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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-16 . CITY OF LAKEVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES DECEMBER 16, 1992. ITEM 1. -Call to order. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Chairman Illa. ITEM 2. -Roll call. Present were L. Lulf, J. Larson, K. Illa, G. Grenz, A. Raymond and P. Messinger. Committee member Lovelace called and was not available for the meeting. Park and Recreation Director Steve Michaud was also present. Also present• were several members from youth and adult athletic organizations m Lakeville. ITEM 3. -Approval of December 2, 1992 Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee minutes. There were no changes and the minutes- were approved. ITEM 4. -Citizen comments. There were no citizens present concerning items not on the agenda. ITEM 5. -Staff reports. Staff reports were deferred to later in the meeting. ITEM 6. -Presentations by various youth and adult sport program • representatives concerning present and future facility needs. First was the Lakeville Baseball Association (LBA) represented by Tom Kuzniar and Clem Czerniak. Mr. Kuzniar handed out a detailed report concerning District #194 demographics and a series of predictions and estimates of current trends in the Lakeville Baseball Association programs. Based on the demographer's numbers, LBA projections are based on 60% of bo s or 50% of total number of children participate in their ro ram. ~rojected annual growth rate for 1990-1994 is 13 percent• for ~99~-1997, 9 to 10 percent; for 1998-2000, 7 to 8 percent; anc~ for 2000-2003, 5 to 6 percent. In 1992 there were approximately 805 children in grades 1 through 4 in their .program. Mr. Kuzniar stated there is strong retention of youth participation in the program between grades K through 6 and a, significant dropoff in the numbers at the 7 - 9 grade level with a retention rate of 35 % and only 10 % retention from the original group at the 10 - 12 grade group. Average number of children per team is 13. The historical standard for the last four years for Lakeville teams has been 13 children per team. Mr. Kuzniar further explained that with improved facilities and improved organizational structure, they predict a retention rate for baseball will increase significantly over the next several years in grades 7 through 12. With this in mind, he predicts the need for larger, full size baseball fields to increase and the potential for significant growth in the adult softball pro rams. After a detailed discussion of several graphs, and statistical information, Mr. Kuzniar presented the following scenario to meet their existing needs: • Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes December 16, 1992 Page -2- Mr. Kuzniar is suggesting the City purchase 20 acres at a site south of town outside the urban service area and construct several fields specifically geared to youth baseball programs. He believes a major individual site the leagues can call home and be proud of and which would be conducive to draw major tournaments, would be far more advantageous than developing the presently owned Quigley-Sime site. In addition, it was sugggested that mixing youth pro rams with adult programs could cause problems and is not recommended. They cited the drinking of alcoholic beverages, as a concern and they cited the maximum development of Quigley-Sime property may not meet their immediate needs. Staff informed them that the Quigley-Sime property is ph sicaliy separated from Aronson Park activities by several hundred yards; that the mixing of adult and youth athletics at Aronson Park has never been a problem the past fifteen years; and there has never been a complaint concerning drinking by adult leagues affecting youth activities at Aronson Park. Staff further stated that if drinking m Aronson Park or any other park in Lakeville was a problem, staff .would recommend to City Council that drinking in all parks be eliminated. Staff further stated that he felt it would be a difficult sell to the • Lakeville City Council not to develop Quigley-Sime property for youth athletics. Staff explained that extensive pplanning was now underway for a joint school/park complex with School District 194 at their next proposed elementary school site. This articular site, if approved, would have anywhere from four to six fields, most likely with two skinned infields, with all fields dedicated towards youth baseball. The Park Board has also identified property south of the Cherry View Elementary School as a second school/park complex dedicated to youth baseball. This would add up to four additional baseball fields. Finally, staff reiterated the five softball/baseball fields presently constructed at the new high school which will also be coming on line in the near future. In summary, within the next two to three years, Quigley-Sime, with up to four fields, a proposed new elementary school/park complex with up to six fields the new high school with five new fields, and a proposed athletic complex south of the Cherry View Elementary School with an additional four fields will add a total of 19 potential new fields being planned for youth program expansion. There was also a concern about the expansion of adult programs. Staff suggested that as additional. youth complexes are built, youth play would be relocated from Aronson Park and adult leagues would expand at Aronson Park. Additional lighting could be added to Aronson Park to continue to meet the needs of the adult programs in the future. The next speaker was Guy Larsen representing the Girls Fastpitch League. Mr. Larsen has worked, eight years m the league as a coach and director, . and is now the commissioner. Several years ago this was a slower growing sport but in recent years it has shown significant growth. The 1992 • Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes December 16, 1992 Page -3- program had 500 ggirls enrolled in the sport. Mr. Larsen thinks the present rate of growth will double the number of participants by the, year 2000. Mr. Larsen states that his average number of players per team is 15, which is far above the normal standard. At present they practice two to three teams per field and he believes the lack of fields and the present congestion has caused lesser growth than. exists toda Mr. Larsen stated he could use an additional two fields at both the I~6 level and the 7-11 grade, level. He also wishes that they could lower their number of participants to 13 er team. Mr. Larsen stated kids have been cut at the 7-11 grade levels because of excessive numbers. He believes that a field per year for the next ten years would .appropriately meet his needs. Mr. Larsen also agrees that a si~nggle site specifically for the Fastpitch girls program would be desirable: Mr. Larsen also expressed his appreciation for all the City has done in accommodating his needs to date. Scott Morse was the next speaker representing Minnesota Youth Baseball Association (MYBA). This is a travelling .league of 7th, 8th and 9th graders. The travelling league competes. with other metropolitan cities. Scott started his, presentation by expressing the values of baseball and youth, whereby it gives youth an alternative activity to wandering streets and getting into trouble. He stated their schedules are seven days a week • with many weekend tournaments. He also stated that there is a higher commitment and level of maintenance standards required at this age group due to the competitiveness of the league. Field requirements, especially grooming, are very important when considering level of play. In 1992 they had three 13-year old teams, one 14-year old team, one 15-year old team and four teams at the A and B level, for a total of nine teams. They pplay at Foxborough Park and other metro locations. He mentioned that field #2 at Foxborough is a safety hazard for the older kids because of the shortness of the outfield and the new fence that was installed. Staff explained that the field was developed according to standards and available space and a fence was installed to prevent the balls from going into the 11 tland area. Staff further explained that older youth should not be a owed to play on this field if it is a safety hazard. Scott explained fat in 1991 there was a loss of 501 of the players due to an increase in ees. This was adjusted . m 1992 due to sponsorship and the numbers increased once again. With this change, they are expecting at least one additional team in 1993. He also went on to explain that teams of 13-year olds need specialized standards, different from other Little League needs. He explained that North Park is too big for the 13-year olds,. and Aronson Park is too small. He also suggested, ,that lights on Little League fields would greatly increase the playability and lessen the amount of additional fields. Staff explained that it is not within the capabilities of the City of Lakeville to design and build s ecialized field dimensions for every age groin of • youth baseball. Staffp suggested that every effort needs to be made to standardize a field that can be mass developed that would service the most youth at one time.. Staff and the LBA will put special efforts into • Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes December 16, 1992 Page -4- standardizing adesign that would best meet the needs of the majority of baseball players in Lakeville. This is an especially important, task considering. the number of fields that are being proposed to come on line in the next three to four years. Staff also expplained the additional burden ut on the maintenance department wit1~ the impending expansion andp development of athletic facilities. Staff stated that the maintenance department is Just barely maintaining all the facilities existing in the system today. The addition of several more softball and baseball fields will certainly require additional staff and equipment, which impacts the general fund of the City of Lakeville. Maintenance capabilities by the City and the level of standards required are important issues that need to be discussed. At this time, . Mr. Kuzniar requested an update concerning a joint powers agreement with Lakeville School District and the City of Lakeville concerning maintenance of fields for 1993. Staff informed him that nothin had been done to date. He was under the assum tion that the schoo~ district was going to make a proposal which has not ~een received. Staff also stated that based on existing budgetary allocations, the park maintenance department does not have the capability or the personnel to . take on an additional 13 to 18 school facilities. Maynard Anderson was the next speaker, representing the Lakeville VFW Baseball team. The VFW team is comparable to Mickey Mantle Baseball level play. There are approximately 15 players per team and they presently play Tuesday, Friday and Sundays. The VFW team also coordinates field usage with the American Legion team, which is coached and run by Mark Zeise. In addition to these upper level teams, we also have two adult baseball teams playing . at North Park on Sunday afternoons. Ma nard Anderson deferred his rime to a more detailed description of the VF~ and Legion team to Mark Zeise. The next scheduled speaker was Darrell Buerke, president of the Men's Softball Association. Darrell suggested that 25 % of all youth in the roggram now will probably continue their play in later years with the Men's ~oftball Association. They presently pplay Tuesday through Friday and are usl g fields #1-4 at Aronson Park. In 1992 with two lrt fields they were ab a to handle 36 teams, but turned down 12 additional new teams. Darrell explained that although lighting fields #3 and 4 will help their league accommodate additional play, their expansion will be minimal and that teams will also be turned away m 1993. Darrell suggested that several additional teams could be allowed into the league if they were allowed to play beyond 10:00 PM. Darrell also stated they have been actively involved in contributing thousands of dollars to the development of Aronson Park and have committed to pa in~~gg for half the lights at Aronson Park which are now being installed on fields #3 and #4. • Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes December 16, 1992 Page -5- The next speaker was Mark Zeise, present Lakeville High School Varsit coach. Mark and has been involved in Lakeville baseball since 1984. He also coaches the American Legion team. The American Legion team has 15 to 18 pla ers per team with layers being ages 16 to 18 years old. They .practice ~uesdays and Thursdayys alternating with the Lakeville VFW team utilizing the Lakeville High School baseball field. They are presently attempting to structure their upper age, group baseball program by estabrshing a Senior Babe Ruth league, which would divide the 16 through 18 year old players in the following manner: The high school B team 16-year olds would play on the VFW team; the junior, varsity team, 17-year olds, would play on the Senior Babe Ruth league which may include some mixing of age groups depending on playing ability; and the present varsity high school team, generally 18-year olds, would play on the Legion team. Although the aforementioned VFW, Senior Babe Ruth, and Legion teams have not seen significant growth over the past years Mr. Zeise is predicting that the .present growth rate in youth baseball wi~l certainly push more and more kids into the upper league play, forcing additional teams and additional facilities. r. Zeise also discussed the maintenance, or the lack of maintenance, at the present school facilities. Mr. Zeise also explained that Lakeville may someday have two high schools, .which would certainly have their own baseball complex: Basic needs for Legion and VFW teams are movable batting cages, pitching machines and electricity, ractice bullpen mounds, concession stand, fenced fields and dugouts. ~hese are basic standards and facilities that are nonexistent on many of Lakeville's baseball fields. Terryy Langinger, representing the Rosemount Area Athletic Association, (RAAA) was the next presenter. Mr. Langinger presented a check to staff in tpphe amount of $750 to assist in the recently developed Parkview ballfield RA~AA~ Mr. Langinger stated that in 1992 there were 561 youth in the pro ram that are Lakeville residents. He stated further that in 1991 there were ~51 youth, which indicated a 24 % increase. At present the RAAA is experiencing 15-16% annual growth. At the present rate that Lakeville participants are growing in Lakeville, and using the same statistics presented by the LAA, 561 participants would calculate to 40 teams requiring numerous fields. Terry was very coin limentary with , respects to the City's response to building the 4-plex ofpfields at Parkview school. He stated that the four fields at Parkview, the field at Bunker Hill, and the field at Dodd Park will greatly enhance their program with direct benefits to Lakeville residents who can now participate in the program and remain in their community. Terry also stated that the RAAA presently has an agreement with the City of Rosemount for maintenance on school fields whereby the school, the City and the RAAA have a 3-way split , in funding the cost of • maintenance. Staff will make inquiries concerning this arrangement and report back to the committee. • Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes December 16, 1992 Page -6- At this time Pat Messinger stated that there ma be some merit in the LAA's proposal to purchase a 20-acre site south o~ Lakeville for a specialized baseball complex. Pat thought there may be a problem of mixing youth and adults between Qui ley-Sime and Aronson Park. She also stated there are many advantages for a single specialized athletic facility with respects to ocation, tournaments, etc. At this time the presenters thanked the Parks and Recreation Committee for the opportunity to present their state of the sport addresses. The Parks and Recreation Committee thanked them for their efforts and time in expressing their needs. The committee then returned to .the agenda Item 5, at which time staff, due to the lateness of the hour, deferred his report to a later date. ITEM 7. -Review of updated draft of Park Dedication Ordinance. Staff indicated that Roger. Knutson had made several text changes, strengthening the language in the overall document. Staff reiterated the four major changes m the document. They were .the strengthening of 10-4-8.B, which refers to the condition of lands dedicated to the Cit as park; the increase of park dedication fees per. dwelling unit from $5.00 to $650.00; the addition of a requirement making developers responsible to • pay 5/8 of the construction of trails along their subdivisions that are identified m the Comprehensive Trail Plan; and finally, the elimination of the provision exempting developers from park dedication fees on replatted properties. The committee had few comments as they had reviewed this several times previously. 92.38 A motion was made by Pat Messinger, seconded by Ace Raymond, to recommend City Council approve the revised park dedication ordinance. The motion passed unanimously. ITEM 8. -Discuss nominations For 1993 Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee officers. Chairman Ilia suggested that those committee members wishing to serve as an officer of the committee, please submit their names to Judi at the Farks and Recreation Department office prior .to the next packet mailing. Those who express interest in a position will be placed on a ballot and an election will be held at our first meeting in January. ITEM 9. -Unfinished business. Chairman Illa, speaking for the committee, wished to thank the City Council and the Lakeville consulting firms responsible for the appreciation dinner held last week. ITEM 10. -New business. There was no new business at this time. . Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes December 16, 1992 Page -7- ITEM 11. -Announcements. The next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, January 6, 1993, 7:00 PM at the Lakeville City Hall Council Chambers. ITEM 12. -Adjourn. There being no rther usiness, the meeting was adjourned. espec ly su mi ed, r erald S. Michaud, Par Director ~ , Kevin Illa, Chair jr