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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-04-08 Park Board Minutesr EDINA PARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, April 8, 1980 7:30 p.m. EDINA CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Virginia Shaw, Chairperson; George Warner, Mack Thayer, Arthur Erdall, Joan Lonsbury, Les Wanninger, Marilyn Wooldridge, Mary McDonald, Bill Lord STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, Rick Jacobson, Rosie Hafner I. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Mr. Kojetin opened nominations. Mrs. Lonsbury nominated Virginia Shaw for Chairperson. Mr. Warner SECONDED. Mr. Wanninger MOVED that nominations be closed. Nomination unanimously approved. Mr. Wanninger nominated Joan Lonsbury for Vice-Chaiperson. Mr. Warner SECONDED. Mrs. Wooldridge moved that nominations be closed. Mrs. Lonsbury unanimously approved as Vice --Chairperson. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes were approved with the following corrections. Under fees and charges, 16 lines down, the statement about the Pro providing two people in the Pro Shop to sell greens fees and merchandise should be deleted. Mr. Wanninger pointed out that the statement regarding the survey on girls athletics in the last paragraph of the Minutes should read as follows: The Sc-hoal Board has created a citizens committee to do a survey on girls athletics and would like the participation of the Park Board and staff in appointing one staff member and one Board member to the committee. Marilyn Wooldridge also pointed out that she was present at that meeting and had not been listed as so in the minutes. Mr. Wanninger MADE A MOTION to approve the Minutes with the above corrections. Mrs. Wooldridge SECONDED. CARRIED. III. RECREATION REPORT Mr. Jacobson explained to the Board that there was a coaches clinic sponsored by the Park and Recreation Department and the Edina Athletic Associations being held tonight and tomorrow night in the Council Chambers. Some literature on the clinic was handed out and Mr. Jacobson briefly explained some of the philosophies of the clinic given by Dr. Frank Smoll. Mr. Jacobson also reported that the summer brochure was in the final stages and should be in the homes within two or three weeks. He explained that there would be an article on the 50 year anniversary of the .Park Board and 25 years of park department along with a list of all the park commissioners over the past 50 years, and a history of the athletic associations. Registration for baseball and soccer were continuing with the number of participants up in baseball and about the same in soccer. In the adult softball program we have more teams than we can accommodate. Mr. Kojetin pointed out that baseball registration was up over last year by approximately 100 youngsters. Mr. Jacobson explained that this increase was mostly in the Alder acted youngsters. Mr. Warner inquired as to whether or not the Baseball Association, in order to avoid the same problems as last year, had a place on the registration card indicating which park was the closest for the youngsters. Mr. Kojetin confirmed that there was such a place on the card for this information but the Baseball Association had not indicated that they would use it as a criteria for setting up the teams. Mr. Kojetin also pointed out that he has been trying to explain to the associations that they must be more flexible with some of their rules. -2 - Mr. Wanninger inquired as to whether or not they were going to improve on the boys golf program on Monday mornings at Braemar, indicating that there is very little instruction in the program right now. Mr. Kojetin explained that they are trying to work out something with the men's club to improve the program, perhaps something equivalent to the girls instruction sponsored by the women's league out there. IV. ADAMS PARK Mr. Kojetin gave the Park Board a brief up -date on the history of the park and its location. It is located on the border between Richfield and Edina and the two communities are working together on the park and it would be used by both communities. Since it is close to Yorktown Park the initial plans are to use Adams Park as a winter park with a shelter building and skating facilities, and Yorktown as a summer park with softball fields and playground equipment. Mrs. Lonsbury commented on how wonder- ful it was to see the two communities cooperating together. Mr. Kojetin further explained that we are trying to obtain land for a parking area -from the Senior Center. They have not, however, received a very favorable response to this request. Richfield is.going to start working on -the park this summer. V. 44th STREET PROPERTY Mr. Kojetin explained that he had talked with some women in the neighborhood and they had indicated that they would like to have a Park Board member meet with the neigh- borhood regarding the park. Mrs. Shaw inquired as to whether there was anyone on the Board interested in meeting with these people. There was no response. Mr. Kojetin stated that they want us to get back to them when we determine the date and time of the meeting. VI. FORESTRY REPORT Mr. Kojetin briefly went over the contract arrangements the city has with the forester, Mr. Bob McGuire, explaining that Mr. McGuire couldn't be here this evening due to car trouble. He is contracted by the city at the rate of $120 per day for one day a week. During the busy season Mr. McGuire hires one employee to help him. Most of Mr. McGuire's salary is subsidized through the state. Mr. Kojetin handed out a report prepared by Mr. McGuire on the Dutch Elm Disease program and reforestation in the city. Mr. Kojetin explained that due to the rapid spreading of the disease in the wildlife areas, last year we had started taking down many of the trees in these areas. This would be reflected in the report. Mr. Kojetin went on to explain that Dutch Elm Disease was down last year but due to the mild winter we have experienced this year it might be on the rise again. He also briefly went into the reforestation program explaining that there is approximately $5000 a year taken from Community Development funds to purchase trees for reforestation. This buys about 80 trees, which means that reforestation is going to be a very slow process. He also pointed out that there is about a 15% rejection rate for people who do not want trees planted on their boulevard. Mrs. Lonsbury informed the Board of the volunteer dinner to be held on the 17th of April and invited everyone to attend. She explained that she was on the committee with Ken Rosland and Ralph Campbell and had gotten together with them because she wanted to recognize the 25-50 year anniversary. Information on this anniversary will be included in the program information. Mrs. Lonsbury expressed the desire that everyone attend. Mr. Warner inquired about the plexiglass at the arena. Mr. Kojetin informed him that he had not received any comment back from the Council on the plexiglass as yet. Mr. Kojetin r -3- gave a brief up -date on some of the latest developments regarding energy saving at the arena. A new ordinance that has been passed requires us to cover the four propane tanks at the arena which will cost approximately $25,000. We will also have to fence these tanks under a new OSHA law. Mr. Kojetin explained that he is investigating the possibility of getting Rff interrupted service and elminating the propane tanks altogether. In order to do this we have to cut down on the BTU's we use from the present rate of 3,000,000 per hour to 1,500,000 We have _ been doing some energy audits out there and by cutting down, insulating, and re- arranging some of the exhaust systems and make-up errors; we should be able to operate on about 1,200,000 BTU's per hour. We could then apply with the Minneapolis Gas Company energy committee and have an excellent chance of getting off interrupted service. These improvements would cost approximately $30,000 to do but would save us from $15,000 to $20,000 a year on gas and electricity. A discussion was held with Mr. Dalen regarding this and he suggested we pursue this course of action. Mrs. Shaw informed the Board that she had received a letter from Dr. Baumgartner thanking the Board for allowing them to use the pool from noon on Friday for their swim meet, but had not mentioned anything about recooping us for our loss of revenue. After some discussion as to how to handle this situation it was decided that the best course of action would be for either Mr. Jacobson or Mr. Kojetin to talk to Dr. Baumgartner and get back to the Board as soon as possible. Mrs. Shaw informed the Board that Mr. Gyetvan had contacted her to tell her that he will be moving out of the area and resigning his position on the Park Board Mrs. Shaw requested that anyone who knows of someone who want to be on the Board let her know. Mr. Wanninger told the Board that the School Board has decided to closed Edina East High School and merge East and West into one school. Mr. Thayer asked Mr. Wanninger what they intended to do with the school after it closed. Mr. Wanninger stated that they were not quite sure at this moment but intended to use the gymnasiums and other facilities and possibly, the auditorium. Luthern High School was talking about using it also. Mr. Warner inquired as to whether the gymnastics association would get the use of the gyms. Mr, Kojetin stated that Dr. Lieber was looking into this possibility. There was a brief discussion on the impact this closing will have on our facilities and programs. Mr. Wanninger suggested we start thinking seriously about picking up these youngster on our programs. He pointed out that the hockey association especially may see a rise in participants in the Midget Division this year. Virginia Shaw mentioned that the Park Board should set up a committee to establish priorities for Capital Improvements. Virginia Shaw, Joan Lonsbury, George Warner and Les Wanninger volunteered to serve on the committee. Mr. Kojetin handed out some materials consisting of information regarding volunteer boards and how they are set up, one of which was the Park Board Articles of Organization. On the Park Board Articles Mr. Kojetin presented a suggestion for a change in the membership of the Board. This change would have one member on the Board from one of the ten athletic associations and one member from the Art Center Board. There was a brief discussion regarding the proposal in which Mrs. Lonsbury expressed disapproval stating that she was concerned about someone "having an axe to grind." Mr. Kojetin explained that the Council will be getting together with the Park Board to discuss this matter and he will send them a notice informing them of the day and time. Further discussion tabled until next month when this item will be put on the agenda. Mr. Kojetin also read to the Park Board the statement that will be put in the summer brochure regarding the relationship between the Park Board, Park Department and athletic associations. After some discussion the Board approved the statement. Arthur Erdall MOVED for adjournment. Mr. Thayer SECONDED. CARRIED. Meeting adjourned at 9:20 P.m.