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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-02-17 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD 11:30 pm February 17, 1987 Edina City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Joan Lonsbury, Jim Fee, Bill Lord, Mac Thayer, Jean Rydell, Marilyn Wooldridge, Andy Montgomery (arrived 8:15 pm) MEMBERS ABSENT: Don Wineberg, Jim Moe OTHERS PRESENT: Mr. Fred Richard, Council Member, Members of Edina Garden Council, Edina Historical Society, Mr. Foster Dunwiddie, Mr. James Robin STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, John Keprios, Ed MacHolda, Sue Weigle, Stacey Kness Joan Lonsbury called the meeting to order. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JANUARY 13, 1987 Mac Thayer MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 13, 1987, MEETING. Jim Fee seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. TI. ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON Jim Fee MOVED TO NOMINATE JOAN LONSBURY FOR CHAIRPERSON. Marilyn Wooldridge seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. Bill Lord MOVED TO NOMINATE DON WINEBERG FOR VICE CHAIRPERSON. Joan Lonsbury seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. III. ARNESON ACRE PARK REVIEW OF MASTER PLAN Mr. Jim Robin, architect hired for the master plan design for Areneson Acre, presented a review of the master plan for Arneson Acre Park. Mr. Robin started out with the basic formal garden design that Mr. Mort Arneson had designed and expanded the formal area. The plan shows an expansion of the formal garden space into the selected areas connected via water. Another consideration was that the view from the terrace room of the Areneson home has a direct line to the central feature of the formal gardens. By removing a few of the present trees that have overgrown and the adding of water feature, you have a beautiful view of the total park area. Mr. Robin showed how the different aspects of the parks are interconnected with walking paths between the formal gardens and the home into the garden sections of the park. The area across the lake between the formal gardens and the home is a large, casual garden space for colorful plant splashes. Mr. Robin presented a plan showing the colors that the gardens would have during the four seasons of the year. Mr. Robin pointed out that it would be very easy to present different phases of constructing the gardens into the years with no definite completion date of the park or in the immediate future. Mr. Robin presented a suggested plan of how to start construction of the site. The first suggestion was moving of some trees into more strategic locations with in-house maintenance equipment or remove some trees immediately that are just voluntarily growing up into some of the large evergreen trees. Mr. Robin suggested that some small seedlings be planted in particular areas, such as the white oak, which will take years to grow, so as to start the desiduous canopy trees. This is a very small and nominal cost at the present time. A second phase could be construction of the pond, especially the pond that had been there during the time that Mort Areneson owned the property. A third phase would be construction perhaps of the center features of the formal garden such as a gazebo or the arbor area with vines which would be the main entrance area to the formal gardens by the parking lot. The future phases, such as the expansion of parking areas, reconstruction of the maintenance garage area, and the expansion of the greenhouse facility, are dictated by the availability of capital dollars and maintenance dollars. The available maintenance and capital dollars are really the main issue of how fast the park would be developed in the future with no suggested time line for this to happen. Mr. Robin asked for any questions from the Park Board. Mrs. Lonsbury asked about the sidewalk along the south side of West 70th Street if there was money available to continue that sidewalk. Mr. Kojetin said that this is a possiblity with state aid money. There was also discussion of the possibility of a drop off location for busses on the south side of 70th Street. Also a walking entrance off of 70th Street from the sidewalk to the museum building. These are all possibilities but would depend on state aid. These questions will be looked into. One of the questions was how soon would the leveling or replanting of the berm along 70th Street and the introduction of flower beds so the people driving down 70th could have an opportunity to see the inside of the park from the street. Mrs. Lonsbury expressed the wonderful idea of trying to grow the white oaks in the park area and the contuation of the oak forest which now is on the north side of 70th coming from Highway 100. Mr. Robin asked if there were any geustions from the audience. Bev Harris, President of the Garden Council, was very pleased with the plan and said that in the recent Garden Council meeting everyone was very happy over the master plan. A person from the audience asked if the tea house, or arbor, would be like the arboretum. Mrs. Lonsbury stated that people will be coming and going to the park, so there will be a need somewhere for serving coffee and lemonade or some kind of picnic area. Mr. Kojetin added that many people will be coming to the park during noon hours and eating their lunches or McDonald's hamburgers in the park and there should be a center area for them to sit down and a collecting place for trash. This is happening now in some of our other parks where people will enjoy walking around and eating their lunches during noon hours. Mr. Robin stated that the arbor would not be enclosed like the Minnesota Arboretum. It would be more like an arbor of vines at the collecting area. Jean Rydell MOVED TO ACCEPT THE ARNESON ACRE PARK MASTER PLAN IN CONCEPT. Bill Lord seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. IV. HISTORICAL MUSEUM AGREEMENT AND MASTER PLAN Mr. Foster Dunwiddie presented the master plan of the joint Garden Council/Historical Society building. What he is suggesting can be a two phase project. Mr. Dunwiddie explained all the things that would be taking place during the first phase (see attached sheet). Mr. Dunwiddie talked about Phase II --adding a large wing for storage space on the lower level. The upper level wing would be for archival exhibits, rotating exhibits, and for special items. The modifications would maximize use of house, preserve integrity, and blend into the master plan. Mr. Dunwiddie asked the Park Board for any questions. Bill Lord asked about the time period for this project. Phase I may take place early this summer. The Phase II addition will be contingent on the availability of funds. Mr. Dunwiddie asked the audience for questions. How does this affect the current zoning? Mr. Dunwiddie explained that the park building used for a historical museum would need a Conditional Use Permit. The plan would have to go to the Planning Commission, notify the neighbors, then go to the Council for concurrence. Marilyn Woodlridge MOVED TO ACCEPT THE ARNESON ACRE MUSEUM PLANS IN CONCEPT. Jean Rydell seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. Mrs. Lonsbury expressed thanks to all the people who have worked so hard the past few months and to the Garden Council for help in financing the master plan. It is a wonderful and exciting concept. Mr. Kojetin stated that a subcommittee made up of Foster Dunwiddie and Jim Fenlason from the Historical Society and Bev Harris and Phyllis Kenaston from the Garden Council had met on two occassions to work out a working agreement of the remodeled Arneson home and also the expansion into a museum. (copies of minutes enclosed) The special meeting also was to work out an agreement between the two organizations for use of the park building. Mr. Kojetin had made up a special preliminary agreement from the minutes of the two meetings on the operation of the park building use between the Edina Garden Council/Edina Historical Society. In discussing the agreement with the Garden Council, the shared expense of the utilitiy cost to the Garden Council was questioned_ whether this could occur within the immediate future, such as this year. Bev Harris had indicated that their group at the present time is not a fund raising organization and because of the immediate need of only approximately 6 times a year being used, it would be difficult for them to participate in the utility cost immediately. They felt though, that in the future as their organization grows with the new facility, that they would be willing to participate in the payment of the utility cost and clean up. The utility cost for the past couple of years has been averaging about $1500 for heat and electrical cost which is now being paid by the rentor in the home. The Garden Council felt that most of their working and funds at the present time had been geared toward the greenhouse and the buying of the seeds and soil for the gardens throughout the city. Both groups think all areas of the agreement are reasonable, compatible, and workable. A member of the audience suggested some type of sale of herb plants could raise money for the Garden Council. Bill Lord MOVED TO APPROVE THE PRELIMANRY AGREEMENT PUT TOGETHER BETWEEN THE COMMITTEE FOR THE GARDEN COUNCIL/HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Jim Fee seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. Mr. Kojetin discussed the possibility of using money from the developer's fund for this Areneson project. He will check into this possibility. V. BRAEMAR SPORTS COMPLEX Mr. Ed Howat made the presentation on the Braemar Sports Complex. After changes in the plans were made, the proposed price raised to $4 million. The Complex Committee has considered using fund raising to fund the project, but there is a risk involved. They thought they would approach the project with a referendum. Now that the Gymnastics Association may not be involved in the new complex, it will change the plans again, possibly bringing the cost down. Because no one else in the country has a facility like this, Edina could again be the first. Indoor soccer is an up-and-coming sport and would be housed in this complex. Jim Fee suggested using a bond issue to get the building up and running and fund raising to retire the bonds. Andy Montgomery asked how the length of the various activities would be programmed. Mr. Howat explained how some activities could share the same space throughout the year and how some activities are only a few months long due to their nature. Mr. Montgomery also added that the complex should have more seating available for spectators. Mr. Howat agreed that if there were a little more seating than Braemar, it would be good. No matter what the capacity of the new complex, it would still be an in-between alternative to the Met Center. They decided an increase to at least 4000 seats would be reasonable. Mr. Richards indicated that he would bring up the topic of the Sports Complex at the Council meeting on Monday night. Maybe a new group can be formulated of people from the sports committee, City staff, and the Council to discuss the Sports Complex question of a referendum. Marilyn Wooldridge and Jim Fee will go to a meeting with the Complex Committee and some Council members to further discuss and research this project. JI. YMCA Mr. Kojetin had received a request for the use of Yorktown Park from the YMCA. He had indicated in the past that we do not charge the YMCA for use of the parks facilities. We have charged other outside organizations such as the Lutheran High School, Marinatha, and various churches. It is felt by Mr. Kojetin that if we are charging a usage fee to the Athletic Associations, that it would be only natural for us to charge some type of a usage fee or field rental to the YMCA. Mr. Kojetin did not recommend a fee, but he would look into this with his staff and recommend some suggested fee if this was the wishes of the Park Board. Jim Fee MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT STAFF TO LOOK INTO THE FEASABILITY OF CHARGING THE YMCA A FACILITY USAGE FEE. Jean Rydell seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. VII. OTHER BUSINESS Mrs. Lonsbury asked the staff to come prepared next meeting with the staff's goals and objectives. Mrs. Lonsbury read a letter from the Edina Theater Group praising Bob Kojetin for finding them a new home at Weber Park. The members were asked to make a list of people they wish to be invited to the Edinborough opening. Mrs. Lonsbury was made aware of a problem with poor sportsmanship of many Edina High School spectators and players. She will prepare a letter to the Association presidents addressing this problem and making a possible suggestion of teaching the younger kids sportsmanship. VIII. CENTENNIAL MONTH - FEBRUARY 1988 Joan Lonsbury distributed a memo from a meeting with Bob Kojetin and Sherwin Plummer on the assigned times for committee members in regards to the Park Board month for the Centennial. The next Centennial meeting will be April 7, 1987. All people who have been assigned to an activity to attend. The Board reviewed the notes and briefly discussed them. IX. RECREATION REPORT John Keprios reported on his survey sent to parents of handicapped children assessing their recreational needs. After receiving several responses, Mr. Keprios concluded Edina does have a need for a special children's recreational program. Combining with other communities (Bloomington, Richfield, Eden Prairie), we can establish a very effective program for these children. Mr. Keprios will be continually attending meeting and will be updating the Park Board on this program. The outdoor ice rinks were officially closed Friday, February 6, due to weather conditions. The bandy season was cut short with 11 league games to play. Four -man hockey was able to finish indoors. Ed MacHolda did a great job of putting this legue together; it was very successful. Broomball was completed a week ago and were able to finish their league outdoors thanks to Marvin Huiras and the maintenance crews for doing a good job of preparing the ice. Adult basketball playoffs are beginning Monday. Girls Volleyball registration just ended and the numbers are up. X. ADJOURNMENT Andy Montgomery MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 10:00 PM. Bill Lord seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. ITEMS FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL: Jean Rydell MOVED TO ACCEPT THE ARNESON ACRE PARK MASTER PLAN IN CONCEPT. Bill Lord seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. Bill Lord MOVED TO APPROVE THE PRELIMANRY AGREEMENT PUT TOGETHER BETWEEN THE COMMITTEE FOR THE GARDEN COUNCIL/HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Jim Fee seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. Marilyn Woodlridge MOVED TO ACCEPT THE ARNESON ACRE MUSEUM PLANS IN CONCEPT. Jean Rydell seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED.