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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 04/28/1999Call Meeting to Order: Board President Lance Freeman called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. Agenda Review: No changes to the printed agenda. Items of Note:. Rebecca Chavez called to say she would not be able to attend tonight's meeting. Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Jessica MacMillan, seconded by Marilyn Barnes, the minutes were approved unanimously (7-0). Citizen Participation: No citizen participation Update Community Horticulture Center: Mike Powers explained to the Board that we are still in negotiations with CSU. Our proposal was to swap CSURF land with the High School Park. During our negotiations, the City asked that CSU follow the development review process prior to constructing the gardens at High School Park. CSURF Board believes that the CSU property is worth more money than the appraised value. They believe that when Centre Avenue is completed that this land will be worth more than the present appraised value. Mike explained that if the CSURF negotiations fold, the committee will look at alternative sites. Jim Clark said staff would like to hear the Board's comments tonight. Del Price said that in the beginning it was supposed to be a partnership with CSU. Mary Ness said we could still do a partnership with CSU in other areas of the city. He further said that he would like to explore the idea of Ross Open Space. Marilyn said that she thinks if the Horticulture Center was built at Martinez, it would enhance the entrance to the city. Jessica MacMillan agreed that we need to take a good look at the Ross property. Parks and Recreation Board Miut_ April28, 1999 Page 2 Del asked Mike if the climate with the new council and mayor has changed with their opinions of Martinez Park? Mike replied that he isn't sure what the new council members think about this site. Mike further added that he received another letter from DDA regarding their $300,000 financial support of the Horticulture Center if it is built in the downtown area. Del said that looking at the long-term of Fort Collins, the Martinez site would be such a highly visible location. The manager of the Horticulture Center in Cheyenne advised the committee that the Horticulture Center be constructed in the most visible area of the City. Jessica agreed and said it would give the North College area an impetus to clean up North College properties. Mary asked if there is enough acres at Martinez? Jim responded that after looking at the larger area that we could have at CSURF, we wouldn't have what we want at Martinez. Mary said that if the Horticulture Center isn't constructed at Martinez, we need to have something in that area that will enhance the Martinez Park property and North College Avenue. Jessica asked why we couldn't build the Horticulture Center at Matinez and have the gardens at High School Park? She asked if the underpass is constructed from CSU to Old Fort Collins High School, where in the park would the trail surface? Tim referred to College Avenue where the bus stop is located directly west of Old Fort Collins High and said the trail would surface about one- third of the way on the north side of the park. Mike said staff will keep the Board updated on the Horticulture Center negotiations with CSURF. 2000/2001 Budget Mike said that the City Manager asked for the Board's input on the upcoming budget process. Tonight the Board will make their recommendation on the 2000-2001 Budget to City Manager John Fischbach. The staff is present tonight to answer any questions. Paul Van Valkenburg said that money is coming from a variety of places. So it is hard to prioritize. He thought the enhancements were very expensive. Marilyn Barnes said that Hickory Park has to be #1 because we promised it to the neighborhood and John Fischbach agreed that he would find the money to fund this park if it was removed from Building Community Choices. Mary Ness questions why we would give the Old Town $50,000 for the maintenance. It is not the City's plaza, it is the Old Town. Virgil Taylor said that it is owned by the City through DDA. Marilyn says concerts in Old Town are enjoyed by many citizens. She said that it should be esthetically pleasing as the Old Town area brings pleasure to many who visit downtown. Paul said that he and Dean Hoag met with Jean Helburg to reviewed the Recreation priority list. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes April28, 1999 Page 3 of infields at Webber and Blevins Junior High School. The second item is youth services coordinator. Jean Helburg explained that the City received a grant through Americorp Fellow grant. With that grant we hired someone to prepare a "Yellow Pages" listing of all youth services. This has been very helpful as we can see where the gaps and overlaps occur, however, the grant will expire in January. Paul said then we need to continue the networking and updating of this project. Lance asked about the YAC? He asked where we could put these services if CSU takes over the building. Jean said that we have a contract through 2000 and possibly through 2001. Lance asked what we will do with that program after 2001. Jean said that the Youth programming will expand at the Northside Center when that is constructed. Del stated that what we ask for in this budget process will compete with other departments. Mike said that there are 29 other Boards that are doing what we are doing this month. Lance said that he would like to split this list in half with one for O&M and one for Capital. Del said that we feel the top priority is to maintain the amenities we already have. We also need to fund the Community Horticulture Center's O&M. Marilyn said that we need to step up and say that we need to fund these facilities if we build them. The Board agreed that their first priority should be to maintain at a high standard the facilities and infrastructure that is already in place and entitled this category Facilities Already Built where there is an absolute need to provide maintenance as follows: 151 priority — Cathy Fromme Trail (one mile), Case Park, Cottonwood Glen Park, Civic Center Park, Oak Street Fountain, and the Dog park. 2"d Priority — Maintenance funds for specific medians, restrooms, skate park, and shelters. These facilities are all being built in 1999. The Board also agreed that operation and maintenance funding for facilities should be automatically included in the budget once approval to build a facility has been given. Lance said it does not seem logical to us that when a facility is built then it becomes discretionary that operation and maintenance funding would be provided. The Board then discussed the next category: Facilities in the Planning Stages. When these are built, there will be a need to provide staffing, operations, and maintenance money for these facilities: New Horticulture Center -- $110,000 year 2000 $220,000 year 2001 The Center will have three full-time positions and three part-time positions. Funding also includes utilities, equipment maintenance, and lease purchase, as well as other contractual items such as janitorial, building maintenance, and promotions and advertising. Needed commodities include plantings, garden supplies, tools, and equipment. Parks and Recreation Board Minot. April28, 1999 Page 4 3rd Priority — Huidekoper Park, Old Town, Union Pacific Railroad Trail (one mile) and the new skate park at EPIC are proposed and Parks Maintenance will assume maintenance in 2000. 4' Priority — Maintenance costs for new City Building, Boltz playground, new trail, Gateway Park, and Harmony Park that will be assumed in 2001 when these are completed. The final group of items: New Items and would require some General Fund support. The following list has been prioritized by the Board. 1. Hickory Park $200,000 2. Boat Chutes on the Poudre River $100,000 3. Showmobile $100,000 4. Youth Services Coordinator $102,000 5. Summer Youth Employment $ 30,000 6. Skateboard Matching Grant $ 50,000 7. 4th of July $ 30,000 8. Parking Lot Improvements/Expansion $425,000 Marilyn Barnes suggested upgrading the dirt mix of the infields at Webber and Blevins Junior High Schools so that they are more playable and usable for youth teams. The Board unanimously recommended that this one-time money be funded through the Building Community Choices money allocated for joint projects with Poudre School District. While this is a small amount of the total of $600,000 allocated for joint projects, we believe it could have a significant impact and could be done quickly. On a motion by Marilyn Barnes, seconded by Paul Van Valkenburg, the Board voted unanimously (7-0) on the budget recommendations to City Manager John Fischbach. Gateway Park Craig Foreman updated the Board on the progress the Gateway Park Committee has made. He said that the Gateway Committee is leaning towards a recommendation that State Parks managing this property. This Board will make the recommendation, along with the Natural Resources Board, to City Council. Council will make a decision as to who manages the property and the management plan. Del asked if this is managed by the State Parks, how will this Board be involved? Del is concerned with the fact that the City is not the only entity involved in this. The State Forestry has all the surrounding lands. This park is a "gateway" into National Forest, State Forest, and the City of Greeley land. All of these entities should have representative say in this management. We need to look to the management of these entities and not the technical personnel. It is bigger than the City of Fort Collins. Paul agreed with Del and added we have Gateway Park, but as soon as we cross the reservoir, we are on other property owners lands. The City of Greeley needs to be in the loop to use Seaman Reservoir. Parks and Recreation BoardMinutes April28, 1999 Page 5 Board Member Comments Marilyn Barnes said she has received complaints on the following: • Warren Park Restroom — there are several sporting events scheduled in this park and there isn't adequate restrooms. She asked when are we going to build a restroom? Craig said that a new restroom in Warren will cost $150,000 and is budgeted in the year 2000 or 2001. This will be completed in 2002. • Status of Miramont Park — When will this park be completed? Craig replied that we are constructing phase 3 this summer which will be restroom, shelter, playground. Opening will be in 2000. • Fossil Creek Community Park — When will this park be constructed? Craig replied the design will be in 1999 and construction in 2000-2002. Maintenance will be a concern of the City budget and therefore we might have to delay construction for another year. • Trail Condition — Poor condition of asphalt trail from Taft Hill to Martinez Park. When will this section of trail be rebuilt? Craig further explained that Shields Street to College will be replaced next year, along with the entire Poudre Trail West of College Avenue within the next two years. • Lance asked for the Poudre River Management Plan. • Lance would also like to staff to prepare a list of projects the Board will review in the next six months. Adjournment On a motion by Marilyn Barnes, seconded by Paul Van Valkenburg, the Board voted to adjourn at 8:45 p.m. submitted, *ckieel Executive Administrative Assistant Parks and Recreation Board Minut. April 28, 1999 Page 6 Meetine Attendance Board Members Staff Marilyn Barnes Jim Clark Lance Freeman Tim Buchanan Dean Hoag Craig Foreman Jessica MacMillan Jean Helburg Mary Ness Mike Powers Del Price Jackie Rael Paul Van Valkenburg Virgil Taylor