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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 01/23/1991CITY OF FORT COLLINS CULTURAL, LIBRARY, AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MINUTES: Regular Meeting -- January 23, 1991 President Bob McCluskey called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. Agenda Review; No changes to the printed agenda. Minutes: The minutes of the regular meeting of November 28, 1990 were approved unanimously on a motion by Roger Tarum, seconded by Bob Alexander. Citizen Participation: No citizen participation. Clarendon Hills Park Site Situation Several Clarendon Hills neighbors were present to discuss the park site. Director Mike Powers started the discussion by giving some background information on park site selection and said the department is in the preliminary stages of a park site for Clarendon Hills. The City's philosophy is to construct a neighborhood park in each square mile of the city. Since 1987, we have been looking for a park site in this area. Mike presented two options that we are exploring. The Poudre R-1 School District is exploring the possibility of building an elementary school east of Front Range Community College. Merging a park with a school site has historically been an attractive combination. We are also exploring a site at the south end corner or the Clarendon Hills Subdivision that the developer has offered for sale. This park site is located in the 5th filing of the subdivision. Clarendon Hills resident Jerry Krygier gave the Board his view of the park site in the Clarendon Hills 5th filing. He explained 95 percent of the residents signed a petition requesting the City to build a park in their neighborhood. Mr. Krygier requested that the park not be near Front Range Community College or the proposed elementary school. Board Member Bob Alexander asked staff how many neighborhood parks in the City have exclusive neighborhood usage. Mike responded by stating no neighborhood park in the city is developed exclusively to the neighborhood. A question was raised as to the cost of this park. Park Planner Leslie Bryson distributed cost analysis sheets of constructing this park in the 5th filing of Clarendon Hills with a purchase price of $27,155 an acre would be $371,700. Citizen Carl Cicero expressed his desire to have the park in his immediate neighborhood and for the City not to wait until the School District makes a decision. Randy Balok said the School District is planning on opening the new school in the fall of 1992. Staff will continue to work with the School District. Ted Shepard, City Planner, discussed the planning process with respect to this subdivision and possible appeal from the neighborhood. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes January 23, 1991 Page 2 Board Member Karen Schubert said it makes more sense to her to build a park near the third filing where there is denser population. Board Member Roger Tarum asked what the major drawbacks would be in developing this parcel for the neighborhood park. Mike said it is a small plot of land (4.2 acres) and it was very expensive to acquire and develop. Board Member John Barnett asked what is the scenario for this piece of land if the Board recommends that the park be built adjacent to the school? The developer replied that the land would be developed into single home dwellings. Jerry Krygier said the development issues are the density from what they were originally told when the development began. John Barnett said there would be approximately 25 homes adjacent to this park site and the value of these houses would be greatly increased if the park was built in this location. Elery Wilmarth asked if it would be possible to have two parks in the area? Mike replied that would be a possibility depending on cost. Mary Ness said as a former member of the Choice 95 subcommittee, his main interest is in the youth of Fort Collins and the more park space available for our youth the better. President Bob McCluskey thanked the Clarendon Hills residents for attending this meeting and giving the Board their viewpoints. He assured the residents that the Board will make a complete review of staff's recommendations. Fort Collins Indoor Community Pool Council voted to consider the option of renovation or building a new community pool. They also requested that staff bring a resolution to the Council meeting of February 5 for placement on the April ballot. Discussion was raised as to the confusion this ballot would cause the citizens of Fort Collins. John Barnett said that as a Choices 95 project it has already been put to the voters and it is preferred that the Council make the best decision as to renovation or building a new pool. Mary Ness, who also served on the Choices 95 subcommittee, feels that if the Council turns this back to the voters it will become a confusing issue. Bob Alexander said that Council should be making the business decisions for the City. On a motion by Mary Ness, seconded by John Barnett, the Board voted unanimously (9-0) to write a letter to the City Council requesting them to not take the pool issue of renovation or building a new pool back to the voters. John Barnett added that the Parks and Recreation Board is supportive of City Council in whatever decision they make regarding the pool. Board Involvement in Cemetery Issues There presently is no Board representing the Cemetery. Presently, the City is considering selling Roselawn and privatizing Grandview. In 1989, the City looked at contract maintenance on the grounds maintenance and the opening and closings of graves. The bids received were more expensive than the cost of providing this Parks and Recreation Board Minutes January 23, 1991 Page 3 in-house. Grandview has less than 2,000 grave sites remaining. Superintendent of Parks and Cemeteries Virgil Taylor explained to the Board that he has sent inquiries to cities that presently contract cemetery services. The Board asked why the City would want to privatize? The City Council directed staff to investigate privatization to reduce the General Fund subsidy. Board Member K- Lynn Cameron said she feels that there will be a great deal of resistance from citizens because of the historical value of Grandview. Mike asked the Board if City Council wants a Board involvement in the Cemetery issues, would the Parks and Recreation Board be willing to take on this issue? Board members agreed that with some staff briefing, they would be willing to study the Cemetery issues and become a sounding board. Other Business Second Sheet of Ice: Mike Moseman represented the citizens for a second sheet of ice at EPIC. The citizen -initiated petition for an EPIC expansion gathered enough signatures to have this issue placed on the April 2 ballot. They are asking for a 1/4 cent sales tax increase for a two year period tc raise $4,100,000 in revenue. The continued success of the Fort Collins skating program warrants another ice facility. There are presently 600 children enrolled in the Learn to Skate Programs at EPIC. This multi -use facility would have a 100 x 200 ft. ice rink with additional seating. This facility would be able to draw larger ice shows and USA Hockey teams would be interested in bringing teams to Fort Collins for practice. Board Member Karen Schubert questioned what the 0&M cost for a second rink would be and what the City's responsibility would be. EPIC Manager Jeff King said the same percentage of recovery is conservatively anticipated. EPIC presently recovers 76 percent of its costs. There may need to be a $50,000 to $70,000 General Fund subsidy annually. Recreation Manager Jean Helburg said cost figures represent the expansion with the present population in Fort Collins. Mike Powers asked if skaters would look at this second sheet of ice as being self-supporting. Mike Moseman said that is a definite possibility. Staff will prepare an update on the second sheet of ice for the Board. Senior Center Update: Karen Schubert distributed questionnaires for the Board Members to complete and return to Jean Helburg by February 1. Bob Alexander questioned the size of the multi -use room. Rene' addressed this by stating that the room could be split into 4 smaller rooms or opened for larger groups, i.e., dances. Golf Issues: Jerry P. Brown distributed a letter sent to all golfers regarding fees and charges. He stated that SouthRidge is currently owned by the City and will be operated the same as Collindale and City Park Nine. SouthRidge will remain a green fee course. City Council has asked staff to negotiate with bidders who offered cash of $2,800,000 and $3,000,000. A public announcement will be made to offer bidding to other interested parties. City Council on February 19 will review publicly the offers staff Parks and Recreation Board Minutes January 23, 1991 Page 4 received. On that night, Council will make a public decision as to whether to sell or retain SouthRidge Golf Course. - Skateboarding: Council has asked staff to look at the skateboarding issue in Fort Collins. They are asking if we should serve this constituency. Staff will present this issue to the Board in February. Board Members and Staff Comments/Reports - K-Lynn Cameron reported that Larimer County has hired EDAW to prepare a Larimer County Master Plan for Parks. She asked for volunteers to serve on the Committee for a 15-month period. Board Member John Barnett said he would be interested. The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 p.m. fullLLy,,submitted, J Rael, Adminis ive Aide II Meeting Attendance Board Members Staff Guests Bob McCluskey Michael Powers Jerry Krygier Elery Wilmarth Jerry P. Brown Dennis L. Donovan Roger Tarum Jean Helburg Gary E. Nordick Robert Alexander Randy Balok Eldon Ward John Barnett Craig Foreman Emmanuel Kosters Rene' Clements Cooney Leslie Bryson Carl Cicero Mary Ness Jeff King Gary Krahn Karen Schubert Barbara Schoenberger Mike Moseman Dave Danielson, PR-1 Rep. Virgil Taylor Ted Shepard Jackie Rael