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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-05-09 Park Board MinutesDINA PARK BOARD :30 p.m. May 9, 1989 Edina Art Center MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT STAFF PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT: Bob Christianson, Jim Fee, Jean Rydell, Mac Thayer, Pat Vagnoni, Bill Jenkins, Andy Montgomery Bill Lord, Don Wineberg, Scott Johnson Bob Kojetin, Diana Hedges, Bill Bach, Stacey Kness Jim Van Valkenburg, Art Dickey Bob Christianson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. 1. APPROVAL OF APRIL MINUTES Jean Rydell MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 11, 1989, MEETING. Mac Thayer seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. 2. CENTENNIAL LAKES UPDATE Mr. Kojetin indicated construction has not begun on the park yet. Phase I of the project consists of the theater, medical office, retail area, and residential area. Grading and construction of housing is going on now. If everything goes right, Minnesota Way will be opened May 15. West 76th Street will be closed and construction could be completed around November 1 including the bridge and road. Also included in Phase I is Parklawn up to the bridge. The start date for Phase II has not been discussed. Phase I of the park design includes a hard shoreline (concrete wall) on the west side of the lake, the lake, and a temporary shoreline on the east side of the lake. As of July 1, the whole park area should be graded; and by August, the whole lake should be graded. The floor plan is complete for the park building, and the exterior design is now being completed and will be brought to the Park Board. Mr. Jenkins asked how many stories the townhomes have. Mr. Kojetin said the are two-story buildings very similar to Edinborough. Mrs. Vagnoni asked if the water in the lake will be natural or if it will be brought in. Mr. Kojetin said the water is run-off from the Southdale area and will be channelled into the lake and then into Nine Mile Creek. Presently, the water is going to Adams Park in Richfield then pumped into storm sewers to go into Nine Mile Creek. Mr. Bach said Centennial Lakes Park will be administered by the current Edinborough Park staff. Hopefully the present Edinborough staff could increased by one person. Mr. Kojetin said we will add more staff as far as maintenance. The trees in the bridge area will be clumps of green ash and in the medians will be shrub roses. There will also be some formal flower areas on the hard shore side of the lake. Mr. Kojetin hopes to bring more information to the Park Board throughout the summer and fall as it becomes available. 3. ART CENTER EXPANSION PROPOSAL Mr. Kojetin gave some background of the Art Center expansion program. During 1988 a committee was organized headed by Peter R. Spokes to look at the expansion of the Art Center. Because of its tremendous growth in the past few years and the increased revenue, the Art Center board and the staff feel that it is time that an expansion - 1 - program should be looked at in the overall use of the Art Center building. Mr. Kojetin indicated that the Art Center board had reviewed the recommendation and wanted to now present the expansion program to the Park Board for continued recommendations to the Council for final approval. At this time, Mr. Kojetin introduced the Art Center board Chair, Mr. Jim Van Valkenburg, to expand on the recommendation for improvement to the Art Center. Mr. Van Valkenburg indicated the Art Center has been challenged by the Mayor to become more economic and break even. However, there are many problems: the need for more classroom space; the need for handicap access; ventilation; more gift gallery space; more office space for the manager; more parking. The Art Center Board is hopefully recommending capital from the developers fund. Mr. Van Valkenburg introduced Mr. Art Dickey, a member of the building committee. Mr. Dickey went over the preliminary conceptual drawings. The expansion includes: Upstairs - change present reception area into manager's office area and meeting room - excavate gift shop floor to garage level for handicap access - remodel present garage area into an office, sales, and gift area Downstairs - create a painting gallery approximately 900 square feet with sloping north window - create sculpture studio approximately 900 square feet with windows opening into sculpture court Mrs. Vagnoni asked if pottery is downstairs all ready. Mr. Dickey said it is, and it will not be disturbed by the addition. Mr. Dickey stated as plans are fine tuned, the cost will be fine tuned. The cost is presently figured per square foot. Mr. Christianson asked if it is recommended to be done all at once or will it have be a phase project. Mr. Dickey said it could be a three-phase project, although it will cost less to do it all at once. The Art Center Board recommends the whole project be done at once. Mrs. Vagnoni asked if the current classes would be canceled to do some of the construction. Mr. Dickey said yes, some classes will have to move somewhere else temporarily. This work would be done in a sequence in the hope of not shutting things down as much as possible. Diana said there are times when the upstairs room is not being used and can have a class up there. Mr. Fee asked about the sequence of funds coming in to the Art Center. It appears that the donations could come in at different times. Diana said there are events going on all year that bring in $20,000 per year. Mr. Christianson asked if there is a way for the City to advance the funds and have the Art Center pay them back within a three to four year period. Mr. Kojetin said as of January 1, 1989, there is $405,000 in the developers fund that is not earmarked at this time. We have discussed spending interest off it. Mr. Christianson asked if the park capital funding of $50,000 is used for this project, will there be a shortfall in 1991-93. Mr. Kojetin is hoping to renovate the heating and ventilation system. Presently, this building uses hot water heat with one boiler and has pipes in the floors and walls. The boiler is on its last legs, and Mr. Kojetin is hoping that in the $200,000 some of the mechanical problems will be taken care of. Mr. Christianson asked if there is any scheduled maintenance for 1991-1993. Mr. Kojetin said there is not. - 2 - Mr. Montgomery asked who holds the purse strings on the developers fund. Mr. Kojetin said the Park Board makes recommendations to the Council for various projects. The last time it was used was for the Arneson Acres Terrace Room development. Mr. Montgomery asked if there are any restrictions on the fund. Mr. Kojetin said no; it was set up for items that benefit the entire community. Mr. Jenkins asked how much money comes into the developers fund. Mr. Kojetin said deverlopers pay eight percent of the raw value of land when areas are developed in Edina. Mr. Christianson asked if the Art Center receive donations from persons other than Edina residents. Diana said they do have students and members from other areas. Usually about 70 percent are Edina residents and 30 percent are non-residents. Mr. Kojetin said the staff recommends the expansion project. Mr. Van Valkenburg is asking for the Park Board's endorsement to go to the Council. Mr. Christianson stated it seems that more and more people will be interested in passive recreation activities. He feels the need is here. Jean Rydell MOVED TO USE $200,000 FROM THE DEVELOPERS FUND AND TO PROCEED WITH THE ART CENTER EXPANSION AS PROPOSED. $50,000 WILL BE PAID BACK FROM ART CENTER DONATIONS WITHIN A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS. $50,000 WILL BE PAID BACK FROM THE PARK CAPITAL FUND BETWEEN 1991 AND 1993. THE DEVELOPERS FUND WILL BE DEPLETED BY $100,000. Bill Jenkins seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Mr. Christianson will attend the June 5, 1989, Council meeting for the Art Center presentation. Mrs. Vagnoni referred to the presentation booklet and asked if it is a good idea to increase the size of the classes. Diana said some of the classes can be expanded; however, she does not recommend having more than 15 students in any class. 4. OTHER Arneson Acres Memorial Mr. Kojetin briefly updated the Park Board on the status of the Arneson Acres Memorial. The total amount collected is $221,000. Mr. Kojetin is working with the architects to prepare working drawings. He expects to bring final historical museum plans to the Park Board in June or July. Hopefully construction will being in August and could probably be completed over the holidays. Nine -Hole Golf Course Update Mr. Kojetin indicated we are still waiting on the Corps of Engineers for the permit. He expects the Executive Course building will open on Saturday. Tee Oasis Mr. Kojetin reported Mr. Valliere and the architects are working on the tee oasis drawings and have a final one they like. We will construct a tee oasis on tee number 1 and 10 to see what it looks like. If the oasis works out, we will set up a plan to do three to four tees per year. - 3 - Canadian Geese Update A board member asked about the possibility of the City using swan decoys to keep Canadian Geese out of ponds. Colonial Church is using them, and they do not have a goose problem. Mr. Kojetin explained the City is in a three-year program with the University of Minnesota and most of the surrounding communities to relocate the geese. This is the third year of the program. Van Valkenburg Park The infields are constructed and two walls are up on the park building. Adult softball games are scheduled at Van Valkenburg in early July. Trash Containers Mrs. Vagnoni mentioned there are not a lot of trash cans. She asked if maintenance men will put them out in the spring. Mr. Kojetin said they will be replaced. They are taken away for the winter months because they get stolen or vandalized. Meeting adjourned 8:40 p.m. - 4 -