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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-02-13 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, February 13, 1979 7:30 p.m. PARK BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Virginia Shaw, Chairperson; Frank Gyetvan, Al Fischer, Marilyn Wooldridge, George Warner, Joan Lonsbury, Mack Thayer, Les Wanninger STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, Rick Jacobson, John Keprios, Cecelia Smith, John Valliere OTHERS PRESENT: Margie Basil, Dorothy Anderson, Mary Lund, President, Edina Girls Athletic Association I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JANUARY 9, 1979 MEETING Mrs. Lonsbury MADE THE MOTION that the minutes of the January 9 meeting of the Edina Park Board be approved. Mrs. Wooldridge SECONDED. CARRIED. II. EDINA GIRLS ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION Mrs. Mary Lund, the President of the Edina Girls Athletic Association, briefly outlined the EGAA program and discussed some of the problems they have encountered. The main problem is the availability of the school gyms. They will have a certain gym reserved for an event and then the school will call them up at the last minute and cancel the gym because of some meeting or PTA function. Mr. Jacobson pointed out that he has experienced the same problem with the gyms in his programs. He also mentioned that he will be getting together with Dr. Leiber to have a meeting to discuss this problem. Mrs. Lund also mentioned that at least one of the gyms (Creek Valley) has no phone available for use, this could lead to a serious problem if there were an emergency. Mrs. Lund mentioned that they will be increasing the board to 18 members in order to spread the work around a little more. Mrs. Shaw inquired as to how they go about recruiting the girls for these programs. Mrs. Lund explained that they use flyers and posters which they post in the schools and some of the local stores. Mrs. Lund also pointed out with appreciation the help that John Keprios volunteered in the girls hockey program and stated that she felt this program would grow in the future. Mr. Kojetin explained that when a sport reaches a certain number of participants it forms its own board; this relieves the pressure from the Girls Athletic Association Board. Just such a situation happened with the Youth Softball Program, and the girls basketball program will. probably be the next one to branch off. Mrs. Shaw asked if there was anything the Park Board could do to help out the Girls Athletic Association. Mrs. Lund stated that painting Volleyball lines in the elementary schools (Concord, Highlands, Countryside and Cornelia) would help or funds for buying tape for demarcation of the Volleyball courts would help. She also stated that they needed Volleyball standards at the right height in the schools. Mr. Warner asked if the EGAA had experienced a decline in their sports as many of the other associations have. Mrs. Lund stated that the only sport which had experienced any type of decline was basketball, the rest are leveling off. -2 - III. GOLF COURSE Mr. Kojetin went over the Statement of Income and Expense for Braemar Golf Course with the Park Board. He explained the increase in operating expenses was due partly to the fact that the Assistant Manager was this year, a full time emloyee whereas in the past he had been just a part time employee (during the winter months he works at the Arena); also part of this increase was the new arrangement with the teaching Pro on.the city payroll. Mr. Valliere explained two things about the Income and Expense report: 1) because of the wet spring we had last year, the revenue was down $30,000. and 2) he had reduced the number of leagues. Mr. Fischer asked if raising the non -patron 18 hole rate last year had some effect on this income. Mr. Valliere stated that it might have had some influence on the non -patron income. Mr. Fischer then inquired as to whether Mr. Valliere thought that we had short changed ourselves by not increasing the parton rate last year. Mr. Valliere then explained that the reason that we didn't raise the fees last year was in the hope of getting more patrons to purchase parton cards. The increase was, however, negligible ($349.00). Mr. Valliere also explained that the rounds of golf were down last year for both patrons and non -patrons; 107 for non -patrons and 280 for patrons. Golf Course Fees for 1979: Mr. Valliere outlined some of the fee changes he is suggesting for 1979. He suggested: 1) increase computer handicap charge 25(�, 2) pass along part of the linen cost to the patron by charging them 25� per towel (as apposed to increasing locker rental fee and including the price of the towel with the locker fee), many people use more than one towel. Mr. Warner inquired as to the vast difference charged women vs. men in locker rental. Mr. Valliere explained that not that many women use lockers. Mr. Warner also inquired as to the merit of lighting the driving range so golfers could practice later in the evening. Mr. Valliere pointed out that although it would increase revenue, it would also cause quite a beating to the turf. The only increases that Mr. Valliere suggested were in the 9 hole championship fees (from $5.00 to $6.00), 9 hole golf car rentals (from $5.00 to $6.00) and an increase in non -patron twilight rates (from $3.75 to $4.00). Mr. Fischer stated that he thought our golf car rental for 18 holes was a little low and should be increased from $10.00 to $12.00. Mr. Valliere briefly went over the Senior rates that we offered for the first time last year and stated that the Seniors were very happy with the rate and wanted to expand their hours. Now, basically, they play during slow times. Mr. Wanninger stated that he felt we were little low on our 9 hole rates and since this was basically played by non-residents wouldn't it be a good idea to increase the rates for the 9 hole Par 3 course. Mr. Kojetin pointed out that this course is played a lot by kids in Edina. Mr. Valliere then gave a brief description of the High School girls golf league program which is run by Mrs. Lucy Roche and other members of the women's golf leagues at Braemar. Mrs. Lonsbury MADE A MOTION that the Park Board accept the proposed fees and charges as presented by Mr. Valliere with the increase in the 18 hole golf car rental to $12.00. Mr. Fischer SECONDED. CARRIED. -3 - Capital Improvement Budget: Mr. Valliere briefly went over the proposed Capital Improvement Budget for the Golf Course. Mr. Kojetin explained that as he had pointed out in earlier meetings, the Board must look at a yearly capital improvement budget of approximately $20,000. to keep the facilities in top condition. He pointed out that the course will, in the near future, need a new maintenance building. The remainder of the Proposed Capital Improvement budget had been discussed in the November Park Board meeting. Mr. Wanninger MADE A MOTION that we approve the Capital Improvement Budget as submitted. George Warner SECONDED. CARRIED. Mr. Fischer complimented Mr. Valliere and John Nylund on the work that they have done at the Golf Course. Mr. Kojetin presented a brief update on the progress of the irrigation system at the golf course. The wells are being installed now and bids for the irrigation system will be let out March and awarded in April. IV. SKATING RINKS The policy of upkeep on the skating rinks was briefly discussed. We usually start flooding the rinks after Thanksgiving and by December 20 the ice is ready to be skated on. During Christmas vacation the men go out 1 to 2 hours before the rinks are to be flooded and clear off the snow on the rink. The rinks are flooded and swept every day. After sweeping the major rinks, time allowing, they sweep the non -major skating areas. This depends on the amount of snow which has fallen. During this time, the people start to work on the rinks at 6:00 a.m. Mr. Fischer pointed out that the hockey lines at Garden Park are not visible, making it difficult for the coaches to coach their teams. Mr. Kojetin noted that this was caused by the clarity and thickness of the ice due to a cold winter. Mr. Kojetin also brought up the problem of warming house attendants (not showing up, goofing off on the job, etc.). Mr. Keprios mentioned that next year he is going to look into hiring Senior Citizens as warming house attendants. V. PLAYGROUNDS Due to the decline in the number of youngsters using particular playgrounds, it was thought that this year we would cut the program in half. Mr. Kojetin stated that this would mean running the programs every other day, instead of every day. Mr. Keprios also indicated that we would cut three parks out of the program; Cornelia Pool, Heights and York. We would also be eliminating the Playground Specialists position. In a survey that Mr. Keprios conducted last summer the Playground Leaders felt they could do as good if not a better job than the Playground Specialists. Using the concept of having the programs every other day, the program will cost less and the youngsters will probably look forward to it more. Also, we will be dropping the age of participation to 5. VI. RECREATION REPORT (Fees and Charges) Mr. Jacobson briefly went over the proposed fees for 1979, stating that they would pretty much remain the same as last year. It was his feeling that we are making it with these fees and there is no need to increase them. The only proposed fee increases would be in summer skating (from $11.00 to $12.00) and in group golf lessons (from $27.00 to $30.00). Mr. Fisher -4 - MADE A MOTION that the fees and charges be approved as submitted. Mr. Gyetvan SECONDED. CARRIED. VII. ATHLETIC ASSOCIATIONS Mr. Kojetin informed the Park Board that sometime within the next couple of months the Council would like to get together with the Athletic Association Presidents and the Park Board. One of the things that the Council is interested in discussing with the Park Board is their involvement with the Athletic Associations. Mr. Wanninger stated that he would like to see more involvement between the Park Board and the Athletic Associations. Mr. Fischer pointed out that it is a general public consensus that these association programs are Park Board programs. Mr. Kojetin suggested that perhaps some type of liason person, perhaps a Park Board member, between the Board and the Associations might be of value. Along this same line, Mr. Kojetin noted that in setting up the By --laws for the Edina Art Center he was recommending that any new board members must be submitted to the Park Board for approval before being placed on the Art Center Board. Mr. Kojetin also pointed out that thanks to a few words from Mr. Wanninger regarding gym availability in the schools, a meeting had been set up with Dr. Lieber and Mr. Kojetin to discuss the matter. Ms. Cecelia Smith informed the Park Board that the Senior Citizen van from Farmer's and Mechanics Bank would be delivered within the next 120 days and would be in operation by June. Mrs. Shaw suggested that the members of the board send a thank you note to the bank (as private citizens) to thank them for their generous contribution. Mrs. Lonsbury suggested that, in addition, a note of thanks be sent to them from the Edina Park Board. Meeting adjourned at 10:05 p.m. Rosie Hafner