HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-09-08 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD
7:30 p.m.
aptember 8, 1987
„dina City Hall
MEMBERS PRESENT: Joan Lonsbury, Don Wineberg, Jim Fee, Mac Thayer, Jean Rydell,
Marilyn Wooldridge, Andrew Montgomery, Bob Christianson
MEMBERS ABSENT: Bill Lord, Jim Moe
STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, John Keprios, Stacey Kness
Joan Lonsbury called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.
I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF AUGUST 11, 1987, MEETING
Mac Thayer MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 11, 1987, MEETING. Jean Rydell
seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED.
II. CORRESPONDENCE
A. Golf Course
Mr. Kojetin gave a short overview of what had occurred since the last Park Board
meeting in regards to the motion made on league play out at the Braemar Golf
Course. Mr. Kojetin received many copies of a letter written to the Council
members from Dr. John Hoyt through Mayor Courtney. The letter proposes that
current league members and patron card holders be allowed to be in more than one
league if they currently are and that league members be Edina residents starting
in 1988. Don Wineberg indicated that Dr. Hoyt made many copies of this letter
available in the men's and women's locker rooms at Braemar Golf Course for
individuals to sign and send to the Council members. Mr. Kojetin said there are
over 100 people currently playing on two leagues. After the August Park Board
meeting, many league members went to the City Council meeting to address their
proposal. The Council decided to send the proposal back to the Park Board to
study the non-resident issue. Perhaps John Valliere should have a general
meeting with the presidents of all leagues and decide on adopting this
proposal.
There was a discussion on disbanding the Golf Committee once this issue has been
decided since it is an ad hoc committee. Mrs. Lonsbury suggested adding members
to the Golf Committee to make it more representative of the golf leagues. Mr.
Wineberg said we hire people in the City to legislate rules and bring policy
issues to the Park Board; he doesn't believe we need a larger committee. Mr.
Wineberg said the Park Board should go along with the hired manager's decisions
rather than having a committee. He doesn't feel the current committee should be
enlarged.
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Bob Christianson suggested considering a recommendation to eliminate all leagues
at Braemar Golf Course.
Mr. Fee said we have to go by John Valliere's recommendations. Mrs. Lonsbury
said this issue should be discussed at the Golf Course before the Park Board can
make any recommendation to City Council.
Bob Christianson MOVED TO TABLE THE DISCUSSION OF THE GOLF COMMITTEE AND JOHN
HOYT'S PROPOSAL UNTIL WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION AND FURTHER INPUT FROM JOHN
VALLIERE AND BOB KOJETIN. Jim Fee seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED.
B. Garden Park
Mr. Kojetin shared a letter he received from Mrs. Bursh requesting a gazebo be
placed in the north end of Garden Park. Mr. Kojetin's personal feeling is that
Garden Park does not warrant a gazebo by the lake at this time. Marilyn
Wooldridge said Mrs. Bursh probably got the idea from the new gazebo/shelter at
Wooddale Park. It was asked if a structure like this could be a memorial
donation. Mr. Kojetin said that the north end of Garden Park still is not a
prime location for a memorial of this type. If a structure was ever added to
Garden Park, it should probably be placed closer to the playing fields in the
central area of the park.
Bob Christianson MOVED TO HAVE JOAN LONSBURY WRITE TO MRS. BURSH THANKING HER
FOR HER CONCERN AND EXPLAINING THAT AT THE PRESENT TIME THERE ARE NO FUNDS
AVAILABLE FOR SUCH A STRUCTURE. Jim Fee seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED.
C. Seminar
Mr. Kojetin discussed the upcoming Carver Seminar on Effective Board Governance
on October 29, 3 to 10 p.m., at Edina Community Center sponsored by City Council
and the School Board. All board members are invited to attend. All fees will
be paid by the City Council and the School Board.
III. REVIEWAL OF PROPOSED 1988 BUDGET
Mr. Kojetin stated the City has started the process of working with the Council on
the proposed 1988 budget. The only new item in the operating budget is a new
custodial position for the Senior Center, the Art Center, Tupa Park (Grange Hall &
Cahill School), and Arneson Acres. Mrs. Lonsbury asked what the salary for this
position would be. Mr. Kojetin said the yearly salary would be $17,000 plus $7000 to
$8000 in benefits.
Mr. Montgomery asked what kind of action Mr. Kojetin needs on the budget. Mr.
Kojetin said he needs no action unless there is something the Park Board recommends
changing.
Mr. Montgomery asked if the Park and Recreation Department has been receiving the new
field use fees from the athletic associations. Mr. Keprios said we are getting that
money back. There has been a letter written by the Edina Girls' Athletic Association
to Council members, John Keprios, and Bob Kojetin expressing the displeasure with the
$5 per participant field use fee. All the athletic associations have voiced their
opinions on this issue. Mr. Kojetin explained the associations' biggest concern is
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IV.
V.
that now that the field use fee has been started it will go up a little every year.
John Keprios added that the associations do know that it was not a Park Board
decision to charge this use fee. Mr. Montgomery asked if the $5 would be disbursed
according to the amount of maintenance required for the different sports' fields
since some sports require more maintenance than others. Mr. Kojetin and Mr. Keprios
said it is best to keep the fee the same for each sport because it would be too
difficult to determine how the fee should be disbursed. Mr. Keprios said the adult
sports paid $9000 in field use fees. Only about 5 or 6 team managers out of 123
softball teams questioned the $75 per team increase for the field use fee.
CAPITAL PLAN
Mr. Kojetin handed out the nine-year capital plan. Mr. Christianson asked about the
payments on Wooddale Park. Mr. Kojetin said the demolition and development will be
paid for over a period of four years. He went on to explain that some areas in
Wooddale Park were seeded --not sodded --so they look different. It will be three or
four years before the Department can go back and do some more work at Wooddale Park.
Mr. Christianson said he has heard from the public that it is the greatest park. The
other park board members also highly praised Wooddale Park.
RECREATION REPORT
Mr. Keprios reported that the Edina Municipal Pool has closed after having a good
season. There were about 300 swimmers using the pool after August 24, the original
closing date.
The tennis courts have been resurfaced. Recreation Resurfacers did an excellent
job. Lewis Park is all completed and has been heavily used. It made it through the
flood quite well.
The summer programs are all over. Swimming lesson participants totaled just under
900; tennis lessons were up 25 percent to 409 participants; the playground program
was down a little to just over 500 children; T -Ball was up again this year to 236.
Mr. Wineberg commented that it's great to have our tennis program up in numbers since
tennis interest in the nation is dropping.
The State Adult Touch Football Tournament will be held again at Braemar the last
weekend in October.
Current registration includes boys' football, girls' basketball and girls' flag
football.
The 1987 Halloween event is planned for Saturday, October 24, at Edinborough Park for
kindergarten through third graders. Mrs. Lonsbury would like to volunteer at the
event. Mr. Keprios and Mr. MacHolda are lining up other volunteers.
Alden Park equipment has been installed. The new equipment looks just like the
equipment at Wooddale Park --very colorful and cheery. Mrs. Lonsbury asked if there
has been a problem with vandalism at this park. Mr. Keprios said there hasn't been a
problem lately.
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VI. OTHER
Mrs. Lonsbury was nominated to receive the Park Board commission award from the
Minnesota Recreation and Park Association, and she won. The award will be given at a
banquet at the Sheraton Northwest at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, October 15. Mr. Keprios
and Mr. Kojetin extended an invitation to all the Park Board members.
Mrs. Lonsbury reminded the Park Board of the Centennial meeting Tuesday, September
15, 7:00 p.m., City Hall. Please have your activity details ready to present.
Mrs. Lonsbury received a compliment from an individual who was at the August Park
Board meeting on the way the meeting was held regarding the golf league issue. She
also received a compliment on "wonderful" Edinborough Park. Mr. Wineberg said maybe
we could use testimonial comments such as this for an Edinborough promotion.
Mrs. Lonsbury pointed out the fact that James Moe, School Board representative, has
missed four meetings in a row. He has only attended two meetings since his
appointment to the Park Board. Bob Christianson, former School Board representative,
suggested Mrs. Lonsbury contact Mary Lou Birkeland, School Board Chairperson, to find
out if Mr. Moe's term is still in effect.
Mrs. Lonsbury said the Park Board should have another representative from the
Planning Commission. Since Virginia Shaw's resignation from Planning Commission's
representative to the Park Board, there has not been a new representative.
Andy Montgomery asked if Edina High School's gymnasium space could be utilized for an
informal 35+ basketball program. Mr. Keprios will check into it.
The King and Queen of Sweden will visit Edinborough Park in April.
Mr. Kojetin asked the Park Board its feeling on whether we should close the whole
Edinborough Park for Jimmy Carter to give a speech to housing developers; but because
of security, maybe this cannot be done. The Park Board's general opinion is not to
close the whole park to the public for an event; but in this situation for security
reasons, it is permissible.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
Jean Rydell MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 8:40 P.M. Don Wineberg seconded the motion. MOTION
CARRIED.
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