HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-10-11 Park Board MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF
THE EDINA PARK BOARD
Tuesday, October 11th, 1977
EDINA CITY HALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: J. Rice, Chairperson; A. Fischer; J. Lonsbury; W. Lund;
D. Pavek; L. Wanninger; and G. Warner
MEMBERS ABSENT: M. McDonald and V. Shaw
STAFF PRESENT: K. Rosland; B. Kojetin; R. Jacobson; and P. Benjamson
OTHERS PRESENT: Evelyn Gans, Edina Garden Club Council; Doris Johnson,
Edina Garden Club Council; Phyllis Kenaston, President
of the Edina Garden Club Council; and John E. Lonsbury,
Student
I. MINUTES OF THE LAST TWO PARK BOARD MEETINGS
Mrs. Lonsbury had two corrections to the minutes of September 13th,
1977: Page Two - change "Mr. John Lonsbury, III" to "Mr. John E. Lonsbury"
and, Page Three - change "A picture window that was donated by Mr. Don
Pavek, has now been installed at the center" to "A picture window has
been donated to the Center by Mr. George Warner, and will be installed in
the new kiln room."
Mr. Jacobson had one addition to the minutes of September 13th, 1977:
Page Three - change "Mr. Rosland further reported that Mrs. Jean Adams has
been hired as a part-time publicist" to "Mr. Rosland further reported that
Mrs. Jean Adams has been hired as a part-time staff person for the Center.
One of her duties is to do the publicity".
Mr. Wanninger made a motion to approve the minutes of September 13th,
1977, with the above changes made. Mr. Lund seconded the motion and the
minutes were approved.
Mrs. Lonsbury made a motion to approve the minutes of September 20th,
1977, as written and submitted. Mr. Fischer seconded the motion and the
motion was approved.
Mr. Rice made an addition to the agenda: "I.A. ART CENTER REPORT"
I.A. ART CENTER REPORT
Mrs. Lonsbury reported that Jean Adams, who is paid by the City of
Edina, is one of three paid staff people on the Art Center Board, which
consists of only fifteen persons, who have a vote on the Art Center Board.
Mrs. Lonsbury suggested that the three staff people should not be voting
members. The Park Board agreed with this and asked Mr. Kojetin to inform
the Art Center Board about this recommendation and then report back to
the Park Board.
PAGE TWO OCTOBER 11th, 1977
I.A. ART CENTER REPORT (Continued)
Following that discussion, there were a lot of comments on boards
in general. Mr. Kojetin agreed to give a report to the Park Board, at
a later meeting, to tell us the results of Park and Recreation Depart-
ment staff discussions on the purpose of boards, and if the Mayor
should appoint board members, or if each association should appoint
their own board members, as they now do.
It was agreed that the Park Board has control over the boards
regarding facilities and scheduling, even if we do not appoint them.
It was also agreed that the Presidents of all ten boards should be
invited once a year to speak to the Park Board, with a ten to fifteen
minute presentation, in order to inform the Park Board about their
association and to tell us how we could help them, if help is necessary.
Mr. Kojetin said this is especially important, since we have 10,000
participants in the park programs; almost equal to the number of
participants in the school program. Boards like the Art Center should
be reporting to us more frequently.
No official action was taken on the above matters.
II. PLANNING REQUEST(S)
In checking the requests received this month from the Planning
Department, we have found that we have taken action on all of them,
said Mr. Kojetin.
III. REPORT ON THE SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 26th, 1977
Mr. Wanninger commended Mr. Rice for the excellent report he
delivered to the September 26th School District Meeting. Mr. Rice
handed out an outline indicating his talk at the School District
Meeting. One of the points Mr. Rice stressed at the School District
Meeting, was that the Park Board believes that the eighth grade is
the maximum age the Park Board thought there should be amateur coaches;
however, we would still manage the teams of lesser ability for the
older age groups.
Mr. Wanninger gave a report on the meetings the School Board has
been having, and said no formal action was taken by the School Board
at any of the meetings. The School District had asked Dr. Ralph Lieber
to give his reaction on the special meetings at a later School District
meeting.
IV. RECREATION REPORT
Mr. Jacobson reported that we have 360 youngsters in basketball:
this amount is comparable to last years' enrollment, plus we expect
about 25 to 50 more in late sign-ups. We are now accepting registra-
tions for adult team volleyball. Adult ballroom and old time dancing
classes have 100 participants. Karate, for ages nine through adult,
has begun. Only two teams signed up for Adult Touch Football, and
so a league was not formed.
PAGE THREE OCTOBER 11th, 1977
IV. RECREATION REPORT (Continued)
Hockey registration is down from last year, reported Mr. Kojetin.
In the Squirt program, 66% live on the west side of Highway 100 and
34% live on the east side. There is a 7% decrease in the number of
participants in the overall hockey program (about 100 participants).
Hockey is the only sport that has a decreasing number of participants.
Mr. Kojetin also reported that the President of the Hockey Association
is going to appoint a study committee to look into this decline, and
also the reorganization of teams, before the next year's season starts.
Hockey tryouts were changed, because of requests from the children's
mothers, to six consecutive days, instead of six times in three weeks:
the pressure of waiting weeks to find out if they were on a team or
not was too much for this age group. Hockey is going to be scheduled
on the days that the football program does not have any games.
Mr. Kojetin reported that the football program is very successful
and has the same amount of youngsters as last year. This year we have
flag football for the girls: there are four teams of eleven girls
each. Seven persons play, on each team, at a time: their games are
all played at Braemar Park. Mr. Kojetin also reported that girls'
basketball has 280 youngsters in it this year. They have some excellent
leaders who have handled the program from beginning to end, with very
little help needed from the Park and Recreation Department.
Mr. Kojetin also reported that the Senior Citizens Center has a
health testing program. They have also started a physical fitness
and relaxation program for anyone thirty years of age and over. The
enrollment at the Center remains about the same, at 600 members.
V. LOU LARSON PROPERTY - TOWNES ROAD
Mr. Kojetin reported that Dr. Larson wanted to give Lots 16, 9,
and 1 to his neighbors; then the neighbors asked us if we would accept
the lots if they were given to us for open space. All the neighbors,
including Dr. Larson, want all of the lots kept wild. Mr. Kojetin
recommended that the Park and Recreation Department staff recommend
not accepting the lots, since we already have a perpetual easement
on Lot #1. (Dr. Larson is responsible for the maintenance of Lot #1.)
Lot #9 would be considered the only buildable lot.
Mr. Lund suggested we be careful about setting a precedent, by
accepting property like this, which may only be given to us to get it
off the tax roles or because of rampant Dutch Elm Disease: Mrs. Lonsbury
said we have had this type of problem before.
Mr. Rice said the consensus is that we see no purpose for the lots
for our use; and, therefore, we would not accept them if they were
offered. Mr. Rice will talk with the neighbors. No official action
was taken.
PAGE FOUR
VI. OLD MILL SITE REPORT
OCTOBER 11th, 1977
Mr. Kojetin reported that the Park Department is presently filling
the excavated part of the Old Mill Site. The southwest corner of the
foundation will be left exposed. We are using the fill material from
the new parking lot construction going on behind Edina City Hall. There
will also be a kiosk installed on the top portion of the Old Mill Site
for information about the site.
For several more weeks, there will be a display at the Edina
Public Library of the artifacts that were recovered from the excavation,
reported Mrs. Lonsbury.
VII. OTHER REPORTS
CONCORD GRADE SCHOOL - Mr. Kojetin reported that they are remodeling
their playground area and have asked us for monetary help in order to
supply equipment, because there are no playgrounds in the immediate area
that have adequate equipment. (Pamela Park is the closest park.)
Mr. Kojetin recommended to the Park Board not to be involved in
taking money out of our capital improvement budget, but we could help
to plan the area and supply them with debarked elm logs in order for
them to make benches for the area.
Mr. Rosland reported we once made creative play equipment in an
art class for a playground, but it was destroyed in just a couple years
by the neighborhood youngsters. Also, he said that a lot of our equip-
ment is in need of replacement or repair, and so our equipment would
have priority over the City fixing or buying equipment for the schools.
The Park Board recommended that Mr. Wanninger should comment at
the School Board Meeting on what we have discussed, have them study
the problem, and, come up with a recommendation to the Park Board as
to what areas we could help with, other than the monetary area.
BICYCLE PATH AROUND CORNELIA LAKE - Mrs. Lonsbury reported that
the floating bridge was knocked from its foundations by the once -in -
two -hundred -year storm we had several weeks ago, and also, the finished
elm log benches have been vandalized. Mr. Kojetin will check into
this and fix these problems.
McGUIRE PARK - Mr. Rosland reported that the cement is all in,
but the grading has been delayed due to rain. Hopefully the grading
will be completed this year. The new equipment will be put in next
spring. The storm sewer was moved right away, so we have not heard
any complaints from the neighbors on any further flooding. The sandbox,
which has already been installed, cost more than originally anticipated.
Mr. Rosland suggested the.School District look into sandboxes for under
their playground equipment and future developments, especially because
of liability problems we are having in the parks where hard surface
areas are underneath the playground equipment.
PAGE FIVE
VII. OTHER REPORTS (Continued)
plb
OCTOBER 11th, 1977
CONGREGATE DINING - Mr. Rosland conveyed a request from the
Salvation Army to establish one of their federally funded Senior
Citizen lunch and dinner programs at the Edina Senior Citizen's
Center. They will seat about forty people for each meal. It is
stipulated in the contract that we can cancel the program, at anytime,
if it is unsatisfactory in any way. Mr. Rosland said the director
of the Senior Citizen's Center, Mrs. Mohr, indicated there was much
interest by the senior citizens in this program: the Senior Advisory
Board is actively seeking all types of social help, including medical
help, prepared meals, etc. Mr. Rosland recommended to the Park Board
that we go ahead with this program.
Mr. Pavek made a motion to proceed with this program as proposed.
Mrs. Lonsbury seconded the motion and the motion carried.
MIRROR LAKE PARK - Mr. Rosland reported that no decision has
been made on this, as yet. He recommends that we mow the meadow next
spring and put up a few pieces of playground equipment to help in
this area.
ART CENTER FUND - Mrs. Lonsbury reported that about 500 letters
were sent out to solicit funds to help pay for various major necessary
items the Art Center needs. Mr. Rice reported that he wrote to about
fifteen people who have been very active in supporting the community
projects in the past.
MR. KEN ROSLAND, THE NEW EDINA CITY MANAGER - Mr. Rice commended
Mr. Ken Rosland on his years of expertise as the best Park and
Recreation director in the country, in fact the whole world, and that
Mr. Rosland has made the Edina Park and Recreation Department the
best in the country. Mr. Rice further spoke for the Park Board by
giving our thanks to Mr. Rosland, that we have appreciated his dedication,
and wish him the very best of success as the new Edina City Manager.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Kojetin
Edina Park Board