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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-03-10 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, March 10, 1981 7:30 p.m.. Edina City Hall Members Present: Joan Lonsbury, Chairperson; Arthur Erdall, Virginia Shaw, Mack Thayer, Bill Lord, Don Wineberg, Marilyn Wooldridge, Leonard Ring Staff Present: Bob Kojetin, Rick Jacobson, John Keprios, John Valliere, Lance Woodruff, Rosie Hafner Others Present: Fred Richards, Evelyn Gans, Mary Cronin I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 10, 1981 MEETING Mrs. Shaw MADE A MOTION to approve the Minutes as submitted. Mr. Lord SECONDED. CARRIED. II. CLIFF CARLSON - SENIOR CITIZEN BOARD REPORT Mr. Kojetin informed the board that Mr. Carlson was unable to make the meeting but explained that he had talked to him and the rest of the Senior Citizen Board that afternoon. Their basic concerns are; if the location for the senior center is moved, where would it be located and, transportation to doctor's appointments. He felt as though they were very satisfied with our transportation program to the senior center. Mr. Kojetin pointed out that we are working on a plan now to help the seniors get to their doctor appointments. III. WOODDALE SCHOOL AND PARK REVIEW Mr. Fred Richards of the Edina City Council presented a report to the Park Board outlining the actions taken by the City Council on this matter. He stated that the Council had passed, by a vote of 3 - 2, a motion to study the option of leasing the Wooddale School property from the school district. This property consists of three acres of land bn the west side of the school and the basement level of the school. A figure mentioned, but not approved, by the Council for leasing of this property was $30,000.00 a year. Mr. Richards invited the comments and suggestions of the Park Board in this matter. There was a lengthy discussion of this topic in which the following points were brought.up. 1. Would the school ever be re -opened again in the future. 2. Since the survey was taken only of residents in the Wooddale area, is it an accurate sampling of all residents: 3. In a few years we will be saturated with empty schools - what will we do with them. Perhaps the only practical solution is to demolish the buildings and use the land as park property. 4. If the school building is brought up to code and rented, what would be the price per square foot charged for rental - and would people pay this price. Mr. Jacobson pointed out that the figure of $2.55 per square foot was used by the Wooddale School Use Committee as the break even point for rental. Mrs. Shaw MADE A MOTION to adopt the following statement: the Edina Park Board is opposed to the city entering into negotiations with the school board concerning the leasing of the Wooddale property for the following reasons: -2- 1. We are opposed to leasing the Wooddale property 2. We recommend the demolition of the building 3. We recommend negotiating for acquisition of the full 5.06 acres of land for park purposes. SECONDED by Mr. Thayer and Arthur Erdall. MOTION CARRIED. IV. GOLF COURSE REPORT Mr. Valliere presented .the golf course Capital Improvement budget for 1981 and briefly went over the items on it. He pointed out that although the figure of $31,100.00 was a little higher than in the past, he felt as though he would be able to handle it with the increased greens fees to non -patrons. Mr. Wineberg MADE A MOTION to accept the golf course Capital Improvement budget as submitted. Mrs. Wooldridge SECONDED. CARRIED. Mrs. Lonsbury pointed out that in the March 1981 issue of Golf Digest, Braemar had been named as one of the top 50 public golf courses in the country. V. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT UPDATE Mr. Kojetin briefly went over and updated the capital improvements originally presented at the November 18, 1980 Park Board meeting. He highlighted some of the items in the budget that are now being worked on. Mr. Kojetin aknowledged the fact that the hockey association has contributed much toward the improvements at the arena. Don Wineberg MADE A MOTION to recommend the use of Dedicated Funds for development of Lewis, Walnut Ridge, Arden and Pamela parks and the 44th Street property. Mr. Lord SECONDED. CARRIED. VI. RECREATION REPORT a. Warming House Recommendation - Lance Woodruff handed out the figures on warming house attendance for 1980 and 1981 pointing out that the accuracy of these figures cannot be attested to since many times the attendant will guess at the number of people on the rink. It was his suggestion that a more accurate account could probably be obtained if the warming house supervisor took the count. Mr. Keprios explained that the attendance figures are dependent on many factors, e.g., which parks have hockey games and practices scheduled, and pointed out that the rinks were closed early this year. This is part of the reason that some of the figures are down this year. Mr. Keprios did not recommend closing any of the parks next year. His suggestion for cutting the cost and.improving the efficiency of the program was to put one attendants in charge of two or three parks. He would periodically, every hour take turns checking the parks to which he was assigned. There are some draw backs to this idea, e.g., the liability factor, and vandalism which the attendant is gone; but the savings would be great (perhaps $14,000-$15,000). Mr. Erdall suggested that we try this at two of the parks next year and see how it works. b. Frisbee Golf Course - Mr. Kojetin suggested removing the baskets at the frisbee golf course for this year because of the constant attraction to this area by youngsters who are drinking and vandalizing in the parking lot, pavilion area and on the 15th fairway and greens of the golf course. We have checked some of the cars and people who are using the course and found that they are from other communities of the metropolitan area. This facility has not attracted any of the Edina teenage youngsters. This has caused policing problems and there have been many known beer parties in the parking lot area. Mr. Kojetin suggested that we store the baskets and in a couple of years re -install them in the area. They are ,,,,,ngw all anchored in the ground in a concrete sleeve and pad lock so it would not AbC that difficult to pull the baskets and store them. It was agreed that this was the action to take. Mrs. Lonsbury informed the board that the park now known as Grandview Park (Malibu Park) has been named Van Valkenburg Park. Mrs. Lonsbury also informed the board that the 3rd Annual All Volunteer Dinner will be held at Interlachen Country Club on April 28. Cost for the dinner is $14.00 per person. The Mayor's Commendation Awards will be given out at this dinner. If any of the Park Board members wish to nominate someone for one of. these awards, they should contact her. At the April and May Park Board Meetings we will be going on park tours in order to better acquaint the new members with some of our facilities. We will meet on the regular day at 5:00 p.m. at Edina City Hall. Mrs. Lonsbury expressed the feeling that the Park Board should make some type of policy statement regarding juvenile drinking of alcoholic beverages in our parks. She has noted in recent editions of the paper that his particular problem is on the increase in Edina and felt as though the Park Board should take some sort of stand on this issue. After some discussion, Mrs. Shaw MADE A MOTION to adopt the following statement: the Edina Park Board is concerned with juvenile drinking of alcoholic beverages on park property and supports the present laws that declare this to be illegal and ecourage maximum enforcement. Mr. Thayer and Mr. Wineberg SECONDED. CARRIED. It was suggested that a memo be sent to the police department regarding the Park Board's feelings on' this matter. Mr. Kojetin presented to the Park Board members the wording that will be on the plaque and bench at Normandale Park dedicated to the people of the Normandale Community Council. Mr. Erdall MADE A MOTION to adjourn. Mr. Thayer SECONDED. CARRIED. Meeting adjourned at 10:05 p.m. ITEMS FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL/ATTENTION Mrs. Shaw MADE A MOTION to adopt the following statement: the Edina Park Board is opposed to the city entering into negotiations with the school board concerning the leasing of the Wooddale property for the following reasons: 1. We are opposed to leasing the Wooddale property 2. We recommend the demolition of the building 3. We recommend negotiating for acquisition of the full 5.06 acres - of land for park purposes SECONDED by Mr. Thayer and Mr. Erdall. MOTION CARRIED. Mr. Wineberg MADE A MOTION to accept the golf course Capital Improvement budget as submitted. Mrs. Wooldridge SECONDED. CARRIED. Mr. Wineberg MADE.A.MOTION to recommend the use of Dedicated Funds for the development of Lewis, Walnut Ridge, Arden and Pamela parks and the 44th Street property. Mr. Lord SECONDED. CARRIED.