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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 11, 200416200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2004 PRIOR LAKE MAINTENANCE CENTER 17073 Adelmann Street 6:00 p.m. 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of Meeting Minutes a. Approval of September 13, 2004 Meeting Minutes 3. Old Business a. Downtown Grand Reopening & Autumn Gathering - October 16, 2004. b. Skate Park Update. c. Sandpoint Beach and Ponds Park Concession/Restroom Facilities Improvements. d. Prior Lake-Savage Hockey Association Operation at Lakefront Park, Winter 2004- 05. 4. New Business a. PAC Membership. 5. Other Business 6. Future Meetinq Date a. November 8, 2004 7. Adjournment www.cityofpriorlake.com Phone 952.447.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245 PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER 13, 2004 The meeting was called to order at 6:10 pm, on Monday, September 13, 2004, at the Maintenance Facility. Members present were Pat McFadden, Tom Borger (arrived at 7:30 PM), Mike Feriancek, and Ruth Ha..rris. Lori Helgestad was absent. Also in attendance were Assistant City Manager Susan Walsh, Parks and Fleet Supervisor Al Friedges, and Recreation Supervisor Chris Esser. A,n_.n_rova! of the A,_~_5,,~t 9~ _~004 Meeting Mi_n,_~te-~: Motion by Harris to approve the August 9, 2004 Meeting Minutes. Second by McFadden. Ayes: 3. Nays: 0. Cnm.n_rehensive Park Plan Update: Parks and Fleet Supervisor Friedges distributed updated Comprehensive Park and Trail Plan packets completed by Ingraham & Associates. In the time since the report at the August Parks Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting, Ingraham & Associates has met with the youth athletic organizations including Prior Lake Athletics for Youth (P.L.A.Y.), the Prior Lake Soccer Club, and the Prior Lake-Savage Hockey Association (PLSHA) to make sure that facility projections closely matched the association's anticipated participant and overall growth projections. The youth athletic associations agreed with the existing and future needs identified in the plan, which are based on National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) formulas and regional trends. When the plan is completed the final format will list each park in the system individually outlining the entire inventory of each park and each park's individual history. The final plan will also include the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) project list through the year 2009. Ingraham & Associates are still working on the final document it and will present it to the CitY Council at one of their regular meetings when completed. .. ~owntown Grand Reo,n_eni_ng & A~Jt~Jmn Gathering Ii?date: Recreation Supervisor Esser announced the details of the upcoming Downtown Grand Reopening & Autumn Gathering taking place on Saturday, October 16, 2004 from 11 AM to 2 PM. The event is a combination of the Autumn Gathering festival and the reopening of the downtown area along Main Avenue and Dakota Street. The event is geared toward showcasing the redeveloped downtown area and Rotary Gateway rain garden combined with the traditional Autumn Gathering family-style event. Scheduled events include community group performances by the Prior Lake Windjammers and other groups, a kettle corn giveaway, a pumpkin giveaway, a farmers market and downtown business booths. Traditional Autumn Gathering events including Webber Apple Orchard sales, a storyteller, Scott County 4-H craftS and horse-drawn Wagon rides will also take place. The entire setting will be downtown and will not include any activities in Lakefront Park. The Autumn Gathering will move back to Lakefront Park in October of 2005 due to the Downtown Grand Reopening being a one-time event. Skate Park U?b,t~-: Recreation Supervisor Esser provided an update regarding a skate park petition that was submitted to the City Council at the open forum on August 16. The petition contained 363 signatures in essence requesting the improvement of the Lakefront Skate'Park. Recreation Supervisor Esser attended the September 7 City Council meeting presenting a report recommending improvements to the skate park facility and operation. The recommendations included: 1. Reconfiguring the layout of the skate park for next season to give the users a new perspective. 2. Purchasing $4,000 worth of new equipmer~t including a skate table, skate bench and grind box. All pieces are stand-alone and would fit inside the existing park without any concerns. 3. Operating the skate park free df charge next season. The City Council also recommended the separation of the Tier I and II equipment allowing the Tier I pieces to be used when the skate park is not open and the possible relocation of the equipment to another park other than Lakefront. The PAC was asked if they would change or add any items to the recommendations. Members agreed that the park Should remain at a single, supervised location and that the three staff -. recommendations make sense. Staff will start executing some of the changes, such as the reconfiguration, yet this fall after the park closes for the season on September 26. Athletic Field Advertising: Recreation Supervisor Esser reviewed the process that has been started to draft a potential policy regarding athletic field advertising. Six other cities with policies already in place have provided examples of what their current regulations are regarding athletic facility advertising. Polices have included indoor and outdoor facilities and ball fields and hockey boards as well. The draft policy will address sign size, maintenance, storage, specific facilities where they can be displayed, types of subject matter that is prohibited, posting duration and fees. A draft policy has been written and is currently being reviewed by city staff before being presented to the PAC at a future meeting. Athletic Field Lighting; Parks and Fleet Supervisor Friedges provided cost estimates to light the fields at Ryan Park as follows: '~ · For fields 1, 3, & 4 - estimated cost is $75,55'8 for the light system for each field plus $15,500 for the underground electricity; and · Field 2 - $129,463 for the light system and $23,000 for underground electric which brings the total cost to do all four fields to $427,137. · Back soccer field - $90,514 for light system + $21,500 for underground work for a total of $112,014. · 3 other soccer fields - $73,261 for light system + $16,500 for underground work for a total of $89,761 per field and a total for all 3 fields at $381,197. · Other estimated additional costs include - $30,000 for electrical engineer, $15,000 for irrigation repair, $50,000 to run electrical by Minn. Valley Electric. With an estimated total cost of close to $1 million, members agreed these costs needed to be communicated back to PLAY and the Soccer Association. It was noted that PLAY is requesting additional lighting because of the shortage of playing fields as the city continues to grow in population. Dutch Elm Disease and Oak Wilt Outbreaks: Parks and Fleet Supervisor Friedges provided an updated on the large spread of Dutch Elm disease and Oak Wilt throughout the city. The Parks Maintenance Staff have been identifying a large number of trees that have oak wilt or Dutch Elm. According to city ordinance, property owners have 30 days to remove and dispose of the diseased trees. Property owners with diseased trees will be offered one free tree per household in spring of 2005 as a replacement. Friedges advised that the majority of affected property owners are complying with the ordinance. McFadden questioned if the city is offering any.assistance to senior citizens, and Friedges advised that so this has not been an issue. Sand Point Beach and Ponds Park Concession/Restroom Facilities Improvements: At the September 20,'"2004 Council meeting, Friedges will be seeking Council approval to hire an architect to design the additions and improvements to the existing concession and restroom facilities at Sand Point Beach and at Ponds Park. Improvements at Sand Point Beach is planned for 2004 and the Ponds project for 2005, but to save $1200 in architect costs, Friedges is recommending that the selected architect do both sets of plans now. It was suggested that Friedges look into seeing if the architect should also include the concession stand at Watzl's Beach. Shoreland Restoration Grant for Lakefront Park: Friedges reported on the grant funds the City will receive to eradicate the growth on the east or front edge of the pond at Lakefront Park. The grant is in the amount of $6779.60, and the City's cost will be $1,050. Other Business: Assistant City Manager Walsh advised she will be resigning from.the City on October 8, 2004. She thanked the members for all of their support and expressed how enjoyable it has been to work with them for the past few years. MOTION by McFadden to adjourn. Second by Harris. Ayes: 4. Nays: 0. Respectfully submitted, Christopher J. Esser CC: From: Date: Re: Frank Boyles, City Manager Susan Walsh, Assistant City Manager Chris Esser, Recreation Supervisor 9/21/O4 Lakefront Skate Park Recommended Improvements In response to City Council and Parks Advisory Committee recommendations, the following improvements will be implemented to enhance the existing Lakefront Skate Park facility and operating procedures for the 2005 season: Reconfiguration: We currently have a plan submitted by the skate park equipment vendor, Skatewave giving us a direction on redesigning and subsequently reconfigurmg the skate park. To achieve a proper reconfiguration that the users will embrace will involve the input of skate park users. Tom Borger, a member of the PAC and also a skate park employee, has assisted with a list names of current skate park users that would be candidates to aid in the redesign process. Tom also recommended employing the feedback of the skating instructors from the 3ra Lair who we have contracted with to offer three skate camps at the park in the past. Wilh user, staff, and professional input we will identify a design that will be desirable to both current users and hopefully attract new users to the skate park. The equipment is modular and A1 has assured me that members of the parks crew have the skill to easily accomplish a reconfiguration in-house. Due to the timeline of other projects, A1 has requested that the reconfiguration be scheduled for October in preparation of next season. This is a reasonable timeline to seek the input we desire for the reconfiguration plan. New Equipment Purchase: As recommended, the $4,000 contained in the 2005 budget will be used to purchase the top three pieces requested by skate park users according to our informal user survey: 1. Skate Table (resembles a picnic table designed for skating on). Current price $2,200. 2. Skate Bench (resembles a flat park bench). Current price $500. 3. Grind Box. Current price $1,150. These are all stand alone pieces and would not need to be tied into any existing equipment making their set-up and uses very flexible. There is room inside the gated area of the park for these three new pieces. Along with the reconfiguration, these pieces will provide another dimension of "newness" to both current and new park users. User Fee Elimination: Probably the most significant park user-oriented improvement for next season is the elimination of the gate fees. During the 2004 season it was not unlikely for attendance on the average to triple on promotion days that we did not charge a fee. Operating the park without a fee will still include an attendant being present, specific operating hours, and concession sales. Per our LMCIT insurance as a Tier II park, we will still require protective equipment be worn and participants under the age of 18 will still be required to have a parental liability waiver signed and on file in order to skate. Protecting Public Structures against Skating Wear and Tear Outside the Park A1 is currently working on the possibility of manufacturing "skate stops" m-house and identifying where they should be placed, especially downtown. These stops will help to prevent the damage along the surfaces and edges of planters, stairs, tables, benches, etc. that skate board "grinding" causes. These initial steps to reinvent the Lakefront Skate Park are assuredly what the users are looking for m an effort to maintain their interest m the park. Giving the park a new look and free admission is a large step we are committed undertake in the operation and continued promotion of the park. All improvements mentioned will be made in anticipation of the opening of the 2005 season on May 7, 2005. If you have any follow up questions or concerns, please let me know. Thanks.