HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986-07-08 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD
7:30 P.M.
July 8, 1986
Edina City Hall
MEMBERS PRESENT: Joan Lonsbury, Don Wineberg, Andy Montgomery, Jean Rydell,
Marilyn Wooldridge, Mack Thayer, Jim Fee, Bill Lord, George
Warner
STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, John Keprios, Ed MacHolda, Pat Greer, Diana
Hedges, Madelyn Krinke
------------------------------
I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JUNE 10, 1986 MEETING
George Warner made a motion to approve the minutes of the June 10, 1986
meeting. Jean Rydell seconded. Motion carried.
II. ART CENTER
Bob Kojetin introduced the new Art Center Director, Diana Hedges to the
Park Board. Pat Greer thanked the Park Board for the confidence that they
have placed in her and Marion Ward as directors of the Art Center over the
past few years. Pat stated she feels good about the growth of the Art
Center in the past few years. She shared the following statistics: 7
children's classes were added this year, number of students taking classes
has surpassed 1800 this year, 516 students are taking classes this summer.
Pat indicated that there has been discussion about promoting the
memberships at the Art Center to draw new members, with one possibility
being that Edina residents may get some special benefits. Pat stated that
it has not been possible to raise enough revenue from the facility to take
care of the upkeep of the building, but they have received enough revenue
to pay for teachers and other expenses through their fees. The staff has
been considering ways of adding additional students or classes, however,
room sizes limit the number of students that can be in a class. A grant
has been applied for to subsidize printing costs and Pat stated that they
are looking into other grant possibilities.
Joan Lonsbury thanked Pat Greer on behalf of the Park Board for the
excellent job she has done at the Art Center.
Diana Hedges shared some of her plans for the Art Center to make it more
financially sound. Some methods to be tried are applying for more grants,
staying open in August next year, increasing memberships, adding classes on
Saturdays. Diana said she was proud to be on the staff.
III. LONG RANGE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND OPERATING BUDGET
Bob Kojetin handed out a copy of a tentative long range capital improvement
plan and asked that the Park Board look at it as a guideline and give
suggestions on anything that they feel should be done differently. The one
area of the budget which Mr. Kojetin said needs more immediate attention is
the playground equipment. Most of the playground equipment which has not
been replaced in the last few years is in very bad shape and should be
replaced immediately. A lot of the equipment is 25 years old.
V.
John Keprios described some of the playground equipment as a great
liability risk because of its poor condition. John will have a slide
presentation of the playground equipment ready to show the Park Board
soon. Jim Fee said it would be a good idea to have a representative of the
City's insurance company come out to look at the equipment to evaluate and
give recommendations on what type of equipment would be safe to use. John
Keprios indicated that he has had a representative of the insurance company
out to see the equipment and he did make recommendations to have some
unsafe equipment removed immediately.
Bob Kojetin reported that vandalism at Bredesen Park was the worst
destruction of property the parks have experienced since the pool vandalism
in the 1960's. The fixtures in the new toilet facilities were completely
smashed. Mr. Kojetin stated that there is a $1,000 reward.
IV. OTHER
Marilyn Wooldridge asked for clarification regarding the furnishings for
the lounges at Braemar. Don Wineberg indicated that they have asked for
donations and are now accepting funds and will wait until everything is
completed at the Club House before actually purchasing anything.
Joan Lonsbury stated that she felt there should be discussion about the
Park Board philosophy on closing rinks. Several of the Park Board members
stated they felt that the sentiment would be the same, no matter which rink
you were going to close, people in the community want to keep the rinks
open in their neighborhood park and that they should be left alone as long
as the tax payers are willing to pay to keep them. Bill Lord said that
until it comes to a monetary issue - the Park Board should make no
recommendations.
RECREATION REPORT
Bob Kojetin stated that the Braemar Sports Complex Committee still hopes to
be able to go ahead with the total program, but are struggling with the
funding issue.
John Keprios reported on the ongoing activities. Soccer and baseball are
nearly finished. There will be two teen trips - one to Wild Mountain and
one to Valley Fair. The softball season is completed and Andy Montgomery's
team won the championship in his league. John further reported that he had
attended the Human Rights Commission meeting and he requested and received
funding for an interpreter for deaf child who wanted to attend the
playground activities. John indicated that there will be some parents
coming to the Park Board next month to talk about programming for special
needs. Bob Kojetin stated that he thinks the request will be for
programming activities here in Edina.
Andy Montgomery commented that the July 4th fireworks were very good.
Jim Fee moved to adjourn the meeting. Don Wineberg seconded the motion.
Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.