Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010 09-21 PRM MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION SEPTEMBER 21, 2010 COMMUNITY ROOM #221, COMMUNITY CENTER CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Sorenson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Chair Sorenson, Commissioners Ebert, Lee, and Shinnick were present. Commissioners Peterson, Russell and Starling were absent and excused. Also present were Centennial Committee representatives Keith Lester and Janis Blumentals, City Council Liaison Marl. Yelich and Community Activities, Recreation and Services Director Jim Glasoe. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Sorenson asked Council Liaison Yelich if the Council Liaison Report could be moved to later in the agenda, to allow the Centennial Committee requests to be heard first. Councilmember Yelich agreed. By consensus, the agenda was approved as amended. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — May 18, 2010 There was a motion by Commissioner Shinnnick, seconded by Commissioner Ebert to approve the minutes of the May 18, 2010 Park & Recreation Commission as presented. The motion was passed unanimously. CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE REQUESTS Renaming of Central Park to Centennial Park Chair Sorenson reported that the City Council, at their work session on August 9 ", had heard a number of requests from the Centennial Committee and had referred two to the Park and Recreation Commission. Chair Sorenson noted the first was to provide a recommendation on the request for a name change of Central Park to Centennial Park. The second was the City Council favors the construction of a privately funded bandshell and wanted the Commission's recommendation regarding a suitable location in Central Park. Chair Sorenson asked Centennial Committee Chair Keith Lester to speak to the first request. Mr. Lester indicated the Centennial Committee was requesting the City consider renaming Central Park to Centennial Park, as it would be a tangible way to commemorate this once in a lifetime occasion. Chair Sorenson asked for Commission input and added that Commissioner Peterson was not able to be in attendance at the meeting, but had forwarded his thoughts. Chair Sorenson noted that Commissioner Peterson wanted "to see healthy dialogue on the cost issues involved in the proposed name change, along with the rationale for that expense (what benefit are we really going to be receiving? And what cost are we really willing to pay for that benefit ?)" Commissioner Peterson also wanted to know if there had been any thought to funding of programs to use the bandshell? CARS Director Glasoe reviewed the history of name changes for Brooklyn Center parks and the anticipated costs of the name change, noting the largest expense would likely be signage. Mr. Glasoe noted the main park signs are made of recycled plastic and were purchased in 2007 at a cost of $1,650.00. Mr. Glasoe estimated adding a new sign at Central Park in 2010 would be approximately $1,800.00. Mr. Glasoe pointed out the current sign was purchased with grant funds from the Hennepin recycling Group, which provides annual fluids for purchase of goods made from recycled materials. Mr. Glasoe added that, similar grant fiends are still available for 2010 and are budgeted in 2011. CARS Director Glasoe reported that staff had also taken a look at costs associated with changing any printed materials and website, but noted past practice was that these changes were made in the course of normal updates, and as a result, costs were minimal. Chair Sorenson noted an issue related to park name changes, specifically regarding how names are displayed on the internet and on other organizations maps. As examples, Chair Sorenson noted Garden City, Central and Twin Lake Park were wrong on various online map software sites. Software such as Bing snaps, Google maps, MapPoint etc. have some names wrong. Chair Sorenson continued that even Three Rivers Park District has the old name for Twin Lake Park on their Regional Park Trail map. Some discussion ensued regarding finding out how to correct this information. Commissioners discussed the proposed name change at length; with most noting they were supportive of the request. After additional discussion, there was a motion by Commissioner Shinnick, seconded by Commissioner Ebert recommending to the City Council that Central Park and Central Park West be renamed as Centemnial Park. The motion passed unanimously. Central Park Bandshell Location Chair Sorenson indicated the second item to be discussed was the location of a bandshell at Central Park. Chair Sorenson noted the City Council had already voiced support for a privately funded bandshell at Central, but was looking for the Commission to provide guidance on the location. Centennial Chair Lester introduced Janis Blumentals, who he noted had agreed to provide architectural design services for the Centennial Committee pro bono. Mr. Blumentals shared with the Commission potential criteria for selecting a bandshell location. These included visibility, access and parking, orientation, sound, seating, site drainage, utilities and lighting. CARS Director Glasoe provided an aerial map of Central Park and noted four locations that staff had identified as options. The Commission discussed each of the options at length. After considerable discussion there was a motion made by Commissioner Shinnick, seconded by Commissioner Ebert that current site of the portable "Snowmobile" is identified as the preferred location for a permanent bandshell. The motion passed unanimously. Following the motion on location, there was some discussion about how programming and maintenance expenses related to the bandshell might become an issue once it is constructed. CARS Director Glasoe reported that Mr. Blumentals and the Centennial Committee were looking for Commission involvement in the ongoing design of the bandshell. Mr. Glasoe indicated that he was looking for a Commission member to be part of the "building committee ". Commissioner Lee indicated she could assist if the meetings were held during the day. Commissioner Ebert offered her assistance, but only if the meetings were held after 5:30 p.m. Mr. Blumentals is to contact the commission chair with the meeting schedule. COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT Councilmember Yelich reported he was happy to announce the groundbreaking for the new FBI headquarters had taken place in August and that construction was underway. Councilmember Yelich indicated the City Council had established the tax levy increase for 2011 at 2.42 %, noting most of the increase would be borne by cominercial properties. Councilmember Yelich added that, because of decrease in residential property valuations, this increase would amount to a net city tax decrease for the median household in Brooklyn Center. Chair Sorenson asked about the status of televising the City Council work sessions. Councilmember Yelich responded that the City Council had discussed the idea, but that a majority of the Council did not favor televising the work sessions. TOBACCO -FREE YOUTH RECREATION- MEETING REQUEST CARS Director Glasoe shared a letter from the Tobacco -Free Youth Recreation Program requesting a meeting with the Commission to discuss their program. Mr. Glasoe noted that the Commission had worked with the Tobacco -Free Youth Program in 2004, ultimately recommending to the City Council a Resolution designating certain park areas as "smoke free during youth programs. Mr. Glasoe added that the group had offered to provide signs indicating that the areas were smoke -free, but the Commission was not comfortable with the sign verbiage. Mr. Glasoe noted the Commission had identified alternate language, but the issue had not gone forward, as no funding source had been identified. After some discussion, the consensus of the Commission was to have CARS Director Glasoe invite representatives of the Tobacco -Free Youth Recreation Program to the October meeting. 2011 -2025 CAPTIAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM- Planned Park Improvements CARS Director Glasoe reviewed the proposed 2011 -2025 Capital Improvements Plan, noting that only a few changes had been made since last year's plan. Mr. Glasoe noted those changes were included in yellow on the CIP spread sheets. Mr. Glasoe noted the most significant change for the planned park improvements was moving the West Palmer Lake shelter building ahead of the Northport shelter in the schedule of improvements. CARS Director Glasoe added that he would be bringing the item back to the Commission in October for a recommendation. Chair Sorenson asked about the moving of the Evergreen Park basketball court, as it was not included in the plan. CARS Director Glasoe indicated he would speak to the Director of Public Works regarding the costs associated with moving the court and would report back at the October meeting. ADOPT -A -PARK CLEAN -UP Chair Sorenson noted that the Commission would need to clean Marlin and Lakeside Parks one last time this fall as part of their Adopt -A -Park commitment. Chair Sorenson asked if any of the Commissioners would be available on Tuesday, September 28 at 6:00 p.m. to conduct the cleaning. All available Commissioners were asked to meet at Marlin Park at 6:00 p.m. on the 28 ri, SET NEXT MEETING DATE By consensus, the next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission was set for October 19, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. in Community Room #221 of the Brooklyn Center Community Center. MEETING ADJOURNED Commissioner Shinnick made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Lee to adjourn the meeting at 8:21 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.