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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 03/24/1999Call Meeting to Order: The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m. by Board President Lance Freeman. Agenda Review: No changes to the printed agenda. Items of Note: Rebecca Chavez called to say she would be late this evening Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Jessica MacMillan, seconded by Marilyn Barnes, the Board unanimously (7-0) approved the minutes of the regular meeting of February 24, 1999 Citizen Participation: No citizen participation Update on Community Horticulture Center Community Horticulturist Jim Clark updated the Board on the negotiations and status of the Horticulture Center. Since staff met with this Board last month, they met in Executive Session with City Council who was very supportive of the Community Horticulture Center negotiations with CSU. Council directed staff to continue negotiations. Staffs next meeting with CSU will be April S. Jessica MacMillan asked if the Board will see a conceptual drawing of the gardens at Fort Collins High School Park? Jim replied that staff did see a conceptual drawing and it looked like a good design. Marty Heffernan explained the process to quit claim the deed for the park usage to CSU for the title transfer. He stated that the City will have some control over the park site as it must ensure the land is used as a public park. Any changes that CSU would want to make to this site would have to be mutually agreed upon by both the City and CSU. Staff will keep the Board up-to-date on the negotiations and plans. Poudre River Natural Areas Management Plan Marty explained to the Board that the draft of the Natural Areas Management Plan for the Poudre River will soon be ready for their review. This plan has been drafted by representatives from reviewed a draft of this plan last year and gave Karen Manci their recommendations. Changes Parks and Recreation Board Mput_ March 24, 1999 Page 2 have been made to this plan and now we are ready for this to be studied by a subcommittee of the Parks and Recreation Board. The subcommittee will identify areas of concern in the plan, and then bring comments back to the full Board. Marty then asked who would like to be on the subcommittee? Lance Freeman said Del Price would be interested. Lance and Jessica MacMillan volunteered as substitutes if needed. Dean Hoag said he would be interested in serving on the subcommittee. The Board, on a motion by Marilyn Barnes, seconded by Jessica MacMillan, unanimously (8-0) voted to have Del Price and Dean Hoag as their representatives on the Poudre River Natural Areas Management Plan subcommittee. 2000/2001 Budget Priorities Marty said that last month staff distributed a copy of a letter from City Manager John Fischbach requesting the Board's input for the 2000-2001 budget process. He said that he and Lance met to review input from staff and will be seeking the Board's recommendation at the April meeting. Marty reviewed the list with the Board as follows: Hickory Park — Marilyn Barnes said that Hickory Park was the Board's #1 priority on the Choices list and the City Manager agreed to fund this park through the General Fund. Community Park Improvements — The Board questioned how a restroom in City Park could cost $100,000? Craig explained that the development fees alone are $10,000; the public restrooms in parks have to be vandal proof and must have stainless steel fixtures, and built to be structurally sound and built to last several years. Mary Ness asked why we couldn't design the restroom in-house? Craig said he is not a structural engineer and we need to have it functional and sturdy. Mary questioned why we don't have this expertise on staff. Craig explained that we couldn't recoup this cost if we had a structural engineer on our staff. Jessica MacMillan asked where the restroom will be constructed? Marty replied on the east side of the park. Parking Lot Improvements and Expansions -- This request is for resurfacing or expansion. Marty explained the critical need for additional parking at City Park Center, Park Shop, and City Park Nine Golf Course. Diane Thies said she is against ripping up turf for parking lots. Jessica asked about the trailhead that was supposed to be constructed at Lemay and Mulberry? Craig said if Wal-Mart is constructed, that will determine if additional parking is needed at that intersection/trailhead. Maintenance Funding: Diane questioned if we construct another dog park, would this take away from parkland that "people" would use? Marty explained that the second dog park is proposed at Lee Martinez Park north of the trail. Streetscape Improvements — Jessica asked about Adopt -A -Median and if that is still a viable program? Adopt -A -Median is a program administered by our Parks Division. Therapeutic Recreation Program Coordinator --- Marty explained that we only have one full- -,at- - - - '. Parks and Recreation Boardfutes • March 24, 1999 Page 3 City's Adaptive Recreation Opportunities (ARO) Program, as well as programs for developmentally disabled adults. Lance asked if the Board should prioritize this list? Marty said that next month we will have staff available so the Board can ask questions regarding these items. Marty further encouraged Board members as they are working on their requests to the City Manager to call staff with questions or comments. Gateway Park Update Park Planning Manager Craig Foreman updated the Board on the access road project to Gateway Park. He illustrated a drawing for the access point to the park, and explained most of the funding for the road is appropriated, and construction will begin in the fall. Gateway Park has a Scenic By -Way Grant available in 2000 to fund the restrooms and shelters. Staff is working with a committee to gather feedback on park design and usage. Part of the direction from the group is that this is very sensitive area and we need to have people enjoy it for what it is without detracting from the natural resources. The Parks and Recreation Board receives minutes from these committee meetings. Lance encouraged Board members to give their comments to Del Price or Paul Van Valkenburg who are representatives from this Board to the Gateway Committee. Lance thanked Del and Paul for serving on this committee. Poudre River Boat Chutes Craig showed the Board where the boat chutes would be designed. The six years to complete the project ends December 31, 2000 to protect water rights. The funding will come from Conservation Trust and will cost approximately $200,000. Marty said that when we went to Water Court, it was the first time the law recognized recreational water rights in a river. Craig said the water engineer's design will make the structure safe for canoes and kayakers. We will have the boat chutes in place to show recreational use on the Poudre River to protect our water rights. Blevins Restrooms/Shelter Update Craig updated the Board on the Blevins Park Project. This park was constructed in 1977, and at that time we did not construct restrooms in neighborhood parks. We have generated funding in this neighborhood through neighborhood parkland fees to construct a restroom and shelter in this park. Craig spoke to the principal at Blevins regarding the kids having ownership and pride in the park. The principal agreed to get the kids involved. The cost to construct this restroom and shelter will be $100,000. The neighborhood is appreciative for this amenity in their park. The site for this restroom and shelter has not interfered with the soccer fields. Other Business • Edora Park Shelters — This park didn't have adequate shelters for the size of the community park. Therefore, two are being constructed. The shelter next to the playground will be Parks and Recreation Board Minute. March 24, 1999 Page 4 approximately 16 x 20; and the second one (24 x 64 approximately) will be adjacent to the parking lot. Both will be south of the trail. This project is paid for by the Choices funding for community park upgrades. • Jessica MacMillan asked about Spring Creek Park since the flood? Craig said it is rejuvenating and we reshaped the bank along the park; we are working with Stormwater as they are helping us as they reconstruct the river banks. The park is functional and the visual aftermath of the flood is diminishing. • Marilyn Barnes asked where the visitor's center is going to be constructed? Staff responded it will be at Prospect and I-25 on the Southwest side. • Paul Van Valkenburg commented about the tree plantings at Case Park. He asked if the fence will go back up. Craig replied, yes and that the park construction will begin in April. • Jackie Rael reminded the Board to RSVP for the Board and Commission training called "Strengthening Board Effectiveness" on April 30. The deadline for sign-up was March 22. Board Comments Diane Thies announced that she will be resigning from the Board. She will be attending college for her master's degree and therefore will not be able to commit her time to the Board. Board members said they would miss Diane's contributions to the Board. Adjournment: On a motion by Marilyn Barnes, seconded by Paul Van Valkenberg, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:45 p.m. Meeting Attendance Board Members Marilyn Barnes Rebecca Chavez Lance Freeman Dean Hoag Jessica MacMillan Mary Ness Diane Thies Paul Van Valkenburg espectfully suJamitted, ac ie Rael, Executive Administrative Assistant Staff Jim Clark Tim Buchanan Craig Foreman Marty Heffernan Jackie Rael