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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-03-08 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD 7:30 p.m. March 8, 1988 Edina City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Christianson, Jim Fee, Jean Rydell, Don Wineberg, Jim Moe MEMBERS ABSENT: Mac Thayer, Bill Lord, Andrew Montgomery STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, John Keprios, Larry Thayer, Bill Bach, Stacey Kness Bob Christianson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 16, 1988 Jim Fee MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 16, 1988, MEETING. Jean Rydell seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. II. HEDBERG PROPERTY Ken Rosland gave a presentation on the Hedberg Property. He reported that the council approved tax increment for this project. The Hedberg project, a mixed use district, is under United Properties. One of the goals is to get traffic off France Avenue. There is a ten-year full development plan including 1300 housing units. The Council has not approved what type of housing will be in the project yet. The first phase includes 285 housing units. Also included in Phase I is moving the Southdale Theater, constructing a medical building, retail stores, an athletic club, and a 350,000 to 400,000 square feet office building. The Hedberg project will have 26 acres of parkland including the man-made lake with bicycle and walking trails and some type of transit system. In the summer months, some activities in park will be: outdoor amphitheater, tot lot with wading beach, shuffleboard, lawn bowling, horseshoes, and environmental golf (putting). Some winter activities are ice skating, ice sculptures, sleigh rides, sledding, and possibly supervised tubing. Fire pits and a warming house will also be available. Five million dollars will be committed to the trust fund over the term of the development. Park maintenance will be supported by yearly contributions: each housing unit pays $15 per month per unit, the retail units and the athletic club will pay .10 per square foot, the office buildings will pay .20 per square foot. This is a total of about $350,000 towards maintenance of the park. The transit system bus route would be from Edinborough Park through the interior of Hedberg, Gabberts, Southdale, Fairview Hospital, Municipal Pool, then turn around and return. It would be free to the riders. It would cost about .03 to .04 per square foot for all participants in this system. Mr. Wineberg asked if the West 77th Street and Parklawn bridges were walking or vehicular bridges. Mr. Rosland said the pedestrians would cross under the road, and the vehicles would go over the bridge. - 1 - Mr. Christianson asked if this project will siphon off funds that would otherwise by used to maintain other existing parks. Mr. Rosland said we are trying to put some money back into the system. With the 8 to 9 million dollars in the trust fund, we will be able to not only maintain this park and Edinborough, but possibly put dollars back into the park system. Mrs. Rydell asked where the water will come from and do you have to get water purification. Mr. Rosland said this will be storm sewer water and may have to be augmented with well water. The lake has to be there because it is a water storage area for that part of the City. Mr. Moe stated he is a little disturbed that we are spending this kind of money on top of Edinborough to'encourage families and children to move into the Richfield school district. Mr. Rosland explained that the concept is when these people do seek a home, they will move into the city of Edina. The housing units will be marketed towards young people that have lived in the'city. Mr. Wineberg asked if an automated transit and Atlanta Airports has been considered. it would lose its flexibility. III. BRAEMAR PAVILION system similar to the Dallas -Fort Worth Mr. Rosland said it would be expensive and Mr. Kojetin stated the refrigeration equipment and the main header in the floor at Braemar Pavilion has completely broken down. Mr. Larry Thayer stated February 28 was the initial breakdown. He had been adding Glycol to the system every four weeks during the winter and then it blew last week. We scheduled the remaining two weeks into the Arena. Mr. Kojetin said nobody lost a game or a practice. Last fall when the chiller broke down, we removed the coil from the chiller and welded all the holes making a temporary repair. Mr. Kojetin said that Mr. Rosland and the staff are working right now on an immediate needs and a future upgrading of the Braemar Pavilion and complex which was started by the citizen committee a couple years ago. In some of our preliminary meetings, we have received some basic information on what it would cost to just start up the facility in the fall. Mr. Fee asked what is the cost. Mr. Kojetin said this would cost $650,000 for basic start up. Mr. Larry Thayer said it would cost $650,000 for the refrigeration equipment and floor alone to be repaired. IV. TENTH ANNUAL VOLUNTEER AWARDS NIGHT The annual volunteer awards night will be held on April 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Braemar Clubhouse. We will hold the Park Board meeting after the presentation. Mr. Christianson would like Joan Lonsbury to receive the highest award. Mr. Kojetin agrees with that, but Joan has already received that award. Mr. Christianson said Marilyn Wooldridge is the logical person to receive that award then. Mrs. Rydell asked if there is something else we can do for Joan Lonsbury. Mr. Kojetin said there could be another category possibly in the Mayor's Awards. Don Wineberg MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT MARILYN WOOLDRIDGE RECEIVE THE MAYOR'S COMMENDATION AWARD AND THAT JOAN LONSBURY RECEIVE THE PARK AND RECREATION AWARD. Jean Rydell seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. - 2 - V. BRAEMAR INSPECTION TOUR 1988 The Park Board decided on Tuesday, July 12, for the upcoming Inspection Tour. There will be no Park Board meeting that month unless something comes up. VI. ARNESON ACRES REMODELING UPDATE Mr. Kojetin stated that the architect had to come back in after the terrace room ceiling and walls were removed to investigate the beam structure. Because of the 211x6" ceiling joists and the weak structure, some steel work was needed in this area. Also, to bring the building up to electrical code, it needed a new transformer and new electrical panel. After the ceiling was removed, it was discovered that the galvanized plumbing was in dire need of replacement due to all the years Mort Arneson lived in the home and the pipes were frozen and patched. This replacement piping caused a tremendous increase in price from the original estimate. The outside of the home was painted five years ago and should have a new coat of paint. This is normally done under the operating budget, but at this time it should probably be included into the overall renovation of the home. Mr. Fee said all this has to be done to meet code. Mr. Christianson asked what the additional cost is. Mr. Kojetin said we will need an additional $25,000 from the parkland dedication fund. Jim Fee MOVED THAT THE ADDITIONAL $25,000 NEEDED FOR THE ARNESON ACRES HOME IMPROVEMENT BE TAKEN FROM THE PARKLAND DEDICATION FUND. Don Wineberg seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. Mr. Kojetin indicated that the parkland dedication fund was now at $387,687.86. There was a possible suggestion during the budget process last year that in the future, leave the principle of the developers dedication fund as is and take the interest of the developers dedication fund out each year for some specific capital improvements in the park system. There is still some land being platted within the city but there are only a few left where developers dedication will possibly be coming into this fund. This year the only money that was taken was for the improvement to the Arneson Acres home. Mr. Wineberg asked if this is being done mainly for the Garden Council and the Historical Society. Mr. Kojetin stated it is more than that because it is a City building, and we will rent it out to other groups in Edina and share the operating expenses with the Garden Council and the Historical Society. Mrs. Rydell asked how much money is donated into the fund by the developers. Mr. Kojetin indicated that the developers pay 8 percent of the raw value of the land at the time the property is platted. This land value formula is worked out by the assessing Department. VII. RECREATION REPORT Mr. Keprios reported that the ski lessons at Hyland Hills are over. There will be 120 adult softball teams which is 2200 to 2400 individuals. There is a new co-rec softball league on Monday nights instead of Sunday; they will be using a 14" ball. The 1988 activities calendars are in residents' homes. Soccer and baseball registration is going on now. The Gun Range has switched to its summer hours. It looks like a brand new building with new carpeting and fresh paint. Since we hired - 3 - the new manager, we have had more business than we've ever had. Girls' volleyball begins next week. The joint powers agreement has been approved by all four communities for the Adaptive Recreation Program. In three weeks we will be hiring the new joint Adaptive Recreation staff person. VIII.OTHER Mr. Kojetin received a letter from Jim Hammond, Edina Schools, asking the Park Board to consider helping the Edina Schools upgrade McCarthy Field at the Community Center. They would like to install an irrigation system which would cost approximately $24,000. Edina Schools can commit to $12,000 and are asking that $12,000 from the City be considered. Mr. Keprios stated the City uses the field more than the Edina High School. Lutheran High School and Maranatha Lutheran School (both located in the Community Center building) use the field during the day for their softball practices. Mr. Fee asked where are we going to get $12,000. Mr. Wineberg said if we are using the field so much, we have an obligation. Mr. Keprios estimates the City's use is one-third of the total use. Mr. Christianson stated this is something we should consider in the budget process for next year. Whatever the staff's recommendation is, we will take a look at it. The Park Board suggests that this issue be brought back at the budget time for 1989. Mr. Christianson asked Mr. Kojetin to let Dr. Hammond know what the Park Board's decision is. Mr. Kojetin mentioned the recent Celebrate the Arts benefit held at Braemar Golf Course Clubhouse. It profited $10,000 with total ticket sales and a silent auction. This profit goes into the Art Center's operating budget,. Mr. Wineberg mentioned that two or three people in the Wooddale Park area told him that they have never seen anyone skating on the Wooddale skating rink. He also mentioned that the Park and Recreation Task Force's questionnaire to Edina residents will include questions on Braemar Arena. Maybe it will give us some ammunition. IX. ADJOURNMENT Jean Rydell MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 9:25 P.M. Jim Moe seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. ITEMS FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL: Jim Fee MOVED THAT THE ADDITIONAL $25,000 NEEDED FOR THE ARNESON ACRES HOME IMPROVEMENT BE TAKEN FROM THE PARKLAND DEDICATION FUND. Don Wineberg seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. - 4 -