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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-01-09 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, January 9, 1979 7:30 p.m. PARK BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Virginia Shaw, Al Fischer, Frank Gyetvan, Joan Lonsbury, Mary McDonald, Les Wanninger, George Warner, Marilyn Wooldridge STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, Rick Jacobson, John Keprios, Cecelia Smith OTHERS PRESENT: Dorothy Anderson, Margie Basil, Herb Hughes, President, Edina Football Association Board of Directors I. FOOTBALL Mr. Hughes delivered a brief overview of the Edina Junior Football Program. In this summary he included the budget; $11,000-$12,000, and a breakdown of the budget spending; $3,500 for jerseys, $3000 for referees, $2000 for trophies, $1300 for pictures and $713 for footballs. He also mentioned that the number of participants this year was 575. He emphasized that these teams were neigh- borhoodized and the coaches did not pick team members from out of the area to be on a certain team. When asked if there was anything the Park Board could do for the Football Association he mentioned the problem of intervening sports, namely hockey. The football season is only a 6 or 7 week program yet halfway through the season the kids are missing practices and worrying about hockey try -outs which take place in September and October. If there were some way it could be worked out so that these two seasons don't overlap as much it would help the football program greatly. Another problem he mentioned was the changing of game sites at the last minute because of a school program, e.g., Soccer play-offs. Last year he had to change the site of a football game because of Soccer play-offs and didn't find out about it until the Friday before the game (which was held on Saturday). Mr. Wanninger suggested that the Park and Recreation Department hold the line on letting the schools have the parks on such short notice. Mr. Hughes pointed out that the emphasis in the football program is that the kids go out and play ball and have fun learning the game. Mrs. Shaw stated that the Football Association definitely has the spirit that the Park Board wants to promote in all of it's sports program. II. ELECTION OF PARK BOARD CHAIRPERSON Mr. Al Fischer NOMINATED Virginia Shaw as Park Board Chairperson. George Warner SECONDED. Nominations closed. CARRIED. Mr. Frank Gyetvan NOMINATED Joan Lonsbury as Vice -Chairperson. Mr. Al Fischer SECONDED. CARRIED. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF DECEMBER 12 MEETING Mrs. Lonsbury MOVED the minutes of the December 12 meeting of the Park Board be approved. George Warner SECONDED. APPROVED. IV. 1978 ELM TREE REPORT Mr. Kojetin briefly explained the 1978 Elm Tree Program pointing out the procedure that is involved in marking an elm, having it removed and receiving the reimbursement. The City of Edina reimburses the residents 50% of the cost of having their elms removed up to $100 per tree. Of this we receive 28% to 40% back from the state. -2 - We also receive 28% to 40% back from the state on the cost of removal of boulevard trees. Mr. Kojetin also handed out a memo explaining exactly in what areas the subsidies can be used. Since this was the first year.for reforestation, Mr. Kojetin also explained this program. There were a total of 80 trees planted this year. Forty of these trees were planted on boulevards where trees had been removed for Dutch Elm disease. The other 40 trees were divided among the 5 designated tree districts in the City of Edina. The trees were planted according to a random selection on streets within the City. It was, of course up to the residents as to whether or not they wanted the trees replaced. We also kept records of all types of trees we planted and where they were planted. Due to the severity of the Dutch Elm problem this year and the "do it yourself" attitude of many of the home owners who cut down their own trees and placed the cuttings on the boulevard for the city to pick up and bring to the dump area; the tree trimming program is lagging far behind. By doing this, the city receives the 28% subsidy and the home owner forfeits his right to the subsidy for removal. Next year we hope to alleviate this problem by renting a machine called a Prentice Loader used to pick up the trees. This will, hopefully, allow us to get back on schedule in our trimming program. Mr. Kojetin explained that this year we will start cutting down city owned trees with Dutch Elm disease in the wildlife areas. There are 226 marked elm trees in the wildlife areas such as Bredesen Park and along Nine Mile Creek. It is permissable to spray these trees with an oil spray, cut them down and leave them to decay in the -wildlife area. This would save us a lot of money by not having to haul them away. This is a project we can start sometime this winter. V. WEEDS Mr. Kojetin also went over the weed inspection program. The inspector, Gene Davis, inspects privately owned lots for obnoxious weeds, sends a letter to the owner informing them that the weeds must be removed within a given period of time and if they are not, the city will cut the weeds and bill the owner for the cutting at the rate of $25.00 per hour. VI. AQUATIC WEEDS Mr. Kojetin explained the problem of treating aquatic weeds. It is the policy of the state (which owns the water) to not treat any body of water. Under special permission and permit authorization by the state we treated 12 ponds in the City of Edina last year. A list of the treated ponds and the dates they were treated was provided. The state, however, only allows us to treat 10% of the lake; therefore, this treatment is not very effective The pond located next to the swimming pool has been treated with an experimental aeration system. This system, however, has not proved to be a successful way of treating aquatic weeds in ponds. VII. DOG ORDINANCE The Board was handed and went over the new proposed Dog Ordinance. In this Ordinance it is a misdemeanor with a fine of $25 to $500 if a dog owner doesn't have the means with him to clean up after his dog. It was the general consensus of the Board that this was an excessive measure for the effective enforcement of this Ordinance. The fine was too high and making it a misdemeanor would tie up the courts unnecessarily and people would be reluctant to enforce the Ordinance. The Board felt that -3- a ticket with a fine of $15 to $25 would be more pratical to enforce. Mr. Wanninger MADE A MOTION that the Board approve the Ordinance with the alteration that -a: -:ticket with a small fine be issued for infraction of the Ordinance. Mr. Gyetvan SECONDED. CARRIED. It was also felt by the Board that more publicity.was needed in order that the dog owner would be more aware of this Ordinance; including the placing of signs in the parks. With the help of these signs and other publicity measures it was felt that the general public as well as the dog owners would aid in the enforcement of this Ordinance. VIII. DREDGING OF #2 FAIRWAY (BRAEMAR GOLF COURSE) Mr. Fischer, chairman of the golf committee, summarized the dredging of two ponds alongside the #2 fairway. These ponds would be located between fairway #2 and the Braemar Boulevard road. This area has constantly been.in a swampy, flooded condition, where at high water the water would run over the road. This causes constant slow play on the golf course and also cannot be maintained. The proposal is to dredge and connect the ponds with`a:_pipe so they wili'--drain into'the Nine Mile Watershed area. The cost of this project would be approximately $9000. Mr. Fisher also pointed out that this has been recommended by the golf course staff and the men's club; and was proposed in the 5 Year Plan that Mr., Kojetin had presented to us earlier at another meeting. Included'in this project, would be the construction of a new #2 tee for the men and ladies, since the present ones -have been sinking for the past few years. Mr. Kojetin also,stated that this is part of the maintaining and up -grading program for the golf course in order to keep the facility at a high level of play. Mr. Fischer MADE A MOTION that we approve the dredging of #2 fairway. Mrs. Lonsbury SECONDED. CARRIED. IX. DEDICATION - EDINA OFFICE CENTER Mr. Kojetin briefly went over this project and suggested that the Park Board request a greater percentage of land in the dedication and build a park around the office facility. It was felt by the Board, however, that the developer might already have plans for the development of some "type of park, and with the value of the land perhaps it might be wiser to ask for the money in leiu of land. Mr. Gyetvan pointed out that this money could be used to help maintain and repair our present facilities. Mr. Wanninger MADE A MOTION that the Planning Department or developer present to the Board more detailed plans for the -'development of the area before determing what action to take. Mr. Fischer SECONDED. CARRIED. It was also suggested that we try to determine the monetary value of the land before making a decision. DISC GOLF EQUIPMENT Mr. Kojetin informed the Board that the Disc Golf equipment had been purchased at a cost of $1000, which had been approved.at an earlier Park Board meeting. SR. CITIZEN VEHICLE Mr. Kojetin informed the Board that Farmers and Mechanics Bank is going to purchase and donate a vehicle to the Srs. The vehicle will be larger than the van we had originally thought about purchasing and will have facilities to adjust for a wheelchair. There will also be advertising on the van similar to what is on the Show Mobile. The bank would like the vechile purchased by February 2 when their new branch is scheduled to open up. Mr. Warner inquired as to the schedule that had been drawn up for the vehicle. Cecelia Smith explained the calendar briefly (calendar enclosed). The city will be divided into.4 sections; the people will call up the center when the vehicle is scheduled to be in their section and the vehicle will pick them up at a certain time. There will also be days when part of the day will be open for the bus to take tours of shopping trips, etc. Meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.