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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 10/01/2012 APPROVED MINUTES PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2012 7:00 P.M., OUTDOOR CENTER 13765 Staring Lake Parkway COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Geri Napuck, Chair; Hutch Coburn, Vice Chair; Tom Bierman, Derek Gunderson, Matthew Kraft, Larry Link(arrived at 7:10 p.m.), Leonard Pesheck STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT: Yasmin Atef-Vahid and Vy Nguyen COMMISSION STAFF PRESENT: Jay Lotthammer, Parks & Recreation Director Laurie Obiazor, Recreation Services Manager Stu Fox, Parks and Natural Resources Manager Wendy Sevenich, Community Center Manager Stan Tekiela, Outdoor Center Recreation Supervisor Carol Pelzel, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Napuck called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. New student representatives introduced themselves. Lotthammer announced that Joan Oko and Dave Rosa have resigned from the Commission due to other commitments. This brings the Commission membership to seven which is within the City Charter requirement. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion: Gunderson moved, seconded by Bierman, to approve the agenda as presented. The motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF PRNR MINUTES —August 6,2012 Motion: Gunderson moved, seconded by Coburn, to approve the August 6, 2012 PRNRC meeting minutes as published. The motion carried 6-0. IV. REPORT OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION Lotthammer reported that no Council action was taken that affected this Commission. However, on Tuesday, October 2, the Council will be considering three Hennepin Youth Sports grant applications on behalf of the Baseball Association. If selected, the Association would match the award from the County. The grant applications are for adding dug outs and batting cages at Franlo, Miller and Cummins Grill parks. Lotthammer also reported there will be a City Council workshop held on October 16 to review property acquisition, maintenance and management of that property. The City owns land other than park land and the Council wants to understand why the City has some of that acreage and how it is cared for and how it was acquired. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION October 1, 2012 Page 2 V. REPORT OF PLANNING COMMISSION Fox reported the Planning Commission recently approved a ten-lot subdivision by Bellerieve. This development will generate cash park fees. The Planning Commission also approved a 192-unit apartment building for Mitchell Crossing Apartments located at Mitchell Road & Cochran Lane. Fox explained the Planning Commission has been considering changing the City's Comprehensive Guide Plan for Airport zoning. MAC has indicated they would like to do some structure development on their property. The change would allow airport commercial and airport office development. Seven MAC parcels have been identified with six having development potential. A change to the Comprehensive Guide Plan will allow the City to review those projects. VI. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS A. STARING LAKE OBSERVATORY TOUR Tekiela provided the Commission with the history of the Outdoor Center explaining how the City acquired the building and the property. He also reported the City had acquired a 16-inch telescope through a donation and through private donations the City was able to build a structure to house that telescope. Tekiela provided the Commission members with a tour of the observatory. Tekiela announced there will be an astronomy program offered on Friday, October 5, at 7 p.m. VII. OLD BUSINESS A. ROUND LAKE UPDATE Fox presented an update on the Round Lake project reporting there would be a soft opening of the skate park on Saturday, October 6. The playground area is coming along nicely and after this week the biggest thing they will be waiting for is placement of the concrete resilient surface area. Gunderson asked if the splash pad area is upgradeable. Fox said it really isn't because the area is pretty much fixed and designed to fill the space. Bierman asked how the City handles risk at the skate park. Fox explained the City has insurance through the League of Minnesota Cities and they follow their guidelines. Link asked if the project is on schedule. Fox said they are. There was a little delay with the Minnesota Health Department in certifying the splash pad. The contractor did a great job in getting things done and the majority of the work is pretty much completed. Gunderson asked if there was any negative feedback on the tree removal for this project. Lotthammer said the City Council received an e-mail commenting that there were a lot of trees removed. VIII. NEW BUSINESS IX. REPORTS OF STAFF PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION October 1, 2012 Page 3 A. RECREATION SERVICES MANAGER 1. Eden Prairie Plate Kraft presented an overview of the Eden Prairie Players group explaining it is a community theater in the City. He presented an overview of who they are and what they are. The program started in 1992 and they have done over 50 productions with four productions per year. In 2011 they received a grant allowing them to hire a strategic planner to help focus the group and to develop a mission and vision. Kraft said the summer musical was Annie with a cost recovery goal of 25 percent. Their cost recovery was higher this year than in 2011. Their Collection of One Acts resulted in 75 percent sold and their kid's performance was sold out. Kraft explained the different ways they market their productions including mailing post cards and Facebook. Their biggest problem is adequate storage space. They would like a central location that is climate controlled. Kraft reviewed the organization's goals and initiatives explaining one of their main goals is to engage the community. 2. Pickleball Update Obiazor presented an update on pickleball. Previously, the Commission had been asked to approve the addition of pickleball courts at the Senior Center and ultimately approved the addition of six courts. The pickleball program was started in 2009 at Pioneer Park and in the winter it is moved to the Community Center. They have added an open gym access fee for pickleball users. Obiazor displayed the layout of the pickleball courts at Pioneer Park and explained the six courts were dedicated this past spring. The primary users of the pickleball facility is the Southwest Metro Pickleball Club consisting of nearly 200 members. In response to a question from Link, Sevenich explained there are four pickleball courts at the Community Center and open pickleball is from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Obiazor said staff is looking at expanding pickleball to youth programming. Pickleball is also being used for the expansion of the City's health and wellness program. Staff is looking at ways for programming and for ways to improve this program. They are looking at promoting health and wellness and will build that into the program. FYI: City-Wide Open House FYI: Art in Nature: Fall Harvest FYI: Apple Cidering FYI: Halloween on the Mall B. PARKS AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGER 1. Deer Manaizement Fox reviewed the Deer Management Program for 2012-2013. The deer reduction program is done every other year. He provided the Commission with the information to be included in a press release. Typically, the program starts the middle of November and takes about two weeks. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION October 1, 2012 Page 4 C. COMMUNITY CENTER MANAGER 1. Community Center CIP Review FYI: Spooky Saturday D. PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR 1. Aquatic Feasibility Update Lotthammer reported staff is working with a consultant to help them understand what the City's needs are and what they are looking at. The Foxjet Swim Team has been included in this process and staff believes they will be ready to present some information to this Commission at their November meeting. Staff plans to lay out some of the issues and explain how those issues will be addressed and to have a cost estimate available. Lotthammer said staff will be looking for feedback from this Commission and that information will be presented to the City Council on November 20. 2. Golden Triangle— Sustainability Workshop Lotthammer reported the Global Green USA Team will be conducting a community workshop on sustainability in the proposed Golden Triangle Light Rail Station area and all Commission members are invited to attend this workshop. He asked if any Commission members plan to attend they call and let staff know. 3. 2012 PRNR Work Plan Lotthammer explained the November 5 Commission meeting will be held at the Community Center and at that meeting they will be focusing on the Community Center and Aquatic Feasibility Study. Rather than have a Commission meeting in December, Lotthammer invited Commission members to the November 20 City Council workshop where staff will be presenting the Aquatic Feasibility Study. X. NEXT MEETING The next regular meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission will be Monday, November 5, at 7:00 p.m. at the Community Center. XI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.