10/02/1980 - Advisory Parks & Recreation Commission
AGENDA
ADVISORY PARK COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING
EAGAN, MINNESOTA
CITY HALL
OCTOBER 2, 1980
7:00 P.M.
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES, SEPTEMBER 4, 1980; AND ESTABLISH
AGENDA
3. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS
None requiring Committee action.
4. OLD BUSINESS
A. South Oaks Park - Soccer Kick Board
B. Tennis Return Board
5. NEW BUSINESS
A. Winter Program 1980-1981
6. OTHER BUSINESS
A. Comments by Staff
7. ADJOURNMENT
September 1980
MEMO TO: ADVISORY PARK COMMITTEE
FROM: KEN VRAA, DIRECTOR OF PARKS & RECREATION
RE: WINTER PROGRAM
The department staff has begun its planning for the up-
coming winter program by reviewing past practices, procedures,
problems, etc. Issues being reviewed can be grouped into
major categories:
1) Maintenance
2) Staffing
3) Length of season/length of skating day
4) Special needs of the hockey associations
5) Budget
6) "Mischief" activities
All of these major issues are further influenced by the
uncertainty of the weather and the limiting resources of staff,
equipment, time and budget.
In addressing the problems, the department is considering
the possibility of implanting a "classification system" for
the outdoor skating rinks. This system would, "prioritize"
the rinks in one.of three categories. Each category would
interface with the other, in serving the winter program needs,
while co-ordinating the maintenance and staffing function.
Reasons for classification of rinks
1. Not all rinks have the same volume of usage. In fact,
there is a dramatic difference in some cases.
2. Provide a quality experience; that correspQncld~s to
the need.
3. Staff_ can function more efficiently and effectively
with predetermined guidelines.
4. Budgetary: Dlans can be more precise when guidelines
are clear., and allocation of resources can be fitted
to the needs of the skaters.
5. Communications with public improved.
6. Need for "extended" skating season to accommodate
hockey play off.
Criteria for classification
1, Supervised/non-supervised skating rinks.
2. Volume of usage based on observations over the past
3 skating seasons.
3. Number of scheduled activities, hockey practice, etc.
4. Service area
5. Other
Description of three classifications
1. Class A.
a. High volume of usage for both free skate and
scheduled hockey games and pracrices.
b. Volume of usage remains high throughout the skating
season.
2. Class B
a. Medium. to low volume of usage for free skate and
scheduled hockey practices.
b. Volume of free skate low in relation to size of
adjacent neighborhood.
3. Class C
a. Unsupervised rinks
b. Supervised rinks with extremely low volume of
usage for free skate and hockey.
Correlation of rinks to classifications
1. Class A
a. Mahn
b. Well Site
2. Class B
a. Carnelian
b. Woodhaven
c. Lexington
d. Pilot Knob
. Class C
3
a. Highview
b. Cedar Pond
c. Bur Oaks
d. Evergreen
e. Country Home Heights
Priorities identified by classification
1. Opening Date
a. Class A, B and C open simultaneously with the
exception of the Donds where maintenance must
determine safety of ice prior to plowing and
flooding.
2. Yaintenance
a. Class A rinks cleared and flooded first.
h. Class B rinks maintained next.
C. Class C can be allowed to wait until the 2nd day
if necessary.
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3. Closing
a. Class C - close first.
1) Closing occurs when ponds are dangerous for
children and maintenance vehicles, this could
be prior to predetermined date.
2) Predetermined closing date - suggest February 8.
b, Class B - closed second.
1) Closing date determined by budget which is
based on an 8 week skating season.
2) Suggest February 15.
C. Class A - close last
1) Open on a day to day basis determined by ice
conditions after February 15.
2) Reduced hours - suggest h:00-9:00 P,:M. school
days, 10:00 A,M.-5:00 P.M. Saturday, Noon-5:00
P.M. Sunday. New hours posted,.
3) All hockey practices would be rescheduled to
these sites, league facility directors issue
ice time to coaches.
4) Attendant must be on duty.
5) March 15 maximum date. However if the ice is
lost prior to that date the effort to remain
open would be futile,
Action Requested:
At the October committee meeting, staff will provide
additional information and review some of the special needs
and rob 1ems with the winter program, as well as to review problems
the rink classification concept. The cotn~m.ittee is asked to review and provide additional input to the staff. It is
also being contemplated that a meeting of the City staff
and the Hockey Associations be held to review their needs
before the winter season begins.
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