10-22-1979REGULAR MEETING
OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION COMMISSION
October 22, 1979
Attending: Chairman Brown, Diane Asproth, Lowell Benson, Charles
Burmeister, Richard Lyons, Ray Petersen. Others
present: John Brenna and Barb Bailey
A tour of the Brooklyn Center Community Building preceeded the meeting.
The facility was built in 1970 at a cost of $1.5 milion. The building
was built around the indoor swimming pool which is six lands wide and
50 meters long. Adjacent facilities were a wading pool, patio, poolside
lounge, locker rooms, exercise room, and a sauna. An average size
social hall, teen lounge with canteen and game rooms, two meeting rooms
(20 x 20), photographic dark room, craft workshop (15 x 15), kitchen
(12 x 12), two small flexible rooms (dressing for plays, social services,
etc), hall type lounge exhibit gallery, storage space (2) reception
area and four staff offices. The Park and Recreation Director expressed
a need for additional meeting rooms and a gymnasium. Brooklyn Center
has a population of 34,000 people. Pool usage in 1978, excluding
lessons and groups was 118,000 for 10 months and is projected to reach
135,000 for 1979.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Brown at 9:30 p.m.
MINUTES
The following two corrections were made to the October 8th minutes. The
second to last sentence in Staff Presentation, paragraph one, should have
the word"fee" instead of few. On page three, the first paragraph, last
sentence should read "some members felt that the Commission should not
indicate cuts until the Council asked" Ray Petersen moved the minutes
be approved as corrected. Seconded by Diane Asproth. The motion
carried.
OLD BUSINESS
The indoor vs outdoor swimming pool issue was discussed ahead of the
community center priorities. All members participated in discussion.
Outdoor pool has usage and revenue from 65 to 90 days per year depending
upon weather conditions. If Golden Valley Middle School indoor pool
is available for community scheduling, the pool at the community center
or Brookview could be an outdoor pool and possible added on later.
Outdoor attendance is much greater than an indoor pool attendance for
equal times, however the difference is not enough to overcome the additional
nine months of usage an indoor pool would generate. New Hope and Crystal
outdoor pools had operating deficits while Brooklyn Center indoor pool
had a profit to reduce the total facility deficit. An indoor pool would
bring people into the community center and expose them to the programs
and other activities. This piggy—back effect would expand all the
programs and can come from any initial program or activity. The design
of a pool would be with recreation in mind and not governed by competitive
program requirements. An indoor pool would need an outdoor feeling to
keep up summer attendance. The community center priorities were then
discussed. The preiviously identified items of basic needs and extras
page two
were given cost figures. The basic needs had a cost of $820,880 which included
a 10% contingency and locker rooms for the gymnasium. A goal as recommended
by staff was a facility for less than 1 million dollars. Such a facility would
have to include the basic list plus an elevated track, health room (sauna,
whirelpool and steam) one additional room (teen meeting or exercise) and 10%
contingency. It was felt that to provide the necessary operation, maintenance
and program of the facility without burdening the taxpayers, revenue producing
activities would be necessary. Racquet ball courts and an indoor swimming pool
would provide a net income to offset the other costs. A preliminary
recommendation was to include the racquet ball courts (8), an indoor swimming
pool, and increased locker room facilities to the above facilities for an estimated
total of 1.75 million. The facility definition is only a part of the Council's
charge to the Commission which is to define uses of the facility in order of
priority, possible stages of construction and role of the facility in the program
of the Commission and City.
NEW BUSINESS
Staff presented information relative to background and effect of the budget cut
of $4,000 from Senior Citizens Activities Budget. The Seniors program is one
of the best in the metropolitan area based upon opinions of professionals in the
field. The report on the Human Services Activities was reviewed and the
corrections in definition, statistics, and program as pertaining to the Senior
Citizens Activities were clariried to show a very positive picture. The
following motion was made by Ray Petersen and seconded by Richard Lynch.
''The Commission accepts the budget cut of $4000 but will adjust the line items
involved per proposal by the Staff''. Discussion followed. Lowell Benson
moved that the motion be tabled until the next meeting. Chuck Burmeister seconded
the motion. The motion passed.
Barbara Bailey is presenting a research paper at the Symposium on Leisure Research
National Recreation and Park Association Convention in New Orleans next week.
Next meeting is scheduled for November 26, 1979, at 7:30 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 12:15 a.m.
hairman Brown
Vice Chairman Jaffe
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