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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979 09-18 PRMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION SEPTEMBER 18, 1979 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 7:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairman Johnson, Commissioners Hickman, Albright and Streitz. Also present were Councilmember Tony Kuefler, Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel and Administrative Assistants Brad Hoffman and Tom Bublitz. Chairman Johnson noted that Commissioner Kiefer would be late for this evening's meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - 8-21-79 There was a motion by Commissioner Streitz and seconded by Commissioner Hickman to approve the minutes of the August 21, 1979 Park and Recreation Commission meeting. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Kiefer arrived at 7:40 p.m. BROOKLANE PARK SHELTER BUILDING REPORT Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel reported that the City is currently looking at the use of rented trailers to serve as a temporary warming house at the Brooklane Park site. He noted that the trailers come in several sizes and that they can be easily hooked up to electricity. Commissioner Hickman asked if the trailer would be used for just this season only. The Park and Recreation Director indicated that it was a temporary'solution for one season only. Chairman Johnson inquired as to how soon the trailer could be brought in to Brooklane Park. The Park and Recreation Director noted that the rental of the trailer unit is $160 per month so that it probably would not be brought in until the season started. He added that Blaine and Spring Lake Park have used these trailers with good success. Commissioner Kiefer asked when the permanent shelter would be erected. The Park and Recreation Director indicated that the permanent shelter would prob- ably be constructed at Brooklane Park sometime in the spring of 1980. TWIN LAKE LETTERS: DISCUSSION Chairman Johnson introduced a letter from Mr. Roger E. Machmeier, addressed to Mayor Dean Nyquist, which expressed his concern over the no parking signs on the streets near the public access on the east side of Twin Lake. Administrative Assistant Brad Hoffman noted that the no parking signs were erected as a result of a petition by residents-in the area. He added that this area of Twin Lake was never intended to become a beach area. He explained that no parking areas are not uncommon within the City and that there is still access to the lake off Highway 100. He stated that the no parking policy was the result of the neigh- borhood being inundated by numbers of people using the beach area which is a relatively small area. Commissioner Kiefer asked whether or not the Council has replied to Mr. Machmeier's letter. Councilmember Tony Kuefler noted that the Council has not responded to the letter and has deferred to the Commission. Commissioner Kiefer also inquired whether the Department of Natural Resources has responded to the letter. Councilmember Tony Kuefler indicated that the parking problem is not within the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural Resources. Administrative Assistant Brad Hoffman stated that there is parkin allowed approximately one-half block away from the area described-in Mr. Machm 9-18-79 -1- 9 Bier's i letter. Chairman Johnson stated that Mr. Machmeier still has access to the lake, even with the no parking restrictions, and that he feels.the Commission should respond to him stating this. Commissioner Hickman agreed, stating that she felt there is adequate parking in the area. Councilmember Tony Kuefler offered to respond to Mr. Machmeier's letter with the assistance of Administrative Assistant Brad Hoffman and Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel. Chairman Johnson then asked persons in the audience if the parking problem in the area has improved as a result of the no parking restrictions. The general responce from those persons present in the audience was that the parking restrictions have helped solve the parking problem in the area. Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel stated that the Park and Recreation staff has sketches for a parking lot in the Twin Lake area showing a limited number of parking spaces which would hopefully discourage after hours parking in the area. Chairman Johnson introduced a letter from Lynn Schultz of 4214 Lakeside Avenue North which addressed the problem of vandalism and noise around the Twin Lake Beach Park area. Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel then presented sketches of the parking • configurations which were designed to keep cars closer to the street and eliminate internal parking in the Twin Lake Beach Park area. A general discussion of the parking proposals ensued. Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel indicated that the parking plans would reduce the eight or ten parking spaces now in existence down to five or six spaces. Chairman Johnson asked if.the parking proposals could be proposed to the City Manager before the next Park and Recrea- tion Commission meeting and a report returned to the Commission at that time. The Park and Recreation Director indicated that this would be possible. He also noted that access cannot be eliminated completely since this is a public park. Chairman Johnson referred to the letter from Lynn Schultz of 4214 Lakeside Avenue North and recognized Mr. Schultz, who was in attendance at the meeting. Mr. Schultz asked what the procedure was for implementing the proposed parking plans. The Park and Recreation Director stated that it was up to the City Manager to present such proposals to the City Council but he also indicated that this problem may require only administrative action. He noted that the City Manager could probably handle this situation administratively. Councilmember Tony Kuefler noted that he felt that some type of altered parking plan would be in place before the spring of 1980. RECESS The Park and Recreation Commission recessed at 8:15 p.m. and reconvened at 8:30 P.M. SKATING RINK CLOSING: DISCUSSION Chairman Johnson introduced the next item on the agenda which was the skating rink closings. He referred Commission members to a data sheet on skating rink attendance which showed a general decline in rink attendance over the past few years of approximately 350. He asked whether or not the hockey program has been declining also. Park and Recreation Director Gene Hugel said that the hockey program is not declining and that it has leveled off but doesn't appear to be increasing. Chairman Johnson then inquired about the age group changes in various parts of the City and cited the example of Riverdale Park where rink attendance has been increasing over the past few years. Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel indicated that this was true and that in the Bellvue Park and Riverdale Park areas new homes were being constructed which could probably account for the increased usage of the parks. Chairman Johnson then inquired about the possibility of lengthening the skating season. The Park and Recreation Director indicated that the season is generally from December 15 to February 15 and it generally depends on the weather which may allow the rink to open earlier. 9-18-79 -2- He also noted that at the end of the skating season attendance seems to drop off rather sharply. Chairman Johnson indicated that 1976 and 1977 was generally a bad year for skating at the parks. Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel agreed and stated that part of the reason was that the Public Works strike was on and that many of the rinks were closed. Chairman Johnson noted that, even with the deletion of the 1976/1977 skating season, the rinks generally still show a declin- ing overall attendance. Commissioner Albright questioned whether or not certain rinks could be closed in order to improve the overall system, noting that one park showing a declining attendance might be closed if it was close enough to a park with a stable rink attendance. She questioned whether or not all seventeen rinks need to be operating. Commissioner Hickman questioned what the dollar savings would be if the rinks were closed. Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel indicated that the savings would be approximately $1,100 per year per attendant at each warming house and an additional $400 to $500 savings in utility costs per warming house. Commissioner Hickman asked Councilmember Tony Kuefler what action would be taken at the Council meeting. Councilmember Kuefler stated that he was certain that the Council would be interested in feedback from the Park and Recreation Commission concerning this issue. Chairman Johnson indicated that in past years the Commission was asked to look into energy saving measures and its conclusions were that the warming houses could be closed as energy saving measures, but that the rinks could be kept open. He also asked whether or not the hockey programs could be consolidated to fewer rinks. Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel indicated that consolidating the programs could cause diffi- culty for persons traveling to rinks from different neighborhoods and that he doesn't see it as a likely solution in the near future. Chairman Johnson then asked what four rinks would be most likely to close. The Park and Recreation Director indicated that it would be the four rinks with' he lowest attendance and that it would be possible to keep the rink open but to close the warming houses. Commissioner Hickman asked which of the four rinks would specifically be,considered for closing. The Park and Recreation Director indicated that it would be the rinks at Firehouse, Happy Hollow, Twin Lake Beach, and Lions Park. Chairman Johnson asked how these parks were geographically distributed. Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel indicated that no two of the rinks are in the same neighborhood. Councilmember Tony Kuefler noted that the concept of reducing the hours at the skating rinks was not feasible because of the need to maintain a constant temperature in the warming houses, but he introduced the possibility of opening the warming houses for only one day per week. The Park and Recreation Director indicated that this is possible but that getting an attendant for these hours may be a problem. Commissioner Hickman then asked about the possibility of using satellites at the rinks where the warming houses close. The Park and Recreation Director noted that the cost of satellites was $110 per season per park. Commissioner Streitz noted that he feels that closing these shelters, in light of declining attendance at certain rinks, is a viable alternative. Chairman Johnson then recognized Mrs. Banke of the Orchard Lane area who inquired about the rink attendance at the Orchard Lane rink. Chairman Johnson indicated that the attendance at Orchard Lane rink for the 1978/1979 season is down approximately 50% from the attendance during the 1977/78 season. Mrs. Banke then presented petitions of residents in the Orchard Lane Park area which requested that the rink remain open. Chairman Johnson introduced a letter he had received from Mr. Bob Oberstar, of 7243 Emerson Avenue North, in which he explained, Mr. Oberstar stated his objections to the closing of skating rinks in Brooklyn Center. Councilmember Tony Kuefler indicated that a consensus of the Commission on this issue would be helpful to the Council in making decisions. Commissioner Kiefer asked whether or not the statistics on the rink attendance had been made public Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel indicated that newspaper articles had been.published on the topic of rink closing but that the rink attendance figure s 9-18-79 -3- had not been specifically published. Commissioner Kiefer then asked what the Commissions' position should be on rink closing. Chairman Johnson suggested that the Commission relay to the Council that if they decide it is necessary to close the rinks, the Commission concurs with their actions. Commissioner Kiefer asked who is responsible for counting the attendance at the skating rinks. The Park and Recreation Director noted that the attendants at the rink take the counts of skaters. Councilmember Tony Kuefler suggested that the Commission arrive at an attendance figure which justifies keeping warming houses open at any particular site. Chairman Johnson noted that the general consensus of the Park and Recreation Commission was to concur with the Council if it should decide that the closing of four of the City's skating rinks shouldbecome necessary. OTHER BUSINESS Councilmember Tony Kuefler noted that the City is researching alternatives of presenting the park bond issue. He also explained that the Council agreed to unanimously accept the Park and Recreation Commission's park plan. ADJOURNMENT " There was a motion by Commissioner Streitz and seconded by:Commissioner Hickman to adjourn the Park and Recreation Commission meeting. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m. Chairman 0 • 9-18-79 -4-