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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982 03-16 PRMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION IN THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION MARCH 16, 1982 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Park and Recreation Commission met in regular session and was called to order by Chairman Sorenson at 7:40 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairman Sorenson, Cormissioners Albright, Streitz, Bradford, and Denissen. Also present were Councilman Bill Hawes, Director of Parks and Recreation Gene Hagel, Assistant City Engineer Jim Grube, and Administrative Assistant Tom Bublitz. Chairman Sorenson noted that Commissioner Kiefer would be absent from this evenings meeting and was excused. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - FEBRUARY 16, 1982 There was a motion by Commissioner Albright and seconded by Commissioner Bradford to approve the minutes of the February 16, 1982 Park and Recreation Commission -meeting as submitted. Voting in favor: Chairman Sorenson, Commissioners Albright and Bradford. Voting against: none. The motion passed. Commissioner Streitz abastained from the vote as he was not present at the February 16, 1982 meeting. REPORT ON DEVELOPMENT OF 69TH - 70TH AVENUE CONNECTION IN EVERGREEN PARK AREA Assistant City Engineer Jim Grube reviewed the current proposals for roadway improvements in the area of Trunk Highway 252 and the Evergreen Park area. He reviewed existing conditions and explained that Trunk Highway 252 construction and expansion is proposed for 1985 - 1987, and that it appears it will be a four way roadway. The AssistantCity Engineer reviewed the current needs and problems in the project .area including the clean-up of the City's maintenance annex, consideration of a reserve site for a possible future water treatment plant, traffic and pedestrian conflict problems at Evergreen School driveway and parking lot, 70th Avenue extension, which was a petition by a property owner, and location of soccer fields. The Assistant City Engineer noted that the City staff was directed by the City Council to examine roadway and traffic planning in the area of 252 and the Evergreen Park area. He explained that currently there were two major concepts being proposed for the area, one which would retain 69th Avenue as a major roadway, retain the mainte- nance annex as a future site for a possible water treatment plant and would locate the soccer fields on the tax forfeited property east of Camden Avenue. The second. concept which he reviewed for Commission members provided that a new 69th - 70th Avenue connection be developed as major street from Dupont Avenue to West-River Road. This concept also provided that 69th Avenue east of Bryant Avenue would be downgraded to local street status, the maintenance annex and storage yard would be located on the tax forfeited property, and the tax forfeited property would also be disignated as a site for a future water treatment plant. He added that the soccer fields, under this plan, would be located in the vicinity of Evergreen School. 3-16-82 . -1- Commissioner Denissen inquired whether constructing a major roadway by Evergreen School would be a hazard for children using the park and the school. The Assistant City Engineer commented that the roadway design would be a 30 mph design, curved roadway and that more traffic would go by the school but not at a greater speed. He also pointed out'it is possible for traffic lights to be installed for operation during school hours. He also reviewed aerial photos of the area and explained that there would be a 200 foot distance from the school to 70th Avenue as proposed under Concept B.' He noted that this 200 feet would maintain a considerable distance between children just leaving the school and the traffic on 70th Avenue North. Commissioner Albright inquired if there were any plans for a pedestrian bridge connecting Evergreen Park and Riverdale Park and whether these plans were still under consideration. The Assistant City Engineer explained that the cost for constructing a pedestrian bridge is quite prohibitive and also explained that generally,'pedestrian bridges are not effective unless the roadway area underneath the biidge is completed fenced off to pedestrian traffic. He noted that no fencing plans on 252 are being proposed by the State of Minnesota. Chairman Sorenson asked whether or not there were any cost differences in Plan A and B. The Assistant City Engineer explained that the cost to the:City would be $40,000 to $50,000 greater for Concept B but that this is only an estimate. He stated that this estimate was based on equal roadway design with such items as curb and gutter and sidewalk included. Discussion continued among Commissions members regarding the various advantages and disadvantages to Concept A and Concept B. Administrative Assistant Bublitz noted that-there is no request for formal Commission consideration of this matter but that it has been presented for the Commission's information. RECESS The Brooklyn Center Park and Recreation Commission recessed at 8:35 p.m. and reconvened at 8:50 P.M. REPORT FROM COMMISSIONER BRADFORD ON TWIN LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD Chairman Sorenson explained that at the last Park and Recreation Commission meeting Commissioner Bradford had been requested to informally survey the residents in his neighborhood concerning their opinion of the use of Twin Lake and Twin Lake Park. Commissioner Bradford replied that he had talked to several residents in the area and in summary of their comments he pointed out that the people he had talked to indicated that the puppet program had been a very popular program in the area and that they would be missing that program. He also added that the residents would like to see a tennis court in the area, additional posts to prevent cars from entering the park area, and were concerned that the building at the park was deter- iorating. The Director of Parks and Recreation commented that the building at the park is for general storage and that it had recently been painted, but that he ; would check the condition of the building. Commissioner Bradford then stated that he had also received some requests for metering the tennis courts in his neighbor- hood. He stated that generally, residents in the area feel the park situation has improved from what it had been over past pears. He added that residents in the area also questioned why handicapped parking spaces were installed in the park since, according to these individuals, they were rarely used. The Director of Parks and Recreation explained that the handicapped parking stalls are required by law. SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS: PLAYGROUND APPARATUS AT LAKESIDE AND MARLIN PALY LOTS. The Director of Parks and Recreation explained that, under the bond issue, funding for improvements in neighborhood parks contemplated the installation of playground apparatus at Marlin and Lakeside play lots. However, he noted that since the passage of the bond issue, comments have been received questioning the need for playground apparatus in the two areas. Fie explained that because.of this, question- naires were delievered to all residents adjacent to both Marlin and Lakeside play lots, requesting them to state whether they preferred playground apparatus installed or have the play lots left as they are. He stated that the majority of persons responding to the questionnaire requested that the play lots be left as they are. The Director of Parks and Recreation proceeded to review the written responses received on the return of the questionnaires. Councilmember Hawes suggested that fencing might be considered around Lakeside Park since it would prevent children from running out onto the street chasing stray balls. He also suggested that three accesses be maintained into the park if the fencing were to be installed. Chairman Sorenson noted that it is quite a distance to the nearest park in the Marlin neighborhood and he also questioned whether the survey should be expanded to include a wider cross section of the surrounding neighborhood. He noted that simply surveying the persons adjoining the parks may not reflect the opinion of the rest of the neighborhood. Commissioner Denissen questioned the validity of the survey since it was so limited in scope. Commissioner Albright stated that she noted only one complaint, in the returned surveys, by people concerned about older kids congregating in the parks during the evening hours. She stated that she doesn't think this is a larg enough sample. Commissioner Denissen stated that she would like to see the survey expanded to a larger part of the neighborhood surrounding the parks. There was a general C,^nceasus among Commission members that the survey should be expanded. Councilmember Hawes-inquired whether the Commission has ever contemplated doing a door to door survey to gather this type of information. Commissioner Streitz stated that he likes.Councilmember Hawe's idea of a door to door survey and would be willing to work on conducting the survey. There was a general concensus among Commission members to support Councilmember Hawe's suggestion of a door to door survey. Chairman Sorenson suggested discussing the door to door survey in more detail at the April meeting. The Director of Parks and Recreation stated that he would have some information available for Commission members to assist them in•conducting the survey and would have this information at the next meeting. Commissioner Albright stated that she has a conflict with the April and May meeting dates. Chairman Sorenson stated that, instead of the third Tuedsay, the meetings could be changed to the third Monday in April and third in may. Commission members agreed to schedule the April meeting for April 19th. Chairman Sorenson inquired of Commission members if they had any other items of business to discuss, there being none, he entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting. ADJOURN:LENT There.was a motion by Commissioner Streitz and seconded by Commissioner Albright to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The Brooklyn Center Park and Recreation Commission adjourned at 9:40 p.m. Chairman 3-1G-82 . -3-