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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 03/22/2017Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – March 22, 2017 Page 1 of 5 BE A GOOD STEWARD: Protect & Respect your Parks, Trails & Recreation Facilities Call Meeting to Order: Jessica MacMillian called the meeting to order 5:30 PM. Agenda Review & Items of Note: None Citizen Participation: None Approval of Minutes: Bruce Henderson made the motion to approved the Parks & Recreation Board minutes of February 22, 2017, seconded by Kenneth Layton – Minutes Approved ALL:0 Meeting Summary  The Board received a presentation by Aaron Harris about the City of Fort Collins Recreation Science, Technology Engineering & Math (STEM) programming offerings for youth. STEM programs provide the opportunity kids to discover concepts of robotics technology, physics, engineering while being involved in play. Through various partnerships, such as Play Well Teknologies Lego Engineers Camp and Blue Shed after school science & art enrichment programs, we are able to provide world-class programs while offsetting material costs. This summer we will be offering Mad Science & Incrediflix programs for the first time. In the future we are exploring partnerships with the CSU Computer Science department’s SWiFT and field trips to Wolf Robotics & Otterbox. All programs are eligible for reduced fee program applicants. PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MINUTES Regular Meeting Wednesday, March 22, 2017 5:30 p.m. Board Chair: Scott Sinn – 2016 scott.sinn@ymail.com Council Liaison: Gino Campana – gcampana@fcgov.com Staff Liaisons: Mike Calhoon, 970-416-2079 – mcalhoon@fcgov.com Kurt Friesen, 970-221-6618 – kfriesen@fcgov.com Bob Adams, 970-221-6354 – badams@fcgov.com Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – March 22, 2017 Page 2 of 5 Full Minutes AGENDA ITEMS: STEM Programming - Aaron Harris In 2007, Comcast funded the installation of a six workstation Computer Lab at the Northside Aztlan Community Center (NACC) for kids in the community. Unfortunately, over time we have found we do not have the resources to leave it open & supervised at all times to prevent damage to & misuse of the equipment. Additionally, being limited to 6 workstations does not allow for enough return-on-investment to provide hands-on technology programming. In 2014 – 2105 the Recreation Department partnered with the Poudre River Public Library District to offer STREAM Lab (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art & Math) in the Lounge of NACC to provide educational programming to youth. However, as the partnership evolved, it was found that the program wasn’t a good fit between what Library District was trying to achieve and the resources available to Recreation program planners. The very hands-on nature of the programs required smaller class sizes and the ability to provide facilities need to be able to accommodate materials for all participants. Currently, we work with partners to provide world-class STEM programs with experts in the field for youth, such as Play Well Teknologies Lego Engineers Camp and Blue Shed after school science & art enrichment programs while offsetting the expense of providing materials ourselves. Other programs include Lego Club, Fun Time Discovery, I Want to Be A Scientist, and STEM Together, which involves parents and kids. We can advertise all of these program offerings through partnerships with the Poudre School District Title IV schools, which have 50% or more of the student body on free or reduced lunch. These programs provide the opportunity kids to discover concepts of robotics technology, physics, engineering while being involved in play. All programs are eligible for reduced fee program applicants. To aid our with future programming, we are attending regional conferences and workshops to find out what other organizations are doing and what program offerings are available, such as Field Trip in a Box from the Denver Aquarium. Upcoming new programs include Mad Science, a weeklong day camp with take-home projects, which will be held the opposite week of Lego Engineering to allow kids to participate in both. Also, we will be introducing Incrediflix, a program that will allow kids to design, film & edit a short film in a week. We are also working on future partnerships with the CSU Computer Science department’s SWiFT program, a summer computer science STEM program for teen girls, as well as field trips to Wolf Robotics and Otterbox. Discussion Board – How many kids do you try to serve in these camps? Staff – In the day camps we see approximately 1,000 kids across all camp types Board - $150-$200 per week. How well are those prices received? Staff – As we’ve done an analysis of other similar programs, our pricing meets the average. Board – Are they all day? Staff – Yes, they’re usually all day classes, some may be shorter, but that is reflected in the class information & price. Board – Is Reduced Fee Available? Staff – All of these programs are available to the Reduced Fee Program. Board – Do STEM classes have a different objective or goal than the rest of recreation? Staff – We do list those out in the programming for each class. Board – Do they have instructors that help them? Staff – Yes, in the Lego Camp, for example, all the instructors are engineering students Board – Is there an effort to develop an interest in a wide range of STEM curriculum? Staff – That is why we try to prevent overlap to allow kids to participate in similar programs on different weeks. Board – Do you have numbers for what percentage of capacity you’re at? Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – March 22, 2017 Page 3 of 5 Staff – We don’t have numbers currently, but we do have vacancies. We’re trying to find the right balance of providing an opportunity to grow without diluting the market of day camps. Board – Is the parental response good? Staff – Yes, the parental response has been very good! Board – Who provides the materials for the classes? Staff – If the program run by a contractor, it’s the responsibility of the contractor to provide all the materials. But if we run the programs, we go out and purchase them through local companies or wherever we can buy them. STAFF UPDATES: Park Planning  Council Meeting o 2nd reading of the Neighborhood Park funding. Thank you for your support. Passed. o Capital Expansion Fees – decided to postpone decision until May. Work session in April.  Development Partnerships - A lot of development happening. We’re working with 4-5 on trail projects within their association projects. Talking to them about increasing the size of sidewalks to create a trail and cost sharing with them.  Fossil Creek Trail – The Tunnel is done! The project is progressing. We’re coordinating with land owners for the rest of the trail  Twin Silo Park - Creek work went faster than expected and there won’t be a delay. Weather and contractor both cooperated. Used stone in the creek bed instead of cement to complete it now.  Maple Hill - Moving along. Open in Fall  Poudre River Downtown Project - Through planning & zoning approval. FEMA submissions are in. Feeling good about the progress of this project.  Streets Park - We are moving forward on design due to our partnership with Social Sustainability and the Lincoln Corridor Plan funding. Vine & Lemay. Phase 1 project. Phase 2 will be a more robust water treatment project due to storage of snow. Vision is an interpretive display of low-impact water treatment best practices. Discussion Board – Was this about the Fee Increases? Was there citizen participation Staff – Yes, there was some that voice caution on raising the fees. They appreciated the item was pulled to take a deeper look into it, especially due to the split council. Board – In focusing on the work session in April, are they just looking at the Capital Expansion fees or is the discussion broader? Staff – They decided to split the work sessions by Capital Expansion & Utility fees. Board – Is there a deadline? Staff – I heard May is when the Capital Expansion fees should be decided on. That will probably be further discussed at the April work session. Board – How do you determine the level of service expected for a park? Staff – A lot of that is determined by the fee. If I pay the fee, I’m guaranteed to get what everyone else has gotten. Such as what parks have already been built, what is the value of that asset, divided by the # of people paying on that asset. Board – Are some of these Tail projects in affordable housing areas? Staff – Yes, some are. Board – Are you partners fairly receptive to these trail projects? Staff – It depends on the timing. We are coordinating with City Planning as best we can to catch them before they’re too far a long in the development process. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – March 22, 2017 Page 4 of 5 Board – With the Village on Horsetooth, how confident are you about that trail project? Staff – We are pretty confident. They’re committed to building a sidewalk already. We’re not increasing their cost, just working with them to build a trail. Board – Could we do a tour of the Twin Silos? Staff – Sure! When we’re a little further along in construction, we can have you out to the site! Board – Is NISP have a potential impact to the Whitewater Park project? Staff – It does as it would reduce the number of days (from approximately 40 to 30) where the amount of water flow would be necessary for the white water park. It was never designed to be a “world class” white water project. But it does have significant flooding & environmental impacts. Board – When is the Whitewater Park supposed to be finished? Staff – Spring of 2018 if it all goes according to plan. Once we have a contractor selected, we’ll have a better idea. Parks  February – All Staff Retreat and Phase 2 of a mentoring workshop. Follow up from workshop in January  The botanical crew is working on three different upgrade designs, Raleigh Moore, Spring Canyon & City Park.  Installed new Weather Track Controllers at Northside Aztlan Community Center & Soft Gold Park for irrigation systems to save on water & labor. We have about 12 installed right now and may install several more this year.  Crews rebuilt the flagstone fountain at the Lincoln Center due to some water & infrastructure issues.  Old Town Square skating rink tear down in February took 2-3 hours for the synthetic ice, instead of 2-3 weeks as with the real ice. We did have a debrief meeting on evaluating the success. Our partners with the Bohemian Foundation felt it was successful and are going to put it back up next year. There were some peaks and valleys in use, even without advertising.  Tail system – Dry winters cause settling of the trail system. Intensified and painted trip hazards and working with a contractor to grind them down.  Working on logistics for a composting program proposal at Roseland Cemetery. We need funding for a tractor, a compost turner and a water source.  New field reservation enhancements for ball field practices were very successful. We are planning to move to soccer next year. Enhancements are easier on staff & customers. Scheduled events in fields started in March.  Cemeteries 10 internments in the month of February.  Forestry had a small diameter pruning crew approved in BFO. Working on hiring chief, staff & getting equipment.  Electronic tree permitting process has been updated to be available by other departments online.  Planting 300 additional trees in the city inventory, including new & 50 shadow (replacement) trees. Total 500 new ones this spring. Recreation  Downtown Ice Rink Review - Working on reviewing hours of operation. Based on the data analysis, the ice rink was busiest when Santa’s workshop was open.  All Kayak Roll Sessions (5) at EPIC have been full. Partnership with a Rocky Mountain Adventurers  We are in the process of hiring a new Aquatics Supervisor  Through the BFO Process were able to fund an Ice Leader position and the Ice crew is working on starting the hiring process  City Park Pool is opening soon. Hopefully the new Recreation Aquatics Supervisor will be stepping into the start of that season.  Mulberry Pool Spa is up & running again. We had to post & remind staff of the capacity (12) as it was so full after re-opening. The new starting blocks should be coming in soon.  We are gearing up for our busiest hiring season for summer seasonal help between sports, pool, cashiers, etc. We are going to have a Summer Job Fair this Saturday 9-1 at EPIC, including on-site hiring with drug testing. Parks & Recreation Board Meeting – March 22, 2017 Page 5 of 5  Youth Sports Campaign over at the Foothills Activity Center there are some window paintings of youth on the window to raise awareness & positive aspects of recreation youth sports.  EPIC Therapy Pool and Tile work on pool deck will happen soon. They should be starting within the next week or two for the Therapy Pool. Tile work on pool deck & locker rooms will be at the end of August based on usage. We are doing our best not to impact users due to EPIC pool closure last year.  The Club Tico Renovation to the restrooms, catering kitchen & large storage room is still on schedule for the end of May. There may be a deck added on the 2nd floor to overlook City Park Pool if funding is available. Discussion Board – What is an Ice Leader? Staff – The Ice Leader will work with Paul & Christine to develop recreation programming & different revenue sources around Ice. Board – Are the ice programs directed around kids to get them interested? Staff – They’re primarily looking at increasing the Learn to Skate. There are some adults. They’re starting an adult hockey league in the fall. Board – Is it a part of the city hiring process to do drug testing? Staff – Yes, the city has a zero tolerance drug use policy, so all new hires must complete drug testing. CDL drivers may include random drug testing. Board – How was the Job Fair advertised? Staff – We worked with our marketing team to get it up on social media and job boards New Business  None Bullet Points  STEM Programming  Department Reports Adjournment: Meeting adjourned 6:58pm Respectfully submitted, Coleen Elliott Board Attendance Board Members: Rob Cagen, Dawn Thesis, Jessica MacMillan, Mary Carlson, Bruce Henderson, Kenneth Layton Staff: Stephanie Munro, Steve Lukowski, Kurt Friesen, Coleen Elliott, Aaron Harris Guest: Robert Kingsbury – Observing