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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-01-12 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD 7:30 p.m. January 12, 1988 Edina City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Joan Lonsbury, Bob Christianson, Marilyn Wooldridge, Jim Fee, Jim Moe, Jean Rydell, Mac Thayer MEMBERS ABSENT: Don Wineberg, Bill Lord, Andrew Montgomery STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, Gordon Hughes, John Keprios, Bill Bach, Stacey Kness OTHERS PRESENT: Judy Semsch, Grove Street neighbor; Bill Bryan Joan Lonsbury called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF DECEMBER 8, 1987, MEETING Mac Thayer MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 8, 1987, MEETING. Jim Fee seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. II. GROVE STREET OPEN SPACE Judy Semsch, the spokesperson for the Grove Street neighborhood group, gave a review on the most recent neighborhood meeting held on December 14, 1987. Additional neighbors surrounding the 5100 Grove Street property were invited as well as Mr. Kojetin and Mr. Keprios. Ms. Semsch stated there was discussion of leaving the house as it is. She stated that Mr. Kojetin re-emphasized the point of the meeting, which was to design a new appearance for the property. Ms. Semsch indicated the main concerns of the neighbors were to keep the property natural and pleasing. Mr. Kojetin commented that a big topic was vandalism and parties on the property. Toward the end of the meeting, the feeling was that the house would have to go, and their concern was what the property would look like. The City would remove the established road and house but would not invest a large amount of money in the property. The neighbors were also concerned about mowing and maintaining the edges of the property. Some neighbors would like to see the meadow on the edge of the property re-established to bring back the wildlife; some would like to have it remain the way it is. Mr. Keprios mentioned their main concerns were security and what will happen after the house is torn down. Mr. Keprios said the neighbors should plan ahead of time what they want the property to look like. Mrs. Lonsbury asked if Mr. Nolan has removed his junk from the edge of the property. Ms. Semsch answered he has not. Mr. Kojetin will speak with the Health Department to see if they can inspect the situation. Mrs. Lonsbury also asked about installing some fencing. Mr. Kojetin said we would put up some type of fencing to keep cars off the property, but it would allow pedestrians and bicycles to enter the property. - 1 - Bob Christianson MOVED TO REMOVE THE GROVE STREET SUBJECT FROM THE TABLE. Jim Fee seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. Bob Christianson MOVED TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE STAFF TO RAZE THE HOUSE IN THE CALENDAR YEAR 1988, TO RENDER THE OPEN SPACE UNDEVELOPED, AND WITH MINIMUM MAINTENANCE RESTORE THE PROPERTY TO ITS NATURAL STATE. Jim Moe seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. III. HEDBERG/EDINBOROUGH TAX INCREMENT AND HOW IT WORKS Mr. Kojetin gave a brief introduction then turned it over to Mr. Gordon Hughes. Mr. Hughes explained that tax increment financing occurs when new taxes from new developments are diverted to Edina to repay bonds which were sold to pay for Edinborough Park and other public costs. Mr. Hughes stated in 1977 the City created a tax increment financing district in southeast Edina. Edinborough is a portion of the land in that district. The taxes collected in that district go to the School District, County District, Mosquito Control, Watershed District, etc., and some to the City. The new taxes are not shared by all the above but will all go to Edina. One-third of the Hedberg property is in the same tax district as Edinborough Park. Plans will be to incorporate them into a new district. Mr. Fee asked who creates the tax increment districts. Mr. Hughes said the City does. Mr. Fee asked why the City doesn't do this all over. MR. Hughes answered the legislature figured that out and ruled that the City make certain findings to establish a district. A condition of blight has to exist which means if it weren't for tax increment financing, the property wouldn't develop to its potential. Mr. Hughes then referred to the attached handout, Edinborough Overview, and explained how tax increment financing works at the Edinborough project. Mr. Christianson asked if each individual second mortgage earns interest. Mr. Hughes answered it earns 5 percent non -compounded. Mr. Hughes went on to say the Hedberg site is over three times the size of Edinborough and Hedberg Park will be an outdoor facility. The idea of how to pay for it and what we could expect back is really the same as Edinborough. Mr. Christianson asked if the operating costs of Edinborough and Hedberg are not covered by the fees and interest generated by the endowment fund, if the City general fund will have to defray some of the costs. Mr. Hughes answered that there is some other income, such as additional passes that are sold for the pool and track and rental fees. Mr. Kojetin said some of the money coming in from the different condominium phases has restrictions on when they start payment. Heating will be a tremendous cost --$118,000 has been budgeted for 1988, and $50,000 has already been generated in rental fees. It takes a lot of maintenance staff to keep the park clean. Also, the plantscape was never really looked at. It is a large cost as far as the manpower to maintain it. The plant maintenance is under contract right now, but starting in June we will be on our own. Once a month we meet with the designer and the contracted plant person. The trees have been totally trimmed three times already because of growth. Mr. Christianson asked if the fees that are generated by rentals, the endowment fund, and all the other revenue sources do not cover expenses, is the difference made up out of the Park and Recreation budget or out of the general City budget. Mr. Kojetin answered it would come out of the Park and Recreation budget, which of course, is part of the City budget. Mr. Christianson then asked if other parks may get less - 2 - money. Mr. Kojetin said that could happen, but it would be reflected in the following year's budget. Mr. Christianson expressed concern about Hedberg for that reason. He stated if it means that kids cannot play ball and the swings go un -maintained, I am not sure it is worth it. Mr. Kojetin said once Hedberg gets developed, Hedberg will be managed with Edinborough as a joint project. The maintenance personnel will be working at both parks as one project. Mr. Christianson asked if there is a way to assess the adjacent properties to make up the difference for the operation of Edinborough. Mr. Hughes said we might be able to do that. Mr. Christianson asked if we are looking into this. Mr. Hughes said not at this point. Mr. Christianson asked where the money goes if the revenue generated exceeds the cost of operation. Mr. Hughes said it would probably go into the endowment fund. Mr. Christianson asked if it would be able to go into the budget for other parks. Mr. Hughes said it could, with Council approval, since there are no restrictions in the endowment plan; he doesn't think there is anything preventing the City from doing that. Mrs. Lonsbury stated that any money generated at Braemar Golf Course stays in their budget. Mr. Kojetin said this is why the two projects (Edinborough and Hedberg) would have to work hand in hand. His understanding is that the two projects would work out of the same endowment fund. IV. RECREATION REPORT Mr. Kojetin presented the recreation report which is an update on the Centennial Ice Castle. Mr. Kojetin and Mr. Bach showed a video tape of the ice castle progress. Mr. Kojetin explained using a blueprint how high the walls are and talked about its expected progress. He introduced Mr. Bill Bryan, an Edina resident, who is the ice harvesting expert for this project. V. OTHER Mr. Kojetin mentioned a flyer distributed by a high school group called B.A.S.E. (Bringing Alternatives to Students in Edina). They have been working with Mr. Kojetin on planning a party at Braemar Clubhouse after a hockey game this weekend. Mrs. Lonsbury reminded the board of the last Centennial meeting on Tuesday, January 19. Mr. Kojetin has collected some discarded Christmas trees to decorate Cornelia Park for the upcoming winter festival. Mrs. Lonsbury will try to get some additional trees from her church. Mr. Moe mentioned the recent sledding accident at Edina High School, Sunday, January 10. He asked if the open water on Lake Cornelia from the ice harvesting is protected. Mr. Kojetin said there is orange fencing around the entire hole, and there will be fencing around the ice castle when it gets a little taller. Mrs. Lonsbury stated this is Marilyn Wooldridge's last Park Board meeting, as well as her own last meeting. Mrs. Lonsbury will open the February meeting then turn it over to the staff for elections. VI. ADJOURNMENT Mac Thayer MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 9:04 PM. Jean Rydell seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. - 3 -