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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-03-12 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD 7:30 p.m. March 12, 1991 MANAGER'S CONFERENCE ROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Christianson, Beth Hall, Jean Rydell, Pat Vagnoni, Mac Thayer, Andy Montgomery, Paul O'Connor, Bill Jenkins MEMBERS ABSENT: Bill Lord, James Fee, Chip Sour STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, John Keprios, Janet Canton, Susan Weigle, Jackie Onischuck I. APPROVAL OF THE FEBRUARY 12, 1991 MINUTES Jean Rydell MOVED TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 12, 1991 MINUTES. Mac Thayer SECONDED THE MOTION. MINUTES APPROVED. II. ARNESON ACRES GARDEN DEVELOPMENT Mr. Kojetin explained to the Park Board that a specific formal garden plan has been received and will be introduced into the overall master plan of Arneson Acres Park. When the first concept of a master plan was drawn up for Arneson Acres it did not include specific garden lay outs or sculptured areas. It was thought that as time went on architects would be hired to design a formal garden and sculptured structures. The Garden Council formed the "Arneson Acres Garden Development Committee" which is composed of staff people as well as neighbors and Garden Council members. This committee interviewed architects for a more formal garden lay out as well as specific sculptured structures. The area that the architect will be working with is about the size of a football field. This is the area that Mort Arneson had started to design about 10 years ago but never completed. The Arneson Acres Garden Development Committee interviewed three different landscape architects and Andrew Leicester was chosen to design the formal and sculptured area for the Arneson Acres formal gardens. Andrew Leicester has a lot of experience with gardens around the world as well as a garden structure at the Minnesota Arboretum. Andrew Leicester's concept to integrate sculptured structures into the master plan came with the idea of introducing Mr. Arneson's interest in history, mythology, trees and flowers. In Mr. Arneson's dedication speech in 1975 he talked of his interests in these different areas. Andrew Leicester tried to introduce ideas from this speech into his concept drawing for the formal gardens. His basic idea was to come up with a mythology "Tree of Life" that would be the formal garden. Mr. Kojetin went through the plan showing how the mythology tree would be laid out in the formal garden area. The parking lot area would be the root system with a path leading to the seed or the base of the tree. The main trunk of the tree would be a walkway and people would walk through a hole in the wall which would depict coming above ground. There would be a maze of gardens on the two sides of the trunk of the tree as people would approach the top of the tree. At the top of the tree there would be an elevated fountain area approximately 30 ft. wide and 16 ft. high. Around the fountain there would be flowers depicting each of the 12 months of the year. One month of the year would have a water lily which would be a small pool that the fountain would cascade_down to and recirculate back up again. As people proceed up through the branches of the tree, there will be small intimate areas of passive recreation that would have sculptured items. The hole that goes through the wall would connect two earth mounds that would depict large leaves of the tree which are approximately'50 ft. long, 30 ft. wide and 16 ft. high. The wall will be approximately 16 ft. high and 30-40 ft. long. A pathway will run across the top of the earth mounds leaves and then across the wall connecting the two leaves at the opening of the trunk. This pathway would be wide enough to be wheelchair accessible. At the top of the wall there will be an observation area to overlook all of the gardens. Mort Arneson always wanted to have an elevated observation area to look down at the gardens. Where the Arborvitae are now is where the fountain will be, in the middle of the garden area. The Edina Garden Council's goal is to raise enough money to construct a fountain. At present they have raised $9,000 and a fountain could cost as much as $25,000. There are many areas in the garden that could be set aside to have memorials and also people could dedicate funds for the construction of different sculptured structures. It is the .recommendation of the committee to proceed with this plan. This plan will take many years to complete. At present approximately $10,000 has been set aside in the operating budget each year for the continuation of improvement to the Arneson Acres park. This year the capital plan has $80,000 set aside for moving the Arneson maintenance building and greenhouse to a new location in the lower parking lot. This will be done sometime in the fall. Also, the Arneson Acres Development Committee has been taking donations of small amounts for the past couple of years. At present there is $4,400 in this account and has been used for architect fees. Mr. Kojetin noted that some neighbors are concerned about having water in the park. Mr. Christianson asked if water plays an integral part in developing the plan? Mr. Kojetin stated that the Garden Council feels strongly that water plays a very important part in the overall master plan. The water will only be a couple of feet deep. Mr. Christianson also asked if there is a way to keep kids out of the water. Mr. Kojetin stated that at present there has not been a lot of vandalism in the. park. The only area where kids play is under the Evergreen trees. There is no water at present in the gardens so it is not known.if,kids would be attracted to this. 2 Mr. Christianson indicated that he felt the design looks like it has moved away from being traditional. Mr. Kojetin agreed and commented that it has more of a European or English look because there are more prisms and squares involved. Mr. Kojetin indicated that the Garden Development Committee is still studying the concept. As the plan evolves it will be brought back to the Park Board for a final consideration. III. SENIOR CENTER RECAP Mr. Christianson gave the Park Board a recap of what transpired at the City Council meeting on February 19, 1991.. Jean Rydell, Susan Weigle and John Keprios also were present at the City Council meeting. Mr. Christianson explained that he was not able to come up with all of the money and that a plan will need to be made to raise $17,000. It was also the City Council's recommendation to do everything at one time and not work in phases. With the exception of $17,000 in fund-raising dollars, the Council will approve allocation of resources from the Developer's Fund, Capital Improvement Budget and City Laborers. The Council would like for the Park Board to come back with some kind of a proposal for raising the $17,000. Mr. Christianson also stated that he asked the Council if they would be willing to loan $17,000 from the Developer's Fund as long as it be paid back over a certain amount of time. The Council seemed receptive to this idea. Mr. Christianson stated that he is hesitant to go back to the City Council unless he has some assurance there is way this money could be paid back. Mr. Christianson felt that a big key in raising the $17,000 is to get the seniors involved in this investment. Their participation should play a big part. Mr. Montgomery asked where the figure of $17,000 came from and Mr. Kojetin informed him that this is the amount needed for furniture, carpet, etc. Ms. Rydell asked if this money could come from a donation of carpet, furniture, etc., or does it have to be cash? Mr. Christianson felt that either one would be acceptable. Mr. O'Connor asked if anyone has talked to the Edina Foundation as a source. Also, Ms. Weigle has been talking with the Rotary Club. Mr. Christianson stated that he felt the Park Board has done everything they can do. It is now up to the staff and senior citizens. Ms. Weigle noted that she does have a few ideas of how to raise the money, but her main concern is the time frame in which she has to work with. Mr. Christianson pointed out that in the past it generally seems that other loans from this fund have been paid back in about three to five years. Mr. Christianson expressed that a proposal will have to be made to bring back to the City Council on how the $17,000.00 will be raised. Mr. Kojetin informed the Park Board that he has met with Clark Engler. Their biggest concern was to start the demolition in the middle of winter because this way the city crews could work on the project when they were not needed with snow removal. Now that it is almost the end of winter, the demolition of the main wall will have to wait until next winter. The Senior Center will be able to function with the main wall there. All of the other jobs could be completed as proposed. 3 0 Mr. Kojetin reported that he has contacted Clark Engler to go ahead with the design and bidding of the air conditioning. It is possible to install the air conditioning this summer before the demolition is done. Mr. Kojetin also stated that some items will need to be completed in the future because of costs. The old light fixtures will still be able to be used and this will cut out some expense. Mr. Christianson stated that he is gratified that the City Council is now beginning to sense they have to make an investment in the Senior Center. Mr. Christianson also suggested that this topic be brought back to the next Park Board meeting. IV. SPRING CLEAN UP PROJECT Mr. Kojetin stated that the City will be working on a project to clean up the City. All departments will be working together on this project. Also, a master maintenance program involving grass cutting is being worked on right now. The program will enable the Park Department to have a turn -around time of one week. Weeds will also be done on a more regular basis than on.a complaint basis. Mr. Kojetin stated that $20,000 was approved for 1991 to hire temporary help to do grass cutting. A retired park employee, Bernard McMahon will be returning to mow a certain area as well as additional manpower. The staff will be getting a presentation regarding this project on Friday. * 0 V. OTHER Van Valkenburg - Mr. Keprios reported to the Park Board that John Senior, Jr. will be writing the Edina Park Board a formal request to use the Van Valkenburg Park softball complex free of charge for a fund-raiser softball tournament and sell beer at the event on May 18 and 19, 1991. This would be a fund-raiser for a Child Abuse Prevention program. Mr. Keprios stated that he informed Mr. Senior that Van Valkenburg-is rented out at $100 per field per day or a total of $600 per weekend and there can be no beer. Mr. Senior would like an exception to this policy. Mr. Keprios told Mr. Senior that he should submit his request in writing to the Park Board. Mr. Senior indicated that he would write a letter to the Park Board asking that the fee be waived because they are a non-profit agency and that a temporary license be obtained to sell 3.2 beer. Mr. Keprios did point out that the weekend Mr. Senior is requesting is available. Mr. Senior also stated that his organization would be willing to pay the $100 per field per day if they could sell beer. Mr. Keprios also indicated that if beer were allowed to be sold then the City should consider taking a percentage of beer sales. Mr. Kojetin stated that there are a lot of non-profit organizations who would like to do this. He made a point that the City is also non-profit and if the fee is waived the City ends up absorbing the cost. The City must also look for donations and funds to meet budgetary demands. Mr. Montgomery stated that he feels a fee should never be waived as it costs a lot to run this facility. 4 L] Y� Mr. Montgomery asked if beer will ever be sold at Van Valkenburg? Mr. Kojetin indicated that we should never say never. Mr. Keprios indicated that a lot of communities make a lot of money through beer sales at their softball field complexes. Mr. Christianson suggested that a policy be made, especially if more requests are forthcoming. We should look at what other cities do with their adult softball complexes. Mr. Keprios did state that there is a policy that has been approved. It states: $100 PER FIELD PER DAY AND NO ALCOHOL IS PERMITTED. _ Mr. Keprios commented that the majority of the adult softball participants would like to have beer at this facility. The argument that participants state is if Braemar Golf Course is an adult facility and they can sell. beer, why can't the Van Valkenburg softball complex since it is also an adult facility? Mr. O'Connor indicated that for the past year and a half the School District has been working with a program on teaching kids responsibility with drugs and alcohol. This program is to help them develop their character. If beer is sold at the park, what is this showing the kids? Mr. Keprios indicated that he and Ed MacHolda have been working closely with the Edina School District's Chemical Health Coordinator, Jay Jaffee, in support of this drug and alcohol program and will be keeping the Park Board up to date on the Park and Recreation Department's involvement in this program. Ms. Vagnoni asked if there are 18 year old participants on adult softball teams because they are not old enough to drink. Mr. Keprios stated that there are some 18 years old players, however, the majority of the ball players are of legal drinking age. Paul O'Connor MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT MR. SENIOR'S REQUEST BE DENIED TO RENT VAN VALKENBURG PARK AT NO CHARGE AND TO SELL 3.2 BEER. Mac Thayer SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED. It was asked what was left to do at Van Valkenburg? Mr. Keprios indicated that the concession area does need a lot of things but it will be awhile before there is enough money to do everything. VI. ADJOURNMENT Bill Jenkins MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:35 P.M. Mac Thayer SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED. 5