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PR 06/23/1969MINUTES OF REGULAR PARKS AND RECREATION CO[�A�IISSION MEETING, JUNE 23, 1969 Meeting was called to order at 7:50 by Vice Chairman Cochran. MEMBERS PRESENT: Cochran, Blair, Stimmler � MEMBERS AB,SENT: Fitzpatrick, Donlin � OTHERS PRESENT:� R. L. Trowbridge, YMCA Site Committee,, 23rd � Jackson Street ,' L. W. Samuelson, Councilman - YMCA Site Committee Jim McChesney, YMCA Site Committee, 541 - 67th Avenue N.E. Herb Strait, YMCA Site Committee, 7635 Alden Way Dick Kemper, 6736 - 7th St. N.E. Citizens Committee - West Moore Lake (3) Citizens Committee - Meadowland Addition (5) Barb Hughes, Fridley Sun Shirley Behrens, Fridley Sun Paul Brown, Director of Parks and Recreation MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 26, 1969 MOTION by Blair, seconded by Stimmler, to accept the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 26, 1969. The Motion Carried. MINUTES �F THE SPECIAL MEETING OF JUNE 21, 1969 MOTION by Stimraler, seconded by Blair, to accept the Minutes of the Special Meeting of June ll, 1969. The Motion Carried. . PROPOSED YMCA BUILDING Vice Chairman Cochran asked for eomments from the other members of the Com- mission present at the meeting. Member Blair said that he was in favor of i1� the YMCA complex being built in Fridley but wasn't sure whether the West Moore Lake site was the best. Member Stimmler was interested in what other sites had been studied. Mr. Leonard Samuelson, City Councilman and also a member of the YMCA Site Committee stated that other sites located in Spring Lake P.ark, Columbia Heights and Coon Rapids were studied. They concluded that the sites in Spring Lake Park and Coon Rapids would not be as well , served and the site in Columbia Heights has since been sold for an apart- ment complex. They felt that the Y should be located close to Interstate 694 making it easily accessible to the East-West and the North-South traffic. The other sites located within Fridley that were studied and decided against were East Moore Lake which has two houses on the property and poor soil condi- tions which would add another $100,000 to`$200,000 to the price of the complex, the area South of the Columbia Arena which has a charter that states the Locke property is to be used by the City and Public for a park, and the area North of Osborne Road and West of University which is owned by Bob's Produce, would have no frontage available on,University Avenue. He also said that the Y organization will�build in an area only where there is great enthusiasm shown by the people, who such a building would serve, and that they have been work- ing at getting a Y complex in this area for approximately 14 months. The following statement was presented to the Commission by Mr. John Jensen, 6070 - 6th Street N.E.: Mr. Chairman and Honorable Members of the Park Commission: . _ I want to express my appreciation fqr your allowing me to make a ^ few brief comments to you this evening. I am a citizen, home owner, a taxpayer - and have been a resident of Fridley for past 12 ey ars, I have not been and am not active in any political faction - I re- gard the subject of m;r brief remarks "the West Moore Lake Park give away" ,: �: MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION CONllNISSION MEETING, JUNE 23, 1969 PAGE 2 to be something that cancerns all the citizens of Fridley and not any • faction or po�itical party. � I was thoroughly shocked when I read in the June 4th issue of the Fridley Sun - about the planned West Moore Lake Park Giveaway - I was � equally shocked when I found out that the dedicated members of the Park Commission had not even been consulted.about the plan - I have also been ' told that the city manager sits on the Y site selection or develogment committee. Does he agree with this action? Is it proper for a city manager, a paid public official, to sit down and in any way plan to give away city property. In my opinion this whole business has a bad odor and deserves further investigation. What is the logic of giving away any park land or city land for that matter - we are told we are below the recommended acreage for parks - we should have 260 acres, we have 220. If we give away 8 acres - we will be down to 212 acres - 48 acres below recommended standards. With a projected population of 50,000 we will need 500 acres of park land. The land is said to be worth 100,000 dollars - I suspect more. How can you people as Park Commissioners rubber stamp the council's action and vote to give away $100,000 worth of park land when last year were allowed only $6,000 to acquire new land. Gentlemen, this is rediculous and improper. Why has the city council at this late date decided to use you to lend an air of � legitima.cy to their give away. They are trying to transfer some heat to you and you don't deserve it. I also believe that Council should treat you with more respect. In my opinion the job of Park Commissioner should . be to expand and preserve and not give away Parks. I personally enjoy this Park area as a retreat. I take my boys on hikes in this area. I hadn't realized how much the schools used the area until I read the informative article in the June 18 issue of the Fridley .' Sun written by that gracious lady, Mrs. Metcalf. Let's be thankful for ^. Mrs. Metcalf. She will, I'm sure , in her own pleasant way make the City Fathers see the folly of their ways. � In addition to giving up the natural park area - I object to the added traffic the plan would create. I live on 61st Avenue - I resent being told I can tolerate more traffic - I notice the chief proponents of this give � away live in quiet seclusion near the river. Don't tell me to move to a quiet place because I can't afford it. The feeling of the people in the . neighborhood must be considered. You saw some of them marching outside tonight. Where should the Y.M.C.A. go? This is not for me to say - however there is land available near the Columbia lce Arena. If i is City land I would object to giving it away if it.could be used for a park. If it is private land let the Y.M.C.A. buyiit. If they can raise 1.5 million to build a building -'they can raise money to buy some land. � I have read there is 30 acres available in Spring Lake Park. If the Y.M.C.A. is looking ahead it would seem to me 30 acres would be better for future expansion rather then be crowded in on 6 or 8 acres with no possi- bility for expansion unless they drain Moore Lake. No matter, let me con- clude by saying I am obsolutely opposed to giving away the West Moore Lake Area�to the Y or anyone else. There have been some comments that this ,• opposition will die down. Don't count on it. Pursuing this plan can bring you more problems than you would wish to have. I resgectfully request that you recommend that the West Moore Lake Site be retained as Park Property , and not be given away to anyone, riow or in the future: � n ., MOTION by Blair, seconded by Stimml�r, that the Commission advise the Council to hold a minimum of two public hearings and after these are . held, the Commission will take a stand if they see fit. During the discussion of motion, the Vice Chairman stated that the Commission has not been asked for their opinion from the Council. , +�': �MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING, JUNE 23, 1969 PAGE 3 The Council is now at a standstill until programs and plans are submitted by the Y to them. Mr. R. L. Trowbridge, YMCA Representative, stated that. the Y is designing a program at this time. • � After discussing the motion,�it was voted on and The Motion Carried. Mr. Samuelson stated that he has received only 2 letters and 1 phone call _ opposing this building. He said that he was a promoter of the.defeated Park Bond Issue and has always promoted adequate funding and the purchasing of land for the Parks Department. He feels that the Council has been cooperative arid quite generous to the Park Department. Mr. Jim McChesney, YMCA Site Com- mittee, said that it is the intention of the YMCA to cooperate with a11 organ- izations. He felt that this bui�ding would serve as an excellent drop-in center for the Jr. High and Sr. High. Mrs. Connie Metcalf asked how does this site differ from others. Mr. Trowbridge answered that the programs would be geared to the site and with this site, lake activities would be offered. Mr. Samu�lson said that many studies have to be made: Area of service, economics of people, residential versus industrial, number of people served which in this case is 150,000, whiCh highways would serve area and also size of land available. He �_ informed Mr. Jensen that the Fridley City Manager, Mr. Ankrum, was not a member of the Site Committee; he only helped to gather the necessary criteria. Mr. McChesney asked what had been planned for this particular area in the park bond issue. The Direetor said that the preliminary planning is for a .passive recreational area. Mr. Cochran commented that this area is prime, irreplaceable park land, the last lake front area left in the City. He urged the people to contact their councilmen to make them aware of their feelings. MEADOWLANDS ADDITION AREA ^ A citizens committee from the Meadowland Addition area attended the meeting to find out what the immediate plans for this area are. The Director answered that the area will be graded and three pieces of apparatus p?us benches will be installed this summer. Mr. Ken McLellen, 6749 Kennaston Drive N.E., suggested � that if the area that this park would serve could be determined, perhaps these people could be assessed for the complete development of the park. Mr. Jim Holmes, 6700 Kennaston Drive N.E., asked what the estimate for the drainage would be. The Director said that the Engineering Department would have to determine this. Mr. Don Bratt, 6701 Overton Drive N.E., stated that the pur- pose of them being present at the meeting was to find out the immediate plans and he thanked the Commission for the information. Mr. Cochran suggested that they organize among themselves and work w�th the Director as to how much should be done each year. ' - . LETTERS . Letter to Dr. John Hanson, Superintendent of School District #14 from Mr. Deane Richardson, Chairman of the Department of Physical Education for Men, University of Minnesota, Subject: A plan to propose the increase of both the .• quality and quantity of sports participation of Fridley youth. MOTION by Blair, seconded by Stinunler, to receive ti►e letter. The Motion Carried. - � Letter to Commission from Mrs. Eleanor Philli�s, President of the League of _ Women Voters, Subject: League's concerns regarding the proposal for the YMCA facility. , MOTION by Blair, seconded by Stimmler, to receive the letter. The Motion Carried. , �'" MINU.TES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COi�NISSIflN MEETING, JUNE 23, 1969 PAGE 4 Letter to Commission from bir. Michael Farrell, Columbia Heights Jaycees, .� Subject: Request for the use of two fields at The Commons Park for the J.C. � State Tournament. � - � MOTION by Stimmler, seconded by Blair, to deny the Columbia Heights � • Jaycees request of June 23, 1969, to utilize Fridley Commons ball diamonds on Augus� 16th in order to conform to our established policy. . The Motion Carried. � �� Invitation to Commission from Mr. John Rossi, Colwmbia Arena Coordinator, Subject: invitation to attend grand opening events and activities on Sunday, June 29th. MOTION by Blair, seconded by Stimmler, to receive the invitation. The Motion Carried. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 P.M. T�e next Regular Meeting will be held on Monday, July 28, 1969, in the Conference Room of the Civic Center at 7:30 P.M. . Respectfully submitted, - G��?��G:�-l-C.� ��j��G� " ��d� Mary Lou Erickson, Secretary to the Commission n / !. � . . � � . k� � . 0