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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-03-13 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD 5:00 p.m. March 13, 1990 Center Lounge Lower Level, Braemar Golf Course MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Christianson, Pat Vagnoni, James Fee, Bill Lord, Beth Hall, Andy Montgomery, Scott Johnson, John Thayer MEMBERS ABSENT: Bill Jenkins, Jean Rydell, Cliff Sour STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, John Keprios, Solvei Swenson, Janet Canton OTHERS PRESENT: Tom Horwath, John Valliere, Tom Wilson 1. NEW PARK BOARD MEMBER Mr. Christianson welcomed new Park Board member Beth Hall. He indicated she will be serving the next three years and everyone is looking forward to her being on the board. 2. APPROVAL OF THE FEBRUARY 13. 1990 MINUTES Mr. Lord MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 13, 1990 MEETING. Mr. Montgomery had a question about the comment in the minutes that states 10 percent of the population is handicapped. Mr. Kojetin indicated that we received this number from the school system. Scott Johnson verified that the number is correct. It was also indicated that the term "handicapped" has a very broad definition. Mr. Montgomery SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED. 3. EDINA GYMNASTICS ASSOCIATION REPORT - TOM WILSON Mr. Wilson gave a report to the Park Board on the Edina Gymnastics Association (EGA). He indicated that he has been the President for the past year. EGA is located at 5201 Eden Circle in Edina. EGA has 500 plus members for children one year old through high school. EGA has gone from 400 members to 900 members and now is around 500 members. The reason for this is probably due the U.S. Olympic years. More were interested then than they are now. EGA has four full-time teachers and a director. This is a parent run program. Gymnastics is a very specialized sport. Kids in the program are examined on a skill level. Mr. Wilson brought up the issue of fund-raising. He feels that all of the associations should work on one common fund-raiser together. It's hard for people to say no to a child selling something. But, it seems people are always knocking on their doors for different fund-raisers. Fund-raising for EGA is diverted in two different ways. First, it goes to different things such as this past year EGA raised funds to build a tumbling pit. Secondly, they use fund-raising to help defray costs of traveling to other cities and states for competitions. More boys and girls participate in Club gymnastics than in high school gymnastics. Basically, the reason is because club gymnastics is year round. He stated that with the Special Olympics being in Minneapolis in '91 that EGA is opening up it's doors to a number of people who are handicapped. Right now there is a student that is handicapped who has her own coach and they are using EGA's facility. Ms. Vagnoni asked if EGA has an elite group. It was indicated that there are 2 girls and 1 boy that are classified as elite but they do not have an elite team. Class 9 is their highest level. If someone wanted a higher level we could offer them one. EGA is open to anyone who is interested in participating. The cost for 17 weeks on an average is $105.00. Mr. Wilson stated that EGA receives a lot of strong support from Bob Ko j etin. 4. EDINA'S FORESTRY REPORT - TOM HORWATH AND SOLVEI SWENSON Mr. Kojetin indicated that by City Ordinance he is the City Forester. Edina has never officially had a full-time forester. The City Forester position has always been a contracted position. The first boulevard tree trimming program began in 1962. The City hired maintenance men to trim trees. Up until the outbreak of the Dutch Elm Disease, there were four people on staff to trim and remove trees. In the early '70s the City curtailed the trimming trees because we were too busy removing the Elms. In 1984, the City had a contracted survey of all boulevard tree types, sizes, conditions and when each tree should be trimmed. At the present time, the City still takes down Dutch Elm diseased trees on the boulevards free of charge. When the Park office receives calls regarding trees, the messages are given to Mr. Horwath for follow-up. Mr. Horwath then inspects the trees. When necessary, the City uses different contractors to remove the trees and stumps on the boulevards. The City will trim some hazardous trees and haul the branches at the expense of the community. Last year Mr. Horwath indicated that 573 Elms were marked. It was not one of the best or worst years. The Elm loss population is down. Last year, there were three generations of beetles. Next year will hopefully not be as bad as last year. A lot depends on the weather. Mr. Horwath stated that a little green mark is placed on the tree on the sidewalk side to indicate Dutch Elm Disease. This is done so as to not cause a great alarm to the residents. The only problem with this is, there may be as many as five or six calls on one tree because they do not realize that the tree has 2 been marked. The beetle can be killed in large numbers if we have extremely cold weather for a certain amount of time. The health of a tree to a large extent depends on the soil. Mr. Horwath indicated that he has been a contract forester for the past 12 years and has been under contract with the City of Edina for the past two years. Every year, Tom normally marks about the same number of trees. Mr. Horwath explained that there is a vast number of opinions on trees and what affects them. In the winter time, Mr. Horwath works for the City of Edina one day a week. In the summertime he works from four to five days a week depending on the number of calls. The City belongs to many different tree related organizations and tries to receive as much information as possible. The City also sends staff to different clinics and seminars. On staff, there are five maintenance men licensed to recommend Dutch Elm removal. Last year, the City designated the last Friday in April as Arbor Day, and the month of May as Arbor month. The City usually works with a school or organization on various Arbor Day projects. Last year, we worked with an Eagle Scout and Norwest Bank. There were 400 to 500 trees planted at Garden Park. The City of Edina has been qualified as a "TREE CITY U.S.A." The City has received this award the last three years. There are 50 cities in Minnesota that are Tree City's, U.S.A. The City of Edina has an Oak Wilt Program under a separate contract. The people that we contract with is S. Kunde, Inc. They have taken an aerial survey of the city. The drought in the last few years has severely affected the Oak trees. The symptoms of Oak Wilt are similar to the affects of a drought on oak trees. Oak Wilt is mainly spread through the root system. One method used to stop the spread of Oak Wilt is the use of a vibrator/cutter machine that cut around the infected tree and severs the roots. Last fall a resident of the Country Club area sent a letter to the City Council stating that he felt there should be some type of a replacement program for the Elm trees in the Country Club District. He would like to see the historical looking cathedral Elms that are present in the Country Club area continue. This resident indicated in his letter to the Council that he performed his own survey listing the location of some 200 trees that have died. Mr. Kojetin indicated that he has been in contact with this resident and indicated to him that in the spring of 1990 he would meet with the residents to try to work out some solution to replacing the Elms. Mr. Kojetin indicated that he has been in contact with the Elm Research Institute. This Institute has been donating Elm seedlings for the establishment of the American Elm if you are a member of the organization, which the City is. These Elm trees are guaranteed for 10 years that they will not become infected with the Dutch Elm Disease. At a recent clinic I attended there were well-known tree experts there. One question I asked was in regards to the reliability of these trees? Dr. Shigo, a tree expert, stated his opinion was that an Elm tree does not become an infected 3 tree until after it's approximately 18 years old. Another question that I asked at the clinic was should a community continue to plant Elm trees knowing that they still could become infected? His answer was that we should continue to plant the American Elm tree because possibly sometime in the future a cure could be found. At the present time however, there is no known new species of tree that can give the same appearance as the American Elm. Mr. Kojetin indicated that he would like to meet with the Country Club neighborhood to propose to replant Elm trees in the Country Club area. Also, stating to them that it's possible that when their tree is 20 years old that they might lose it. It was the opinion of the Park Board that we should proceed with a neighborhood hearing. Mr. Kojetin sent pictures around of what a 10 year old Elm tree looks like and also an 18 year old Elm tree. Last year, the Park Maintenance Department replaced 250 trees within the parks that had died from the drought in the last two years. The City will continue to try to upgrade the tree planting program within the City parks. 5. OTHER a. Tennis Courts - Bud Bjerken, Athletic Director for the School District, asked the Park Board if they would help share in the rebuilding cost of the five tennis courts at the Community Center. The school has a limited amount of money to fix the 14 school courts this year. The most reasonable bid so far is $5,500 per court. $50,000.00 has been allocated for this expense. It is a necessity to have funding for the remaining amount. Mr. Bjerken is looking for funding from the Park Board for $19,250.00. The courts that will be refurbished are not just the usual thin resurfaced color coat. They are replacing approximately one inch of new material on top of the old courts and then the thin color coating surface. Mr. Keprios indicated that these tennis courts are very critical to our program. Mr. Keprios stated that the Park and Recreation Department and the Edina School District have enjoyed a very successful relationship with regards to facility use. Mr. Keprios questioned the appropriateness of the City of Edina paying for a large capital repair item owned by the Edina School District. He asked if it would be appropriate for the School District to help fund future capital repair projects of the City of Edina. Scott Johnson MOVED THAT WE GIVE $19,250 TO THE REBUILDING OF THE TENNIS COURTS. Pat Vagnoni SECONDED THE MOTION. Mr. Montgomery asked if we have budgeted money for our tennis courts at the different parks. It was indicated that we do have a budget for this but we do not have enough money that would cover an expense such as this one. Mr. Kojetin indicated that it would be very difficult to come up with the money this year but that we could possibly program it into our capital for next year. The capital fund for 1990 is currently earmarked to fund the rebuilding of soccer and football fields, as well as, completion of construction at Arneson Acres. 4 James Fee MOVED THAT WE TABLE UNTIL STAFF CAN GET BACK TO US WITH A RECOMMENDATION AND SOURCE OF FUNDS. Andy Montgomery SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED. b. Strategic Planning - Scott Johnson stated that the School Board is currently engaged in establishing a strategic plan for the Edina School District. One item being addressed that affects the Park and Recreation Department is the issue of drug and alcohol use. Mr. Johnson will keep the Park Board informed as to the progress of the plan. C. Soccer - Ms. Vagnoni asked if there was any follow-up on the soccer program issue regarding non-resident participation in the E.S.A. program. The Edina Soccer Association wishes to limit their field use to only their program. The E.S.A. has decided not open up it's program to elite clubs, but only permit Edina residents in their programs. d. Summer Olympics - Ms. Vagnoni asked if we are participating in the summer Olympics? Mr. Kojetin indicated the only thing he is aware of is the carrying of the torch that you can sign up for at different McDonalds restaurants. The McDonalds restaurant in Edina is not participating in this torch run. e. Guidelines - Ms. Vagnoni asked if there are separate guidelines for each association or if they are all under one specific guideline. Mr. Keprios indicated that general guidelines were established by the Edina Park Board in 1977 as to the Park Board's relationship to the independently incorporated athletic associations and the Park Board's philosophy of youth athletics. Mr. Christianson indicated that we do not want to get involved with the day to day operations of the associations. f. Mayor's Volunteer Awards Night - Mr. Christianson asked for a motion to have Donald Wineberg nominated by the Park Board for the Park and Recreation Commendation Award to be presented at the Mayor's Volunteer Awards Night on April 17, 1990. Bill Lord MOTION TO NOMINATE DONALD WINEBERG AS RECIPIENT. James Fee SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED. 6. ADJOURNMENT James Fee MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 6:25 P.M. Bill Lord SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED. 5