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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-11-09 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD 7:30 p.m. November 9, 1993 MEMBERS PRESENT: Bill Jenkins, Beth Hall, Andrew Herring, Dave Crowther, Jim Fee, Becky Bennett, Marty Nanne, Jean Rydell, Paul O'Connor, Andrew Montgomery MEMBERS ABSENT: Bill Lord STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, John Keprios, Janet Canton, Larry Thayer OTHERS PRESENT: Tim Mulrennan, Cindy Mulrennan, Janet Ulvin, Rachel Ulvin, Ruth Ulvin, Husam Khalil, Sandra Weaver, Omar Khalil, Muhammed Khalil, Amira Khalil, Deborah Morse -Kahn, Eric Hand, Tim Haugen, Ben Hand, Matt Hand I. APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 12. 1993 MINUTES Jean Rydell MOVED TO APPROVE THE OCTOBER 12, 1993 MINUTES. Mr. Kojetin pointed out that there was one change in the minutes. On page four, third paragraph it should read that the greens fees and not the patron card will cost more at Normandale Golf Course. Paul O'Connor SECONDED THE MOTION. MINUTES APPROVED. II. PETITION FOR ICE RINK AT YORK PARK Mr. Kojetin indicated that a petition was brought in by some youngsters to have a skating rink at York Park this year. He also noted that some of the neighbors and youngsters are here tonight. A boy in the audience stated that wants to have the rink because he skates all of the time. He noted that he realizes it costs a lot of money but that it has been done for the last 13 years and it does get used a lot. Mr. Jenkins asked Mr. Kojetin to bring the Park Board up to date on the skating rink situation. Mr. Kojetin indicated that at the April Park Board meeting it was decided to reopen Strachauer Park because of the petition that was received and because it does have a warming house. At that time it was also decided to close York Park, Todd Park and McGuire Park because there are no warming houses at those sites. A resident asked if that decision was based strictly on fiscal reasons or on use of the rink. The resident pointed out that when he talked to the gentleman who flooded and took care of the rink he stated that for the amount of maintenance that it receives it gets used a lot. The resident noted that people go to the park to go sliding as well as ice skating and it is a beautiful area. He indicated that it doesn't matter that there isn't a warming house there. Another resident handed out pictures of the park in the winter. Mr. Jenkins asked the staff if there are numbers available on how much use the rink gets. It was noted that there are only numbers available on the rinks with warming houses. The only way to know if the smaller rinks are getting used is to ask the maintenance men what the condition of the ice is as far as skate marks. Mr. Kojetin noted that the biggest problem for doing the smaller rinks is the manpower. The other ten rinks will suffer somewhat when the manpower needs to go and do a secondary rink, such as York Park. He pointed out that generally the smaller rinks do not get done until Christmas vacation or the first part of the year. Mr. Kojetin stated that last year was a good year for ice skating and the numbers were up from the last few years. A resident indicated that the York Park area does have a lot more kids now than it did six years ago. Mr. Jenkins asked Mr. Kojetin if he has heard anything about Todd Park or McGuire Park. Mr. Kojetin noted that he has not heard anything but that people generally don't say anything until they see that a rink has actually closed. Ms. Bennett asked if York Park is a rink that attracts people from the Minneapolis area. It was noted that it really doesn't. Mr. Kojetin indicated that years ago there used to be 7 or 8 small rinks but slowly they have been closing because of not having enough manpower. We are two maintenance men short and those positions will not be filled at this time. A resident indicated to the Park Board that if they went to the area they would see that it is the perfect place to have an ice rink. Another resident indicated that if you go to the rink after school or on the weekend you will see a lot of kids there all the time. He noted that is where his kids learned to skate and play hockey. Mr. Keprios noted that he would like to applaud those kids who went through the process of getting a petition together and bringing it before the Park Board. He stated that his concern would be that the rink be moved back to the original parameters because where it is right now does create a safety hazard with the sliding hill next to it. Mr. Jenkins asked Mr. Kojetin what he recommends. Mr. Kojetin stated that if the rink is open it does mean a lesser quality to the other rinks where the manpower is being taken off of to do the small rink. Mr. Kojetin also pointed out that the weather is a big factor with the rinks. If there is a lot of snow, the first priority for the park maintenance is to plow the streets. This means that our men may have to leave the rinks for two days and sometimes even up to a week. Mr. Jenkins asked Mr. Keprios what his recommendation would be. Mr. Keprios noted that he feels the same as Mr. Kojetin. It comes down to a choice. Do you want a lesser quality of ice at the large rinks in order to have a small rink. Mr. Montgomery noted that he would like to see York Park have a rink this year. If the neighborhood can show a commitment and have the 2 attendance, then it can continue again next year. Mr. Fee asked how would we monitor it. A resident stated that a maintenance man indicated that for the size of the rink it's probably one of the most used rinks on his route. The resident also noted that it didn't take him a long time to do the rink. Paul O'Connor MOVED TO PUT IN A SKATING RINK AT YORK PARK THIS YEAR. Jean Rydell SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED. III. HISTORICAL SOCIETY - DEBORAH MORSE -KAHN Mr. Kojetin indicated that the Edina Historical Society has two part- time employees and that its operation runs similar to an athletic association. There is a group of people who sit on the board. The Historical Society runs the Edina museum at Arneson Acres and is open twice a week and there are a number of recruited volunteers that take people through tours of the museum. Mr. Kojetin stated that Marian Hansen is the employee paid by the Historical Society who is in charge of the volunteers and Micki Smith is the president of the Historical Society. He noted that both of these women were unable to attend the Park Board meeting. Mr. Kojetin then introduced Deborah Morse -Kahn who gave a report on the Historical Society. Ms. Morse -Kahn stated that she is the archivist for the Edina Historical Society. She noted that her position is quarter time and that she is paid by the Edina Historical Society from moneys they raise through fundraisers, gifts from foundations, privates gifts from businesses and from lifetime members. Ms. Morse -Kahn indicated that she has been on the staff for two years. She noted that when the Edina Historical Society moved to their new site at Arneson Acres, there were a lot of photographs, memoirs and manuscripts in which they needed advice and analysis on. She approached the Historical Society for this position when she left her position at the Minnesota Historical Society. She was hired on a short-term contract. Ms. Morse -Kahn stated that a lot of the materials were hurt in the move to Arneson Acres and from how they were previously stored. Ms. Morse -Kahn explained that she has had training through a masters program in American Regional Studies. She received her masters degree this spring and did her internship at the Immigration Research Center, which is a University of Minnesota program. She then went on to the Minnesota Historical Society in archives and manuscripts and specialized in government records. She explained that because of budget cuts she was let go from that position and six months later she started working for the Edina Historical Society. She noted that her short term program has now turned into two years. Ms. Morse -Kahn stated that what she found when she started opening up boxes, cabinets, closets, storage rooms and hidden corners was a large collection of materials that were in really rough shape. She stated that the hardest hit were the photographs from the world wars through the 1960's. A lot of the photographs were not packed together correctly and over a period of time began to break apart and some of the 3 photographs were lost. She indicated that Mr. Kojetin has watched quite a large number of boxes of photographs shrink down to just a few remaining envelopes with big question marks on them. Ms. Morse -Kahn indicated that the manuscripts ranged from personal memoirs, including some from the Grimes family, to governmental material. Ms. Morse -Kahn explained that when she came on staff she was in a lot of trouble with her graduate work because she had not yet selected a thesis topic. She noted that she finally decided that one unexplored area was when Henry David Thoreau visited Minnesota during the first year of the Civil War in 1861. He was told that if he came to Minnesota the cool climate and lack of bugs would help his state of health. She indicated that he came in June and stayed by Lake Calhoun. He had noted in a journal entry that the mosquitos were as large as the pigeons and the weather was 90 degrees the whole time. Therefore, he did not do well on his health. Ms. Morse -Kahn indicated that having known Thoreau had been here it was a surprise that there was no published work in book form on his journey. Therefore, she decided to gather all the information she could on this topic and see what she could do with it. Ms. Morse -Kahn indicated that she then hit a wall and could not find information on what he saw and did when he came to the lakes area. Then one day when she was reading the Grimes memoirs at the Edina Historical Society, much to her surprise, she read that Thoreau had visited the Grimes farm in the summer of 1861 and that his visit was not noted in any journal article or academic work that she was dealing with. Ms. Morse -Kahn indicated that her thesis is now finished and there is a contract for a book, which if she meets her deadlines she will see in print within the calendar year. Ms. Morse -Kahn indicated that the Edina Historical Society operates at the same level that many smaller county historical societies operate. She stated that from the very beginning the Historical Society Board and the City decided to do the historical society right and they have done a great job. She also noted that a lot of the other surrounding communities have very small spaces in which they have their historical societies and their budgets are very small to work with. She stated that people from all around Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and North Dakota are coming to the Edina Historical Society. She noted there is a great credit to the City of Edina for letting the Historical Society not have to worry about overhead. All of the money can go straight to programming. Mr. Herring asked what the operating budget is and Ms. Morse -Kahn indicated that she was not sure of the exact amount but that she could find out. Mr. Herring then asked what is the primary fundraiser. Mr. Kojetin noted that they are still operating out of the money that was raised in the 1988 Centennial. Mr. Kojetin noted that they have had an antique sale, book sale and they have the membership fee. Mr. Kojetin explained that they do rent out the terrace room at Arneson Acres for weddings, meetings, etc. They take in approximately $1,000 a year and that is why he has not been charging the Historical Society for rent. 4 Ms. Morse -Kahn noted she is a drain on the budget and being a contract employee realizes that she may be told she will no longer be able to work at the Historical Society. The Park Board thanked Ms. Morse -Kahn for her report. IV. FEES AND CHARGES Mr. Kojetin explained that after the last Park Board meeting he wanted Larry Thayer, Braemar Arena Manager, to explain the rental fee at Braemar Arena. Mr. Jenkins pointed out to Mr. Thayer that he thought the fee was a little low compared to the other surrounding communities. Mr. Thayer indicated that some of those other communities have four million dollar mortgages and they need to adjust their fees accordingly. Mr. Thayer then explained that back in 1988 when the remodeling was done at Braemar Arena he promised the City Council that they would try and keep everything $25,000 in the black prior to all debts. He noted that based on that promise he has been able to do that and all projections this year are still in mind with that promise. Mr. Jenkins noted that is commendable to keep that promise but at the same time the market is going up and we could be receiving more money. Mr. Thayer indicated that he is just now realizing the effect of the jump from $90.00 to $96.00 in September. He then indicated that the $4.00 increase that he is proposing is approximately .80 short of the 5% increase that the City Council mandated. He then explained that for every $5.00 that we increase the cost we generate approximately $20,000 in revenue. Not knowing the complete effect of the last jump and not directly taxing the figure skating club and hockey association, which is 98% of the arena's business, he likes to stay in the middle of the pact. He pointed out that one reason is that Edina has lead the way for many years and he has cut down on his outside rental. However, he noted that he is just starting to get some mens groups now because the price is right. He stated that Blake Arena is now open all year round and that Bloomington now has a third sheet of ice and Eden Prairie has a second sheet of ice. Mr. Thayer indicated that he is just starting to sell some of his 11:00 p.m. ice time again because he has held his prices. Mr. Thayer pointed out that there is no loyalty. If for example a squirt team can get Blake Arena at 6:00 p.m. and Braemar at 8:00 p.m. they will take the Blake time. He did note that the Edina Hockey Association is very good at picking up all of his prime time hours. He also indicated that $96.00 is a lot more attractive than $115.00 especially for the later hours. Mr. Nanne asked what is the latest that the arena would stay open. Mr. Thayer indicated as late as someone will buy it. Mr. Nanne asked if he would do a reduction in price for the later hours. Mr. Thayer noted that he has tried that in the past and now feels that staying at $96.00 is giving people a reduced rate. V. PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT/PARK BOARD FLOW CHART Mr. Kojetin explained since there are new Park Board members he thought it would be a good idea to go over what the Park and Recreation Department does and as a Park Board how you fit into the total picture. 5 Mr. Kojetin then stated that he will be retiring on January 28th. He • also noted that Bill Bach, Manager of Edinborough Park and Centennial Lakes, will be leaving the City on Friday November 12th. He indicated that the City Manager will be the one making the decision on the hiring process for both of those positions. Mr. Kojetin indicated on a flow chart all of the people who work for the Park and Recreation Department. In addition, he noted that there are approximately 75 part-time people working in the department year round and as many as 250 part-time people working during the summer. Mr. Kojetin pointed out that a lot of people don't realize how much we are involved in the Historical Society, Garden Council, Yacht Club as well as the 12 athletic associations plus the 6 revenue facilities. He also noted that a lot of people don't realize that we are in charge of the forestry program, which includes all boulevard trees, as well as the weed program during the summer months. Mr. Kojetin stated that the Park Maintenance Department does not just mow the 38 parks but there are approximately 200 areas, such as triangles and medians, that are mowed each week. Mr. Kojetin explained that the Park Board acts as an advisory board. If residents have concerns on Park and Recreation matters they come before the Park Board and a decision is made on whether or not to make a recommendation to the City Council. The City Council then instructs the City Manager on whether or not to proceed with the recommendation. The City Manager then instructs the Park Department on whether or not to implement the program. VI. OTHER Peter Benson - Mr. Kojetin noted that Mr. Keprios put together a memo outlining the Town Meeting that Peter Benson put on. He noted there were approximately 200 people who attended. VII. ADJOURNMENT Dave Crowther MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:50 P.M. Jim Fee SECONDED THE MOTION. MEETING ADJOURNED. 1.1