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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-01-16 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD 7:30 p.m. January 16, 1990 Manager's Conference Room MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Christianson, Bill Jenkins, Andrew Montgomery, Pat Vagnoni, Jean Rydell, Bill Lord, Scott Johnson, Mac Thayer MEMBERS ABSENT: James Fee, Don Wineberg STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, John Keprios, Ed MacHolda, Janet Canton, Larry Thayer, Bill Bach, Susan Weigle, Molly Paulson, Todd Anderson, Beth Gerstein Timm, Joyce Repya OTHERS PRESENT: Mayor Frederick Richards, Alice Randall 1. APPROVAL OF THE DECEMBER 12, 1989 MINUTES Mr. Christianson asked to have the minutes approved. Scott Johnson asked that the minutes be modified to indicate under Section 4 that he was present as a representative from the School Board at the September meeting and also at the joint Park Board/Council Meeting. Jean Rydell then MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 12, 1989 MEETING. Bill Lord SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 2. RALLY Alice Randall, Youth Development Coordinator from the Edina Community Education Services, asked the Park Board for $3,500.00 for this year and next year for the Rally Program. Ms. Randall explained to the Park Board what Rally is and how the concept is the same as the Teen Center but the format is different. There are more people involved in Rally than there were with the Teen Center. Since 1985 the City of Edina has given approximately $9,000 to the Teen Center and the Edina Community Education has funded the Teen Center about $10,000. It has been a true partnership. Rally has three action areas; After School, Late Night, and Release Day. The Rally program provides recreational activities for students after school and non -school days. The After School program participation ranges from 25 to 30 students per event. Rally participation fees cover the cost of the events but not the administrative costs of planning. Mr. Christianson asked that if they do not obtain additional funding will the program go down the drain? Ms. Randall indicated that it possibly could. She stated it is critical to obtain the funds. Mr. Montgomery asked if the Edina Park and Recreation Department has available funds if the Edina Park Board were to recommend funding the Rally program. Mr. Kojetin indicated that we have not budgeted for this program and thus would have to be funded by eliminating a currently funded program or request funding from a contingency source. Ms. Vagnoni asked if we could get other associations to contribute some money. Mr. Keprios stated that it really wouldn't be in keeping with each athletic association's mission. Mr. Kojetin questioned the spending of so much money on so few students. It was also indicated that athletic associations charge a higher fee when necessary to remain financially self sufficient. Both Mr. Christianson and Mr. Johnson indicated they think the program should be supported and would be a viable cooperative program between the City and the School Board. Mr. Lord asked if the kids have tried to raise funds themselves? Ms. Randall indicated that they have sold concessions but with minimal financial success. Ms. Randall stated that it is hoped that Rally will continue to grow. Mr. Jenkins questioned if it should be the Park Board's responsibility to fund the Rally Group $3,500. Mr. Christianson stated that there may be differing views on that issue. Mr. Johnson MOVED THAT THE PARK BOARD RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT WE ALLOCATE $3,500.00 TO SUPPORT RALLY THIS YEAR AND SEE HOW THE PROGRAM GOES. Pat Vagnoni SECONDED THE MOTION. Bob Christianson, Mac Thayer, Pat Vagnoni, Scott Johnson, were in favor of the motion. Bill Jenkins, Bill Lord, were opposed to the motion. Andrew Montgomery, Jean Rydell were abstaining from the motion. 3. JUPITER AND BEYOND Mr. Kojetin stated that the City Council had 14 responses to the Jupiter and Beyond Report at their January 2, 1990 meeting. Mayor Richards indicated that the consensus of the Council is that people are getting fed up with taxes, especially at the local level. We can only have a budget of so much money. He suggested that the Park Board needs to sharpen its focus a little bit more. The Park Board needs to determine what is reality and what is a wish list. Mayor Richards said that the word "Premier Community", which is used in our mission statement, doesn't have to mean buying or building the best facility. Mayor Richards complemented the Park Board on establishing a very good report. Mayor explained the dilemma that we can't say "yes" but we don't want to say "no" to the wish list, but we must separate what is doable and what is not doable. The council indicated that they would like to go on a tour of all of the facilities and parks. They felt this would be helpful when looking at the Jupiter and Beyond Report. Mayor Richards brought up the topic from the report that addressed the handicapped accessible issue and suggested that maybe we shouldn't have all parks handicapped accessible but instead focus on a smaller number of parks. 2 The Future's Commission would like to have input into the Park Board's Jupiter Report. Mr. Christianson indicated that the Park Board wrote the report on what they felt their charge was and as it turns out they didn't meet that charge. Mr. Christianson stated that now the Board has some new things to think about and rewrite the report. Mayor Richards disagreed with this and felt that if the Park Board had unlimited funds there would be very little to not agree with on the report. It's not that it didn't meet the charge, it's that it needs to be more realistic. The Park Board needs to take what is in the Jupiter and Beyond Report right now and squeeze it down and prioritize what needs to be done. Mayor Richards explained that the current policy, as stated on page 21 of the Jupiter Report, "The City of Edina will not sell or donate ownership of any park or open space," is not necessarily agreeable to all City Council members at the present time. Mr. Christianson questioned the response that Council had towards the demographics. He was under the impression that we received our numbers from the schools. Both Mr. Kojetin and Ms. Repya indicated that this is correct and these are the most accurate numbers we have access to until the 1990 census is complete. Mr. Montgomery questioned what we do about getting numbers for our older population. It was indicated that we will have to wait for the results of the 1990 census. It was decided that the staff would start to prioritize a list from the report along with their reasoning for this. Also, Bill Lord's Park Board Committee will go out and review these parks. Mayor Richards indicated that the Council would like the new report by June or July, in time for the budget. Also, Council would like to take a tour of the parks sometime in March, April or early May. The Jupiter and Beyond Report will be on the agenda for discussion at the March meeting. 4. PARK BOARD MEMBERS (SCHOOL BOARD AND PLANNING COMMISSION) A. Park Board Members Mr. Kojetin stated to the Park Board that the Advisory Committees are reappointed by Council in February. B. School Board Member It was brought up that last September a motion was made to change or modify the Ordinance to accommodate the situation of a School Board member on the Park Board. This is yet to be acted upon. 3 Mr. Christianson noted that he still thinks it's important to have a School Board person on the Park Board. The issue is whether or not the School Board representative should be a member of the School Board or someone familiar with School Board issues that is appointed by the School Board. Mr. Christianson feels it may be more significant if it is an actual School Board member. Mayor Richards stated that the Council feels the Ordinance should stay the same. He did point out, however, that instead of just one specific member, the School Board could choose to rotate members to attend the Park Board meetings. Mr. Christianson indicated if it would be preferable to have the Park Board withdraw its recommendation from the September meeting. Scott Johnson MOVED TO RESCIND THE MOTION THAT WAS MADE AT THE SEPTEMBER 12, 1989 MEETING TO CHANGE OR MODIFY THE ORDINANCE TO ACCOMMODATE THE• SITUATION FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. Pat Vagnoni SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED. C. Planning Commission Member Discussion centered around how long it had been since a Planning Commission member had attended the Park Board. The last person was Virginia Shaw. It was the consensus of the Park Board that it was not necessary to have a Planning Commission member on the board. They still felt, however, that it is important to maintain an 11 member Park Board. Andrew Montgomery MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER ON THE PARK BOARD BUT A RESIDENT OF THE COMMUNITY BE APPOINTED IN PLACE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER. Bill Jenkins SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED. 5. MEETING Mr. Kojetin asked if February 7th is okay for everyone to be at a joint meeting with the Athletic Association Presidents. The meeting will be a discussion about the report of the School Board strategic planning retreat. 6. SENIOR CENTER COMMITTEE Mr. Kojetin indicated that since there have been so many seniors sending in letters that they have reactivated the committee on Seniors. This committee consists of: Jean Rydell, Park Board; Bob Kelly, Senior; Glen Smith, Council Member; Ellie Reid, School; Sue Weigle, Senior Center Director, Bob Kojetin, Park and Recreation Director. Mr. Kojetin stated that they have put together a survey to send to the Seniors since it has been a year now that they have been in the Community Center. There have been a lot of positive comments. 2 W One topic that has been brought up by the Seniors is they feel it needs to be more visual. They need more signs indicating where the Senior Center is within the Community Center. 7. ADJOURNMENT Bill Jenkins MOVED TO ADJOURN at 9:05 p.m. Jean Rydell SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED. 5