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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 03/28/19900 CITY OF FORT COLLINS PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MINUTES: Regular Meeting -- March 28, 1990 President Cathy Mulcahy called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. at the City Park Nine Golf Course Clubhouse. For the benefit of the audience, Jerry P. Brown gave a brief description of the Board's function and purpose. Agenda Review: Staff added the following items to the printed agenda: Dance Associations' Discussion with the Board; Discussion of rerouting Lottery money from Parks to Prisons; Update Status of Trail. Approval of Minutes - The minutes of the regular meeting of February 28, 1990 were unanimously approved on a motion by Elery Wilmarth, seconded by Roger Tarum. Citizen Participation: There was no citizen participation. Approval of Rogers Park Master Plan Park Planner Leslie Beckmann gave an overview of the Rogers Park Master Plan. Staff has previously met with the neighborhood residents and the majority of the neighbors opposed the baseball and soccer fields combination in this park. The neighbors are not opposed to just a soccer field in the park. There will not be lighted fields as was rumored. Pedestrian lighting will be provided for the safety of the users. Leslie stated that the utility fees for this park are the responsibility of the development of the park. However, there may be some return because the parkland fee pays into this fund. The park would feature sand volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, a soccer field, and basketball courts (4 half courts). Off street parking from Mulberry Street and two cul-de-sacks with minimal parking would be off Pear and Laurel. Paved sidewalks for bikes and pedestrians will encompass the park. Bob Aukerman suggested tying this into the trail system for transportation feature. The Board then asked for citizen input from the audience. Jim Cain said this plan is fine, but opposes a ballfield in this park. He prefers a plan where there will be no ballfield or lights. Denise Freestone said that originally this plan was to be a neighborhood park without outside use. There appears to be a change in focus. The soccer season wouldn't affect the children playing in the park in the summer. Walt Barclay (representing Youth Baseball) voiced his concern for youth baseball in Fort Collins. Twenty percent of the kids in town play baseball. Every neighborhood park in the City that has capacity for a ballfield is utilized. There are 50 to 60 kids in this neighborhood registered to play youth baseball. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes March 28, 1990 Page 2 They could play in this park and not have to travel across the city. Youth baseball is an eight -week program in June and July. Mike Kelly said the City should use $20,000 from this project to repair school fields. Not all people are organized sports oriented and some people are passive recreation oriented. Bob Aukerman agreed with Mr. Kelly saying that its about time we work with the schools to provide adequate ballfields at the school sites. Steve Lockhart stated he does not want to see the ballfield built in this park. Neighbors also voiced a concern about their fencing adjacent to the park. Leslie said there is a variety of fencing from barbed wire to wood. She said staff will meet with the neighbors to discuss and figure out a plan for a wooden fence. b Marsha Hoeffer wants a ballfield in the park. Her back yard meets the park and she is completely in favor of the children having a ballfield. Molly Winder discussed the compromise of the neighbors and how this plan appears to be the more favorable. Susan Cavender is concerned about the impact of neighborhood with the extended streets and that this has been a quiet neighborhood. Joe Hill is very pleased with the compromise of the City and neighborhood. He said he is in favor of the soccer field. Ken Shaffer likes the soccer field concept. Cathy Mulcahy read a letter the Board received from Jackie Horak who supports the soccer field and not the baseball field. Elery Wilmarth asked for the philosophy of the neighborhood park. Park Planning and Development Superintendent Randy Balok explained that staff targets the park size and determine what that size would accommodate. Mary Ness said he has been a fan of baseball and softball in Fort Collins for many years. He objects to adults using neighborhood parks for practice and that the neighborhood parks should be designed for the use of children. Bob McCluskey said he was first in favor of the ballfield in the park. After hearing the reaction from the neighbors, he is now in favor of the soccer field, only concept. The baseball fields issue needs to be addressed with Council. Roger Tarum said there is a need for unscheduled fields in the city. Perhaps coordination with the schools is the best solution. John Barnett said the planning of a facility should reflect the future, and the best plan with the resources we have is the master plan presented tonight. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes March 28, 1990 Page 3 Karen Schubert said the Board wants to recognize what the neighborhood wants. She doesn't see a problem with baseball being played in the park. Elery Wilmarth expressed concerns about utilities, fencing, and the open ditch. Leslie addressed his concerns stating that the utility plan has to be designed and approved by each utility before construction begins. The ditch is small and is not a safety concern. There will not be a pond in this park. Rene' Clements Cooney said the first plan tried to solve too many problems. The plan presented this evening is her preference. She would like to see school fields addressed with Poudre R-1. Roxane Cain said her feelings will not change and she doesn't want a baseball field in her neighborhood park. s Neighbors were concerned that if the master plan for Rogers Park changed, would the neighbors be notified? Leslie said they would definitely be notified. Philip Haffer asked staff to address what will happen to the existing vegetation. Leslie commented that the trees on the property have not been pruned. Branches will be cut down and some trees removed. New trees will be added to enhance the beauty of the park. Edna Hu asked that the City take good care of the ditch for the children's safety. She recommends staff talk to the school board about the poor quality baseball fields at Poudre R-1 schools. This issue needs to be resolved or we are going to have a bunch of injured kids. Parks Superintendent Virgil Taylor said it cost $3,000 per acre to maintain parks in Fort Collins in 1989. The Rogers Park maintenance budget will be approximately $27,000 annually. Cathy asked for a show of hands from the people who are opposed to the ballfield in the park. The majority of people in the audience oppose a ballfield in their neighborhood park. On a motion by Bob Aukerman, seconded by John Barnett, the Board voted unanimously (9-0) to approve the Rogers Park Master Plan as presented. Bob Aukerman made a second motion to send a letter to the School Board from the Parks and Recreation Board requesting an adequate ballfield at Moore Elementary School. Roger Tarum seconded the motion and Board again voted unanimously (9- 0) on the issue. Staff will prepare a letter for signature by the Board President. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes March 28, 1990 Page 4 Dance Associations' Discussion Recreation Superintendent Jean Helburg said that staff has requested that the Friends of Traditional Dance and the Collinaders Square Dance groups find an alternate dance facility on Saturday nights because staff would like to program City Park Center for dance classes. Dancing is a growing trend nationally. People are using it as a means of exercise and entertainment. Dance classes are presently offered in the Senior Center, but the class size is not conducive of the room size. Jean stated that dance groups are here to express their concerns. Jack Salisbury (representing The Collinaders Square Dancers) said that the dance clubs have been dancing at City Park Center for 25 years. He said City Park Center is the best dance floor in Northern Colorado. He is grateful to the Parks and Recreation staff who have extended the dancers lease to September 1991. He said the square dance clubs contribute to the economy in Fort Collins. Last year, 1,700 people danced in City Park Center from all over the state and Wyoming. City Park Center's capacity is 200 people. Jean said the intent is to use City Park Center on Saturday evenings for dance classes with 40+ people and with larger space, we could add more people to the classes up to 100. Mike Powers said we have come up with a short-term solution for one year. Staff will use that year to come up with a better solution. For example, the bottom floor of City Park Center is used for storage and we are looking at a master plan for renovation of that building. The preliminary master plan for the building is that we can do some remodeling now and we are looking at CDBG funding. Recreation Supervisor Terry Keith said the project would cost $530,000 for an elevator, parking, and renovation of the 2,100 square foot first floor. Randy Lumb, Coordinator for Friends of Traditional Dance, explained their concerns about leaving City Park Center. Bob Aukerman suggested the Fort Collins Elks Club has a wooden floor and that could be a possibility. Karen Schubert said the trend that Jean mentioned is one point. This addresses the need for a dance facility perhaps in the new senior center. John Barnett said there is a conflict for premium dance space in Fort Collins. He agrees that staff should work through short-term solutions for now and suggests the new senior center having a dance floor could be the long-term solution. Elery quoted a letter where staff said if you raise money we will allow you to dance at City Park Center. Question was raised as to how much money these affiliated groups raised for the dance floor in the senior center. The dance groups could not recall how much each group raised. Board Members asked Mr. Salisbury if there are any square dance groups sponsored by Parks and Recreation. He said the Loveland Foot and Fiddle is sponsored by the City of Loveland. 0 • Parks and Recreation Board Minutes March 28, 1990 Page 5 Bob Aukerman said in thinking about this, major precedents are being provided. He feels uncomfortable about what is going on here. We should not be talking about sponsorship. The role of Parks and Recreation is to orchestrate and coordinate. Enjoyment and recreation is first and education is secondary. Potential Alternatives to the Demolition of the Rhodes House Senior City Planner Kari Vanmeter presented the plan to move the Rhodes house to Jefferson Street Park. City Council asked five boards to review this issue. Kari administers the City's historic preservation. She said the Rhodes house is at 255 North College Avenue, and is under severe threat of demolition. Jefferson Street Park is the most viable solution to move this house. This will be a Public/Private venture. Union Pacific owns the present site. It is a rite that is already in public use. Bob McCluskey thinks it is a great idea. Randy Balok said the land is leased and is not under City ownership. A long-term lease would have to be made. John Barnett said this is a half baked cake in the oven. It is fragile. He suggested the Railroad Foundation may clear up some of the issues. Citizen Dick Beardmore said the adjacent property owners are supportive. This house will be placed in the national historic register. Bob Aukerman said the major issue is putting structures on park land. However, if the structure is part of historic preservation, that changes the tone. This house will also be used as a demonstration project for handicapped landscaping. Additional detail will be provided to the Board next month. At that time the Board can make a decision. The Board generally felt moving the Rhodes house to the Jefferson Street Park is a good idea. Other Business - Potential Rerouting of Lottery Funds -- Jerry Brown asked if such legislation is made to reroute funds to prisons, would the Parks and Recreation Board go on record requesting that the funds be distributed as they currently are? On a motion by Roger Tarum, seconded by Mary Ness, the Board voted unanimously (9-0) that they would request the distribution of the Lottery funds remain as they are. - Trails -- Mike Powers discussed the appropriation ordinance for five years for trails completion. The Board at its meeting of January 24, recommended to Council that the trail be completed in three years. The Council's compromised plan is on a four-year implementation. A letter from the Mayor to the Board is forthcoming. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes March 28, 1990 Page 6 - Jerry stated that Bob Aukerman's and Cathy Mulcahy's terms expire this June and April 27 is the deadline for applying for their positions. On a motion by John Barnett seconded by Bob McCluskey, the meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Jackie Rael, Administrative Aide Meeting Attendance Board Members Staff Guests O Cathy Mulcahy Mike Powers Mayor Bob Winokur Bob Aukerman Jerry P. Brown Kari VanMeter, Planning Rene' Clements Cooney Jean Helburg Edna Hu Elery Wilmarth Virgil Taylor Roxanne Cain Bob McCluskey Randy Balok Jim Cain Karen Schubert Leslie Beckmann Dick Samson Roger Tarum Craig Foreman Mr. & Mrs. Jim Kelly Mary Ness Terry Keith Robert Nelson John Barnett Jackie Rael Susan Nelson Beth McKenney Guests Continued Susan Cavender Susan Salisbury Molly Winder Randy Lumb Kathy Corwin Nolan Doesken Bruce Freestone Denise Freestone Norma Freestone Chuck Ainsworth Kevin Taylor Vince and Gail Urbina Philip and Marcia Hoefer Leo Bona Dave Jehu Wayne Jessen Rheba Massey Kirchgesler John Cummings Jack Salisbury Carol Salisbury Bonnie Frantz Galen Frantz Dean Teter Steve Lockhart Judy Lockhart Clara Kahler Evelyn Anderson J. P. Hill Joan Day Ron Lewis Verna O'Brien Mike O'Brien Ken Schaffer Lynn Schaffer Carol Tunner Ron Sommer