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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - December 18, 2025, Regular Meeting of the Ames Parks and Recreation CommissionCITY OF AMES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES DATE December 18, 2025 COMMISSION PRESENT Jeff Iles, Janet Rathe, Hannah Sappenfield, Debra Tapp, Jeff White ABSENT Duane Reeves, Nathan Shimanek STAFF Keith Abraham, Courtney Kort, Joshua Thompson 1. CALL TO ORDER: 4:00 PM Abraham indicated a Temporary Chairperson would need to be appointed for the meeting due to the absence of both the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson. MOTION: (Rathe/Sappenfield) to appoint Iles as the Temporary Chairperson. MOTION PASSED: (5-0) 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: (Tapp/Sappenfield) to approve the November 20 and December 4, 2025, meeting minutes. MOTION PASSED: (5-0) 3. PUBLIC FORUM None 4. CRAWDADDY REQUEST TO PROVIDE KAYAK, CANOE, AND PADDLEBOARD RENTALS AT ADA HAYDEN HERITAGE PARK Crawdaddy Outdoors recently opened a store in downtown Ames and wishes to provide rentals at Ada Hayden Heritage Park (AAHP). JAX Outdoor Gear provided popular rentals for 20 years, until 2024, and closed its Ames store in 2025. Abraham indicated Crawdaddy Outdoors wishes to provide similar rentals from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The agreement with Crawdaddy Outdoors would include several changes, including weeknight rentals, parking an enclosed trailer at AAHP, and returning 10 percent of gross sales to Parks and Recreation. Crawdaddy Outdoors owner Jamie Borglum, of Waverly, Iowa, bought the 20-year-old business in 2023. The Ames location is the company’s second retail storefront. Borglum spoke about the value of getting people outdoors and the quality of the AHHP resource. The rental equipment will be a demo fleet of higher-end products allowing people to try equipment before buying. Borglum is attempting to secure a grant to fund an ADA-accessible kayak to use as a rental. He explained parking a trailer at AAHP simplifies operations and can provide public information about rental availability. He wishes to partner in any way possible to get people outside. Iles asked if life preservers would be provided. Borglum said life preservers are non-negotiable, required by insurance, and simple common sense. 2 Rathe inquired about paddleboards. Borglum said stand-up paddleboards will be available and staff will ensure renters do not swim in the lake. Crawdaddy Outdoors staff will be trained in basic water safety and First Aid & CPR. White asked about staffing. Borglum stated he plans to have two staff members present, at least to begin with, except for times he works – he can manage things himself. White asked if fishing kayaks will be available to rent. Borglum said fishing kayaks with pedal drives and other sit-on- top kayaks will be part of the fleet available to rent by the hour. He noted rental receipts brought to the store within 30 days will be credited toward equipment purchase. Crawdaddy Outdoors is interested in partnering beyond equipment rentals. Borglum cited basic kayak classes and other family-oriented programming his company could provide. White noted the Sleepy Hollow canoe and kayak access is near AAHP and asked if Borglum has a connection with it. Borglum has not investigated Sleepy Hollow but is becoming aware of many accesses in the area and where they are located. White asked if the Ames store is open. Borglum explained the store currently occupies half its space. The store will close on December 27 and prepare for reopening on February 5. MOTION: (Rathe/White) to recommend Alternative 1, which states: Approve the request from Crawdaddy Outdoors to rent kayaks, stand up paddleboards, and canoes at Ada Hayden Heritage Park from May 23 to September 7, 2026. MOTION PASSED: (5-0) 5. ISU HEALTHAPALOOZA COMMUNITY FITNESS IDEAS DISCUSSION Abraham re-introduced Iowa State University students who appeared before the Commission on November 20 to present their top-scoring concepts from the second annual Healthapalooza community fitness competition. The item was tabled to allow each team to develop responses to staff and Commission questions. Team Passport members Emma Rios and Katherine Watkins reviewed their project to create a passport and map of Ames parks and trails. Financial support for the project could come from the CYstarters program, ISU’s Focus: Artist Grant program, and fundraisers to supplement grant awards. The potential project timeline schedules Phases 1-3 for Spring/Summer/Fall 2026 and Phase 4 as long-term with no set deadline. Needed project materials include signposts with customized signs and hole-punches, printed passports and maps, and patches. They addressed commissioner and staff questions regarding drop-off/pick-up locations (Ames Public Library, Parks and Recreation facilities), partnering with other organizations (ISU clubs, Scouts, Ames Community School District), continuity after graduation (create internship) and how to create a self-sustaining project, potential partnerships with volunteer groups, creating a digital alternative (possibly integrating the passport with the Active Ames app), estimated initial startup costs, and ensuring installed signposts fit with park maintenance standards. Team Active Ames member Leah Ylonen reviewed the Active Ames fitness app and calendar to enable activity planning and scheduling. Once the app is created, the team would benefit from support from ISU’s Healthcare Management and Scientific Illustration and Visualization programs, as well as promotional assistance from 60 Forward and Ames Public Library. Project continuity ideas include creating multiple student internships and a modular structure, with project components independently developed and maintained by several departments, with 3 repeatable experience and resume-building benefits to student participants. Ylonen spoke about app information updating and accuracy; AI automation tools; ownership and copyrighting; and funding/revenue possibilities from non-intrusive local ads, sponsored event listings, and local club partnerships. Anticipated staff time requirements are being analyzed. Ylonen confirmed possible collaboration between the passport and app teams. Staff and commissioner questions included if anyone could submit information (no plans to limit information, more engagement is better), why someone would use the app instead of web searches (ease of use over a la carte searches), ongoing operations and consistency (shared responsibility among multiple students and/or departments), startup and annual costs (budget to be determined based on partnerships, grant awards, ad revenue, partnering fees), how to incentivize businesses to invest in updating app information (track engagement to show if the app increases event interest/attendance), and how to ensure the app does not become oversaturated and hard to navigate. Liyuan Wang, 3015 Stockbury Street, an Ames High School student, commented on the value of encouraging community members to be active and perceived benefits of the proposed fitness passport/map and app. Based on his involvement in volunteer organizations, Wang believes once startup and infrastructure costs are done, ongoing expense and staff time requirements would not be prohibitive, especially if sought-after internship opportunities are available. In response to a question from Iles, Abraham suggested as a next step the Commission could direct staff to meet further with one or both teams, if commissioners see merit in the project(s). Abraham spoke about the concern of potentially adding to staff obligations. Rathe wondered if a faculty sponsor could be responsible for ensuring continuity, maybe as a required class project. Sappenfield saw potential for community engagement in the projects but noted the challenge of bringing pieces spanning multiple departments together and keeping them together over time. She suggested forming a group committed to long-term project maintenance and retaining volunteers and interns to prevent the burden from falling on one individual or City staff. Thinking about longevity and building it into the project(s) structure during startup will be very important. Abraham spoke about the university owning the project(s) and the City providing support. MOTION: (Sappenfield/White) to direct staff to continue discussions with the groups. MOTION PASSED: (5-0) 6. PARK RULES AND POLICIES UPDATE Abraham summarized recent City Council deliberations and action related to park ordinance modifications. Changes approved at the December 9 City Council meeting were mostly aligned with Commission recommendations. A second reading of ordinance changes at the December 16 meeting included a change to swimming prohibition language. The third reading will occur at the January 13, 2026, meeting and then the updated ordinance will take effect. Staff will prepare a follow-up memo to capture two items not included in City Council deliberations: alcohol in the park system and dogs on leashes in the park system. If City Council supports action on these items, further ordinance modifications would occur in early 2026. Also on December 9, City Council defined ‘personal transportation device’ and clarified they may be operated at posted speed limits on streets and at a 20-MPH limit on any trail, unless otherwise posted. Abraham noted staff’s and Commission’s recommended 10-MPH speed limit and shared with City Council supporting data from the park user survey. City Council had no other questions and responded favorably to recommended park rules changes. Abraham also reviewed public comments from the City Council meeting related to safety and possibly implementing “fix-it” tickets to give cyclists a warning about minor infractions. 4 Iles commented on trusting survey data only to a point. He wondered about compliance, self- policing, and difficulties with enforcement. Abraham said most complaints are from pedestrians who feel unsafe. Rathe stated people racing around need to be called out to make them slow down, go someplace else, or go when no one else is there to be bothered. Abraham added walkers are not blameless, noting trail crowding, retractable leashes, etc. Locations where a 10- MPH speed limit will be posted include Ada Hayden Heritage Park, Moore Memorial Park, Brookside Park, Elwood Pasture, and Stuart Smith Park. Abraham stressed the need to start somewhere and to understand issues may need further review. Rathe said signs will be helpful. In January, staff will bring a final version of updated park rules to the Commission for review and adoption. White asked if there would be a bicycle speed provision for triathlons or other athletic events at Ada Hayden Heritage Park. Abraham said no, but almost all triathlon bicycling happens outside the park boundaries. Also, anyone can ask the Commission or City Council to waive park rules or ordinances, respectively. Waiver decisions are based on the merit of the request and how it would impact other park users. 7. BROADCASTING PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETINGS City staff recommend reducing live broadcasting of some City board and commission meetings. Beginning in April 2026, meeting broadcasts must be closed captioned to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. Due to relatively low viewership and resources required to properly caption videos, staff recommend limiting broadcasting/recording of Parks and Recreation Commission meetings to scheduled times recommended by the Commission. Staff may record meetings for minute-taking purposes but would not retain these recordings. Sappenfield stated that while she understands a need to wisely allocate limited staff resources, compliance with digital accessibility should not take resources away from the public. If meeting broadcasts stop because of closed captioning demands, is that becoming more accessible or less accessible, she asked. Bill Gebhart, Media Productions Services Coordinator, said Iowa Open Meeting Law does not require cities to provide meeting video but, if created, video must be publicly available. He spoke about low viewership for Parks and Recreation Commission meetings and staff resources needed to caption to mandated standards – a two-hour Commission meeting requires 11 hours of production time. The goal is not to give less information, he stressed. Meeting minutes will continue to serve as the official open records document. Sappenfield responded that it is helpful to know the rationale for the change in case of pushback from the public. Sappenfield asked how a determination will be made to broadcast future Parks and Recreation Commission meetings. Abraham indicated staff and commissioners often have a good sense of issues likely to generate public concern. Also, feedback from public outreach can reveal strong public interest. In such instances, staff would ask Media Production Services to broadcast and record the specified Commission meeting(s). 5 8. AMES FITNESS CENTER TENNIS AGREEMENT Kort reviewed an annual agreement with Ames Fitness Center (AFC) regarding youth and adult tennis lessons. Since Fall 2021, lessons were offered at local parks in warm weather months and otherwise at AFC’s Tennis Bubble. To eliminate weather-related variables, in 2026 all lessons will transition to the Tennis Bubble, with an option to utilize AFC’s outdoor courts. MOTION: (Rathe/White) to recommend Alternative 1, which states: Approve the Tennis Agreement with Ames Fitness Center through December 31, 2026. MOTION PASSED: (5-0) 9. PROJECT UPDATES a. Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center Abraham reported Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center (FFIAC) facility schedule and fee information will be shared at the January 2026 meeting. Substantial completion dates are January 23 for non-natatorium areas and February 13 for the natatorium, with FFIAC opening likely delayed until April. Recent construction progress includes installation of the slide (visible from outside), walking area surfacing, and multipurpose space flooring. On December 16, City Council reviewed findings on the inconsistent color of precast concrete panels. Council directed staff to investigate staining options on a mockup panel to find a stain dark enough to hide the mottled concrete yet light enough to maintain contrast with the dark letters of the facility name mounted on the concrete panel surface. Council also approved a change order for Story Construction’s management services. Rathe asked about staff hiring and training. Job openings are posted and interviews are occurring, Abraham reported. He reviewed local and State inspection requirements and Temporary Certificate of Occupancy criteria. Staff will likely not be in FFIAC until March, he estimated, with a minimum of six weeks training time needed. If the best-case scenario opening date is in April, FFIAC may be open only briefly until Furman Aquatic Center (FAC) opens. Sappenfield asked how that will work. Once FAC opens, Abraham said, FFIAC will be used for fitness classes, swimming lessons, therapy sessions, and more, but not for open swim except during inclement weather affecting FAC operations. Kort discussed the logistics of swapping facilities and the importance of forecasting to mitigate complications. Sappenfield asked if staff will be shared across FFIAC and FAC. Kort replied aquatics cross training is the goal and is already underway. Abraham added staff hopes year-round lifeguarding opportunities increase employee retention. Sappenfield asked if the multipurpose room is viewed as an expansion of programming or moving programming to FFIAC – a combination of the two, Kort responded. Abraham indicated staff will set up another tour for the Commission. b. Steven L. Schainker Plaza Abraham reported the City sent the contractor a letter with a timeframe for a response. The City will act based on the contractor’s response. 6 10. MONTHLY REPORT Kort noted (1) applications opened for temporary positions at Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center and Furman Aquatic Center, and (2) upcoming holiday concerts at Ames City Auditorium. Thompson reported that due to construction at the Parks Maintenance Building, the Christmas tree drop-off site moved to the softball complex parking lot on East 13th Street. The public may drop off trees from December 26, 2025, through the end of January 2026. Deer hunting in Munn Woods has so far resulted in 13 harvested deer. Thompson said hunters indicate removal of deer carcasses has been successful, albeit challenging. Abraham said he is unaware of any concerns raised by walkers, park users, or residents. 11. COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS None 12. NEXT MEETING: Thursday, January 15, 2026, 4:00 PM (Regular Meeting) 13. ADJOURNMENT MOTION (Tapp) to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 5:45 PM.