PR 01/05/1982 - 31275�
CITY OF FRIDLEY ,
PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
MEETING
JANUARY 5, 1982
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairperson Kondrick called the January 5, 1982, Parks & Recreation Commission
rr�eting to order at 7:45 p.m.
- ROLL CALL:
Members Present: Dave Kondrick, Barbara Hughes, Jan Seeger, Dick Young
Members Absent: Dan Allen
Others Present: Charles Boudreau, Parks & Recreation Director
APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 1, 1981, PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES:
MOTION BY 1�Z. YOUNG� SECONDED BY MS. SEEGER, TO APPROVE THE DECEMBER 1, 1981,
^ PA,RKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES AS WRITTEN.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE� CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DTsCLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
The following items were added to the agenda:
Discussion of Article in Fridley Sun regarding Senior Citizen
Drop-in Center - Item a under "New Business"
Proposed 360-Unit Apartment Complex Adjacent to Springbrook Nature Center -
Item b under "New Business"
1982 Meeting Dates - Item a under "Other Business"
MOTION BY MS. HUGHES, SECONDED BY MR. YOUNG, TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
1. DIRECTOR'S REPORT:
a. Winter Program Information
.-.
� Dr. Boudreau stated the winter program bruchures have been mailed out.
Registration begins on Jan. 11. He stated they are looking for a
PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING, JANUARY 5, 1982 PAGE 2
large registration. He stated they will be using the Community Educa-
tion Center and available facilities to operate the winter program.
He stated he would keep the Cor�nission up to date on the progress of
the winter program.
Dr. Boudreau stated in the center of the winter program brochure is
information on the proposed community park complex.
b. Recreation Center Update
Dr. Boudreau stated he would like to give the Commission the dates of
the meetings that will be held regarding the recreation center:
Sat., Jan. 9-- Glenn Van Hulzen is trying to get together a group
_ of individua7s who will support the facility. He has
- extended an invitation to the Parks & Recreation
Commission. The meeting will be at Mr. Van Hulzen's
home, 901 Overton Dr., at 2:00 p.m.
Mon., Jan 12 -- The League of Women Voters wish to discuss the planned
�, facility. One meeting will be at 9:15 a.m. at the
home of Kay Kemper, and one meeting will be in the
evening at the home of Joyce Cellitti. He and/or �,,,\
Mr. Kirk will be in attendance at both of those meetings.
Dr. Boudreau will make a presentation to the Fridley
Lions Club at Raffaele's at 6:30 p.m.
_ Tues., Jan. 19- Dr. Boudreau will make a presentation to the Jaycees
at the VFW at 8:00 p.m.
Dr. Boudreau will make a presentation to the Friendly
Fridley Folk at 1:00 p.m. at the Fridley United Methodist
Church.
Mon., Jan. 19-- Dr. Boudreau will make a presentation to the FYSA at
the VFW at 8:30 p.m.
Dr. Boudreau stated they have scheduled four open public meetings to
be held at City Hall. These meeting dates will be posted on the
cor�nunity bulletin board. Those dates are:
Sat., Jan. 23 � at 1:00 p.m.
Tues., Jan. 26 at 7:00 p.m.
Thurs., Jan. 26 at 7:00 p.m.
Thurs., Feb. 4 at 7:00 p.m.
Dr. Boudreau stated he hoped a lot of people who are interested or wish
information will be able to attend one of these public meetings.
.�.
^ PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING, JANUARY 5, 1982 PAGE 3
Dr. Boudreau stated that in addition to the meetings, the city brochure
has gone out to every household in the City with information on the
recreation center and the referendum date. Cable TV is showing a one-
hour informational program on a discussion of the facility. This will
be shown four times. He stated they are trying to get the information
out as the Cotmnission has discussed and as the City Council has discussed
concerning the proposal. He stated that if the Comanission members had
any ideas or suggestions, he would be happy to hear them.
Mr. Kondrick stated the negative feedback he has been receiving is
basically about the fees which they feel are high. There is also some
concern about the economy which is understandable.
Mr. Young stated he has also received some negative feedback about the
fees.
Dr. Boudreau stated they are trying to speculate on 1984 dollars and
they are trying to demonstrate the fact that this facility is not going
to be free. There is going to be some kind of fee schedule. It is
going to cost money to operate and maintain the facility, and they hope
to raise 90% from fees and charges. Right now this fee schedule is in
keeping with other community centers, clubs, YMCA's, etc., that are
.-� offering the same services, He stated they will be following the format
in the brochure for their presentations. Their goal was and is to bring
the idea to the general populace of Fridley as fairly as possible and
give the people the opportunity to vote "yes" or "no".
Dr. Boudreau stated Staff is willing to meet with anyone or any group
that desires additional information.
Dr. Boudreau stated the recreation building model is on display this
week at the Fridley State Bank with the information sheet. He stated
they will be taking the model to most of the meetings.
2. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT:
Mr. Kondrick had nothing to report at this time.
3. tJEW BUSINESS:
a. Discussion of Article in Fridle Sun re ardin Senior Citizen
rop-in Center
Mr. Kondrick stated the senior citizens now have a senior citizen drop-
in center at the Community Education Center where the seniors can meet
on a full-time basis and have use of that r�om 100� of the time. He
stated he would like to know Dr. Boudreau's thoughts about the impact
^ this might have on the voting attitude of the seniors regarding the new
recreation 6uilding and the allocation of room in that bui7ding for
� senior citizens.. _ _ _ -
PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING, JANUARY 5, 1982 PAGE 4
Dr. Boudreau stated the room in the recreation building would be for
mu]ti-purpose--whether a senior lounge, a teen lounge, or just a
lounge. They are looking at space. He stated he and his staff feel
that many of the seniors who participate in city programs now will
continue to participate in more programs,plus continuing with the programs
they are in now. Right now those programs are being operated in several
different places, wherever there is space. They would probably continue
to offer pr.ograms at Village Green, because it is handy for the residents
of Village Green.
Dr. Boudreau stated that as far as the senior drop-in center, he felt
there is a need, but he did not feel this center was in competition with
what they would have at the new recreation building. Staff is looking
at it from a program standpoint. They are still going to offer services
to seniors in the community and continue to offer those services wherever
they can. If there is a new facility, he thought they would probably
enlarge the program offered to seniors.
Dr. Boudreau stated they were kind of upset about the newspaper article
which quoted Tony Lorbeski as saying there is nothing available for
seniors in the City of Fridley. He stated they fee7 they have come a
long way in five years in building a senior program that offers quite a �
number of activities for seniors.
Mr. Kondrick stated he had brought this up, because he thought it was
something that should be clarified in talking to various groups and
individuals about the new recreation center,
b. Proposed 360-Unit Apartment Complex Adjacent to Springbrook Nature Center
Ms. Seeger stated she was bringing this to the Commission's attention
because of her concern about its impact on the Springbrook Nature
Center--the visual impact, the impact of the amount of people that would
be on that site, the height of the buildings, the water level, the
quality of springs that run through the nature center, and vandalism.
She was also a little upset that this proposal never came before the
Parks & Recreation Commission because it is directly adjacent to Spring-
brook Nature Center.
Mr. Kondrick stated that when this proposal was before the Planning
Commission, there were some questions raised about whether-the water
levels or water tables would be tampered with. He stated Mr. Boardman
talked about the nature center and seemed very concerned about the
water problems in the area.
Ms. Hughes stated that this whole area shou7d probably remain
There are some areas in Fridley that should not be developed.
there is going to be a water shortage because of all the peat
being taken out.of these areas.- - - -
undeveloped.
Some day .-�
that is
PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING, JANUARY 5, 1982 PAGE 5
Ms. Seeger stated she thought there was going to be a much greater
impact than anyone has imagined, She thought the building was too
big for the area. She did not think the water table should be disturbed.
She did not like the idea of any rerouting of water or the idea of
using the nature center for a dam, because that has been discussed.
Mr. Young stated he remembered the Commission being very concerned about
the impact the shopping center complex in Coon Rapids would have on
the nature center because of water run-off. They should be even more
concerned about this deve7opment, because it is directly adjacent to
the nature center.
Ms. Seeger stated the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation just found
out abou�-this proposed development the latter part of December and
were astonished that it had already progressed through the Planning
" Commission and the City Council and that the tax increment district had
gone through public hearings.
_ Ms. Seeger stated another thing she objected to was Mr. Boardman's
�' recommendation that a bikeway path be put along the edge of the nature
center. This bikeway path could turn into an automatic motorcycle/
,.� vehicle trail. From the indication she got from most of the members
of the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation, they were also opposed to
the bikeway.
Ms. Hughes stated she is a strong advocate of more renta] units some-
where in the City of Fridley, but she did not feel those units should
- be in this area. She stated the Commission really needs more information
in terms of what the units look like, and they should express their con-
cern about the number of units proposed. She stated there is some value
to peat land and particularly to the water resources, particularly by
a nature park, which is a sensitive receptor of any kind of water.
Mr. Young stated that for the last three years, their minutes have
shown that they are concerned about water run-off in this area.
Ms. Hughes stated that with everything they know about water, they should
not be destroying water recharge and water retention areas, such as
peat bogs.
MOTION BY MS. SEEGER� SECONDED BY MS. HUGHES� TO EXPRESS TO THE CITY
COUNCIL THE FOLLOWING AREAS OF CONCERN REGARDING THE IMPACT THE
PROPOSED 360-UNIT APARTMENT BUZLDING COULD HAVE ON THE SPRINGBROOK
NATURE CENTER:
1. HEIGHT OF THE BUILDINGS
2. NUMBER OF UNITS PROPOSED
�
3. WATER QUALITY
4. LEVELS OF WATER AS RELATED TO THE SPRINGBROOK NATURE CENTER
` 5. VANDALISM
6. TAE BIKEWAY BETWEEN SPRINGBROOK NATURE CENTER AND THE APARTMENTS
THE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE TO THESE CONCERN5
� BEFORE ANY-FINAL ACTION IS TAKEN ON THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING, JANUARY 5, 1982 PAGE 6 ''�
Ms. Hughes urged the Cor�nission members to contact their councilman
and express their concerns,
Ms. Seeger stated that whenever a development is taking place near a
city park, she wished the Parks & Recreation Comnission could be
notified similar to the way residents are notified when a proposed
development affects them.
Ms. Seeger stated she is not objecting to housing, but this is not the
place for that housing.
" UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. Kondrick stated he would bring these concerns to the Planning
Cor�nission at their next meeting.
4. OTHER BUSINESS:
a. Meeting Dates for 1982
MOTION BY 1NR. YOUNG� SECONDED BY MS. SEEGER, TO APPROVE TXE FOLIAWING
1NEETING DATES FOR 1982: �
TUESDAY� JANUARY 5� 1982
TUESDAY� FEBRUARY 2� 1982
TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1982
TUESDAY� APRIL 6, 1982
TUESDAY� MAY 4� 1982
TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1982
TUESDAY, JULY 6, 1982
TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 1982
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7� 1982
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1982
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2� 1982
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1982
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION BY MS. SEEGER, SECONDED BY MR. YOUNG, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. UPON A
VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE� CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE JANUARY 5, 1982,
PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:34 P.M.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
� ^
Y SABA _
RECORDING SECRETARY