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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989 03-28 PRM• MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION MARCH 28, 1989 CITY HALL • • CALL TO ORDER Chairman Sorenson called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. and subsequently recessed the meeting until a quorum was present. At 7:45 p.m. a quorum of the park and recreation commission was present. ROLL CALL Chairman Sorenson, Commissioners Mead, Peterson, Pollock, and Propst. Also present were Councilmember Jerry Pedlar, Director of Recreation Arnie Mavis, and Recording Secretary Tom Bublitz. Chairman Sorenson noted Commissioner Skeels excused from this evening's meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - FEBRUARY 21. 1989 There was a motion by Commissioner Pollock Commissioner Peterson to approve the minutes of 1989, park and recreation commission meeting as motion passed. was absent and and seconded by the February 21, submitted. The OTHER BUSINESS The Director of Recreation pointed out the third Tuesday of the month is the only time Geralyn Barone can meet with the commission since she has commitments on other Tuesdays of the month. Because of Ms. Barone's schedule, the staff is requesting the commission keep the park and recreation commission meeting to the third Tuesday of the month. There was a motion by Commissioner Peterson and seconded by commissioner Pollock to retain the third Tuesday of each month as the regular park and recreation commission meeting date. The motion passed. REVIEW OF TWIN LAKES AND PRESERVE STUDY Chairman Sorenson stressed the need for commission members to visit the parcels in the Twin Lake and Preserve study. He emphasized the need to review the Preserve area and the Middle Twin, Joslyn, and Kylawn areas. He suggested reviewing these areas as a group and directed the staff to arrange a tour of the area beginning at 6:30 p.m. on the next regularly scheduled meeting of the commission on April 18. 3-28-89 -1- •4 Chairman Sorenson then recognized the Director of Recreation who proceeded to continue the review of the Twin Lake and Preserve study. The Director of Recreation pointed out the staff's number one priority for the commission to consider in the study is the Joslyn site and added, the staff is recommending the park and recreation commission consider recommending the hiring of a consultant to the city council to conduct a study on the potential uses of the Joslyn site. He explained the study would address the issue of whether or not the City can place a park on the property, particularly with regard to the contamination issue. He explained the contaminated earth has been removed; the cleared portion needs to aerate for some time and then will be capped with noncontaminated fill. He explained the staff's recommendation to the commission is to provide input on the types of development that would be appropriate for the area including such items as a boat launch, picnicking, ball fields, and. a beach. He emphasized the consultant would work primarily on the issues of what the area could be used for based on park and recreation commission input and guidelines. The commission discussed the Joslyn site and generally agreed this site was the number one priority in the study. Commissioner Peterson commented that this area is the last available 48 acre site in the entire city of Brooklyn Center. Councilmember Pedlar raised the issue of whether or not the City wants the entire 48 acre site for development. 0 The commission continued its discussion and focused on the past use of the Twin Lake beach area. The commission discussed the liability issue regarding the re-establishment of a beach in the area including the provision of lifeguards and decided the liability issue would be one issue that would be important for any consultant to consider. The commission recommended including consideration of a beach in any consultant study and additionally a canoe launch, picnic area, and seating nodes for the area. The Director of Recreation pointed out if a softball field is built in the Joslyn area, the City would give up the East Palmer North field since parking near this field is a problem. The East Palmer field would be made into a green area. Another possibility would be to give up a softball field at Grandview and locate another Babe Ruth League field at Grandview Park. Councilmember Pedlar stated he has somewhat of a problem with the possibility of softball tournaments interfering with the use of a park area. He expressed interest in seeing the Twin Lake area developing similar to the County Park at Medicine Lake. He added the preserve has a great amount of land available and that is his vision for the development of this area in Brooklyn Center. Chairman Sorenson also stressed the parking for softball versus the parking for the beach and other park areas be examined in any 3-28-89 -2- s~ consultant study. The commission also recommended considering sand volleyball courts for the park area. The Director of Recreation stated the Joslyn site would include a review of Twin Lake beach-and the area north of the Soo Line. There was a motion by Commissioner Peterson and seconded by Commissioner Pollock to recommend to the City Council to hire a consultant to conduct a study of potential park and recreation uses for the area known as the Joslyn site. The motion passed. The Director of Recreation stated the staff's recommendation for a second priority after the Joslyn site is the Kylawn area. Chairman Sorenson pointed out that at the next meeting, the commission could begin to prioritize other areas of potential development. Chairman Sorenson pointed out the next step would be to review the goals for the study area which are expressed on page 2 of the study. He requested the commission to make a determination whether or not they agree with the goals of the study as listed on page 2. The Director of Recreation pointed out that a resource becomes a resource only when you make use of it. There was a motion by Commissioner Mead and seconded by Commissioner Peterson to support the five general goals presented in the Twin Lakes and Preserve Study and listed as follows: 1. Establish a format for the involved communities to implement common goals around lake usage. 2. Develop a year round approach to development and management of the resource for broadened community uses. 3. Preserve the natural resources wherever possible. 4. Improve the water quality of the lakes. 5. Develop a trail system which links the presently planned trails of the four communities in the Twin Lake area. The motion passed. Chairman Sorenson stated he believed the city council should also review and consider these goals. Councilmember Pedlar commented that the city council has reviewed the plan and believes they are generally supportive of the concept expressed in the plan. There was a motion by Commissioner Peterson and seconded by Commissioner Mead to recommend the city council consider and 3-28-89 -3- adopt the goals recommended commission. The motion passed. by the park and recreation RECESS The park and recreation commission recessed at 8:40 p.m. and reconvened at 8:55 p.m. COMMISSION PLAN OF ACTIO11 Councilmember Pedlar pointed out to commission members the City is under a new budget cycle which moves the budget dates up several months from what they had been in the past. Chairman Sorenson reviewed the summary of community needs and issues related to Brooklyn Center parks and recreation and explained he believed the commission should establish the needs in terms of a priority list and perhaps some number rating system could be used rating the priorities from high to low. The Director of Recreation reviewed the list of community needs and issues from a staff perspective and pointed out the City staff has reviewed the entire list. He proceeded to review the list item by item and relay the staff input on each item. The commission discussed possible ways of rating the items in a priority ranking and finally agreed that at the next meeting the commission members would take each item in a particular category and rate that item from zero to five, with five being the highest priority and zero being the lowest or no priority. The ratings would then be submitted to the staff at the April meeting and would be tabulated for the May meeting. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Peterson and seconded by Commissioner Mead to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center park and recreation commission adjourned at 9:40 p.m. Chairman • • 3-28-89 -4