HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-02-10 Park Board PacketEDINA PARK BOARD
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1998
7:30 P.M.
MANAGER'S CONFERENCE ROOM
AGENDA
* 1 . Approval of Tuesday, December 9,
Minutes.
Citi of Edina
*2. Naming the New Braemar Arena Commons Area.
3. Park Shelter Buildings and Comfort Stations Project.
4. Braemar Golf Course Winter Recreation Use.
5. OTHER
A. City of Edina Annual Forestry Report.
B. New Park Board Members and Election of Officers.
C. Other.
*6. Adjournment.
* These are agenda items that require or request Park Board
action.
City Hall
(612) 927-8861
4801 WEST 50TH STREET FAX (612) 927-7645
EDINA, MINNESOTA 55424-1394 TDD (612) 927-5461
a
Memo
To: Edina Park Board. ^ V / d,\
From: John Keprios, Director J
Edina Park and Recreation Department
Date: February 4, 1998
Re: February 10, 1998, PARK BOARD MEETING STAFF REPORT.
Enclosed you should find the following items:
1 . Tuesday, February 10, 1998, Park Board Agenda.
2. Park shelter buildings and comfort stations bid results.
3. 1997 City of Edina Annual Forestry Report.
STAFF REPORT
The following is the monthly staff report concerning each item on the agenda with the
exception of Approval of the Minutes and Other. "Other" is listed on the agenda in case
last minute items come up between now and the Park Board meeting, plus, cover any
other concerns of Park Board members and/or attendees.
NAMING THE NEW BRAEMAR ARENA COMMONS AREA
As directed by City Manager, Ken Rosland, it is recommended to name the new commons
area at Braemar Arena:
"THE JERRY DALEN COMMONS"
For some background on Mr. Jerry Dalen, he started working for the City of Edina in
November of 1955. After 28 years of service with the City of Edina, Jerry retired as Finance
Director for the City in January 1983. Jerry became known as one of Edina High School
hockey's biggest fan. He began attending games during the State Tournament in 1974 and
has never missed a Varsity or Junior Varsity home game since. For having such an
outstanding attendance at all the games, Jerry was presented with an Edina Letterman's
sweater by long-time Edina High School Hockey Coach, Willard Ikola, at Mr. Ikola's
retirement party. In addition, Mr. Rosland also presented him with a lifetime pass to all
future Edina home hockey games.
It is staff's recommendation that the Edina Park Board recommend to the Edina City Council
to name the new commons area at Braemar Arena "The Jerry Dalen Commons."
a
-2-
PARK SHELTER BUILDINGS AND COMFORT STATIONS PROJECT
As you will notice on the enclosed bid results form, there were 11 contractors who
submitted bids on our shelter buildings and comfort stations project. On Monday, February
2, 1998, the City Council awarded the bid to Hunerberg Construction.
I will give a brief verbal summary of this approved project and the status of all Park
Referendum projects.
This is an information item. There is no Park Board action requested on this agenda item.
BRAEMAR GOLF COURSE WINTER RECREATION USE
This is a food for thought agenda item for the Edina Park Board to consider planning for more
recreational use of the Braemar Golf Course site in the future.
As you know, the grill is open to the public throughout the winter months and the clubhouse
is used for various private rentals, such as, wedding receptions, business meetings, civic
group meetings and the like. With a beautiful outdoor resource adjacent to the clubhouse,
there are winter recreational activities that could be made available to Edina residents, such
as, cross-country skiing and tube sliding.
Granted, cross-country skiing already takes place throughout the golf course, however, there
are no marked or groomed trails, maps, lessons or rental equipment available. About 20
years ago, the Edina Park and Recreation Department contracted with a vendor to rent cross-
country skis out of the clubhouse building. There were, however, no groomed trails.
There are a couple of hills close to the clubhouse that could serve as a wonderful tube
sliding hill for Edina residents. Tube sliding is a fun, safe and wholesome family winter
recreational activity that's fun for people of all ages. There are tube sliding hills in some of
our neighboring communities and I plan to have some video tape of those sites to show the
Park Board at this February meeting.
I must admit that this idea was presented to the City Manager and City Council at the budget
assumptions process in 1994 with unsuccessful results. I, however, still believe that this
simple recreational opportunity would be a welcomed addition to the City of Edina and would
be in keeping with the philosophy of providing family-oriented recreation amenities that make
Edina such a terrific place to live.
Cross-country skiing and/or tube sliding would not be (and are not intended to be ) money
making ventures, although the increased traffic would greatly increase the sales at the
concessions stand.
After showing the short video tape and sharing some rough estimates of expenses involved,
I ask the Park Board to enter into a discussion about whether staff should further explore
future winter recreational activities at Braemar Golf Course (or at other sites as well).
Park Board action is not requested on this agenda item at this time.
-3-
OTHER
CITY OF EDINA ANNUAL FORESTRY REPORT
This is an informational item provided by our City Forester, Mr. Tom Horwath. The City of
Edina has an extensive boulevard tree trimming program and a very comprehensive tree
management program that protects our urban forest. You will find that Tom's report is very
informative.
NEW PARK BOARD MEMBERS AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
This is also an information item. As you know, there are three Park Board members whose
terms are up this year:
1. Mike Burley
2. Jim Fee
3. Andy Herring
Please know that the City Council has not yet made any appointments to the Park Board for
1998. Therefore, the above three members are welcome to attend the February meeting as
voting members and continue to serve until the City Council has either reappointed them or
•replaced them.
In recent years, the election of officers (Chairman and Vice Chairman) for the Park Board has
been taking place at the March meeting, which allows new members one meeting before
having to select their leaders for the year. Because any new members will not be on board
until the March meeting, I ask and recommend that the Park Board delay the election of
officers until the April meeting. This is of course the Park Board's decision.
CONCERNS OF THE PARK BOARD
Other concerns of the Park Board will be addressed at this time.
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• 1997 CITY OF EDINA ANNUAL FORESTRY REPORT
TO: John Keprios, Parks Director
FROM: Thomas Horwath, City Forester
I. Overview Of Forestry Activities 1997
As the new year began, I continued with my responsibilities associated with project TT
96-97, the boulevard tree trimming in area #5. The major responsibilities included
delivering estimates to residents, preparing lists for the trimmers, inspecting their work,
and responding to questions from residents.
Also during this time I conducted compliance inspections for the winter removals of
infectious elms and oaks. These trees needed to be removed prior to April 1" before they
became a threat to other healthy elms and oaks.
By the end of March all necessary boulevard trees were trimmed and the diseased trees
were removed, just in time for spring planting.
I look forward to spring planting more each year. In my past eighteen years working for
various cities in the metro area, I have been predominately involved with ordering
removals of infectious trees. Though I'm totally convinced these sanitation removals
help protect the lives of the remaining like -species trees, I am rewarded with the feeling
of replenishing such a great natural resource.
Planting time is the most critical time we can spend for the life of the trees. Correct and
careful techniques at this time makes a great difference in the health and longevity of the
trees. Carelessness at this time will almost certainly guarantee future problems, or even
death of the trees.
Further on this report I will detail the tree planting operations I was involved with this
year.
Spring planting soon gave way to the annual diseased tree season. Summer work is
usually kept busy inspecting and marking elms; issuing removal notices and conducting
compliance inspections; inspecting oak trees and coordinating necessary control
procedures with Kunde Co., our oak wilt specialists contracted with the City; and
inspecting other tree problems for the residents of Edina.
Summer storms added to my chores, along with the chores of many park and public
works personnel. I helped with clean-up, determining ownership & responsibility of
damaged or downed trees, inspections along streets for hazardous conditions from storm
damage and compliance inspections when removals were ordered.
This summer I also spent time within the parks inspecting trees that were planted several
years ago — long enough to be off the watering route. Certain trees I noted the year before
— heavily wilted in 1996's dry summer - needed a replenishment of water - conserving
mulch over them. Before mulching with wood chips, I added a 2-3" layer of compost,
widely under their canopies. Compost has nutrients readily available to the trees. The
mulch helps conserve water and decreased the harmful effects of hot summer days.
When completed I left, certain that the trees were grateful.
Late summer and early fall my time was greatly consumed by the next boulevard tree
trimming project — this winter in area #1. This is an area of many old, mature elms and
many young trees along the boulevards. I inspected each one of the approximately 2200
boulevard trees to update the city's boulevard tree inventory in preparation for trimming.
During this time I determined which trees should be trimmed and which ones didn't need
to be trimmed. I looked for low -hanging branches into the streets and sidewalks;
branches blocking views of traffic signs or causing other public -safety hazards; size and
amount of deadwood in the trees; and other obvious trimming needs.
Upon completion of this task and prior to commencement of this trimming project, I kept
busy trimming park trees for sidewalks & mower clearance removing organic debris
thrown into parks from along streets and more compliance inspections for diseased trees.
At this time of compiling this report I am now busy with boulevard tree - trimming
estimates & responding to resident's concerns about this program.
II. Dutch Elm Disease
In 1997 I marked a total of 79 diseased elm trees for removals, 48 of these were on
private property 22 were on boulevards, and 9 were in city parks. All but 10 of the
private property trees have been removed. Because they were marked late in the season,
they have a removal deadline of February 15. This assures me adequate time to re-
inspect for compliance and, if necessary, take steps to have them removed prior to April
1' when they will be an infectious threat to other healthy elms in the vicinity.
III. Tree Planting and Tree Care in Edina Parks
Planting season began in early April with preparing sites in Van Valkenburg for 700 more
seedlings on the weedy hill surrounding the ball fields. It is my second year of planting
seedlings here. The reforestation plan at this site is a mixed hardwood planting. Of all
the seedlings planted, oaks were the most predominate - red, white and bur. I also used
"pioneer" species - trees that naturally do well on disturbed sites. Among these are
poplars (cottonless), birches, and aspens. These species, should they survive, would be
critical in helping other hardwoods become established.
Other species planted at this site are cherry, black walnut, hawthorne, serviceberry, and
catalpa. It is my intention to plant many different specifies and monitor the site to
determine which ones are doing the best, and continue with those species. Besides
seedlings, I am also gathering hardwood seeds and planting them directly on the site.
• At Van Valkenburg I am also testing a new root -care product. It is a fungus called
mycorrhizae which attaches itself to roots of trees in a symbiotic manner and enables the
trees to absorb for greater amounts of water and nutrients. This symbiotic relationship
has been known and studied extensively for the last 100 years, but only recently has
research and development allowed it to be mass produced and available. If this product
upholds it's acclaimed value, it will mean faster growth rates, higher survivability rates,
healthier trees needing less maintenance, and wider choices of varieties planted on poor -
soil sites.
Other plantings I was involved with this year are:
1. Arbor Day at Strachauer Park
5 B & B Japanese Tree Lilacs
5 B & B Columnar Norway Maples
2. Lake Cornelia Park
3 B & B Swamp White Oaks
41 shrubs at 2 locations surrounding 3 trees at each site. 12 of these were
replacement shrubs killed by flooding in July - replaced at no cost because of
Bachman's one year guarantee.
1 Prairie Cascade Willow in Heights Park at the request of and donated by
neighboring resident.
4. 3 Colorado Blue Spruce in Heights Park.
5. 1 B & B Sugar Maple in new playground area at Weber Park.
Many of these new plantings I also followed up with inspections and watering as needed.
IV. Clear Views
This year I received 14 separate complaints for clear view violations or obstructions
along streets or sidewalks from vegetation. I ordered 12 of these to be corrected by the
abutting property owners, 11 of which have been satisfactorily remedied at this time. The
last one will be trimmed this winter - branches of several oak trees growing low into the
street. Two of these complaints I felt did not warrant any necessary work.
V. 1997 TREE CREW REPORT
Included with this report is a summary of work performed by the city tree crew, as
prepared by Mark Armstrong. Summer storm damage added a great deal of work orders
to their normal busy schedule and I applaud their great efforts to complete all the work
given them this year.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Horwath
SUMMARY OF TREE WORK PERFORMED BY CITY PERSONNEL
January 1, 1997 - December 28, 1997
TOTAL JOB ORDERS 523
722 Trees Removed 6048"
676 Trees Trimmed
108 Loads - Log Loader
11 Loads - Chips
27 Trees Planted
TREE TRIMMING
Clear View
Maple - 7
Ash - 7
Maintenance
Elm - 40
Ash - 39
Oak - 23
Boxelder - 67
Maple - 29
Pine - 1
307 Job Orders -- 676 Trees
10 Job Orders -- 23 Trees
Oak - 2 Basswood - 2 Willow - 1
Cherry - 1 Boxelder - 2 Lilac - 1
36 Job Orders -- 384 Trees
Buckthorn - 90
Willow - 26
Cottonwood - 25
Dogwood - 16
Apple - 12
Linden - 1
Storm Damage 261 Job Orders -- 269 Trees
Elm - 139
Boxelder - 9
Ash - 33
Locust - 5
Oak - 23
Hackberry - 2
Willow - 19
Catalpa - 2
Cottonwood - 15
Birch - 2
Maple - 14
Basswood - 2
Russian Olive - 6
Cherry - 3
Locust - 2
Mulberry - 2
Kentucky Coffee - 2
Russian Olive - 1
Apple - 1
Poplar - 1
Fir - 1
TREE REMOVALS 191 Job Orders -- 722 Trees
Dutch Elm Disease 5 Job Orders
7 Elm - 112"
Blocking Creek 22 Job Orders
26 Trees Removed -- 459"
8 - Willow - 184"
6 - Cottonwood - 104"
3 - Oak - 106"
3 - Boxelder - 30"
3 - Locust - 18"
1 -Basswood - 10"
1 -Maple-4"
1 -Ash - 3"
Dead, Hazard, Decline 92 Job Orders
588 Trees Removed - 3926"
186 - Buckthorn - 751"
79 - Boxelder - 568"
83 - Elm - 435"
40 - Ash - 376"
34 - Oak - 487"
32 - Juniper - 128"
29 - Spruce - 272"
27 - Willow - 314"
19 -Maple -86"
10 -Russian Olive - 98"
8 - Cherry - 73"
Storm Damage 72 Job Orders
101 Trees Removed -- 1551"
21 - Boxelder - 280"
13 - Ash - 138"
10 - Cottonwood - 168"
9 - Willow - 217"
9 -Elm- 133"
10 - Maple - 125"
7 - Oak - 229"
6 - Spruce - 92"
10 - Mulberry - 35"
7 - Pine - 63"
7 - Cottonwood - 122"
5 - Apple - 27"
4 - Lilac - 16"
4 - Basswood - 42"
1 - Mt. Ash 16"
1 - Birch - 10"
1 - Locust - 4"
1 - Hackberry - 3"
4 - Basswood - 44"
3 - Apple - 26"
2 - Poplar - 16"
2 - Russian Olive - 22"
2 - Cherry - 13"
1 - Locust - 20"
1 - Mulberry - 12"
1 - Hackberry - 16"
BRUSH PILE PICKUPS 19 Job Orders
18 City Generated
1 Private Brush
PLANTING 6 Job Orders -- 27 Trees
6 - Maple 3 - White Oak
5 - Japanese Tree Lilac 1 - Spruce
3 - Fasier Fir 1 - Pine
8 - Techny Arborvitae