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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-11-08 Park Board MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE EDINA PARK BOARD Tuesday, November 8th, 1977 EDINA CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: J. Rice, Chairperson; M. McDonald; D. Pavek; G. Warner MEMBERS ABSENT: NONE A. Fischer; J. Lonsbury; W. Lund; V. Shaw; L. Wanninger; and STAFF PRESENT: B. Kojetin; R. Jacobson; M. Mohr; and P. Benjamson OTHERS PRESENT: Evelyn Gans, Edina Garden Council; and Doris Johnson, Edina Garden Council Mr. Rice announced the appointment of Mr. Robert J. Kojetin as the new Director of the Edina Park and Recreation Department. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Wanninger made a motion to approve the Edina Park Board Minutes of Tuesday, October 11th, 1977, as written and submitted. Mrs. Lonsbury seconded the motion and the motion was approved. II. SENIOR CITIZEN REPORT Mrs. Carl (Marcia) Mohr, Edina Senior Citizen Center Program Director, handed out and presented a detailed report of the schedule of activities and programs of the Senior Citizen's Center. Mrs. Mohr commented on some of the activities in detail and on how the senior citizens are very happy with the tremendous amount of programs available to them. The center was opened three years ago: presently there are 600 members. Two hundred seniors live in the building where the center is housed, and 350 to 400 live in the community at large. The present policy is to accept members that are Edina residents, but they have accepted about ten percent of their membership from residents from outside the city limits of Edina. A membership into the Senior's group program is $2.00 per person per year. Mrs. Mohr also reported on the new individual that will be hired as the Coordinator of Volunteer Services for the City of Edina. The volunteer services program will be funded by C.E.T.A. The proposed duties of the Volunteer Services Coordinator will be: 1) develop a complete transportation program for the community, including the senior citizens; 2) find volunteers to work for the congregate dining program; 3) find volunteer coordinators to recruit volunteers for the various programs; 4) arrange for volunteers to direct health activities to register people, take health histories, etc. Mrs. Mohr commented that the health clinic at the Senior's Center services not only Edina residents, but anyone from the area. PAGE TWO NOVEMBER 8th, 1977 II. SENIOR CITIZEN REPORT (Continued) Mrs. Mohr reported on the Senior Advisory Group, which consists of representatives of the Senior Citizen's group. This group acts as an advisory board for the Senior Citizen group, and the Senior Citizen Center, to the Edina Park and Recreation Department and the Edina Park Board. III. PLANNING REQUEST - Z-77-17 & S-77-22 (Ryan Construction Co.) Mr. Kojetin presented this rezoning and subdivision request, which is generally located E. of York Ave., W. of Xerxes Ave., N. of W. 76th Street and S. of W. 74th St. extended, which is a parcel of property that is part of the overall low housing district for the City of Edina. In the overall plan, this area will include a park which will ultimately be financed by the City of Edina. No action was taken, this was for our information only. IV. PLANNING REQUEST - S-77-23 (Taft Addition) Mr. Kojetin presented this subdivision request generally located west of Blake Road and Scriver Road extended. Mr. Kojetin recommended that we accept cash in lieu of land. Mr. Warner made a motion that we accept cash in lieu of land. Mr. Pavek seconded and the motion was approved. V. PLANNING REQUEST - S-77-24 (The Timbers - Folke Victorsen) Mr. Kojetin presented this proposed subdivision, which is generally located at the southwest corner of Gleason Road and the Crosstown Highway. The property was originally zoned as multiple dwellings and now the property owner has recommended rezoning to single family dwellings. The Edina Park and Recreation Department staff recommends that we would accept cash in lieu of land, if such zoning was approved. No action was taken by the Edina Park Board on this matter at this time. VI. PLANNING REQUEST - Z-77-18 & S-77-25 (Braemar Hills 9th Addition) Mr. Kojetin presented this proposed subdivision and rezoning which is generally located east of Gleason Road extended and north of W. 78th Street. The Edina Park and Recreation Department staff recommends to accept the property as outlined, so as to have a continuation of a walk path in the southern part of Edina to the Braemar property. PAGE THREE NOVEMBER 8th, 1977 VI. PLANNING REQUEST - Z-77-18 & S-77-25 (Continued) Originally the plan was for townhouses and has now been changed to single family dwellings, but the original concept of dedicated land would be the same, except for a connecting length between the dedicated property and Gleason Road. No action was taken, this was for our information only. VII. PLANNING REQUEST 5-77-21 (Brookview Heights 5th Addition -C. Jacobson) Mr. Kojetin presented this proposed subdivision, generally located east of Cahill Road and Nine Mile Creek, west of the M.N. & S. Railroad tracks and north of W. 70th Street (an extension of Limerick Lane). Discussion regarding whether or not the City of Edina really needed the low area for ponding purposes came to a conclusion when Mr. Kojetin said he would report back to the Park Board at the next meeting on the total piece of property, including the flood plain area of outlot A. No action was taken at this time. A discussion was held in reference to the GRANDVIEW CEMETERY PROPERTY meeting for the dedication of property by Mr. Carl Hanson, which Mr. Kojetin attended. Mr. Kojetin brought to the attention of the Edina Park Board members that he was not in favor of Mr. Hanson's layout of the dedicated property, because of lots backing up to park property. Mr. Rice suggested that the Edina Park and Recreation Department.staff keep in close contact with the Edina Planning Commission and the City Manager on the development of this property. VIII. ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION REPORT Mr. Kojetin handed out a list of the presidents of all the Edina athletic associations, which included the number of participants in each association. Mr. Kojetin read a short basic philosophy that the Edina Park and Recreation Department staff recommends to be used in working with the athletic associations in order to maintain good programs. The Edina Park Board and the Edina Park and Recreation Department recognize the individual athletic associations in the City of Edina as the only governing body for each respective sport. The Edina Park Board, in cooperation with the Edina Park and Recreation Department, will administer and help each individual association plan, provide facilities, and give professional direction regarding operation of their association, so as to maintain the basic philosophies. Also, the Edina Park and Recreation Department acts as a liaison between the associations and the Edina Park Board to help see that the associations are providing a well rounded and equal program for all participants. PAGE FOUR NOVEMBER 8th, 1977 VIII. ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION REPORT (Continued) The Edina Park and Recreation Department staff recommended the following guidelines be followed: 1) That all boys and girls receive an equal opportunity to participate in any activity at whatever ability level they may play at. 2) Have fun. 3) Build good sportsmanship and character. 4) Learn basic fundamentals of the sport they participate in. 5) Be a good team member. 6) Learn to accept discipline. 7) Have a reasonable amount of practice and games. 8) The Edina Park and Recreation Department staff should encourage the use of volunteers on the Board of Directors, as well as in the coaching, because we believe in the philosophy of citizen involvement. 9) Selection of members to serve on the Board of Directors and as coaches should be based on the prospective member having the understanding of the basic program for all ability levels and all ages. A discussion followed this presentation—Mr. Kojetin reported that the Edina Park and Recreation Department has enjoyed an excellent relationship with all athletic boards in the City of Edina: the policy has been that members of the Park and Recreation Department staff sit on each one of these boards so we can continue to enjoy these excellent relationships. Mr. Kojetin reported that at different times and during different years, as new board members are selected for the different boards, that sometimes the programs get steered into the wrong direction, but usually within a short period of time the board has recognized these problems and has changed the program to run in the proper direction. Mr. Pavek indicated that he would now be attending the Edina Hockey Association meetings instead of chairing a Braemar Arena Committee, because the people involved on the arena committee are members of the Edina Hockey Association Board. Mr. Pavek commended the athletic boards for the tremendous jobs they are doing and indicated that, on the whole, when problems PAGE FIVE NOVEMBER 8th, 1977 VIII. ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION REPORT (Continued) arose in their associations, they have taken care of their problems themselves. Mr. Lund suggested that maybe guidelines be written to present to the athletic associations, because the facilities they are using are supported by tax dollars and a good program should be run on these tax supported facilities. Mrs. Shaw indicated that even though the associations are non-profit incorporated organizations, there still should be strong emphasis placed on their operating a good program, so articles would not be written in the news media such as was written in a Saturday magazine section on October 22nd, 1977, of the Minneapolis Star, entitled "Sports for Kids: Too Much too Soon?". Mr. Wanninger commented on the different ability levels offered in the different athletic associations. Also, a conversation ensued on the young age of participants, such as the mite age boys in the hockey program. Mr. Kojetin reported that at the time the mite program was started, a citizen group was going to run a mite program by themselves, but.the Park and Recreation Department staff decided the mite program should be part of the Edina Hockey Association and not part of a separate group run by energetic and competitive parents on the outside. The pressures of other communities on the Edina athletic associations causes thinking within our athletic groups that they ought to start youngsters at an earlier age, or have our teams compete with teams in other communities, or start programs earlier in the season (which would cause overlapping in our programs such as football and hockey). Mrs. Lonsbury brought to the Park Board's attention that we live in a very competitive community of parents, and that some of the rules and regulations that we might give these groups could cause problems so we should continue to work closely with these organizations as we have in the past. Mr. Pavek and Mr. Wanninger agreed that the members of these boards have the expertise in formulating their rules, and should continue, but our Edina Park and Recreation Department staff should cooperate closely in the formulation of these rules. Mrs. Shaw suggested that maybe the Park Board members should have the rules and guidelines that have already been drawn up by the various associations so the Park Board can be aware of their philosophies. Mrs. Shaw recommended that the staff formulate a common philosophy and bring it back to the Edina Park Board. It was also suggested that for future park board meetings we should invite a representative from each athletic board to give a report to the Park Board on their association, or otherwise a copy of the minutes of their meeting could be mailed to the Edina Park Board members. Mr. Rice summarized — it would be of benefit to have a representative from the various volunteer associations come to the Park Board and give a report on their philosophies and activities. Also, that if problems did occur, the Edina Park and Recreation Department staff should step in as soon as possible and iron out the problem immediately so as to not have a continuation of the problem for a year or more. It was also PAGE SIX VIII. ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION REPORT (Continued NOVEMBER 8th, 1977 brought up that the athletic associations should be more aware of the chain of communications between the Edina Park and Recreation Department, the Edina Park Board, the Edina City Council, and themselves. Mr. Rice directed the Park and Recreation Department staff to write one or two paragraphs as a guideline, send it to each association to see what their comments are; i.e., something to start dialogue between the Edina Park Board, the Edina Park and Recreation staff, and the Edina athletic associations. IX. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT UPDATE (Community Development Funds - 1977) Mr. Kojetin reported that of the Community Development Funds, the $2,500.00 for Chowen Park was the only park approved to receive money in 1977. Mr. Kojetin reported that it was very difficult to complete a project from the Community Development Funds in 1977 because the allocation money is released in September. Mr. Kojetin commented that we do not lose the funds even though they are not spent in 1977. The $8,000.00 Capital Improvement matching fund for the Historical Park, with the Community Development Funds, has been approved for the improving of the Grange Hall. The Historical Society has tried to receive matching funds from the Community Development Funds, so that the $8,000.00 Capital Improvement allocation could be used in the development of the basement in the Old Cahill School. The development of the underground watering systems and the completion of the soccer fields has been drastically curtailed during the fall months, because of rainy weather. X. RECREATION REPORT Mr. Jacobson reported that there were 357 boys registered for the boys' basketball program; a record number of participants signed up for the Men's, Women's, and Co-Rec adult volleyball program, comprising 27 teams; Men's basketball has sixteen teams in their program; hockey registration is progressing nicely; there was an excellent turnout and outstanding competition for the Upper Great Lakes Skating Competition which was held at Braemar Arena. Mr. Rice indicated that the new minimum wage has been raised and questioned how this would affect our program. Mr. Jacobson responded that the laws are written such that the description of our jobs are not totally affected by the minimum wage laws. PAGE SEVEN X. RECREATION REPORT plb NOVEMBER 8th, 1977 Mr. Fischer asked if there is going to be a Men's adult hockey league. Mr. Jacobson indicated that because only poor ice times were left, there was not sufficient interest in starting a league. Mr. Rice moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Pavek seconded the motion and the meeting was adjourned at 10:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bob Kojetin Edina Park Board