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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989 04-18 PRMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION 0 FOR THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION APRIL 18, 1989 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER Chairman Sorenson called the meeting to order at 8 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairman Sorenson, Commissioners Mead, Pollock, and Skeels. Also present were Councilmember Jerry Pedlar, Director of Recreation Arnie Mavis, and Recording Secretary Tom Bublitz. Chairman Sorenson noted Commissioners Propst and Peterson were absent and excused from this evening's meeting. Chairman Sorenson also noted Commissioner Burnes was absent from this evening's meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MARCH 28,, 1989 There was a motion by Commissioner Pollock and seconded by Commissioner Mead to approve the minutes of the March 28, 1989, park and recreation commission meeting as submitted. The motion passed. PRESENTATION BY BROOKLYN CENTER SKATING COMMITTEE, Chairman Sorenson recognized Mr. Noah Bridges, chairperson of the Brooklyn Center skating committee. Mr. Bridges introduced several people representing the Youth Hockey Association and other persons involved in skating programs in the city. Those present at the meeting included Tom King, George Larson, Dave Ralph, Larry Kasuki, Wayne Finley, and Russ Lewis. Mr. Bridges addressed the commission and explained from the view of the Brooklyn Center skating committee, an ice arena is a definite need in the city of Brooklyn Center. He explained District No. 286 is willing to donate the land for the facility, but financial assistance is needed to construct the ice arena. Mr. Bridges requested the park and recreation commission include the ice arena in the items it is considering in its present plan of action. Mr. Bridges proceeded to review existing skating programs in Brooklyn Center and noted the Brooklyn Center Peewee Hockey Program captured the regional championship this year. Mr. Bridges explained he believed an ice arena would benefit the City in several ways including a basic asset for people in the community who skate and it would also draw people into the City. He cited examples of types of events that would draw people into 4-18-89 -1 the City including hockey tournaments and figure skating events. He explained he believed the ice arena would help provide active programs that would draw families to Brooklyn Center. Mr. Bridges concluded his remarks by stating he believes it is time for an ice arena in Brooklyn Center and asked that the skating committee's proposal be considered along with other programs considered by the commission. Commissioner Pollock inquired how the arena would be used by schools in Brooklyn Center. Mr. Bridges explained it is becoming harder and harder to find ice for practice time for hockey teams. In addition to hockey, he would also want the facility to accommodate the changing needs and interests of skaters in the City including figure skating events, skating for seniors, and long blades. Mr. Bridges commented he sees the facility as a multiuse facility. Commissioner mead asked what rinks are currently being used by skaters in the Brooklyn Center area. Mr. Bridges explained the Brooklyn Park arena and Osseo arena are two arenas that are currently being used and the demand on both of these arenas is tremendous. He explained District No. 281 uses the New Hope arena and in general, Brooklyn Center is the "last-in-line" for ice time. Commissioner Mead requested Mr. Bridges to expand on the management needs of an ice arena facility. Mr. Bridges explained his group has people able to manage the arena including representatives from the Brooklyn Center Youth Hockey Association. He suggested perhaps these volunteers could work with park and recreation to manage the facility. He stated he believes his group can run a program for nine months out of the year. Commissioner Pollock inquired as to, the current costs related to ice time for the skating groups. Mr. Larson replied currently, the hockey teams pay approximately $3,500 per year for ice time and another $5,000 for busing to various arenas. Commissioner mead inquired who runs Columbia Arena. Mr. Larson explained the Columbia Arena is run by Anoka County and additionally, the City of New Hope operates the New Hope ice arena. Commissioner Pollock stated she sees the possible benefit of a more central location for ice to be used by various skating groups. It was also noted for figure skating the cost of ice time is approximately $30 to $40 an hour. Commissioner Skeels inquired whether there was any allocation of funds by the City which continued the initial $85,000 allocation 4-18-89 -2- made several years ago for an ice facility. The director of recreation reviewed the history of the initial allocation and explained in the early 1970s, $85,000 was allocated by the City for a prototype ice arena developed by a company in Minneapolis. He explained the arena was never built in Brooklyn Center, and the company went to Minnetonka to build the facility. He explained the $85,000 was ultimately put in the Central Park Improvement Fund during the 1981 Park Bond Improvements Program. Chairman Sorenson asked how conditions had changed since 1974 with regard to the need for an ice arena. Mr. Bridges explained he believes it is time and there is a need for an ice arena in Brooklyn Center. Chairman Sorenson commented attendance at all City skating rinks had been down for the past several years. Mr. Finley, an Earle Brown instructor, explained enrollment has also been down for the past few years, but the kindergarten through fourth grade enrollment in the Brooklyn Center School District is currently growing. Councilmember Pedlar expressed a concern over the fact that it Is his understanding a number of ice arenas in the area are actually losing money and added he would like to find out why facilities of this type are not succeeding. Mr. Bridges explained the ice arenas need community involvement and the use of volunteers to control the cost of management of the facilities. He explained the money generated by ice rental and the use of the ice by the school district would make it successful. He also added the VMI Arena and the Osseo Arena are both successful and profitable operations. The Director of Recreation asked what the cost of the proposed facility would be. Mr. Bridges explained the estimated cost is $1.4 million which would provide a good sheet of ice and adequate locker facilities. He explained the cost translates into approximately $10 per year for the average homeowner. He added the operating expense would be obtained from the sale of ice time and development of skating programs. He added he would ask for letters of commitment for ice time from all groups needing ice in the area including hockey, figure skating, school districts, long blades, etc. Mr. Bridges stated he and the Brooklyn Center skating committee would like to serve as a resource to the commission, and he sees the ice arena as a viable program in Brooklyn Center. Chairman Sorenson inquired as to the success of the Brooklyn Park arena facility. The Director of Recreation explained in his discussions with Brooklyn Park staff members the ice arena generally loses money but the community center building as a whole is profitable because of the rental of the community center. 9- 4-18-89 -3- Mr. Bridges explained his group is proposing a feasibility study to clarify the skating needs and how they might be met by construction of an ice arena facility. The commission discussed the issue of a feasibility study for an ice arena. Mr. Bridges explained the Brooklyn Center skating committee had been working with a specific architectural firm and had received a quote for doing a feasibility study which would not exceed $2,500. There was a motion by Commissioner Pollock and seconded by Commissioner Mead to recommend to the City Council that the City pursue a feasibility study for an ice arena, not to exceed $2,500 in cost, and to include the elements of site analysis, needs analysis, concept plan, cost estimate, and operation pro forma. In discussion of the motion, Commissioner Skeels stated he believes the commission needs more financial data to determine the total cost to the taxpayers. Commissioner Pollock expressed an interest in the multipurpose features of the building and that this element should be pursued in any feasibility study. Commissioner Skeels commented the motion feasibility study does not include naming Brooklyn Center skating committee group to explained, however, the motion supports feasibility study outlined by the architectural firm. for approval of the the firm used by the conduct the study. He the elements of the skating committee's Upon a vote being taken on the motion, the motion passed. 0 Commissioner Mead left the meeting at 9:10 p.m. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Skeels and seconded by Chairman Sorenson to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center park and recreation commission adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Chairman 4-18-89 -4-