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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRBMINUTES050708WUP Parks and Recreation Board ~ ~ ~ I MAY 7, 2008 6:30PM CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM TYPE ~ E O F OF Monthly Meeting - amended minutes MEETING CHAIR Russ Schulze NOTE TAKER Mardi Turner ATTENDEES Russ Schulze, Janine Schuppert, Dave Agerton, Helen Talianchich, Mardi Turner, Robert Schultz, Tim O'Connor VI ITOR Ramsay Elder, Susan Ohsfeldt, Fran Oravetz, Michael Talianchich, Dick Yehle, Jeff Gerber (PGAL), Ken Walker, Gene McFaddin, Linda Driskill, John Pettigow I. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by Chairman Russ Schulze. II. Citizen Comments: a. Gene McFaddin asked whether there was a provision for racquetball courts in the parks development proposal. Russ indicated that there are currently two courts planned for the Rec Center. b. Fran Oravetz asked why the open space option for the Rec Center was ignored. c. Linda Driskill - what do we want and how much does it cost? What is the impact on property values? d. Susan Ohsfeldt - how is the development going to be funded - with additional property taxes or increased user fees? e. Michael Talianchich doesn't agree that it (the development plan) is "the right thing to do" and said that he objected to spending the taxpayer's money. f. John Pettigow - questioned the relationship between the survey and the development plan. g. Dick Yehle said that we are heading in the right direction; that the survey is not the be all and end all; that the public is not fully informed about the conditions of the facilities and that we need to provide more specifics on the issues on programming space. VI. Russ presented an update on the Parks Planning project: 1) Financing - a $15,000,000 project would cost median homeowners ($600,000 home) about $109 per year for a 30 year bond issue. From another point of view, if 100 new homes are built per year for the next few years, the increase in tax revenue would pay for a $20 million bond issue. 2) Program space - Parks and Recreation is maxed out on space at the Community Center and at Colonial Park. The Rec Center has been underutilized since its acquisition six years ago. 3) Janine reviewed citizen input both from the town hall meeting and from e-mails sent to MYPARKS: 24 responses were neutral, 84 (61%) offered complete support, and 30 were negative. 4) Jeff Gerber presented the current designs and the related budget estimates. 5) Russ read the recommendation that will be presented to City Council next week. He noted that the Friends board approved the recommendation unanimously today. 6) (see discussion notes below) 7) Dave Agerton called for a vote on the recommendation. The recommendation was approved by a vote of 8 to 1 (Fichter and Fiegel by proxy) III. April Minutes: The minutes of the April, 2008 meeting were approved as written. IV. Friends Board Report: Russ read Joni's report.. A copy is appended to these minutes. V. Acquisition Sub-Committee: The sub-committee did not meet this month VII. Staff Reports Tim indicated that Colonial Park is almost back up to full speed and that registration for summer programs is starting. John Lamond's Eagle Scout project at Whitt Johnson Park has been completed. The sport court at Whitt has resurfaced. The Colonial Park "humps" have been fixed. zuD*j The tennis courts at Wefr'are being repaired. Tim and the equipment vendor met with a small group of concerned individuals regarding the playground upgrade at Weir. The owner of the vendor company provided a full presentation, a theme was agreed on and the group stayed close to the budgeted amount. Installation will be scheduled for late in the summer. Dave asked if the spray system at Colonial Park can be adjusted for better efficiency. There was also some discussion about winter use of the Colonial Park pool given the 25% (or greater) increase in utility costs. VIII. Board Reports: 1. Charles thanked staff for all their help with the classical concert series. He said that there have been lots of compliments. 2. Charles also reported on the tennis tournament. He thinks that more advertising is needed. Helen said that three days is too long for this kind of event. IX. New Business: None X. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 pm by Chairman Schulze. Our next meeting is scheduled for June 4, 2008 at 6:30 pm. Discussion Notes Helen: The experts said the survey was valid. What percent said they would pay $100 or less per year? She also questioned the validity of assuming a 30 versus a 20 year bond duration. k~e(en: --B*rtu ton e Co6n4.1'k pWv. 91s, e iWc. C*.4et' Dave: The survey is not a referendum. Russ: The sub-committee's job is to make a single recommendation. Helen: One survey question spoke to renovating the Rec Center "as is". Where is the data on an alternative (to a rebuild)? Janine: The difference between renovating and rebuilding is about 15% at Colonial Park. The Rec Center is completely changing character to meet new needs. Tim: Engineering studies will be done for both pools. Dave: Perhaps we can save some aspects of Colonial Park (building) and pool. Janine: We did not provide any numbers within the survey related to longer life (for the buildings, pools) and energy efficiency. Helen: Would it be cheaper to have two pools at the same location? Tim: Staffing (one or two locations) is not really an issue. Friends Meeting May 7, 2008 I) Garage Sale - congratulations and thanks to Susan Sample and Vernon Tigert for a job well done on the Garage Sale! We netted $5100 and the exposure to the need of improvements at the RC was terrific! II. Congrats to Diane and Dorothy for their work on PLB, Marti and Helen from Parks Board, and John LaMond for his park related Eagle Scout work on receiving the City's Star Award at council last week. Also, congrats to Daryl and Jennifer + all of us for our regional recognition of Fathers & Flashlights Excellence in Programming and the Friends over all for our regional recognition. III. Welcome to new board member, Elizabeth Karkowsky as her appointment was approved at a recent council meeting. She has jumped in on the PR role and other things. IV. Welcome to prospective board member, Stephanie Roman, who will be presented to council on May 12. V) A copy of our by-laws and charter were provided for each board member to review. VI. Wier Park workshop was helpful and productive. It is suggested that this format be used in the future. VII. PLB updates - we are working on a 2009 chair but the date is set at the Hotel ZaZa for Feb. 21, 2009. We have ball co-chairs, Daryl Hoover and Jennifer Gatto for 2010. VIII. Fathers & Flashlights - Daryl Hoover & Jennifer Gatto have gotten out the first batch of letters. Oct 4 is the date and they have co-chairs in place for 2010 who will shadow them this year. They are Ann Freeman and Courtney Freeman. IX. Councilman Guffey reported news that he will report again at the Parks Board meeting. X) Proposed parks plan - The Guild held a recent meeting regarding the parks redevelopment plan and Janine and Russ present the subcommittee's proposal. Russ and Janine presented this info at the Friends Board meeting today and after discussion, a motion in support of this plan was made and unanimously passed! The Friends is in total support of the proposed plan, option of new construction and pools at both facilities. Y) Next meeting - August 6 at 11:30 Rec Center but we will continue to do our committee work over the summer! Respectfully Submitted, Joni Hruska Fichter, Friends Chair