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
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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