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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 09/14/2011Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – September 14, 2011 Page 1 of 16 BE A GOOD STEWARD: Protect & Respect your Parks, Trails & Recreation Facilities Call Meeting to Order: Rob Cagen called the meeting to order 5:36pm Agenda Review & Items of Note: Agenda Review: - Introduction of the Senior Center Board Members present at the meeting. The three Senior Boards represented were: Senior Advisory Board, Senior Center Council and the Senior Center Building on Basics Expansion Committee. Items of Note: - None. Citizen Participation None Approval of Minutes: No Discussion. Rob Cagen made the Motion to approve the Parks & Recreation Board minutes of August 24, 2011, Bruce Henderson seconded – Minutes approved 7:0 AGENDA ITEMS: Senior Center Presentation & Tour – Barbara Schoenberger, Operations Supervisor - Senior Center The Fort Collins Senior Center started as a part-time operation at City Park Center/Club Tico in the early 1970s. In 1975 activities for seniors were moved to a newly acquired building at 145 E. Mountain Avenue. In addition to programs and activities, offices were provided for a number of senior services including RSVP, senior employment, visiting nurses, and many others. In March 1988, voters approved a quarter-cent sales tax to pay for the $4 million senior center to be built on city owned property. The current facility opened in June 1995 and is nearly 40,000 square feet on nine acres of land; five acres were developed at the time of construction. The Senior Center is a great place for retirees and this facility was built to meet the needs of senior citizens. The senior population insisted that City Council, at the time, name the facility the Fort Collins Senior Center so that the purpose and use would remain as intended. Despite changes in politics and economy, we work hard to keep our focus on our senior community, age 50 and older, supporting their wellbeing, independence and community involvement. Our team serves nearly 1,000 community members each day, offering a diverse schedule of over 60 daily events, including programs in Aquatics, Arts & Crafts, Dance, Education, Community Gardening, Fitness & Wellness, Outdoor Recreation, and Social, Travel, and Volunteer activities. Additionally, we work with more than thirty agencies and organizations that serve older adults in our community. PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD Minutes of Regular Meeting Wednesday, September 14, 2011 5:30 p.m. Council Liaison: Kelly Ohlson Staff Liaison: J.R. Schnelzer, 221-6301 Craig Foreman, 221-6618 President: Michael Chalona Phone: 970-490-2335 (home) / 970-472-8954 x1 (work) Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – September 14, 2011 Page 2 of 16 The National Council on Aging has recognized the Fort Collins Senior Center for excellence in service to its patrons, naming it 1 of 12 leading senior centers in the nation and 1 of only 2 accredited senior centers in Colorado. We worked for and attained accreditation with the full support of the City of Fort Collins. Starting this past January, more than 10,000 Baby Boomers will turn 65 nationwide every day, a pattern that will continue for the next 19 years. Closer to home, the population over age 65 in Larimer County is expected to grow much faster than the general population. As Baby Boomers retire, our senior population will grow over 140% over the next 20 years! We are currently able to meet our financial goals through a balance of fees, membership dues (that are dependent on benefits), sponsorship (support from others who believe in the value of the services we provide), and rentals (the opportunity to provide space when not in use by senior programs). As space becomes more critical, we fear that we will be pushed in to more revenue producing activities that will vitally limit services. This would continue to erode our financial base, thus causing us to be more dependent on subsidy from the City. Volunteers from the Senior Advisory Board became concerned because the existing facility was nearly at capacity when it opened in 1995 and by 2003 every space was utilized nearly every hour of the day, making it impossible to accommodate the future needs of our growing community. Activity rooms are often crowded and overbooked, fitness equipment and other amenities are becoming outdated and inadequate, and a parking shortage limits accessibility, especially during large events. Through the Building on Basics (BOB) capital improvement project, Fort Collins City Council has already allocated over $5 million for the estimated $12 million expansion. This allocation includes $50,000 per year for 7 years for additional operating expenses once the expanded facility opens. The Building on Basics Expansion Committee, a citizen-led 501C3, was launched in 2009 and plans to raise the additional $7 million needed for the project. The committee has so far raised $10,000 for bricks and mortar funds. With the $5.1 million in funds from BOB, we will be able to build about 10,000 square feet probably dedicated to fitness, according to the ballot language, and do site improvement to the property. The volunteer committee with little support from us is working to secure an additional $7 million in order to fully realize our opportunity to have the space needed to provide more classrooms, a computer lab space, and storage. The design phase will occur in 2012, groundbreaking will take place in 2014, and the expanded facility will be completed in 2015. Please join us in our quest to provide tomorrow’s users of the Fort Collins Senior Center with the facilities they need and deserve. Without you, fewer seniors in our community will receive support they need to remain independent at a place where they can learn, exercise, connect with others, and enhance their lives. A PowerPoint presentation is attached to the minutes. Discussion: SC Board Member – The Senior Center provides focus. After I retired, I had an opportunity to explore a more creative side; I learned how to draw and it’s really been a wonderful experience and opened a whole new world to me. I was actually able to donate some of the cards with my art work, as part of the fund raising efforts which is a magical thing. The Senior Center is a great place and affordable with warmth and friends. SC Board Member – When you wake up after retirement and say “now what?” the Senior Center gives you a place to come and banter with other people; which is what you miss when you don’t go to work. We have a group “donut you know it” which has about 20-30 people that meet on Friday at 10:00am for open discussions and socializing and everyone is welcome to join in. SC Board Member – In 1995 I walked into the Senior Center to check it out, and never walked out. It gave me a place for the physical activity I wanted. It’s a restorative place to help after surgery, accident and improve Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – September 14, 2011 Page 3 of 16 your body. When I first retired, it motivated me to work out so I could qualify for the Senior Games so I could get some medals. SC Board Member – The Senior Center offers the Front Range Form for your mental health. It gives you a place to continue to learn offering 26 classes over three semesters. Facilitator teach history, science, art and many other classes with a lot of help from the Senior Center. Barb – We do many of our activities with volunteers. SC Board Member – My charge is to make the business community aware of this resource. The Senior Center is a place to socialize and learn. SC Board Member – The Senior Center has many good qualities including staff, volunteers and activities. It’s not just a place for retired seniors, anyone is welcome. SC Board Member – I was a caregiver for an 80 year old gentleman, whose family wanted him to have an outlet other than his assisted living facility. Although he was not interested in verbally participating, I brought him to “donut you know it” and he enjoyed listening. He also enjoyed riding the bike and being greeted by other people. Barb – We had a senior member tell us that she was so thankful that when she was young and raising her family, that the senior community at that time had such foresight to ensure there was such a wonderful place for her to enjoy as a senior; that she wants to make sure the same is done future generations in this community. Councilman Kelly Ohlson – At a Council Work Session last summer, we had an opportunity to discuss what to fund with additional Building Community Choices (BCC) monies that were available. I proposed that $1M go toward the Senior Center Expansion bringing the total allocation from the City to $6M. Other Council members seemed agreeable to this, but there has been no formal decisions made as to what will be funded with the additional BCC monies. Board – Do you have any suggestions for fund raising? Kelly Ohlson – I’m not sure that’s a strength of mine, but I would ask staff to provide any resources and take a leadership role to continue looking at funding options. Board – Just curious, what about naming rights? Kelly Ohlson – Speaking personally, but not for the City Council, I don’t like naming rights because typically the name on the building representation a small portion, maybe 5%, of the total cost of the building. Acknowledgement should be proportionate to the amount of the donation. Board – So, if someone donated enough, do you think it would be okay to name a room in a building after them? Kelly Ohlson – As long as it was proportionate, sure. Break There was a 10 minute break, for those members interested, to tour the Senior Center facility. Bylaws Update Rob Cagen and Michael Chalona spoke with Kelly Ohlson regarding the delay to update the Parks & Recreation Bylaw language to include “promote awareness and understanding of, and appreciation for, the value of parks and recreation as a resource contributing to the quality of our city”. After the proposal was presented to the Leadership Team, they felt that other Boards bylaws should be reviewed to see if it made sense to add this language to their bylaws as well, or if it should even be added. Discussion: Kelly – The reason for the hesitation, is because historically, there have been issues with other Boards going beyond their boundaries. So, while this added language may work for the P&R Board, the question came up; “what about other Boards?” Board – We understand the issue with the Code, but we’ve been working on this for about six months, and a delay in allowing this language to be added to our bylaws while they examine other Boards will reduce our chance to engage our target audience; which is the schools. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – September 14, 2011 Page 4 of 16 Kelly – I’ll visit with the team on Monday, September 19, to see if we can move the Parks & Recreation bylaws update along, and allow the other Board to “catch up”. Board – We do have respect for the process, but we’re only asking to have the ability to promote sustainability and appreciation for the parks and recreation facilities; which doesn’t seem like an unreasonable request. Kelly – If you can send me some talking points that I can refer to at the Leadership meeting, that would be great. * Note: P&R Board worked via e-mail on Thursday & Friday and sent the following talking points to Kelly on September 16: • As Parks & Recreation Board Members, we’re amazed by all that the City is doing with parks and recreation, and want to share the information we’ve learned with the citizens of Fort Collins. To this end, our communication subcommittee spent most of 2011 researching the optimal way to do so. • We have already spent five months trying to expand our bylaws. • One of the Board’s top priorities is to coordinate with Poudre School District (PSD) to improve stewardship in parks to reduce vandalism and other inappropriate uses. If we have to wait for other boards and go as a group it may put us out 9-12 months. If this is the case, not only will we lose momentum, and enthusiasm, but we’ll lose an entire school year.” Board – Kelly, you said you wanted the Board to be more active. Kelly – In the past, sometimes Board meetings have been more of a show and tell by staff. I just want to make sure you know that it’s okay to question, challenge and push the organization. Your questioning can help make an impact for change. Press the Council as well. Right now staff has been working on Parks Sustainable Best Management Practices which should be done by the end of the year; you need to push to make sure this happens. Board – There was a memo that suggested there was a misalignment between, Boards, Staff and Council. Kelly – I don’t know of any such memo, but I think what this meant was with policy, not the Board. Council wants to hear everything so we can make changes possible. Board – Can we give advice that doesn’t jive with Council? Kelly – Yes, but you have to follow the appropriate process by submitting a memo or resolution to Council. Board – We are just wanting to write articles, and show up to events being able to promote Parks and Recreation as a Board member. Stewardship for Kids Proposal – Danna Ortiz Right now I’m working at the teacher level and have found out that some of the kids are not respecting their schools either. They are working to develop a team of kids to monitor their own activities to be more respectful. Discussion: Board – Have you talked with the kids? Danna – I haven’t gone beyond the teacher level yet, until we have the mandate to do so. Right now I’ve just approached them on my own, not as a Board member. Board – It will be nice once we have the mandate to talk with them and promote as the Board. Danna – The Student Council has a beautification subcommittee, so they’re trying. Board – Maybe another Board, like the Youth Advisory Board, should be involved so they’re talking with a group of peers. Danna – A peer counseling group at Fort Collins High School has helped with the clean up of Stewart Case Park, and part of the success is that the school rules apply to the park so the school can also help with enforcement. Board – After we get further along with this, maybe we can talk with the Youth Advisory Board to see if they would be interested in teaming up with us. Board – We should look into Social Media as well, it would help get the word out. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – September 14, 2011 Page 5 of 16 Work Plan & Meeting Schedule for 2012 Craig did a great job in helping us get started with the 2012 work plan. Discussion Board – It seems there are several passive words used, like “review” and “provide input”; is there a better way to word this? Board – Maybe we should remove those words, and add a sentence upfront to show how we plan to actively participate to create positive and creative feedback. Board – Let’s replace the word “review” with “evaluate and provide feedback”. Board – On the Transportation Board we developed a goal which helps frame things and kept us focused. Board – A goal is a great idea, but it’s something that all the Board members have to agree upon. Then we would have to create objectives, which could change, but they would have to be measured. This could take a long time to develop. Board – Since the 2012 work plan has to be updated and to the City Clerk’s Office, by November 30, we could try e-mailing to develop a goal, with the contingency that the work plan be an agenda item to be finalized at the October meeting. STAFF UPDATES Recreation Updates • It’s been a busy seven weeks; and I’m learning a lot. • I had success working with the school district in Greeley, and have met with the “CANDO (Coalition for Activity and Nutrition to Defeat Obesity) group” at Poudre School District. I asked if we could have the Recreator available at the “can do” tables that are set up at the elementary schools and they agreed. • I’m also looking to have an open-house with “CANDO” working with Healthy Children and PSD to form more partnerships. This should help to open some doors at PSD. • I’m meeting with the Library District to collaborate with them for a reading program at the Farm, Northside Aztlan Center, and EPIC. • Looking at internal controls for consistency in cash handling, contracts and policies. I’m creating some front-line teams to move things in a positive direction. • I’ve created a monthly accomplishments worksheet that I send to Marty, highlighting what our next 30 days looks like and telling our story. I’ll be happy to share this with the Board. • The City is developing a Strategic Plan which will help us be more data driven and tell our story. Board – Thanks for sharing your report with us, we haven’t had enough information from Recreation in the past. Parks Updates • Performance reviews for staff will be starting in November. • We were hit hard on the trails with graffiti this year, it has cost around $60,000 for clean up. • They are going to have citizens on the results team for the 2013-2014 BFO process. There are looking at having an open-house in March inviting members from the Boards and Commissions to see if they would have an interest on being on a results team. Board – Just wanted to give an “atta-boy” for hosting the Tour de Fat at Washington Park this year. I was glad to see this park being utilized and it was so much easier than being at New Belgium. Board – The NewWest Fest was better this year too; it just had a better atmosphere. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – September 14, 2011 Page 6 of 16 Park Planning Updates • The two parks, WatersWay and Registry are coming along nicely. The pump house at WatersWay has caused a bit of delay waiting for the pump. But we should be in good shape, unless there are some weather issues. • The 18-hole disc golf course at Hughes should be done in October. Once it’s done, we’ll work on downsizing the course at Edora. We should be able to tell you what that’s going to look like at the October meeting; but it will probably be downsized to 9-holes, and they’ll be determined for resource protection. Board – Can the area where the BMX was be used? Staff – Probably not for hole, there’s not enough room, but it could be used for a practice area, and parking. Board – How did you decide on a cannery theme for Registry Park? Staff – The cannery theme for the restroom adds to the character of the ocean theme of the park. Registry Ridge Development’s street names are ship names, so we built off of that theme for the park; and the theme for the park was well received by the neighborhood. Communications & Stewardship Sub-Committee Waiting for approval of update to Bylaws to determine which way to proceed, as discussed in Bylaws Update. Bicycle Advisory Board Liaison Update: We talked about the BFO process. Other Work Plan Items Museum/Discovery Center Update: The building is complete, and now it will take about six months and $1M for the move to be complete. The Parks Department will be responsible for outside maintenance of the grounds and trail connection. Discussion: Board – Can we get a tour set up? Staff – It may be more difficult now that they are in the process of moving, but we’ll check into the possibility. Bullet Points Rob Cagen was contacted by Suzanne Jarboe-Simpson to let him know that other Boards had lost interest in doing the bullet points. Discussion: Board – We find value in this, and would like to continue adding the bullet points to our minutes. Board – It only takes a minute or two at the end of the meeting to come up with the bullet points, why are the other Boards not interested in providing them? Staff – We’ll look into why other Boards are not interested, and talk with the City Clerk’s office to see if the bullet points can be downloaded onto the web page, so they’re easier to share. Bullet Points • Met at Senior Center, learned about their facility and expansion plans. • Met with our Council liaison, Kelly Ohlson, regarding our proposed bylaw change enabling the Parks & Recreation Board to do outreach to promote stewardship. • Reviewed and revised the 2012 Parks & Recreation Board Work Plan; goals vs. objectives. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – September 14, 2011 Page 7 of 16 Adjournment: Bruce Henderson moved to adjourn, Danna Ortiz seconded - meeting adjourned 8:46pm. Respectfully submitted, VtÜÉÄ etÇ~|Ç Carol Rankin Administrative Support Supervisor Parks Department Board Approved the minutes, of September 14, 2011 – 9:0 Board Attendance Board Members: Rob Cagen, Brian Carroll, Michael Chalona, Shirley Christian, Bruce Henderson, Greg Miller, Danna Ortiz, Selena Paulsen Staff: JR Schnelzer, Craig Foreman, Carol Rankin, Bob Adams, Barbara Schoenberger, Pat Moore, Greg Daley, Katie Stieber Guests: Councilman Kelly Ohlson; Members of the Senior Advisory Board, Senior Center Council and the Senior Center Building on Basics Expansion Committee; Jack Steele Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – September 14, 2011 Page 8 of 16 Parks and Recreation Board September 14, 2011 Park Planning and Development work items: Policy Plan: The draft of the Environmental/Sustainability Best Management Plan Manual has been completed and staff is reviewing. Budgeting for Outcomes: The 2013/14 BFO process will begin in the spring of 2012. Building on Basics (BOB) Park improvement funds – 2009 funds to Roselawn Cemetery for improvements. Park improvement funds will be available in 2015. NISP: Staff is anticipating the Supplemental EIS to be ready in the spring of 2012? Park items: 1. Waters Way Park: Construction is underway on the park. 2. Tennis court plan for neighborhood courts is being reviewed by management. 3. Registry Neighborhood Park: Construction is underway on the park. 4. Staley Neighborhood Park: Park is in the pilot program for The Sustainable Site Initiative program. Drawings and specifications have started on the park for construction in 2012. Trails: 1. Poudre Trail at Nix Farm: Staff will be developing the trail user resting area design. Natural Resources have seeded the area with native grasses. We are sensitive to this costly effort and will plan our construction of the resting area for a later date to minimize disturbance to the new grass. 2. Power Trail: Keenland underpass of the UP in approval process and in the second step of the railroad approval process. 3. Fossil Creek Trail along Stanton Creek north of Carpenter Road entering into the bidding process for fall 2011 construction. 4. Poudre Trail at Lemay: Mulberry Bridge to be replaced by CDOT. 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 2013. The MPO has awarded $368,375 toward the construction of the $530,000 trail project. The City is working to add funding to the bridge project to create a “gateway” affect in this area. 5. Poudre Trail to Timnath: Scoping of the project in 2011. Staff will start to work with CSU/Environmental Learning Center for an easement for the trail to extend to Drake Road. 6. County Road #11 and trail underpass on hold due to limited Street Oversizing funds. 7. Spring Creek Trail east of Centre Avenue to the railroad tracks. R.O.W. is working with CSU (CSURF) about the new trail easement process. We hope to acquire the easement in 2011. 8. Staff is working with the City Bicycle, Natural Resources, Communications Office and Park Maintenance staff on a plan to update our trail signage. 9. Plan Fort Collins action item – Trail Design Standards Amendments in 2011 and 2012. Update bicycle/pedestrian trail design standards to address use of trails for commuting/transportation purposes without impacting the recreation value of the trail system. Designate which trails these new standards would apply to and avoid impacts on environmentally sensitive areas. Staff has started a process for gathering user counts on the recreational trail system. Miscellaneous: 1. Electric bicycle trial period Code change is being worked on by several staff members. Council Work Session on e-bikes gave direction for a one year trial period. 2. 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. 3. Disc Golf: The course has moved to the construction phase. The $85,000 GOCO grant was obtained for the project. 4. Water Craft Course – NISP impact unknown at this time and fund raising very slow. 5. Old Fort Collins Heritage Park stake park lights – Group of users are attempting to find funding to supply lights at the skate park. 6. Discovery/Museum Center – we are coordinating on this project. 7. Bike Safety Town location determination process continues with PSD input. 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