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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-06-08 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD MEETING Tuesday, June 8, 1982 7:30 p.m. Edina City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Joan Lonsbury, Leonard Ring, Don Wineberg, George Warner, Bob Christianson, Mack Thayer, Marilyn Wooldridge, Virginia Shaw, Bill Lord STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, Mary Huiras, Madelyn Krinke OTHERS PRESENT: Ron Flanagan, Ken Rosland I. PARK TOUR The Park Board went on a tour observing some of the park construction and activity going on this summer. The first stop was at Arden Park where there was a review of rejuvenation of Arden Park as a result of the requests and decisions that were made at the neighborhood meeting held on May 4, 1982, at which time it was also explained that the completed path will go through the entire park. The second stop was to observe the area and see some of the construction of the picnic shelter at Cornelia Park. The third stop was the visiting of the Edinborough site with some additional explanation of the project. The last stop was at Braemar park to observe and walk across the south end of the park on the newly constructed path. II. PRESENTATION - KEN ROSLAND Ken Rosland gave an update on the Laukka project. It appears now that the park will be allotted $546,000 over a 2-3 year period from the Park Development Fund, $500,000 for Park Improvement, and $700,000 from MTCE fund to help maintain the park. Joan Lonsbury questioned whether or not all the park improvement funds would have to be used in that park only or whether they could be used in the total Southeast quadrant. Mr. Rosland thought that initially the funds would have to be used in the new park, but eventually would be available for other areas in the quadrant. The target date for having all legal agreements completed is the first of July, and hopefully actual work may begin in September. Mr. Rosland introduced Ron Flanagan. Mr. Flanagan's company has the fran- chise on the golf dome for the Minnesota area. Mr. Rosland highlighted many of the special features of a golf dome and indicated the three main advan- tages he feels it would offer for Edina: 1. It would be a good recreational activity including golf and activities for seniors. 2. It would be a revenue producer for the city. 3. It would provide and pay for a second large picnic area and shelter building in the city. -2 - The recommendation by Mr. Rosland is to use the parking lot below picnic hill at Braemar as the site for the golf dome. A shelter building would have to be built which would serve as picnic shelter in the summer and the office for the dome in the winter. Part of the parking lot would be converted to grass for the picnic area in the summer and indoor golf area in the winter. There would still be ample parking space available for the picnic area and the winter activities. The size of the dome would be 74' high, 230' long and 274' wide at the widest end. There would be sufficient room in the dome to enable a golfer to perfect a better golf stroke because a golfer can observe the ball travel- ing at least 80 yards and he can detect either a slice or a hook in the flight of the ball. Mr. Flanagan's company would guarantee the city a mini- mum of $3,000 per year and an additional $6,000 per year for a pay off of the park shelter building which would also double as an office and the hitting area for the winter time golf in the dome. The $6,000 per year would continue to the final payment of the picnic shelter building. In addition,the city would receive the following percentages from the gross profit which the company takes in: 3% $150,000 to $250,000 4% $250,000 to 350,000 5% $350,000 and over It is anticipated that $8,000 - $10,000 income would be realized by the city from the percentage return, plus the $6,000 per year and the $3,000 guaranteed amount. Virginia Shaw questioned whether the dome would be a great liability risk. Ken Rosland indicated that both the company and the city would carry liability insurance and that the risk would probably be no greater than on the golf course or in any other building, because the construction of the dome has built-in safety features to prevent it from collapsing. If a hole were cut in the dome, it would not collapse since it has an auxilliary compressor which automatically kicks in and keeps it inflated. Even without the auxilliary kicking in it would take at least two hours for the bubble to collapse, which would allow ample time to clear it. Joan Lonsbury asked if the city would hold ownership of the land. Mr. Rosland answered that the city would retain ownership, the land would only be leased to the company on a 15 year lease. Virginia Shaw asked if there would be a definite period of time when the dome would be up. Mr. Rosland indicated that the maximum amount of time it would be up would be 180 days because of the energy factor and also because people really would not use it when the weather is warm enough to be using the outdoor range. Don Wineberg commented he thought it was an excellent idea, especially because it is an ideal opportunity to develop another park area which seems to be needed. -3 - Bob Christensen MOVED THAT THE PARK BOARD RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THE GOLF DOME AS CONCEPTUALLY DEFINED BY MR. ROSLAND, PERTAINING TO THE LAND LEASE, THE OPERATING PERCENTAGES ON THE PROFITS AND REPAYMENT OF FUNDS. Don Wineberg SECONDED the Motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Flanagan presented a number of other suggestions of what the dome area might be used for, and also commented on the facility. He said that grass would continue to grow through the winter because the dome is a translucent. material and lets light in. Other games can also be played inside the dome, such as 16" softball, touch football, horse shoes, etc. Mr. Flanagan also stated that they would most likely hire the golf pros from Braemar to teach the lessons offered at the golf dome facility during the winter months and possibly some of the other seasonal employees would be hired. Another ad- vantage to the particular design of this structure is that the cables would be criss-cross so there would be no movement of the bubble even under 80-100 mile per hour winds. Edina would have the first dome with this feature in the United States. Mr. Flanagan expressed his appreciation for the Board's recommendation to the city council, since it would take 4-5 months of pre- liminary work to be ready to install the dome. Target date for the project to be completed is Nov. 1 so the maximum time can be utilized in the first year. Mr. Rosland indicated that the gas company would bring the gas line to the site at no cost since the consumption of gas would be very great for running the fans and heaters. II Approval of Minutes of May 11, 1982 Meeting The following corrections were made to the May 11, 1982 minutes: - Indicate that Leonard Ring was present. - Joan Lonsbury did not send a letter to 43 persons who attended the meeting on Arden Park, minutes should state, "she sent a letter to the Park Board regarding the meeting held with 43 neighbors of the Arden Park." - Under VI - minutes should read, Bob Christiansen is going to suggest to schools that some long range study should be conducted to resolve the problems regarding permission for school facilities to be used for Park Board activities. Virginia Shaw MOVED the minutes of the May 11, 1982 meeting be approved as corrected. Leonard ring SECONDED the motion. The minutes were approved. III. OTHER Bob Kojetin indicated that some problems and complaints have arisen due to the tremendous amount of work which was created by the sleet storm in November. Removal of trees and branches from the storm was not totally completed until about the 15th of May. Mr.Kojetin requests the board to explain the situation as complaints come to them and also to.let him know if some prob- lem may have been overlooked or unresolved. The Board commended the Park staff for the excellent job they have been doing. Mr. Kojetin also reported that the new signs for the parks are now ready. They will be posted in areas where the police demartment feel they are most needed. Don Wineberg moved that the meeting be adjourned. Bill Lord seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. -4 - ITEM FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL Bob Christianson MADE A MOTION that the Park Board recommend to the City Council that the golf dome as conceptually defined by Mr. Rosland, pertaining to the land lease, the operating percentages on the profits and repayment of funds. Don Wineberg SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED.