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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-11-13 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD 7:30 p.m. November 13, 1984 Edina City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Marilyn Wooldridge, Jean Rydell, Bob Christianson, Jim Fee, Mack Thayer, Bill Lord, George Warner, Joan Lonsbury, Virginia Shaw STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, Rick Jacobson, Madelyn Kr. inke OTHERS PRESENT: Dick Maguire, Peggy Fifield, Jerry Hill, Susan Hill, Maureen Green, Pam Katzman I. MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 9, 1984 MEETING Jean Rydell moved for approval of the minutes of the October 9, 1984 meeting after making the correction that she was also present when the committee inspected the tennis courts. Mack Thayer seconded the motion. Motion carried. II. EDINBOROUGH PARK Bob Kojetin presented an update on the Edinborough Park plans. He stated that the planning commission has given approval for the basic plan in concept, but that the total package is not yet put together. Grading bids have been awarded and the city will have the site graded now, because that would have to be done regardless of what is done on the site. The developer feels that some kind of a pool is needed in the development, so the plan now shows a lap pool. A new concept has been introduced, that is the turn key operation whereby the entire project will be built with private money, but to the specifications agreed to by the city, and upon completion, the city would purchase the park for a predetermined price. The park would actually be built by private funds and the city would buy it back for about $5 million. It would be built the way we want it, so when the city buys it back there will not be any additional costs for making changes. The,park would be purchased entirely from tax increment und, no tax dollars_] About $800 thousand to $1 million of the tax increment money would be put into an'account to draw interest which could be used for operating costs. Other operating money will come from the residents of the units. Bob Kojetin estimated that there would be a need for two or three maintenance people and one program director. It is hoped that construction can begin between March and May. Bob Kojetin suggested that the committee should plan to meet in the near future. III. EDINA GYMNASTICS ASSOCIATION Bob Kojetin explained that the gymnastics program has undergone a big change in the last few months. The Weber Building and the but is presently being used. The program showed growth at its last registration. There is a new Board of Directors, and several of the members of the board were present. Bob Kojetin introduced Dick Maguire, the new president and Peggy Fifield the new head coach. Dick Maguire thanked the Park Board for all the support and assistance the board has given to the gymnastics organization. Mr. Maguire noted that since the beginning of the gymnastics program in Edina, it has served as a training program for gymnasts who have continued in gymnastics at Edina High School, at the U of M, and Olympics. There are now over 360 enrolled in the EGA program, with 20 on the waiting list. There are 23 classes being conducted and 6 teams. Mr. Maguire expressed the desire of the EGA to grow, but at the present time that is not possible because of the limitations of the space available to -them. Mr. Maguire expressed the appreciation for the gymnastics association for the loan made by the city for the new equipment which was necessary for the program to continue. He further commented that the Weber Building is adequate for the younger children, although it does not permit the program to grow as it is already very crowded there. It would be better to have the entire program conducted from one building so that some of the equipment could be shared by various classes. Another problem with not having a larger facility is that the EGA is not able to hold its own meets. Meets can be very good money makers for the hosting organization. The EGA is asking the Park Board for some assistance and direction in finding a more suitable facility for their gymnastic program, particularly one which would be large enough so they could grow. Mr. Maguire stated that what is basically needed is 50' x 100' or about 50,000 square feet of space which is unencumbered where their equipment can be secured to the floor. and be available for use all day long for pre school and other classes. Bob Kojetin stated that in the meetings of the gymnastic association, it was asked whether there could possibly be a committee formed by the gymnastics association to help work on a facility study with the city, with the hope that the city might consider constructing some type of new facility and have the gymnastics association in turn help to repay the cost of the facility over a long period of time. The question was asked whether Wooddale School might be a possibility for at least a temporary home for the EGA program. Bob Kojetin noted that the City Council has given the directive that the only groups which may use Wooddale School at all is the Edina Historical Society and boys and girls basketball association until the study is completed for Wooddale School and further directives are given. III. WOODDALE SCHOOL Bob Kojetin reported that BRW has shown the city staff six different alternatives for the park and six alternatives for the building. At the end of this meeting with the city staff, BRW indicated that the concerns should be put together and combined to provide three different alternatives. The six suggested alterna- tives range from keeping the building totally intact to totally demolishing the facility. One of the suggestions had been to leave the front entrance which would be like a monument in the park. Consideration was even given to moving the Cahill and Grange Hall to the school site to make a totally historical park, or the possibility of moving the Grange Hall and Cahill School to the Utley Park area and selling of the present historical park. One of the suggestions for Utley Park was to construct a lagoon which, in th winter, could be used for a skating rink, using the pump house (which has toilet facilities) for a warming house. Bob Kojetin stated that there will be two meetings held, one on January 8 and one on January 15th, at the Wooddale School Auditorium, at which time the presentation by the BRW Consulting Engineering firm will be given. Letters will be snt out to all people in the neighborhood. The meeting will cover the issues of 50th Street, Wooddale School, and Utley Park. Marilyn Wooldridge and Bob Christianson will serve on the Wooddale School Committee. IV. VAN VALKENBERG PARK Bob Kojetin reported that the selling of the sand and gravel and the final rough grading of the three softball fields and parking lot contract will be completed by March 1, 1985. There are still some final grading plans and agreements that have to be made between the cemetary owners and the City in regard to grading. Because of the tremendously high hills, a determination has to be made of what direction the fill will go. December 1 the City will receive the last check, which should bring the total revenue in escrow for the park to about $240,000. It is estimated that the total park will cost approximately $540,000 to build. Mr. Kojetin stated that this park is basically where the gravel pit is located. The park is being built as an adult park for softball and other activities and the high grade to the south is where the neighborhood park and neighborhood activities will be held. The access to the adult park will be only by County Road 18. V. RECREATION REPORT Rick Jacobson reported that Boys Basketball registration is going well and the numbers of teams are up by about 4. After school basketball program is going very well. Girls basketball has ended. Winter activities are coming up and applications are being taken for warming house attendants. Garden Park is closed this year because of construction. The parking lot at Garden is scheduled to be completed next year. VI. OTHER Joan Lonsbury reported that Edina Expo is coming up April 20 and 21 and was wondering if the Park Board is interested in having a 6 foot table for a display. Joan Lonsbury gave a recap of the Metro Council meeting which she and Bob Kojetin, Bill Lord, and Rick Jacobson had attended immediately before the Park Board meeting. Each of the communities who submitted proposals for the site of the speed skating rink were represented and given an opportunity to explain their proposals. Burnsville and Roseville are the other two communities requesting to be considered for the site. Bob Kojetin reported that the golf presentation to the City Council by the golf committee had gone very well and the council approved the proposal to expand the clubhouse, the Par 3 and build a new maintenance building. Bob stated that construction of the Par 3 will begin in the spring and also possibly construction of the maintenance building will begin in the spring. If everything would go very well, it could be possible to open for play in August of 1986. Bob Kojetin also stated that it appeared to be possible to hold off on selling of bonds until sometime in 1986 or 1987 when the money would actually be needed. Bob Kojetin, Jerry Dalen and John Valliere will be meeting to finalize plans. Mack Thayer moved to adjourn the meeting. It was seconded and passed. Meeting adjourned at 9:05.