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PR 11/26/1973r. _. Y . . . . . . . . . . . MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION C�'NIISSIO{V MEETING, (dOVF1hi3ER Z�i, 1�, ��c ��� h4eeting was called to order at 7:37 p.m., by Chairman Blair. " MEb1BERS PRESENT: Blair, Stimmler, Caldwell, Wagar. n MEhfBERS EXCUSED: Peterson. OTfiERS PRESENT: Mr. � Mrs. Zeno Tomala, 4749 2nd Street NE, 55421, 560-1447,� Plymouth Square Skating Rink. Mr. �, Mrs. Stan Hillestad, 4709 Main Street NE, 5542I, 560-1427, Plymouth Square Skating Rink. Dan Sullivan, 1161 Regis Lane NE, 55432, 788�22g4, Storage building. Nasim Qureshi, Acting City Manager / City Engineer. � Jim West, Planning Department � Paul Brown, Director of Parks � Recreation. . Cathie Stordahl, Secretary to the Commission. PLYMOUTH SQUARE SKATING RINK�` . Four residents of the Ply�mouth Square Park area were present at the meeting to discuss the situation with the Burlington Northern Skating Rink and Plymouth Sq.uare Park. The problem is that Main Street divides the two areas, and it is extremely hazardous for the youngsters to cross the street. Warming Houses and rinks open.at 3:30 p.m., and the industries along Main Street release traffic between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. Burlington Northern Park has both a Hockey and general skating rink, and prior to that time, the axea had only a general skating rink at Plymouth Square Park. What the residents were looking for was a place where the younger children could go � to skate without crossing Main Street. They mentio.ned the fact that even though Burlington Northern provided a general skating rink, there was sti1l Hockey playing on the general skating rink and pucks fly over from the Hockey rink. � Mr. Brown said that the problem with Hockey on.the general skating rink was solely the responsibility of the Department and the warming house attendants, and that t}�is would be corrected. Mr. Blair asked if there would be lights this Season? Mr. Brown stated that it was a possibility, but that we were relying on volunteers,.and could not give a definite completion date at this time. Mr. Brown referxed to the meeting a year ago.wlien residents from the same neighbor- hood were present requesting a place for their youngsters to play Hockey. He said that the City had leased land from Burlington Northern Railroad, and now the residents are back requesting another rink at Plymouth Square. Plymouth Square Park. is not large enough to house both a Hockey and general skating rink. A lady in the audience stated that she had visited with some of the people who had attended the meeting a year ago, and it was their impression that the general skating , rink would remain at Plymouth Square Park and that only the Hockey rink would be located on the Burlington Northern site. She continued by asking if there had to be a warming house at each general skating rink? Mr. Brown said that we already have a couple of other sites which do not have warming houses. Mr. Stimmler stated that it is his opinion that a rink without a warming house is a rink which isn't used. Mr. Blair said that he thought we should give the rink a try on a one-year basis, to see if it would be used. b4rs. Caldwell asked if the rink was possible? Mr. Brown � said that is was possible, but it would.be costly, maintenance-wise. Mx. Stimmler asked if we were adding any other rinks (not to mention the one on 64� t9ay)? Mr. Brown said that there would be one on 642 l4ay and also at Rice Creek School. This year will be the first year Ruth Circle has had a warming house and lights. Minutes o£ Parks � Recreation Commission Meetin , November 26, 1973. Pa e 2 PLYN�UTH SQUARE RINK CC�N�T.): � MU710N by. Cu.e..dwe,e2, Seconded by S�imm�2e�c, �o �.2ood a n,t.nFz a� P.�ymou�h Sr�ucuce Pcvcft an a�ic.i,a,� ba�s.i,a �an ane ye.atc, bu,t no� �a o�evc a wcucrning hau�e. The Mafi,i.�vc cajvc,i.ed. General discussion followed with some comments on problems at warming houses. Mr. Stimmler said that he feels problems are not as great at Hockey rinks where there are €athers in and out of the buildings. There doesn't appear to be as much "goofing off". Other areas where it is just the skater and attendant, there are more problems. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN� Jim West was present on behalf of the Planning Department, to report on the present- ation of the Comprehensive Plan to the Planning Commission. He stated that they had two complaints. The first was that it was a good overall park plan,.but was not at all complete along the lines of recreation. The second complaint was that the bicycle plan was too extensive.. Mr. West said that he had reviewed the attendance figures since 1963 and had projected attendance for future development. Mr. Stimmler said that the initial reaction to the Plan was that the emphasis was too great on the bike trails, and not enough on Parks and Recreation. With the new additions, he felt that it sounded like a good plan. He went further to explain that he felt that projecting within the Plan could result in negative re�lections from the residents. It was generally felt that a swimming pool should be included in the Plan. Mr. Blair. n stated that he would like to see about three wading pools located within the City. He would place one in the northern area, one in the middle of town, and the third one south. - Nasim Qureshi was present to give some imput into the development of the Comprehensive Plan. He said that basically what they have tried to do is find out where there is a � shortage of facilities and work with the budget recommendations to complete the areas. They began by compiling maps of each park and detailing what presently is available. From there, they tried to determine how extensively the area is�used and how the neighborhood will be changing in the near future. The next step �aouZd be to project what ages will be using the parks and what purposes in the years to come. Mr. Blair said that he felt it would be useless to do any projecting of this kind. Mr. West said that they have used the figures they already have, but will have to do some projecting to determine just how extensively the areas should be developed for future use. They do have totals on each neighborhood throughout the City. By using their figures, they will be ahle to indicate the best type of facilities for each area and coordinate�this with the size of park lands available for use. He went on to say that they do not have any studies to tell them just what is desired, but through the use of the information they presently have, they can determine what the capabilities are. Mr. Stimmler recommended that the pxograms could be outlined, but as far as projecting attendance for any of them, we'd just be guessing and that wasn't what we were looking for. He felt that with this type of report, we would be opening ourselves up to a n lot of criticism. The Commissioners agreed that future installations could be detailed, but that no time-table should be included. Budgeting for the trails system was discusse� since it involves quite a sizeable amount of money. Mr. �Vest pointed out that much of the system is plotted along Minutes o� Parks � Recxeation Commission Meeting, Novembex 26, 1973. Page 3 COr9PREHENS IVE PLAN CCON �T) � � �re5ent development such as si,dewalks and streets. This type of development will cost approximately $140.00 per block and the system would include 20 to 30 miles of such trails, or about $16,000.00. The bulk of the expense would come from the Rice Greek trail and along the railroad tracks. Mr. iVagar asked what has happened to development of a park in the Middle East area? I�ir. Brown said that this was still pending. The requested changes will be made in the Plan and it will be presented for approva2 at the Commission meeting, before it's presented to the City Council. EQUIPMENT STORAGE BUILDING� Dan Sullivan was present on behalf of the Hockey Association of Fridley (H.A.F.}, the Fridley Youth Football Association (F.Y.F.A.), and the Babe Ruth Baseball League, looking to the City for advise and a possible site for storing equipment, off;season. Mr. Brown explained that he had written a letter to the FMC Corporation, located in Fridley, asking for the possible drafting and construction of a storage building to be located at Commons Park. The building would be large enough to house all of the equipment, and would also provide a permanent concession stand and press box for the football field, with controls for the newly donated socreboard. After speaking with them on several occasions, he heard, unofficially, that they plan to donate $100.00. Mr, Brown pointed out that the City does not have a place £or storing this equipment. n The only building we presently have is the old park garage, which is used for storage already and is full. � - Mr. Sullivan stated that the equipment is presently scattered. The F.Y.F.A. is using some space in Don Roux's warehouse located in New Brighton. The H.A.F. has their equipment in the basement of the new Blaine State Bank, and the Baseball League equipment is stored in homes and garages. Both A1r. Roux and the Bank have indicated that the space will not be available next season. With this scattered storage, they end up with a lot of damaged or lost equipment. The Commission discussed the asked Mr. Sullivan to survey the actual dimensions needed. LIGHTING FLAG POLES. size of the building which would be needed, and Mr. Blair the organizations and report back to the Commission �vith Mr. Brown briefed the Commission on his correspondence with Henry Peterson of the Fridley V.F.W., in respect to flying the flags on a regular basis and the discussion which took place regarding the possible lighting of the flag poles. The Commission agreed that lighting the poles would be too expensive and was out of the question. ADJOURNMENT� MOTI�N �v ad�aunn �he mee�i.rr.g c�,t 9:50 p.m. �1 The next regular meeting wiZl be held on Monday, December 17, 1973, at 7:30 p.m., in the community room of Fridley Civic Center. The meeting was rescheduled on the third Monday because of Christmas Eve. Res ectfully submitte , ���i:�u.cJ CATHIE STORDAHL, Secretary to the �ommission