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10-24-1983OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF OCTOBER 24, 1983 The regular Meeting was called to order at 7:35 P.M. at the Brookview Community Center by Chairman Burmeister. Commission members present were: Jaffe, Kahlow, McDonald, Scanlon, Watson and Younghans. Also present were Charles Corlett, Program and Policy Superintendent; Debbie Halvorson, Commission Secretary; Tom Klatt, Park Superintendent; and Andy Lindquist, Golf Director. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Younghans moved the Minutes of the September 26, 1983, Meeting be approved with the following corrections: Under Special Agenda Item - Award to Diane Kimble, the second to last line, "Mrs. Kimball" should be "Mrs. Kimble". Under Committee Reports -'2. Brookview Improvements Committee, the last sentence of the second par-a—g—r-ai—pF should be stricken. Watson seconded. Motion passed. OLD BUSINESS I. Capital Improvements Plan Corlett stated that the City staff has not begun work on the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) for 1984 - 1988. However, individual department staffs have started working on their proposals. Corlett presented and reviewed for the Commission a written memorandum regarding the 1983 projects. Included in the review, Corlett elaborated on each project, giving a status update and stating why four projects had been abandoned or. temporarily delayed, those projects being the tree nursery, pond erosion, sand volleyball courts and the automatic sprinkler system. The staff reviewed for the Commission which projects within the current plan would be adjusted in scope during 1984 due to the extensive work requirements involved with the remodeling of the Community Center and upgrading of the Golf Course. McDonald inquired if the Golf Course improvements would have a financial impact on the previously planned projects. Burmeister asked the staff to review for the Commission the funding of the Golf Course and Community Center improvements. Corlett explained the Council's Resolution of October 18, 1983, in which $805,000 was transferred from the General Fund Balance Forward to the Golf Course and $105,000 was transferred to the Community Center Fund. Included in the Resolution, $250,000 of the 1984 Capital Improvements Funds will be placed in the Community Center Fund. Minutes \) Page 2 October 24, 1983 In further explanation, Corlett stated that there was no commitment for repayment of the $805,000 transferred to the Brookview Golf Course. In order that the City would not face cash flow problems in 1984, a second resolution transferred $910,000 from the Utility Replacement Fund to the City's Balance Forward Fund. Repayment of the $910,000 is scheduled to come from future increases in the balance forward funds. Younghans asked the staff if the CIP would be approximately the same in 1984 or if it would be more. Corlett stated that the overall CIP allocation for parks and recreation will be higher than included in the current plan due to the additional funds for the Community Center, however, other projects may receive less allocations. In closing of the discussion of the 1984 projects, Corlett stated that the delays in some of the projects from 1984 - 1985 will not cause major disruptions of the entire CIP. Corlett asked the Commission for input of future projects which could be scheduled during the year of 1988. He reminded the Commission that the Sports Facilities Committee has identified a protected hockey facility and that the Commission has previously discussed the possible need for aerification of Rice Lake. He further reiterated the need for long range planning with regards to the Community Center. Younghans informed the Commission that the Sports Facilities Committee had discussed placing an air- uspended bubble over one of the City's existing hockey rinks in order to provide a longer skating season and protect ice for hockey program operation. Klatt stated that he has had a brief discussion with the Toro Company regarding aerification equipment costs and has found that the equipment costs are not as substantial as previously thought. He further raised the question of working on only one pond within the community and what the general implications of this would be. Watson inquired if 1988 was the earliest time that the issue of pond restoration could be utilized. Corlett stated that annually funds are requested within the CIP for consulting services, studies or engineering work and that these funds could be identified for a pond reclamation study even as early as 1984. Burmeister asked the staff to bring the Park and Recreation CIP proposal to the November Meeting for the Commission's review. 2. Park Lighting Policy Burmeister asked the staff to review the written draft included in the agenda packet. Klatt revigwed the draft giving insight LJ 1 1 Minutes ( Page 3 October 24, 1983 a to the staffs thoughts and reasoning in developing the policy. His review covered the seasons and times which various identi- fied types of lighting should be operated. Jaffe inquired as to what the difference is between this policy and the current lighting policy. Klatt stated that we would not like to deviate from the written policy. Corlett injected that at the present time there is no written policy regarding light- ing in the City's parks. It was further explained by Klatt that often there is a difference of opinion within the community as to how the lighting should be used and that this policy would establish a standard of lighting in parks. Jaffe asked if the policy allowed for flexibility of lighting if enough requests were made for changes in the described times. Klatt stated that the final statement within the policy allowed for planned special events and that it was the intent of the staff to follow the policy until change was deemed necessary. Kahlow moved to recommend that the Council approve the Park Lighting Policy as written. Jaffe seconded. Motion passed. NEW BUSINESS 1. Planned Unit Development (PUD) #42 The staff informed the Commission that the current owners of the Holiday Motor Inn have, presented a plan to split the Holiday Motor Inn property into three parcels. The parcels would contain a restaurant, motel, and office condominiums. PUD #42 by its location has a significance in the ability to develop a corridor trail as planned by Hennepin County to follow the Chicago Northwestern rail line through the City of Golden Valley. Corlett stated that the current proposal has utilized nearly the entire parcel in order to add necessary parking for the development. In doing this, the parking lots as shown extend to the property line along the northern border. Staff discussions with the Hennepin County Park Reserve District (HCPRD) staff has expressed the need for examination in this area and that this area is very crucial to the planned trail. The District staff further expressed that if the PUD was approved as proposed it could be very expensive to gain easements in this area and has asked for the City's support in securing such easements. Corlett stated that Marty Jessen and Don King of the HCPRD staff and himself recently reviewed the site together to discuss possible alternatives if easements could not be secured. One of these alternatives was to follow Highway 100 South to the frontage road along Highway 55 and use existing service road easements until reaching City owned properties then returning via City properties to the railroad Minutes Page 4 October 24, 1983 easements. This alternative would call for dedication of some properties along the Highway 100 frontage of the Holiday Motor Inn property. The Commission discussed the possibility of an alternative trail plan passing through the City owned Schaper property and whether this alternative may inhibit any future development of the Schaper property by the City. Corlett stated that if the County proposed this as a viable alternative he was confident that the City could negotiate the placement of the trail within the Schaper property to minimize any impact of future development of the site. He further stated that the trail easement within the area of the Schaper property had already been planned to be contained within the City's property in order to reduce the expense of buying easements from the railroad. Another alternative the County will look into is the possibility of buying one of the parcels from the current owners. Kahlow inquired as to the strength of the Commission's recommendation regarding this matter. Corlett stated that only Council action can officially change the proposal and that the Council will consider the Commission's recommendation for this proposal. The Commission members inquired as to when the trail would be implemented and what action was necessary for the Commission to take at this time. Corlett reiterated the importance of this area in the County's trail plans and the need for local support in order to develop the trail. Corlett stated that the staff has recommended that any dedication for recreation facilities in this area be land dedication. Motion by Kahlow: In light of the Hennepin County Park Reserve District plan for trail systems and Golden Valley's desire to be part of that trail system, the Open Space and Recreation Commission feels strongly that land dedica- tion should be required as part of this PUD #42. Watson seconded. Motion carried unanimously. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT 1. Council Action Burmeister stated that the Community Center and Golf Course improvements actions by the Council were previously discussed under Capital Improvements. He further stated the actions did not include the pool improvements,. It is the plan that any improvements to the pool will be made after the 1984 swimming [1 Minutes Page 5 October 24, 1983 season and that funding for these improvements will be reviewed at a later date. 2. Letter from Diane Kimble Burmeister read a letter received from Diane Kimble thanking the Commission for its recognition. He stated that the letter should be included as a part of the Commission's Minutes. COMMITTEE REPORTS 1. Sidewalk Committee Burmeister stated that the Sidewalk Committee report will be presented at the November Commission Meeting. 2. Brookview Improvement Committee Lindquist presented to the Commission a review of the last meeting held by the Brookview Improvement Committee. He pointed out that the Committee could not further deal with the improve- ments as they were waiting for the recent funding action. Lindquist pointed out to the Commission that one of the problems that the Golf Course has been experiencing is a loss of revenue and potential revenue due to no-shows. He stated that in the staff's review of the daily tee time sheets, $18,000 in greens fees were not received in 1983 due to this problem. The Commission discussed methods of dealing with the problem, which included the possible notification of no-shows with eventual restrictions of use and possibly billing no-shows or a combination of notification and biling. Younghans stated that the Brookview Men's Club is concerned about this no-show situation and offered their support in policing of their group. Scanlon suggested that a notice be posted addressing a no-show policy. DEPARTMENT REPORT 1. Golf Update Lindquist reviewed for the Commission the current revenue status of the Golf Course stating that the original budgetary projec- tions were to be $600,000 in revenues and $588,000 in expendi- tures, leaving approximately $12,000 in surplus revenues. As a result of the poor play during October, the projected figures have been reviewed and revenues are currently projected to be $595,000 and expenditures will remain close to the original $588,000, thus only a $7,000 surplus revenue is foreseen at this time. Minutes Page 6 October 24, 1983 Lindquist informed the Commission that due to the approved construction on the course only nine holes will be open for the 1984 season, along with the Par 3 and Driving Range. He further stated that it is expected that additional play of the Par 3 will result from only having nine holes open. 2. Park Maintenance (Rinks) Klatt reviewed for the Commission work being done at Gearty Park, pointing out that due to the rain and wet weather during October it was necessary to remove the fill previously secured and replace it with new dry fill which had to be purchased. He stated that the original plan was to secure all fill from the Laurel Avenue project, however, this project has been delayed until 1984. Klatt further stated that the maintenance staff is preparing to operate all rinks which were operated in the 1982 - 1983 season, including Yosemite Park. Younghans asked if the staff could secure all costs regarding an air -suspended bubble for one hockey rink. 3. Revenues vs. Expenditures Corlett reviewed the report included in the agenda package. 4. NRPA Conference Corlett shared with the Commission some of the ideas and con- cepts he was exposed to at the recent National Recreation and Park Association Conference held in Kansas City, Missouri. 5. Recreation -Winter Activity Planning The staff asked the Commission if there -was any further input regarding winter activities desired to be included in the Department's program. Watson inquired if the staff would continue their efforts to develop a girls hockey program for the area. Corlett assured the Commission that the efforts would be continued and hoped to have an area -wide team for the 1983 - 1984 season. Corlett asked the Commission if any members were interested in attending the upcoming Minnesota Recreation and Park Association Conference in Rochester; if so, they should contact him as soon as possible. ADJOURNMENT The Mee/ ing was adjourned at 9:35 P.M. Chairman Burmeister ice Chairman Younghans