HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-03-13 Park Board Minutes 1
Minutes of the
Edina Park Board
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Edina City Hall
Council Chambers
MEMBERS PRESENT: Andy Finsness, Mike Damman, Ray O’Connell, Carolyn Nelson,
Howard Merriam, Randy Meyer, Jeff Sorem, Todd Fronek
MEMBERS ABSENT: Linda Presthus, Karla Sitek, George Klus
STAFF PRESENT: John Keprios, Ed MacHolda, Janet Canton
I. INTRODUCTION OF NEW PARK BOARD MEMBERS
Mr. Finsness introduced the two new Park Board members, Howard Merriam and Randy
Meyer. He noted that Mr. Meyer is the Edina School’s Board representative on the Park
Board.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Todd Fronek MOVED TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 13, 2007 PARK BOARD
MINUTES. Jeff Sorem SECONDED THE MOTION. MINUTES APPROVED.
III. NEW BUSINESS
A. Election of Officers - Mr. Keprios opened up the floor for nominations for Chair of
the Park Board.
Mike Damman MOVED TO NOMINATE ANDY FINSNESS. Ray O’Connell
SECONDED THE MOTION.
Todd Fronek MOVED TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS. Mike Damman SECONDED
THE MOTION.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. Keprios opened up the floor for nominations for Vice Chair of the Park Board.
Todd Fronek MOVED TO NOMINATE MIKE DAMMAN AS VICE-CHAIR OF
THE PARK BOARD. Ray O’Connell SECONDED THE MOTION.
Ray O’Connell MOVED TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS. Todd Fronek SECONDED
THE MOTION.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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B. Edina Curling Club Presentation – Mr. Keprios informed the Park Board that he
received a late e-mail from Mark Willmert, Edina Curling Club member, stating that
he would be unable to attend tonight’s Park Board meeting. He noted that he has
invited him to come back to the May Park Board meeting.
C. Garden Park Pathway Master Plan – Mr. Keprios informed the Park Board that he sent
out notices to residents within 600 feet of Garden Park (300 homes) including a map
and asking for their input. He noted that a master plan has been drawn up by
consultants they’ve hired from Olsson & Associates. Joel Oden, consultant from
Olsson & Associates, went through and explained the plan to the Park Board.
Mr. Keprios informed the Park Board that they learned quickly that they don’t have
the dollars in the capital improvement plan to do the entire master plan, therefore,
what they can’t finish this year they will try to finish next year through the capital
improvement plan. He noted that they need to figure out two phasing plans and
decide what the priorities are and what they can afford to do within the dollars they
have available in the capital improvement plan. Mr. Keprios stated that there should
also probably be a section or two small sections that should be considered as an add-
alternate to be sure that they will at least have the dollars available to go forward with
phase 1.
Mr. Sorem asked what the status is with the grant application that was submitted to the
DNR for federal grant dollars for this project. Mr. Keprios replied that that they
recently submitted the application and are asking for 50% of the entire master plan
budget to which they should hear something during the month of June. Mr. Keprios
explained that should they be successful in getting the grant they would draw the
additional dollars needed through their operating budget and complete the entire plan
in 2007. He stated that if they are not successful in getting the grant they will
continue to move forward and will hopefully succeed in getting the dollars needed to
finish phase 2 and the rest of the master plan through the 2008 capital improvement
plan.
Mr. Sorem asked what is the life expectancy of a path like this to which Mr. Keprios
replied that the bituminous needs to be resurfaced approximately every ten years.
Mr. O’Connell stated that he thinks it’s very important to have interconnects because
it will give people an even greater opportunity to walk further. He commented that he
doesn’t think it makes good sense to just put in a pathway without interconnects. Mr.
Oden indicated that most of the pathway is used by the local neighborhoods; however,
it is important that they have connection points on the major thoroughfares and
walkways throughout the community. Mr. Oden stated that he does believe the plan
would address the issue with two different access points.
Mr. Merriam asked if there will be any impact by the construction as far as the spring
leagues with the soccer fields and baseball diamonds. Mr. Keprios replied that he
doesn’t believe it will have a negative impact. Everyone should be able to get in and
out of the park without too much trouble.
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John Henry, 5700 Johnson Drive, stated that Mr. Oden had mentioned that the
pathway will be approximately 20 feet in from the pond and commented that some
trees are going to probably have to be removed in order to do that. In addition, he also
has a concern from the environmental standpoint. He knows the water quality benefits
from having natural vegetation because it cleans the water as it runs off the hill and
into the pond. Mr. Keprios replied that in the grand plan they will definitely put in
some additional landscaping. However, that is currently not shown in the master plan
drawings because they are not yet showing that level of detail. He stated that
definitely down the road they will be adding shade trees and plantings throughout the
entire pathway. Mr. Oden pointed that one way they could address the issue with the
trail being so close to the lake would be to have a rainwater garden so that the
rainwater plants adjacent to both sides of the walk would infiltrate the water as it
rushes down through the trail. He commented that would help significantly.
Mr. Keprios informed the Park Board that he did not receive anything in writing or e-
mail as a result of the letter he sent out. He stated that he has received several phone
calls asking a few questions but everything has been positive.
Ray O’Connell MOVED TO APPROVE THE MASTER PLAN AS A WHOLE AND
THE PHASING IN CONCEPT. Todd Fronek SECONDED THE MOTION.
MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
D. Bike Edina Taskforce Update – Todd Fronek - Mr. Fronek indicated that he met
with Steve Rusk, Chair of the Bike Edina Taskforce, who gave him a broad update of
where the taskforce now sits. He stated that it does appear that he Bike Edina Task
Force is probably more of a transportation issue than a park issue.
He stated that the biggest task for them is to try to connect both a North South and
East West trail way through the city. He stated that they are looking at connecting to
the Cedar Lake Trail in the North and connecting to Hyland Park in South in order to
make it more bike friendly.
Mr. Fronek proposed that the Park Board provide support for the Bike Edina
Taskforce. He stated that anything they can do as far as setting up bike parking,
making trails accessible to bikes (as long as they are not interfering with walking) and
if any park land needs to be used in order to set up this network he thinks the Park
Board should support that.
Mr. Fronek indicated that a city staff person is working with the taskforce in trying to
find a consultant to see exactly how this network is laid out and how it could run
through the city. Mr. Keprios stated that Kris Kubicek, Planning Assistant/Intern, has
done a request for proposal and has gone out to seek a consultant to be funded through
a grant from Blue Cross/Blue Shield. He pointed out that he thinks the Park Board’s
involvement with this should be writing this is in the comprehensive plan. He noted
that he believes that the Bike Edina Taskforce job is really to identify more the
connectivity between parks and identifying the corridors that connect to the greater
regional trails.
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IV. PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
V. UPDATES
A. Todd Park - Mr. Keprios indicated that per the Park Board he sent out surveys to all of
the head coaches of the Edina Hockey Association as well as to all of the residents that
live within the area that the Park Board approved at last month’s meeting. He noted
that as of the deadline he has received a little over 300 responses.
B. Athletic Association Presidents Meeting – Mr. Keprios informed the Park Board that
he has a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 27th at 7:00 pm at City Hall in the
Community Room to meet with the presidents of the Athletic Associations. He noted
that these meetings have had excellent attendance and he feels they have always been
very valuable and worthwhile. He noted that they will be discussing insurance issues,
fields issues and the scheduling of gymnasiums.
VI. PARK BOARD COMMENT
A. Outdoor Ice Rinks – Mr. Sorem noted that he would like to comment on the quality
of the outdoor ice this year and stated that staff should be commended once again for
the best outdoor ice anywhere in the country. After a tough start, it was exceptional.
B. Fred Richards Golf Course – Mr. O’Connell indicated that Edina is very landlocked,
however, there is one piece of property that he feels is underutilized that would be
able to provide an area not only for refrigerated ice but could also provide both a
soccer field and lacrosse field next to it. He stated that he is referring to the Fred
Richards Golf Course. He noted that at this point the golf course is being subsidized
and even though hockey, soccer and lacrosse would be paying for part of it, it would
still need to be subsidized. However, it is his opinion that it would have greater
utilization and would fill a need that they currently have for land.
Mr. O’Connell stated that the golf course is named after a wonderful guy but they
could still keep the same name for the athletic amalgamation. He commented that he
just throws this out as something to think about because he thinks it would satisfy a
lot of questions in several other areas to which a lot of serendipity could develop
from it.
Mr. Keprios commented that he thinks this idea could be discussed by the Park
Board during the comprehensive plan review process.
Meeting adjourned at 7:50 pm.