HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-06-14 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD
7:00 p.m. Park Board Tour Began from City Hall
June 14, 1994
MEMBERS PRESENT: Bill Jenkins, Andy Herring, Bill Lord, Andy Montgomery,
Ernie Fischer, Beth Hall, Jim Fee, Becky Bennett, John
Dovolis
MEMBERS ABSENT: Jean Rydell, Dave Crowther
STAFF PRESENT: John Keprios, Ed MacHolda, Janet Canton
OTHERS PRESENT: Kris McKeon-Rohman, Bobby Arnold, Blake Arnold, Jeffrey
Arnold
Park Board Tour
7:00 p.m. the Park Board went on a tour to the following parks and facilities:
1.
Lake Cornelia Park
2.
Normandale Park
3.
Tingdale Park
4.
Moore Property Open Space
5.
Garden Park
6.
Todd Park
7.
Weber Park
The Park Board Meeting began at 8:20 p.m.
I. APPROVAL OF THE MAY 10, 1994 MINUTES
Jim Fee MOVED TO APPROVE THE MAY 10, 1994 MINUTES. John Dovolis
SECONDED THE MOTION. MINUTES APPROVED.
II. HERBICIDES
Mr. Keprios indicated that Kris McKeon-Rohman is in the audience and
would like to speak to the Park Board about herbicides, which is not on
the agenda. The Park Board agreed to discuss this issue first. Mr.
Keprios pointed out that all of the Park Board members received a letter
from Ms. McKeon-Rohman regarding herbicides. Mr. Keprios then indicated
that he has received six phone calls from people who have read the
article that Ms. McKeon-Rohman wrote to the Sun Current Newspaper.
These people have been in favor of banning herbicides. He indicated
that he has been keeping notes on everyone who calls regarding this
issue.
Mr. Keprios explained that his assumption is the City Council will be
asking for a report from staff on this issue. He noted that the report
will state that the herbicides are approved by the Environmental
Protection Agency at the federal and state level. Also, the people who
apply the herbicides go through a state licensing class and will do a
better job of staking and signing areas before they spray rather than
after. Mr. Keprios also pointed out that we will do a better job of
coordinating with the schools to make sure there are no special
activities going on outside of the playgrounds. Mr. Keprios pointed out
that the day that was in question only the fenced in area of the adult
softball field at Cornelia School was sprayed. Unfortunately, Cornelia
School also had a special event scheduled that day at the school.
Mr. Keprios stated that he has asked for information from the state to
become more educated and has also looked at the findings from the
Plymouth Park and Recreation Department survey. He noted that Plymouth
hired the University of Minnesota to do a needs assessment survey and
one of them was the herbicide issue. He stated that they too had a lot
of environmental concerns from their citizens. The options before them
were to discontinue the use of herbicides altogether, to continue to use
herbicides on a licensed basis as approved by the state, or to use
current organic fertilizers. Mr. Keprios indicated that 77% of those
that responded stated that they wanted to continue the use of existing
herbicides under licensed conditions.
Mr. Fischer asked what would happen if herbicides weren't used. How bad
do the fields get and what increase in maintenance is there. Mr.
Keprios explained that weeds, unfortunately, are a plant that is much
heartier than grass and if left to the elements will take over grass.
Mr. Keprios noted that the Minneapolis Park System does not use
herbicides and if you look at their fields they have almost 70% weeds
and very little grass.
Mr. Keprios noted that part of the component in the herbicide that's
really in question is 2,4-D. It's a very controversial subject because
there are some studies that show conclusively that 2,4-D is not
hazardous while other studies have conflicting views. However, at the
present time the EPA considers it to be within their limits when safely
applied. Mr. Lord commented that we should rely on the professionalism
and research of our staff in coming back to us with their
recommendations. Mr. Lord then asked if Mr. Richards has responded to
Ms. McKeon-Rohman's letter. It was noted not at this time.
Ms. McKeon-Rohman noted that she does not like the references to the
fact that the EPA seems to support this because the federal government's
own General Accounting Office has criticized it's own Department of
Agriculture and it's own EPA. They are not warning people well enough
about 2,4-D or lawn care in general. She indicated that 2,4-D is very
controversial. Mr. Jenkins asked Ms. McKeon-rohman if she is suggesting
that we shouldn't use it at all. Ms. McKeon-Rohman indicated no, she
just doesn't want to see it used on the playgrounds. She then noted
that the children don't care if they are playing in weeds, in fact, they
have more fun with the dandelions than they do playing with the grass.
Ms. McKeon-Rohman pointed out that she is not talking about golf lawns
or the front of City Hall, she is talking about the actual playgrounds
where children play. She noted it is okay to spray where the kids
aren't playing. Ms. McKeon-Rohman stressed the fact that if 2,4-D is a
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controversy right now why are we risking the health of our children for
aesthetics.
Ms. McKeon-Rohman also pointed out that she would like to send everyone
a copy of the Plymouth survey that Mr. Keprios referred to. She felt
that the survey lead people to pick the answer they were looking for.
Ms. McKeon-Rohman again pointed out that she has fair meeting ground in
saying let's not put herbicides on the children's playgrounds.
Mr. Jenkins then indicated that the Park Board cannot decide anything on
this matter tonight. He noted that the next move is for the City
Council to act on this issue. Mr. Keprios indicated that this will be
on the June 20th City Council agenda. It was suggested to Ms. McKeon-
Rohman by the Park Board that it would be beneficial to her if she spoke
at the City Council meeting on June 20th. Mr. Jenkins noted that he
appreciates Ms. McKeon-Rohman coming to the Park Board with this issue.
III. APPROVAL OF OUTDOOR SKATING RINK LETTER
Mr. Keprios stated that at the last Park Board meeting he was given a
directive to write a letter regarding the closing of outdoor skating
rinks to appear in the Sun Current Newspaper. Mr. Keprios noted that he
took the approach that it would be important for the Park Board to get
some community input on the subject if we decide to close more than two
rinks.
Mr. Keprios explained that he has a Plan A and Plan B. Mr. Keprios then
showed a map with concentric circles around the parks that indicated a
half mile radius. He stated that Plan A would recommend eliminating
Normandale, Pamela, Strachauer and Walnut Ridge. This way the city will
end up with two skating rinks in each quadrant of the city. Mr. Keprios
then explained that Plan B would put Walnut Ridge back in and eliminate
Highlands. Mr. Keprios indicated that he doesn't want the Park Board to
think that these are their only two options available.
Mr. Fee felt the Park Board should first decide whether or not they want
to send the letter in to the Edina Sun Current. Mr. Lord and Mr. Fee
both felt that Plan A is the best plan.
Mr. Keprios pointed out that Pamela is due to have a new rink soon and
that was another factor he looked at when deciding upon this rink. Mr.
Keprios handed out information on when the rinks were built and when
they are scheduled to be rebuilt. It was noted that the Park Board
agreed that Strachauer Park should be closed.
Mr. Jenkins asked if Highlands is the next rink to be redone. Mr.
Keprios noted that is correct and that is why he also made a Plan B.
Mr. Fee asked why Countryside was picked over Normandale. Mr. Keprios
noted that the idea was to leave two rinks in each quadrant of the city.
Mr. Fee stated that he thinks the first step is to send out the letter.
Mr. Montgomery indicated he felt it was a little long. It was then
expressed that all of the information needs to be in it so that people
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know what the ramifications are. Mr. Fee asked for an unofficial vote
as to what each Park Board member thinks about the staff's
recommendation of closing four rinks.
Ms. Bennett asked if the numbers are going to increase with the Hockey
Association indicating they will be needing more outdoor ice hours. Mr.
Keprios explained that every year the Hockey Board states that they have
to get better use of the outdoor hockey rinks. Mr. Keprios stated that
by closing down three hockey rinks, it will not have a great affect on
the hockey program.
Mr. Jenkins asked what is going to be done with the labor and manpower
that was used for those four rinks. Mr. Keprios noted that there are a
number of things that could be done such as have groomed cross country
ski trails, which people are always asking about. Also, trim trees
which need to be done in the winter and work on the warming house
buildings. These are things to focus on, however, there will really -not
be a lot of money saved.
Mr. Keprios pointed out that it doesn't look like the City Council is
going to hire two full-time maintenance men to replace the ones we lost
in 1990 and 1992. He indicated that every year they request these two
positions be filled. Mr. Keprios noted that we are down to 13 full-time
union park maintenance men. He noted that there is also one non-union
working park foreman and one non-union park custodian. Therefore, there
is a total of 15 full-time park maintenance staff. Mr. Keprios noted
that by closing four rinks it will free up two full-time maintenance men
to do the much needed maintenance, such as, garbage collection, tree
trimming, cross-country ski trails and we will get a faster turn around
in plowing our parking lots and paths.
Mr. Jenkins asked if we currently have any groomed cross country ski
trails and Mr. Keprios noted there are none in Edina. However, he has
requested equipment to possibly groom trails this year. Mr. Fee asked
where the trails would be and it was noted probably at Braemar and
Bredesen.
Mr. Montgomery stated that he has a problem with Highlands remaining
open and Walnut Ridge being closed because Walnut Ridge was just rebuilt
not that long ago and Highlands needs to be rebuilt soon. He felt that
by doing this we are saying two different things. One is to save money
but yet the other is to spend it. Mr. Montgomery suggested listing in
the letter five or six parks and indicating that three of them will be
closed since everyone agrees that Strachauer Park should be closed.
Mr. Fee again asked that an unofficial vote be taken to see how each
Park Board member feels on the issue and whether they are or are not in
favor of it.
Mr. Jenkins noted that he personally is torn back and forth on the
issue. He understands the fiscal side of it, however he would really
like to see the two maintenance men back on board. He feels the Park
Board should be working on that issue. However, he personally does have
a problem with closing the rinks. He indicated that he does not want to
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close the rinks. He explained to Mr. Keprios that he understands where
he is coming from and he doesn't have a problem with it but personally
he doesn't think we should close any of the rinks.
Mr. Lord indicated that outside of Strachauer he feels the same way as
Mr. Jenkins.
Mr. Fischer indicated that he goes back and forth on the issue too but
that he would come down on the side of saying that he thinks what we are
hearing from the staff is that there is a real crunch on manpower in the
winter time. There is other maintenance that needs to get done that is
not getting done and rather than have things go shotty on a slow curve
he thinks that at this point he would go along with the staff's
recommendation in closing down the rinks.
Ms. Bennett noted that she also goes back and forth the issue. She
stated that she has had people talk to her about the issue and that she
really doesn't know. It's a tough issue and she understands both sides
of it.
Ms. Hall noted that she feels badly about Pamela being closed but that
she goes along with the staff's recommendation.
Mr. Montgomery noted that he supports the staff's recommendation.
However, he doesn't want to walk away tonight and say we are going to
definitely close these specific parks. He would like to see the letter
get out to the public so they are aware of the situation and fiscal
responsibility.
Mr. Herring noted that he feels this is a very expensive proposition to
continue to have all of these parks open and he thinks four parks should
be closed.
Mr. Dovolis indicated that he is never one to diminish things for kids.
He agrees with staff when it comes to fiscal responsibility but he
thinks we need to take a hard look at all of the services. He
indicated, however, that he sees things diminishing in the Edina parks
in general whether it's tennis courts, skating rinks, or other things in
disrepair. Edina residents have to take a hard look at this and
possibly we need to get some sort of a bond issue to get the different
facilities, etc. back to the way they are supposed to be.
Mr. Fee indicated that he would support staff, especially on a one year
basis to see what kind of utilization we get out of the maintenance men
doing these other projects. He noted that he would not be in favor of
spending any big expenditures on Highlands or anything else until after
one year and assess it at that time. Again, under the assumption that
we don't get these two additional park maintenance men.
Mr. Jenkins noted that it seems the majority of the people would go
along with the staff's recommendation and close three or four rinks.
Mr. Herring indicated that the only question is Mr. Montgomery wanted to
add a couple of parks that are under consideration to be closed and he
felt that's a good idea.
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Mr. Lord asked Mr. Keprios how many times have we tried to close rinks
in the past. Mr. Keprios noted that if we go way back in history we
used to maintain rinks at Todd, York, Garden, Melody, Browndale, the
list goes on. The trend has been to become more fiscally responsible.
Mr. Herring noted that he thinks it's good to publicize this in the
newspaper and receive some input. It was noted that the rinks that will
be listed in the letter will be Pamela, Normandale, Walnut Ridge,
Highlands, Strachauer and Countryside. Mr. Fee indicated that the
letter should indicate that the situation will be assessed after one
year to see how they are utilized.
Mr. Jenkins indicated the in the audience are Bobby, Blake and Jeffrey
Arnold. The Arnold's explained that their house is the closet house to
any hockey rink in Edina. They indicated that they have mixed feelings
on Walnut Ridge being closed. On one hand they would never be bothered
again early in the morning, but, by the same token, it is a rink that
does get a lot of usage. Ms. Arnold stated that there are school bus
loads of kids from Countryside School that come over to use the Walnut
Ridge hockey rink. She noted that the neighborhood has turned over and
now there are a lot of young families in the neighborhood. Mr. Keprios
indicated that he will keep the Arnolds informed of any decisions that
are made and what those decisions have been based upon. He then noted
that a lot is being based upon participation and that it currently costs
$3.60 per skater.
There was a unanimous consensus that the letter be submitted to the Sun
Current Newspaper.
IV. TENNIS COURTS (USE STUDY UPDATE AND CONDITION REPORT)
Mr. Jenkins noted that Mr. Montgomery and Ms. Rydell did a good job on
the tennis court study. Mr. Montgomery stated that it's disappointing
to see that the tennis courts aren't being used the way they used to be.
Some of the tennis courts used to be in excellent shape and now they are
deteriorating.
Mr. Keprios passed around a list indicating the things they are going to
try to get done this year. He noted that he would like to see at least
six tennis courts get resurfaced and rebuild three hard surface areas,
Todd, Normandale and Weber. He indicated that the Basketball
Association is also willing to spend some money on this project.
Mr. Keprios indicated that there are a number of playground sites that
need to be rebuilt. He is hoping to revamp some of the lighting at
Courtney Fields this year. Also, the carpet in the living room at
Arneson Acres needs to be replaced. There are also eight roofs that
need to be rebuilt on the warming houses. Mr. Keprios indicated that
another big issue is which tennis courts are we going to do this year.
He stated that he did not put Braemar on the list because it is
unrepairable at this point. It needs to be totally rebuilt and we don't
have the money to do it this year unless we forego the other six courts
that need to be resurfaced. He stated that the nets are currently down
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on the Braemar tennis courts because they are unsafe. Mr. Keprios noted
that he is keeping a list of all phone calls he receives regarding the
Braemar tennis courts.
Mr. Fee asked if there is money to do all of the work this year. Mr.
Keprios stated that we have $34,000 to the following: paths, hard
surface areas, playground equipment, bleachers, benches, trash
receptacles, signs and all park amenities. There is $55,000 budgeted in
the capital plan to do the roofs on the warming houses. $80,000 from
the Developer's Fund is budgeted to do the work at Arneson Acres.
Ms. Bennett asked what type of playground equipment will go in at Lewis
Park. Mr. Keprios noted that he will set up a neighborhood meeting so
that everyone will be able to give some input as to what equipment they
would like to see at the playground.
Mr. Keprios explained that he has currently met with some members of the
school district regarding a joint venture for new playground equipment.
He noted he is not sure where this committee is going, however, there
has been some talk of a joint bond issue. Mr. Keprios then stated,
however, that the park needs are much greater than just playground
equipment. Mr. Keprios indicated that it would be nice to see a park
improvement bond issue and then pay for it through the capital plan over
the next several years.
Mr. Herring asked if we need to have 15 tennis courts in the city. Mr.
Keprios indicated that is the report we are waiting to hear from Mr.
Montgomery's group. Mr. Montgomery indicated that there isn't the use
that there used to be at the tennis courts in the city. He noted that
definitely their recommendation is to not rebuild Braemar. John
Dovolis MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THE BRAEMAR TENNIS
COURTS BE TAKEN DOWN. Andy Herring SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
V. OTHER
A. Wesely Memorial Dedication - Mr. Keprios handed out pictures that
were taken of the Wesely Memorial dedication. He thanked Mr. Dovolis
for being there. It was a very nice ceremony.
B. Braemar Inspection Tour - Mr. Keprios indicated that the Braemar
Inspection Tour will be on Wednesday, August 10th. He noted there will
be a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new 9 as well as a ribbon cutting
ceremony for John Harris Drive. It was stated that it will be a
scramble 18 hole event with dinner afterwards. Everyone will have an
opportunity to play on the new nine hole course. Formal invitations
will be mailed out in July.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
Jim Fee MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:25 P.M. John Dovolis SECONDED
THE MOTION. MEETING ADJOURNED
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