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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-04-13 Park Board Minutes 1 EDINA PARK BOARD 7:30 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS APRIL 13, 1999 ____________________________________ MEMBERS PRESENT: Andrew Finsness, David Fredlund, Floyd Grabiel, Bill Jenkins, George Klus, Chuck Mooty, John Murrin, Linda Presthus, Karla Sitek, Tom White MEMBERS ABSENT: Andrew Herring STAFF PRESENT: John Keprios, Ed MacHolda, Janet Canton OTHERS PRESENT: Marge Ruedy _____________________________________ I. INTRODUCTIONS Mr. Keprios indicated that there are seven new Park Board members. He then explained that a while back the Park Board had asked for a presentation on the referendum and therefore felt this would be a good time to go over and show pictures of what has been done. At this time all Park Board members introduced themselves. Mr. Keprios explained to the Park Board that the election of officers will be done at the May Park Board meeting. He stated that he will run that portion of the meeting. II. APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY 12, 1999 PARK BOARD MINUTES Bill Jenkins MOVED TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 12, 1999 PARK BOARD MINUTES. Tom White SECONDED THE MOTION. MINUTES APPROVED. III. HAND OUT PARK BOARD MANUALS At this time Mr. Keprios handed out Park Board manuals to all of the new members and asked that they go through them when they get a chance. 2 IV. PARK REFERENDA PRESENTATION At this time, Mr. Keprios gave the park referenda presentation and indicated that he has put together a five page summary of this presentation for everyone to have a hard copy. Mr. Murrin indicated that whenever he goes to the comfort stations they are locked. Mr. Keprios replied that the plumber who worked on all of the new comfort stations did a terrible job and all of the toilets had to be torn out and repositioned. He stated that the contractors have until the first of May to complete this project. He noted that once they are operational they will be electronically programmed to be left open during the day. Mr. Keprios explained that one of the charges the Park Board sent us off to do was to make sure there are restrooms available at all locations where there are scheduled games. Mr. Mooty commented that there were a couple of items where the budget obviously was exceeded by a fair amount and asked how that works as far as approval and asked were there items that were eliminated from the list of priorities that needed to be done. Mr. Keprios explained that the Park Board and City Council directed staff to continually keep a priority list of what we were to do first, second, third, etc. He noted that there were certain things that they wanted to see accomplished at the expense of not completing all proposed projects. He stated that he will give everyone a list at the next Park Board meeting of everything that still needs to be done and commented that those items will essentially be reflected in what has now become our capital improvement plan for the next five years. Mr. Mooty commented that it looks like there was a total expenditure of $9.6 million but only approval for $5.5 and $2.5 million. He then asked if that differential would come out of ordinary capital improvements on an annual basis or how does that differentiate. Mr. Keprios responded that in the packet that was handed out on the bottom of the page it indicates bond proceeds. He explained that they have received a $250,000 grant from the Mighty Ducks Fund, as well as, just under a half million dollars of interest earned on the bond money. Mr. Keprios also noted that the City received a donation from the Federated Women for $15,925 towards the purchase of playground equipment for Lake Cornelia Park. There have also been transfers of excess funding from the operating budget at year's end to the referendum bond fund. He then explained that for the past three years the Park and Recreation Department has had no capital plan funding. There have also been miscellaneous donations as well as a building reimbursement fund for Garden Park from Paragon Cable which will then bring us up to a zero balance. Mr. Mooty asked what is the capital budget over the next few years and is there a set amount and how is that determined? Mr. Keprios replied that currently there is no funding available for a capital plan. At one time, however, there was a very healthy Developer’s Fund with over $600,000. Unfortunately, that fund has been depleted. Mr. Jenkins asked where did all of those funds go in which Mr. Keprios replied there are basically two places it went to. The first was for the water play equipment at the Aquatic Center in which the City Council made that decision. This was a loan for $140,000 3 which currently has been paid back. Another $204,000 was a loan to the Aquatic Center to cover the higher than expected cost of constructing the bath house. The Developer’s Fund was also used to build the “Peggy Kelly Media Arts Studio” at the Art Center which cost well over $300,000 and was not considered to be a loan. Therefore, there is no money left in the Developers Fund other than what was paid back by the Aquatic Center which is earmarked to fund the construction of the comfort station at Wooddale Park. Mr. Keprios then explained why there is no capital plan. He stated that the City Council has had to do some creative financing to get from one year to the next being that they have been faced with levy limits mandated by the State. Therefore, we have had to live within a pretty tight budget over the last three years. The previous levy limit legislation term is over, however, another bill has been introduced this session to reinstate levy limits for another two years. If extended levy limits are approved, we will have a challenge to find alternate sources of funding for a capital budget. Mr. Keprios indicated that right now the City Council has written a letter opposing the levy limits. Mr. Jenkins asked Mr. Keprios to explain the philosophy that the City Council has had in regards to putting money away to fund capital bills. Mr. Keprios pointed out that the City Council’s of the past have always taken the position that those who play today should pay today and not put it on future residents. Therefore, they have been of the philosophy to borrow money to maintain and upgrade existing facilities, which has led to deferred maintenance. There is now a $6.00 maintenance fee for use of fields that came about in 1990, which includes a $6.00 per person fee to the Edina Hockey Association for use of the outdoor hockey rinks. The Park Department still has one less full-time maintenance staff person from what was in place since 1990 because it was felt deferred maintenance would be cost effective. Mr. Keprios commented that we now have 20 years of bonded indebtedness for park maintenance and upgrade. If you add up the total interest we are paying on the money we have to borrow to keep up, as opposed to funding maintenance and upgrade with operational and capital dollars, in the long run we are going to pay significantly more. Mr. Keprios stated that he has proposed for a capital plan between $300,000 and $500,000 a year for the next five years in order for us to get to where we need to be. He indicated that he will give everyone a copy of this capital plan and commented that it will be something that the Park Board will be discussing at a future Park Board meeting. V. FUTURE PARK BOARD AGENDA ITEMS Mr. Keprios handed out a sheet which indicated previous Park Board issues on one side and potential future Park Board issues on the other side. He then talked about some of the previous issues that the Park Board has dealt with in the past. Mr. Keprios indicated that for future items there is currently discussion of putting up a permanent senior center which has had a lot of City Council support. He stated that the 4 Park Board will be involved with the design when it gets to that point. Mr. Keprios also commented that there has been talk of the development of additional gym space which is so desperately needed. He noted that there are many issues for the Park Board to discuss at future meetings. Mr. Keprios asked the Park Board members to think of issues that they feel the Park Board should be addressing and to bring a list of those ideas to the next Park Board meeting. Mr. Mooty asked what sort of feedback has there been from the constituents as it relates to their issues. Is it funneled through this avenue or is it funneled through the City Council or is it funneled through the staff. Have there been any formal elements that have been tried to see what the people from the community want. Is there something that we could put together to answer this question. Mr. Mooty commented that everyone has their own particular issues that are more near and dear but is there anything else that would be helpful from a historical standpoint as to what residents have said as being important to them. Mr. Keprios responded that the last survey that was done was in 1987 and the results of that survey are outdated. He noted, however, that he is a fan of surveys and currently is trying to push hard for funding and resources to do a survey. He stated that the Park Board is the sounding board for the voice of the community and we need to be asking the people of the community how they feel. Mr. Keprios also pointed out that he keeps a record a all of the phone calls, letters, visitors, etc. that bring different issues to his attention and gives that feedback to the Park Board. VI. OTHER A. Wooddale Comfort Station - Mr. White indicated that he would like the Wooddale Comfort Station issue to be included on next months Park Board agenda. He stated he would like to know where that is at. Mr. Keprios replied that he would like to keep it out of the process right now because the City Council has directed staff to resolve the issue. City Council has indicated that there will be a permanent building there. Therefore, a neighborhood committee has been formed and they recently had their first meeting. He noted that it’s a challenging group and it’s going to take some time. He stated that when a plan has been put together he will bring it before the Park Board for feedback. An update will be provided to the Park Board at the May meeting. VII. ADJOURNMENT Floyd Grabiel MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. Bill Jenkins SECONDED THE MOTION. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:35 P.M.