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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 05/23/2001Call Meeting to Order: President Lance Freeman called the Regular meeting to order at 5:35 P.M. Agenda Review: Marty Heffernan added the following under "Other Business:" Horticulture Center Name and Gateway Grand Opening. Items of Note: Board Members Paul Hudnut and Jessica MacMillan called to say they would not be able to attend tonight's meeting. Citizen Participation: No citizen Participation Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Mary Carlson, seconded by Mike Gavin, the Board unanimously (7-0) approved the minutes of the April 25 meeting. Northside Azdan Community Center/Brownfield Report Margit Hentshel, Senior Environmental Planner, said that the City received a $250,000 grant from the EPA for the Brownfields Study. This study is done on lands that have been abandoned, idle industrial, or on commercial facilities where ground contamination is suspected. The Northside Aztlan Community Center property and surrounding properties were studied. There were 120 parcels that were reviewed in this study. The Aztlan site required a second phase of study as it was near an old coal gassification plant. It was determined that there is not a public danger in these areas. Mike Gavin asked if there were any samples taken on the north side of the Aztlan site, near the river and was the Poudre Fire Department involved? Margit said that we did take samples from the north side of the river, and the Fire Department had responded several times to that area and that they are working with them. Parks and Recreation Board M. .tes May 23, 2001 Page 2 Marty added that if we do construct the new Northside Center on this site, we would need some airflow through the underneath of the building and there are possibilities that it might not even be a concern. Margit said that this study didn't address any of the methane problems on that area. She said that once we decide where and if we want to construct on this site, we will do further studies. We have funds left over in the Brownfields Grant to do further studies for the City. Marty said that he has asked Jean Helburg and Craig Foreman to meet with the City Planners to review City development requirements as to where we could locate the building. We will then decide what stability problems we would have and whether it is cost effective. Marty said we will report to the Board in a couple of months with a comprehensive report. Margit said they would make a list of what areas are needed to be studied and prioritize. Del asked that if all these studies come up with a positive view, will this site be the location of the new Northside Aztlan Community Center? Marty said that when the Board originally looked at sites for the new NACC, the Board recommended the existing site unless a better site was found. So, we are open to other sites. Craig said that it is not unusual to construct on a landfill if we build on the bedrock. Some of the concerns about building on this site are: We would have to tear down the Aztlan Center to build the new one so we would be without the center for about two years during construction; this is the old City dump; contamination; City development costs; and issues with the homeless people loitering at Northside Aztlan Community Center. Margit said she will keep staff and the Board updated on any other findings. SWAN/Sports Alliance Marty said that the Sports Alliance group attended a SWAN meeting and then representatives from both groups came to meet with Marty and Craig. They came up with a concept for a regional sports complex by I-25. Both groups agreed that if we could build a regional sports complex, that they would be satisfied with a less active community park. In our policy plan, we do make reference to a future sports complex. We could possibly have a regional recreation plan. Marty committed to the group that our staff would have a discussion regarding this and, we will get back to the SWAN and Sports Alliance groups. Marty asked the Board what their thoughts are on this? Del Price: The community park concept is to provide facilities and youth sports to kids. It seems like a regional park is a good idea, but it is taking people quite a distance from their homes to participate in sports, and we need to ask the question of how are we serving people in the community? Ross Conniff: If we could divert the tournaments from the community parks, it would free up that space for the community to enjoy the park. We have Rolland Moore Park on the west side and it seems strange that we are duplicating that park at Southwest Community Park. He further added that for the drop in use we could have mixed use facilities for practice. Soccer games are already regional. Mike Gavin: It is a win/win situation. The regional idea is a good idea. We are still going to use The oarkc parentq +reel alt fiver the region for soccer softball, hasehall and football for the Parks and Recreation Be Minutes • May 23, 2001 Page 3 kids. We could still construct a community park that would take some of the pressure off Rolland Moore. We should support the private sector, i.e., soccer club. However, we can't look at this for City financing. We need not lose site of the ballot language of building Southwest for the youth sports complex. If we studied the demographics in that area, we would probably find that the majority in the area wants a community park. Lance Freeman: In 2003, we will be designing Southwest Community Park. If we could build a regional sports facility, that is a good idea. A decision on the Sports Complex has to be made prior to the time of the design in 2003. Otherwise, the design has to be decided without counting on the Sports Complex. Paul Van Valkenburg: We need to look at the ballot language, which makes reference to a youth sports complex, and we need to fulfill our promise to the community. Mary Carlson: When I was on the Board 20 years ago, all these areas were in the plan. Fossil Creek Community Park and Southwest Community Park were dreams and now their surrounding neighborhoods are built out with houses. Therefore, we are back to the same problem because of the density of the neighborhoods and some people not wanting a community park in their back yard. Dean Hoag: The regional park would serve the needs for the highly competitive users in the region and taking it that far out of the City takes from the community and the people who could use it in their neighborhood area. Marty said that Southwest Community Park/Youth Sports Complex is in the Choices 95-ballot language and we have an obligation to the community to build what they voted on. Del asked if we pursue the direction SWAN wants us to go, we will make it a 70% passive park then Natural Resources should come up with the money to develop it. Marty said it won't be developed into a natural area, but it will be developed into a community park as we promised the voters. Board Members asked why the SWAN group is so opposed to making this an active community park? Marty said one perspective is that there will be too much noise and lights that are adjacent to the natural area. Paul Van Valkenburg added that the regional park would be a good project for a joint grant similar to the Northern Colorado Legacy Grant from Great Outdoors Colorado. It is a completely different project than Southwest Community Park. New Parkland Craig distributed copies of a map from the Policy Plan that was designed in the 1996. The Policy Plan gives us the guidelines for neighborhood parks of 2.5 acres for 1,000 population per square mile served. For example, a full square mile of residential with 2,000 homes x 2.46 people/home equals 4,290 people x 2.5 acres/1,000 equals 12.3 acres of parkland. Parks and Recreation Board Mi. .Les May 23, 2001 Page 4 Revenue is collected once through development fees for a new home. Residents are charged approximately $1,000 per home for a neighborhood park and $1,000 for community parks. We are governed by City Plan and the development process when we build parks. We work with developers to acquire the land and water rights at the time the developer first comes to the City with their plan for the land. Craig referred to a map in the north area of the community showing Richards Lake/Gillespie Property for parkland acquisition. • The Richards Lake Park area: Six acres of parkland would be needed with houses surrounding most of the property. It will be developed in approximately six years. • In the Gillespie property we are looking at eight acres of property bounded on one side by a collector street. • Johnson Farm Timberline and Drake Road: This will be a seven -to -eight acre parcel of land. • Dry Creek by the airport has affordable housing planned on the site. We will construct a classic little park for the neighborhood that won't be programmed. • West of Overland Trail we show a one -to -three acre park in that area. Developers have to preserve open areas within their development that won't be built on according to City Plan, which helps us. Paul Van Valkenburg said the dilemma is how do we pay for the maintenance of the parks. He noted that after the park is constructed, the people who live in these areas pay sales tax and thus through the General Fund there is a revenue stream. It should be a priority that the park be maintained through that channel of revenue. Budget Supplementals Marty distributed copies the Department's budget supplementals. He explained that he and Mike Powers prioritized the list. In previous years, the productivity savings were rolled back into our budgets, and with this budget cycle we need to request the savings for specific projects and the same will be done for the equipment replacement. Marty reviewed the list with the Board. Marty said that last month Ross asked for the information explaining how the $500,000 maintenance funding for a community park is broken down. Marty distributed an explanation to the Board. The average community park requires over 7 FTEs to maintain the site. Of those, 2.3 FTEs are needed for turf care and irrigation system maintenance. Pumping plants, for community parks, are complex hydraulic pumping units that require trained personnel for a daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance and adjustments. A softball/baseball field complex, similar to City Park, will host over 500 games a year. In addition, approximately 200 soccer and football games are scheduled throughout the year. Parks and Recreation Br* Minutes • May 23, 2001 Page 5 Community park playing fields generally require 1.3 FTEs for playing field preparation and maintenance. The ballfields and the tennis courts are lighted and the electrical system requires repair and maintenance. These requirements plus maintenance for restrooms, playgrounds, concessions, tennis courts, basketball, and picnic shelters necessitate 1.5 FTEs. To collect and remove litter from the park site requires 1 FTE. Vandalism repairs, shrub beds and miscellaneous make up almost an additional 1 FTE. There were no further comments from the Board. Building Community Choices Project Updates Soccer field at Rocky is completed, as well as the baseball field. We will then proceed to refurbish the two fields at Webber. The ballfields have the old gravel and we are upgrading the fields and back fence. Edora Skate Park -- the large portions of the cement are being poured this week. It is turning out really nice and Craig encourages the Board to stop by this week and look at the project. Gateway Park -- the retaining wall is in redesign. The road delay is going to bump the opening date back to Friday, September 7, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (it was previously scheduled for July 21). Harmony Park -- (Trout Elementary and Preston Junior High) is in design and will be under construction in the spring and open in the fall. Poudre River enhancement projects in the downtown area — study to determine what will be done with this section of the river. It lacks the construction dollars. Poudre River Trust is interested in working on the section where the Pickle Plant is located. Mike Gavin asked what is being constructed in front of City Park Pool? Craig explained that we are moving the fencing so that there is a grassed area along the pool. Ross asked about the stormwater project and the Sheldon Lake project? Craig explained that we have been working closely with the Stormwater staff and are taking the surface of Sheldon Lake down two feet to comply with their plan. Youth Activity Center Update Marty said that Gerry Bomotti (CSU) advised us that the YAC could stay at the current facility through July 2002. That could help us out considerably. The negotiations with the site we want to move to are going well except for the timing issue with the existing tenant. It appears that we will be able to secure this facility and we are on track. Mary Carlson asked if we find a property sooner than July 2002, can we get out of our lease with CSU? Marty said that we could and that CSU has been very cooperative through this transition. Parks and Recreation Board M, .ces May 23, 2001 Page 6 Direct Expenses Explanation Marty said that last month Ross Cunniff asked how we determine direct costs associated with Recreation. Marry said that our Recreation Fee Policy was designed by Mike Powers 11 years ago, and was adopted by City Council then. The costs are divided by the direct impact to the user and the community good of the program. The generated revenue from fees pays for the direct cost for the program including utilities, lifeguards, referees, etc. The General Fund side pays for the full-time Recreation personnel salaries and facilities and to subsidize the programs that can't pay their way, i.e., youth and senior programs. Other Business • Horticulture Center -- "Gardens on Spring Creek" name was approved by City Manager John Fischbach. • Community Survey -- Preliminary results were reported to Council. Marty will bring that report to the Board next month. • Poudre River Heritage Alliance -- Marty will report on this next month. • Ross asked about water in the Poudre and can we increase the water flow. Craig Foreman will ask Dennis Bode, Water Department to visit with the Board regarding this. • Ross volunteered to attend the Trails Subcommittee meeting on June 12 from 12-1:00 in Lance's place as he has a conflict on that date. • Paul Van Valkenburg said a swimming parent called him saying he heard that a swimming pool will not be built in the new high school. Craig said that is correct. The architect will put it in the plan, but it will not be constructed in the first phase. Adjournment: On a motion by Mary Carlson, seconded by Mike Gavin, the Board voted to adjourn at 7:30 p.m. Afully submi d, Al.d� Rael, Executive Administrative Assistant Meeting Attendance Board Members: Mary Carlson, Ross Cunniff, Lance Freeman, Mike Gavin, Dean Hoag, Del Price, and Paul Van Valkenburg Staff: Craig Foreman, Marty Heffernan, Margit Hentshel, and Jackie Rael