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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-12-08 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD :30 p.m. December 8, 1987 Edina City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Joan Lonsbury, Don Wineberg, Bob Christianson, Andrew Montgomery, Marilyn Wooldridge, Jim Fee, Jim Moe, Bill Lord MEMBERS ABSENT: Mac Thayer, Jean Rydell STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, John Keprios, Ed MacHolda, Stacey Kness Joan Lonsbury called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 10, 1987, MEETING Don Wineberg MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 10, 1987, MEETING. Jim Fee seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. II. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Mr. Kojetin stated that he had been going over the goals established at the January, 1987, meeting. Mr. Christianson stated we have to have these goals and objectives on paper otherwise it is easy to just let them go. Mr. Kojetin recommended having two sets of goals and objectives --a one-year plan and a five-year plan. Mr. Wineberg stated it is critical to talk about our goals and objectives several times. Mrs. Lonsbury stated the Task Force that she chairs should come up with some goals and objectives. Mr. Kojetin stated the City is getting more involved in goals and missions. One of their missions is to have a committee with the Park Board do to their goals. Mr. Kojetin said Mr. Montgomery's list of goals from January 1987 is good. Mr. Kojetin recommended having the Park Board's goals and objectives on the agenda three times a year to be updated and to see where the board is with them. Mrs. Lonsbury asked how the goals and objectives should be set for 1988. It was stated that last year a member of the board was arbitrarily assigned the job of setting up the goals and objectives. Mrs. Lonsbury assigned Jim Fee to prepare the 1988 goals and objectives by February. Mr. Montgomery stated that when he was preparing the 1987 goals and objectives, he received input from a networking meeting. He thinks the one-year and five-year plan is a good idea. Mrs. Lonsbury stated it is good to see the 1987 goals and objectives again at the end of the year. III. MOORE PROPERTY UPDATE Mrs. Lonsbury, Mr. Kojetin, Mr. Keprios, and Mrs. Palmer looked at the Moore Property after the last Park Board meeting. Mrs. Lonsbury said Senator Storm will be at the neighborhood meeting on December 14 since he has lived in the neighborhood since 1973. Mr. Kojetin showed on a map of the neighborhood who signed the original petition and who is now invited to the next neighborhood meeting. Mr. Kojetin and Mr. Keprios still recommend removal of the house since it was in the long range plan. Mr. Christianson asked if Mr. Nolan, a Moore Property neighbor, could be - 1 - forced to remove his junk from the edge of the property. Mr. Keprios said Mr. Nolan has had his junk there for many years and it was not visible, but now that NSP has removed a row of dead trees, the junk is visible. Mrs. Lonsbury asked if the health department has been there to inspect Mr. Nolan's yard. Mr. Kojetin said the health department has not been notified. Mr. Kojetin and Mr. Keprios stated that some things in the home are salvageable, but the house itself is not really reusable. Members asked how the house would be removed. Mr. Kojetin stated that one suggestion was to have the Fire Department use it as a demonstration fire, and another suggestion would be probably just to demolish the home. It is the Council's ultimate decision as to the manner ofdisposal of the home. IV. 44TH STREET PROPERTY SKATING RINK PETITION Mr. Kojetin used a neighborhood map to show which neighbors have signed the petition. He had discussed with the neighbors years ago about what they wanted done with the park. At that time they did not want anything added to the park. Mr. Kojetin recently advised them to get together and have a neighborhood meeting on what they want to have done with the park. At the present time there is nothing in the long-range plan to be done with the park except maybe removing a hedge. Mr. Wineberg stated this property is very close to other homes and other communities. Mr. Christianson remembered at least twelve years ago that the neighbors expressed their strong feelings against anything being done to that park. Mr. Kojetin brought out a map showing a 3/4 mile radius around each skating center (hockey rink, general rink, warming house) in the City. The neighbors near the 44th Street property are in the radius of several other skating centers. Mr. Fee recommended telling the neighbors that another skating rink is not in the budget, Wooddale Park is an experiment, and we will take it under advisement for next year. Mrs. Lonsbury will write a letter letting them know this. Mr. Moe asked Mr. Kojetin if a berm is built on the secondary rinks to facilitate flooding. Mr. Kojetin explained that sometimes they do build berms and sometimes they do not. The 44th Street Park would definitely have to be graded to allow flooding. Mr. Moe asked if the City could berm the area and let the neighbors flood it if they are really serious about having a rink there. Mr. Lord asked if this would create a problem since the City is flooding the Wooddale Park rink and not the 44th Street rink. Mr. Moe said he didn't think this would cause a problem --something is better than nothing. Mr. Kojetin said there is a system to making an ice rink; it takes a lot of time and work. Wooddale Park has been graded for a rink. Mrs. Lonsbury stated Wooddale Park is close enough to these neighbors, so they can use Wooddale. Jim Moe MOVED THAT THE 44TH STREET SKATING RINK PETITION BE DENIED. Andy Montgomery seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. Mr. Kojetin asked Mrs. Lonsbury when writing her letter to the petitioners to recommend that they meet in a neighborhood meeting and discuss the park's potential summer and winter activities so we can respond to their needs. V. ATHLETIC ASSOCIATIONS --LIABILITY INSURANCE Mr. Kojetin stated that since there has been a lot of conversation in the last couple of years regarding the present liability insurance for athletic associations. Through the years they really don't have much insurance to cover them. The associations feel it isn't important for them to carry insurance anymore. The City asked its attorney to give their opinion on last year's legislative action and their recommendations. We should go to the Council and recommend that they drop the - 2 - original 1980 motion that all athletic associations should carry liability insurance. Mr. Fee said the attorney wasn't really giving his opinion; the insurance really isn't available any more. Whatever they are buying right now doesn't give them any coverage. Mr. Montgomery asked if there is a binder that the athletic association can participate in. Mr. Keprios said no there is not. Mr. Kojetin said the City covers the spectator in the stand if the stand breaks. Mr. Moe asked if the policy that we have will cover legal costs. Mr. Fee answered no, there has to be some type of insurance before they can respond. Mr. Moe asked if the City would indemnify for legal costs. Mr. Fee said the issue of defense should be addressed if an association gets sued. Mr. Keprios said with the exception of the Edina Hockey Association and the Edina Gymnastics Association, the associations are not wealthy. If they get sued and they get to court and say we couldn't defend ourselves, they would declare bankruptcy. Mr. Christianson asked if the associations are incorporated. Mr. Keprios said yes, they are fully incorporated with the state of Minnesota. Mr. Keprios stated that all the associations want from the Park Board is a response that it is no longer mandatory that they have insurance. Mr. Fee stated they need to be advised of exposure if they are not insured. Mr. Lord stated this shouldn't be a decision made by the Park Board. Mr. Montgomery asked what happens to the park and recreation programs if liability insurance is not mandatory. Mr. Kojetin said we are covered by our own insurance. Mr. Montgomery asked why the associations couldn't have the same type of insurance. Mr. Keprios said they are separate corporations. Mr. Kojetin said they participate on our facilities but they pay a minimal fee for this participation. Mr. Kojetin said we should consider the Council minutes and have the Council reconsider their motion mandating the athletic boards to carry liability insurance. Mr. Fee stated the letter from the attorney puts it in black and white that there is no longer anything available to insure the associations for what they need. Mr. Wineberg asked if there is enough information to make a recommendation. Jim Moe MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL THAT THEY RECONSIDER THE MANDATE THAT ATHLETIC ASSOCIATIONS MUST CARRY LIABILITY INSURANCE. Bob Christianson seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. VI. CENTENNIAL UPDATE Mr. MacHolda reported that a pony wheel will be available at the winter family weekend in February. MR. Kojetin reported that they will start building the ice castle January 9 at Lake Cornelia Park at 10:00 a.m. weather permitting with the ice thick enough. VII. ADJOURNMENT Bob Christianson MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 8:45 P.M. Marilyn Wooldridge seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. ITEMS FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL: Jim Moe MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL THAT THEY RECONSIDER THE MANDATE THAT ATHLETIC ASSOCIATIONS MUST CARRY LIABILITY INSURANCE. Bob Christianson seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED. - 3 -