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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-04-11 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD 7:30 p.m. April 11, 1989 Edina City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Christianson, Bill Jenkins, Jim Fee, Jean Rydell, Mac Thayer, Don Wineberg, Pat Vagnoni MEMBERS ABSENT: Bill Lord, Andrew Montgomery, Scott Johnson STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, John Keprios, Ed MacHolda, Larry Thayer, John Valliere, Bill Bach, Stacey Kness OTHERS PRESENT: Peter Warner, Sylvia Eisler, Madeline Habighorst Bob Christianson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. and welcomed new board member, Pat Vagnoni. Mr. Christianson explained the first meeting of March is the -election for chair and vice chair, since there was not a meeting in March the elections will be held now. He then turned the elections over to Mr. Kojetin. Mr. Kojetin opened the floor for nominations for chairperson. Don Wineberg MOVED TO RE-ELECT BOB CHRISTIANSON AS CHAIRPERSON. Bill Jenkins seconded the motion. Mr. Kojetin closed the nominations. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Mr. Kojetin opened the floor for nominations for vice -chairperson. Jean Rydell MOVED TO NOMINATE DON WINEBERG FOR VICE -CHAIRPERSON. Jim Fee seconded the .notion. Mr. Kojetin closed the nominations. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Mr. Kojetin turned the meeting back over to Mr. Christianson. 1. APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 14, 1989, MEETING MINUTES Jean Rydell MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 14, 1989, MEETING. Mac Thayer seconded the motion._ MOTION CARRIED. 2. ICE SKATING RINK AND WARMING HOUSE FACILITIES Mr. Kojetin introduced Mr. Peter Warner, 4445 Fondell Drive, a neighbor of Cornelia School Park. Mr. Warner submitted a petition signed by 31 neighbors "interested in having the warming house at Cornelia upgraded to the type of facility in existence at Normandale Park or Strachauer Park" including a permanent shelter building, restrooms, and drinking fountain. According to Mr. Warner, the park gets a lot of use by skaters in the winter, and soccer and football players use the park in the summer. Mr. Warner asked the Park Board to consider the neighbors' request. Mr. Wineberg indicated the Park and Recreation staff is looking at the future plan of all the parks. He asked what the staff's recommendations for the future of Cornelia School Park. Mr. Kojetin stated this was the first warming house in the City. The Park and Recreation Department received capital dollars to build warming houses on five of the 14 skating parks. Cornelia School was scheduled for upgrading, but the capital dollars went to a total repair of the tennis courts since there was not a demand for upgrading the warming house. - 1 - 3. Mr.' Christianson stated at the present time all of the park facilities will be reviewed in the study the Park Board is currently conducting. It is premature at this point to decide if anything will be done. Mr. Kojetin concluded with the staff's recommendation that in our long range capital improvement plan Cornelia School warming house is in the budget for upgrading with total restroom and warming house features on a permanent basis. The question is when can it be done. SENIOR CITIZEN FEES Mr. Christianson referred to a letter he received from Madeline Habighorst requesting the Park Board to consider a senior citizen discount on season tickets at the Municipal Pool. Mrs. Habighorst feels seniors get a break just about everywhere. She mentioned the School District gives a 50 percent senior citizen discount on classes.. Mr. Kojetin explained that the discount that the School District has been giving is 50 percent. At the present time their bridge classes cost $26. They give a 50 percent discount which would be $13 for a senior class. We give bridge lessons at the present time for $11 with no discount. So a person has to evaluate the particular class and what is 50 percent of what. Mr. MacHolda recapped how surrounding cities handle senior citizens at their public pools: Richfield no discount Bloomington 65+ free with proof of age St. Louis Park 50 percent off daily admission Crystal no discount Eden Prairie no discount Mr. MacHolda responded to a question of how a senior discount would impact the pool's revenue saying it would not have a large impact since the pool is primarily used by a younger crowd, and there are not many senior users. A concern was if the Municipal tool established a discount for senior citizens, would it set a precedent for the other facilities? Braemar Golf Course has a lower rate for senior citizens all ready, but it does impact the revenue since there is extensive use by senior citizens. Mrs. Rydell asked Mrs. Habighorst if a 10 percent discount would encourage more seniors to use the swimming pool. Mrs. Habighorst said it would not. Mr. Kojetin said he would not recommend a discount. If a person feels there is a hardship, a person can apply for a scholarship through the Edina Foundation. Last year, there were applications for scholarship funds at the Municipal Pool and Edinborough Park pool which the Foundation funded. Mrs. Rydell asked Mr. MacHolda if the pool could be opened for lap swimming for free. Mr. MacHolda said no; it would have to be later in the evening or before 6 a.m. or eliminate an hour of open swimming. Mrs. Habighorst said she uses the pool every day. If there were more than a ten percent discount, it would bring more seniors. It was the staff's and Park Board's recommendation not to establish a senior citizen discount at the Municipal Pool. - 2 - 4. TEEN CENTER Mr. MacHolda gave some background on the Teen Center,. - It was started in 1985 on a nine-month basis. - It provided a safe place for teens on Friday nights. - Its numbers were high the first few Fridays it was open. - It has developed into a hangout for 12 to 20 kids who benefit from the development of relationships with peers and positive adult role models. The Teen Center Board is requesting $1000 to keep it going. The program proposed for the 1989-90 school year is one night per month at South View Junior High and one night per month at Valley View Junior High. There would be major events such as tubing, concerts, bowling, etc. Mr. MacHolda expressed the staff's opinion and recommended to wait for more information on another section of R.A.L.L.Y. (Recreation, Arts, Learning, and Leisure for Youth) called School Release Day and direct $1000 to this program -since it is more recreation -oriented. Mr. MacHolda said the 12 to 20 kids who used the Teen Center regularly can be included in the Release Day program. Mr. Kojetin said the staff recommendation is not to fund the Teen Center. Mr. MacHolda will bring detailed information with an organizational chart to the Park Board probably in June. Jean Rydell MOVED THAT WE DO NOT FUND THE TEEN CENTER'S REQUESTED $1000 FOR THE 1989-90 SCHOOL YEAR AT THIS TIME. Mac Thayer seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. j. PARK PLAN UPDATE Each of the three committees reported as follows: Bob Christianson (Park and Open'Space Acreage) - They are looking into the availability of space and will meet with someone at City Hall to see what kind of land is undeveloped. Bill Lord (Park Development) - Bob Kojetin reported the committee has gone through the park master plan once and has a short report on each park. The Park Board decided to let the staff and the committee continue with this process. Jean Rydell (Recreation Programming) - According to the School District, 75 percent of Edina's population are "empty -nesters". Committee is considering a survey to see if there is an interest in developing some programs with other communities for younger adults and adults. Mr. Christianson asked the committees to prepare a written draft and to report in August. He explained the study plan to Pat Vagnoni and welcomed her to his committee. 6. NINE -HOLE GOLF COURSE PLAN UPDATE Mr. Kojetin gave some background on the nine -hole golf course plans: - We are submitting for permits from the Watershed District, Department of Natural Resources, and Corps of Engineers with the help of Barr Engineering. - We have met with the DNR. Their biggest concern is the amount of open water. - 3 - Hoping to start construction in the fall. The bonds were awarded at the past Council meeting for $2.1 million. Mr. Valliere reported on the status of construction going on this year at the golf course: Executive building - Construction is almost complete. Tee construction - Architect has submitted plans for #12 tee. Work should start shortly. Tee oasis - Working on design and making them more defined Parking lot - Planning the design and lighting of a new parking lot. Also lighting would be included around the executive building, the clubhouse, and a front entrance sign. 7. EDINBOROUGH PARK Mr. Christianson received a letter written to the Mayor and City Council and Bill Bach. Mr. Bach reviewed the concerns and suggestions stated in the letter: - increased traffic volume at park when Hawthorne Suites and Centennial Lakes come on line - too many pre-schoolers - appears unorganized - abuse of park amenities - suggest increased security guards - suggest having groups check in with the office Last year, there were 204,000 people through the park. Mr. Bach indicated primary use of the park is pre-schoolers in the mornings, adults in the evening, and families on the weekends. Especially for Children, the day care center in Edinborough, works with the park staff in allowing only ten children at a time with leadership at certain low -peak times. However, other day care facilities bring large groups of children without advance notice. A park rule is children 12 and under have to have a parent in the park which brings the question of adult to children ratio. Mr. Kojetin indicated that some issues in the letter cannot be changed due to the nature and design of the park. Mr. Bach said the park is meeting its design projections and programming needs. The Park Board made some suggestions to minimize congestion and confusion at the tot lot area such as make signs requiring a certain ratio of children to adults and increase "policing" of tot lot. 8. PARK AND FACILITY NAMES Mr. Larry Thayer indicated at the time of the Arena re -construction, he wanted to get rid of the second class citizen connotation of the "pavilion". Braemar Arena has not been re -named; it is still "Braemar Arena" with the west ice and the east ice for scheduling purposes. The 1988-89 Edina Hockey Association season participants knew the two ice sheets as east and west. They seem to have accepted the east and west reference. Bill Jenkins MOVED THAT WE CALL ONE SURFACE "EAST" AND ONE ICE SURFACE "WEST" UNDER THE SAME NAME "BRAEMAR ARENA". Jim Fee seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. - 4 - 9. OTHER City Council Liaison Mr. Christianson received a letter from the Council stating they have eliminated their liaison to each board. They wish to meet annually with each board on the third Monday of a chosen month at 6 p.m. starting June 19. The Park Board chose August 21 as their joint meeting date. Volunteer Recognition Reception Mr. Christianson reminded the park Board of the April 25 reception. Mr. Christianson, Jean Rydell, and Andrew Montgomery will attend. Senior Bus Program The program is running very smoothly. Van Valkenburg Park April 24 is the ground breaking for the fencing and building. The fencing should be completed by June 1, and the building should be completed by July 1. The strategy is to schedule future capital dollars to light one field per year at a total estimated cost of $100,000. Adult Softball Program The league is at its maximum with 127 teams this.year. There are thirty teams currently on a waiting list. If all three fields were lit, a maximum of 96 teams per week could participate on the three fields. This would leave a few other teams using the ten fields that are now being used for all 127 tams. When Van Valkenburg is being usgd to its maximum, we would eliminate some of the ten fields and keep only a minimum number. May Park Board Meeting The May 9 Park Board meeting will be held at the Edina Art Center. The Art Center expansion proposal will be on the Park Board agenda in May and hopefully on the City Council agenda in June. Meeting adjourned 9:45 p.m. - 5 -