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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979 08-21 PRMR v MINUTES 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 AUGUST 21, 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 7:42 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairman Johnson, Commissioners Hickman, Albright and Streitz. Also present were Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel and Administrative Assistant Brad Hoffman. Commissioner Kiefer was absent and unexcused. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - 6-19-79 e Motion by Commissioner Hickman and seconded by Commissioner Albright to approve the minutes of the June 19, 1979 Park and Recreation Commission meeting. The motion passed unanimously. ` APPROVAL OF MINUTES - 7-5-79 Motion by Commissioner Streitz and seconded by Commissioner Albright to approve the minutes of the July 5, 1979 Park and Recreation Commission meeting. The motion passed unanimously. PARK DEVELOPMENT PLAN: DISCUSSION Administrative Assistant Hoffman reported to the Park and Recreation commission that the park development plan would be presented to the City Council on August 27, 1979. A brief discussion then ensued and Administrative Assistant Hoffman .indicated that the Commission would probably want to be represented at that meeting. Chairman Johnson indicated that he would be at the Council meeting to answer any questions about the park development plan. Commissioner Albright inquired if they would receive a Council agenda prior to the meeting. Adminis- trative Assistant Hoffman indicated that they would not receive an agenda prior to the meeting because it would not be completed until the Friday before the Council meeting. BROOKLANE SHELTER BUILDING: REPORT Park and Recreation Director-Gene Hagel reported that at the August 13, 1979 City Council meeting, the Council ordered the demolition of the shelter building at Brooklane Park.. He noted the action had been anticipated for some time because the building had significant structural problems. He also stated that it was no longer safe to allow the building to be habited. Chairman Johnson then inquired as to what actions were anticipated to replace the building. Director Hagel indicated that at this time no actions were being contemplated. He also noted that the school was opposed to using a room in the school building as the warming house. Commissioner Hickman inquired if the building was down at this time. Director Hagel indicated that it was not, but that it would be taken down within a short period of time and that the utilities would be dis- connected. Chairman Johnson requested that the Park and Recreation Director provide an update on the Brooklane shelter building situation. A group of parents from the Garden City area requested to discuss the matter with the Park and Recreation Commission. They indicated that they felt the building needed to be replaced. They stated that it was one of the few parks in Brooklyn Center that showed an increase in the use of the skating rink 8-21-79 -1- facilities last year. They also indicated that the Jaycees have been active in providing new playground apparatus for the park and they felt that there was a need for a shelter building there. They also stated that the building was used in the fall by the little league football and in the summer by the tiny tots program. They questioned whether or not the building could not be rehabilitated. Following their presentation, Chairman Johnson agreed that some type of building should be there. He inquired if a building was proposed in the park development plan. Director Hagel noted that a shelter building was contemplated for Brooklane Park. It was the consensus of the Park and Recreation Commission to support a temporary structure to replace the shelter building at Brooklane Park. GIFT CATALOG: REPORT Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel distributed a gift catalog to be reviewed by the Commission. He noted that the catalog has not been distributed to the public at this time, but that it would be shortly. He stated that he was currently putting together a slide presentation for his visits to various civic groups throughout the community. He noted that the catalog contains a number of items that are needed in each of the parks. An individual can look through the catalog and choose an item to purchase on an'individual, tax deductible basis for the park. A brief discussion then ensued and Chairman Johnson inquired when Director Hagel planned to initiate this program. Director Hagel indicated that catalogs would be issued to the general public sometime in the fall of 1979. RECESS The Park and Recreation Commission recessed at 8:25 p.m. and reconvened at 8:50 p:m. SKATING RINK CLOSING: REPORT AND DISCUSSION The next agenda item was a report from Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel on the skating attendance figures for the 78/79 skating season. He briefly reviewed those figures, noting that there was a general decline in attendance last year that has continued over the years. He noted that there has been a significant decline in a number of parks including Twin Lake Beach. Following his presentation, Chairman Johnson indicated that he felt we should maintain the rinks in the City but that we should no longer provide warming house fac- ilities. He then inquired if other communities are experiencing this decline in the use of skating rinks and warming houses. Director Hagel indicated that most other communities that he has discussed the matter with have the same problem but have not taken any action at this point in time. A brief discussion as to the hours of operation then ensued with Director Hagel noting that the City had significantly cutback the hours the warming houses were open last year. Chairman Johnson indicated that he would like to continue considering the question and asked that the staff come back with a recommendation for the September meeting. Commissioner Albright inquried as to the cost of operating a rink. Director Hagel indicated that it cost approximately $1,100 for the supervisor alone in each of the parks. Chairman Johnson indicated that he wanted to make a recommendation to the Council prior to the skating season. With that, he asked the item be placed on the agenda for the next meeting. TWIN LAKE LETTERS: DISCUSSION Chairman Johnson introduced the next agenda item by referring to a letter from Roger E. Machmeier who indicated his disapproval of the no parking signs in the Twin Lake Beach area. Chairman Johnson noted that there was a wealth of information on the question and felt that the letter should be addressed. He then inquired as to who should address the question. Administrative Assistant 8-21-79 -2- Hoffman stated that at this point in time he felt that it would be appropriate ' to receive the Commission's comments on the letter. A brief discussion then ensued relative to the letter and the availability of boat launching access points on Twin Lake. Chairman Johnson then referred to a letter from Lynn Schultz at 4214 Lakeside Avenue North who expressed her concern with the drinking in Twin Lake Beach Park and the noise and parties that take place after the park is closed. Lynn Schultz recommended that a chain be placed across the parking lot at 10:00. Commissioner Albright indicated she felt that a chain would work. Following a brief discussion, Chairman Johnson indicated that he would like to take up this matter also at the September meeting-and that he would like information on the park situation from Chief of Police Lindsay. Chairman Johnson then suggested that we invite the writer of the letter and the neighbors in that neighborhood along with Chief of Police Lindsay to discuss the park problems at Twin Lake Beach. OTHER BUSINESS Commissioner Streitz inquired when the fence for Lions Park would be installed. Park and Recreation Director Hagel indicated that it would be installed shortly but at the present time we lack the manpower to do so. He indicated that he felt it should be up within the next few weeks. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Hickman and seconded by Commissioner Albright to adjourn the Park and Recreation Commission meeting. The motion passed unanimously and the Park and Recreation Commission meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m. • Chairman • 8-21-79 -3-