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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Ames Park and Recreation Commission Meeting 03/24/2022AMES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES DATE March 24, 2022 COMMISSION PRESENT Jeremy Bristow, Sarah Cady, Jacob Ludwig, Duane Reeves, Nathan Shimanek ABSENT Nicole Fannin, Sarah Litwiller STAFF PRESENT Keith Abraham, Joshua Thompson, Courtney Kort, Craig Kaufman, Nancy Shaw, Ben Flaherty, Jill Burt CALL TO ORDER 4:00 PM APPROVAL OF MINUTES Ludwig moved, with a second by Bristow, to approve the January 20, 2022, meeting minutes. No discussion. No opposition. Motion Approved PUBLIC FORUM Richard Deyo (505 8th St) Deyo stated there is a current no-trespass order against him. He has been informed he cannot be in City Hall or on the grounds except for official business. Deyo told the Commission that he decided to come to a concert at the Ames City Auditorium. Craig Kaufman let him attend the event with the understanding that he (Kaufman) would check with the City Manager’s office and the Police to see if attending a concert would be considered trespassing or official business. Deyo informed the Commission that he would like to apply for the Heartland Senior Variety Show. Deyo does not know if he can audition until he knows if he can attend the rehearsals and performances at City Hall. Cady informed Deyo that the Parks and Recreation Commission could not change or lift the no-trespass order. She directed him to the Ames Police Department and Brian Phillips in the Manager's Office. MOTION APPROVING THE AGREEMENT WITH THE AMES CYCLONE AQUATICS CLUB (ACAC) TO USE THE 50-METER BASIN AT THE FURMAN AQUATIC CENTER FROM MAY 31, 2022, TO AUGUST 5, 2022 Burt went over the agreement for general use of the aquatics center for practices. Burt informed the Commission that there are very few changes to what has been in place for a few years. The Municipal Pool items have been deleted from the agreement due to the pool's closure. Burt went over any changes with the Commission. Staff recommends Alternative #1. Ludwig moved, with a second by Shimanek, to approve Alternative #1. No discussion. No opposition. Motion Approved MOTION APPROVING: a) Renting the Furman Aquatic Center at $775 per day on June 3, 4, and 5, 2022, to ACAC for a youth swim meet, including the Lazy River and the cost of additional lifeguards. b) Reserving the proposed dates and related times to ACAC to host a swim meet at the Furman Aquatic Center in 2023. ACAC and Staff feel that some of the changes made last year due to COVID19 were positive and should continue. Burt went over the staff recommendations that include the swim meet using the entire facility during the meet and the whole facility opening to the public after the meet. Staff Recommends Alternative #1 Shimanek moved, with a second by Bristow, to approve Alternative #1. Discussion: Shimanek feels that even though public use is limited during this meet, this highlights our facility. No opposition. Motion Approved MOTION APPROVING THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH REIMAN GARDENS FOR 2022. Shaw went over the partnership with Reiman Gardens. Ames Parks and Recreation provides the instructors, and Reiman Gardens provides the space and the marketing. The fees are split 50/50. Staff recommends Alternative #1 Ludwig moved, with a second by Shimanek, to approve Alternative #1. No discussion. No opposition. In favor: Ludwig, Cady, Shimanek, and Bristow. Abstained: Reeves. Motion Approved MOTION APPROVING THE TENNIS AGREEMENT WITH AMES FITNESS CLUB FOR MARCH 24, 2022, THROUGH MAY 31, 2023. Flaherty went over the tennis agreement. Ames Parks and Recreation does the registration and advertising. Ames Fitness Center provides the instructors, and the facilities used will depend on the season. Ludwig moved, with second by Shimanek, to approve Alternative #1. No discussion. No opposition. Motion Passes. MOTION APPROVING THE AGREEMENT WITH AMES YOUTH BASEBALL REGARDING USE OF FIELDS 7, 8, & 9 IN BROOKSIDE PARK FROM MARCH 28, 2022, TO NOVEMBER 1, 2022. Thompson went over the agreement. Ames Little League is now known as Ames Youth Baseball. Other than that, the agreement has not changed. Staff approves Alternative #1 Shimanek moved, with a second by Ludwig, to approve Alternative #1. No discussion. No opposition. Motion Approved MOTION APPROVING THE REQUEST FROM IOWA SPORTS FOUNDATION TO WAIVE THE 10% OF GROSS SALES OF MERCHANDISE FOR SOFTBALL TOURNAMENTS AT NORTH RIVER VALLEY PARK ON JULY 27-31, 2022. Kort went over the request with the Commission. Iowa Games has confirmed there will be a vendor at the tournament. Staff is recommending approving the request to waive that fee. Ludwig moved, with second by Bristow, to approve the request to waive fees for merchandise during the Iowa Games. No discussion. In favor: Shimanek, Ludwig, Cady, and Bristow. Opposed: Reeves. Motion Passes. MOTION APPROVING THE JAYCEES REQUEST TO: a) Sponsor "Ames On the Half Shell," utilizing Bandshell Park on five Fridays between May 27 and June 24 b) Recommend City Council approve alcohol to be served at Bandshell Park on five Fridays between May 27 and June 24; c) Waive the Jaycee's payment of a $1.00 facility fee per ticket sold and 10% of their gross food/beverage sales from "Ames On the Half Shell" events. Kaufman stated the only changes in 2022 are moving the dates back to May and June and having five events instead of four. Cady was glad it was back last summer and feels it continues to be a great event. Ludwig moved, with a second by Bristow, to approve Alternative #1. No discussion. No opposition. Motion Approved UPDATE REGARDING THE INDOOR AQUATIC CENTER Abraham stated the final application for the Iowa Reinvestment Program has been submitted; however, there has not been a final decision from the state. Staff continues to work with the DOT on the purchase agreement with a possession date of October 1, 2022. Staff would like to take the purchase agreement to City Council on April 26. A Phase 1 Environment Study and Hazardous Material Identification Study have been completed. Some abatement is needed in the buildings and will need to be resolved before demolition. Th e history of businesses in the site area includes a filling station, a coal plant, and a petroleum plant. An additional three borings and underground radar will be used to see if there are any tanks left over from the filling station. Staff hopes to get the report back on these additional steps before April 26. Four firms submitted proposals to manage the project. The evaluation team interviewed two firms and will recommend a firm on April 26. Staff is finalizing the agreement with RDG and will go to Council on April 26 as well. Abraham also informed the Commission that a special meeting would be called next week regarding naming opportunities. Staff would like to take any naming recommendations to Council on April 12. Shimanek thanked Staff for their hard work on this. Reeves asked that a project page be implemented on the City's website. Abraham stated that the project page would be updated. UPDATE REGARDING THE DOWNTOWN PLAZA DESIGN Bid documents are out, and several firms have asked for plans. Three general contractors, Henkel, Woodruff, and HPC, attended the pre-bid meeting along with an irrigation sub-contractor. Final bids are due April 13, and the Staff hopes there will be some good numbers. Reeves stated that he was glad Staff recommended natural ice for the facility. He saw an interview on the news where the kids interviewed complained about the synthetic ice in Johnston. PROJECT UPDATES The bid opening for the dredging at Ada Hayden included one bid over $300,000; the lowest bid was $110,000. The project consultant said some firms are not looking for work, so they throw out a number and see what happens. The other project is painting the pool basins at the aquatic center. That project will happen after the 2022 season is over. Staff is finalizing the plans and specs for the pickleball project at Emma McCarthy Lee Park. Thompson stated that it is difficult finding paint and other supplies needed for projects due to supply chain issues. Reeves asked about the adapted boat ramp. The ramp is complete, and the concrete work is out to bid. Staff would like for installation to happen this spring. MONTHLY REPORT Kort informed the Commission that there had been hockey tournaments at the Ice Arena in the last month. After the Ames Figure Skating Club event, the arena will close down for maintenance and open back up on June 1. Municipal Pool has closed as of February 28 and will be demolished. Craig Kaufman has been holding quality programs in the Auditorium. Thompson wanted to thank Dave Flory for taking care of the outdoor ice rinks. Thompson informed the Commission that Flory has already shown interest in taking care of the ice at the downtown plaza. Cady asked about the Drive the Zamboni Experience. Kort stated that the first class was successful, and the Staff got some excellent feedback from participants in the class. Reeves said his daughter was a participant in the class as this was on her bucket list. He stated Taylor (Bassett) did an excellent job. He expressed his daughter is a grad student, and she was by far the youngest person in the class by at least twenty-five years. It was primarily senior citizens, and they loved every minute of it. Abraham stated that Ames Parks and Recreation is working with Jax for the family fishing event at Ada Hayden from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on April 16. There will be bag boards and other activities with prizes. COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS Shimanek stated he goes by the outdoor ice rinks often, and they were constantly busy, which was great to see. Shimanek stated that it was great to see the bathhouse come down at Carr Park. Thompson said there are a few more things to do before installing the agility course. Cady asked about the additional garden beds. Thompson informed her the new garden beds at Carr will be built by an Eagle Scout, and the Delaware garden site will be constructed in April. Abraham explained the process of getting a garden spot for the viewers. Cady feels that the after-effects of COVID will continue to increase the need for outdoor recreation. Abraham wanted to thank Sarah Litwiller for her years of service publicly, even though she could not attend this meeting. Rachel Cramer has been appointed to the Commission and will join in April. Ludwig and Cady have been reappointed. Congratulations to Jacob Ludwig for being elected President of the Student Body at Iowa State. ADJOURNMENT Ludwig moved to adjourn. The meeting concluded at 5:02 PM. Next Meetings: Thursday, April 21, 2022, at 4:00 PM.