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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000 09-19 PRM• MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION SEPTEMBER 19, 2000 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Sorenson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Chair Sorenson, Commissioners Ebert, Mead, Peterson, Russell and Shinnick were present. Commissioner Theis was absent and excused. Also in attendance were City Council Liaison Ed Nelson, Public Works Director Diane Spector and Community Activities, Recreation and Services Director Jim Glasoe. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - May 16, 2000 Community Activities, Recreation and Services Director Glasoe noted that Mayor Myrna Kragness should have been included in the meeting roll call. There was a motion by Commissioner Russell, seconded by Commissioner Shinnick to approve the May 16, 2000 minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission as amended. The motion passed unanimously. COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT Council Liaison Ed Nelson shared with the Commission that the bids had been let for the Brooklyn Boulevard improvements. Public Works Director Diane Spector added that the low bid had come in under the Engineer's estimate. Liaison Nelson also discussed the anticipated widening of Interstate 694 and the ongoing improvements at Brookdale. Public Works Director Spector informed the Commission that demolition plans for the south end of Brookdale were about to be submitted for review. Liaison Nelson indicated that the new theaters are now open. In addition, Liaison Nelson reported on the progress of, and answered Commissioners questions regarding the Highway 100 improvements. INTERSTATE 694 WIDENING- Storm Water Detention • Public Works Director Spector informed the Commission that the anticipated project to widen Interstate 694 had been moved up to 2001 and 2002 as the Legislature had approved additional funding from the State surplus. As a part of the planning for this project, Public Works Director Spector indicated that • MnDOT would need to provide a series of storm water detention ponds. Ms. Spector noted that two of these ponds would need to be located within Brooklyn Center. The first pond is proposed to be located in excess road right-of-way on the South side of 694, just West of Garden City Park. Ms. Spector indicated that MnDOT was looking at three potential locations for the second pond. The first location (and the one preferred by MnDOT) would be on existing park land in Orchard Lane Park. The second option would be to purchase some homes adjacent to Orchard Lane Park and locate the Pond there. The third option would be to use a portion of what is now a parking area for the North Memorial Maintenance Facility. Ms. Spector indicated that the third option was the least preferred by MnDOT as the location was previously used for NSP electrical storage and may have contaminated soil. Public Works Director Spector informed the Commission that MnDOT was planning an informational meeting regarding the issue for some time in November. She asked if the Commission would consider hosting a special meeting on the same evening regarding the storm water ponding issue. After considerable discussion, a motion was made by Commissioner Russell, seconded by Commissioner Peterson to recommend to the City Council that MnDOT locate its second pond on the North Memorial site. The motion passed unanimously. ADOPT-A-PARK, TRAIL, STREET Commissioner Mead asked the Commission to establish a Fall clean up date as part of their Adopt-A-Park commitment for Marlin and Lakeside Parks. After some discussion, it was the Commission consensus that available Commissioners would meet at 9:00 a.m. on the September 30 at Marlin Park. CENTERBROOK MAINTENANCE BUILDING CARS Director Glasoe informed the Commission that, over the last many years, much of the golf course maintenance equipment has been stored in the water tower. Mr. Glasoe continued that two vendors had recently approached the City regarding the leasing of space on the golf course water tower for antennas. Mr Glasoe indicated that the leasing of this space would also include space inside the tower for electrical controls, transmitters, etc. Mr. Glasoe reported that staff had been examining the options for replacement of this storage and had determined that the construction of a separate maintenance faciltiy was the best long term solution. Mr. Glasoe indicated that numerous locations had been studied and that the area around the current tennis courts in Lions Park had been identified as one of the best locations for the facility. After some discussion, a motion was made by Commissioner Mead, seconded by Commissioner Russell to vacate the tennis court at Lions Park and delete it from the proposed CIP improvement list for 2002. The motion passed unanimously. DESTINATION PARK PLAN Public Works Director Spector informed the Commission that staff had continued to work over the Summer to refine cost estimates and fiscal analyses associated with the Destination Parks Plan. Ms. Spector indicated that the findings and the plan were discussed with the City Council at its September 5, 2000 joint work session with the Financial Commission. In addition, Ms. Spector indicated that public input regarding the plan had been solicited through the latest issue of "City Watch" and a mailing to residents who lived immediately adjacent to many of the proposed improvements. Finally the City Council at its September 11, 2000 meeting took public comments regarding the proposed plan. Ms. Spector explained to the Commission that the reason for again discussing the plan was to further refine the plan and prioritize improvements for the next several years, especially those slated for construction in 2001 and 2002. Ms. Spector reviewed a report that detailed the schedule of all improvements that would be necessary over the next 20 years. These included both destination park improvements as well as routine replacement of existing facilities. In addition, Ms. Spector reviewed two options for funding the improvements, showing an analysis of the city's ability to finance the proposed improvements. After considerable discussion, Commissioner Shinnick made a motion to recommend the proposed improvements for 2001-2002 as detailed in the plan, with the exception of the rehabilitation of the Lions Park tennis courts which was deleted from the plan. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Ebert and unanimously passed. In a separate motion, Commissioner Shinnick, seconded by Commissioner Russell, authorized Chair Sorenson to speak on behalf of the Commission when the City Council considers the plan as part of the larger Capital Improvements Plan. RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS Chair Sorenson informed the Commission that he had received a letter from the Mayor and City Council encouraging the Commissioners to nominate deserving citizens for the annual Random Acts of Kindness awards. Chair Sorenson indicated that the nominations were due by October 9. SET NEXT MEETING DATE The next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission was set for October 17, 7:00 p.m. in Conference Room A at City Hall. • MEETING ADJOURNED Commissioner Peterson made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Russell, to adjourn the meeting at 8:58 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.