HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-12-13 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD
7:30 p.m.
December 13, 1994
MEMBERS PRESENT: Andrew Herring, Andrew Montgomery, Beth Hall, Ernie Fischer,
John Dovolis, Bill Jenkins, Bill Lord, Jim Fee
MEMBERS ABSENT: Becky Bennett, Dave Crowther, Jean Rydell
STAFF PRESENT: John Keprios, Ed MacHolda, Janet Canton
OTHERS PRESENT: Mike Julius
I. APPROVAL OF THE NOVEMBER 8. 1994 MINUTES
John Dovolis MOVED TO APPROVE THE NOVEMBER 8, 1994 PARK BOARD MINUTES.
Andy Montgomery SECONDED THE MOTION. MINUTES APPROVED.
Mr. Montgomery brought up the Braemar tennis court issue from the last
Park Board meeting. He asked Mr. Keprios if there was something we
could have done different at Braemar to extend it's life. Mr.
Montgomery noted that we got nailed but it seemed to him that it's
normal on a cycle of 6 to 7 years that the courts have to be maintained.
Mr. Keprios responded that if we had been on a more frequent maintenance
schedule we could have extended its life but it would be hard to say by
how much. Mr. Montgomery asked Mr. Keprios how you take care of the
subsurface and Mr. Keprios indicated that you can't. He pointed out
that the comment the gentleman made about Highlands tennis court being
unstable is correct. It's just the nature of where the courts were
placed. The courts were not built on a good subsurface. He stated that
all you can do to correct it is tear it all out and put in a really deep
subsurface for a stable base.
Mr. Montgomery indicated to Mr. Keprios that he thinks he took an unfair
beating for the maintenance of the tennis courts. Mr. Keprios stated
that he has contacted a professional engineering firm to inspect each
court and present a proposal to write specifications and act as project
manager for tennis court rehabilitation. They will then give us their
view of which courts need to be done first and approximately how much
it's going to cost.
Mr. Jenkins asked what this service will cost. Mr. Keprios indicated
that he anticipates that it will cost approximately 10% to 12% of the
total package to do whatever work needs to be done. Mr. Keprios stated
that INSPEC, Inc. has visited all the tennis court sites and will tell
us which courts should be done next. Mr. Herring asked what is their
cost. Mr. Keprios indicated that it will cost roughly between 10% and
12% of what it will cost to have the work done by a contractor.
Mr. Lord asked if they don't do anything then they won't get paid
anything. Mr. Keprios indicated no, that usually the soft costs come in
around 7% and they are more expensive. He noted that he does not have a
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proposed dollar figure from the contractor at this time. Mr. Fee asked
if these people give us an analysis on all of the courts and we don't do
a thing, what is that going to cost us. Mr. Keprios explained that
these people are essentially writing him a proposal. He then indicated
to the Park Board that he will get them those costs and yes it is
expensive, but he thinks it's worth the money.
CORNELIA SCHOOL PARK PLAN - MIKE JULIUS
Mike Julius indicated that a year ago he planted a seed in the Park
Board's mind of what the Cornelia neighborhood was up to and what they
had done. He noted that now, a year later, the success story continues
to grow. He stated that he would like to talk about the successes, the
revitalization that the community has installed in him and the PTA, the
site counts and the momentum that that's gained.
Mr. Julius explained a very aggressive three year plan that has been
adopted as a school and as a community. He indicated that some of the
things they are looking at doing involve the city's help. Mr. Julius
stated that the community has come together with these ideas and what we
have to do is see what the needs of the park might be and then try to go
out and match sources of funding. Mr. Julius noted that what he is
doing right now is planting seeds and saying this is what we've done to
date with very little support.
Mr. Julius gave a background of Cornelia School. He noted that it was
built in 1959 and the park and those enhancements took place after the
fact. He stated that in grades kindergarten through fifth grade there
are 485 kids. Mr. Julius then handed out an outline of what they are
planing on doing. The plan is called "Cornelia Branches Out" and shows
the three phases. He noted that they developed a site plan and hired a
landscape architect. He explained that since this was started four
years ago over 425 trees have been planted on site. He stated that the
contribution the Park Board made was they let them use their digger and
auger and some of the foresters help, etc.
Mr. Julius then stated that every Arbor Day they plant trees. One year
they planted an excess of 200 trees. He explained that they also held
their first community picnic and over 400 people attended. Mr. Julius
indicated that what he is trying to say is that the momentum of what
they've done to date has been fabulous.
Mr. Julius then went on to explain that he is now trying to do other
things because everyone keeps asking him what is going to be done next.
He noted that the play structure is now 13 to 14 years old and doesn't
comply with ADA and there are a lot of issues with that which face both
the school and the city. Mr. Julius then indicated that there has also
been some talk about having a joint powers agreement because of the
property lines.
Mr. Julius then went through the list of the different phases they would
like to see done at Cornelia.
Mr. Julius stated that part of the success of all of the planting that
has been done is a few of the grades have planted their own garden each
year. Mr. Julius pointed out that half of the things he has talked
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about are not funded or are funded through contributions or in talking
to people, such as the Rotary Club and Soccer Association.
Mr. Julius indicated that what he has identified in working with Mr.
Keprios is that there is a need and it's a funding issue. He noted that
he is here saying that as a community these are things they would like
to see happen.
Mr. Julius explained that last year a couple of Park Board members
indicated that they only heard a couple of negative things about
Cornelia. There was a neighbor complaining there was too much softball
and another neighbor didn't like what was going on. He stated that when
they first planted trees there were complaints too. Mr. Julius noted
that he's like a politician, you have to please your people that are
complaining. He pointed out, however, that you are not going to please
everyone.
Mr. Julius noted that they are going to go ahead and commit to Phase I
as a PTA as a site council. He noted that they've adopted phase I and
they would like to have some assistance from the Park Board, fundraisers
and contributions to help make Phase I happen because it can be done and
it's not that expensive. Mr. Julius stated that tonight he is asking,
and he doesn't have a dollar amount, for some financial commitment for
the spring of 1995 to assist Cornelia in taking care of Phase I. Mr.
Julius pointed out that he and Mr. Keprios are in agreement with
everything under Phase I. However, they haven't agreed as to how much
or how it will all occur. Mr. Julius noted that he would like to see
everything happen within the next three years because then he is on to
the jr. high with his kids.
Mr. Fee asked Mr. Keprios what is in the budget for the long range
planning of Cornelia School Park. Is there an amount allocated. Mr.
Keprios indicated that each year the capital plan can be adjusted,
however, there is no money specifically designated for a certain park.
Mr. Fee asked if it would be a problem to have running water in the
warming house. Mr. Keprios indicated that it can be done but it would
be expensive. Mr. Keprios stated that a lot of the items under Phase I
are easily attainable and are not all that expensive. Mr. Keprios
pointed out that an important part that needs to be done in 1995 is to
work through a joint powers agreement. There really is nothing in
writing that explains who is responsible and liable for what on the two
lands. However, as far as the development of the park Mr. Keprios
thinks that in keeping with the spirit in the way it was developed
initially it was done jointly and to keep that tradition makes a lot of
sense. Because it is used as a public park and as school grounds, the
two entities working together can get a lot accomplished. Mr. Keprios
stated that it's great to have a neighborhood group like this willing to
donate a lot of volunteer time and moneys toward a lot of these
projects.
Mr. Jenkins asked Mr. Keprios if he thinks he can handle Phase I right
now and he indicated yes. Mr. Julius stated that Phase I is probably in
the $20,000 range and he doesn't know how much he will be able to raise.
Mr. Julius pointed out that the community is going to raise part of it
because if he doesn't have community involvement then it dies. They
have to want it and they have to help with it. He noted that for the
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most part everyone is willing to give a night. He also stated that a
lot of dad's have installed some of the equipment. Mr. Julius stated
that he has learned everyone likes doing this because it's a win, win
situation and there are no losers.
Mr. Jenkins indicated that he would like to commend Mr. Julius and the
neighborhood for all of their hard work. He noted that the Park Board
is completely with them and all of their ideas and plans. Mr. Jenkins
stated that what he would like to do is ask that Mr. Keprios utilize
the Park and Recreation Department capital funds to help facilitate
those things for the 1994-1995 phase. Mr. Keprios indicated that he
doesn't want to lose the momentum of the volunteers. He also pointed
out that futuristically by 1996 we might realistically consider a bond
issue and then we can address the issue of park shelters.
Mr. Fischer asked Mr. Keprios if there are any joint powers agreements
in place now. Mr. Keprios indicated that there are not. Mr. Fischer
asked if it will help move this project along if we have one now. Mr.
Fischer indicated that this is a good example of two segments of
government working together which is all too few. Mr. Keprios indicated
that's a good question because he doesn't know that he has the answer
because he hasn't been through the process before.
Mr. Herring asked if there is a joint powers agreement with the
community center and Mr. Keprios indicated that it is under a lease
which serves as a joint powers agreement with the Edina School District.
Mr. Keprios indicated that it may be something we are going to
eventually have to do.
Mr. Fee asked if there are any other situations close to this. Mr.
Keprios stated that there is a similar situation at Creek Valley.
Mr. Fischer asked Mr. Keprios to rough out what kind of an agreement he
thinks would be most appropriate and let him work with the School Board
to decide if we need to go forward with it or not.
Mr. Keprios indicated that he thinks there needs to be some language in
there that if we have a city owned warming house on school property then
who is responsible for paying the heat, lights, etc. and put in all of
the same language that is spelled out on the Senior Center.
Mr. Julius explained there is also a plan for the educational side of
things. It is a three year plan which includes that each classroom will
have a computer, etc.
Mr. Julius thanked the Park Board for their time and noted that he will
be back again in the future.
III. FORESTRY REPORT
Mr. Keprios stated that Mr. Horwath wrote a nice report. He then
explained that Mr. Horwath is a contract employee and does a fabulous
job for the city. Mr. Keprios pointed out that the city offers a lot of
services for tree related issues and questions that a lot of other
communities don't provide. He indicated that the City Council just
approved a two year tree trimming project in the southeast corner of
Edina.
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IV. YOUTH ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION STAFF REPORT - JOHN KEPRIOS
Mr. Jenkins indicated that this issue will be brought up at the January
Park Board meeting. He stated that it will give everyone enough time to
look at the nice staff report that was put together.
V. OTHER
A. Budget - Mr. Keprios indicated that the 1995 budget and fees and
charges have been approved by the City Council as well as approval to
reinstate the sixteenth (16th) park maintenance worker.
B. Arneson Acres Park - Mr. Keprios indicated that he is forming a
committee to finalize the development plans for Arneson Acres Park. He
noted that it will include some members of the Garden Council, Park
Maintenance Department Horticultural Specialist, Tim Zimmerman, a few
interested neighbors in the area and himself.
C. Braemar Tennis Courts - Mr. Keprios stated that Mr. Coonrod has
now retracted his offer and it is no longer on the table. Mr.
Montgomery asked if we are looking at an alternative use for the Braemar
tennis facility. Mr. Keprios indicated that this issue will be brought
up at the February Park Board meeting. Mr. Montgomery asked what
happened to the sand volleyball concept. Mr. Montgomery noted that it
seems to be coming on in a lot of communities and we only have one in
the city. He also noted that he doesn't feel it should be at Lake
Cornelia because there are too many young kids. Mr. Montgomery pointed
out that it is the game, however, that the older kids want and it is
very popular. Mr. Keprios indicated that, if that's what the Park Board
wants, then you can make a recommendation, however, that's not what he
is hearing from residents who live near the Braemar tennis courts.
Mr. Lord asked if that land is going to be developed to expand the golf
course on that side of the road. Mr. Herring indicated that he has
received a lot of calls that people have been in the woods doing
surveys. He also noted that they are complaining that they are getting
a lot of double talk from Mr. Rosland and from Mr. Keprios. He pointed
out that he's not saying that's true but he just wanted the Park Board
to know what he has been hearing. Mr. Keprios stated that as far as he
knows there are no plans to expand the golf course. Mr. Jenkins
indicated that they are surveying the area for a possible expansion of
the golf course. Mr. Herring asked who authorized that. It was noted
that the Mayor and the City Council did. Mr. Herring asked if there was
any record of that and it was noted there was not. Mr. Herring replied
that it seems to be a mystery to him and Mr. Keprios. Mr. Keprios
indicated that he wasn't aware that the area was being surveyed until
after residents called with questions.
Mr. Herring asked Mr. Jenkins what he knows about this. Mr. Jenkins
indicated that he's been finding all of this out himself. Mr. Herring
asked Mr. Jenkins if he's been getting the same calls and Mr. Jenkins
indicated absolutely.
Mr. Herring asked Mr. Keprios if he can request a report as to what's
going on. Mr. Keprios indicated that he doesn't have anything to report
on because it's above him. Mr. Herring asked who should he contact
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about the issue. Mr. Lord noted that he should contact Mr. Rosland or
the Mayor.
Mr. Fischer asked Mr. Keprios if his staff is watching the development
in the northwest corner that the City Council has been struggling with.
Mr. Keprios indicated that it is a big issue. He noted that the park
issue has been kicked around at that level already and he has been asked
a few questions about the park plans. Mr. Keprios stated that he has
voiced his opinion on what that park should be and the access it should
have.
Mr. Keprios indicated that there really is no plan that's going to show
what that park is going to look like.
Mr. Fischer asked if the Park Board should be more active or just let it
take its course. Mr. Fee indicated that it's done now. Mr. Fischer
indicated that he thought the characteristics of the park are not done.
Mr. Keprios indicated that former Park Board Chairman and current
Council Member, Jack Rice, has voiced some concerns about the park and
that issue has been discussed and he doesn't know that there really is
anything to do at this point. Mr. Keprios stated that he will give the
Park Board a report on what he knows for the next meeting.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
Jim Fee MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:20 P.M. John Dovolis SECONDED
THE MOTION. MEETING ADJOURNED.