9-25-1978REGULAR MEETING
GOLDEN VALLEY PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION
September 25, 1978
The Golden Valley Park and Recreation Commission met on September 25, 1978, at
Brookview Recreation Center. The following members were present: Brown,
Hammer, Jaffe, and Petersen. John Brenna, Director of Parks and Recreation,
was also present. Chairman Brown presided.
MINUTES
The minutes of the regular meeting of August 28 were approved as printed.
DR. PETERSEN
Commission members congratulated Dr. Petersen on the awards and commendations
he recently received in recognition of 20 years' service to the City as a
member of the Park and Recreation Commission.
LITTLE LEAGUE
Paul Schliesman and Don Coy, representing the Golden Valley Little League
Association, explained they they and Mr. Brenna had inspected Valley Field and
had reconsidered the idea (presented and agreed to at the August 28 meeting)
of using that facility for Little League games next year. Besides being in
very bad shape, it is not certain that the field would be available beyond next
year. Consequently, the Little League and the Park and Recreation Department
recommend converting a field at Wesley Park for Little League use.
Discussion brought out that the field has not bee used much in the last couple
of year, that converting it would not affect other uses of Wesley Park,that
the Little League would bear all costs of conversion, that the City and the
Little League would share maintenance and use of the field, that there would
be no extra liability involved for the City, that there is enough room for
needed parking in the present parking lot, but that no—parking restrictions
might be needed on Zealand Avenue above the field, and that the Little League
might wish to use the recreation building in the park for selling refreshments
to recoup umpiring expenses.
It was moved by Hammer and seconded by Petersen to recommend to the Council
the change of the full—size baseball field at Wesley to a Little League field,
at the expense of the Little League Association, for the combined use of the
Little League Association and the Park and Recreation Department; maintenance
to be shared by the City and the Little League Association. Carried.
METROPOLITAN COUNCIL PILOT STUDY
Marty Jessen and Bob Knepper, representing the Metropolitan Council and the
DNR, described a proposal for a pilot study to test the viability of a new
way of looking for ways to increase cooperation between providers of recraeation
services. The Robbinsdale school district and the cities of Robbinsdale,
Crystal, New Hope, Plymouth, and Golden Valley have been tentatively selected
as the focus of this pilot study. Goals for recreation services are to be
defined by Commissions and other appropriate bodies; the study team will inter—
Page two
view staff people of major recreation providers to determine barriers to accom—
plishment of goals. Reports will be provided to each of the cooperation committees.
It was moved by Petersen and seconded by Hammer to approve the proposal from the
Metropolitan Council and the DNR to involve the Golden Valley Park and Recreation
Department in a proposed pilot program to study local recreation services.
Carried.
RECREATION SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT
It was moved by Hammer, seconded by Petersen, and carried, to table the discussion
of the report of the Rec rection Subcommittee.
LAUREL AVENUE PONDS LANDSCAPING
Dr. Petersen reported on the meeting at Gary Edleston's home, at which new facts
about prairie grass were brought out. It is now believed that the peaty soil
around the pongs is too rich for short prairie grass, and that periodic mowing will
be needed to maintain an acceptable height for whatever grows there. It was moved
by Hammer, seconded by Jaffe, and unanimously passed, to recommend that the north
portion of the Laurel Avenue Ponds area be re—seeded with Brome grass this fall,
and mowed periodically in the future to maintain an appearance similar to that
presently existing at the western end of the westernmost pond; and that the southern
portion of the area be left in a natural, unmaintained state.
nPFN SParF
The correspondence referring to the meeting of September 14 between Brown, Sweet,
Thorsen, and Bowman was discussed. Commission members requested that Carl Vogt
be invited to be present at our next meeting. Assuming favorable results of that
meeting, the next step would be to get together with the Open Space Commission
to work out details of the cooperative project with Councilmember Thorsen's
proposal.
SENIOR CITIZEN/COMMUNITY CENTER REPRESENTATIVE
Rhoda Jaffe was appointed to represent the Commission on the committee which is
studying the proposed center.
VICE CHAIRMAN
Rhoda Jaffe was elected Vice Chairman of the Park and Recreation Commission.
NEXT MEETING
It was determined that the next meeting will be Monday, October 30. Commission
members expressed a desire for better advance notice of meeting dates.
Chairman Brown
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Vice Chairman Jaffe/