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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-02-10 Park Board MinutesDINA PARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, February 10, 1981 7:30 p.m. Edina City Hall PARK BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Virgina Shaw, Chairperson, Art Erdall, Mack Thayer, George Warner, Joan-Lonsbury, Bill Lord, Doug King, Marilyn Wooldridge, Les Wanninger STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, Rick Jacobson, Lance Woodruff, Beckie Rogers OTHERS PRESENT: Dr. Baumgartner, Shirley Peterson, Edina Garden Club, Mary Cronin, Gunnar Fast I. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Mr. George Warner NOMINATED Joan Lonsbury as.Park Board Chairperson. Marilyn Wooldridge SECONDED. Nominations closed. CARRIED. Mr. Les Wanninger NOMINATED George Warner as Vice -Chairperson. Marilyn Wooldridge SECONDED. CARRIED. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JANUARY 13 MEETING Mrs. Shaw MOVED the minutes ofthe January 13 meeting of the Park Board be approved. Bill Lord SECONDED. APPROVED. III. SENIOR CITIZENS REPORT Mr. Kojetin informed the Board that Mr. Carlson would not be able to attend the meeting tonight due to illness. The report would be tabled until another meeting. IV. PROPOSED NEW SWIMMING POOL Mr. Kojetin introduced Dr. Baumgartner who is representing the Edina Swim Club. Dr. Baumgartner presented the board with blueprints for a proposed new swimming pool at Edina West Lower Division, stating that the present swimming pools at both junior highs are not adequate to accommodate all competitive swimmers. Dr. Baumgartner stated that what he wanted from the park board at the present time is their ideas and thoughts on the proposed pool. The proposed pool would be built between the existing Edina West High School and the junior high. This layout would utilize the existing locker rooms and some of the mechanical rooms. The existing pool in the junior high would then be used for warm-ups for meets or for smaller classes. Dr. Baumgartner mentioned that he was not at'this meeting to ask for money. The blueprints were designed with a 50 meter pool in mind, but Dr. Buamgartner felt it would be much more realistic to go with a 25 meter, 8 - 10 lane pool.- He felt that he has the support of many Edina residents who would be willing to contribute some money over a period of time. The estimated cost of the proposed pool is 1.5 - 2 million dollars. Dr. Baumgartner stated that Ralph Lieber had suggested that he present the proposed pool to the park board to find out if there would be .any community use for such a pool. Discussion followed but no conclusion was reached and the report made by Dr. Baumgartner was accepted. V. ART CENTER REMODELING REVIEW Mr. Kojetin mentioned that the bids for the Art Center had come in and that the low bid was for $42,000 which was $7,000 lower then the last set of bids. The other bids averaged.about $55,000. The bid was awarded for $51,000 including the alternate for a complete new roof over the total building which was an 09,000. The council approved and the construction will begin in about 2 - 3 weeks. The work should be completed sometime in June: We will receive a -Z- 4 minimum of $14,000 to $15,000 from the county for the handicapped bathrooms and Howard Nichols is donating $25,000 for the room. The only cost the Park Department will bear would be for the reroofing. Several things had to be omitted from the original bid for the cost to come down. Some of the things omitted were outside steps, cupboards, automatic skylight shades and the beam structure of the addition, a beam structure of less expense will be used. The difference in the bid with the above ommitted was about $12,000. VI. RECREATION REPORT Lance Woodruff presented his report on the skating rinks. Beard Park., Lance felt, was not being utilized as it should, there aren't enough people using, the park. Joan Lonsbury wanted to know if we ever had an article in the Sun regarding what people might think about the idea of closing Beard Park. This was thought to be a good idea. Mr. George Warner asked Lance if he had figures. to compare the attendance at Beard Park with that of a more populated rink. Mr. Woodruff resorted that during -Christmas vacation, Beard Park averaged 120 people for the week, where Cornelia Park averaged about 1,500 people for the same week. Rick Jacobson mentioned whether cutting back on the hours the warming houses were opened should be something to consider. The situation at Todd Park worked out well for this winter. This year the boards were taken down along with the warming house. The rink was still flooded and maintained. The lights at Todd Park were on a timer which went on at 5 p.m. and automatically shut themselves off at 9 p.m. Mr. Kojetin reported that he had few complaints, of the ones he did receive their main concern was that there was no warm place for the kids to chancre -into their skates. Mr. Kojetin said that purchasing a heater for the inside of the picnic shelter which could be run on a timer had been looked into. It could be purchased at a cost of $1,000 with the option of returning it if it did not work out. The heater was -not purchased this year due do the mild winter. Rick Jacobson felt that for the March meeting we should put something together regarding the closing of any rinks so that the board can act on it for the new 1981 calendar. Mr. Woodruff will have all of the attendance figures for the warming houses by the March meeting and a decision can be made on Beard Park at that time. Mr. Kojetin mentioned that Gunnar Fast would be leaving for Sweden on Monday. Gunnar Fast wanted to thank the park board for letting him observe the meetings and also for all the help he has received. Gunnar said he had enjoyed his stay in Edina very much and hoped that he helped promote bandy & recreation. VII. ARENSON ACRES Mr. Kojetin brought the board up-to-date on Arenson Acres. This year in our capital outlay the money will be. used for underground irrigation, a flower garden area, walkway, rearranging of trees, planting of grass and some seed. Completion of this area is planned for the end of August, this would enable'the park board to dedicate the mall area by August 31st. Mr. Kojetin mentioned that 4Iithin two yedrs the greenhouse will have to be expanded because we already have need for more space. Mr. Kojetin also brought up the problem of parking at Arenson Acres. The exit onto 70th St. is very dangerous and will have to be worked on in the near future. Mr. Kojetin brought to the attention of the board a project that we might be hearing about in the future. It is also referred to as "Central Park". The property is located in the southeast corner of Edina. The concept of the Development is building condominiums for young people with a salary of $17,000 to $35,000 with business offices and a park in the center which would be partially covered. The development would cover an area of 20 acres. The park would be a city park but would be funded by the corporation. The whole idea of the development is to have people live, work and shop with leisure activities in the same area, trying to generate the young people back in the area. Meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.