HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-05-12 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD
7:30 p.m.
May 12 ,1992
MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Christianson, Bill Lord, Bill Jenkins, Jean Rydell,
Pat Vagnoni, Jim Fee, Mac Thayer, Andrew Herring, Paul
O'Connor, Beth Hall, Andy Montgomery
STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, John Keprios, Janet Canton
OTHERS PRESENT: Sandy Stooke, Ann Lindquist, Tish Osborn
I. APPROVAL OF THE APRIL 14. 1992 MINUTES
Pat Vagnoni MOVED TO APPROVE THE APRIL 14, 1992 MINUTES. Mac Thayer
SECONDED THE MOTION. MINUTES APPROVED.
II. YMCA - PARTICIPATION FIELD USAGE FEE - SANDY STOOKS. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mr. Keprios introduced Sandy Stooke, Executive Director of the Southdale
YMCA. Ms. Stooke introduced two other people from the YMCA, Ann Lindquist
and Tish Osborn.
Mr. Keprios explained that what brought the YMCA to this meeting is the
field usage fee. Mr. Keprios gave a brief history on the topic. The YMCA
has been using Yorktown Park for several years now for their T -Ball program
in the summer and for their soccer program in the fall. Mr. Keprios never
had a benchmark to go by in the past and so he felt $500 per activity per
year seemed reasonable until recently. There is now a charge (field usage
fee) of $5.00 per registrant who participates in a youth athletic program
that utilizes fields, such as football, baseball, soccer and softball.
Mr. Keprios indicated that this year the YMCA has 459 kids registered in
their t -ball program. When this number is multiplied out the amount is
$2,295.00. Mr. Keprios stated that the Board needs to recommend to the
City Council what would be a reasonable amount to charge this community
based non-profit group.
It was asked if other communities charge the YMCA for field usage. Ms.
Stooke indicated that Edina is the only community that charges a fee. She
also mentioned that they use Edina school fields as well and do not get
charged any fee for that usage. It was also asked what other communities
does the YMCA basically serve. Ms. Stooke noted that the majority of the
kids come from Edina, Richfield and Eden Prairie. Ms. Stooke indicated
that they are now in the middle of a budget year and $500 was budgeted for
each sport. Both the YMCA's soccer and t -ball programs run seven weeks.
Ms. Stooke brought up the point that the adult softball players use their
parking lot, drinking fountains and restroom facilities all of the time.
It has been a very good collaborative effort. She stated she is concerned
about the amount that the YMCA, a non-profit organization, would have to
pay. The $5.00 amount would take a big bite out of the registration fee
and she indicated they could not afford to do it.
Mr. Keprios noted that Yorktown Park is currently not a scheduled field.
Adult softball players use it for their practices only. This field is
mowed, bases are set out and the infield is kept level. This field is
never chalked by the City of Edina. This is something the YMCA does. It
was asked does the $500 pay for what the maintenance men do? Mr. Keprios
indicated that a cost analysis would have to be done to determine what that
amount would be.
Mr. Lord asked what the staff's recommendation is. Mr. Kojetin noted that
it would be difficult not to recommend the full $5.00 when Edina residents
are charged $5.00 for each of the ten athletic associations. It would be
difficult for us to tell our own resident tax payers who pay $5.00 for each
field type sport that the YMCA participants, many of whom are
non-residents, pay less than $5.00 per sport.
It was asked if the YMCA uses other communities fields. Ms. Stooke stated
that they do use Richfield's fields also. However, 54% of the participants
are Edina residents. It was asked if Richfield charges their people $5.00
field usage fee. Mr. Keprios indicated not that he is aware of. It was
noted that Edina's coach pitch program charges $22.00 and this does include
the $5.00 users fee. Also adult softball pays $100/team for field
maintenance.
Mr. Christianson wanted to clarify that for Yorktown Park the maintenance
consists of mowing grass, keeping the infield level and having bases
there. A lot more work is done on the other softball fields. Mr.
Montgomery noted that Yorktown Park does not have a premium field.
Mr. Christianson noted that he feels $500 is fair and equitable for the
amount of maintenance that is done at the park. Mr. Fee asked if the YMCA
could be grandfathered in this year and maybe next year be charged $3.00
per person.
Mr. Christianson asked Ms. Stooke if $5.00 is charged does that mean that
the YMCA will not use the field. Ms. Stooke indicated that they probably
would not use the field.
Mr. Christianson stated that the staff recommends charging $5.00 per person
per activity to use the field. He asked the Park Board if there is a
motion in favor of this?
Ms. Vagnoni asked Ms. Stooke if she feels the numbers will go up in their
program. Ms. Stooke replied the numbers are staying about the same.
Paul O'Connor MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE FEE REMAIN AT $500 THIS YEAR AND
CHARGE $3.00 PER PERSON PER ACTIVITY NEXT YEAR. James Fee SECONDED THE
MOTION.
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Mr. Christianson asked Ms. Stooke if there was a charge of $3.00 per person
next year what affect would there be? Ms. Stooke indicated she does not
know but thinks they would have to look at other options.
Mr. Kojetin noted that the reason the $5.00 field maintenance fee came into
affect was that the City Council wanted to cut the maintenance budget in
half and the Athletic Associations would need to pay a usage fee to make up
the $30,000 budget cut in order to keep the maintenance level the same.
The $500 charge to the YMCA existed long before the $5.00 fee came into
affect. Mr. Keprios didn't think the $35/hr. per field seemed justifiable
for the YMCA at that time.
It was also noted that last year YMCA fall soccer had 526 participants.
This sport was also charged $500/year. So a total of $1,000 is what the
YMCA has been budgeting.
Mr. Fee stated if the YMCA is grandfathered in this year and charged
somewhere between $1.00 and $5.00 next year it would be okay because the
YMCA can use our facilities and we can use theirs. It's a good
accommodation. Mr. Herring noted that the YMCA is a substantial benefit to
the City of Edina to have these two programs. It would be too bad if the
YMCA would have to move to Richfield. Mr. Herring noted that he is
inclined to leave it as it is.
Mr. Christianson asked the Park Board who is in favor of keeping $500 this
year and charging $3.00 per person per activity next year. IN FAVOR -
2 OPPOSED - 8. Jim Fee MOVED TO MODIFY AND MAKE A NEW MOTION. MOVED
TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THE YMCA BE GRANDFATHERED IN THIS
YEAR AT $500 FOR EACH ACTIVITY AND COME BACK TO THE PARK BOARD NEXT YEAR
FOR REVIEW BEFORE THE YMCA DOES THEIR BUDGET IN NOVEMBER. Mr. Herring does
not feel compelled to review this again, but to leave the amount at $500.
No rider to review next year.
Jim Fee MOVED TO MODIFY AND MAKE A NEW MOTION. MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE
CITY COUNCIL THAT THE YMCA BE GRANDFATHERED IN THIS YEAR AT $500 FOR EACH
ACTIVITY. Bill Lord SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED.
III. ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION FUND-RAISERS
Mr. Keprios compiled information from the survey that he handed out to the
Park Board members. The staff recommends not making any recommendation at
this time until after the City Council meeting in June when they will make
a final determination on the gambling issue in Edina. This will also give
the Park Board enough time to look at the budgets of the Athletic
Associations that were also handed out at the meeting.
Mr. Keprios noted that the Edina Hockey Associations pizza sale fund-raiser
seems to be the most successful. They net approximately $25,000. A point
was brought up that it seems the traveling teams need fund-raisers because
their programs are more expensive where the house leagues can rely
basically on the registration fees. Mr. Christianson asked why are we so
involved in traveling. He feels that possibly the traveling programs
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should be separate from the house league program. Mr. Kojetin noted that
this would not work. There would be more problems if the two types of
programs separated.
Mr. Montgomery asked why the girls sports have been able to break away.
Mr. Keprios noted that the Edina Girls Fast Pitch broke off from slow pitch
because the two sports are very different in how they are played, taught
and the rules. Girls traveling basketball broke off because it is such a
big sport and there really was not enough time for the EGAA to handle it.
It is too big. Also, girls traveling basketball has a different season.
It is during the winter, where the house league basketball is in the fall,
because of the amount of gym space available.
A big concern of the Park Board is that the money raised from funds is
equally apportioned between the house leagues and the traveling leagues.
Ms. Vagnoni asked Mr. Kojetin if everyone could get copies of the
ordinances once they are done. Mr. Kojetin indicated he will see to it
that everyone will get a copy.
IV. UPDATE ON AQUATIC CENTER AND SENIOR CENTER
Mr. Kojetin asked the Park Board if they would like a formal dedication of
the aquatic center on Saturday June 13, or if they would like to take a
tour of it at the next Park Board meeting? It was decided that at the next
Park Board meeting there would be a tour of the aquatic center and of the
Senior Center.
Both facilities are coming along right on schedule at this point.
V. OTHER
A. Hockey Ice Time - John Keprios met with two members of the Hockey
Association to establish a recommendation to resolve the ice allocation
issue. The proposal to be presented at the next Edina Hockey Association
board meeting will be to provide all in-house and "C" level hockey teams
with 17 hours of indoor ice at Braemar Arena and all other levels of hockey
27 hours of indoor ice. In addition, the recommendation is to eliminate
the Reimann Tournament this year and alternate it with the Squirt
Tournament every other year. The balance of indoor ice would then be
distributed to all teams in a lottery fashion at a point in time when all
coaches have had an opportunity to have their team parents meetings.
PAUL O'CONNOR MADE A MOTION TO SUPPORT THIS RECOMMENDATION AND ENCOURAGE
THE EDINA HOCKEY ASSOCIATION TO ACCEPT THIS SOLUTION. JIM FEE SECONDED THE
MOTION. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
B. Tennis Courts - Mr. Montgomery asked when the Garden Park tennis
courts would be rebuilt. Mr. Keprios explained that this is the busiest
time of year with programming and construction projects and hopes to begin
the process soon. Mr. Kojetin explained that the best time to resurface
and rebuild tennis courts is actually in the Fall of the year. Mr.
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Montgomery expressed a concern that the tennis courts are getting very
little use and we should consider eliminating some courts and not spending
the money to maintain them.
C. Tournaments at Van Valkenburg - Mr. Montgomery asked about the issue
of allowing beer sales at Van Valkenburg Park softball complex. Mr.
Keprios explained that the beer issue is being addressed as part of the
ordinance codification and that the current recommendation would allow
groups to sell beer at special events, such as tournaments, at Van
Valkenburg Park with a time stipulation that the same group could not get
another temporary beer license until a certain period of time has elapsed.
The recommendation is to not have the City of Edina get involved in selling
beer as an organization and would continue to prohibit park users to bring
in and consume their own beer at the Van Valkenburg Park site.
D. Sherwood Park - The playground equipment is now installed at Sherwood
Park and the contractor is now finishing the installation of the rubberized
safety surface material pathway that makes the equipment accessible for
persons with disabilities.
E. Arbor Day_- Mr. Kojetin noted that 50 Oak trees were planted at
Arneson Acres on Arbor Day. Thirty of these trees were planted from
seedlings that were taken from Tupa Park.
F. Planting - Mr. Kojetin indicated that at the Crosstown Highway and
Highway 100 cloverleaf, Prairie Flowers were planted. The seeds for these
Prairie Flowers came from the State. The City received 10 pounds of
Prairie Flower seed, which cost $100 per pound. Generally, one pound is
planted per acre. However, there will be approximately 10 pounds planted
on 1 1/2 acres.
Mac Thayer MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:35 P.M. Jean Rydell SECONDED
THE MOTION. MEETING ADJOURNED.