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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-11-12 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD 7:30 p.m. November 12, 1991 MANAGER'S CONFERENCE ROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Christianson, Beth Hall, Pat Vagnoni, Mac Thayer, Andy Montgomery, Jean Rydell, Paul O'Connor, Bill Lord, Beth Hall, Bill Jenkins, Andrew Herring MEMBERS ABSENT: James Fee STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, John Keprios, Solvei Swenson, Susan Weigle, John Valliere I. APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 8, 1991 Jean Rydell MOVED TO APPROVE THE OCTOBER 8, 1991 MINUTES. Andy Montgomery SECONDED THE MOTION. MINUTES APPROVED. II. LETTER FROM CLIFF SOUR - Resignation Bob Christianson read Cliff "Chip" Sour's letter of resignation from the Edina Park Board. Bob Christianson then read a Resolution of Appreciation from the Park Board to Chip Sour. Bill Jenkins MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION. Pat Vagnoni SECONDED THE MOTION. DISCUSSION: Bob Christianson expressed his appreciation for Chip Sour's exemplary, outstanding arnd insightful contribution to the Park Board. Mr. Sour has been helpful in Community Education Service Board and as a liaison with the Golf Course. Bob Christianson thanked Mr. Sour for his activity on the Park Board. Chip Sour shared his appreciation for serving on the Park Board and for the people on the board. MOTION CARRIED III. REPLACEMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY EDUCATION SERVICE BOARD Mr. Sour will no longer be the Council appointed Park Board representative to the Community Education Service Board which is a board that reports to the School Board. Jean Rydell volunteered to serve on the Community Education Service Board. Bob Christianson MOVED TO RECOMMEND JEAN RYDELL TO SERVE ON THE COMMUNITY EDUCATION SERVICE BOARD. Bill Lord SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED. Chip Sour also served as a liaison to the Golf Course Board. Bob Christianson appointed Andy Herring as the new liaison to Golf Course Board and requested that John Valliere get the appropriate information to Mr. Herring. IV. 1992 FEES AND CHARGES Bob Kojetin presented the proposed changes for -the 1992 fees anc, charges. The fees for the swimming pool had already been approved during the improvement discussions. The Arena fees show an increase which will be in effect in September, 1992. The Golf Course has increases from $ .25 to $2.00, the Golf Dome has an increase in the league fees. Edinborough/Centennial Lakes fees are the same as those approved during middle of the summer for the opening. Andy Montgomery noted that the discount for the Senior Fee in golf has been reduced from $1.00 to $.50. There generally is more of a discount for players once they reach the age of 65. John Valliere indicated that over 50% of the players on the golf course are over 65 years of age and that this age group is growing. Bob Christianson inquired about whether the fees were revenue or cost generated. Mr. Kojetin replied that it is a combination of both. Bill Jenkins asked if there were any golf courses that do not give a senior discount. John Valliere stated that all gave a discount in the state, however, on weekends they don't give a discount. Braemar does not give a discount on weekends. Bob Christianson asked how Braemar compares with the market place. John Valliere stated that we are slightly above average on course fees. Lockers and golf car fees are very comparable. Bill Lord MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THEY ADOPT THE 1992 FEES AND CHARGES AS RECOMMENDED BY THE PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. Pat Vagnoni SECONDED. Andy Montgomery MOVED TO AMEND THE MOTION TO CHANGE THE SENIOR GREEN FEES TO $14.50 AND $11.50 FOR PATRONS AND NON -PATRONS. Mac Thayer SECONDED THE MOTION. DISCUSSION: Andy Montgomery commented that if the seniors are the ones playing the most, they would be bringing in more dollars than the non -seniors at a $ .50 increase. AMENDED MOTION DEFEATED. 2 ayes 8 nays MOTION TO RECOMMEND FEES AS PRESENTED CARRIED. Bob Kojetin presented the facility budgets for Park Board's information. Bob Christianson inquired if Centennial Lakes Budget was a separate entity from the park budget. Mr. Kojetin stated that it was. Bob Kojetin discussed the trust or developers fund inn which the interest is used to operate the Centennial/Edinborough Park alo, with user fees and rental revenues. Andy Montgomery inquired about the golf course's revenue on investment which is overstated by $115,000. John Valliere explained that income was from the investments from bonds for the construction of the new nine holes, which has not be able to start. V. RECREATION REPORT Paul O'Connor reported that representatives from the Edina Girls Athletic Association and the Edina Basketball Association attended the School Board meeting because they were concerned about user fees for gym space. Dr. Ray Smythe will establish a committee represented by the school staff, volunteers from the athletic associations involved and an Edina Park and Recreation Department representative to work through the issues and find reasonable solutions. John Keprios reported that Bandy registration materials have been sent out, Firearm Safety training is done, registration for downhill ski lessons are currently being taken. The tennis courts that were reconditioned this year are finished. The company INSPEC was very professional and good to work with on the tennis court projects. The Edina Girls Athletic Association (EGAA) basketball program will finish with championship day on November 23rd, adult volleyball starts on Wednesday. The activity calendar is in final proof and is expected to go out the first part of December. Mr. Keprios also stated that the EGAA plans to raise revenues through charitable gambling means outside of Edina. They plan to have a pull tab booth at the new Gippers on Highway 12 and are considering having another booth.at Ruperts. The EGAA board has had several lengthy discussions on having this kind of fundraiser. Pat Vagnoni asked if EGAA decided on the pull -tabs on their own and do they need to do it. Mr. Keprios stated that they made the decision on their own and that they did not have to acquire any permits from the City of Edina to operate a pull tab booth in another city. The continual increases in gym use fees charged by the school district plus the need for grants and escalating expenses for in all aspects of their program has created a bigger demand for revenue. With the higher fees being charged for gym usage, EGAA cannot raise adequate funds as they have in the past from their basketball tournament fundraiser to meet future financial demands. Bob Christianson inquired if the group as a City of Edina sponsored organization, has a right to sell pull -tabs without approval from the Edina City Council. Paul O'Connor MOVED AS A PARK BOARD NOT TO SUPPORT OR ENCOURAGE EDINA ATHLETIC ASSOCIATIONS USING PULL-TABS/GAMBLING AS A MEANS OF PRODUCING REVENUES FOR SUPPORTING THE YOUTH ATHLETICS. Jean Rydell SECONDED THE MOTION. DISCUSSION: Paul O'Connor stated that he did not like the idea of the youth being a part of gambling. Part of the idea of you, activities is for them to be involved in the fundraiser through their own activity so that they appreciate it. Pat Vagnoni is against the youth sports selling gambling tickets. Mr. Kojetin suggested inviting the EGAA board to come in and discuss their rationale. Andy Herring is uncomfortable in making a decision without more information. Andy Herring MOVED TO TABLE THE MOTION. Bill Lord SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION DEFEATED. MOTION TO DISCOURAGE GAMBLING AS FUND RAISER CARRIED. 6 ayes, 4 nays. Bob Christianson stated that this is an advisory motion. Mr. Montgomery asked how VanValkenburg Park did this year. Mr. Keprios replied that it did well. However, the concession stand is not really functional. As a result, he is working with a designer and trying to redesign it. Fall softball was new this year at VanValkenburg and the new program went very well. VI. REPORTS GOLF DOME Bob Kojetin reported that the golf dome collapsed during the recent snow storm. It did not fall because of snow accumulation on top, two seams burst perhaps do to the wind. Currently, the seams are being heat sealed and sewn. Hopefully, in two weeks at a cost of $12,000; however, insurance should cover the cost except for the $1,000 deductible. SENIOR CENTER Mr. Kojetin stated there is a wall which was scheduled to be removed during the renovation of the Senior Center which they would now like to leave as a barrier. The down side of leaving the wall would be the larger room would be smaller in size. Susan Weigle would like to leave the wall so that when the band is practicing or playing the three smaller rooms would have more privacy. Also, people would not be visibly walking through and interrupting the other programs. GREENHOUSE MAINTENANCE BUILDING AT ARNESON ACRES Due to the storm the greenhouse maintenance building will not be finished before January, 1992. However, construction will continue. SWIMMING POOL The concrete for the wading pool will be poured this week. The piping and the gutters have already been installed. The contractor feels he is still on schedule for next summer. GENERAL INFORMATION Snowfalls could have a f the maintenance of the rinks. During a large snowfall, park maintenance works together with the street department to create larger pool of manpower for snow removal. They would remove snow from streets and sidewalks first and then work on rinks. VII. OTHER Bob Christianson requested to return to the charitable gambling issue. Mr. Christianson turned the chair over to Bill Jenkins. Mr. Christianson MOVED TO RECONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATION PREVIOUSLY PASSED CONCERNING THE PULL TAB SITUATION. Bill Jenkins SECONDED. DISCUSSION: Mr. Christianson indicated that 6 votes to 4 is not a very large margin and that the EGAA should be invited to discuss the issue before a decision is made. Andy Herring stated he would like to hear what they say. Pat Vagnoni stated the Park Board should create a formal policy for athletic associations in regard to using gambling as means for fundraiser. Since, pull - tabs are sold at bars and the biggest problem in the school system is alcohol it would be best to dis-associate the youth activities from a bar. Paul O'Connor stated that he is aware of a couple of other communities that have used pull tabs and raised more money then they needed and did not think that they acted responsibly. Secondly, the Park Board is trying to communicate through the school system a set of values which would result in much more mature adults with courage and responsibility. The gambling is just an easy way out of fund raising. The children do not learn a value system to solve problems. MOTION TO RECONSIDER RECOMMENDATION CARRIED. 8 ayes 2 nays Bob Christianson MOVED TO TABLE MOTION UNTIL NEXT MEETING SO THAT EGAA CAN COME IN AND PROVIDE INSIGHT TO THE STEPS THEY HAVE TAKEN. Bill Lord SECONDED. MOTION TO TABLE CARRIED. 7 ayes 3 nays Bill Jenkins relinquished the chair to Bob Christianson. VIII. ADJOURNMENT Mac Thayer MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. Paul O'Connor SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED. Meeting adjourned 9:15 p.m. • Ll