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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 01-20 PRMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF T11E PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION OF THE CI'T'Y OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION JANUARY 20, 1981 CITY HALL ___CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Park and Recreation Commission met in regular session and was called to order by Chairman Johnson at 7:35 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairman Johnson, Commissioners Streitz, Sorenson, and Denissen. Also present were Councilmember Tony Kuefler, Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel, Program Supervisor Kathy Flesher and Administrative Assistant Tom Bublitz. Chairman Johnson noted that Commissioners Kiefer and Bradford would be absent from this evenings meeting and were excused. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - 12-16--80 There was a motion by Commissioner Streitz and seconded by Chairman Johnson to approve the minutes of the December 16, 1980 Park and Recreation Commission meeting as submitted. The motion passed unanimously. REVIEW OF CITY ACTIVITIES BY CITY MANAGER The City Manager noted that he appreciated the time the Commission could give him this evening to discuss current activities in the City and he hoped it would be beneficial to Commission members to learn about these current projects. The City Manager reviewed the current highway construction in Brooklyn Center and noted that 90% of the roadway construction will be complete by the end of the 1981 construction season. Commissioner Albright arrived at 7:40 p.m. He explained, the east-west portion of #94 will be 95% complete by the end:of 1981 and that the north-south route from 53rd Avenue to Camden to Minneapolis will be complete by mid 1983. He also reviewed the proposed north crosstown highway 610 which is planned to extend from Central Avenue to Osseo. He noted, construction may begin in approximately four years and will include the rebuilding of Lyndale, north of the freeway. In reviewing the trailway system in the City the City Manager observed that the bids on the trailway from City Hall to the northern City limits will be let this year. All trails he pointed out, will be bid and let this year except the bridge portion over highway 100 and the portion which would extend through Brookdale. By the end of 1981 he explained, design decisions will be made on the remainder of Central Park and the Palmer Lake area. As an additional contribution to the Park and Rec facilities to the City he noted that, the Farmers and Mechanics bank contributed over $6,800 for a jogging and exercise trail. The City Manager reviewed the state budget cut backs noting there was $87,000 cut from state aids to the City in 1980 and that additional cuts may come in 1981. Fiscally, he pointed out, the City is in excellent fiscal shape even with the state aid cut backs. 1-20-81 -l- He proceeded to review other activities and projects currently under way in the City including the possibility of a joint dispatching system among certain suburban cities including Brooklyn Center, the 911 which may be ready to be activated some time this year, and the City's comprehensive plan which is being finalized. He noted, the City has been conducting a home rehabilitation program for residents in Brooklyn Center which will continue in 1981. Commissioner Sorenson inquired what the status of Cable TV'was for Brooklyn Center. The City Manager explained that the Request For Proposalswhich are the documents the cable companies will be bidding on are out to the cable companies and that from the date the bid is accepted by the Cable Communications Commission it will be approximately a year and a half to two years before Brooklyn Center residents will begin receiving cable service. He explained, the RFP!s will be returned to the Commission from the cable operators by March or early April. The City Manager concluded his presentation by stating that he appreciated the commission allowing him to come to their meeting this evening and that he hoped the discussion and information discussed this evening would be helpful to them. FILM "LIFE. BE IN IT." The Park and Recreation Director presented a film for Commission members sponsored by the National Recreation and Parks Association which stressed the importance of participation in recreation and leisure activities. RECESS The Brooklyn Center Park and Recreation Commission recessed at 8:20 p.m. and reconvened at 8:35 p.m. REVIEW OF RECREATION PROGRAMS The Park and Recreation Director introduced Kathy Flesher to the Commission members and noted she was present this evening to review her role as Program Supervisor for the City. Kathy explained, her primary function was divided into three major areas, those being the arranging of special recreation events and programs, hiring and working with instructors for these programs, and promotion and publicity of the events and programs. She explained, one of her areas of concentration is establishing recreation programs for senior citizens and also working with other agencies to develop programs for seniors,. Some of the programs she noted, included Leisure Fitness for seniors and a class titled Senior Citizens And The Law which was held at Brookdale. Special programs for seniors she pointed out, include income tax preparation, blood pressure checks and hearing screening tests. She noted, the main concern among seniors is with healthcare, transportation, meals and rental assistance. She added, she prepares a monthly newsletter for senior citizens which outlines monthly events and projects for seniors. Kathy reviewed other recreational programs she is involved with including pottery, photography and the pre-school program, which operates three days a week with five classes for a total of 80 children. She noted, she also is involved in dance classes which include all age groups from children th ough adult. She noted, the types of dancing classes included ballet, ballro~m, aerobic, and rhythms and tumbling for younger persons. Kathy noted that part of her job responsibility involves bo king the various events noting that the hall is used extensively by ;roups in IV social hall for the community...-.- 1-20-81 -2- Kathy pointed out, there is a handicapped program which the City participates in ahd includes eight other cities working together through the Suburban Community- Services to provide recreational programs for handicapped persons. She explained that the larger geographical area of eight cities is required to obtain enough participants for the program. She noted, one of the more successful parts of the program is the Friday night program which involves persons age 15-30. She noted, this program has up to 60 participants on a single night. She added, the Saturday morning programs for handicapped persons include programs for EMR and TMR individ- uals. She explained, EMR includes educable mentally retarded persons and TMR includes trainable mentally retarded individuals. Some of the other programs Kathy is involved in include the Family Fare which is conducted with seven other cities and includes family trips and bus trips to such events as the Omnitheater and Ice Follies. She added, there is also a community tripsters program which includes five other cities and provides trips for senior citizens. Chairman Johnson inquired what the most popular programs were. Kathy noted that the physical fitness programs including aerobic dancing and the childrens after school are currently the most popular. Councilmember Kuefler stated that he has always been impressed with the flexi- bility and the planning of the Park and Recreation programs in the City and also the new concepts in programs that Kathy and other members of the staff have brought to the City. He added, he believes they are doing an excellent job in _programming and offering recreation programs to Brooklyn Center residents. He added, Kathy in particular does an excellent job with the senior citizens and handicapped persons. In response to Councilmember Kuefler's comments Kathy noted that the major problem she has experienced in running senior citizens programs is the transportation problem. Councilmember Kuefler inquired what other cities have done with regard to the transportation problem. Kathy pointed out that there are various options to senior citizens including metro mobility which provides door to door service, a Red Cross van, taxicabs using the Share-a-ride program but that these programs are not always convenient for people to use. She explained, some cities have City owned vehicles to provide transportation and she pointed to the cities of Hopkins and Minnetonka both of which operate their own transportation programs. Chairman Johnson thanked Kathy Flesher for taking time to come to this evenings meeting and noted that the Commission appreciates the programming she is offering to Brooklyn Center residents. Commissioner Denissen commented on the comparison of the various City programs with regard to the amount of subsidy paid by the City and suggested that the babysitting program, which has a subsidy of 400, appears to be rather high. The Director of Park and Recreation noted that this service is an incentive for people to take classes and that the amount of income realized from people participating in classes offsets the subsidy paid to this particular program by the City. Commissioner Denissen suggested raising the cost of babysitting slightly from 50~ to 75~ which she emphasized, is still a bargain for babysitting. RIVERRIDGE PARK • The Park and Recreation Director noted that the Hennepin County Park Reserve district staff has recently shown an interest in RiverRidge Park, noting that their goal is to establish river accesses for recreation from Champlin to Minneapolis along the Mississippi. He noted, Cliff French of the Hennepin 1-20-81 -3- County Park Reserve contacted the City staff regarding the possibility of Hennepin County assuming the responsibility for the development and maintenance of RiverRidge Park. He noted, Hennepin County believes the park has regional significance and that it would be an excellent access point to the river. He noted, the staff is in agreement with Hennepin County's suggestion to develop and maintain this park. He explained, the City Manager has requested the Commission review and comment on this proposal from Hennepin County. Commissioner Albright stated, she was concerned with what jurisdiction would have authority to police the park if Hennepin County should assume responsibility for the park. The Park and Recreation Director stated, at this point the policing situation has not been clarified. Commissioner Sorenson inquired who owns the RiverRidge land. The Park and Recreation Director explained the land was owned by MNDOT, is leased by the DNR, and that the DNR has a use agreement with the City of Brooklyn Center for the park. Chairman Johnson noted he would like to see the City have some involvement and control in the development of RiverRidge Park if Hennepin County did assume responsibility for it. The Park and Recre- ation Director stated he would like to pursue the concept at the staff level at this point. There was a general concurrence among commission members that they were generally in support of pursuing the concept of Hennepin county assuming responsibility of the development of RiverRidge Parka Commissioner Albright noted that she was concerned with the policing responsibility in the area and would like clarification of this policy. KALEIDOSCOPE 1981 Chairman Johnson noted that, in the past the Commission has worked closely with the -Park and Recreation staff in developing a program for Kaleidoscope and requested the Park and Recreation Director to bring in a proposal for Kaleidoscope • at the February Commission meeting. Councilmember Kuefler inquired whether the Park Maintenanc manual developed by the Park and Recreation Director has been introduced to the Pak Maintenance crews. The Park and Recreation Director explained it had been implemented and that the maintenance crews had been cooperating in its implementati n. He added, it,is providing him with necessary information in maintaining th parks. Chairman Johnson inquired-if there were any problems with the skating rinks this year. The Park and Recreation Director explained the weather has been the main problem this year but that attendance is above that of last year. He noted, there is no serious problems with the rinks thus far. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Sorenson and seconded by Commissioner Streitz to adjourn the Park and Recreation Commission meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m. Chairman L 1-20-81 -4-