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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-01-08 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD 7:30 p.m. January 8,1991 MANAGER'S CONFERENCE ROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Christianson, Bill Jenkins, Bill Lord, James Fee, Beth Hall, Jean Rydell, Chip Sour, Pat Vagnoni, Mac Thayer, Paul O'Connor MEMBERS ABSENT: Andy Montgomery STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, John Keprios, Ed MacHolda, Janet Canton, Tom Horwath, Laura Hinton, Jackie Onischuck OTHERS PRESENT: Ray Zehr, Peter Malkovich I. APPROVAL OF THE DECEMBER 11, 1990 MINUTES Bill Jenkins MOVED TO APPROVE THE DECEMBER 11, 1990 MINUTES. Chip Sour SECONDED THE MOTION. MINUTES APPROVED. II. EDINA BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Mr. Christianson welcomed Mr. Zehr, President of the Edina Basketball Association (EBA). Mr. Zehr passed out the news letter that the EBA mailed to players before the beginning of the season. The newsletter basically consists of a synopsis of the basketball season. Basketball has two leagues, a house league and a traveling league. Mr. Zehr indicated that the numbers are growing and that this year 635 kids in 1st grade through 8th grade registered. Just three years ago there were only 450 kids registered. Mr. Zehr pointed out that usually there is an attrition in numbers, but that has not been the case in the last couple of years. All grades are starting to get bigger. Mr. Zehr also noted that basketball is alive and well. He feels one reason kids are more interested in the sport is because of the good high school team, the Timberwolves and. the Gophers. Mr. Zehr expressed a few of the EBA's concerns . One is that as the numbers continue to grow there is less gym time available. Also, girls basketball is growing and they have a need for more gym time. This is starting to become a major problem. A second concern is the budget. Right now the EBA is being assessed over -time fees for gym usage in the elementary schools. This past year, the over -time gym usage fees totaled around $3,000.00. This is something the EBA did not build into its budget and Mr. Zehr asked the Park Board if they could help the EBA deal with the rising costs. Mr. Zehr commented that EBA is looking into some type of fund raising because they want to keep their registration fees down. Right now the cost for house league basketball is $60.00 per person. Another problem Mr. Zehr pointed out was the condition of equipment and safety of the participants. The back boards are bent and broken at the schools. There sometimes seems to be a lack of communication and cooperation between the association and the school. Mr. Zehr would like to see better communication and a long-term plan to purchase equipment. Last year, the EBA and the EGAA purchased portable electronic scoreboards at a cost of about $1,000.00 each and they do encourage and allow the physical education teachers use them for their physical education classes. Another safety factor that needs to be addressed is the slippery gym floors in the elementary schools. Mr. Zehr felt strongly that one day someone is going to have a serious injury due to the slippery floors. This should be a concern of parents of kids at those schools. It is very dangerous. Concord Elementary has put carpet in the gym and it has worked out very well. Mr. Jenkins asked how much more growth the EBA anticipates in their program. Mr. Zehr indicated it has been going up about 108 to 158 each year for the past few years. Mr. Jenkins also asked if there is enough room. Mr. Zehr replied that Edina as a community is fortunate to have a lot of facilities, however, there is a tremendous amount of pressure on available gym time and that demand is escalating each year. As a result, there are bigger teams, fewer games and less playing time, and playing time is what basketball is all about. Mr. Christianson noted that the majority of Mr. Zehr's concerns -are out of the Park Board's domain. They are more school issues. Mr. Kojetin stated that there have been a number of policies relating to open gym. In the past, the Park and Recreation Department has only been charged if a janitor was not already on duty and thus had to be scheduled to work over -time specifically for a Park and Recreation function. If a janitor was already scheduled, there would be no fee charged to the Park and Recreation Department or athletic association. Mr. Zehr expressed that his main concerns are to: A) Have more gym time available. B) Establish means to somehow pay for costly gym time. Mr. Zehr also expressed an idea to hold a big fund raiser and put two wooden floors in the field house at the High School. The Park and p Recreation Department could be in charge of the fund raiser so the different associations would not fight over it. Mr. Kojetin indicated that there have been discussions between the City,and the Edina School District on different items. Maintenance issues and overtime gym time have been brought up. El 2 r Mr. Zehr suggested to the Park Board that possibly there could be a program for basketball in the summer. He stated that other communities have basketball 12 months a year and that Edina only has basketball during the basketball season. Maybe basketball could work into a bigger program, using outside courts during the summer months. Mr. Zehr indicated that the EBA appreciates all of Mr. MacHolda's help and he has done a great job. III. EDINA SWIM CLUB Mr. Christianson welcomed Mr. Malkovich, President of the Edina Swim Club (ESC). Mr. Malkovich handed out a brochure outlining the ESC. The Club started in 1957. Mr. Malkovich informed the Park Board that their mission is to maximize the long-term swimming accomplishment, personal development, and enjoyment of Edina Swim Club swimmers to the extent of their ability and commitment. Mr. Malkovich explained that this is an 11 month program. There is a Fall/Winter season which runs from September through February and there is a Spring/Summer season which runs from March through July. There are approximately 120-200 swimmers over the course of a year. Generally the age group is from 6 - 18 years. There are occasionally 5 year olds and .college students. The ESC is divided into three groups: Olympic Way, Age Group and Senior. Approximately 85% - 90% of the swimmers are from Edina and the other swimmers are from Eden Prairie, Bloomington and South Minneapolis. Mr. Malkovich stated that the following facilities are used: South View Junior High; Valley View Junior High, Edinborough Park, Blake and the Edina Municipal Pool in the summer. The ESC does pay a rental fee for all of these facilities. The ESC has a paid head coach and 4 part-time coaches. Mr. Malkovich went on to say that this is a very quality program. At the end of each season, there is state competition and Edina has done very well at this level in the past years. Edina has also gone to the National Competition and has done well. The Edina Swim Club has a Board of Directors which is made up of 20 volunteer parents of swimmers. Most of the work is done by parent volunteers. There is a part-time paid administrator at the office. The office is located in the Community Center. The majority of funds are received from dues. The ESC is always trying to raise money. Every year they have a swim-a-thon, participate in the Aquatennial and have a poinsettia sale. Mr. Malkovich indicated that it is hard to balance the budget when they are paying coaches and pool rental time. In addition to the main swimming program, they also are responsible for the Learn -to -Swim program in the summer. 3 Mr. Malkovich stated that Mr. MacHolda has been a great help over the years. Mr. Malkovich also thanked the Park Department for doing a good job in helping the ESC. Mr. Malkovich was glad to hear that the pool is being renovated. He commented that two lanes have currents and the kids do not like to swim in those lanes. Pat Vagnoni asked if the ESC has to pay a fee to use the City's pools. Mr. Kojetin indicated that it is mandatory that each member have a season ticket to the municipal pool . Ilso, when the pool is closed down for three days during the aquatennial there is a revenue loss so there is a charge to the Swim Club for pool rental and concession rental. Mr. Christianson thanked both gentlemen for their reports and indicated how much the Park Board appreciates their efforts. He also stated that if their associations have any concerns throughout the year to be sure and bring them to the Park Board's attention. IV. ADAPTIVE RECREATION - LAURA HINTON Mr. Keprios introduced Laura Hinton, the new Adaptive Recreation Supervisor, and gave a brief background on the position. He stated that the City of Edina began offering a municipal administered adaptive recreation program three years ago in a four city cooperative venture in a Joints Powers:Agreement with the cities of Eden Prairie, Bloomington and Richfield. Eden Prairie has now hired their own full-time Adaptive Recreation Supervisor and thus did not renew the adaptive recreation services contract. As a result, Edina needed to hire a staff person to continue to administer this successful program. When.Beth Timm left her position as the service contract employee who provided adaptive recreation services to both Edina and Eden Prairie, Laura Hinton was hired to fulfill the balance of the service contract agreement, which ended December 31, 1990. The City of Edina advertised and received applications for a full time Adaptive Recreation Supervisor effective January, 1991. Ms. Hinton went through the interview process and was the chosen candidate for the position. She is now Edina's first full-time Adaptive Recreation Supervisor. Ms. Hinton is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and has Bachelor's of Science Degree. Laura is a Certified Therapeutic Recreational Specialist and has a great deal of working experience with Edina's special populations. Ms. Hinton reported that there are currently many scheduled adaptive recreation activities as well as some disabled persons being integrated into existing recreation/athletic programs. Some adaptive recreation opportunities include bowling, a pizza t -shirt class, and swimnastics. She handed out a brochure on the current programs. She explained there are both integrated and segregated programs. There are approximately 200 kids in Edina participating in the programs. Three years ago there were approximately 30 kids participating. There are also a growing population of adults becoming involved in the program offerings. Ms. Hinton's office is in the Community Center at the Senior Center. 4 Mr. Jenkins asked if this program is funded through the City as far as administration is concerned? Mr. Keprios indicated that Laura's salary is funded by the City as well as some program start-up equipment needs. At the present time, some research is being done on grant money available, specifically CDBG monies, for interpreters for the deaf involved in the programs. Mr. Keprios stated that next to the playground program this is the most subsidized program per person. This valuable program is very expensive to administer, however, the City is mandated by federal law to provide program offerings to the special populations. Mr. Keprios mentioned that the City of Edina did not begin offering adaptive recreation program services because of federal mandates, but rather because Edina citizens requested the City's involvement and the citizens received tremendous support from the Park Board and City Council. Ms. Vagnoni asked if transportation is provided for these people? It was indicated that there is no transportation and this has become an issue with some parents. Mr. Christianson welcomed and thanked Ms. Hinton for her report. V. SENIOR CENTER UPDATE Mr. Kojetin gave an update on the status of the Senior Center. He indicated that since the last Park Board meeting Ken Rosland has met with the school district and discussed the program. Also, this topic was presented to the City Council. The City Council felt that more information was needed before they could give an approval on the recommendation. The City Council would like Mr. Kojetin to put together a booklet on what specifically would be done and what the agreement now consists of. Mr. Kojetin indicated that the.agreement at this time runs until 1992 but may be updated to 1996. Mr. Kojetin noted that he would like the Park Board to give their final approval at the February 12, 1991 meeting. It would then be brought to the school board's meeting on February 25, 1991 and then to the City Council on March 4, 1991. Mr. Kojetin indicated that the budget passed in late December. There is $45,000 in the capital budget. Mr. Christianson asked Mr. Kojetin if he perceives any serious road blocks with the City Council on what has been proposed? Mr. Kojetin replied that the Council's main concern is the location of the Senior Center. They want to be sure.the.Senior Center is at the best location. Before the Senior Center was put in the Community Center there were 4 or 5 areas investigated and the Community Center was the best place. Mr. Kojetin indicated that he will reactivate the Task Force Committee before the February 12th meeting. VI. EDINA MUNICIPAL POOL Mr. Kojetin informed the Park Board that the City Council gave the approval to go ahead with the renovation and upgrade of the Edina Municipal Pool. The approved proposal does include two major water amenities, a 200' water slide and a play structure in the zero depth pool. Right now the plans are in the process of being drawn up. At this time, it looks like the renovation will begin sometime in the early fall. It was felt that there may be too many road blocks to start this Spring or Summer. Hopefully the I 171 project will be bid sometime in late April or early May. However, the water slide may be installed in the middle of the summer and may be operating before the end of the season. The pool would not need to be closed down to install this feature and the fees would remain the same as last year. VII. 1990 FORESTRY REPORT Mr. Kojetin indicated that in 1983 there were 2,976 Elms and in 1990 there are 1,363 Elms left on the Boulevards. The majority of Elms in Edina are in the NE quadrant of the City. Tom Horwath, City Forester, gave a report on the tree trimming program. Mr. Horwath expressed a concern regarding Oak Wilt. He believes it is the second most devastating disease. The best way to deal with the disease is by a vibrating plow that breaks up the roots where the disease is located. This procedure is 80% to 85% effective. Some oaks are inaccessible to get to and the procedure used does tend to rip up lawns on private property. Chemicals have also been used but Mr. Horwath does not like this method. Mr. Horwath indicated that trees with Dutch Elm fluctuate more or less depending on the weather. The weather is a key factor in the survival of the beetle that carries the dutch elm disease and each year is different. Mr. Horwath explained that there are still effects of the drought on trees because some trees are not popping out until July and August. Mr. Horwath explained that he will look at the oak trees before passing them on to the private contractor, Kunde Company, which handles the Oak Wilt control program for the City. Mr. Horwath noted that this is a very highly opinionated business and he tries to read and do as much research as he can. Mr. Kojetin indicated that last fall a program was started to try and bring Elm trees back into the Country Club area. This spring 80 trees will be planted that range from 1 1/2' to 1 3/4' in size. Mr. Horwath has met with the neighborhood association on his recommendation of where the trees should be planted. These people are also aware of the fact that they may lose the tree in 17 to 18 years. The cost and funding of the program has not been completely worked out as of yet. Mr. Kojetin informed the Park Board that the Rotary Club has donated $3,000.00 for trees in early Spring for Arbor Day. These trees are intended for the parks and not as boulevard trees. This could be an annual program. Mr. Christianson thanked Mr. Horwath for his report. VIII.ADJOURNMENT Jean Rydell MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:50 P.M. Chip Sour SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED. 6