HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 10/26/1976l
pAR%S MID RECREATION ADVISORY p iSD
MINUTES
MEETING - Octobe.+ 26, 1976
dhe regular monthly Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board was rellef
to order by President Bob'Fiunt on Tuesday, October 26th at 7:35 P.M.
In preliminary remarks, Bob Hunt said perhaps the Board acted hastily in approving
Amendment #1 (lottery issue); for future issues, there should be more time for study
of the same.
A resignation from Ted Johnston, due to possible goofllet of interest,was read.
Board elections were held. Bob Hunt will remain as President; Bob Crockett was
named Vice -President; Dona& Beard will remain as Secretary.
A plaque will be given to Gladys Eddy at November %ft.tIag for her years of service
on the Advisory Board; a letter of appreciation wil> a.l'tYq be sent to Lela Hyder,
former Board Member.
Bob Hunt felt that the Board had been brought into the budget process to late.
Of two Proposed recreation fee hikes, Council has psesad'the higher rates, 6-1.
Dwain Miller, at a City Council meeting, requested that the Board and City Council
meet together; this is scheduled for January. City Council has discarded the
reservation system at Educe tennis courts because CouncAl members felt the system
wasn't working and that it wasn't meeting axpenses. 'Bob Hunt requested that the
Department keep the Board.informed as to loug-range, five-year and the current plans.
It was suggested by H.. R. Phillips that Division heads - Forestry, Cemeteries,
Recreation, etc. - come to Board meetings and give an overview of their respective
arena. Information about park acreages, trails, division goals and objectives can
be ready for November meeting.
For the meeting with Council in January, Bob Hunt indicated that Board members should
be familiar with short and long range goals and objectives of the Department; spwitfics,
not generalities, should be discussed. Dwain Miller has volunteered to be liaison
between the Board and the Comprehensive Plan group for the City.
Bob Brunton outlined the criteria used by Council in the Philosophy of fees:
1. Adult recreational programs should pay their own way for out -of -the -
pocket expenses - (instructors, supplies, no administrative costs)
2. The imbalance between revenue and expenditure should be lessened and
looked at individually
3. Programs not paying their own way should not be started
4. Fees and charges should not be so high as to be non -productive
5. Department should continue to devise means so that no young, low-income
person is denied access to recreation; those people just above poverty
level suffer the most. They are an important group to be served.
Before the Board meets with Council, there are two very important ideas to be
determined:
I. Should the above criteria be revised? Is the philosophy correct?
2. Programs for 1978 budget should be presented to Council in January or
February, rather then at budget time in September.
To Bob Hunts question, "Is City Council still concerned about cost of youth
Programs?", Bob Brunton replied that Council wonders if more volunteer help
could be used in Youth programs, as is utilised in the 'Public Library. Council's
philosophy is, not to arbitrarily raise fees, but to see that program costs are
kept down. Areas of priority for the City will have to be identified for budget
Purposes; i.e. increase in fire and police personnel or in recreation programs, etc.
Paul Lanspery, Budget Analyst, presented the recommendations (4), and allocations
adopted by Council to implement remaining portion of seven-year Capital Improve-
ments program financed by sales taxes until March 1980. Council feels that ice
rink and swisming pool rate low priority, but went to see something done because
of the 1973 election.
When completed, the trails and bike lanes system will be maintained by both
Parke and Recreation Department and Streets Department; high maintenance, (grass,
flowers, etc.) by Parks; low maintenance, (downtown bike 'lanes, paved areas), by
Streets. Cost for bike lane to go under the railroad tracks is estimated at
$50,000. Grounds on long range plans, Lincoln Community Center will be maintained
by Parks.
Credit for obtaining an increase in park land fees goes to H. R. Phillips and
Michael DiTullio. It was recommended to Council, in its review of fees, that
park land fees per new housing unit, be increased to $275.00; Council set the
fee at $235.00 per unit. Council questions whether higher park fee/unit may tend
to drive new construction outside city limits, thus depriving the City of that
revenue for park expansion; i.e. Fossil Creek development.
In future meetings with Board and Parks and Recreation staff, Bob Brunton and
Paul Lanspery willddiscuse and answer questions concerning -
1. What are priorities for 1978?
2. Greater detail on proposed Capital Improvements concerning park and
recreation areas.
Mr. Brunton feels that the public should be educated on what they get for their
tax dollar and that publicity is necessary to explain the recreation story.
Susan Jones, Assistant to the City ?Manager, with each department contributing
Information, will help with this publicity.
Bob Crockett asked if staff or Board approval was necessary before recommendations
were made to Council. Bob hunt replied that according to the Boards and
Commissions Manual, Council does not have to proceed in this manner. Council
does want input from hoards; that input is better when received early. Bob
Crockett said Board members need definition of what specific items are in or out
of advisory capacity and what Council expects of this Board, and, in like manner,
what this Board expects of Council.
Concerning the fees for adults under Proposal II, Bob Hunt questioned the increase
as exceeding the direct cost expense for these programs, and thus more than off-
setting youth program cost.
Bob Hunt set a lunch meeting for Wednesday, November loth, at 12:00 noon
In the Conference Room at the Cormunity Center, 145 E. Mountain Avenue.
At that ties, Board members will discuss the five criteria stated by
Mr. Brunton and the Board's philosophy concerning the same. An executive
coeoittee will be appointed to meet with staff concerning publicity for the
recreation use of the tax dollar and how citizen input will be sought con-
cerning use of their taxes for recreation.
Respectfully submitted,
DONNA BEARD
Secretary
PRESENT
Bob Runt
Clara Donohoe
Donna Beard
Irene Toliver
Donald Peters
Bob Crockett
Ray Kruse
R. R. Phillips
Tom Frasier
Robert Brunton
Paul Lanspery
CSU Journalism student