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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Ames Park and Recreation Commission Meeting 09/21/2023AMES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES DATE: September 21, 2023 COMMISSION PRESENT: Jeremy Bristow, Sarah Cady, Rachel Cramer, Duane Reeves, Nathan Shimanek, Jeff White ABSENT: Thyra Cox STAFF PRESENT: Keith Abraham, Courtney Kort, Joshua Thompson CALL TO ORDER: 4:01 PM APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM AUGUST 17, 2023 Bristow moved, second by Cramer, to approve the August 17, 2023, meeting minutes. No discussion. No opposition. Motion Approved PUBLIC FORUM Merle Brendeland (Stated address as Huxley) Brendeland stated he was representing the Ames pickleball group, who are applying for a grant that could provide $16,000 to improve the pickleball courts. Mr. Brendeland requests help from Staff with the grant application and a letter from Parks and Recreation stating that Staff would work with the pickleball group on selecting the furniture or other items for pickleball court improvement; however, the funding would come from the pickleball club. Abraham reminded the Commission that they can take no action on items presented during the Public Forum but can provide some direction to staff in the Commission Member Comments portion of the meeting. 2024-2029 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN DISCUSSION Abraham explained the process and timeline for the development of the plan. He also reminded the Commission of the differences between the Operations Budget and the Capital Improvement Plan and how each is funded. Abraham stated that there is a backlog of projects to complete and funding shortfalls for two other projects - the proposed splash pad in Daley Park and the consolidation of park maintenance facilities. Parks and Recreation staff will meet with the City Manager and Finance staff regarding these projects. Some or all of the year-one projects may be moved back to accommodate the completion of the current projects. Abraham shared the suggestions received at the public input session, suggestions received via email, and from the Parks and Recreation staff. Some of these proposed projects are not necessarily CIP, Parks and Recreation, or even City items. White is thrilled to see the emphasis on the state water trail, including improving and updating water access. He is particularly interested in having an access located at South 16th Street. Cramer asked Abraham about the way that we advertise the public input session. She wanted to know if attendees stated how they learned about the meeting. Abraham stated he didn’t ask that question. Abraham said he gathered the participants' email addresses to follow up on some of their questions. He will ask at that time. White informed Abraham the meeting information was shared with many paddlers from Skunk River Paddlers. Cady stated she thought some neighborhood associations could have shared it, too. Reeves asked for an update regarding the sculpture in Ada Hayden. Abraham stated the artist had a new idea about mounting the sculptures. The piece could still be installed this fall. Shimanek expressed that Staff and Commission must look at the high-cost/low-usage vs. low- cost/high-usage projects. He feels toddlers can have fun with a glorified sprinkler and didn’t know how we got from that to a $1.2 million splash pad. He feels we could build a simple splash pad, and kids would still have fun. Abraham stated that the splash pad is not extravagant and is probably like one you would see in Ankeny or other communities. Abraham explained that the Council directed Staff to use a recirculation water system for this project. All the extra costs are due to the restroom and shower facilities required by the state of Iowa when using this type of system. Shimanek stated that the high use of the skate park should make it a priority for maintenance and repair. Cady feels that this is one of the challenges we face. All of the amenities in the park system have had more and more use in the last few years, adding to maintenance costs. Abraham says everything costs money, so we have to be strategic. Cramer asked for clarification regarding the splash pad and the restrooms. Abraham stated that the recirculating water system chosen by the Ames City Council has a state requirement for restroom and shower facilities. Those facilities must be within 200 feet and have a clear site line to the splash pad. Shimanek asked if vandalism had prompted the addition of cameras at the Bandshell. Abraham stated there have been issues with undesirable activities in the restroom facilities and on the stage. These activities take a lot of extra time for Staff to clean as there have been feces, vomit, trash, and other issues. The installation of a stage gate and security cameras is due to a combination of things happening in the park. Cady asked if any restrooms lock automatically at night. Thompson stated that the bathrooms in Inis Grove and Bandshell Park lock at night, and when completed, the Schainker Plaza restrooms will also. River Valley and Brookside are in the floodplain and therefore not good locations for automatic door locks. Reeves stated that he has read that in some communities, the costs of some parks are just too much for their budgets, and therefore, they are divesting some of their park property that developers can fill. He wanted to know if there were any underperforming parks that the city could clear out of the portfolio and sell. Abraham stated that there have been no conversations of that nature. Staff is trying to be smarter on how we do things. Abraham noted that overall, Ames residents are proud of their parks. Public meetings would need to be held before any parkland could be sold. Cady said a lot of parkland is in the floodplain and not available for development. From a watershed perspective, she would not want to see land diverted back into farmland. She believes the most significant concern when divesting underutilized parkland is disadvantaging a group of people in that neighborhood. Johan Golchin spoke about the history behind the acquisition of Munn Woods. He was discussing a private parcel connecting Munn Woods to Emma McCarthy Lee and would like to see a path created over this parcel. Cady informed the gentleman after quite some time that this would not be a CIP item. Abraham told the gentleman that he would be willing to meet with him after the meeting regarding his request. Abraham gave an update regarding the donation of 1000 Jarrett Circle to Parks and Recreation. The recommended clarifications to the agreement have been completed, and it is going to Council next week. PROJECT UPDATES Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center Abraham informed the Commission that the project is progressing with the design team working on finishes. Abraham also reported to the Commission that the Story County Board of Supervisors has agreed to pay $500,000 toward the project in exchange for the inclusion of all residents of Story County to pay the resident fee designation for ten years. Steven L. Schainker Plaza Abraham pointed out that more construction activity is happening at the location, and just a couple of items are left to resolve. Sands-McDorman Property Abraham informed the Commission that the property sale has not closed as a document is missing from the file. The closing will have to wait until the seller adds that document to the file. Abraham stated that staff will need to remove some fencing and hazard trees from the property and a short- term plan developed for maintenance and use before the land is open to the public. Abraham informed the Commission that a class from Iowa State is using this land as their semester project. MONTHLY REPORT Kort informed the Commission that the Ice Arena will be reopening on Monday. She urges everyone to come out and see the new mural completed during the shutdown. Furman Aquatic Center had a great year. The 5th & Clark Concert series can fund twelve concerts this year compared to six last year due to a grant from the Iowa Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Thompson stated that the Emma McCarthy Lee court project will begin on Tuesday. The Inis Grove restroom is being renovated from the fire damage and will be open at the end of October. COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS Bristow moved, second by Cramer, to direct Staff to draft a letter of support for the Ames Pickleball Club to attach to their grant application. No discussion. No opposition. Motion Approved NEXT MEETING: Thursday, October 19 at 4:00 PM (Regular Meeting) ADJOURNMENT: Bristow moved to adjourn 5:21 PM