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
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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.