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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988 05-17 PRMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN is AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION MAY 17, 1988 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER Chairman Sorenson called the meeting to order at 8 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairman Sorenson, Commissioners Propst, Burnes, Mead, and Skeels. Also present were Councilmember Bill Hawes, Director of Recreation Arnie Mavis, and Recording Secretary Geralyn Barone. Commissioner Krefting was absent from this evening's meeting. INTRODUCTION OF NEW COMMISSIONER Chairman Sorenson welcomed new Park and Recreation Commissioner Art Mead, who introduced himself to the commission. Those in attendance introduced themselves to Commissioner Mead, who replaced Commissioner Peterson on the commission. The recording secretary noted that Commissioner Manson has also resigned from the commission. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MARCH 15. 1988 There was a motion by Commissioner Skeels and seconded by Commissioner Propst to approve the minutes of the March 15, 1988, park and recreation commission meeting. The motion passed. BICYCLE PATH PLAN The commission discussed how it should proceed in reviewing and approving the plan. Chairman Sorenson noted that at the southwest corner of I-694 and Brooklyn Boulevard, there is no City throughway, although the bicycle plan indicates as such. Commissioner Skeels pointed out the director of public works mentioned at the March meeting that this plan is a first draft. He said he agreed to the concept of the plan, but the details need to be worked out. There was a motion by Commissioner Skeels and seconded by Commissioner Burnes to agree in concept with the bicycle path plan as presented, but the commission would like to discuss the specifics of the plan in more detail with the director of public works. The motion passed. This will appear as an agenda item at the next park and recreation commission meeting, and the director of public works will be invited to attend and discuss the plan. • 5-17-88 -1- OTHER BUSINESS There was a motion by commissioner Burnes and seconded by Commissioner Skeels to suspend further meetings of the park and recreation commission until September 20, 1988. The motion passed. Commissioner Propst raised some concerns about the area around the Little League fields near Lions park. He said vehicles are being parked on the grass, and he has called the police to report this. He also noted there is still an occasional problem with baseballs being hit out of the ballpark into the street and neighborhood yards, and he felt the reason for this is because there are not enough trees planted along Russell Avenue North. The director of recreation pointed out there will be more trees planted in the fall. Commissioner Propst also expressed concern about the congestion at the intersection of 54th and Russell Avenues North, particularly during ball games when there are many vehicles parked in the area. He suggested a four-way stop at this intersection. The recording secretary said she would bring all of these concerns to the City's administrative traffic committee for its review. Commissioner Burnes asked what the status is of the City's study regarding the Twin Lake area. The director of recreation said the city is working with a consultant and should have a proposal prepared by the fall of this year. The director of recreation said the department of natural resources recently dumped 400 crappies into the pond with the fountain in central park instead of the pond at Shingle Creek. He will be checking with the DNR about this. The director of recreation noted the golf course is doing excellently. He said there will be a grand opening on June 5, 1988, at 1 p.m. The commission discussed some of the activities at the golf course. Chairman Sorenson noted the City plans to make the golf course club house available to other groups during the winter months, and he asked what the conditions of use will be. The director of recreation responded that rules, regulations, and guidelines have yet to be developed. The director of recreation noted- the recreation department once again has a full staff. He said the aquatics supervisor had resigned, and a new one has been hired. Also, a third program supervisor has been hired. CITIZEN REOUEST FOR A CONSERVATORY The recording secretary referred the commission to the letter received by the city manager suggesting Brooklyn Center build a conservatory. The director of recreation said Mitchell Park Conservatory in Milwaukee is very beautiful, but the idea for something similar in Brooklyn Center is a very expensive proposition. Councilmember Hawes asked about the Como Park Conservatory, and the director of recreation pointed out this is in the process of being remodeled. Chairman Sorenson asked if • 5-17-88 -2- the commission wants to be ir#olved in another study at this time, because current projects-include the study of Twin Lake and a field-house/senior center. The commission discussed the feasibility of a conservatory. There was a motion by commissioner Burnes and seconded by Commissioner Propst that the park and recreation commission expresses interest in the conservatory and will include it in its long range feasibility plan, which may take at least five years before the City can review it. In addition, because of ongoing projects, current feasibility of doing the project now is impossible. There was a motion by commissioner mead and seconded by Commissioner Skeels to amend the motion to delete any references to not being able to do anything at this time and to add a statement that plans to review it. The motion passed. There was a motion by Commissioner Propst and seconded by Commissioner Skeels to amend the original motion to leave out any reference to five years and say instead that the proposal will be reviewed in the future. The motion passed. Upon vote being taken on the amended motion, which reads that the park and recreation commission expresses interest in a conservatory and will review and consider it as part of the commission's long range feasibility plan, the motion passed. REVIEW OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION ON PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS The recording secretary reviewed the action of the city council regarding amendments to Chapter 13 of the City Ordinances. She noted a public hearing and a second reading of the ordinance are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the June 13, 1988, city council meeting, and all commissioners are invited to attend the public hearing. The recording secretary noted the city council prefers to leave the section regarding posting of handbills as is because of first amendment concerns. Chairman Sorenson noted the commission's intent was to reflect the current operation of the park and recreation department posting signs. He suggested the ordinance allow for posting of handbills for City sponsored activities. There was a motion by commissioner Skeels and seconded by commissioner Propst to request the city attorney to develop language for Section 13-108 of the City ordinances regarding posting of signs and handbills to allow the City to post notices for City sponsored activities but for no one else to have the ability to post any such notices. The motion passed. • 5-17-88 -3- The recording secretary not* the city council recommends leaving Section 13-102 regarding the curfew unchanged. Commissioner Propst said he was against changing the language in the first place. Chairman Sorenson suggested there may be another approach to accommodate morning joggers by allowing the curfew to end either at 6 a.m. or one-half hour before sunrise, whichever is earlier. Commissioner Propst said this seems reasonable to him. There was a motion by Commissioner Propst and seconded by Commissioner Burnes to request the city attorney to prepare language reflecting the intent of the park and recreation commission to have the park curfew end at 6 a.m. or one-half hour before sunrise, whichever is earlier. Chairman Sorenson noted that this means the parks will also be open one-half hour before sunrise, and not just the trailways. Commissioner Propst called the question, which passed. Upon vote being taken on the motion, the motion passed. COMMISSION PLAN OF ACTION Chairman Sorenson suggested discussion of this be postponed until the September 20, 1988, commission meeting. 1988 ENTERTAINMENT IN THE PARKS SCHEDULE The director of recreation said there is an outstanding entertainment in the parks schedule this year. He added the Lions Club donated $1,500 for this purpose, and the money will be put in the bank for next year's programming, because the City will be unable to receive anymore grants in 1989. He noted the Lions Club also contributed $1,000 for additional fireworks money for Sunday in Central Park. Commissioner Propst asked if the recreation department has had any contact with the Harmonettes or Children's Chorus. The director of recreation said the Harmonettes will be performing at Sunday in Central Park, but the Children's Chorus is unavailable. OTHER BUSINESS Commissioner Burnes recommended the City have a citizen's hall of fame and have a dinner for this purpose. He said he is not sure if the City is interested in such a program, but if it is, he would be willing to help. Chairman Sorenson said at the September meeting, the bike path plan and the Commission plan of action will be discussed. With regard to the Commission plan of action, he said he will accept issues, plans, and problems the Commission expects to foresee in the future years. He requested the Commission to think about this over the summer and be prepared to discuss it at the September meeting. The director of recreation said the City should have some information available on Twin Lake and the field-house/senior center feasibility studies at the September meeting. The recording secretary said she will prepare some information and send it to the commissioners at least two weeks • • • 5-17-88 -4- prior to the September meeting to assist them in preparing for the discussion of the commission plan of action. Commissioner Burnes asked what time frame the commission should think about, and Councilmember Hawes said ten years is not unreasonable. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Burnes and seconded by Commissioner Propst to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center park and recreation commission adjourned at 9:32 p.m. Chairman 0 • 5-17-88 -5-