HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-01-09 Park Board Minutes 1
EDINA PARK BOARD
7:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
JANUARY 9, 2001
__________________________
MEMBERS PRESENT: Tom White, Andrew Herring, Dave Fredlund, George Klus, Floyd
Grabiel, Andy Finsness, Scot Housh, Linda Presthus
MEMBERS ABSENT: Karla Sitek, John Murrin, Chuck Mooty
STAFF PRESENT: John Keprios, Ed MacHolda, Janet Canton, Vince Cockriel, Tom
Horwath
_________________________
I. APPROVAL OF THE DECEMBER 12, 2000 PARK BOARD MINUTES
George Klus MOVED TO APPROVE THE DECEMBER 12, 2000 PARK BOARD
MINUTES. Scot Housh SECONDED THE MOTION. MINUTES APPROVED.
II. PARK MAINTENANCE AND FORESTRY PRESENTATIONS - VINCE
COCKRIEL, PARK SUPERINTENDENT OF PARK MAINTENANCE & TOM
HORWATH, CITY FORESTER.
Mr. Keprios indicated that Vince Cockriel, Park Superintendent is going to give a
presentation that outlines the mission and function of the Park Maintenance Department.
Tom Horwath, City Forester, will then give a presentation on the Forestry Department
year in review.
Mr. Cockriel started out his presentation by reading the Park Department’s mission
statement. He pointed out that within the park department they have a full-time staff
consisting of one park superintendent, one park team leader/foreman, 8 people who are at
a step 4 level (to which most of them have many years of park experience not only in
Edina but with other cities) and one person at the step 3 level. Mr. Cockriel then
explained the step program and noted that the program was instituted so that people
would have a chance to move up. It’s a career development program based on steps that
assume more responsibility and more pay once the employee completes required
educational classes and specific additional training. There are 6 attainable steps in the
program. With each step there are educational, licensing and certification requirements.
Mr. Herring asked if all of the employees are union to which Mr. Cockriel replied
everyone is union with the exception of himself and the park foreman. He also pointed
out that they do have one park custodian who is also non-union. He stated that the park
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custodian is a very busy person in that he has the task of keeping approximately 27 park
facilities clean and is probably one of the busiest workers they have. Mr. Cockriel
indicated that the park department also has contract and seasonal park maintenance
people. He noted that the two contract people are the city forester and the city weed
inspector. The city weed inspector usually starts sometime around the first part of May
and his task is managing weed control and/or noxious weeds within the City of Edina.
Mr. Cockriel indicated that they have 30 part-time seasonal people that start work during
the middle of April and usually stay through the middle of September. The part-time
people help with the seasonal type operations such as the ball fields, aquatic center and
extra clean-up with regards to litter pick up, etc.
Mr. Cockriel pointed out that they provide turf care for 422 different grass areas that are
mowed on a weekly basis and some of them more often than that such as the ballfields
during the early summer months.
Mr. Cockriel explained that during the middle of April every year they have a city wide
spring clean-up which includes an intense cleaning of 39 parks. He noted that they try to
coordinate it with the adopt-a-park program. He indicated that most of the parks have
been adopted which relieves a lot of the heavy litter pick-up.
Mr. Cockriel stated that they maintain and repair 27 different buildings throughout the
park system that is ongoing. They also maintain 26 tennis courts and basketball courts as
well as ten miles of walking and bicycle paths and 23 playground equipment sites. Mr.
Cockriel pointed out that the last referendum really helped with the playground sites and
with some of the tennis courts, however, there is still work to be done.
Mr. Cockriel indicated that currently they are working on flooding and maintaining the
ice rinks. There are 11 outdoor hockey rinks and 12 general skating rinks. He stated that
the workers start right after Thanksgiving and continue until the first of March depending
on the weather. They work seven days a week with the exception of Christmas Day. Mr.
Herring asked how many of the rinks have asphalt underneath to which Mr. Cockriel
replied three of them have asphalt; Normandale, Pamela and Lewis Park. Mr. Herring
asked if the asphalt extends the life of the ice to which Mr. Cockriel replied it really
varies on the type of base we get, how much use there is and what the winter has been
like. If there is a good deep base, the black then does have a tendency to draw it out. Due
to the typically flat surface, we get less run-off and therefore it re-freezes again and with
the use of an ice shaver we can bring it right back. A flat surface is a real advantage.
Mr. Cockriel stated that he also manages the water quality program for the city’s lakes,
streams and ponds. The program basically is used to knock the algae out of a lot of the
ponds. He noted that he works more with the private type ponds and the city water
holding ponds. It is more for aesthetic purposes than functional purposes. Mr. Cockriel
indicated that he also administers the geese and deer management programs, which are
handled in conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Mr. Klus
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asked Mr. Cockriel if there are any other management programs for any other type of
wildlife in the city. Mr. Cockriel responded that they work on a complaint basis. On
occasion individuals will call in regarding problems they are having with squirrels,
beavers, rabbits, etc.
Mr. Cockriel then explained the park maintenance budget for 2001 and then touched on a
few things that have happened in the last year. He indicated that this past year the
Wooddale comfort station was completed, which was a mission in itself, and turned out
to be very successful. He noted that there is just a little bit of touch up work left to do
this spring. Also, this year they built a new hockey rink at Weber Park. Every year they
try to replace a hockey rink and they are basically on a ten-year turn-around schedule.
This year they also worked on a half dozen back stops and benches. Mr. Cockriel noted
that he doesn’t have any predictions for the coming year because it will depend upon what
happens with the city/school referendum.
Ms. Presthus asked if everyone comes in at a the Step 1 level or can people come in at a
higher level, because if the referendum goes through we may need more people. Mr.
Cockriel replied that if there is a need for a journeyman or carpenter type of thing they do
have the authority to hire someone at a higher level. He indicated that they have never
had a hard time hiring good, qualified, skilled people because the City of Edina is a great
place to work.
Mr. Housh indicated that a lot of the proposed initiative for the referendum is on school
property and therefore, some of the maintenance is going to be the school’s responsibility.
He asked how is that going to work. Mr. Keprios explained that the way the facilities use
agreement is written, if it’s accepted, all facilities located on school property would be
owned, operated and maintained by the school district. All that’s on city property would
be the city’s responsibility and essentially there is very little new additional infrastructure
going on city property. Mr. Keprios stated that he thinks the majority of our additional
maintenance would be the field attention, there is going to be a heavier fertilization
schedule and we will also be adding more irrigation systems. Mr. Cockriel pointed out
that maintenance on the new soccer fields would easily quadruple because of their very
nature, they take more water, fertilization, top dressing, etc. Mr. Cockriel explained that
a field that is made of clay or natural turf can still come back after a drought. However, if
you don’t keep up with a sand field after it’s been renovated it will not come back after a
drought. Mr. Keprios noted that another area where we would need more maintenance is
if the keyless entry system is approved as proposed it will require a lot more year-round
maintenance.
Mr. Keprios pointed out that Edina’s Park Maintenance Department workers are very
highly skilled, they do not just cut grass and make ice. He indicated that the ice rinks
they make are a design of their own and have actually become kind of the envy of the
Twin Cities. He noted that he is really proud of the work that they do and it clearly shows
that our maintenance staff take a lot of pride in their work.
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Tom Horwath, City Forester, indicated that he has served as the City Forester for the past
12 years and has also served with other metro areas in the same position for a total of 22
years of forestry experience. He pointed out that during his 22 years he has spent much of
his time controlling the spread of Dutch Elm Disease and Oak Wilt. He indicated that
these two major tree diseases he controls in accordance with Minnesota State law and
local tree ordinances. Mr. Horwath noted that although it has become a routine over the
years he still regards Dutch Elm Disease and Oak Wilt Control as his high priority duty.
He stated that he believes if it were not for the city wide sanitation efforts and other
successful preservation efforts through the years a person would have to search very hard
to find a single elm remaining within the city. He commented that he is sure the
population of oaks would be decreased as well. Mr. Horwath pointed out that the entire
metropolitan area has in fact been recognized nationally for its outstanding continued
efforts on protecting elm trees.
Mr. Horwath explained that compliance to removal orders of infectious trees can be an
expensive sacrifice and time consuming task and he applauds the residents of Edina for
their swift compliance and their understanding of the importance of this program.
Mr. Horwath commented that perhaps the most rewarding of his tasks is reforestation.
The importance of trees is well documented and widely known and it has been said that
tree planting time is the most important time we can spend on tree care throughout the life
of a tree. It is at this time that our efforts and preparation will either give a tree a good
healthy start or lead the tree down a struggling path and perhaps even an untimely demise.
Mr. Horwath noted that whether he is planting trees in city parks by himself or directing a
planting operation, he always stresses the quality of labor during this important time. Mr.
Horwath indicated that he has detailed the number of trees he has been involved with in
planting. He has noted both their species and where they have been planted in the parks.
He explained that he is currently working with Tim Zimmerman, City Horticulturist, on a
program to purchase a wider variety of tree species both native and exotic. He explained
that in the past when purchasing trees they have relied on the stock available at the local
nurseries. He noted that in his opinion the end result has been an over abundance of usual
types of trees. He stated that this will make the parks an even more interesting place to
visit and enjoy.
Mr. Horwath pointed out that another pest of recent introduction into the city’s forestry
management program is buckthorn control, which recently has been added to the
Minnesota State Noxious Weed list. He noted that all of the state nurseries have agreed
to stop selling all varieties of this tree. He stated that on some selective sites this past
year he has removed countless buckthorn shrubs. He noted that Mr. Zimmerman and
himself took an area by Arneson Acres and pulled the buckthorn out by the roots and
made a woodchip trail and introduced some native woodland flowers and shrubs. He
noted that this area was transformed from an uninviting rebel collecting lot to a welcome
addition to the parks. He commented that is proof that small steps in this overwhelming
path can go a long way. Mr. Horwath stated that currently he is researching and
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experimenting on various methods of buckthorn eradication. He explained that this plant
will re-sprout profusely if simply cut at ground level making for even worse conditions.
Mr. Horwath explained that during this past fall and winter he has been conducting
roadside vegetation inspections and sending trimming notices to residents. He indicated
that he is asking residents to comply with city ordinances regarding the necessary
trimming or removal of weeds, trunks or trees growing into the streets from along their
boulevards for public safety purposes. He noted that ordinarily the city administers a tree
trimming program by competitive bid selection of a tree company to trim all boulevard
trees which are in need within a selected area of the city. The residents also have the
opportunity to do it themselves or select their own company if they wish. Residents are
charged on a per diameter basis for the trimmers. Mr. Horwath pointed out that weeds,
shrubs and trees on and off the boulevard all need maintenance to keep vegetation from
dangerously encroaching into the streets. He commented that to date he has mailed
approximately 300 notices to which the compliance are going very well. He noted that in
addition to outlying compliance specifications as specifically as possible he also includes
up-to-date proper trimming information, encouraging both trimming for public safety and
aesthetic purposes.
Mr. Horwath pointed out that he has responded to approximately 1,000 calls from Edina
residents. He explained that time permitting he is available for on-sight tree inspections
of any species of tree, disease identification and control measures as well as offers general
advice to many matters relating to the resident’s trees.
Mr. Klus indicated that he has noticed that on some of the middle islands by Highlands
there are some trees that are coming to the end of their mature life and asked if there are
any thoughts on replacing those trees. Mr. Keprios replied that is something they can take
a look at, reforestation on some of those islands. Mr. Cockriel stated that they have tried
to encourage neighborhood committees/groups to propose to us what they would like to
see done. Some of the neighborhoods have been contributing to some of the maintenance
and cost. Mr. Cockriel noted that they try to stay away from anything high maintenance
because they don’t have the staff to maintain it. Mr. Klus asked Mr. Cockriel if he
understands correctly that he would rather have the neighborhood ask to have trees taken
out and indicate what they would like to see put in its place. Mr. Cockriel replied that is
correct, he would like it to come from the neighborhood.
Mr. Herring asked if there is a buckthorn problem at Bredesen Park to which Mr.
Horwath responded he is certain it is all over Bredesen. He commented that buckthorn is
pretty much a problem all over the eastern half of the nation.
Ms. Presthus asked if she understands correctly that the city forester will go to a
resident’s private property and tell them what is wrong with their tree. Mr. Horwath
replied that is correct, however, it is on a time-permitting basis. Mr. Housh asked Mr.
Horwath if he assesses the homeowners for the cost of his time or is it a service that the
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city provides. Mr. Horwath responded there is no cost for the inspections, it continues to
be a service the city provides.
III. PARK BOARD ANNUAL CALENDAR AND 7:00 P.M. START TIME
Mr. Keprios indicated that he would like the Park Board meetings to start at 7:00 p.m.
instead of 7:30 p.m. He noted that all of the other boards and commissions meet at 7:00
p.m. and stated that he feels now is a good time to address this with new board members
starting.
Floyd Grabiel MOVED TO APPROVE THE 7:00 P.M. START TIME FOR PARK
BOARD MEETINGS. Linda Presthus SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. Keprios commented that during the past year all 13 athletic associations have given a
presentation to the Park Board. He asked the Park Board how they would feel if all of the
presidents attended the same meeting this year to address perhaps some common issues
rather than meeting with all 13 associations at different times again. Mr. White indicated
that he doesn’t know if they could all do a presentation in one night. Mr. Keprios noted
that he would meet with the associations ahead of time to determine what topics they
would like to have discussed to maximize the Park Board’s time. Mr. White agreed that
he thinks that would be very productive.
Mr. Keprios indicated that if there are any other suggestions or items that any Park Board
member would like to see in the coming year to let him know. Ms. Presthus asked why
miniature golf wasn’t listed to which Mr. Keprios responded that he took that out because
it hasn’t been well attended the last few years.
Mr. White stated that he thought having meetings at different sites was a good idea
because it let the board members see what is out there. Mr. Keprios indicated that this
year there will be a meeting at Braemar Arena. It was then suggested to also have
meetings at some of the new comfort stations, Arneson Acres and possibly Edinborough
Park. Mr. Keprios indicated that he will suggest some ideas at the next Park Board
meeting.
IV. BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE UPDATE AND PRESENTATION
Mr. Keprios explained that the reason he has this on the agenda is he would like some
feedback from the Park Board on the power point presentation he will be presenting to the
City Council next Tuesday night. He noted he would like to hear some constructive
criticism. Mr. Keprios then pointed out that Susie Miller, Adaptive Recreation
Supervisor, has been a tremendous help in putting together this power point presentation.
At this time Mr. Keprios went through a power point slide presentation on what is being
proposed by the Blue Ribbon Committee.
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Mr. Herring asked if the City Council wants a recommendation from the Park Board to
which Mr. White responded he thought Park Board already gave a recommendation to the
City Council. Mr. Keprios stated that he thinks the City Council would like to have the
Park Board’s input, however, he doesn’t think they are looking for anything specific other
than comments at this time.
V. OTHER
A. Andy Herring - Mr. Keprios indicated that this is Mr. Herring’s last meeting and
noted that he will be duly recognized by the City Council at the Board and Commissions
meeting for the nine years he has served on the Park Board. Mr. Keprios noted that
Chuck Mooty has regretfully resigned from the Park Board. Because of a new position
Mr. Mooty is taking he doesn’t feel he can give the Park Board the time he would like to.
It was noted that there will be three openings on the Park Board, one of which will
probably be a youth member serving a two-year term. The Mayor and Council have not
yet taken any formal action on the Park Board’s recommendation but it appears as though
there is support for the concept.
Mr. Herring pointed out that the program “Connecting With Kids” is looking for someone
to work with their steering committee from the Park Board since he is stepping down.
Mr. Herring indicated that he has two things he wants to share. Number one, he has
really enjoyed his time on the Park Board, it has absolutely been terrific. He noted that
the thing he gets the biggest kick out of is the volunteers. There are so many volunteers
in so many different areas and that really gives him a big charge.
He noted that the second thing is staff. He was here during the Bob Kojetin days and he
has been here with John Keprios for several years and Edina really has an outstanding
staff. Mr. Herring then thanked everyone.
Mr. Klus stated that the Park Board really thanks Andy Herring, Chuck Mooty and Scot
Housh for all of their time and efforts that they have put into the Park Board over the
years. He noted that they have all learned so much and he would like to recognize these
board members and thank them for their time and efforts.
B. Dog Park - Mr. Klus asked if the dog park issue is coming back to the Park Board
sometime in the future. Mr. Keprios explained that the City Manager, Chief of Police and
himself recently met with staff from St. Louis Park. He noted that collectively they
drafted a new memo to the Minneapolis Park Board yesterday with several mandates that
must fall into place to put Edina and St. Louis Park at ease with enforcement issues,
parking, maintenance, and a hold harmless clause. He indicated that he is doubtful that
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the Minneapolis Park Board will be able to meet all the demands. However, the ball is
back in their court and we are going to have to wait for a response.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
George Klus MOVED THE ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:50 P.M. Tom White
SECONDED THE MOTION. MEETING ADJOURNED.