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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-03-09 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD 7:30 p.m. MARCH 9, 1993 MEMBERS PRESENT: Bill Jenkins, Bill Lord, Jean Rydell, Pat Vagnoni, James Fee, Paul O'Connor, Andrew Herring, Andrew Montgomery, Dave Crowther, Mac Thayer MEMBERS ABSENT: Beth Hall STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, John Keprios, Janet Canton, Susan Weigle I. APPROVAL OF THE FEBRUARY 9 1993 PARK BOARD MINUTES Paul O'Connor MOVED TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 9, 1993 MINUTES. Jean Rydell SECONDED THE MOTION. MINUTES APPROVED. II. ELECTION OF VICE -CHAIR Paul O'Connor MOVED THAT THE VICE CHAIR NOMINATION FROM THE MARCH 1993 PARK BOARD MEETING BE TAKEN OFF THE TABLE. Andrew Montgomery SECONDED THE MOTION. A written closed ballot was taken for the position of Vice Chair. Mr. Fee was elected Vice -Chair of the Edina Park Board. III. MOTION FOR RESOLUTION FOR BOB CHRISTIANSON Mr. Kojetin indicated that a motion should be made to pass the Resolution for Bob Christianson that was presented at the February Park Board meeting. He pointed out that everyone has signed the Resolution. Paul O'Connor MOVED TO PASS THE RESOLUTION FOR BOB CHRISTIANSON. Bill Lord SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED. IV. SENIOR CENTER REPORT - SUSAN WEIGLE Ms. Weigle gave a report on the Senior Center. She indicated that there are five rooms in their new location. Mr. Jenkins asked how many of the rooms are now finished. Ms. Weigle indicated that they are working on one of the rooms which will be a coffee/work room. Ms. Weigle stated that the school district is going to be replacing all of the windows in the Community Center, therefore, the rooms will be worked on when that project is completed. Hopefully work will begin in April or May. Ms. Weigle stated that the seniors were asked to raise $10,000 for matching funds with the Edina Foundation for the Senior Center which they have now done. Mr. Jenkins asked how the money was raised. Ms. Weigle indicated that they did several things. First of all they doubled the dues from $3.00 to $6.00 and then $1.00 was added to participate in each activity. Also, $1.00 was added to the different trips and tours. Ms. Weigle noted that the variety show raised approximately $1,000. However, the majority of the funds come from the dues. Ms. Weigle indicated that in October there were approximately 1500 members. Since the move to the new location there have been approximately 275 new members. Ms. Weigle pointed out that the Senior Center has an ad in the new community ed catalog indicating that people can call for a complimentary newsletter. She noted that this has really helped as far as getting new members. Ms. Weigle explained that with the Senior Center being located within the Community Center it has worked out well in attracting younger seniors because it doesn't have the stigma of walking into a Senior Center. Mr. Jenkins asked what the status is on congregate dining. Ms. Weigle indicated that it moved back to York Avenue and the attendance has been between 80 and 100 people every day. She stated that when Congregate Dining was at the Senior Center the attendance was averaging between 25 and 30 with approximately 17 meals being sent out. Ms. Weigle also noted that the Minnetonka and St. Louis Park Senior Centers both average 35 meals a day. Ms. Weigle pointed out that the new seniors are not using Congregate Dining as much as the older and more frail seniors are using it. The congregate coordinator really feels that she is serving a population that need to be served and that Congregate Dining is now where it belongs. Ms. Weigle stated that the problem which they have always had is parking. She noted that she will be attending a meeting on this topic to see what can be done to help as well as discuss the future of the Community Center. Ms. Weigle indicated that the Senior Center's advisory council has been helping in making the decisions on what furniture to buy as well as plan new programs. Ms. Weigle pointed out that some of the people who participate in the programs do not come to the senior center but they certainly are a part of it by being in a program. Mr. Kojetin stated that a lot of the senior programs are held at various sites such as Braemar, Edinborough, etc. The Park Board thanked Ms. Weigle for her report. V. FORESTRY REPORT Mr. Kojetin gave a report on the forestry program. He noted that each year he receives a report from the Forester, Tom Horwath. Mr. Kojetin indicated that Mr. Horwath is a contract employee who works two to three days in the winter and five days in the summer. Mr. Kojetin explained that for the last two years they have had a contracted trimming program of boulevard trees in the northeast corner of the City. The trimmed boulevard trees are then assessed to the property owner. Mr. Horwath inspects each tree that has been trimmed and gives the homeowner an estimate of the cost and when the cost will be assessed. Mr. Kojetin noted that the Forestry program is a large program within the Park and Recreation Department that people do not hear a lot about. He reported that approximately 75 to 85 Dutch Elm diseased trees are lost each year on the boulevard. He also indicated that a lot of the trees that we are losing now are the big ones in the Country Club area. Mr. Kojetin then explained that some of the residents give the trees injections which seem to hold them off for four to five years but eventually they do start to die. Mr. Kojetin indicated that approximately four years ago a project was started to plant experimental cathedral elms in the Country Club area. Mr. Kojetin also stated that a lot of experiments are being done on elm trees throughout the U.S. He indicated that it takes at least a year after an 2 order is placed to receive the elm trees, which are out of Iowa. Mr. Kojetin indicated that he hopes that the cathedral elm tree look can be restored in the Country Club area. He noted that Mr. Horwath has met with the neighbors in this area to discuss the future of the new elms and how to take care of them. Mr. Kojetin also explained that some residents in the city want to plant trees in their own yards and do not want the City to plant a boulevard tree. Mr. Kojetin informed the Park Board that when people want a tree they are put on a list and then approximately 25 to 30 trees are planted a year. Mr. Kojetin stated that each year a certain area in the community is designated for planting trees for Arbor Day, which is the last Friday in April. He indicated that the Rotary Club has been involved in planting trees in the City and have donated $3,000 the past two years and also this year. Therefore, for the last few years we have been working together on Arbor Day planting trees in different areas in the City. Mr. Lord asked Mr. Kojetin if there is still a nursery in the City. Mr. Kojetin indicated that at one time there was a nursery by the maintenance building at Braemar Golf Course, but the deer were eating the trees as fast as they were being put in. Mr. Kojetin then stated that last year an eagle scout project was started to put in an electric fence to keep the deer out. However, it was not completed so hopefully this year it will be finished. Once a nursery is planted, hopefully there will be lot of different tree species planted. Mr. Jenkins asked if individual home owners are charged when a tree is taken out. Mr. Kojetin indicated no. He explained that one of the items discussed this year in cutting back the budget was the fact that when a boulevard tree is taken the resident would be assessed for the tree. However, if a large tree were to cost $444.00 to be taken down, that is a lot of money for some people. Mr. Kojetin indicated that the budget for this year for tree and stump removal is $46,000. Last year the program cost $30,000. He felt that if we budget $46,000 for this year and last year only $30,000 was spent, individuals will not be charged this year. However, next year might be different. Mr. Kojetin stated that he and Mr. Horwath have been getting comments from people and working out numbers. Mr. Jenkins stated that it seems the number of elms needing to be cut are declining. Mr. Kojetin stated that is correct. Ms. Vagnoni asked about Arbor Day at Cornelia School Park. Mr. Kojetin noted that project was done two years ago and is an ongoing program. She asked if a school is chosen to do this. Mr. Kojetin noted that it depends on who participates in the project. That year the PTA was involved along with Interlachen Rotary Club who donated $3,000 for the project and the City. This year Cornelia School received a grant and we are going to plant approximately 50 to 100 trees there. Mr. Kojetin also explained that there are two other projects being talked about. One is with planting trees at Countryside and the other one is planting trees along the highway. Mr. Jenkins asked approximately how big the elm trees are that are planted in the Country Club area. Mr. Kojetin indicated that the ones planted in the neighborhoods are 2" and the elm whips are only 1". The biggest elms that you can get now are 3/4" to an inch. Mr. Kojetin noted that in another three to four years they will be growing larger in the nursery but right now the trees are immediately planted so there is no stock growing in the nurseries around the U.S. It's very difficult to get them. 3 Mr. Kojetin indicated that the budget in the tree maintenance area is over $100,000. There are two full-time tree trimmers. Ms. Vagnoni asked about the trees that were chopped down at Bredesen. Mr. Kojetin indicated that the beavers were chopping down the trees. Because of this a contractor was hired to take care of the beavers. They have been a nuisance all over the city, just like the deer. VI. OTHER A. Braemar and Normandale Golf Course - Mr. Kojetin indicated that for the moment the contractors are done working for the winter. He stated they are right on schedule and possibly a ahead of schedule on both of the golf courses. Mr. Kojetin noted that contractors hope to start work again the last week of April depending on the weather. Mr. Kojetin noted that if everything goes accordingly, Braemar Golf Course should open on April 15th. Ms. Vagnoni asked if anyone has commented on changing the wetland area. Mr. Kojetin stated that he hasn't heard anything for a long time on the issue. The area that is hoped to be completed soon is the walking path. He has received a lot of comments on the walking path and that's probably the number one item he hears about. Mr. Herring asked when the path will be done. Mr. Kojetin stated that they hope it will be done by the time the golf course is opened next year. Mr. Montgomery asked if the Canadian Geese are going to be taken care of with artificial swans or something of that nature. Mr. Kojetin explained that they are looking into getting a couple of live swans once the golf course is completed. Mr. Kojetin indicated that we will start working with the University of Minnesota in establishing a Savannah Oak Forest. This will be on the west side of Braemar Golf Course where we have been committed by the corp in order to receive a permit for the wetlands. This will be a long project in which we have to establish and make reports each year for five years on its progress. This is new for the Corp of Engineers in proposing areas to establish upland areas. Because of this, there is no background research so we are working with a University of Minnesota professor. This will probably end up being an experimental area for a Savannah Oak Forest for the City, University of Minnesota and the Corp of Engineers. At the present we have had only one walk through with the professor but have had no feedback from the University of Minnesota on who they will be assigning to this project to work with us. Mr. Kojetin stated that the pro shop is right on schedule and it is hoped to be completed by April 9th. He also noted that they will be interviewing architects for the clubhouse at the Normandale Golf Course and hopefully that will be starting sometime this fall and be completed around April 15, 1994. B. Edinborough Trees - Mr. Montgomery asked if the trees at Edinborough are doing all right indoors. Mr. Kojetin indicated that they are. He stated that we do a lot of plant replacement because there is not a lot of air movement in the facility and there is not a lot of daylight on the understory. Right now some stone work is being done because there has been a lot of settlement. 4 C. Park Board Manuals - Mr. Kojetin noted that the Park Board Manuals have been completed to bring everyone up-to-date. D. City Council's Annual Dinner Meeting - Mr. Kojetin noted that the City Council's Annual Dinner Meeting will be held March 24, 1993. Also, April 21st is the All-Volunteer Awards Reception. It will be held from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Edinborough Park. At that time Bob Christianson will be honored with the Resolution. E. Workshop For Park and Recreation Board Members - Mr. Kojetin asked all of the Park Board members if they received their information from the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association for a workshop that will be on April 17th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Shoreview. The registration fee is $7.00. Mr. Kojetin stated that if anyone wanted to attend this workshop the city will pay for it. He also indicated that these are interesting to attend and there are a lot of people from other communities within the state who go. VII ADJOURNMENT Paul O'Connor MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:20 P.M. Mac Thayer SECONDED THE MOTION. MEETING ADJOURNED. 5