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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-08-10 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD 7:30 p.m. August 10, 1993 MEMBERS PRESENT: Beth Hall, Bill Jenkins, Andrew Montgomery, Bill Lord, Andrew Herring, Dave Crowther MEMBERS ABSENT: Paul O'Connor, Jean Rydell, Jim Fee STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, John Keprios, Ed MacHolda, Janet Canton OTHERS PRESENT: Rick Young, Betsy Anderson I. APPROVAL OF THE JUNE 8. 1993 MINUTES Bill Lord MOVED TO APPROVE THE JUNE 8, 1993 MINUTES. Dave Crowther SECONDED THE MOTION. MINUTES APPROVED. II. EDINA SOCCER ASSOCIATION Mr. Kojetin noted that the Edina Soccer Association has an issue that they would like to discuss with the Park Board. Rick Young, President of Soccer Edina, indicated that over the past five or six years they have had an unorganized, traveling fall soccer program. Traveling players and coaches organized the program and played wherever they could find space within Edina. This year, however, the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association has decided to offer a fall program. Mr. Young explained that he would like to field 10 teams in this program. Mr. Young indicated that they would need to have two fields, one large field and one small field. All games would be on Saturdays and Sundays. The season would consist of 6 to 8 games beginning on September 11th and ending with a tournament on October 31st. The program would be for the Under 10 age group through the Under 14 age group and, therefore, would not conflict with any school soccer. Mr. Young stated that he does have 10 teams that have shown an interest in participating in this program. He noted that they will be playing the same opponents that they played during the regular season because most of the other community soccer associations are going to participate in this league. Mr. Young pointed out that he brought this issue before the Edina Soccer Association to ask for their approval to pursue this program since it is an addition to what is currently being done. They voted unanimously to try it for the first year on a trial basis and also indicated that they would like the Park Board's approval for this trial program. Mr. Jenkins asked Mr. MacHolda if there are fields available for this program. Mr. MacHolda noted that he doesn't think there would be a problem. Highlands soccer field could be used as the large field and Garden's soccer field could be used as the small field. Mr. MacHolda pointed out that it's much easier to facilitate an abbreviated program such as this. Mr. Jenkins asked about practices. Mr. Young indicated that he thought teams would practice once a week and that the coaches would probably not reserve a field but rather just pick an open space area like they did during the summer months. Mr. Jenkins asked what level of player will participate in the program. Mr. Young explained that it will be the traveling players who played during the summer and are interested in playing this fall. Betsy Anderson, President of the Edina Soccer Association, noted that there is one house team that has expressed an interest to Mr. Young to play fall soccer. Mr. Jenkins asked if they will be one of those ten teams and Mr. Young noted that they will. Mr. Jenkins asked if the kids will be able to participate in the football program or will it be a competing sport. Mr. Young noted that as an association they do not tell the kids they can only play one sport, so if it's not conflicting that they can play both sports. Mr. Crowther noted that his big concern would be that the football players get priority for the fields in the fall since that is their natural season. Mr. Montgomery commented that it seems ironic that soccer goes against baseball in the summer and we have not offered fall soccer because of what it will do to football and girls basketball. He then commented that he doesn't think kids should have to make that decision of which sport to play. Mr. MacHolda noted that the way soccer has the schedule set up there should be no conflicts or scheduling problems. Mr. Kojetin stated that he was not aware of the program until last year when neighbors of Strachauer Park asked that the field not be scheduled September and October. He indicated that they were doing their own chalking and brought their own goals. Mr. MacHolda stated that he would like to be in control of the program as far as dictating what field they will be playing on and what time. Mr. Jenkins noted that he does not want to the see the football program touched at all. Mr. MacHolda agreed with this. Mr. Crowther asked where do we stand relative to having more than one recreational season for a sport. He noted that when people are traveling they pretty much have made a choice and are dedicated. However, have we addressed the issue before to start offering recreational programs year round. Mr. Young noted he is not proposing to offer it to the recreational player. However, there is one recreational team that does have an interest to play fall soccer. He noted that he did not solicit this team, they came to him. Mr. Kojetin noted that the only sports that run 12 months of the year through Park and Recreation are Swimming and Figure Skating. In other sports the parents have taken it upon themselves, if they chose, to play beyond their set season. We do, however, rent out our facilities such r as the arena to the hockey program and the golf dome to the soccer program. These sports have broken away from their associations outside of the regular season and it is done privately. Mr. Lord asked if this what the Soccer Association is doing. Ms. Anderson noted Soccer Edina is still part of the Edina Soccer Association. She noted that the Soccer Board voted to go ahead with this program on a trial basis. She also noted that they need to see how it fares with kids who are not playing traveling soccer and want to play fall soccer. Mr. Lord asked about maintenance of the soccer fields. Mr. Young indicated that they would certainly be willing to pay another participation fee or pay the rental fee of $100/day per field. Mr. Kojetin stated that it is not so much the rental rate that concerns him it is that they do not have the manpower to work on the fields. He indicated that if they go out and chalk the field that means that they are going to have to divide their time between football and soccer and the manpower is not there to do that. Mr. Lord asked Mr. Kojetin if he has a solution to that. Mr. Young noted that for the past five years they have been lining the fields themselves and they would certainly be willing to continue doing that again if that's what it takes. Mr. Lord asked Mr. Kojetin how he would feel about that. Mr. Kojetin noted that would be okay. However, it has always been an unwritten policy that we cannot have scheduled events at Highlands Park on Sundays. The neighbors came to the Park Board a number of years ago with this request because of the noise level. Mr. Kojetin stated that this is something that he would be reluctant to say let's go there. Mr. MacHolda indicated that Pamela Senior could be used as an alternate Park. Mr. Montgomery asked where the staff is because in the springtime they are maintaining both the baseball and soccer fields. It was noted that all of the part-time kids are gone in the fall. Mr. Crowther indicated that it bothers him to offer recreational programs more than one season. He stated that if we start offering recreation programs for multiple seasons that a lot of sports might be interested in also doing this. Pretty soon there will be six or eight sports running every season, which we don't have the facilities to accommodate all of them. Mr. Herring noted that he also is concerned about sanctioning another season particularly, if it's not going to be within all of the rules that we apply to everyone. Such as everyone gets an opportunity to play, it's open to everyone, and it's adequately advertised. He noted that he is very troubled by an abbreviated season that has a limited number of teams. He asked are we really getting the word out and letting everybody play or is it that if you are in the network you get to play in the fall soccer league. Mr. Herring noted that he understands Mr. MacHolda's point that by sanctioning this and becoming involved in it we have more control. However, you can't go halfway, you have to open it up and advertise it for everyone to be able to play. Mr. MacHolda noted that he agrees with Mr. Herring's point but his biggest stumbling block is the fact that it has been going for five years. Mr. Jenkins asked why don't they continue the way they have been all along. Mr. Young noted that they can but they are trying to work within the system. Ms. Anderson stated that as a citizen it's hard for her to understand that if fields are available, kids want to play, and the parents are paying taxes why would you not let them play. Mr. Young noted that he doesn't want to continue how he has been because he doesn't want to show up at a field and find out that he can't play there. They would be faced with fines by the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association because they would have to take a forfeit from the team that came.to Edina to play. He noted they are trying to work within the system. Mr. Montgomery brought up the point that the Junior Olympic Volleyball's season is held outside of the normal volleyball season for the girls. Mr. Jenkins noted that in concept he has no problem, they are residents and they want to play that's great. He has a problem with other associations with similar situations wanting to use these same facilities and we don't have the room for all of them. Mr. Jenkins asked the staff what they recommend. Mr. Kojetin noted that the office and manpower can only do so much each season as far as helping out each of these associations. Mr. Kojetin also indicated there might be a problem if it is not opened up to everyone. He also stated that he understands it's an experimental program for one year but usually these type of situations end up being a program the following year. Mr. Crowther asked why not let Soccer Edina be a group of people doing their own thing outside of the Edina Soccer Association. Ms. Anderson noted that one of the problems with doing that would be that they would not have to follow our guidelines for behavior, etc. Ms. Anderson indicated that these are kids who have tried out and have made traveling teams and now want to play in the fall and Minnesota Youth Soccer Association has afforded them the opportunity to play. Mr. Young noted that part of the problem is that the information just came out from Minnesota Youth Soccer Association and they did not have the opportunity to open it up to tryouts for everyone because the information has to be back to them in five days with $100.00 per team. Mr. Montgomery asked what is considered to be the hockey season. Mr. Keprios noted that it is from October through March. Mr. Montgomery asked why the soccer season can't run then from May through October. Mr. Keprios then pointed out that what they are suggesting really isn't a lot different than the way the girls basketball program currently runs. The in-house girls basketball begins in September and goes through November and all girls can play including the traveling girls. The difference is they don't break out into traveling teams and play the same season. There is a short break and then the traveling season starts. Which is kind of what they are recommending. It was pointed out, however, that it is two seasons of traveling soccer. Mr. Crowther brought up the point of the recreational team wanting to play in the fall soccer program. You are truly not having a group of kids that tried out for traveling participate in the league. Mr. Jenkins asked if anyone would like to make a motion on this issue. Mr. Montgomery indicated that he looks at this as an extension to their season. 4 Mr. Lord asked who will do the maintenance. Mr. Kojetin indicated that he would prefer the Soccer Edina to do the maintenance. Mr. Herring asked how can we get notice out to everyone who would be interested in playing. Ms. Anderson noted it can be done with traveling but not with in-house. Mr. Young then indicated that if he gets more teams he will need to come back and ask for more fields. Mr. Lord asked Mr. Young what would happen if they eliminated the in-house rec team. Mr. Young stated that if he needs to tell the team they cannot play he will do that. Mr. Herring noted that he wants to do just the opposite, he wants to open it up to as many people as possible. Mr. Crowther noted that they only have five days to put this together. He thought if it's going to be on a trial basis then they can only go with the traveling kids, he hates to see kids get excluded but he doesn't think you can selectively pick one in-house team. Mr. Lord MOVED TO APPROVE AN EXTENDED SEASON FOR SOCCER EDINA WHEREBY TWO FIELDS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR A RENTAL FEE OF $100/DAY ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS FOR ONE YEAR. THE PROGRAM WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT OCCUR AT THIS TIME. Beth Hall SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 5 TO 1. FOR - Bill Jenkins, Bill Lord, Dave Crowther, Beth Hall. AGAINST - Andrew Herring. Mr. Keprios indicated that he has received a lot of feedback from his adult softball players in regards to their being no fall softball league this year. He indicated that he offered it last year, however, he does not have the manpower to offer it again. Some players have asked if they need to go before the Park Board on this issue. Mr. Lord asked if there is any way these people could maintain the fields and have their own independent league and rent it out. Mr. Keprios noted that would not work. He indicated that he wanted the Park Board to be aware of the issue. The demand and the facility are there but the manpower is not. He indicated that we are two full-time maintenance men short. Mr. Herring asked Mr. Keprios if he has any recommendation on how to deal with this. Mr. Keprios noted that his recommendation is to get the approval to fill the two maintenance positions. He then noted that, on the plus side, the fields do need a break from being used to keep them in premier condition. II. ARNESON ACRES Mr. Kojetin indicated that a couple of things have come up regarding the formal gardens and gazebo at Arneson Acres. Mr. Kojetin noted that the garden clubs have been raising money to build a gazebo at Arneson Acres. So far the clubs have raised approximately $20,000, which has paid for the cement base that is now there. Approximately $40,000 to $50,000 is now needed to complete the gazebo. Mr. Jenkins asked if there are funds there to do it. It was noted there are not. Mr. Kojetin explained that Mayor Richards attended the Garden Council's spring meeting and he felt that we should invest some money into this facility to work on the master plan. Mayor Richards asked the staff to try to come up with a way to give the Garden Council a loan to finish the gazebo and have them pay it off over a period of years. Mr. Kojetin then indicated that there is a small group in the Garden Council that 5 want to finish the project as they raise funds, which could take 5 to 6 years to complete. Mr. Kojetin noted that he has recommended $80,000 be taken from the Developer's Fund and put it into the capital budget. This $80,000 would be used to start the construction of the total development of Arneson Acres Park. The $80,000 is estimated to do grading work, start a master irrigation loop within the park pathways and re -construct a lake in the park area. By starting this project there could be a possibility that private citizens within the community would possibly want to contribute funds toward different amenities that could be included. Mr. Kojetin indicated that possibly a promotional brochure could be made for soliciting to private citizens because this is a project where everyone in the city could benefit from it. The $80,000 would be an eligible use of the Developer's Fund money. Mr. Kojetin then pointed out that there is a little bit of concern by the Garden Council if they want to do this project or leave everything as it is. They have gone through a couple of different plans. DEVELOPER'S FUND Mr. Kojetin explained to the Park Board that at the Edina Centennial $233,845 was raised to build the Historical Museum at Arneson Acres. The total project cost $267,921 which was $34,076 short. This amount has been carried for the last two years on the books. Mr. Kojetin asked for a recommendation from the Park Board to transfer the $34,000 out of the Developer's Fund into the general fund. Dave Crowther MOVED TO TAKE $34,000 FROM THE DEVELOPER'S FUND AND CLEAN UP THE BALANCE ON THE EDINA MUSEUM WHICH HAS BEEN CARRIED ON THE BOOKS THE LAST FEW YEARS Andrew Herring SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED. 6-0 III. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR 1994 Mr. Kojetin handed out a proposed capital improvement program for 1994. Mr. Kojetin reviewed what the $300,000 would be used for. Mr. Jenkins asked Mr. Kojetin if they are getting an extra maintenance person next year. Mr. Kojetin indicated no. The City Council reviewed all requests and their decision was to not hire any new staff for any department for 1994. Mr. Kojetin indicated that each department has made a recommendation for their operating and capital budgets. Mr. Kojetin noted that as far as the capital budget is concerned we are receiving $20,000 from the General Fund, $100,000 from the Utility Fund and $180,000 from the Developer's Fund. Mr. Kojetin pointed out that we have a problem with the tennis courts, hard surface areas and warming house buildings. The buildings will cost approximately $10,000 per roof per building and some work does need to be done on these. Mr. Keprios noted that the tennis courts that we had planned to do in 1.1 1992 did not get done. He indicated that we had hoped to do 4 or 5 courts a year and we were left a little short last year so none of them were done. Mr. Keprios stated that some patching was done this year. He then noted that both Braemar Park and Garden Park tennis courts need to be totally reconstructed which will cost approximately $30,000 each to do. Mr. Keprios noted that we do have the money budgeted to get one done this year. Mr. Keprios indicated that we are behind in our schedule to get the courts and hard surface areas done. Mr. Keprios then explained that what happens is if we let it go too long you can't resurface them anymore they have to basically be rebuilt. Mr. Montgomery asked what would happen if we tear down the Braemar tennis courts. He did not believe it was being played on now because of the condition it is in. He noted that the high school courts and Lewis Courts are not that far away from there. Mr. Kojetin indicated that they have talked about Public Works resurfacing the court on an experimental basis next spring. If they do a good job maybe that will be our answer for the future. It was noted that we have 15 sets of tennis courts. It was also pointed out that there are a lot of tennis courts located at the Community Center and at the High School that are open for everyone's use. Mr. Crowther asked if all of the tennis courts are being utilized or if some of them could be pulled out. Mr. Kojetin noted that Mr. Montgomery has more or less gone around to all of the tennis courts. Mr. Montgomery indicated that right now you are not going to see anybody of any ability play tennis on Braemar. Mr. Crowther asked if we run programs for tennis. Mr. Keprios noted that we do have programs and they are held at the community center and High School courts. He then indicated that the only time he has had to rely on the city's tennis courts for lessons is when the community center's or high school's courts are being resurfaced. The reason we use the community center and high school is we need to have more than just a battery of two courts for the program to function. Mr. Jenkins asked the staff for their opinion of going to possibly 13 or 14 courts instead of the 15. Mr. Keprios indicated that he thinks it would be reasonable to remove the Braemar tennis courts since Lewis Park is not far away. Mr. Keprios stated that most,people would probably agree that we have too many tennis courts, however, nobody wants to lose a court from their neighborhood park. Mr. Keprios asked what process should be used to eliminate a tennis court. Mr. Kojetin noted that they could indicate in the newspaper that a meeting will be held to discuss closing some of the tennis courts. Mr. Keprios noted that losing Braemar tennis courts would probably be the most logical courts to eliminate. Mr. Montgomery MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT WE CLOSE THE BRAEMAR TENNIS COURTS. Dave Crowther SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. Mr. Crowther indicated that we should look at monitoring some of the other courts and start to possibly phase some of them out. 7 Mr. Kojetin indicated that the playground equipment at Lake Cornelia Park does need to be replaced soon. The equipment is not ADA and is really beginning to break down. It was noted that the Federated Women are donating some money for this project. V. FILMING A MOVIE IN THE PARK (COUNTRYSIDE) Mr. Keprios indicated that Castle Rock Pictures Incorporated is in town filming a movie called "Little Big League". He explained that they want to have a two day shoot on August 30th and 31st at Countryside Park. Mr. Keprios indicated to the Park Board that he would like their approval to do a film down there. That Park Board indicated that would be just fine. Mr. Crowther brought up the issue of the bleachers at Countryside Park. He noted that several people have complained to him at the baseball games that the bleachers are at a slant and little kids are falling off of them. He stated that maybe this is something that could be fixed when the movie crew is working out there. Possibly some asphalt could be placed underneath it and have it leveled off. VI. OTHER A. GOLF COURSE - Mr. Kojetin indicated that the construction at the Normandale Golf Course is completed and we are approximately two weeks away from completion at Braemar. Mr. Kojetin noted that possibly by the September Park Board meeting he will have the plans for the Normandale Golf Course building. He noted that they are right on schedule even with the rain. B. MINNESOTA SPLASH - Mr. Montgomery asked how the Minnesota Splash event went. Mr. Kojetin noted that approximately 9,000 people attended on Saturday and Sunday. He indicated that they really have not had a chance to sit down and evaluate the event yet. C. FOURTH OF JULY - Mr. Montgomery noted that the fireworks display were super this year. He noted that has always been a good event. D. COURTNEY BASEBALL FIELDS - Mr. Crowther indicated that older people have trouble walking down the hill to the baseball fields at Courtney Park. He noted that we really do not have good facilities for them to park down there. He asked if signs could possibly be posted on the side gate to indicate that cars can drive down to the bottom where the umpires park. He indicated that it would seem more appropriate to reserve the parking spaces down below for the handicapped as opposed to having the umpires park there. Mr. Keprios noted that keys have been given out to anyone who requests them so they can drive straight down. He also indicated that the umpires should really not be parking down there. It is for the disabled. Mr. Kojetin noted that Mr. Crowther had a good suggestion and they should post signs there. E. TENNIS PROGRAM - Mr. Keprios indicated that he received a letter complimenting the 1993 tennis program and especially its Director, Roshan Rajkumar. A copy of the letter was distributed to the Park Board S members. F. PROCLAMATIONS - Mr. Kojetin handed out two proclamations for the Park Board to sign. One was for Mac Thayer and the other one was for Pat Vagnoni. G. SEPTEMBER PARK BOARD MEETING - Mr. Kojetin recommended that the dedication of the Cahill Settlement be held on Tuesday, September 14th at 6:00 p.m. before the Park Board meeting begins. It was also noted that Jean Rydell will be gone for the August and September Park Board meeting. VII. ADJOURNMENT Dave Crowther MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:10 P.M. Bill Lord SECONDED THE MOTION. MEETING ADJOURNED. E