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HomeMy WebLinkAbout21 01 PRB MinutesMINUTES JANUARY 6, 2021 6:30PM TELECONFERENCE TYPE OF MEETING Monthly Meeting CHAIR Peter Billipp SECRETARY Brett Bingham ATTENDEES Members Present: Peter Billipp, Will Bertron, Mardi Turner, Laura Turley, Nina Pilson, Sami Morrison, Lindsey Swiger, Maryann Grahmann, Jeff Chen, Brett Bingham Members Absent: Mary McCulloch Staff: Susan White Council Liaison: Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Trautner VISITORS I. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 6:34 pm by Peter Billipp. II. Approval of December 2 Meeting Minutes: Mardi Turner made a motion to approve with Nina Pilson seconding the motion. The minutes were approved. III. Citizen Comments: No citizens comments IV. Friends Update: Sami Morrison Big news from Friends: 1) Park Lovers Ball cancelled, as previously discussed. Considered a virtual event but didn’t seem like a great fit this year--the magic would be missing. With F&F also canceled, they’ve lost their two largest fundraisers. However, in February, they are excited to host a Wine Wagon. The event will function like the popular event enjoyed at PLB. Socially distanced, generous Chairs will visit guests’ homes, so people can enjoy the wine pull at home. Christine Martinez is sponsoring. Second piece of big news: golf tournament and silent auction. Figured this was an event they could do while socially distanced. Sami is chairing the event with Christine Parker. The golf tourney will take place on Friday April 16th at Wildcat at 12:30pm. Board members are encouraged to start thinking about teams and promoting both exciting fundraising events. Christina Kuhl also joined the Friends Board. V. Council Update: Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Trautner Last Council meeting of 2020 was uneventful. Buffalo Speedway construction starts in January. Phase 1 of the Virtual gate (15-16 cameras) will start operating in the next two to three weeks. There have been several patrol officer vacancies and the department has worked to fill those vacancies. For first time since 2014, all spots will be filled. On 1/11 there will be discussion on aesthetics of the 5G poles. The City is trying to get ahead of the cell phone company’s infiltration of community with poles as 5G ramps up. Mardi asked about distinction between poles and virtual gate. Kevin pointed out the gate is on the periphery of the city. 5G poles are bigger. Code dictates poles must be aesthetically pleasing and match the black traffic poles. Mardi suggests new media person show the difference between 5G poles vs virtual gate. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes page 4 VI. Parks & Rec Update: Susan White 1) Covid 19 update: If we do get rollbacks in fitness sector, Rec Center operations will maintain the same. Currently 75% occupancy is permitted, but we operating under 50% due to reservation process. She has received a complaint that not all kids at parks are wearing masks or socially distancing. Susan pointing out that not a requirement to wear masks when outside and children 10 an under are not required anytime. Improvements to signage is coming which will indicate masks and social distance are encouraged. 2) Colonial Park East Update – Ribbon cutting did take place, though on a lesser scale. Peter attended along with several others on December 18. Colonial has been busy. Susan has received unsolicited positive feedback on the sand feature. Comments from user groups and board were helpful when making these improvements and updates. Turf for the challenge course is shipping on January 22 for February installation. Rock face up after. Lighting: solar lights have arrived. Installation to commence next week. Perimeter has been marked in orange where lights will be placed. 3) Survey Update – A&M has been on break for the holidays, so still awaiting feedback. They have received over 1000 responses. Council workshop March 8 with Dr. Walker. 4) Miscellaneous –Laser lightshow got rave reviews. Kudos to staff for thinking of new ways to bring the community together in a safe manner. Re-thinking new traditions for years to come. Meeting with Parks events subcommittee for upcoming Easter holiday. Expect more outside the box thinking. Nina recommended adding more slots for the laser lightshow and adding an extra night of the event. Susan said they did not fill out the added show. VII. Huffington Park Update Discussion (2021): Peter Billipp Susan outlined numerous demolitions and updates to Huffington Park. Demo-ing the existing arbor and game tables and pavers; DG pathway; crape myrtles, south wood fence, sections of the southern sidewalk and donor bench. Entry off Milton Street would become paver area. In Susan’s and Brooks’ opinion, the biggest concerns are the erosion and drainage issues the park is currently facing. So few personnel are dedicated to these projects, so she would like to get as much done at one time as they can. Artificial turf addition to several areas will make a big difference. Leveling out area will improve drainage. Received an estimate on sidewalk topper, came in less expensive. Could leave as concrete and save $6500. Replacing artificial turf in swing area; existing turf has exceeded useful life. More green grass will be used once arbor is demoed. Discussion of decomposed granite trail, and updates to swings. New drinking fountains will be added. Rubber top cap will be added. Susan and staff feel good about estimates received--$171,250 before contingency. Pointed out $12,600 for powder coating. A bit high, but does look nice at Colonial. Mardi asked if rubber top was same as what exists at zoo. Laura asked about anything that can be salvaged and auctioned off, perhaps the game tables. Susan says good idea, let’s look into that. Mardi asked if perhaps the spider web toy may be geared more towards older kids than target user group for the park. Sami said she shares similar concern. Susan shared 2021 tentative timeline. 1/13: Friends Board Pres. 1/18-1/22 Huffington User Group pres. 2/3: PRB recommendation; 2/22: Council workshop; 3/10: Friends Board funding request; Parks and Recreation Board Minutes page 4 3/22 or 4/12: City Council meeting on Park; Jul-Aug: construction. Peter asked if construction will be done by same contractors as previous park improvements. Susan said some yes but it also depends on estimates received from each contractor. Will had two questions: first, asked if there will be good drainage for where we will be putting grass in the middle. Susan said generally the contractor has expressed confidence in drainage updates, and staff has not had issues in the main grassy area. Second question is health of other trees and thoughts on removing them to open more space. Susan says they looked at them, they are in good health and do provide good privacy. The middle Live Oak east of the play structure is in decline. Pruned back for now, but it will eventually be removed so the other two trees can flourish. Nina asked about powder coating on the fence: what is the benefit? Susan responded that its more durable, looks better. Susan asked if we are comfortable with next steps for the park. Numerous responses in favor. Jeff also mentioned he is not too concerned with spider web toy given soft surface underneath. Susan asked what’s the consensus on rubber cap? Will asked about expected life. Susan responded approximately 10 years. Lindsey asked if it could be patched if necessary. Susan responded yes though the patching would be noticeable. Nina responded that if we were to implement the cap anywhere it should be this park since youngest kids use it. Sami suggested making it look like a track. . VIII. Park Use Policy Discussion: Susan White See attachment – Field, Tennis Court, and Park Use Assessment. The City Attorney also confirmed that it is against the law to use public property for direct private gain. Current policy allows for tennis instructors to teach citizens when citizens make reservation to use the court. Thinking about what to do with private trainers in public space, as well. Weighing on allowing one on one instruction sessions vs boot camps. Want to do right by citizens while also ensuring parks are still being used for the right purpose. Considering having the instructors currently using the park to become contracted employees just like West U Rec Center instructors (would include proof of insurance, background checks, registration, etc). Would address liability concerns, among other things. Not a profit center for City, in spite of some split with these prospective contractors as there are additional costs to manage these contracts. Thoroughly reviewing this policy and taking time to weigh the pros and cons of any updates to the policy. Another issue with all this is enforcement. May self-regulate somewhat, however. It is a challenging policy as not one size fits all. Will asked about tennis instructor policy with regards to tenure, for example. Also brought up limiting certain activities (ie fencing, tai chi, etc) vs baseball, soccer etc. May make sense to list activities at the onset so one-off activities don’t stretch the staff. Currently this policy only exists at Rec Center fields but not parks, so want to make sure we find a policy that does right by the city. IX. Park Ambassador Assignments: • Colonial Park East (Will): drainage seems to be deteriorating. Perhaps getting compacted due to increase in usage over last 9 months. Jeff mentioned new see saw seems muted--doesn’t go up or down much. Also, asked if we are keeping wood chips. Susan said yes. Jeff pointed out that it’s challenging to push people in wheelchairs through wood chips. Susan pointed out that wood chips are approved by ADA. Levels have to be maintained. • Colonial Park West (Nina) • Colonial Park Pool (Mary) Parks and Recreation Board Minutes page 4 • Friends Pocket Park (Sami) • Huffington Park (Maryann): Excited about everything happening • JEH Park (Laura) • Judson Park (Jeff) • Recreation Center Playground (Mardi) Susan reported an incident December, 2020. Bolt came out of stepping pod. A child was injured, but he/she is ok. Has been repaired. • Whitt Johnson (Brett) • Wier Park (Lindsey) X. Order of Business: Peter Billipp 1) Christmas tree: asked about artificial Christmas tree vs existing Christmas tree in Friends Park. Susan pointed out that prices are very high for artificial trees. Cost of assembly and storage is high. Jeff: likes current tree. Sami: may be tough pill to swallow given lack of fundraising activity. Will wondered if maybe could research an LED tree to light up in seasonal colors. 2) Peter and Susan wondered if lunchtime meetings may be easier than nighttime meetings while virtual. May be on Zoom through end of session in May. XI. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 8:14 p.m. Next meeting is tentatively scheduled for February 2, 2021 at lunchtime.