Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-11-12 Park Board Minutes 1 Minutes of the Edina Park Board November 12, 2008 Edina City Hall, Council Chambers MEMBERS PRESENT: Joseph Hulbert, Howard Merriam, Randy Meyer, Dan Peterson, Jeff Sorem, Ray O’Connell, Todd Fronek, Mike Damman, Ben Pobuda MEMBERS ABSENT: Rob Presthus, George Klus STAFF PRESENT: John Keprios, Janet Canton, Ed MacHolda, Larry Thayer, Ann Kattreh, John Valliere, Todd Anderson, Susie Miller, Tom Shirley, Donna Tilsner I. APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 10, 2008 PARK BOARD MINUTES Dan Peterson MOVED TO APPROVE THE SEPTEMBER 10, 2008 PARK BOARD MINUTES. Ray O’Connell SECONDED THE MOTION. MINUTES APPROVED. II. NEW BUSINESS A. Non-Resident Patron Card Proposal – Braemar Golf Course – John Valliere, Manager of Braemar Golf Course, informed the Park Board that he is proposing that Braemar offer a non-resident patron card. He pointed out that in the past they had strong patron sales but over the years there has been a decrease. He indicated they are now down approximately 1,300 patron card holders compared to the year 1988 when they were at 2,750 patron card holders. Mr. Valliere commented that the golf market is quite competitive and that other golf courses in the area are now selling non-resident patron cards in order to fill their tee times. He indicated that he would like to ask for approval from the Park Board to sell non-resident patron cards for $110.00. Mr. Fronek asked Mr. Valliere if he sees a big need to put a cap of 750 non-resident patron cards. He asked if that is the number he would like to see instituted or would he prefer a little leeway on that number. Mr. Valliere replied that they thought long and hard about that and their summation would be to start with a limit of 750 and see how that goes. They want to be sure they won’t cause a situation where residents can no longer get on the course. Mr. Sorem asked Mr. Valliere if he has ever looked at selling a punch card where people prepay for a certain number of rounds. Mr. Valliere replied that they have used punch cards for the juniors and executive course but they have not utilized them on the main course. However, it is something that could be done. Ray O’Connell MOVED TO PERMIT THE SALE OF A NON-RESIDENT PATRON CARD AND THAT THE FEE BE SET AT $110.00 FOR 2009. Dan Peterson SECONDED THE MOTION. 2 Mr. Meyer asked if the Park Board will review this a year from now or will this be a permanent change. Mr. Keprios replied that it will stay in place until the Park Board changes it. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. B. 2009 PROPOSED FEES AND CHARGES – The facility managers gave an update of their facilities and noted any changes in the fees and charges from the previous year. Mr. Valliere pointed out that at Braemar Golf Course they have been creative and have added the following: College Age Rate ID Card $ 5.00 College Age Rate $25.00 Masters Senior (patrons 75 and older) $24.00 Mr. Hulbert suggested that for students who have a student ID maybe we could waive the $5.00 just to encourage them to come out and play. He noted that it doesn’t seem like that much money just to encourage them to come out and play. Mr. Valliere replied that they really aren’t after the $5.00 but what they are after is some type of identification because if they don’t have a college ID they will get into a situation they would rather avoid. Mr. Valliere stated that he could look away from the $5.00 but that they would have to have some sort of a college ID so that when they repeat they can just show their card which states they have previously shown their ID and that would make it a lot easier for the person working at the counter. Mr. Keprios stated that they try to keep their fees competitively priced but also affordable. Mr. Keprios pointed out that the Edina Community Foundation annually contributes close to $5,000 to the Rosland Grant-In-Aid program which helps Edina families who are financially challenged an opportunity to participate in the basic programs. Mike Damman MOVED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED 2009 FEES AND CHARGES. Jeff Sorem SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. C. 2009-2013 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN – Mr. Keprios informed the Park Board that he is proposing a few changes to the general parks capital improvement plan to which the Park Board gave a preliminary approval back in June. Mr. Keprios went through those changes. Mr. Keprios explained the revenue bonds for Braemar Arena will be completely paid off in early 2009. At that time they would like to take out a new 1.9 million dollar revenue bond to make the changes that are proposed. He explained that basically the new revenue bond would fund all of the capital improvement plans for 2009, 2010 and 2011. It will also refurbish the west arena which is basically the entire refrigeration 3 system. Mr. Meyer asked if the refurbishing of the west arena will include fixing the ceiling as well as some aesthetic things inside or is it just the ice. Mr. Thayer replied it is pretty much just the refrigeration system. Mr. Meyer indicated that he has received comments from parents over the years regarding the locker rooms and asked if that will be part of the refurbishing. Mr. Thayer responded that they redid the west locker rooms in 1997 and noted that there have been a lot of comments over the years about adding varsity locker rooms for the high school program to which Mr. Meyer replied yes, that’s the issue. Mr. Thayer explained that this has been an ongoing discussion and that the city feels it is more of a school issue at this point in time; however, the school has not come forward with any financial backing for that project. Mr. Meyer replied that maybe there should be some discussion about that with the school. Mr. O’Connell pointed out that the driving range is one of the best profit makers they have and therefore he encourages the upgrading of the driving range and suggested adding 20 stalls as well as upgrading the current stalls. Mr. Keprios commented that they definitely do not have excess capacity at the driving range like they do on the golf course itself; however, when funds become available, the expansion of the driving range will be a priority. Mr. O’Connell suggested an idea that he has been thinking about and that is to replace the greenhouse at Arneson Acres with a conservatory. He noted that it would provide a unique beautiful opportunity and he knows that the garden clubs would love it. Mr. Merriam indicated that he is a little bit troubled by losing the natural resource inventory. He noted that unless there is some existing baseline of natural resource data that the city has then they should really try to hang on to that study in some capacity. He noted that it may include phasing it in over a couple of years but he thinks if they don’t assess what resources are in the community then they will lose them and Edina has some things they should think about. Mr. Fronek indicated that he thinks staff did a great job. He asked Mr. Keprios for his comments regarding the Natural Resources Inventory Assessment and noted that he thought they were going to do something one or two years ago with regards to water quality control and wasn’t sure if that had to do with the inventory assessment. Mr. Fronek also noted that in regards to Pamela Park he is in support of saving money but asked if it might be better to build a whole new building rather than renovate what is currently there. Mr. Keprios replied there are a lot of potential options with regards to the building at Pamela Park. He noted that he doesn’t have the answer right now and thankfully they do not have to approve it for 2009 because right now this is just a concept plan. Mr. Keprios explained that there are as couple of things regarding the water quality. He pointed out that the watershed district is moving forward with a master plan to improve water quality. Also, being that the Legacy Act Sales Tax passed there should be more dollars available in the future to address water quality issues. Therefore, they are looking forward to hopefully securing some grant money to do more work in that 4 area. Mr. Keprios stated that in response to the question about the Natural Resources Inventory he doesn’t disagree with Mr. Merriam and Mr. Fronek and that maybe it would be appropriate to ask for $50,000 of it in 2011 and another $50,000 in 2012. If the Park Board would feel comfortable with that and if they could stretch that out and make that a one year process starting mid-year. He stated that he thinks that would be a reasonable recommendation. Howard Merriam MOVED TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CIP THAT THEY SPLIT THE PROPOSED NATURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY IN TWO PHASES $50,000 IN 2011 AND $50,000 IN 2012. Dan Peterson SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Todd Fronek entertained a motion to approve the CIP as amended. Dan Peterson MOVED. Mike Damman SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. D. PAMELA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD PARK INPUT MEETING – Mr. Keprios informed the Park Board that there are quite a few improvements that are currently planned for Pamela Park over the next five years. He noted that it seemed to make sense to him that rather than doing a neighborhood input meeting once a year every year, that instead he could send out notices to everyone within 1,000 feet of the park (which is approximately 800 households) and ask for their input either through e-mail, postal mail or fax and ask for their input on those proposed improvements and invite them to an input meeting to gather their feedback on all of the proposed park improvements for Pamela Park. Mr. Keprios noted there are a couple of different options on how that could be done. First it could be done during a normal Park Board meeting. Another option would be to meet on a separate night and maybe have one or two Park Board members attend with staff and do it a little more informally and off camera. Mr. Keprios pointed out that if it is done during a formal Park Board meeting there would be a televised recording of it. He commented that it does not need to be decided tonight but that it could be debated and discussed at another Park Board meeting. Mr. Fronek stated that he would propose that they hold a neighborhood input meeting on Pamela Park at the December Park Board meeting. Ray O’Connell MOVED. Howard Merriam SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 5 III. UPDATES FROM STAFF A. 2008 Park Improvements – Mr. Keprios informed the Park Board that they have been extremely busy improving the parks this past year and he gave a Power Point slide show presentation on a large number of park improvement projects. B. Comprehensive Plan – Mr. Keprios explained to the Park Board that the Comprehensive Plan is a project they’ve been working on for at least two years and they are now in the very final stage of it. He noted that it has been submitted onto the City Council several months ago and has undergone some minor revisions but there have been no real substantive changes to the Parks, Open Space and Natural Resources Chapter. He pointed out that it’s been a very lengthy and involved process. Mr. Keprios informed the Park Board that late in the process the City Council received a memo/petition from the Todd Park neighborhood requesting that Todd Park be reclassified from a community playfield to a neighborhood park. Mr. Keprios explained that the characterization and classifications that Edina uses for their parks is recommended by the National Recreation Park Association. Mr. Keprios noted this petition was submitted directly to the City Council for their consideration. The Council has not yet decided whether to bring the matter to the Park Board or simply rule on the request to revise the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Keprios indicated that in his view it really does not change much of anything. He stated that Todd Park is very similar to other neighborhood parks such as Strachauer Park and Countryside Park, which have similar amenities. Like Todd Park, Strachauer Park and Countryside Park also each have a basketball court, playground equipment, athletic fields, an outdoor hockey rink and park shelter building. He noted that he doesn’t think it should become controversial. Mr. Hulbert commented that sometimes definitions have implications and that the city went through a long process of having open hearings for the Comprehensive Plan. He asked that, if it’s just a term, does it need to be included at the last minute when there may be some people who might not like that reclassification who went to some of those open hearings and may not even be aware that this is being put in at the last minute. Mr. Fronek indicated that he agrees with Mr. Hulbert and explained that he did talk to Mr. Keprios and Mr. Hughes about it. He commented that their feeling at that point is that it probably should be handled at the City Council level. Mr. Fronek stated that unfortunately it was an 11th hour change. He commented that the Park Board could pass a resolution against the recommendation; however, it’s currently in the hands of the City Council as to whether or not to reject this memo/petition. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:47 PM