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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-02-12 Park Board Minutes4 EDINA PARK BOARD 7:30 p.m. February 12, 1991 MANAGER'S CONFERENCE ROOM - MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Christianson, Bill Lord, James Fee, Beth Hall, Jean Rydell, Pat Vagnoni, Mac Thayer, Andy Montgomery MEMBERS ABSENT: Paul O'Connor, Chip Sour, Bill Jenkins STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, John Keprios, Janet Canton, Susan Weigle, Bill Bach OTHERS PRESENT: Jim Bokovoy, Jack Kemp I. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE -CHAIR Mr. Kojetin brought the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. He asked for nominations for the Park Board Chair. Jean Rydell MOVED TO RECOMMEND BOB CHRISTIANSON AS CHAIR OF THE PARK BOARD. Bill Lord SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. Mr. Kojetin asked for nominations for the Park Board Vice -Chair. James Fee MOVED TO RECOMMEND BILL JENKINS AS VICE -CHAIR OF THE PARK BOARD. Bill Lord' SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. Mr. Christianson welcomed the re -appointed people: Bill Jenkins, Mac Thayer and Patricia Vagnoni for another three years of service. II. APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY 8. 1991 MINUTES Jean Rydell MOVED TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 8, 1991 MINUTES. Beth Hall SECONDED THE MOTION. MINUTES APPROVED. III. WRESTLING ASSOCIATION Mr. Christianson welcomed Jim Bokovoy, President of the Edina Wrestling Association. Mr. Bokovoy indicated that Edina Wrestling started out as the Edina Wrestling Club six years ago. It has only been about the last four years that it has been an association. Wrestling is offered to kids in first grade through sixth grade. There is a Junior High and High School Varsity program offered by the Edina School District. The Edina Wrestling Association offers two wrestling seasons. The first season is Folkstyle Wrestling and starts in Mid -January« through the end of February. The second season is Freestyle Wrestling and runs from Mid -March through the end of April. Freestyle Wrestling consists of throws and take downs as used in international competition. The boys meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:45 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Edina High School Wrestling room. The Edina School District does not charge a fee for the use of this facility. The program is self-supporting and is run by all volunteer coaches. Also, parents who have been wrestlers help out as well as some of the varsity wrestlers. This is very beneficial. The association raises money through i registration fees and tournament concessions. The Wrestling Association also has been known to give the High School wrestling team money when they have gone before the Wrestling Board asking for a donation. The Edina Wrestling Association is a small program. This year there are 28 kids signed up and last year there were 32. He stated that this is a perfect number. One encouraging fact is that 50% of the registrants this year are returnees from last year. A lot more kids are staying with the program. It is still hard to get fifth and sixth graders involved. The program consists of younger kids who are starting to come back each year. There are three tournaments that the Edina Wrestling Association attends each year. This year is the first year that Edina will be hosting their own Folkstyle Tournament, whereas, in the past the Edina Wrestling Association hosted an annual Freestyle Tournament. Mr. Montgomery asked if kids can participate in more than one sport during a season. Mr. Bokovoy indicated that they currently do have kids participating in other sports and it does work out okay. Mr. Christianson asked how many weight classes are there? Mr. Bokovoy stated that they.try to go by a weight and age system. No one can wrestle a person who weighs three pounds more or less than their own weight. They try to balance this very carefully. Ms. Vagnoni asked how many people are on the Board of Directors. Mr. Bokovoy replied that they have a President, Vice -President, Treasurer, Secretary and four Board members. to Mr. Bokovoy expressed that John Keprios has done an excellent job and has been very helpful in giving guidance and input. Mr. Christianson thank Mr. Bokovoy for his report and indicated that the Board appreciates his involvement and hopefully the program will continue to flourish. IV. SENIOk CENTER Mr. Kojetin stated that at the 1990 December City Council meeting, the Council asked for more background information on what the Park Board wanted done with the Senior Center. Mr. Kojetin with the help of the Senior Center Task Force has put together a report on the Senior Center Relocation. The first half of the report (purple section) indicates what occurred two years ago when it was approved to move the Senior Center from York Avenue to the Edina Community Center. The last part of the report (pink section) represents the plans for the relocation of the Senior Center within the Edina Community Center. After one year in the Community Center there was a survey done in regards to how the seniors felt and asked for some of their input. Mr. Kojetin indicated that Glenn Smith is the person who has helped spearhead this project along with Bob Kojetin, Doug Johnson and Sue Weigle. This committee is trying to come up with a move to a better location within the Community Center. After several meetings and walking through the building, five plans were drawn up. After investigating these plans and talking with the School District staff, it was decided Plan 5 would be the best location. Mr. Kojetin pointed out that the plans have been done by Clark Engler, the School District's architect. . 2 The Plan has been broken down into two phases of what needs to be done now and what can be done later and also gives estimated costs. There are some items, such as the demolition, that can be done by city employees. It could be six months or longer before something could be done by City employees because it would need to be worked around their schedules. This will save some money and Mr. Kojetin pointed out that we can be directly involved with the project. There will be other tasks that will need to be done by bid process, such as mechanical, electrical, air conditioning and exit control doors. Mr. Kojetin indicated that in the remodeling project the main entrance area into the Senior Center would have a nice graphic archway indicating that you are now entering the Senior Center. This way seniors will know they are in the right place and it will get away from the institutional look. Mr. Kojetin also pointed out that possibly some type of outside funding could be found for carpeting, window treatments, etc. Maybe a group of seniors could form a committee to try to raise funds from clubs and organizations. The second phase would be primarily to have air conditioning extended into the four classrooms and office area. This is something that will definitely need to be put in. Ms. Weigle indicated that in the summer on the third floor the program shuts down because it is so hot. The parking lot at the Community Center has been studied by the Community Center's Service Board, as well as the City's Engineering Department and the Task Force. It was recommended that 10 parking stalls indicating Seniors Only between 8:00 a.m, and 5:00 p.m. be put in immediately at the Northwest parking lot. Also, there have been discussions to have some form of a stop sign on the Frontage Road, which has already been completed. The Engineering Department is presently working on drawings of a parking lot that will be adjacent to the #2 door between the building and crosswalk over Highway 100. There will also be a curb cut on the South end of the North parking lot and some form of a walkway from the parking lot to the corner. A fence will also be installed in the South end of the parking lot to prevent people from crossing in the middle of the street. Mr. Christianson confirmed that his understanding is the lease will be extended until the year 2,000. We not necessarily looking at this as a permanent site but it will also be more than a temporary site. The Senior Center will be there at least for 10 years. This would be a good investment. Mr. Christianson also indicated that there really is no other alternative, this is the best choice. Ms. Weigle informed the Park Board that the Senior Center could not live with what is now there. Mr. Montgomery asked if there was any other money that could be used besides the $45,000 for capital improvements that has already been approved for this 1991 project. Possibly the Developer's Fund could be used. Also, is there any money available that could be used so that the total project could be completed for $104,000. Mr. Kojetin indicated that in last falls allocation of funds, there was $483,000 in the Developer's Fund. Of this amount, $150,000 has been allocated for the expansion of the Art Center, with $50,000 to be paid back to the fund over a five year program. Also, a $130,000 commitment has been made for the Van Valkenburg Park athletic lighting. This would leave a balance of $203,000 in the Developer's Fund. Within the next year the account will increase by $142,000 from the Cahill development. This will leave a balance of $345,000 in round figures in the account. 3 I Mr. Christianson asked Mr. Kojetin if he envisions any other projects coming up that would need money from the Developer's Fund? Mr. Kojetin replied that the Garden's at Arneson Acres may need some money. Mr. Keprios indicated that the Cornelia Park Playground area is going to need some upgrading. He stated they will be looking into donations from the private sector. In the capital plan for the next five years there is $20,000 per year that is set aside for capital improvements. Mr. Kojetin stated that he does not see anything major in the next five years but beyond that he could not say for sure. Ms. Weigle did comment that the actual Senior Center will be looked at as a focal point; programming will be done in facilities throughout the City of Edina. Mr. Lord felt that this project has been long overdue and that the Developer's Fund should be used to complete the project at one time. Bill Lord MOVED THAT A RECOMMENDATION BE MADE TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE PROJECT AS PRESENTED WITH THE $45,000 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR 1991 AND TO ADDITIONALLY RECOMMEND THAT $60,000 FROM THE DEVELOPER'S FUND BE USED TO COMPLETE THE RENOVATION OF THE RELOCATION OF THE SENIOR CENTER. Andrew Montgomery SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED. V. CORNELIA SCHOOL Mr. Kojetin pointed out to the Park Board that the PTA is working with the School District and Principal to have an environmental planting program at Cornelia School. Mr. Kojetin indicated that back when this park was developed in the 1960's there were not a lot of trees installed in the park portion of the school. Mr. Kojetin has met with the principal of Cornelia School and the Chair of the Committee representing the PTA for this project. It is the intention of the Cornelia PTA committee to engage an architect to draw a planting plan for the total school park. The Committee will be using some of the original plans that were developed back in the early 1960's. Mr. Kojetin indicated that at the last Park Board meeting he had mentioned that the Park and Recreation Department had received a donation of $3,000 from the Rotary Club for planting trees in city parks. Mr. Kojetin said that he had indicated to the PTA committee that there is a possibility that $3,000 worth of trees could be planted in the park portion of Cornelia School Park. This would be a good cooperative program between the school, city and Rotary Club. VI. OPEN SPACE - DELANEY BOULEVARD Mr. Kojetin stated that this is for the Park Board's information only. He informed the Board that the at the last City Council meeting the issue of the open space property on Delaney Boulevard came up. This was a tax forfeited piece of land that the city did not want to pick up a year ago. The City had recommended that possibly the condominiums adjacent to the property could acquire the property. The condominium owners would have to pay the $58,000 worth of special assessments on the property and then donate it to the city. The one year has now passed and there is some concern that the condominium owners do not want to participate in this program. The owners would still like to see it used as open space. This piece of property has a set of tennis courts on it, which is owned by to Dewey Hill Condominiums. If for some reason this became open space property and owned by the City, these tennis courts would become part of 4 the park system. There is some concern of this happening by the condominium owners. Mr. Kojetin stated that the City Council had recommended to the condominium owners that the property could be acquired if they would pay the $58,000 special assessment. This would have to be done by March 1st because that is the extended length of time. The land would then be put on open auction by the county and the state. VII. NO SMOKING - ALL CITY BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES Mr. Kojetin informed the Park Board that all city buildings and facilities will be no smoking as of Monday, February 18, 1991. Also, if there are two individuals in a city vehicle, there will be no smoking permitted. If only one employee is driving a city vehicle that person may smoke if so desired. VIII.OTHER Mr. Christianson read to the Park Board the City Ordinance on attending meetings. No one can miss four meetings in one year. A new policy is that no one can miss three consecutive meetings. If this should happen a letter needs to be written to Mr. Christianson explaining why and he will pass it one to the City Council. The City Council will review why three consecutive meetings have been missed. This will be done on a case by case basis. Mr. Christianson informed the Park Board that April 23 is the Annual All -Volunteer Awards Reception at Edinborough from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Keep this in mind for the next meeting. Mr. Kojetin handed out the year-end financial report for all of the enterprise facilities. It is hoped that the main pavilion at Centennial Lakes will be completed in early June, 1991. The Park Board indicated that they would like the June Park Board meeting to be held at the Pavilion. IX. ADJOURNMENT Mac Thayer MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:00 P.M. Jean Rydell SECONDED THE MOTION-. MOTION CARRIED. 5