Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 10/26/2005Minutes of Regular Meeting October 26, 2005 215 North Mason Community Room 5:30 p.m'. Council Liaison: Kelly Ohlson I Staff Liaison: Marty Heffernan, 224-6064 Call Meeting to Order: Jessica MacMillan called the meeting to order at 5:39 p.m. Agenda Review: No changes Items of Note: Several students were in attendance from the Natural Resources Policy History class at CSU. They were in attendance to view policy in action. Steve Cathcart from the Colorado Marathon (aka; Old Town Marathon) presented Marty Heffernan and Craig Foreman with a donation of $300.00 for Gateway Park, and a framed copy of their marathon poster. Steve stated that the check is their way of saying thank you to the City, and they look forward to working with the City in the future. Steve stated that the Parks Division offered to move the % marathon to Gateway Park and they wanted to help with the promotion and upkeep of the park. They also thanked Bill Whirty with the Parks Division for the support he has shown their marathon over the years. Citizen Participation: None. Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Mary Carlson, seconded by Cathy Kipp, the Board voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the August 24, 2005 meeting. Spring Canyon Community Park Update Craig reviewed the plans for Shane's Inspiration playground, the skate park and the bike course. The theme of the playground will follow the legend of Horsetooth rock so it will consist of a giant, a tomahawk, large rocks, and interactive buttons that make the noises of eagles and coyotes. It will also include a rubberized surface, a tot area, a water spray park, and a raised sand bed for children in wheelchairs. It will be one of biggest playgrounds in the City. It should go to bid in December. The skate park area will be approximately 10,000 square feet. The Park system already has a bowl shaped skate park at Edora Park and a plaza skate park at Fossil Creek Park. Fossil Creek was the first plaza skate park to be built in the United States. To give the skaters variety, the Spring Canyon skate park will incorporate trees and grass and no area will be more than five feet in elevation. There will be banked areas, and a larger area where the kids can skate without bumping into each other. The skate park will be made of concrete and rebar. Craig added that they want to make sure they build a park that the kids will use. The contract will be awarded in February and they should begin building it in March. The bike course will be built in the northern area of the park. The design is still evolving but will include logs laid out lengthwise and cross wise for trick riding, elevated footbridges, moguls for jumping and a Parks and Recreation Board Minutes October 26, 2005 Page 2 fence to define the area. Based on the preliminary design, the local bike shopshave said they feel the course will get a lot of use. Craig added that these three areas within Spring Canyon Park will take the most time to build because of the complexity and detail. 2006/2007 Budget Update Marty updated the Board on the budget. He said that the Council work session last night ran until midnight but the City Manager's recommended budget was largely intact. Council will be considering the budget on the first reading next week, with the final reading on November 15`s. He reviewed the positions that were cut in Parks and Recreation, CLRS and City wide. He also reviewed the loss of efficiencies in Parks; less money for seasonal staff, trash won't get picked up as often in neighborhood parks, reduction of botanicals in neighborhood parks, and life cycle equipment replacement will suffer. Jessica suggested getting in touch with the CSU Horticulture Department to see if the design classes could work on the flower beds, or if local contractors could put in flower beds as advertising. Jean Helburg then reviewed the Recreation budget with the Board. She reviewed the number of offers Recreation submitted, the loss of employees, and some upcoming changes: 1. There will be an expansion of the resource building at the Farm. Recreation will begin charging an admission fee for the first time in 20 years. The fees will be about $2.00 per person. They will also offer family memberships Class prices may also go up. 2. Mulberry pool purchased a water play feature. It will fit in the shallow area of the pool and will be installed at the end of January. It is similar to the covered play feature at City Park pool. 3. City Park pool will be adding two water slides and maybe a sand box. Sand boxes have become very popular at pools. Recreation will know by the first of December if they received the grants they requested for the slides. Fees may go up $1.00. They studied the possibility of accessing summer passes and wrist bracelets, but decided that it was better just to raise the entry rate by $1.00. Kids will then have unlimited access to the slides. The slides will go in next spring. They will also be widening the entrance area so they can have several entry lines instead of just one. 4. This will be the first full season of having two full ice rinks at EPIC. Jean added that quite a bit of revenue comes from renting the spaces for parties. They are also starting a speed skating program. She added during the ice season the center is used from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. There is very little down time. 5. The Pottery Studio is projected to be self-supporting next year. 6. The Senior Center will be raising fees and cutting back on expenses. 7. Adult Sports will be self-sufficient starting next year. 8. The water costs and electricity costs of the recreation buildings were removed from our budget, and picked up by Operation Services. Operations will be auditing the buildings and changing out equipment that is not energy efficient. Any savings will be put back into the facility. NACC Update Jean explained that they are still in the conceptual review stage of this project and they are meeting every other week. She then reviewed the design of the center pointing out parking, the soccer field, the Excel energy pumping station, the playground, and the outdoor basketball court. She also reviewed some of the indoor features; two stories tall, three basketball courts, and arunning track. The current Northside building will stay open during construction, and when the new complex opensthe old building will be torn down. Jean added that Willow Street is being redesigned but the impact to their project will be minimal. Building will begin in the fall of 2006, with construction completed mid2007. Recreation will not have the budget to operate the center until August of 2007. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes October 26, 2005 Page 3 Downtown Rink Project Marty reviewed the downtown ice skating rink with the Board. This project was initiated by the City Manager, the DDA and the DBA as a holiday feature in Old Town to keep the downtown area vibrant. The rink is 60x45 and can be set up and taken down each year. It has a railing around the entire rink and Plexiglas sides, and can be used even in 80 degree weather. It will sit on the north end of Old Town Plaza between the kiosk building and Walnut Street from Thanksgiving through February. There will be a small fee for skate rentals. The cost for the entire rink is $150,000, plus money to tie in to the electrical system, skates, storage, set up, etc. Recreation will operate the rink andrun the skate rental. The DDA will put up $200,000 and the City will put up the rest, up to $100,000. Marty added that the City's contribution is within budget as it comes from ono -time BCC dollars. Trail Gap Memo Craig reviewed a map that details the build -out of the City's Recreational Trail System. The map identifies each trail and gaps in the trail system. The map and a memo providing information on the build -outs were sent to Council on September 7 ". There has been no response from Council. Craig will be taking the information to the Natural Resources Board in November. Project updates Fossil Creek Trail / Colorado State Park Trail Grant Program Craig is putting in a trail grant to take the Fossil Creek Trail from just west of Taft Canyon up to Spring Canyon Park. They are planning on making the connection before the park opens. It is a $300,000 project, and Craig has asked for a $125,000 grant from the State Parks program. Jessica provided a support letter, as did the Mayor. The good news is that the program is still providing grants. The bad news is that in the past the program has used federal land and water money to award 50% of the requested grants, and now they may cut back to 20% due to lack of funds. Also, we have already received a grant for the underpass on 287 so they may not feel the need to give the City this grant. The Underpass project is in the bid process right now and Craig is hoping to start in the fall so it will be finished before the spring runoffs occur. It will be tied into the Mason Street Corridor in the spring. Oak Street Plaza This project is ready to bid in November, and will be awarded in December so work can begin after the Christmas season. Work will continue from January to May and will be completed before graduation at CSU. Rabbit Brush Park The park is an acre and a half. The playground is in, and the grass will be put in next spring. The playgrounds surface is rubberized, it has a young kids slide, and some bouncing toys. The park will also have a large boulder for all ages to climb on, a miniature concrete skate area with a basketball hoop on one end, and a quiet area for neighbors to sit in. Overall, the park turned out nice and the neighborhood has enjoyed it. 2006 Work Plan Jessica and Marty reviewed the 2005 Work Plan and noted that the Board accomplished all of the items that could have been completed in 2005. He asked that the Board think about anything of interest to them that they would like to add to the 2006 Work Plan. They will not have as many items on the list this year because there will not be as many new projects going on, and the budget issues will have settled down. Marty thought it might be a good time to talk about focusing on more tournaments coming to town for economic benefits. He will get a draft together for the next meeting that the Board can review and they will be welcome to add items at that time. The Board also discussed the date of the next meeting. Marty will send out an e-mail regarding the date of the last meeting. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes October 26, 2005 Page 4 Board Member Recruitment Scott Ohm has resigned from the Board because he has moved to Denver. His position now needs to be filled. Marty read from a list of applicants. Interviews are conducted during November. Ann Hunt and Mark Leuker are up for renewal and both will renew. Renewals do not have to fill out applications. Other Business Jean handed out invitations to the renaming ceremony of City Park Center to Club Tico on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Board Member and Staff Comments None Correspondence None Adjournment: The Board unanimously agreed to adjourn at 7:32 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kelly Moore Administrative Support Supervisor Board Attendance Board Members: Mary Carlson, Ann Hunt, Cathy Kipp, Mark Lueker, Jessica MacMillan, Greg Miller, Walt Peeples, Jon Sinclair Staff: Craig Foreman, Marty Heffernan, Jean Helburg, Kelly Moore Guests: Steve Cathcart