Gonyea, Karon Joyer, Brian Mikkelson COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Charles Shaw COMMISSION STAFF: Bob Lambert, Director of Community Services; Rick Bolinske, Superintedent of Recreation I. ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m, by chairperson, Pat Breitenstein. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Lambert added B. Snowmobile Complaints under VII. Old Business. MOTION: Cook moved to approve the agenda as amended. Gonyea seconded the motion and it passed 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - DECEMBER 21 , 1987 MOTION: Mikkelson moved to approve the minutes as mailed. Joyer seconded the motion and it passed 6-0. IV. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS None V. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS None VI. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS, BOARDS AND STAFF A. Reports of Superintendent of Recreation 1 . Day Care Center Update Bolinske said that the commission had requested an update on how the center was doing. It has been in operation for three months and there have been. many positive comments. There is a potential to open the day care center to the public. l Rita Phelps was present at the meeting to present a summary of the activities during the last three months. There has been a revenue of $687. 50 with a cost of $4917.00 for salaries . Initial setup costs and salary breakdowns were APROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PARKS, REC. & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Feb. 1 , 1988t -2- included in the packets . Breitenstein said she can't understand why the Clty should provide day care for people not using City facilities. The City is not in the day care busines. Baker said he thinks t:here would be a lot of abuse if the day care -enter were opened to the public. Phelps said the center needs to raise more income. Baker questions having two staff people on duty at all times . He asked for a clearer explanation of the communication need. Phelps said they tried to get people to call ahead so they would know how many children to expect, but this did not work out well. The number of children varies from day to day and in an emergency there needs to be -omebody available to stay with the children. Baker asked how the dollar amounts for revenue and expense be balanced. Phelps said it could be accomplished by either raising the fees or increasing volume. Baker asked what the fees should be increased to. Phelps said a common fee is $2 .00 per hour for day care per child This could be for non-members. She added that service to the public would only be offered from 10 to S. Baker said he feels even this rate would be a good deal for drop-in care and that even a rate of $2.00 per hour for members and $4.00 per hour for non-members would not be unreasonable. Lambert said the commission should keep in mind that the day care center is running on a six month trial basis and he has concerns with the costs during this three month period. Bolinske said he feels the public uses many recreational facilities and programs that do not pay their own way and this is just another case. Bolinske cited youth athletic programs and summer playgrounds. Cook said his agrees with Rick although other athletic programs do not have this type of deficit. Bolinske said he does not feel staff can be cut in half, but that usage needs to be increased. C) Lambert noted that the program would have to increase by six times the present number and asked Bolinske is this was feasible Bolinske stated that it wasn 't feasible. APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PARKS, REC. & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Feb. 1 , 1988 -3- Cook asked if the winter months are somewhat slower than when the weather is warmer. Phelps said yes, although Bolinske said he feels usage in summer would be less because of all the other activities going on. Baker asked if the fees can be changed at this point. Phelps said she didn 't think so because brochures are ready for printing. Baker asked if the fees can be changed to $1 .50 for members and $3 .00 for non-members after the present brochure expires. Lambert said yes and the program could be extended a couple of months to see what happens with usage after the rates have been raised. MOTION: Baker moved to recommend that at the beginning of the sixth month of day care service or as soon as possible, the fees be increased to $1 .50 per hour for members and $3.00 per hour for non-members with a maximum of three hours of care and that the service be offered to anyone regardless of Community Center usage. Cook seconded the motion. On call for discussion, Mikkelson asked if there was any demand for care from 8 to 12 on Saturdays. Bolinske said there is more demand in the evenings. Phelps added that the meeting room is usually reserved for 7:30 on weeknights which would prevent them from extending evening hours. Bolinske suggested that hours available for daycare could be cut back on the weekends in order to save on expenditures. The motion passed 6-0. 2. Outdoor Center Program Bolinske reported that the seniors are very happy with their new facility. They can have five different activities going on at the same time instead of one. Bolinske summarized possible uses for the outdoor center. They are renting the building to the public, adult and youth outdoor classes, middle school outdoor education classes, youth camping and outdoor programs, senior citizen programs, special events and symposiums and weekend winter programs. Cook asked what the condition of the building is if it will be in almost constant use. Bolinske said the building is in excellent shape except for some water problems in spring. He feels that a staff person should always be present when the building is rented out to the public. A 'APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PARKS, REC. & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Feb. 1 , 1988 -4- Cook said he feels we should concentrate on programs for 8-12 year olds. Baker asked if consideration has been given to boy and girl scouts participating in these programs. Bolinske feels they should be included. Lambert added that most of the tables and chairs have been moved out of the outdoor center to the new senior center and a wall is being removed to make one larger room. The City has received a grant for a DNR fishing pier which wil go out on the point. Usage of the outdoor center will have to be limited in spring because the building is located in the floodplain and the septic tank has to be pumped. Joyer asked what the capacity of the outdoor center is. Bolinske said it can hold between 50-70 people. Lambert ~'+ noted that the Fire Marshall has set a limit of 50 people. Joyer asked if the vo-tech has been approached about building the deck. Bolinske said no. MOTION: Joyer moved to recommend proceeding with the outd activities program at the outdoor center. Mikkelson secon ea the motion and it passed 6-0. B. Reports of Athletic Coordinator I : 1 . Season Ending Reports a. Racquetball: Fall 1987 b. 3-Women Basketball: Winter 1988 C. Table Tennis: Fa111987 League These are information items only. Baker asked what the situation is for updating racquetball facilities in order to compete with the athletic clubs. Lambert said the entire facility needs updating including expanding the locker area, adding a gym and improving the fitness center. Baker asked how construction at the Community Center is coming along. . Lambert said the first phase should be completed by April and the second phase will be done next fall. .APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PARKS, REC. & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Feb. 1 , 1988 -5- Baker asked when the remarketing evaluation of the Community Center would be completed. Lambert said he was not sure; however it will be addressed in the park plan update. Cook referred to the three woman basketball league. He asked why we are soliciting this if there is a shortage of gym space. Bolinske said that with the new school , there seems to be enouqh qym space at the present time. Baker asked if racquetball is included in physical education classes at the high school level. Bolinske said the kids seem to enjoy walleyball and he noted that not many of them use the racquetball courts . Baker said he feels it would be a good idea if the kids were taught the basics of racquetball in physical education. Bolinske noted the limitations of teaching a phy ed class of 25 on three racquetball courts . C. City Council Meetings - January18 & 19, 1988 There were no reports. i VII. OLD BUSINESS C A. Community Services Department Proposed Projects for 1988 'a Refer to memo dated January 26, 1988 from Bob Lambert, Director I of Community Services. Lambert said the major project is the updating of the comprehensive park plan. Costs for updating the plan could be as high as $20, 000 to $50, 000 . The plan is very important since it helps in determining what will be done with the parks and trail systems over the next ten years . Some issues which will be discussed in the plan include the need for a public golf course in Eden Prairie, sidewalks, asphalt trails and nature trails. Lambert added that the City will be purchasing equipment in order to clean snow off the sidewalks in winter. No action is required at this time. j 3. Snowmobile Complaints Lambert said the Public Safety Department has had more complaints about snowmobiles this year than they have ever had. After a discussion about specific incidents that had occurred, it was decided it would be a good idea to run an article in the paper about snowmobile laws and safety rules. VIII . NEW BUSINESS APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PARKS, REC. & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Feb. 1 , 1988 -6- A. Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources Commission Goals for 1988 Breitenstein said she feels the commission should go on another tour of Eden Prairie parks. She suggested that perhaps the tour should be open to the public since many residents do not know about many of the parks. Bolinske suggested that the newspaper do a feature on a different Eden Prairie parks each week. Lambert said the City is doing a color brochure on City parks. Baker suggested the City contact the real estate offices and allow them to advertise in the brochure. This would pay for the cost of the brochures. Joyer asked if there was any way for the City to show support for recycling programs. Lambert said the senior citizens are developing a paper drop center in the parking lot behind the senior center. Bolinske said another idea would be for a company to donate some decorative garbage cans which could be put in area parks to collect cans. Cook said his feeling is that park development is dependent C) upon the comprehensive park plan. He added that he feels communication with residents is very important and that perhaps more of the information brought forth at these meetings should be published in the paper or in brochures. Breitenstein also said she feels the public should be informed about the outcome of special events they have seen advertised. Cook said he feels the commission should visit all of the parks in Eden Prairie during the spring. Members of the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission received a letter from Tony Phillippi in which he commented on the beauty of the Purgatory Creek area and asked the commission to consider the best use of the parkland the Creekview projectis offering prior to their final plat of Creekview. IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Baker moved to adjourn the meeting at 9: 10 p.m. Cook seconded the motion and it passed 6-0. Respectfully submitted, C Lois Boettcher Recording Secretary