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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 10/24/2012Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – October 24, 2012 Page 1 of 4 BE A GOOD STEWARD: Protect & Respect your Parks, Trails & Recreation Facilities Call Meeting to Order: Rob Cagen called the meeting to order 5:31pm Agenda Review & Items of Note: None Citizen Participation: None Approval of Minutes: Discussion: None Bruce Henderson made the motion to approve the Parks & Recreation Board minutes of September 12, 2012, seconded by Michael Chalona – Minutes approved 5:0 Meeting Summary  The Board discussed budget questions with the air quality at EPIC, the funding of the Great Lawn at the Gardens on Spring Creek and the Senior Center Expansion.  The Board discussed the issues around the funding for the downtown holiday lights.  The ice rink that is usually in Old Town Square is going to Estes Park. Front Range Village would like to lease it in 2013/2014. Originally the DDA funded the operation of the ice rink, but they do not have the money to fund it anymore.  Recreation is signing a new vending contract for 100% healthy options, working with CANDO to promote health and wellness at the recreation facilities.  The Board discussed their 2013 Work Plan and their accomplishments for the 2012 P&R Board year-end report. PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD Minutes of Regular Meeting Wednesday, October 24, 2012 5:30 p.m. Council Liaison: Kelly Ohlson Staff Liaisons: J.R. Schnelzer, 970-221-6301 Craig Foreman, 970-221-6618 Bob Adams, 970-221-6354 Chair: Rob Cagen Phone: 970-689-7559 (home) / 970-482-3971 (work) Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – October 24, 2012 Page 2 of 4 Full Minutes AGENDA ITEMS: Budget The BFO Offer regarding the air quality at EPIC was actually submitted by Operations Services; the full offer was for $450,000 which could be spent on the bulkhead, air handler, etc. If you remember back to February, we talked about putting in the ultra-violet lights to help with the air quality at EPIC; and in June we discussed the air quality study that Operations Services was going to have done prior to the budgeting processes, but that didn’t happen. They were going to pull the offer, but the City Manager wanted the Council to be aware of the possible expense. EPIC was designed in 1987 and was never anticipated to have 200 kids in the pool at one time, and this is when we had the air quality issues. We also found that in an effort to save energy the air handlers had been set back to work at 50%, once we opened them up to 100% we found the air quality wasn’t as bad and we have not had any complaints. Once we have the study done we’re hoping the pool meets the requirements, because it is a safety issue and will need to be addressed. Discussion Board – Do the high schools overload the pool? Staff – No, not as much as the FAST meets or if there is a big tournament and there are swimmers and spectators. That’s when we’ve had complaints. Board – What is the problem? Do people feel sick? Staff – No, there is a chemical created called Chloramine which causes problems in breathing which is particularly bad for someone with asthma and not something you want to breathe for a prolonged period of time. Board – What about the recycling facility on the east side of the disc golf course? Do we need to be involved with this? Staff – Bruce Hendee is working on this as the facility will need to allow for composting and he’s been talking with CSU and PSD, but there’s no site commitment at this time. Board – Is Michelle happy with the funding she got for the Great Lawn? Staff – Yes, she is confident she can raise the rest of the money necessary for the project. STAFF UPDATES Parks Updates  The ice rink that is usually in Old Town Square is going to Estes Park. They have leased it for one year for $20,000.00, but $12,000 will be going to repairs on the chiller. Front Range Village would like to lease it in 2013/2014. Originally the DDA funded the operation of the ice rink, but they do not have the money to fund it anymore.  All of Parks basic offers were funded. In addition, we have funding for two Park Ranger positions. They will help with graffiti, vandalism and loitering; but keep in mind with the hiring process and training they probably won’t be in the Parks until mid-summer.  After the incident a few weeks ago, when the homeless man was run over by the train at Jefferson Park, the railroad felt that the portable restrooms is an attraction for the homeless to be in Jefferson Park and would like to have the portable restroom removed. We don’t agree, and feel that it keeps the site cleaner, but the park land is really owned by the railroad and the City only leases it; so we’re in negotiations with the railroad regarding this issue. Discussion Board – Why don’t the DDA and DBA want to fund the holiday lights? Staff – They realize it’s an attraction, but the DDA’s funds are very limited. The DBA is helping to raise money and will help with some of the cost this year. Board – When the issues with the Timnath Walmart happened, the State rewrote how property can be condemned and this affected all the DDAs in Colorado and they lost about 50% of their funding. That’s why the DDA is struggling financially. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – October 24, 2012 Page 3 of 4 Recreation Updates Senior Center Expansion – Barb Schoenberger  It has been hard to keep the momentum alive, but we need to keep peoples interest in this project. The volunteer group has helped a lot in keeping this going and relevant. The Senior Center Expansion Initiative has information posted on their web page http://seniorcenterexpansion.org/. Fort Collins is known as a great place to retire because of all we offer and with the growing senior population we need to make sure the Senior Center is keeping pace with the more active lifestyles that seniors desire. We will be forming a design team and citizen review team after the first of the year. This is when renewed excitement will grow. We will have the vision of staff and the expansion teams added to the second phase design to show the total vision and what it will cost. Discussion Board – Did the Silver Tsunami feed into the design? Staff – Yes, but we have several processes for feedback and trends, The Active Aging Journal gives us an idea of future trends, public input to see if we’re on track, fund-raising feasibility study and the business plan. Board – How much of the 2013/2014 budget is for the Senior Center Expansion? Staff – About $5.6M and $100,000+ from fund raising and contributions, and we’ll be seeking Grant money. Board – Do you need about $6M more? Staff – Yes, but with the economy changing, we may be back closer to the original estimated total of $8M , but it’s a moving target and we need the design to know for sure. Board – When will you be getting public input? Staff – Sometime after November 20.  Marc Rademacher, Sports Supervisor, was named Colorado Association of Recreational Athletics, Professional of the Year.  We signed a new vending contract with 100% healthy options at all the recreation facilities. We are working with CANDO.  The new fees will be in place in January and a letter is going out this week to the current card holders. Park Planning Updates  The Lemay/Mulberry bridge project is on track, and we are involved in the design so once the pedestrian footbridge is removed, we can move it over the Poudre for an easier route. They also want to make this bridge “gateway” into Fort Collins; so we have some design input to ensure it meets City standards. Oil & Gas Committee Liaisons Update – Brian Carroll & Todd Galbate There is only one more meeting of this committee. The meetings have been very informative in showing that our hands are tied. There have been discussions surrounding the Land Use Code and if it would be adventitious to make it easier thru an ordinance to bypass the Land Use Code with a signed agreement that included specifics for set-backs, environmental needs and neighborhood friendly wells. However, the fear is that this could create more wells. Overall, the meetings have made us pay more attention, but it seems that the oil companies will do what they want in the end. Bicycle Advisory Board Liaison Update – Bruce Henderson Bruce Henderson was unable to attend, no report. Schedule of Articles/Calendar Dawn Theis wanted to thank Ragan for her article. She also wanted to ensure the Board had an article for December. Todd Galbate had talked about doing an article on winter opportunities at parks and recreation facilities. She will talk with Todd to see if he was still planning on this. Discussion Staff – Recreation is working with CANDO and replacing all the vending machines in the recreation facilities with healthy options; perhaps Todd’s article could include this with the winter opportunities. Board – What about the after school program? Staff – That will start in the summer, so next June might be a better time. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – October 24, 2012 Page 4 of 4 BOARD WORK PLAN ITEMS UPDATE No Updates Other Board Member requested that if any Board Members have meetings to reach-out to Council, PSD, etc. that a brief summary of the discussion be brought to the Board meeting for discussion and recorded in the minutes. Bullet Points  Board worked on the 2013 Work Plan and the 2012 Year-End Report  Bob Adams, Recreation Director, updated the Board on the air quality issues at EPIC  Barbara Schoenberger, Recreation Supervisor, spoke to the Board about the Senior Center expansion plans Adjournment: Meeting adjourned 7:41pm. Respectfully submitted, VtÜÉÄ etÇ~|Ç Carol Rankin Administrative Support Supervisor Parks Department Minutes approved December 5: 8:0 Board Attendance Board Members: Ragan Adams, Richard Barnhart, Rob Cagen, Brian Carroll, Michael Chalona, Bruce Henderson, Dawn Theis Staff: JR Schnelzer, Carol Rankin, Craig Foreman, Bob Adams, Barbara Schoenberger