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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 01-20 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 JANUARY 20, 2015 COMMUNITY ROOM #221, COMMUNITY CENTER CALL TO ORDER Chair Sorenson called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. ROLL CALL Chair Sorenson and Commissioners Bonovsky, Dalton, Ebert, Russell, Shinnick and Witalka were present. Also present were City Council Liaison April Graves and Community Activities, Recreation & Services Director Jim Glasoe. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Sorenson asked if there were any additions or changes to the proposed agenda. By consensus, the agenda was approved as presented. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – November 18, 2014 There was a motion by Commissioner Witalka, seconded by Commissioner Russell to approve the minutes of the November 18, 2014 meeting of the Park & Recreation Commission as presented. The motion passed unanimously. COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT Chair Sorenson introduced Councilmember April Graves as the new Liaison to the Commission. Councilmember Graves indicated that, as a result of her brief tenure on the Council, she did not have any items to report at this time, but did provide information on her background. 2015 AGENDA ITEMS Chair Sorenson asked Commissioners for any agenda items they would like discussed in 2015. Commissioner Dalton suggested an item on park beautification to support the recent emphasis on recycling and trash pickup. Chair Sorenson noted the need for additional trash receptacles and seating near the trails. Chair Sorenson asked that Commissioners continue to identify and forward agenda items to CARS Director Glasoe throughout the year. 2014 NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEY RESULTS Cars Director Glasoe shared the results of the 2014 neighborhood meeting surveys, noting the results are not statistically significant, meaning there was not a large enough of sampling and the group was not randomly selected. Mr. Glasoe added, this meant the results are not statistically reliable. CARS Director Glasoe noted they should be viewed as a “snap shot” of the opinions for the residents attending the meetings. Mr. Glasoe added he still felt we could glean some important information from the results. Regarding whether residents feel the parks and trails are clean and attractive: 100% of the Firehouse residents agree, or somewhat agree that the parks are clean and attractive 92% of the Northport residents feel the same, but with more agreeing somewhat rather than agreeing. 92% of the Willow Lane residents agree or somewhat agree, but 64% agreed. Of note, 8% of respondents disagreed. 88% percent of the residents of the Lions neighborhood agreed, or somewhat agreed, with the vote being split 44% each. Also of note, 11% of respondents disagreed. Regarding park usage, there was a fairly wide range of habits. In the Firehouse and Lions neighborhoods 61% of the respondents had not visited the park in the last week. Whereas in Willow Lane Park neighborhood, 52% had not visited the park and at Northport, only 29% had not visited the park. For Northport, 71% had used the park in the last week and 40% had done so more than three times during that week. An impressive 10% had used the park every day. CARS Director Glasoe noted the survey would be conducted again at the 2015 neighborhood meetings and asked if the Commission wanted any additional questions added. Commissioners discussed adding a question regarding which amenities park users preferred and what items they might like added. A possible question regarding signage needs was also discussed. Councilmember Graves indicated she would like to see a question regarding how we can better build community. BROOKLYN BRIDGE ALLIANCE- MOBILE RECREATION GRANT CARS Director Glasoe reported the grant application that had been submitted by the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth for mobile recreation vehicles had not been funded. Mr. Glasoe indicated the grant review committee had scored the application very high on the collaborative efforts, but lower on the plan to integrate into the current service delivery. Mr. Glasoe reported the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance, along with the cities of Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park would work to develop a formalized plan that is integrated into the 2016 budget requests, and would resubmit the application in October 2015. MERMORIAL AMPHITHEATER UPDATE CARS Director Glasoe reported that the Centennial Civic & Veterans Memorial Amphitheater project was back out for public bids, with a planned bid opening of February 5th. Mr. Glasoe noted the intent was to bring the item to the City Council at their February 23rd meeting. PARKS TOBACCO FREE CARS Director Glasoe reported that the City Council was still intending to a hold a work session with the Parks and Rec Commission and the Brooklyns Youth Council to discuss the tobacco and tobacco related product ban in the parks, but no date had been set. SET NEXT MEETING DATE By consensus, the next meeting of the Park and Recreation Commission was set for February 17th, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. MEETING ADJOURNED A motion was made by Commissioner Witalka, seconded by Commissioner Dalton to adjourn the meeting at 7:48 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.