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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 08/23/1989CITY OF FORT COLLINS PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MINUTES: August 23, 1989 President Cathy Mulcahy called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. Agenda Review: Staff added an item after #5 entitled "Secret" (to be announced) Minutes: The minutes of the Regular meeting of July 26, 1989, were approved unanimously on a motion by Elery Wilmarth, seconded by Bob McCluskey. Citizen Participation: No citizen participation. 1990 Recreation Fees and Charges Staff previously distributed a summary report on this agenda item. Recreation Superintendent Jean Helburg gave the Board an overview of the 1990 proposed fees and charges and how staff arrived at them. Recreation is in a Special Revenue Fund partially supported by the City's General Fund with the remainder by revenue generated (63%) from programs. Jean reviewed her memo to the Board dated August 18 explaining the fees and charges for 1990. A fourth item was added to this memo. 1. AA uatics - Staff salaries in the Aquatics program will increase in order to be competitive with salaries in other aquatics programs in the Fort Collins area. 2. Maintenance and Custodial at EPIC - In order to maintain EPIC's quality standards after having 500,000 participants in the building in the past two and one-half years, custodial daily maintenance is needed. Elery asked if we have contracted custodial. Jean said that we have previously used a contracted service, but the maintenance was done in the middle of the night and we can't monitor their performance. A quality part-time staff person is needed during the high -usage hours at EPIC, as well as all hours when the public is using the facility. 3. Part -Time Program Support in Youth Sports - Additional money has been added to the budget to cover a part-time person to recruit and train coaches and monitor programs. 4. Part -Time Program Support for Adult Class Activities - Staff will hire a part-time person who is aware of adult interests and trends. The additional person would do research, and hopefully produce more revenue. The summer playgrounds program historically produced only 30% of their revenue. Staff generally has hired first-time working students. A substantial amount was cut out of this program for 1990 and hopefully we will be able to recover 70% next year. Roger Tarum asked if all capital costs are outside of these fees and charges. Jean said there is not any capital money in the Recreation budget for 1990. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes August 23, 1989 Page Two Cathy asked what the percent of turnover is in the Recreation Aquatics Division? Jean said we haven't tracked it; however, EPIC Manager Jeff King said 60-70% new people were trained this summer. Staff did a week-long orientation and spent several thousands of dollars training new staff. Mary Ness asked if it is a process of the trade or is it because we don't pay high enough wages. Jean and Jeff both felt it is part of both. Karen Schubert said it is a good idea to raise wages because the City needs to be competitive. Mary questioned if the fees went up between 1988 and 1989? Jean said we raised aquatics fees to be the same as skate fees. Therefore visitors to EPIC would pay one general admission fee. Elery said he is encouraged about the process staff went through to get to these fees, however at the same time he questioned if we publicized the fact that the Board was reviewing this tonight. Jerry P. Brown said that a few years ago, we did publicize it and we had two news people at the meeting and three citizens and no impact of concern. Jerry said that in most years the fees and charges that the Board reviews only increase for inflationary reasons or because of a change in the program or trends. Most increases are relatively non -controversial. If something is controversial, Board members usually debate it, and in most cases user groups (such as Youth Baseball, Soccer, and FAST) are notified in advance by us of the proposed changes. Elery recommended that when the staff studies the fees and charges that citizens be involved. Mary asked about softball fee rental for fields? Staff said fees are the same and won't go up for 1990. Cathy asked about forfeit fees. What happens to that money? Jean said we give most of that fee to the team that showed up. John Barnett questioned rental for youth baseball and soccer. This is a concern to those groups. They feel they are doing a service to the city. Is there a way to set those fees? Jean said we charge 20% of what it costs to maintain those fields. Jean said the youth programs pay $1.79 per hour per field and 50% of light costs. John asked how does that figure relate to girls' ponytail softball? Jean said it doesn't directly relate. John said that those charges should be studied when restructure of the fee policy is conducted. Bob McCluskey asked Jean if it would be helpful if a two-year forecast for Recreation fees and charges was produced? She said that it might be, but presently we work with only a one year projection. Bob Aukerman said that last year when staff brought these fees in we talked about charging older adults more. The percent of recovery is not as much. Jean said that tradition has dictated those fees and by the time the senior center is built, the fees will hopefully be revamped according to ability to pay. Bob agreed that is a fair structure. Jean said in the area of low income, we have processed more low income requests than ever before (700-800 applications this year), which is costing the Recreation Fund $20,000 to $30,000. Staff will meet with Social Services the first of September to ask for their assistant in reviewing these applications. Youth Hockey and FAST have their own scholarship programs. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes August 23, 1989 Page Three After further discussion and questions, there was a motion by Karen Schubert, seconded by Roger Tarum, and the Board voted unanimously (9-0) to accepted the 1990 Recreation Fees and Charges, as prepared by staff, and recommends the same to City Council. Editor's Note: The comments from the Board were very helpful and will be considered input to the Recreation Fee Policy analysis that staff will be doing over the next six months. National Parks and Recreation Merit Award (Surprise) Jerry reported that the Board's application to the NRPA's Citizen Board Member branch for an outstanding staff member has been announced. The winner of this national award is our own Jean I. Helburg. The Board thanked Jean for her dedication to the profession and congratulated her. She thanked the Board for taking the time to nominate her. The award will be presented to her at the NRPA Conference in October in San Antonio. Staff had talked about President Cathy Mulcahy going with Jean to represent the Board. On a motion by Bob Aukerman and seconded by Elery, the Board voted unanimously (9-0) to send Cathy Mulcahy to the NRPA Conference. Update on Trails Mike Powers said the rails to trails issue is moving very quickly. Rails to trails has been approved by the ICC. Mike said that the Council has met in Executive session regarding this project. He will keep the Board informed as to the process and progress. Roger asked what is the accident record on the tails. Staff reported they are relatively small. Roger said there is a sign between Lemay and Alpert Ct. on the Spring Creek Trail that is hazardous. Jerry said as soon as you see something that is not right on the trail, call staff. Staff will let Parks know what Roger's concern is on the Spring Creek Trail between Lemay and Alpert Ct. Staff advised the Board that the Parks Division is conducting a trail survey on the Poudre Trail and Spring Creek Trail this weekend. John Barnett stated that the Poudre River Trust would like to see a survey taken at the College to Mulberry portion of the Poudre Trail. Staff will also pass this along to Parks. John said that on the Boulder trails there are signs with phone numbers to call if you have an accident on the trail. Staff will also pass this on to Parks. Board Retreat Elery would like to host a Board retreat on Sunday, October 1, at his mountain home, from 9:30 a.m. until ... At this retreat, Mary suggested that the Board members give a broad overview of their interests and why they are on the Board. John Barnett echoed what Mary said. Mary said spouses should be invited. At the next meeting, Board members will finalize plans for a brunch at Elery's mountain "cabin." Parks and Recreation Board Minutes August 23, 1989 Page Four Other Business Jerry reported that the extension of Vine Street through Lee Martinez Park has become an issue again. He reminded the Board that at their February meeting they went on record stating that they do not want parkland used for the development of a senior center or intersected by a through street. Staff will keep the Board updated on this issue. Board Members/Staff Comments Jean said we have a new manager at the Farm --Jerry Phillips. Mary asked staff for an update on the incident that occurred at a privately run softball tournament at Rolland Moore Park two weeks ago where a field supervisor was assaulted by an intoxicated softball player. Staff reported that USSSA has been notified and the individual has a record of poor conduct with USSSA. Mary said it should be on record that the fact that the individual was intoxicated escalated the matter. Karen Schubert concurred. The alcohol issue is a matter that the Board may want to act on. The Police Department said they were going to enforce the alcohol issue in the parks this summer. The rule for City league is that if an umpire is aware of the fact that an individual is drinking that he/she is immediately removed from the field. It is not the job of the field supervisor/umpire to take the law into their hands. Cathy feels that the individual should be dealt with and not make a blanket statement about the softball players in general. Mary commended Jeff Jamison on his professionalism in the way that he handled this situation. Correspondence Last meeting the Board decided to send PR-1 a letter regarding their attendance at the Parks and Recreation Board meetings. Jerry reported that we have not heard anything from PR-1. Staff received a letter from Natural Resources stating that the global warming issue has been put on hold. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Jackie Rael, Administrative Aide Meeting Attendance Board Members Staff Cathy Mulcahy Bob McCluskey Mike Powers Bob Aukerman Karen Schubert Jerry P. Brown Elery Wilmarth Mary Ness Jean Helburg Roger Tarum Rene' Clements Cooney Jeff King John Barnett Jackie Rael