HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 08/23/19830 CITY OF FORT COLLINS •
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD
MINUTES: Regular Meeting - August 23, 1983
The meeting was called to order at 6:33 P.M. by Board President, Chuck Solano.
Agenda Review - No changes to the Agenda.
Citizen Participation - No citizen participation.
Minutes - The Minutes of the last regular meeting of June 28, 1983, were approved
unanimously, as submitted, on a motion by Mary Elson, seconded by
Mike ImMasche.
Board By -Laws:
Jerry P. Brown reported that recently, Councilwoman Rutstein, questioned a portion of
the Parks and Recreation Board By-laws, which were last revised by the Board in
August, 1977. She evidently felt it may not be appropriate to elect new Board
officers in June, one month prior to any newly appointed Board members assuming
Board duties in July. She asked the City Clerk for a clarification, and upon
research, it was determined that Parks and Recreation Board By-laws were not on
file, nor had they ever been approved by City Council, which is a requirement of
Chapter 2, Article IV, Section 2-12 of the Municipal Code.
Staff sent the August, 1977, By-laws to the City Attorney for review. Kathy Allin,
Assistant City Attorney, reviewed the By-laws, and revised them for consistency,
continuity, and conformity with all City rules, regulations, and procedures for
Boards and Commissions. She put the By-laws into a proper format and structure.
Kathy Allin then verbally reviewed for Board members, the newly revised By-laws,
point -by -point. Only two sections of the By-laws were further discussed.
Board members decided that Article III, Section 3, should limit Board members to
serve no more than two successive terms. The consensus felt that service longer
than two successive terms could result in a Board member assuming an 'ownership'
or 'kingdom' type posture; and 'new blood' on a Board such as Parks and Recreation
was important.
Board members then decided that Article IV, Section 2, should change the election
of Board officers to September, rather than June. Kathy Allin noted that many other
Boards and Commissions elect officers in September. Jerry P. Brown said that in
1977, the Parks and Recreation Board basically decided on June because they tradi-
tionally didn't hold Board meetings in July and August, and some Board member terms
expired on June 30th.
Bob Aukerman made a motion, seconded by Jan Sheppard, to adopt the revised By-laws,
as amended. The motion was approved 8:0.
Bob Aukerman then suggested that the President, or appointed Board member, should
attend the annual National Recreation and Park Association Conference. This should
be part of the By-laws, perhaps. This year the National Conference is in Kansas
City, October 2-6, and the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association Conference is
in Steamboat Springs, October 12-14. Maybe the City Council Boards and Commissions
Budget could pick up some of the costs involved. Staff will investigate.
Budgetary Matters
Jerry P. Brown explained the City Council Work Sessions on the proposed 1984 Budget.
He explained in detail the various policies and issues involved. Basic dollars
details were not generally discussed. Staff and Board then reviewed the following:
1.) 0&M costs of Community Parks funded by the 1981 Bond Issue. - - Jerry reported
that City Council recently passed a Budget Transfer to Parks ($186,134) and
Forestry ($9,197) to cover the 1983 costs, but had not necessarily decided how
to fund the 1984 and future years' costs. The City Manager recommended a
property tax increase, but sales tax appeared to be the preferred choice of
Council members. Council will continue to discuss this during Budget hearings
in September.
2.) Recreation Fees -- the revenues collected from 1984 recreation fees will increase
14% over projected 1983 revenues, mainly because of the addition of Moore Park
softball fields, tennis courts, and other new programs which provide equal or
more revenues than expenditures.
3.) Open Space Policy -- Council agreed on the merits of the existing policy, and
wants to continue with acquisition of Open Space land, expansion of the trails
system, etc. As per the 1974 Open Space Plan, areas along Spring Creek, Poudre
River, the Foothills, and Fossil Creek drainage, are the general priority areas.
However, funding these things is the key issue.
4.) Lottery Funds -- Jerry reported that the State collected approximately $136,000,000
from late January to June 30th, when the 1983 fiscal year ended. 50% of that amount
went to prizes, 15% to Lottery Administration, 17.5% to the State Capital Fund
(some of which is being diverted to help pay off the State financial debt), 3.5%
to State Parks (the Legislature played 'games' with this, and just replaced money
to the State Parks and took away their General Fund subsidy), and 14% to the
Conservation Trust Fund, which includes the City of Fort Collins. We are to
receive $373,639.29 on September 1st as our 1983 share, at $5.47 per capita,
based on a population of 68,307.
Staff recommended that Lottery funds be used on projects with maximum public exposure
and benefit, that the public be continually informed of Lottery funds use and
benefits, that State Legislators should be informed as to our usage and our desire
to continue the funding, and that Lottery money should not be used for 0&M costs.
Staff also recommended that one-time Capital projects an(T-projects with little or
no continual O&M would be the best usage of funds. City Council concurred with
this, and they generally recommended that Lottery money be used for Open Space and
Trails purposes, as discussed in the Open Space Policy. Staff also recommended
that Lottery money could be used for a Southside Community Center with water amenities,
such as a Water Slide, Wave Pool, etc. Also, Parks and Recreation staff feels some
amount of Lottery funds(say $25,000-$30,000) should go to the Golf Fund to help pay
back the 'debt' of soliciting golfers votes for the Lottery.
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5.) Project Recap Recommendations - - Staff reported that the Project Recap
Committee has apparently decided to recommend that City Council use the
approximate $3.5 million in 1984 Capital Funding for projects such as
maintenance, repair and renovation of infrastructure, basic needs, etc.,
and that quality of life long-term funding projects (such as -a new
Southside Community Center, Ice Arena/Indoor Pool, Senior Center) be voted
on by the people, with specific funding sources, timetables, and expectations.
The Parks and Recreation Projects recommended by them includes:
a) $870,000 for indoor pool renovation (excluding solar amenities); b) funding
of all Open Space/Trails needs from Lottery funds; c) Downtown Community
Center roof repair; d) Northside Aztlan Community Center structural/floor
repair ($120,000); e) funding trails repair damaged by the recent flooding;
and f) commuter bikeways.
After further budget discussion, the Board voted unanimously (8:0), as follows:
#1 - The Parks and Recreation Board supports the City Council and their
apparent recommended priority usage of Lottery funds for the purpose
of Open Space and Trails, as delineated in the Open Space Policy.
#2 - The Parks and Recreation Board reaffirms the concept of our September
1, 1982, recommendation to City Council, to utilize sales tax increases
rather than property tax increases (or existing General Fund sources)
for financing the new operations and maintenance costs of Community
Parks improved by 1981 Bond Issue funding.
For information purposes, the September 1, 1982 recommendation was as
follows:
"The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, at our regular meeting
of August 31, 1982, voted 8:0, to recommend that City Council
approve an increase in taxes to finance the operations and
maintenance of the Community Parks, as approved by City voters
in April, 1981. The Board supports the mil levy increase, but
we would suggest that City Council consider using sales tax
rather than property tax to pay for this expenditure. Community
Parks are used by the whole community, not just property owners.
The entire city and surrounding area benefits from our Community
Parks, and, therefore, a sales tax paid by everyone appears to
be a more equitable financing vehicle, in our opinion. Also,
the economic impact of a sales tax vs. a property tax seems more
acceptable to our community during these economically stressfull
times."
#3 - The Parks and Recreation Board also unanimously concurs with and reaffirms
our support for the Parkland Fund Policies.
Other Business
Jerry reported that $13,753 for Parks and $1,369 for Planning
had been appropriated by Council for the Department Incentive
funds were derived from actual 1982 savings generated by these
money is a one-time bonus as a reward for saving.
and Open Space
Program. The
Divisions. The
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- City Council appropriated the total of $195,331 for Community Parks 1983 0&M
costs from prior year reserves. The money will be used as follows: a) $112,100
for purchase of new equipment for Moore Park; b) $39,613 for Moore Park O&M costs;
c) $18,803 for Edora Park 0&M costs; d) $9,818 for new City Park 0&M costs; and
e) $5,800 for Martinez Park 0&M costs.
- Jerry discussed the Ordinance to amend the City Code relating to expenditures
made from the Park Acquisition Fund; to change the title to the Parkland Fund,
and to allow for Project Management Administrative expenses and park site
equipment and plantings expenses. Board members expressed no opposition to these
changes.
- Vandalism in parks has been very noticeable this year. For example, of the
$3,243.92 worth of damage to Edora Park earlier this year, $2,243.92 was covered
by insurance, but $1,000 was 'absorbed' in the Parks budget. There have been
many other incidents this year.
- Cathy Mulcahy brought up the problem of the picnic tables in City Park, and their
filthy condition. Also, problems with lack of lighting. Staff will check into
these.
- Jan Sheppard questioned the Roesser land trade issue. The Council turned down
the latest effort by Roesser, and the issue is 'dead' for now.
- Jerry reminded Board members about the upcoming Lottery celebration in City Park
on September lst, starting at 6:30 P.M. There will be live music and a large
fireworks show, and the presentation to Fort Collins of its 1983 Lottery check.
Chuck Solano will represent the Board at the event.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
JAN SHEPPARD, Secretary
MEETING ATTENDANCE
Board Members Staff
Chuck Solano Jerry P. Brown
Jan Sheppard Kathy Allin
Bob Aukerman
Cathy Mulcahy
Mary Elson
Mike ImMasche
Fran Bujack
Ann Schroeder
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