Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - January 16, 2025, Regular Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission MinutesCITY OF AMES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES DATE January 16, 2025 COMMISSION PRESENT ABSENT None STAFF Keith Abraham, Cassandra Eames, Joshua Thompson 1. CALL TO ORDER: 4:01 PM 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: (Reeves/Iles) to approve the November 21, 2024, and December 5, 2024, minutes. MOTION PASSED: (7-0) 3. PUBLIC FORUM No public comments. Cady noted the passing of Richard Deyo with an appreciation of his input during Commission meeting public forum, commitment to Ames, and concern for residents. 4. FY 2025/26 OPERATIONAL BUDGET a. Budget Overview Abraham gave an overview of department funding along with projected revenues and expenses. City Council approves the budget, he noted, and the Commission approves fees and charges. Staff’s budget presentation to City Council occurs on February 5, 2025. Abraham reviewed department funding sources, noting most department activities are supported via General Fund. Enterprise Funds include Ames/ISU Ice Arena and Homewood Golf Course. Right of Way activities are supported by Road Use Tax Funds. Projected FY 25/26 expenses of $5,521,011 against $2,449,421 in revenue shows projected $3,071,590 subsidy, or 56 percent, for the department, with 33 and 95 percent subsidy for Recreation and Parks, respectively. Forty-four percent cost recovery in Ames is better than the national cost recovery average of 21-22 percent. Abraham reviewed projected expenses, revenue, fund support, minimum fund balances, and unreserved fund balances for Ames/ISU Ice Arena and Homewood Golf Course. Both Enterprise Funds are healthy. Fees and charges will increase across 42 percent of activities and programs, down from 65 percent the previous year. Parks and Recreation Admin priorities include Daley Park Splash Pad, Mini Pitch, and Agility Course projects; Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center; Ontario Park Master Plan; and conceptual design for a Rec Center. Instructional programming highlights include youth golf lessons, new camp partnerships, Sixty Forward opportunities, and partnerships for additional adaptive programming. Athletic highlights include Disc Golf, Sixty Forward partnership, and pickleball leagues. For Aquatics, Abraham highlighted increases in Water Safety Instructors, swimming lessons partnership with ISU, Fitch 2 Family Indoor Aquatic Center, Schainker Plaza and Daley Park Splash Pads, and additional Furman Aquatic Center programming. Wellness highlights include new classes, optional virtual classes, Sixty Forward Center classes, and new strength equipment at the Community Center weight room. For Homewood Golf Course, Abraham highlighted record rounds played, Sixty Forward golf league, Hole #9 bridge renovations, and Best of Story County recognition in 2024 for the course. Ames/ISU Ice Arena notable items include fee increases, third-party pro shop vending machine, live stream services, and a full-time Ice Arena Coordinator. Thompson’s overview of Park maintenance items included renovated mini shelters at Ada Hayden Heritage Park (AHHP), park shelter metal roof installations, a new utility task vehicle for AHHP, and LED lighting in restrooms and shelters. Abraham thanked The Friends of Ada Hayden Heritage Park group for its expertise and significant financial contributions benefitting users of the park. Iles spoke about numerous inquiries regarding establishing a friends group for Ontario Park. Abraham said inquiries should be directed to him, preferably soon, so staff could provide opportunities for the public to express interest in a friends group during public input sessions for Ontario Park, or via surveys, etc. Cady asked if a new friends group would form its own 501(c)(3) to take donations. Abraham said it could but would not have to form a 501(c)(3). Reeves asked if the department budget includes cemetery, right-of-way, and other items that do not fall within Commission jurisdiction. Abraham said all items will be reviewed at the February 5, 2025, City Council meeting. The total budget is just over $7 million. b. Fees and Charges Abraham reviewed current FY 24/25 and proposed FY 25/26 fees and charges, noting some take effect at the beginning of the new fiscal year, on July 1, while others take effect with the next session of a particular program or activity. [For the Auditorium, Community Center, and Bandshell, the Commission is approving the FY 26/27 fees.] MOTION: (Shimanek/Iles) to adopt the revised fee schedule as listed for FY 25/26. MOTION PASSED: (7-0) 5. STAFF REPORT – PARK POLICIES Noting inquiries about what is allowed plus increased issues encountered in the parks system, Abraham spoke about a goal of working with the Commission and public to develop a more comprehensive list of park policies. These policies take the form of either ordinances (City Council approved, enforceable by Police, municipal infraction punishable by penalty) or rules (Commission approved, unenforceable by Police, not a municipal infraction carrying penalty). Rule violations may be reported to Police for support with the situation, he added. Following the November 21, 2024, Commission meeting, staff gathered park policy information from other Parks and Recreation departments in Iowa and Kansas, finding most policies with similar categories along with other items not currently included in Ames Park Policies. Abraham highlighted several categories – Prohibited Acts, Parental Responsibility, Special Use Permits, Camping, Environmental Protection Concerns – and reiterated staff’s focus on developing a clearly-formatted park policy document including both rules and ordinances. 3 Cassandra Eames, Engagement Coordinator, will lead public outreach on park rules and other feedback initiatives, including Ontario Park Master Plan and a recreation center. Additionally, other City departments, including Legal, Fire, Police, City Manager, will provide input on Park Policies. Abraham reviewed a timeline for gathering input (January-March), policy revisions (March-April), Commission (April-May) and City Council (May-June) presentations/review, and implementing new policies (July). Iles asked if the Ames/ISU Ice Arena has its own policies. Abraham indicated most Parks and Recreation facilities have specific rules, with overlap. Staff does not wish to wrap facility rules into the broader park rules discussion. Tapp asked about children needing supervision in City parks. Abraham said there are no age restrictions or adult supervision requirements – it is not something staff can monitor or enforce. Rathe asked about children at Furman Aquatic Center. There, Abraham said, children under 10 years old need adult supervision in the facility, and adults must remain within arm's reach of children in the splash pool. Reeves asked about cross- checking to determine if policies are already covered by other laws or ordinances. Abraham said Legal will be involved to check. Shimanek appreciated the concise timeline and effort to bring stakeholders together. White complimented staff’s policy research and to-do list. 6. PROJECT UPDATES a. Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center On January 28, 2025, Story Construction and RDG Planning and Design will provide a quarterly in-person construction update to City Council, Abraham reported. City Council also receives monthly written updates. On December 10, 2024, City Council reviewed and approved in concept the items the Commission approved at its December 5, 2024, meeting, i.e., budget, proposed facility schedule, survey, and fee schedule. b. Steven L. Schainker Plaza Abraham indicated Terracon recently performed Ground Penetrating Radar evaluation of the ice ribbon. Test results may be available by January 24, 2025. Topographical survey work is still needed. The City’s contracted concrete expert will use this information to evaluate Henkel Construction’s four proposed solutions for correcting the unacceptable concrete surface. Staff hopes to bring this information to City Council in the next couple of months. That, along with exterior punch list review, will enable decisions about the facility’s potential opening date. c. Agility Course Thompson reported contracts are signed with Caliber Concrete, general contractor for the project, and Outdoor Recreation Products, who furnished equipment installed at Miracle Park at Inis Grove. City staff will erect a shelter and install benches, grills, garbage cans, etc. Staff will meet with the contractor in the coming weeks to develop a project timeline, with a goal of completing construction by fall 2025. d. Mini-Pitch Abraham reported several bids came in for the mini pitch component, with low bid at just over $100,000 against a $150,000 budget. On January 14, 2025, City Council approved awarding project contracts to Caliber Concrete for concrete and mini pitch installation, and to Van Maanen Electric for electrical work. Staff hopes City of Ames Public Works will do concrete testing. The project timeline will resemble the Agility Course project. 4 7. MONTHLY REPORT Thompson reported:  Two outdoor ice rinks in South River Valley Park, one for hockey and another for open skating, are open and available for use.  The Christmas tree drop off site at 700 E 13th ST is available until the end of January.  Park and right-of-way tree trimming work is progressing during the winter months. Abraham reported:  Ames/ISU Ice Arena held a New Year’s Eve public skate with 120 participants.  Homewood Clubhouse events included Painting with a Twist painting class, Homewood for the Holidays visits with Santa, and Euchre and Cribbage Leagues. 8. COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS Cady noted varied indoor and outdoor activity opportunities during January. She also provided information about boards and commission service, eligibility, and application submittal. Three Parks and Recreation commissioner terms expire in 2025, Abraham added. Iles and Tapp are eligible and wish to return for three-year terms, likely leaving only the single one-year term to fill. Reeves thanked Cady for her earlier comments about Richard Deyo. Cady noted the community outpouring of support and affection following his death. 9. NEXT MEETING: Thursday, February 20, 2025, 4:00 PM (Regular Meeting) 10. ADJOURNMENT MOTION (Shimanek) to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 5:20 PM.