Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978 01-17 PRM• 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 JANUARY 17, 1978 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 7:32 p.m. Roll Call Chairman Johnson, Commissioners Hickman, Nyquist, Schroeder and Velasco. Also present were Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel,. Landscape Technician Judy Johnson and Administrative Assistant Brad Hoffman, Chairman Johnson noted -that Commissioners Dawn Kiefer and Don Bogle were excused Approval of Minutes Chairman Johnson requested that the minutes be December 20, 1977 amended to reflect that both Commissioners Kiefer and Bogle had been excused. Commissioner Schroeder moved and Commissioner Velasco seconded a motion to accept the minutes of the December 20, 1977 Park and Recreation Commission meeting as amended. The motion was passed unanimously. - Councilman Arrival Councilman Kuefler arrived at 7:35 p.m. Staff Reports - LAIVCON Grants The- Secretary gave the Park and Recreation Commission - a brief review of the current status of the two (2) LAWCON grants being prepared by the City of Brooklyn Center. He noted that the City had received approval letters from Hennepin County indicating that the proposed projects were not in conflict with the plans of the Hennepin County Park Reserve. Palmer Lake Walkway The next agenda item was a report from Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel relative to the com- pletion of a sidewalk between Xerxes Avenue North and Oliver Avenue North along '69th Avenue North. Park and Recreation Director Hagel noted that in his discussion on the matter with the City Engineer, the sidewalk could be constructed this coming summer. The City Engineer had indicated that if the Commission desired the construction of the sidewalk they should pass a recommendation for the project which would -1- 1-17-78 also recognize the safety factors involved. Park and Recreation Director Hagel described the proposed route along 69th Avenue North adding that the walkway would be of a bituminous material. Following a brief discussion, Commissioner Velasco inquired if the project would be funded out of the City's budget. Councilman Kuefler answered in the affirmative adding that State aid funds would probably be used for projects of this nature. Commissioner Velasco stated that he felt the project would be a worthwhile effort on the part of the City. Commissioner Schroeder moved that the following recom- mendation be forwarded to the City Council: In order to provide a safe passageway between East and West Palmer Lake parks and to alleviate the hazards of walking along 69th Avenue North, that the sidewalk along 69th Avenue North be completed between Xerxes Avenue North and Oliver Avenue North. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hickman and the Park and Recreation Commission passed the recom- mendation unanimously. The Parks Capital Improvement Program was the third agenda item. Park and Recreation Director Hagel reviewed the pro- gram with the Commission noting that it was a required submission document for, the LAWCON grants being prepared by the City. Commissioner Schroeder inquired why neighbor- hood parks were in the second year given their first priority rating amongst the Commissioners. Director Hagel replied that the Capital Improvement Program reflected the City's needs for the LAWCON program since funding was available in those areas this year. He further indicated that con- struction on any of the proposed priorities of the Commission could not begin until year two of the program. Chairman Johnson inquired when the Capital Improvement Program would be before the City Council. The Secretary noted that the Capital Improvement Program for the parks would be before the Council at the next meeting which was January 23, 1978. Councilman Kuefler inquired as to how rigid the time- table was as spelled out in the Capital Improvement Program. Park and Recreation Director Nagel replied that it was not rigid, but that it served only as a guide and was always subject to change. Councilman Kuefler inquired when we could expect funding from LAWCON grants. Again, _Park and Recreation, Director Hagel replied that they anticipated funding in the early spring. Commissioner Schroeder inquired how the Commission can resolve this conflict between the five year program and the priorities established by the Commission. Councilman Kuefler replied that by comparing the time con- straints for the LAWCON grants and the earliest possible i Parks Capital Improvement Program • 0 1-17-78 -2- start up for construction work in neighborhood parks that the two do not conflict. He also noted that he felt that it was important that we obtain this money • to start work towards the completion of the priorities as established by the Commission. Following further discussion, Commissioner Hickman moved that the Park and Recreation Five Year Capital .Improvement Program be recommended for adoption. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Vela sco . The Commission voted unanimously to accept the motion. Twin Lake Beach Alternatives -The next item discussed was the Twin Lake Beach area. Councilman Kuefler stated that there seems to be two (2) alternatives for the area. First, if the area is to remain as a beach, then the City would pursue the matter to obtain land for a parking lot from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. He noted that the policy of not allowing the use of right-of-way land has been inconsistently applied, Federal Lumber, - across from the site, was an example of such incon- sistency. Councilman Kuefler noted however that -if a parking lot were built to supplement the parking at Twin Lake Beach, it would in all probability compound the problem by attracting more people to the City's • beach. He further indicated that the addition of the parking lot would not alleviate the parking problems being experienced by residents around the Twin Labe Beach area. The second alternative would be to literally remove the beach, sodding it over and providing neighborhood park types of equipment in that area. He noted that this would be done at the start of the swimming season in order to disrupt people's habits of using that area as a swimming beach. Following a brief discussion, Councilman Kuefler requested that the two alternatives be taken to the neighborhood advisory committees and discussed and be brought back to the Commission for next month's agenda in the form of a public meeting. Park Bond Planning The Secretary indicated to the Park and Recreation Commission that this would be an appropriate time to start planning strategies for a park bonding issue. He noted that at the December Park and Recreation Com- mission meeting that they had been asked to assign priorities to different bonding levels relative to materials t they had received at that meeting. He further indicated that the staff report would be available to them at the -3- 1-17-78 March meeting and that they should be Prepared to immediately act on the recommendations of the staff. Councilman Kuefler emphasized that he thought this was an appropriate activity for the Commission at this time and that this item would be on the next Park and Recreation Commission agenda. Chairman Johnson reviewed the memo on hockey arenas from Hockey Arenas Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel from the December meeting. He noted that the Commission had reached a con- census of giving a covered hockey arena a low priority on any park bonding issue. He inquired if this was still the consensus of the Commission. Following a brief discussion, the Commission again reaffirmed its low priority rating for hockey arenas. Chairman Johnson then reviewed the positions taken by the Com- Centralized vs Decen- mission relative to centralized and decentralized tennis courts. tralized Tennis Courts He reviewed the advantage of centralized tennis courts as being the economies of construction, the ability to hold tourna- ments and the fact that tennis players tend to like to play near other tennis players. Chairman Johnson noted that decentralized tennis courts provide the advantage of being readily accessible to neighborhoods, they provide more privacy, they address them- selves to transportation considerations and that children do not need to cross major intersections of streets to play at them. Following Chairman Johnson's review of the issue, Commissioner, • Velasco noted that the Commission had adopted a mixed' position on the tennis court issue. Following'a brief discussion, the C'- mission reaffirmed its committment to that mixture of both centralized and decentralized tennis courts. Councilman Kuefler reported to the Commission that the lighted tennis courts at the Brooklyn Center High School were being used very heavily. He noted that officials at the high school reported that the lighted tennis courts were paying for themselves at this time and were happy with that fact. Chuck Abrams of Park Service Area 11 (7218 Newton Avenue North) Other Business inquired of the Commission from the audience why the minutes of the Commission meeting could not be printed in the paper. Councilman Kuefler replied that` the only reason was that of cost. Commissioner Velasco inquired as to the training received by skating rink attendants. Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel briefly reviewed the training given each of the attendants and noted the problems of keeping good attendants at the present pay scale. Chairman Johnson inquired as to the age requirements and Park and Recreation Director Hagel replied that generally they try to hire college students only. 1-17-78 -4- Adjournment 40 Motion by Commissioner Schroeder to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Hickman. The motion was passed unanimously and the Park and Recreation Commission meeting was adjourned at 9:28 p.m. Chairman • 4 • -5- 1-17-78