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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-10-09 Park Board MinutesEDINA PARK BOARD MEETING Tuesday, October 9, 1979 Edina City Hall 7:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Virginia Shaw, Chairperson, Frank Gyetvan, Marilyn Wooldridge, George Warner, Les Wanninger. Joan Lonsbury, Mary McDonald STAFF PRESENT: Bob Kojetin, Rick Jacobson, Rosie Hafner OTHERS PRESENT: Dorothy Anderson I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES George Warner MADE A MOTION to approve the minutes from the September 11 and September 13 meetings. Les Wanninger SECONDED. CARRIED. II. RESULTS OF WOODDALE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING Mr. Kojetin and Mrs. Shaw presented a brief summary of the meeting with the Wooddale Neighborhood Association regarding the Utley Park parking lot. There were about 26 people present at the meeting from the Association (approximately 300 notices were sent out). The response from the Association was unanimously negative and Mr. Curry decided not to pursue the project. Mrs. Wooldridge inquired as to why they were so apposed to the project. Mr. Kojetin explained that their main concern was the loss of open space; they didn't want to lose any of the green areas that remain. Mrs. Shaw pointed out that they were very vituperative regarding the entire development of the park including the building of the Kiosk at Williams Park. It was the general consensus of the Wooddale Neighborhood Association that they were not all informed of the developments taking place in Williams Park and this was what angered them most. As far as they were concerned the park should be left as it is with the addition of a few more trees. Mrs. Shaw also felt that there was not a balanced representation of the neighborhood present at the meeting. Mr Kojetin explained that he briefly went over the Minnihaha Creek improvement plans and some of the tentative plans for the 44th Street Property, and these too, received negative to lukewarm reaction from the Association. Mrs. Shaw questioned Mr. Kojetin about the Park Board"s responsibility regarding pressure from neighborhood groups such as this. Mr. Kojetin explained that the Park Board is really not obliged to go along with the wishes of these groups, if in their opinion, the work should be done to improve or enhance the total Edina park system or for safety reasons. The correct action would be to bring the subject to the Park Board again at another meeting and invite the neighborhood association to attend the meeting and express their opinions. Mrs. Shaw then inquired as to whether the Park Board should send a letter to the Wooddale Association requesting they appoint some representatives to attend the meeting when development of the 44th Street Property is to be discussed. Mr. Kojetin felt that the entire association should be invited along with the residents of homes that surround the 44th Street Property. III. WARMING HOUSE CLOSINGS Mr. Kojetin distributed handouts outlining the use last winter of the various skating rinks with warming houses. Based on these figures, he felt there were 4 areas where the warming houses should be closed this winter; Browndale, Chowen, Melody and Heights. These are smaller areas that don't contain Hockey rinks and are basically used by younger children. There are also other parks close to these locations where the warming houses will remain open and the children can skate -2 - there. The opening of Lewis Park skating rink and warming house this winter will add another park to the list of those open. Mr. Wanninger inquired as to whether or not it would be possible to keep the warming houses at these 4 locations open during Christmas vacation and close them afterward. Mr. Kojetin explained that, depending on the weather it may not be possible to make and maintain the ice for these two weeks. Mr. Wanninger also brought up the suggestion of closing some areas earlier so that some could remain open a little later in the season. He also inquired as to whether a situation could be worked out with the maintenance crews whereby there would be someone to clear the ice off the rinks during the weekend. Mr. Kojetin explained that this would not be possible because it would mean giving someone a day off during the week and he would not be available during the normal maintenance times to help the other men. It was suggested that even though these warming houses would be closed the rinks could receive maintenance after Christmas on an "as available" basis, depending on how busy the maintenance crews were with the up -keep of the other rinks. Mr. Gyetvan MADE A MOTION to close the warming houses at the four locations (Browndale, Chowen, Melody and Heights) but maintain minimal maintenance of the ice. Mr. Wanninger SECONDED. CARRIED. Mr. Wanninger also requested information regarding the use of these rinks over Christmas vacation next year. ART CENTER Mr. Kojetin informed the board that Howard Nichols attended an Art Center board meeting. Mr. Nichols is the gentleman who has donated $1000.00 per year to the Art Center in memory of his wife. He explained to the Art Center Board that he would like to have a living memory of his wife at some location in the Art Center. Mr. Kojetin had discussed with Mr. Nichols the possibility of building a room above the existing kiln room on the south end of the building which could be used for oil painting and water color classes. We are very much in need of a room such as this now because the rooms that now exist on the third floor are so small and there are not enough of them. This condition limits the size and number of classes that we are able to offer. Mr. Nichols was very enthusiastic about this idea and would like to look further into it. He indicated that that he would like to have one of his old friends do some architectural drawings and see what an addition to the building would cost. He also indicated that he has many friends who were associates of his in his contracting business in the past that owe him a few favors and would probably help him with construction of the addition to the Art Center building. Mr. Kojetin will keep the board informed of the progress on this project. RECREATION REPORT Mr..,Jacobson presented the participation report from .this past summer and a report from the Edina Senior Center representing participation in their programs over the past.two years. The basic trend, as pointed out by Mr, Jacobson, is that partici- pation in youth programs is decreasing while participation in the seniors programs is increasing. Swimming lessons remained relatively stable, tennis instruction was down about 25% but this is occurring in all communities, Soccer remained about the same and Baseball was up. Mr. Wanninger commented that the boys golf lessons at Braemar could stand improvement. Many times, he pointed out, the youngsters are sent out to play with little or no instruction. Mr. Kojetin pointed out that this was due to the lack of participation by the Men's League. The women's golf leagues however, have a very intensive program for teaching youngsters and if the men's clubs could be pursuaded to participate in a similar mannert the boys lessons could be of equal caliber. Mr. Kojetin pointed out that in the football program this year, 70% of the eligible players in the 5th grade had registered to play. This tremendous response was attributable to a letter sent out by the Edina Football -3- Association to the 4th graders this year explaining the program and urging them to participate. The Hockey Association has sent out a similar mailing to all boys who participated in the program last year, hoping to draw them to this years registration. Mr. Gyetvan requested information on installation of the irrigation system at the Golf Course. Mr. Kojetin explained that the work is progressing very well and everything is pretty much on schedule. They are completing approximately two holes per week. He pointed out that the two pumping stations would not be completed until next spring. Mr. Warner mentioned that in talking with Amos Rasmusson recently, he had mentioned the need for baffles at the gun range for outdoor shooting. Mr. Kojetin explained that he had investigated this in the past and at a cost of $25,000,with only the police department using the outdoor range, it wasn't something that should be pursued at this time. Should there be an increase in the use of the outdoor shooting on the rifle range i.n the future this might be something to look into. Les Wanninger MADE A MOTION to adjourn. Frank Gyetvan SECONDED. CARRIED. Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.