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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 01/22/1992CITY OF FORT COLLINS CULTURAL, LIBRARY, AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD CITY COUNCIL LIAISON TO THE BOARD: Councilman Gerry Horak STAFF SUPPORT TO THE BOARD: Jerry P. Brown, Assistant to the Director, and Jackie Rael, Administrative Aide II MINUTES: Regular Meeting -- January 22, 1992 The public meeting was called to order at the Edora Pool Ice Arena Conference Room at 7:05 p.m. by President Bob McCluskey, Jr. Elery Wilmarth called to say he would not be able to attend tonight's meeting. AGENDA REVIEW: Board members agreed to change the order of the items on the printed agenda to accommodate audience requests. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the regular meeting of December 4, 1991 were approved unanimously on a motion by Karen Schubert, seconded by Roger Tarum. PUBLIC MEETING/OPEN FORUM ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO FORT COLLINS PARKS AND RECREATION The Board wanted the citizens of Fort Collins to take this opportunity to discuss matters relating to Parks and Recreation. - Marilyn and Bob Helmreich complained about people not showering prior to swimming at EPIC. They feel that people are ignoring this health aspect. - Francis St. John complained about no warm water in the showers at EPIC. He said the system is bad. The temperature in the therapy pool is cold one day and too hot the next. He suggested that the guards take the temperature of the pool and therapy pool at 5:30 a.m. - Doris Mackley said that she has come to EPIC for classes since it opened. She said she has seen the facility deteriorate over the past year. She said the showers are ice cold and the facility is dirty. The trash is overflowing and in general EPIC is going down hill quickly. - Monica St. John also reiterated that the showers are too cold. She also said that the girls on the Fort Collins Area Swim Team (FAST) are rude. She suggested that their coaches teach them respect in the locker room. - Doris Mackley said there is too much change of personnel at the front desk and lack of communication with personnel. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes January 22, 1992 Page 2 Board Member Roger Tarum said we need to work very hard to keep this facility a first class facility. We need to be customer oriented at all times. Board Member John Barnett said there are some important issues presented tonight. The two issues are customer service training is needed and better communication among personnel. If the therapy pool is down because of temperature, then the class members need to be notified as soon as possible. EPIC Facility Manager Jeff King addressed these problems. He said that the maintenance of EPIC's Johnson System has recently been transferred to Facilities. They have the expertise in these systems and the citizens will see a difference within the next few months. He also explained that over the years, the maintenance budget at EPIC has been cut. This year, the City Council voted additional money back into the Recreation budget which will help immensely, and the Facilities Division has allocated over $200,000 for maintenance at EPIC in 1992. Board Member Karen Schubert asked Jeff to prepare a report for the Board for the February meeting. The concerned citizens will be kept updated on this matter. - Pat Legel addressed the Board on the Old Water Treatment Plant in the Poudre Canyon. He thinks this would make a great mountain park primarily for water recreation and for the environmental aspects of this area. There is a natural confluence of water at this point. Board Member K-Lynn Cameron said this site has been a prime park focus for the City and the State for some time. The problem is the access from the highway. Pat said that if the two governmental agencies cannot agree on proceeding with this project then one of them needs to take a lead and he thinks it should be the City. K-Lynn said that the State Parks regulates the river. Roger Tarum sees the access as a prime liability issue. Bob McCluskey asked staff to report back to the Board in February on this issue. Karen Schubert asked that in staff's report they include the water liability. Mike Powers will follow up on this issue and will keep Pat Legel informed. - Staff received a letter from citizen Sue Wilcox who is concerned about the activities Parks and Recreation provides for children ages 11 to 15. Recreation Manager Jean Helburg will address this and prepare a response. Board Member Marilyn Barnes joined the meeting at this time. Bob Alexander: Board President Bob McCluskey wanted to take this time to express the tremendous loss in the tragic death of our Parks and Recreation Board Member Bob Alexander. Mike Powers distributed copies of a sympathy letter from Mayor Susan Kirkpatrick to Mrs. Alexander. City Council will adopt a resolution in his memory and a tree will be planted in one of our parks in living memory of Bob. City Forester Tim Buchanan stated the tree will be planted in late March or early April and Mrs. Alexander will be notified and asked for her input as to where she would like the tree planted. Karen Schubert said Bob Alexander took • 0 Parks and Recreation Board Minutes January 22, 1992 Page 3 his appointment to the Board very seriously. He came to the Board with a wealth of knowledge about forestry; he relayed a positive senior citizen's view on projects; he was a gentle man with a great sense of humor. He will be greatly missed. Roger Tarum said he knew Bob Alexander for 25 years and he was a master scientist and highly respected. Roger feels that a tree planted in Bob's memory would be a great tribute to him. Bob McCluskey said that at his funeral during the eulogy, friends and family talked about his great sense of humor and we also saw that side of him at our Parks and Recreation Board meetings. He will be greatly missed by the Board. CONSIDERATION OF GREENBRIAR PARK MASTER PLAN Park Planning and Development Manager Randy Balok and Park Planner Leslie Bryson spoke to the Board about the development of Greenbriar Neighborhood Park. Leslie introduced Jana McKenzie from EDAW who designed the park. Leslie said that it is the Parks and Recreation Board's responsibility to review the master plan for all parks. She said that staff had two neighborhood meetings with the Greenbriar neighborhood which were attended by approximately 150 people. This 22-acre park site was purchased seven years ago with youth sports growth in mind. Although final specs have not been made, the park will cost approximately $900,000 to construct. This park will have two youth soccer fields and two ball diamonds, a restroom, picnic shelter, tennis courts, basketball court, an irrigation pond, an 8' walking path surrounding the park and many other amenities. The park will be adjacent to homes in the area. Staff said the plans are to plant natural grasses adjacent to the homes. This has raised a concern with some of the neighbors who want blue grass turf. Jana said this is a perception problem and that it is an environmental education problem. Staff will negotiate with the neighbors on this. Karen Schubert said the plans look great and she is glad there are two ballfields and two soccer fields in the plans. Poudre School District R-1 Representative Dave Danielson asked about the construction date? Leslie said the construction will begin in May of 1992 and fields would probably be ready in the spring of 1994 for play. On a motion by Karen Schubert, seconded by Marilyn Barnes, the Board voted unanimously (7-0) to accept the Greenbriar Park Master Plan as presented by staff. John Barnett had to leave the meeting at this time to attend another meeting. FORT COLLINS HIGH SCHOOL PARK SITE PROPOSAL Consultant Kurt Douglas represents Poudre R-1 in negotiations for the purchase of the 82.8 acre parcel of land at Timberline and Horsetooth. He said the School District is acquiring approximately 40 acres of land for sports activities. At this point they would like the city to purchase a 15-acre parcel of land for a neighborhood park site to integrate the design of the sports fields and the neighborhood park. The cost of the land is $16,000 an acre or a total of $240,000 for the neighborhood park site. This parcel of land does meet the Parks and Recreation Board Minutes January 22, 1992 Page 4 criteria for neighborhood parks. Mike Powers spoke on the many amenities that would culminate with this cooperative agreement. He said the plan fits our shared facilities philosophy creating financial economics for the public as long as the contract can be developed to be financially and operationally feasible. Any combination of this sort shall consider the compatibility between a high school and an adjacent park site. The Board encourages combinations with elementary schools, however, there were questions if this same philosophy hold with a high school site? Citizen Jana McKenzie questioned the compatibility of high school students and the park? Parks Manager Virgil Taylor is concerned about the vandalism potential that would occur as it now does at High School Park. Virgil relates the maintenance costs of the sports fields and the park to be comparable to Rolland Moore Park which has an annual maintenance cost of $366,250. After much discussion, the Board on a motion by Roger Tarum, seconded by Karen Schubert, unanimously directed staff to pursue active negotiations if a contract can be developed mutually beneficial to both parties, then return to the Parks and Recreation Board for final review. Further, that the same direction be considered and adopted by the Council to direct staff to pursue active negotiations with Poudre R-1. UPDATE REPORT ON SENIOR CENTER SITE SELECTION Recreation Manager Jean Helburg distributed survey cards to the Board on preference location of the senior center. These cards were sent to various groups for their input. She also distributed a memo explaining the suggested site locations around the city. She explained the major criteria for the location. Karen Schubert said this Board adopted a policy that prohibits the use of developed parkland for construction of a major facility. Marilyn Barnes said she would like to see the facility built adjacent to the river area. Board Member Mary Ness would like to see the facility in the central section of town. The Board will review the site selections after the City Council worksession on February 25. REVIEW OF 1991 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD'S ANNUAL REPORT Administrative Aide Jackie Rael previously mailed the Board their annual report for 1991. The City Council requires all Boards to present an annual report. The Board was pleased with the report as submitted by staff. OTHER BUSINESS Jean Helburg addressed the concerns from the open forum portion of tonight's meeting with the Board. She said in 1991 maintenance money was sacrificed for revenue producing programs. The effects of these cuts are now prevalent. City Council adopted Year Two of the Recreation Fee Policy and t Parks and Recreation Board Minutes January 22, 1992 Page 5 the maintenance issue has been addressed with Facilities taking over the system problems at EPIC. Results will be seen in 1992. BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF COMMENTS/REPORTS - K-Lynn Cameron asked about the Tri-City meeting next week. Mike Powers said that the meeting will be held next Tuesday at the Lincoln Center and the two items that would be of interest to the Board are the CML conference that will be held in Fort Collins this June and the Open Space Issues. - Karen Schubert questioned the addition at City Park Center? Jean Helburg said this was a Facilities project. The cost of the project was $150,000 to upgrade the electrical system, upgrade the exterior addition for the new elevator and stairs. Jean will provide the Board with a written update. The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 p.m. ly ubmitted, 1, Admini rative Aide I1 Meeting Attendance Board Members Staff Guests Bob McCluskey, Jr. Mike Powers Marilyn Barnes Jerry P. Brown John Barnett Randy Balok K-Lynn Cameron Leslie Bryson Mary Ness Craig Foreman Karen Schubert Tim Buchanan Roger Tarum Jean Helburg Dave Danielson, PR-1 Virgil Taylor Jeff King Jackie Rael Marilyn Helmreich Bob Helmreich Patrick Legel Doris Mackley Monica St. John Francis St. John Jana McKenzie Kurt Douglas