Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-11-12 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1985 7:30 P.M. EDINA CITY HALL ------------------------------ MEMBERS PRESENT: James Fee, Joan Lonsbury, William Lord, Andrew Montgomery, Jean Rydell, Mack Thayer, George Warner, Don Wineberg, Marilyn Wooldridge STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, John Keprios, Ed MacHolda, Larry Thayer, Madelyn Krinke 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF OCTOBER 8, 1985 Don Wineberg moved for approval of the Minutes of the October 8, 1985 meeting. Marilyn Wooldridge seconded the motion. Motion carried. II. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS Bob Kojetin reviewed items budgeted under capital improvements for 1986 and discussed some of the projects which are scheduled to be done. The regrading of Normandale ballfields and hockey rink is to be done, including new rink and boards; two tennis courts are scheduled for Lewis, and regrading is scheduled for Cornelia School Park. Bob discussed the outdoor skating rinks, indicating that there will be 10 hockey rinks maintained this year and no Edina Hockey Association league games will be scheduled on outdoor rinks. Mr. Kojetin said a close look will be taken at the cost of the outdoor rinks in relationship to the numbers of people using it this year and it is a possibility that the numbers will indicate that Normandale is one of the hockey rinks which should be closed rather than improved. Mr. Kojetin displayed a map showing the locations of all the skating rinks in the city and Normandale is one which overlaps a 3/4 mile radius with several other rinks. The shelter building which is there could still be used in the summer for summer programs. Minneapolis has used the principal that there should be a hockey rink within a 3/4 mile radius of every home. Edina has several rinks that overlap and in the Gymnastics/Hockey Association Feasibility Study that is to be done a determination will be made of what the population needs are in relationship to the existing rinks. Using the distance criteria, seven rinks would be adequate to accommodate most residents of Edina. The rinks which Bob Kojetin said would be most probable to leave open would be Highlands, Creek Valley, Lewis, Cornelia School, Pamela. Weber is accommodating a lot of St. Louis Park and Minneapolis citizens. At this time, Bob Kojetin forsees closing Strachauer completely in 1987, closing Weber in 1987, Countryside in 1988 and Walnut Ridge in 1989. According to Table IV of Enrollment Projections, it appears that the numbers will remain the same from 1985-91 in total enrollment, but the high school enrollment will drop from 1,949 to 1,394. Elementary will increase from 2,364 to 3,135. Bob Kojetin stated that the cost of boards alone for the rink at Normandale would run close to $10,000 and about 30 gallons of paint would be needed to paint it every year. Mr. Kojetin said that this year minimal improvements are being made to the rinks to keep the costs down until a decision is made on the future of the rinks. He recommends a decision being made around the first of the year regarding closing of any rinks for next year. Bill Lord asked how much money might be saved by closing some of the rinks. Bob Kojetin indicated that it would not likely save dollars in the overall park budget, but it would mean that the money would be more efficiently used in other maintenance jobs in the Park Department which have not been given good maintenance because of lack of man power and funds. for example, we would be able to do better maintenance of our park trees during the winter time. We have more walking paths to maintain now and during the winter we could do a better job of snow removal and maintenance on the paths if we had more manpower available. One of the disappointing things with maintaining outdoor skating rinks is that one individual at a rink would flood the rink and prepare it in an eight hour day so after school the kids will have a good ice surface to play on. What happens a good majority of the time is that at 4:30 or later we get 1" or more of snow or the temperature is below -10 degrees and we close the rink for the safety of the youngsters. We have then just wasted eight hours of man power on a facility that will not be used and we have to go back the next day and start the process all over again. This is why the idea has always come up to get some type of a roof over a natural skating rink to elminate the damage done by the elements, so when we do maintain a hockey rink it can be used. III. RECREATION REPORT John Keprios reported on current activities which include Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Adult Volleyball, Adult Basketball and Hockey. Edina hosted the Adult State Touch Football Tournament this fall. Bandy and Broomball registrations will begin in a couple of weeks. We will be sponsoring two indoor cross country ski clinics in January. A report on the Edina Teen Center pilot project was also given by John Keprios. There was an average of 350-500 kids who attended on the Friday nights during the football games. Now that the football season is over, there have been about 75 kids generally showing up. The ones who are coming really enjoy it. There have not been any problems with drugs or alcohol or control. Larry Thayer, Braemar Arena Manager, gave a synopsis of the break down of equipment which was encountered at the Pavilion. The attached sheet details the problems as reported. Larry stated that the air that was trapped in two of the lines is now out and the ice is really good now. The new lights which were installed and the effect of the white paper under the ice have given the pavilion a new image. IV. EDINBOROUGH GALA CELEBRATION - NOVEMBER 15. Bob Kojetin reported that the celebration kick-off being planned will be very interesting - there are many different entertainment acts scheduled and encouraged all who can go to attend. V. OTHER Joan Lonsbury read a letter from Jack Rice to the Park Board which indicated the desire of the Rice family to donate $10,000 in memory of their son Gregory Rice. It is the family's request that the money be used in Wooddale Park to build a small shelter building similar to the one in Cornelia Park. Joan Lonsbury suggested that the board accept very gratefully the gift of $10,000 for materials to build the shelter building for Wooddale Park. The Park Board concensus was to accept the gift with thanks. Bob Kojetin has been checking on cost of a 24' shelter building and an estimate is that materials could be purchased for $8,000. The shelter would be in the center of the park, as it appears on the blueprint. Joan Lonsbury mentioned that she had been selected to serve on a Minnesota Recreation and Park Association park commission meeting at the MRPA conference in St. Paul. Her report and talk at this meeting would be the function of a Park Board in an advisory capacity. Joan then asked all of the Park Board members to give her their feelings on the operation of an advisory Park Board. It was the total concensus of the Park Board that the responsibility was to be an advisory board to the council representing the citizens of Edina to the council and they are not involved in the every day operation of the Park and Recreation Department. John Keprios stated that at a meeting with association presidents, they indicated that they would like some type of general policy regarding the use of alcohol and drugs, including penalties and recommendations to require meeting with the local health coordinator. John indicated that he and Ed MacHolda would prepare a rough draft proposal for the next meeting. Jim fee moved for adjournment. Mack Thayer seconded. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.