HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-03-13 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD
March 13, 1984
7:30 p.m.
Edina City Hall
Members Present: Marilyn Wooldridge, Jean Rydell, Mack
Thayer, Don Wineberg, Bill Lord, Joan
Lonsbury, Chairman, Bob Christianson,
Andy Montgomery
Staff Present: Bob Kojetin, John Keprios, Madelyn Krinke
Others Present: Craig Swanson,Chief of Police, Len
Kleven, Captain, Edina Police Dept.,
Donna Hipps
Joan Lonsbury called the meeting to order.
I. Approval of minutes of February 14, 1984 Meeting.
Marilyn Wooldridge moved for approval of the February 14,
1984 minutes. Mack Thayer seconded. Minutes were approved.
Ii. Announcement of Committees
Joan Lonsbury appointed members to committees as follows:
Finance Committee: George Warner*, Bill Lord, Leonard
Ring na d`Mac c1 T ager .
Golf Committee: Don Wineberg* and Mack Thayer
Etc bourough Committee: Bill Lord* and Doug King
Facilities: Marilyn Wooldridge*, Andy Montgomery, Bob
Christians -on and Jean Rydell.
Wooddale School Committee: Marilyn Wooldridge
*Indicates chairperson
III. Vandalism
Craig Swanson, Chief of Police of Edina, was present to
discuss various aspects of vandalism from the police department's
perspective. He explained that vandalism seems to have a
definite correlation with what is happening in society. At times
when the society problems seem to be in greater turmoil, there is
also more vandalism. Chief Swanson had various ideas on ways to
deter vandalism, including better security alarm systems,
reporting all acts of,vandalism immediately, constructing
facilities and fixtures of more heavy duty materials which could
not be so easily damaged, alerting more city employees to be
watchful for vandalism as it is occurring, establishing more
neighborhood watches. Chief Swanson also noted that it is
difficult to prosecute.vandalism because someone has to observe
the entire act being done and be able to clearly identify who did
it. It was also pointed out that there is still a reward offered
to individuals who report acts of vandalism which they have
observed.
Joan Lonsbury stated that she has discussed the matter of
publishing information about vandalism with the editor of the Sun
newspaper and the Sun would print articles about vandalism if
they were presented. The matter of publishing names (if the
person is over 18 years of age) was discussed by the park board
and it was generally felt that if an article could relate the
restitution which has been required of some of those caught
vandalizing, it might deter further vandalism.
Craig Swanson stated that one of the most effective
deterrants is to have an alarm system. He also asked Bob Kojetin
that whenever any act of vandalism which costs more than $25 to
repair, the police department should be notified immediately.
That would help the police department in watching patterns of
areas that are being vandalized and his department might then be
able to take more action to either prevent or catch those doing
the vandalism.
IV. Posting of "No Dogs Allowed"
Bob Kojetin state that under Ordinance 811 concerning
dogs, he, as director, has the authority to post signs stating
"No Dogs Allowed" in any park. Mr. Kojetin stated that he had
considered posting all parks where there is a walking path or
biking path, because that is where the problem is most annoying.
Dog owners have been allowing their dogs to run freely and have
not been cleaning up the feces, so especially when the snow
melts, the mess is extremely bad.
Some ideas proposed to remedy this included passing of an
ordinance requiring that all dogs be on a leash at all times
while on public property, raising dog license fees to cover the
cost of having a maintenance person clean the paths and parks,
publicize (in the city newsletter) the requirement that all dogs
in the City are to be licensed, publicize that if the problem is
not corrected by dog owners, there will be a banning of dogs in
all parks in the city. It was felt that if the dog license fee
was raised possibly fewer people would cooperate with buying the
license, and further that those who are buying the license
already are probably the ones who are abiding by the rules and
should not be punished by having to pay an additional fee.
Don Wineberg MOVED THAT THE PARK BOARD RECOMMEND TO THE
CITY COUNCIL THAT THEY ADOPT A LAW REQUIRING THAT ALL DOGS BE
-2-
LEASHED WHEN ON PUBLIC PROPERTY, USING THE WORDING OF THE
MINNEAPOLIS ORDINANCE AS IT RELATES TO THE LEASHING OF DOGS AS A
GUIDELINE; AND TO PUBLICIZE THAT IF THE LEASHING LAW IS NOT
FOLLOWED AND IF PROBLEMS WITH DOG OWNERS NOT PROPERLY DISPOSING
OF DOG FECES CONTINUES THE NEXT STEP WILL BE BANNING OF DOGS ON
PUBLIC PROPERTY. Bob Christianson SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION
CARRIED.
V. GARDEN PARK
Bob Kojetin reported that Hansen Road is going to be
upgraded this year and as that project is done there would be an
opportunity to do some work with the parking lot and
reorganization of the skating facility. His suggestion would be
to fill the present hockey rink, remove the temporary warming
house, reorganize the parking lot, create a new entrance, put a
shelter building in a new location near the center of the park so
restrooms would be conveniently available near the ball fields
and for summer use. A water line would be put in at the same
time as the construction is done on the road. The funding would
be from capital dollars this year for curbing and next year
asphalt would be done. This would not take away the present
parking lot until after August. There would be parking on only
one side of the street and sidewalk only on the park side of the
street. It would eliminate the hockey rink and skating rink for
the present time, but if in the future, a greater population of
youth creates a demand for rinks, they could be built in the
newly planned location.
Jean Rydell MADE A MOTION TO UPGRADE GARDEN PARK. Bob
Christianson SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED.
VI. RECREATION REPORT
John Keprios reported on the current recreational
activities. He stated this will be a year of changes. During
the upcoming summer season, T -ball will become a combined boys
and girls program for the lst an721-2nd graders and a new soccer
program for lst and 2nd graders, boys and girls combined, will
also be added. Phil Nell and Tom Engstrom will be the soccer
coaches. The programs will be offered at Garden and Pamela
Parks. Football will be offered to 4th graders this year for the
first time —and will not be very competitive, primarily
instructional, with the coaches being on the field with players.
Soccer, run by the Soccer Association for grades 3 - 12 is
accepting registrations until March 26. Traveling Team selec-
tions are done in the fall. The number of registrants are down a
little, but the percentage of available participants registered
is good. Hockey is nearing the end of its season. March 25 will
be the champ o ship day at Braemar Arena. The Greg Rice award
will be given at 5:15 p.m. on the 25th. Softball - for the first
time will be offering a fast pitch team. It will be offered at
registration. Baseball - There is going to be a Minnesota
-3-
Gopher -Iowa College game on April 25 at 6:30 p.m. at Braemar
Complex. The Baseball Board will arrange to run it. The
proceeds will be split with the city, Baseball Association and
the Gophers. The American Legion Baseball season will begin the
14th of June with its first scheduled game. A dedication
ceremony will be held at Braemar that evening to honor the 1983
Edina American Legion World Champions.
John Keprios reported because of the increasing number of
late registrants in every sport, the associations are looking at
some type of monetary incentive to register on the dates set for
registration. John also reported that because of the decreasing
number of youth in our community and other surrounding
communities, there have been some requests from other communities
to allow their youth to participate in our programs. It was
indicated that at the present time this is not feasible or
desirable, but some types of reciprocal programs have worked well
for a number of years with teams participating in other
communities.
Andy Montgomery raised the question of whether some
activities could be scheduled for girls during the winter season,
since there is not presently anything available to them unless
they participate in the boys basketball program. John Keprios
recommended that some type of indoor soccer program might be a
possibility - the problem of scheduling something in the winter
for girls has been availability of facilities.
Andy Montgomery also asked whether an over 30 basketball
program might be considered in the future.
John Keprios reported that he had received a petition
from Mr. Sheldon with about 60-70 signatures of neighbors of
Highlands Park requesting that broomball not be scheduled at the
hockey rink next year. John indicated that there would have to
be changes made in location next year.
Andy Montgomery suggested that tennis courts be turned
over on the hour at all courts so that a person would know if he
arrived at a court 5-10 minutes before the hour he would not have
to wait long for the court to be available. Bob Kojetin replyed
that Rick Jacobson has tried that procedure in the past and not
had a great deal of success with it, however the idea would be
passed along to Rick for further consideration. Bob Kojetin
stated that he would like to see bang boards at each tennis court
sometime in the future.
VII. OTHER
It was reported that the Volunteer Awards would be
presented Tuesday, May 8 at Interlachen Club from 5-7 p.m.
include:
Resolutions officially signed by Park Board members
Resolution of Condolence to Hermann Strachauer's Family
Resolution of Gratitude to Ronald and Sandra Clark
Resolution of Appreciation to Art Erdall
Resolution of Appreciation to Virginia Shaw
Bob Kojetin reported that bluebird houses will be built
at Arneson Park and maintained by an individual who requested
permission to do so. Mr. Kojetin also stated that a parking lot
will be built at Arneson Park.
Bob Kojetin expressed his appreciation for Collins Baxter
who put scrapbooks together for the park facilities.
It was reported by Bob Kojetin that he had met with Cliff
French of the Hennepin County Park Reserve and it was indicated
that they would be the implementing agency for the MetrOval but
Mr. French felt that Edina would be given consideration to run it
if it is built in Edina. The next meeting will be in a couple of
weeks. The Hennepin County Park Board is the one who will be the
implementing agency. They have to present it to the Metropolitan
Open Space and Park Commission.
Bob Christianson MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. Mack Thayer
SECONDED THE MOTION. MEETING ADJOURNED at 10 p.m.