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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 09/01/2010Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – September 1, 2010 Page 1 of 6 BE A GOOD STEWARD: Protect & Respect your Parks, Trails & Recreation Facilities Call Meeting to Order: Danna Ortiz called the meeting to order 5:34pm Agenda Review & Items of Note: Agenda Review: Switch Item 5 (Resourcing Our Future) with Item 6 (Colorado Spring Update) to allow time for Marty Heffernan to arrive at 6:00pm. Discussion: Danna – Plan on starting the discussion on Resourcing our Future at 6:00pm to allow Board Member, Michael Chalona, time to hear as much as possible before he needs to leave at 6:30pm. Items of Note: None Discussion: Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve the Parks & Recreation Board minutes of July 28, 2010, by Greg Miller, seconded by William Pickering – Discussion: Rob Cagen pointed out one spelling correction in minutes – Minutes approved 7:0 Citizen Participation None AGENDA ITEMS: Colorado Springs Update Craig Foreman, J.R. Schnelzer and Rob Cagen toured parks in Colorado Springs (presentation attached). With a property tax for City services failing in 2009; the Colorado Springs P&R budget went from $19.9 million in 2008 to $3.1 million in 2010. Their staff went from 225 to 18; one person maintains 109 miles of trail, ten people do the O&M for 110 parks, and 7 forestry staff maintain 200,000 trees. The neighborhood parks have not been fertilized for 4 years, the amenities such as tennis and basketball courts are run down and play grounds do not have money for replacement, so if something breaks the piece is removed. The 400 trash cans in neighborhood parks have been removed; 100 have been “adopted” by citizens who are responsible for the maintenance of the cans. The medians are in poor condition with tall weeds, but there is no money for maintenance. Recreation facilities only received a quarter of the years funding and will not be funded in 2011. A church has been able to help keep one recreation facility open, and the swim team is helping to keep 3 out of the 7 pools open. PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD Minutes of Regular Meeting Wednesday, September 1, 2010 5:30 p.m. Council Liaison: Kelly Ohlson Staff Liaison: J.R. Schnelzer, 221-6301 Craig Foreman, 221-6618 President: Jessica MacMillan & Phone: 407-8896 (home) 660-9023 (work) Danna Ortiz 303-884-4850 (home) 407-8794 (work) Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – September 1, 2010 Page 2 of 6 People have called in to find out why facilities are closed, and it is explained, but they are not taking their concerns to the higher level of management. Perhaps the City is too large for people to care, but that is very troubling. There are areas where HOAs contract with the City to maintain their parks, or where businesses help, for instance coming into the Broadmoor it looks great, but as you move past that area you start to see the deterioration. Discussion Board - The climate seem odd, there’s no sense of community, they don’t participate and they seem to have accepted the way it is. Board – 40% of the population in Colorado Springs is military, so they are only there maybe 4 years and then gone. Board – What are we doing with our information to make Fort Collins informed on Parks cuts? Board – Loveland is adding another pool, why are they not affected? Staff – They may have had capital money that paid for the pool to be built. Board – Is the Mill Levy for the schools going to be on the ballot? Staff – Yes Board – We are aware of the sales tax increase discussions taking place. Resourcing our Future/BFO Update Council is scheduling budget meetings so the second reading of the budget will be after the election, so they’ll know how/what to adopt. In the past as we worked through the BFO process we would have time to work on our line items and cut what we felt would work. This time, we were directed in what to cut by the (BLT) Budget Lead Team. We were asked to reduce over $2 million in CPRE. These reductions will impact services, facilities and staffing; which means, no new parks or trails will be built (trail design and construction limited to two partnership projects and the asphalt to concrete conversion program in 2011 & 2012), recreational facilities will be closed and hours of operation will be reduced, park features will be closed, subsidizing recreational activities for low income will be limited, employee staffing will be reduced, and in some cases fees will increase. Attached is a fact sheet showing the budget reductions and impact. For more information, link to the 2011-2012 City Manager’s proposed budget. http://www.fcgov.com/citymanager/pdf/recommended-budget-2011-2012.pdf?09062010 The Council work session regarding CPRE will be on Tuesday, September 28 at 6:00pm: the Board’s presence would be good. Plan Fort Collins http://www.fcgov.com/planfortcollins/ Plan Fort Collins has a “question of the week” which highlights various topics in Plan Fort Collins. A question will be asked about motorized bikes on the trail system. Discussion: Board – I think motorized bikes should be kept off the trails. They are meant to be quiet and slow. Board – Even bikes on the trails pose a problem when they are riding too fast. Every community with trails has this issue. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – September 1, 2010 Page 3 of 6 Staff Updates Park Updates We received the go ahead for our reorganization, since it is cost neutral. As the reorganization progresses, and we have openings at the Park Technician level, this may allow for some employees who were let go in the BFO process to apply for a position. The trees that were vandalized in Spring Canyon Park, are being replaced on October 9. All the trees being replaced were donated by local nurseries and donations from citizens. Ralph Zentz, Assistant City Forester, is coordinating the tree replacement. Discussion Board – We should write a thank you to these people. Board – We can write a personal thank you to them from the Board. (Carol will get the list from Ralph Zentz). Recreation Updates We are in the process of figuring out how to put the Recreator together with the possibility of Mulberry Pool closing. Discussion Board – What if you created a 2-3 page insert to the Recreator, stating that if the .85% passes, these would be the additional classes offered? Staff – Great idea, we hadn’t thought of that. I’ll pass it on to the staff. Park Planning Updates We will delay construction of the Fossil Creek Trail 38E underpass until spring. We are working on the playground for Richard’s Lake. There is a pedestrian overpass planned over the railroad tracks behind Whole Foods. This is a Transportation project of about $2 million. It is still in the design phase and has State Transportation funding. The overpass clearance will be about 20 feet high due to the extra clearance needed over the tracks. Bike Advisory Board Liaison –Update They just installed new bike racks at Mulberry Pool and City Park Pool. They also discussed the electric bikes, and how the laws would have to change. They are going to the community to see what they suggest. They are still working on the bike map, and are hoping to have it out by September 13. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – September 1, 2010 Page 4 of 6 Board Work Plan Updates Correspondence: None Adjournment: Jessica MacMillan motion to adjourned meeting 7:42pm. Respectfully submitted, Carol Rankin Carol Rankin Administrative Support Supervisor Parks Department Board approved minutes Wednesday, October 27– 9:0 Board Attendance Board Members: Rob Cagen, Brian Carroll, Michael Chalona, Shirley Christian, Jessica MacMillan, Greg Miller, Danna Ortiz, William Pickering, Dawn Theis Staff: J.R. Schnelzer, Craig Foreman, Marty Heffernan, Peggy Bowers, Carol Rankin Guests: None Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – September 1, 2010 Page 5 of 6 Parks and Recreation Board August 25, 2010 Park Planning and Development work items: Plan Fort Collins (City Plan): Information sent out on next meetings, etc. Web-page can be viewed to obtain current information. Policy Plan: Environmental/Sustainability Best Management Plan Manual is about 90% written. Budgeting for Outcomes: 2011/2012 BFO, Offers at Darin’s level. PP&D did offers as follows: Neighborhood Park Development 2011 and 2012, Recreation Trail Development 2011 and 2012 and a Recreational Trail Impact Fee in 2012. BOB Park improvement funds – 2009 funds to Roselawn Cemetery for improvements. Park improvement funds in 2015. NISP: Supplemental EIS may not be ready until maybe 2011. Park items: 1. Waters Way Park: construction on hold, HOA informed of the decision. 2. Tennis court plan as to how many courts and where are they located to be a 2010 work item. 3. Registry Neighborhood Park: construction on hold, HOA informed of the decision. 4. Richards Lake Neighborhood Park: design phase for playground underway. 5. Staley Neighborhood Park: Park is in the pilot program for The Sustainable Site Initiative program. Trails: 1. Poudre Trail at Nix Farm: Staff will be developing the tree resting area design. Natural Resources has seeded the area with native grasses (the crested wheat has been cut). We are sensitive to this costly effort and will plan our construction of the tree resting area for later to minimize disturbance to the new grass. 2. Poudre Trail at Lincoln Avenue: Construction this fall. Corps is reviewing the plans since they will be taking the levee into their system. 3. Power Trail: Keenland underpass of the UP in approval process and in the second step approval. 4. Fossil Creek Trail along Stanton Creek north of Carpenter Road. On hold. 5. Poudre Trail at Lemay: Mulberry Bridge to be replaced by CDOT. Design effort starting this year. The design team has incorporated our trail bridge needs downstream of Lemay into the floodplain analysis. Latest from CDOT is they are planning for construction to start in the fall of 2011. 6. Fossil Creek Trail and underpass at Highway 38E: Project is moving into the final phase of design with the project on line for construction in the spring. GOCO grant. 7. Poudre Trail to Timnath: Layout to determine CDOT need for easement agreement to cross under I-25. 8. Staff will start to work with CSU/Environmental Learning Center for an easement for the trail to extend to Drake Road. 9. County Road #11 BOB project and trail underpass on hold due to limited Street Oversizing funds. 10. Spring Creek Trail east of Centre Avenue to the railroad tracks. R,O.W. is talking with CSU (CSURF) about the new trail easement process. Miscellaneous: 1. Veteran’s Plaza at SCCP. Info can be obtained at the web page of the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, News and Events section, and into Veteran’s Plaza page. 2. Disc Golf: The Hughes Stadium design effort starting. The disc golf course is part of the plan. Staff will now work with CSU staff on how to jointly work on the disc golf course along with their development for efficiencies and cost savings. We are proposing using Conservation Trust funds for the development of the course and are hopeful the disc golf community can find grants, etc. for development and maybe adopt to help with O&M. 3. Water Craft Course – NISP impact unknown at this time. On hold. 4. North Shields Street Bridge – The County will replace this bridge in 2013/14. Staff is working with the County to see if there is the potential for any short term parking solution for trail and river users. And, long term solutions with the new bridge design. 5. Old Fort Collins Heritage Park stake park lights – Group of users are attempting to find funding to supply lights at the skate park. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – September 1, 2010 Page 6 of 6 Budget Cut Summary for Parks Department - 2011 Reduction Offers Amount Community Parks $68,000 Closure of all two water features, reduced lifecycle, .25 Hourly FTE Downtown $200,000 No flowers, No sidewalks maintenance, 1 FTE 3 Hourly staff Mosquito Control $100,000 No outreach program, reduction in traps from 25 to 8, .3 Hourly FTE Gardens on Spring Creek - 1/3 of total budget $100,000 Loss of 1 FTE & 1 Hourly staff, and reduction in maintenance, closed 2 dys/wk Memorial Parks - 1/3 of total budget $100,000 Loss of 1 FTE and .5 Hourly staff and reduction in service & maintenance Urban Forest $25,000 Forestry contractual tree trimming Total Reductions $593,000 Offers Not Accepted 4th of July $47,000 No Fireworks Staley Park $52,000 No building of new parks Huidekoper Park $37,000 No building of new parks Parks Environmental Improvements $37,750 Recycling containers and tree planting Horticulture Supervisor $81,755 New position for the Gardens on Spring Creek $255,505 Budget Cut Summary for Park Planning Department Reduction Offers Amount Park Design & Construction 1,557,998 No new park design or construction - loss of 3 FTEs Trail Development 93,208 No new trail development Total Reductions $1,651,206 Budget Cut Summary for Recreation Department Reduction Offers Amount 2011 Mulberry Pool $254,714 Total Offer Denied - Close Mulberry Pool Senior Center $260,724 loss of 2 FTEs + 4 hrly, no admin support, closed Sun/early during wk The Farm $30,858 loss of 1 FTE hrly respon for maintenance, milking & feeding Northside Aztlan Center $141,091 Loss of 1.5 FTE, supervisor and hrly FTE reduction, Sunday closure, no subsidy prog Sports - Reduced $10,884 loss of .25 FTE RAD Van $43,222 Total Offer Denied - Discontinue RAD Van Total Reductions $741,493 Offers Not Accepted Senior Center restore position $55,847 Restore Recreation Director $55,847 Budget Cut Summary for Museum Department Reduction Offers Amount 2011 Museum/Discovery Center $150,000 Limited K-12 education programs, limited exhibitions Total Reductions $150,000 TOTAL REDUCTION CPRE 2011 $3,135,699 TOTAL OFFERS NOT ACCEPTED CPRE $311,352 6. Jason has been helping the DDA with their Alley Project. 7. Discovery/Museum Center – we are coordinating with them as the project starts construction.