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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 05/28/2014Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – May 28, 2014 Page 1 of 4 BE A GOOD STEWARD: Protect & Respect your Parks, Trails & Recreation Facilities Call Meeting to Order: Bruce Henderson call the meeting to order 5:36pm. Agenda Review & Items of Note: None Citizen Participation: None Approval of Minutes: Discussion: Correct Dawn’s name. Scott Sinn made the motion to approve the Parks & Recreation Board minutes of April 23, 2014, seconded by Jessica MacMillan – Minutes approved 8:0 Meeting Summary There was a presentation by a citizens group regarding the possibility of building a Cycling & Fitness Park which would be free to the public. Conceptually, it would take at minimum 60 acres at a cost to build of $1.3M, exclusive of land. At this time, there is no land available for this park. The P&R Board members felt the group needed to provide a business plan to address associated costs, revenue stream and safety before they would feel comfortable with supporting this project. Staff updated the Board on the BFO process and explained that more information would be available in June once the offers were placed on the drilling platform. Board will review offers on-line and bring their top picks to discuss in June. The Board discussed the need to scrutinize offers/projects brought to them for recommendation to ensure the projects are fiscally responsible offers/projects. They would also like to encourage other Board to do the same. PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MINUTES Regular Meeting Wednesday May 28, 2014 5:30 p.m. Board Chair: Bruce Henderson, Chair 2014 bmhender6@gmail.com Council Liaison: Gino Campana – gcampana@fcgov.com Staff Liaisons: J.R. Schnelzer, 970-221-6301 – jrschnelzer@fcgov.com Craig Foreman, 970-221-6618 – cforeman@fcgov.com Bob Adams, 970-221-6354 – badams@fcgov.com Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – May 28, 2014 Page 2 of 4 Full Minutes AGENDA ITEMS: Velo & Fitness Park – Citizen Presentation – Dot Dickerson and Dr. Tim Anderson - www.fcvelo.org We are coming to the P&R Board to visit about building a free to the public Fort Collins Cycling and Fitness Park. Conceptually, it would take at minimum 60 acres to house a Cycling Park that would include a 1K Criterium Course, Mountain Bike Short Track, BMX Course, Kids Riding Area, a 3K UCI Regulation Cyclecross Course, Velodrome along with concession area and restrooms. We would anticipate this being a phased project starting in Phase 1 with the Short Track, Criterium and Kids Area; followed in Phase 2 by the Cyclecross, Phase 3 Olympic BMX, and finally in Phase 4 a Velodrome. The estimated cost for building this park, excluding the land, would be a total of $1,310,000; which would be cost shared between the City and fund-raising. The maintenance would be at the cost of the City for about $151,000 per year; with maintenance of the Velodrome being privately funded. Location objective would be close to population center, easy access to CSU, bike trails, streets, public transportation and accessible for all economic, ages and abilities. It would be preferred to be all at one location; with adequate parking and convenient to raw water. We are hoping for a private land deal or a public land use agreement or perhaps a hybrid of both with the park being owned, developed and maintained by the City Parks and Recreation. Our steps are to develop private support to help with sponsorships, contributions, donations and grants; and develop public support by talking with City Council, Staff, and Boards. We’ve also submitted an offer to help fund this through BOB II. Discussion Board – Where is the land? Citizens – We don’t have an idea of where this would be yet, we are hoping for the land to be donated. Ideally it would be in the downtown area or near CSU. We’re not sure there is land available. Board - If this is not funded by BOB II what other alternatives do you have? Citizens – It would have to be general fund. Board – What is the O&M costs covering? The Criterium seems so much higher at $110K than the other areas. Citizens – We based these figures on a similar park in Pennsylvania and this was for mowing, painting, topping 2.5” asphalt and restriping the course. Board – What about the other facilities like concessions, parking, restrooms; do these costs include utilities? Citizens – We assume the construction costs would include utilities. Board – Although I think this is a fun project; the City is at a tipping-point with development/providing services and O&M costs and we’re already looking at alternative funding sources. To add another $1M plus in O&M without a revenue stream just isn’t practical and I would not feel comfortable supporting a project like because of the financial instability. Board – We just wanted to put this in front of you so you would see where we were at with the project. Board – What about making this a “tri-City” project and include Loveland and Windsor as an example. Citizens – We are looking for public/private sponsors. Board – Anything we recommend, we need to find funding sources to justify the O&M revenue str3eam. Board – The Council, in the past, has not been receptive to sponsorships. Board – Do you have a business plan showing economic impact/benefit to the City? Board – What about fees and renting the facility to generate revenue? Board – What about safety and parking? Board – Can Natural Areas donate land? Staff – No, due to ballot language. Board – Thank you for your presentation. Items to work on would be a business plan and safety liability. Citizens – I would like to end by just saying; if not here, then where? Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – May 28, 2014 Page 3 of 4 BFO Process Update Currently the results teams are calling supervisors in for Q&A and clarification on some of the enhancement offers. They are struggling with the general fund being able to fund all the on-going needs; and are looking at a possibly having some offers submit as one-time offers so they can be funded with KFCG money; or possibly being funded through a different strategic outcome area. As a result of the adjustments being made sellers are still not clear what offers have made it above the line and what offers are in jeopardy. We should know where the offers stand in June and will bring this information to the Board. Discussion Board – The City web site; http://www.fcgov.com/citymanager/budget.php, is available for citizens to review each outcome area and “vote” on offers they most support and which ones they least support. I think, we as a Board, need to be vocal for the next three months. Board – I think we need to look at a lot of the detail because presentation can seem very well done, but I think we need to really understand how fiscally responsible the offer is before we make recommendations. Board – Will the general public be able to see the results of voting on this web page? Staff – Not sure, but we’ll find out and let you know. Board – Other Boards and entities will be lobbying for their offers, so we need to do the same. Board – Let’s have each Board member bring their top picks to the June meeting for discussion and possible Board support. Staff can bring any offers that need our assistance as well. Board – When we review these let’s see if any other Board could also be involved so that we can unite if necessary. Board – What about the BOB II? Staff – Southeast Community Recreation Center is hoping for BOB II funding, but this won’t be looked at until July 2014 for the April 2015 election. We’ll bring information to the Board on this as well. STAFF UPDATES Parks Updates • Poudre River is currently flowing very full due to the spring run-off and a majority of the trail has been closed due to flooding and for safety concerns. Web pages are being updated; and we are working on a way for people to sign up to get an email when trail information is updated. Recreation Updates • Summer registration is up from last year. Sixty-eight percent of the registrants registered through WebTrak with zero complaints. The most popular registrations were: Child Development classes, Aquatics, Farm, Sports and Youth Sport. • Bob would like to offer a VIP tour of the Senior Center for either June 9 or June 11 at 6:00pm. • Working on Operational Plan Action Items and will be meeting with the consultant hoping to finalize in July. Once the Action Items are set, we’ll be evaluating each program to decide if it’s of value and the cost recovery on the program. Discussion: Board – I think evaluating these programs is important; because we live in a very privileged community where a lot of great features are offered, but this should not create a feeling of entitlement. We need to be fiscally responsible. As the community grows and ages; many of the venues are going to max out; so as the mid-town development takes place Parks in particular will be impacted with the additional maintenance of pocket parks and destination areas. Park Planning Updates • The spring run-off has delayed the Vine Outfall project; but we’re hoping to have this section of trail open by the end of May. Discussion: Board - What’s the life expectancy of the I-25 overpass? Staff – About 20+ years Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – May 28, 2014 Page 4 of 4 Bicycle Advisory Board Liaison Update • The BAC reviewed BFO Offers; and will be lobbying for the offers they support. Bruce will share their short list with the P&R Board. • June is Bike Month, with June 25th being bike to work day • July FC Bikes will sponsor Open Streets; which is an event other communities have done. Laurel Street will be closed for a day to allow people to experience riding/walking without the worry of traffic. They will also have vendors/booths where people can get information about bikes, bike safety, etc. Board Work Plan Items Discussed and assigned members to various work plan items. • Budget – Bruce Henderson - No Update • Communications – Jessica MacMillan & Dawn Theis - No Update • Sustainable Practices – Scott Sinn & Carey Wilkening - No Update • Parks – Michael Chalona o Traffic Reports are being conducted for the SE Community Park and the impact to the neighborhoods. o City Park Pool is looking at ways to provide better pedestrian access to the pool o An agreement is being made with BNSF railroad for the underpass on the Fossil Creek Trail • Trails – Mary Carlson & Brian Carroll - No Update • Recreation – Dawn Theis - No Update • Other Projects/Programs  Natural Areas – Brian Carroll & Mary Carlson o With various groups asking for land for their activities (Rugby, Velo, etc.) perhaps there could be land swaps/transfers with Natural Areas, if allowed. o Staff – I don’t think this would be allowed, because of the ballot language used to purchase the land for Natural Areas. Schedule of Articles/Calendar Next article due is from Ragan Adams regarding Dog Parks – due to Coloradoan July 2 Following article due is from Mary Carlson regarding City Park Tree Tour – due to Coloradan July 30 Bullet Points • Presentation on the Velo & Fitness Park • Discussion on BFO process • Discussion among the P&R Board members to think about fiscal responsibility when reviewing proposed plans; and encourage other Boards to do the same. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned 7:28pm Respectfully submitted, Carol Rankin Carol Rankin Administrative Supervisor Parks Board Approved Minutes 6/25/14: 7:0 Board Attendance Board Members: Ragan Adams, Mary Carlson, Brian Carroll, Michael Chalona, Bruce Henderson, Jessica MacMillan, Scott Sinn, Dawn Theis Staff: Craig Foreman, Bob Adams, Carol Rankin, Guest: Dot Dickerson, Dr. Tim Anderson