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12-6-1983 (November meeting)t r OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF NOVEMBER HELD ON DECEMBER 6, 1983 DUE TO THE NOVEMBER 28 SNOW STORM The regular Meeting was called to order at 7:40 P.M. at the Brookview Community Center by Chairman Burmeister. Commission members present were Charles Corlett, Program and Policy Superintendent; Debbie Halvorson, Commission Secretary; Dean Johnson, Architect; and Andy Lindquist, Golf Director. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Murad moved the Minutes of the October 24, 1983, Meeting be approved as written. Emilie Johnson seconded. Motion passed. NEW BUSINESS 1. Community Center Drawings Update Corlett introducers to the Commission Dean Johnson,.Architect for Toltz, King, Duvall and Anderson (TKDA). Dean Johnson reviewed for the Commission the general layout of the Community Center plan and explained the architectural work which had been completed to date. This work includes preliminary studies of the existing building and preliminary design of the spaces. He further explained the relocating of the administrative spaces in the southeasterly corner of the Community Center. Discussion included inquiries and answers about improvements to the lower level of the building, the mechanical -systems and energy efficient windows. Also discussed were the general uses of the facility, the ability to accommodate groups within the current plan and the outside patio with new entrance area. Improvements to the lower level would come about in the areas of electrical systems and air -circulation due to the interfacing of the systems for the upstairs improvements. It was further explained that the walls would be reinsulated and the ceiling area above the old section of the building would be insulated. Dean Johnson pointed out that the entire heating and air-conditioning plant would be replaced with a modern -efficient unit and that the issue of window replacement had been addressed and had been determined to be too costly an item within the project. Corlett stated that the current user groups would be better serviced within this plan and that the plan could not answer all the express needs and desires included in the original Community Center plan. It was stated that the patio would remain and that the new entrance would be located on the south side of the building and would have a separate entrance path for the Community Center. �inutes Page 2 December 6, 1983 Burmeister asked Dean Johnson if the staff area would adequately serve the Park and Recreation Department. Dean Johnson responded that in the discussions with the staff, the area which needed flexibility was the administrative area and that the design for this area was comfortable during the general operation of the department and slightly crowded for the summer operations. Burmeister asked Dean Johnson to review for the Commission the alternate plan for the Community Center room areas. Dean Johnson explained to the Commission that with the removal of the center wall structure and installation of folding walls the community rooms could be either opened for large groups or sectioned off into four separate spaces. He pointed -out the flexibility of this alternate plan and stated that the current appropriated funding would not allow this alternative. He further demonstrated the difficulties which could be encountered when the room is divided. This included that access to the westerly rooms would have to be attained by passing through the other spaces. Further discussion of the flexibility included the use of a portable bar rather'than a fixed one. The Commission expressed concern that the current budget does not reflect interior appointments, such as carpeting, drapes, and furnish- ings. Corlett pointed out that this issue has not been totally resolved, however, it is felt that separate funding may be attained through donations. Hearing no further discussion, Burmeister asked the Commission for a motion to the Council regarding the Community Center plans presented. Emilie Johnson moved that the Commission support the preliminary Community Center plan as presented and that the alternatives be included if monies are available. Murad seconded. Motion carried. Burmeister thanked Dean Johnson for his presentation. OLD BUSINESS 1. Capital Improvements Corlett briefly reviewed for the Commission the written memorandum included in the Commission agenda material, highlighting the Council's proposed agenda of approving projects on a two-year basis with appropria- tions being made annually. He further pointed out some of the projects which have been abandoned or redesigned within the 1984 through 1988 staff proposal for park capital improvements. Corlett further explained 1 n 1 Minutes Page 3 December 6, 1983 that the Park and Recreation Department has projects contained within other funds which include the Public Land Fund - Laurel Avenue Greenbelt; the Equipment Replacement Fund; and the Building Improvements Fund. Commission member Jaffe inquired where the baseball complex in 1988 would be located. Corlett stated that the City is currently discussing the purchase of lands from the Good Shepherd Church and if this land is acquired the baseball complex would be located there. Corlett reviewed the new projects identified for 1986 - 1988. They are as follows: Air -Suspended Bubble - The purchase of an air -suspended bubble for protecting a hockey rink from weather elements. Brookview Road Improvements - Corlett pointed out that the through traffic use of the road through Brookview Park and Golf Course will cause the need to repair this road. Curbing could be included to embellish the Park and Golf Course. The existing difficult curve in the northeasterly section of Brookview could be corrected. Murad pointed out that I-394 will have an effect on the road usages in the Brookview area. Park Curbing - Corlett pointed out to the Commission the need to install curbing at several park locations. This will help define the park perimeters. Murad inquired about the estimated cost for the purchase of an air - suspended bubble. Corlett stated that this is purely an estimate at this time. Scanlon inquired about the advantages of having a bubble installed and how long this would extend the skating season. Corlett stated that a bubble would extend the season on both ends. He was not aware of how much earlier skating rinks could be established and stated that with such a bubble the skating season could extend well into March. He further stated that such a facility would be a scheduled facility with times designated for hockey separate from free skating times. Watson inquired whether it was feasible to cover a hockey rink and a free skating area with such a bubble. Corlett stated that he has sent for information regarding sizing of bubbles and unit costs of operations. He further stated that unit costs would have to be applied with regional pricing due to different rates in our area than other areas. Jaffe inquired if this plan would be financed without a bond issue. Corlett stated that the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) is financed via several funding sources and that Park Capital Improvements basically came from transfers from the general fund. He further stated that the Council will review the entire CIP and may determine it necessary to postpone or eliminate projects within the proposed plan. Minutes Page 4 December 6, 1983 Jaffee moved that the Council accept the entire Capital Improvements Plan as submitted by the staff. Scanlon seconded. Motion carried. COMMITTEE REPORTS 1. Sidewalks Emilie Johnson reviewed for the Commission the City Sidewalk Committee's reviews of the existing plan, pointing out that the once established priorities had not been followed and that the Committee was looking at reprioritizing sidewalk projects. She pointed out that it is the intent of the City to spend $200,000 per year on constructing sidewalks and that the City would gain approximately four miles of sidewalk per year with this expenditure. Murad pointed out to the Commission that the original priorities emphasized the need for sidewalks near schools, parks, churches, and shopping areas and that this structure of priorities need to be changed due to the closing of several elementary schools within the City. Emilie Johnson and Murad stated they would bring an updated map of the Committee's work to the January Commission meeting. Further discussion answered questions of snowplowing of sidewalks and why the Commission had membership on the City's Sidewalk- Committee. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT 1. Council Action a. Park Lighting. Burmeister reviewed for the Commission the Council's action regarding Park Lighting, stating that the Council asked for the policy to include the times for walkway lighting in the descriptive portion of the policy only and that the wording of the policy identify lighting times for parking lots. b. PUD #42/County Trail. Burmeister reviewed the Council's action which directed the developers of the Holiday Motor Inn property to redesign their plans to include land dedication for trails and solve the existing parking problems on the property. He summarized a letter written to the Council by Cliffton French, Director of the Hennepin County Park Reserve District, which eloquently pointed out the importance of this section within the plan to develop the northwestern Hennepin County trail corridor which will loop the entire northwestern suburbs and Minneapolis together. 2. Independent Topic (Geese) Burmeister reviewed for the Commission his explorations into the problems which are currently being expressed due to the large number of geese at the Brookview Golf Course/Park complex. He pointed out that the Minutes Page 5 December G, 1983 problem is quite widespread within the metropolitan area and stated many of the agencies which have expressed concern. In Burmeister's search for information regarding this problem, he has found that there is a Metro Goose Flock Coordinator who is a professor at the University of Minnesota. Burmeister suggested that perhaps a seminar could be conducted which would include representatives from the DNR, Metropolitan Airport, Minnesota Park and Recreation Association, the Cities of Golden Valley, Eden Prairie, Edina, Minneapolis, Fridley, and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife. Lind- quist suggested that if such a seminar were to take place, the Minn s to Golf Course Superintendents Association (MGCSA) should be contac ed as this topic was discussed at a recent MGCSA Conference. Corlet pointed out that the business community should also be included in such a seminar due to their interest in preserving open space areas. 3. MRPA C2Inference Report Burmeister passed around for the Commission a copy of a survey questionnaire coducted by Charles Smith of the Metropolitan Open Space staff. He reviewed for the Commission the purpose of the survey and stated that the questionnaire returns are currently being tabulated and that when the tabulation is completed we will receive a copy,. Burme�ich ster shared with the Commission a short tour of Silver Lake Park he and Corlett conducted while attending the MRPA State Conference in Rochester. He tried to develop a picture of the quantity of geese there and the devastating effects the geese have had on the Silver Lake site. He pointed out that one bathhouse was completely removed as a result of their grazing. He stated that the City of Rocheser has no intentions of trying to remove or in any way reduce the number of geese which currently flock to the Silver Lake site. DEPARTMENT REPORT 1. CIP,REVIEW Corlet updated the Commission on the progress made on the following projec s: Mary Hills, Drainage, Gearty, Laurel Planting, and Wesley'Lighting. 2.. Lions Park Tennis Courts Corlett informed the Commission of the steps which will be taken to repair the Lions Club Park Tennis Courts. He pointed out that the court surface will be ground off and a 1 1/2 inch asphalt lift will be installed in 1984 along with resurfacing of the courts. It is expected that the lift will seal the courts and solve the problem of existing asphalt contaminates. Minutes Page 6 December 6, 1983 3. Skating Rinks Corlett informed the Commission of the exemplary work performed by the Park Maintenance staff to remove the heavy snow from the skating rink areas. The removal of this snow was necessary as it serves as an insulating blanket which does not allow frost to be formed in the ground. Burmeister stated that the park crew deserves a sincere thank you for their efforts to provide skating facilities for the City's residents. 4. Golf Update Lindquist reviewed for the Commission the extreme weather conditions of the 1983 season, stating it was the hottest summer on record for many years. He alerted the Commission of the potential for turf damage due to the large quantities of snow which has fallen to date. He stated that the current conditions are generally similar to those experienced in the winters of 1976 - 1977 at which time several golf courses including Brookview experienced heavy turf losses as a result of no ground frost prior to the heavy snows. The golf crew will be taking all known preventative actions to reduce the possible turf loss. Lindquist updated the Commission on the progress made to date regarding the Golf Course improvements which include expected Council action to enter into contracts with Minnesota Toro for the sprinkling system and TKDA for the fairway reconstruction. 5. Hockey Bubble. Tabled. AT).TnTTRNMFNT The Meeting was, adjourned at 9:40 P.M- Chairman Burmeister J 1 1