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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-05-12 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD :00 P.M. Aay 12, 1987 Braemar Clubhouse MEMBERS PRESENT: Joan Lonsbury, Don Wineberg, Bob Christianson, Jim Fee, Bill Lord, James Moe, Andy Montgomery, Jean Rydell, Marilyn Wooldridge MEMBERS ABSENT: Mac Thayer OTHERS PRESENT: Lillian Hipp, Richfield Community Center Manager, Deb Backstrom, Bloomington Adaptive Recreation Supervisor, Golf Course patrons. STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, John Keprios, Ed MacHolda, John Valliere, Lucy Rosche, Stacey Kness The Park Board attended a joint meeting with the City Council, the Planning Commission, and United Properties developers at 5 p.m. to discuss the contemplated plans for the Hedberg Property. oan Lonsbury called the Park Board meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF APRIL 14, 1987 Jean Rydell MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 14, 1987, MEETING. Bob Christianson seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. II. ADAPTIVE RECREATION PROGRAM PRESENTATION John Keprios introduced the two speakers and gave a brief background of the Bloomington Richfield Adaptive Recreation Program. Mr. Keprios feels it is to the best interest of the City of Edina to join forces with Eden Prairie and the existing Bloomington Richfield Adaptive Recreation Program to contract with them to provide Edina with services for its special needs population. Edina cannot do it on its own. Mr. Keprios and Lil Hipp, Richfield Community Center Manager, started the video tape which featured the participants in the existing Bloomington Richfield program. Ms. Hipp explained the philosophy of the program is that it is a stepping stone. The participants can take the program as far as they want to with segregated and/or integrated opportunities. The current program has 600 participants in the two cities. There are 36 different programs a year. The children's social skills are concentrated on --not their I.Q.'s. - 1 - Ms. Hipp explained the three benefits of having a cooperative venture are programatic, if four cities get together and use the input from all the parents and participants, the program will better reflect the needs of the children; financial, four cities together will have a larger budget; and easier to get services from the county, four cities will have more pull in bringing the county services to the suburbs. Another benefit of Edina having its own program is there would be no non-resident fee. Deb talked about the advisory group which is made up of representatives from each community. The group meets three times per year and uses the comments and input of each community to put together programs to meet everyone's needs. Mr. Keprios proposed that a full-time staff person be hired to serve both Edina and Eden Prairie on a contracted basis. Bob Christianson asked how many people responded to Mr. Keprios' survey sent out earlier in the year. Mr. Keprios said he received a 39 percent return on the survey sent to all parents of special needs children in Edina. Bob Kojetin said the staff highly recommends the program, but it needs support from the Park Board and Human Relations Board. Mr. Keprios said the desire to have a program in Edina is really coming from the parents. Don Wineberg feels the venture seems to be more effective than beginning a program on our own. Mr. Kojetin said the program will grow and not diminish. James Moe asked if the budget could be shared with Community Education. Ms. Hipp explained that the Adaptive Recreation Program and Richfield Community education work together in the fact that their programs do not overlap, but they work under separate budgets. Mr. Keprios will give this presentation to the Human Relations board next month. If a program is started in Edina, it would begin January 1988. Andy Montgomery MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE COUNCIL THAT WE INCLUDE IN THE 1988 BUDGET AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $25,000 FOR THE PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO ENTER A JOINT VENTURE WITH EDEN PRAIRIE FOR AN ADAPTIVE RECREATION PROGRAM. Jim Fee seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. BOB CHRISTIANSON OPPOSED THE MOTION. Mr. Christianson asked what the cost per person is and what effect the amount for this program will have on the other programs that are already stretched to the limits. Mr. Keprios will provide this information to Mr. Christianson. III. ARNESON ACRES PARK The Arneson Acres master plan will be discussed at a neighborhood meeting on Tuesday, May 19, 1987, at 7:00 p.m. A letter and copy of the master plan was sent to all neighbors within 500 feet of the property line inviting them to this meeting. The presidents of the Historical Society and the Garden Council are also invited. After this meeting, the plan will go back to the Council, and Bob Kojetin will recommend that the Park and Recreation Department use $35,000 of the developers fund, which is about $300,000, for funding the first phase of remodeling of the house. - 2 - 'V. SMOKE FREE PARK BUILDINGS In November when the no smoking at Braemar Arena and Pavilion was approved, the Council asked the staff to study this and come back with a report in regards to smoking in Edina park buildings. (See attached list of Edina Park Buildings.) The Art Center is planning to discuss the smoking issue at their May 21 meeting. The Art Center seems to be in agreement with the no smoking policy especially because of the paintings on display in the small area. There is presently no smoking inside the dome, but the staff recommends no smoking in the office/entry area. During the time the dome in not operated by the City, the smoking policies will be up to the private sector. There seems to be no problem in having the Gun Range smoke free. It is recommended that the baseball complex be treated like warming house building. Golf Course Maintenance Building should not allow smoking. Edina Public Works should have the same smoking policy as the maintenance building. There seems to be no problem having the pool smoke free. The Senior Center needs more studying. There has been no response yet from the seniors. Art center, baseball complex, gun range, golf dome, pool. Bob Christianson asked who are we dealing with in these facilities? When we are talking about the City employees --it should be a City decision. If it affects the public in some ways, then the Park Board can decide especially if it is a safety control issue. Does the Park Board want to recommend rules that will be violated without being enforced? For example, if the Golf Dome is dependent on revenue generated by users, will a smoking restriction reduce revenue? (James Moe arrived 7:50.) John Valliere stated he is sensitive to Bob Christianson's comments. It is a small area and the smoking issue could be a problem. He would rather defer to the private sector and let them make the decision. Joan Lonsbury asked whose rights are being violated? Bob Christianson stated there is a difference between a building being "smoke free" and abiding with the state law that says there has to be some area for no smoking. Jim Fee said a facility could comply with the law but not be totally smoke free. Bill Lord proposed that the Park Board go through each facility and make a specific decision. Discussion on smoking policy at Braemar Clubhouse: State law (see enclosed) states that 30 percent of a restaurant area has to be no smoking. There is no state law governing the banquet area. John Valliere distributed "Braemar Golf Course Smoking Regulations and Recommendations". (Andy Montgomery arrived 8:05.) - 3 - Comments on Mr. Valliere's recommendations included: Bob Christianson said Fred Richards is concerned about the revenue generating capacity. Jim Fee said #4 should be no smoking. There will be enough smoking areas. John Valliere said the grill has designated smoking and no smoking areas. The ladies do socialize in their private room. There has been a complaint about smoking in designated grill, mixed lounge, hall, and Braemar Room during private parties. Grill is 50-50. Braemar Room is no smoking during public meetings. Don Wineberg said try it for a while and if things change, we should adhere to the people that are using the facility. John Valliere said the guidelines already reflect the constituents' views. Audience comments: Dick Haffner likes the guidelines but would like to have the mixed lounge be no smoking and the private rooms be smoking. Sandy Feese is having a wedding reception in the Braemar Room in August and likes the fact that the party can decide what they want. Jim Lesniack agrees with Mr. Haffner on having the mixed room be no smoking and the mens' and womens' lounges be smoking. There seems to be fewer smokers now. Gordy Schonecker doesn't like to be in the mens' lounge because of the smoke. If the Arena is no smoking, why can't this building be also? Joan Lonsbury said go with John Valliere's original recommendations. Bob Christianson MOVED THAT THE "BRAEMAR GOLF COURSE RULES AND RECOMMENDATIONS" AS SET UP BY JOHN VALLIERE BE ADOPTED. Don Wineberg seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. V. PARK BOARD POLICIES ON DRUGS AND ALCOHOL USE The Park Board's policy is the same as the State High School statutes. Park Board passed this drug policy December 11, 1985. The policy is for those who are 19 and under. On the first offense they lose their eligibility for the next two games or two weeks of the season, whichever is greater. They must also visit the Edina chemical health counselor. On the second offense they lose their eligibility for a minimum of six games or four weeks of the season whichever is greater. They must also visit the Edina chemical health counselor. On the third offense they lose their eligibility for all youth programs for one year. If they go to a treatment program for six weeks, they can get back into the youth programs. All the athletic associations have adopted these rules and abide them. (Copy attached.) Facilities Policies on Drugs and Alcohol Use: There is no smoking or drinking in any of the warming house areas. Bob Christianson asked if the associations follow through with the penalties? John Keprios said they all have adopted the policies and abide by them. Since these rules are important for the parents and kids to know as well as coaches and board members, Don Wineberg MOVED THAT CURRENT RULES ON DRUGS, TOBACCO, AND ALCOHOL FOR ALL ATHLETIC GROUPS BE INCLUDED ON THE SCHEDULES AND/OR ROSTERS. Jim Fee seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. VI. RECREATION REPORT Edina Youth Softball Association registration dropped 53 kids. The 11th and 12th graders are just not signing up. Mr. Keprios thinks it is due to natural attrition of kids that age. There was a new policy adopted at the last Hockey Association meeting for use of Braemar Arena. In the past season, coaches used ice time without paying at the time of use. Sometimes they even reserved ice and did not show up to use it. Larry Thayer, Manager of Braemar Arena, totaled all these unpaid ice hours and charged the Edina Hockey Association. ERA did not think this was fair. Their new policy is that Braemar Arena treat the EHA coaches just like any other city's coaches i.e. do not let them use the ice without paying for it in advance. - 4 - VII. ADJOURNMENT Bill Lord MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 9:25 P.M. Jean Rydell seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. ITEMS FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL: Bill Lord MOVED TO GO ALONG WITH THE ART BOARD DECISION AS TO A SMOKING POLICY AT THE ART CENTER. Don Wineberg second the motion. MOTION CARRIED. Bill Lord MOVED TO HAVE SMOKING IN DESIGNATED AREAS ONLY IN THE BASEBALL COMPLEX BUILDING. Bob Christianson seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. Bob Kojetin recommended that the designated no smoking area be the control booth on the second floor. Jim Fee MOVED THAT THE GUN RANGE BE SMOKE FREE. Don Wineberg seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. Don Wineberg MOVED TO HAVE SMOKING IN DESIGNATED AREAS ONLY IN THE ENTRY/OFFICE AREA OF THE GOLF DOME BETWEEN JUNE 1 AND DECEMBER 31. Bob Christianson seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. Jean Rydell MOVED TO HAVE THE EDINA MUNICIPAL POOL SMOKE FREE. Bob Christianson seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. Jim Fee MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE EDINA SENIOR CLUB THAT THEY ADOPT A SMOKING POLICY. Bob Christianson seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. ** PLEASE SEE PAGE 6 FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION ** - 5 -