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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 01/26/2022Page 1 Catharine Carabetta, Chair Park Shop Ken Christensen, Co-Chair 413 South Bryan Avenue Bob Kingsbury, Secretary Michael Novell Fort Collins, Colorado Michael Tupa Jesse Scaccia Regular Meeting January 26th, 2022 5:30pm Parks and Recreation Advisory Board MINUTES Participation this Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting will be available online or by phone. Public Participation (Online): Individuals who wish to address the Parks and Recreation Board via remote public participation can do so through Zoom at: https://fcgov.zoom.us/j/92967039173?pwd=a2Z6cVBvcU5lYURnME1oZ29pczFlZz09. Individuals participating in the Zoom session should also watch the meeting through that site. The virtual meeting will be available to join beginning at 5:30pm, January 26th, 2022. If attending virtually, participants should try to sign in prior to the 5:30pm meeting start time, if possible. For public comments, the Chair will ask participants to click the “Raise Hand” button to indicate you would like to speak at that time. Staff will moderate the Zoom session to ensure all participants have an opportunity to address the Board or Commission. In order to participate: Use a laptop, computer, or internet-enabled smartphone. (Using earphones with a microphone will greatly improve your audio). You need to have access to the internet. Keep yourself on muted status. Page 2 • CALL TO ORDER o Catherine Carabetta called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm. • ROLL CALL o Board Members Present ▪ Catherine Carabetta – Chair ▪ Ken Christensen – Co Chair ▪ Jesse Scaccia ▪ Bob Kingsbury – Secretary ▪ Mike Novell ▪ Mike Tupa ▪ Vacancy ▪ Vacancy ▪ Vacancy o Staff Members Present ▪ Aaron Harris –Interim Director of Recreation ▪ Mike Calhoon – Director of Parks ▪ Kurt Friesen - Park Planning ▪ Sarah Olear – Senior Recreation Supervisor/Board Support Public Participation (Phone): As listed above, if joining via phone the meeting will be available beginning at 5:30pm. Please call in to the meeting prior to 5:30pm, if possible using one of the numbers listed below. For public comments, the Chair will ask participants to click the “Raise Hand” button to indicate you would like to speak at that time – phone participants will need to hit *9 to do this. Staff will be moderating t he Zoom session to ensure all participants have an opportunity to address the Committee. Once you join the meeting: keep yourself on muted status. Dial by your location +1 720 928 9299 US (Denver) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) Meeting ID: 929 6703 9173 Find your local number: https://fcgov.zoom.us/u/abM0VUY5a0 Documents to Share: If residents wish to share a document or presentation, the Staff Liaison needs to receive those materials via email by 24 hours before the meeting. Individuals uncomfortable attending in person or unable to access the Zoom platform or unable to participate by phone are encouraged to participate by emailing general public comments you may have to mcalhoon@fcgov.com. The Staff Liaison will ensure the Board or Commission receives your comments. If you have specific comments on any of the discussion items scheduled, please make that clear in the subject line of the email and send 24 hours prior to the meeting. Page 3 • INTRODUCTION • AGENDA REVIEW o Discussion of Recreator Topics added to Other Business. • CITIZEN PARTICIPATION o Cheyenne Thornton: Fort Collins Kayak Polo Club representative ▪ Provided a statement to support the Kayak Polo Club, hoping they can continue to offer programming for a growing sport. o Chris DeFoor: Board member for Fort Collins Kayak Polo Club o Jeff Burley: Board member for Fort Collins Kayak Polo Club o Heather Bean: Fort Collins Kayak Polo Club representative o Brent Wilkins ▪ Provided a statement to support the Kayak Polo Club, also hoping the sessions can continue since it aligns well with the City’s White Water Park. • APPROVAL OF MINUTES o 2 Clarifying questions: ▪ Who is councilmen Huntzinger in relation to the Mulberry Pool study? (Page 2) • He is the contractor completing the study. He was mentioned by Sara Mendez when she provided an update in December. ▪ What was meant by the Spring Creek realignment? (Page 2) • Trail is narrow and requires maintenance in certain areas. No realignment proposed. o Bob Kingsbury moved to accept the minutes as presented. Ken Christensen seconded. December 2021 Minutes were approved. Motion passed 6 approved, 0 opposed. • UNFINISHED BUSINESS • NEW BUSINESS o Bulkhead Fees-Heather Bean-Fort Collins Kayak Polo Club ▪ Presentation from Heather Bean regarding Bulkhead Fees at EPIC • The Fort Collins Kayak Polo Club has been in operation since 1998. In that time, they have hosted 2 international competitions with international communities. In the past, they have Kayak Polo Club is a registered nonprofit. It provides equipment and insurance. They have recently experienced increased fees to use EPIC labeled as Bulkhead Fees. The Kayak Polo Club is having a hard time covering the cost of unexpected fees. ▪ Board/Staff questions • What is the current pool/fee structure? And why can groups no longer move bulkheads themselves? o 4 tier fee structure. Rent by lane or rent the full pool. Commercial users pay full fee. Community members receive a 25%, Nonprofits are 50%, and other partners and intergovernmental agencies receive 75% discount from the commercial users. There are non-negotiable fees which include the cost of moving bulkheads. This takes 6 paid staff 1 hour to reset the pool anytime a bulkhead is moved. These consistent user fees to maintain equitable costs between groups. o Each time the bulkhead is moved, it is $125. o The deck was reassessed by Safety & Risk Management and The City Attorney’s office in 2018. Due to cost of bulkheads ($100,000 + piece of equipment each), if something is damaged to the equipment or the deck by those who are not city staff, it would not be covered by city insurance. Page 4 ▪ Ideas moving forward: • Work with Safety & Risk Management and The City Attorney’s office to allow groups to move the bulkheads if insured to city standards. • Coordinate with other groups to share bulkhead fees. • Improve communication between EPIC and user groups regarding fees. • Examine pool usage and rearrange groups to other pools. • Consider adding a pool to the Southeast Community Center if the Aquatics Needs Assessment supports. o Sustainable Funding Efforts-Mike Calhoon-Parks Director ▪ Presentation • A collaborative team has been working to examine funding deficits within the organization. 3 areas were identified: Parks infrastructure, Transit infrastructure, and Housing affordability. Between the 3 areas, there is a $23 million dollar gap. The collaborative team has been working to create a portfolio of revenue combinations to share with City Council that would support all 3 areas. There are 11 items they identified that could produce more revenue. All of them are tax or fee related. • Timeline: o March >Speak with Council Finance Committee o April >Council Work Session ▪ Based on Council’s direction a work plan and timeline will be created. The board can provide feedback and create letter of support at this time. ▪ Board/Staff Questions • Legally, what can the board do in terms of advocating? Mike will follow up with this information. o Recreator Article ▪ Article due date: February 11th . Jesse Scaccia will write the article on Scholarships for Summer Recreation Programs. It will incorporate the Reduced Fee Application and the Income Unification Group. • BOARD MEMBER REPORTS o FC Bikes-Mike Tupa ▪ 2 interesting presentations: • CDOT presentation from Brice Reese, Regional Engineer • City of Fort Collins Environmental Services o Goal is to reach 30% by 2030 for reducing Greenhouse gasses. • OTHER BUSINESS 1. RECREATION UPDATE – Aaron Harris • Aquatics Needs Assessment: Still ongoing. Scheduled to present to council on March 8th. Substantial deficit in the number of lap swimming lanes in the community. Lack of training space which results in tight ening of available space. 2 new high schools joining in the fall which will reduce available space even more. March 8th work session with City Council. • Recreation Director update: LeeAnn Williams starts on February 7th and will be joining the Parks & Rec Board in the future. • Southeast Community Center update: March 8th Work Session with City Council Working on program plan to determine amenities and services as they relate to the indoor innovation and recreation component. • Mulberry Pool Closure updates: Page 5 2nd week of 3 week planned closure of mulberry pool due to lifeguard shortage. Due to lifeguards returning to school and COVID. Closed 8:30-4 pm M-F. Drop in availability at SC and EPIC. No programs impacted because we were able to move to other pools. 2. PARK PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT UPDATE – TBD • Beginning construction on East Park Maintenance Facility. • Edora disc golf design getting update with better signage and basket locations. Park Planning will coordinate around tournament dates. • Bucking horse park moving rapidly through development review process. Goal is to start construction in the next few months. • Traverse is the latest park. It is completed but needs to sort out irrigation systems in relation to homeowners. • Currently in discusses with Cottonwood Land and Farms development. Since it is the Development review pipeline, they are discussing parks and trails like the Poudre Trail. • Currently planning Mill Creek trail overpass. Working on meeting regulations a they relate to powerlines and railroads. • Submitting grant to Great Outdoor Colorado (GOCO) and their Centennial Grant Program. Presenting to Council on February 15th . 3. PARKS UPDATE – Mike Calhoon • Fourth of July update: • Plan is to return to normal 4th of July event and currently trying to find a company for fireworks. • Snow removal is in full effect. • PSD Cross Country Ski Team may be joining in the future. They are looking to collaborate with the City to lay track for cross country ski team for parallel and skate skiing. • Light project at Rolland Moore in February. • Integrative pest management plan for goose mitigation A draft will be brought to the board to consider that will focus on hazing using decoys, dogs, remote control items, egg Adeline, and egg oiling. Egg Adeline and oiling neutralizes eggs in the nest. 4. 6 MONTH PLANNING CALENDAR REVIEW • State of the city Feb 1st virtual only. • Feb 15th: Great Outdoor Visioning and Grant in the regular meeting. • Feb 22nd work session: 2022 strategic plan review and update, related to BFO process and 7 outcomes we sell all offers too. • March 8th : Community Aquatics presentation and Southeast Community Center. • April 12th: Work session to go to council with sustainable funding plan. • April 26th: Boards and Commission discussion. Discuss interview process and combining boards. • May 24th : Expanded outdoor dining would impact downtown outdoor operations for Parks. • ADJOURNMENT • Ken Christensen moved to adjourn the meeting. Jesse Scaccia seconded. Meeting was adjourned at 7:39 pm.