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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Ames Park and Recreation Commission Meeting 08/19/2021AMES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES DATE: August 19, 2021 COMMISSION PRESENT: Jeremy Bristow, Sarah Cady, Nicole Fannin, Jacob Ludwig, Duane Reeves, Nathan Shimanek ABSENT: Sarah Litwiller STAFF: Keith Abraham, Joshua Thompson, Liz Calhoun CALL TO ORDER: 4:01 PM APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Ludwig, with second by Bristow, to approve the July 15, and July 22, 2021, meeting minutes. No discussion. No opposition. Motion Approved PUBLIC FORUM Nicole Facio (610 Garnet Dr.) Representing the Ames Pickleball Club, Facio stated the club wanted to introduce themselves and let Staff know they were excited to work with the city on promoting pickleball. They would like to continue to collaborate in the future and work along with Staff to improve the facilities in the area. MOTION RECOMMENDING CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE BOARDSAFE ACCESSIBLE KAYAK LAUNCH FOR THE ACCESS ADA HAYDEN PROJECT Staff feels the BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch recommended by Access Ada Hayden is the way to go. Abraham thanked the group for raising over $35,000 for the project. Staff recommends Alternative #1 David Den Haan (1804 Maxwell) Access Ada Hayden feels that this brand has all the features needed. Reeves asked which of the two railings shown in the presentation are the best for this project. Den Haan says that the railings are outlined in the quote. Reeves would like to see the higher railing for safety in this project. It was moved by Ludwig, with second by Fannin, to approve Alternative # 1. No discussion. No opposition. Motion Approved UPDATE ON THE IOWAY CREEK STREAM STABILIZATION PROJECT IN BROOKSIDE PARK Abraham stated that the Friends of Brookside Park sent a letter to the Ames City Council with their concerns regarding the project. Thompson stated that the friends group outlined the same concerns as some of the stake holders. The concerns include loss of habitat, invasive species, the impact to the water temperature, how to promote more fish. All in all, the feedback was good to hear. Liz Calhoun, Stormwater Resource Analyst, informed the Commission that 35 people attended the public meeting. The main concerns were tree clearing and loss of habitat. Calhoun stated that Staff is working to address neighborhood concerns while they develop a plan. Calhoun stated a meeting is scheduled with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on some alternatives to the plan and best practices. Calhoun met with and walked the property with each owner. Tree removal was a big concern. Abraham stated one of the things about doing outreach is that people are passionate on both sides. He also informed the Commission that there are a lot of trees that are desirable to keep and some that are not desirable or are invasive. The goals of the project need to be kept in mind. Reeves asked what would happen if we did nothing. Calhoun stated the big issue is the east bank where people are losing land to the creek. On the park side, there are areas of vertical bank. The creek will continue to erode. Shimanek likes that the DNR is looking into stream bed improvements for recreational purposes as it fits in the Commission’s scope of providing recreational opportunities. Lori Biederman (1239 Orchard Dr .) Biederman informed the Commission the Friends of Brookside Park want to make sure the construction phase is well delineated, the revegetation of the area is appropriate, and communication continues. Reeves asked Biederman if her group has done an inventory regarding the habitat. Biederman informed him there are no hard numbers regarding the variation of the habitat. UPDATE REGARDING THE STATE OF IOWA REINVESTMENT DISTRICT PROGRAM Downtown Plaza Abraham informed the Commission there are several things that are going on. The Ames City Council did waive the purchasing policies and are continuing to work with Confluence on this project. A project team has been formed and the first meeting was to get everyone on the same page. The next meeting was focused on the building component as well as water and ice. The mechanical components needed depend on the use of real ice or synthetic ice. There is a Parks and Recreation Commission special meeting on September 9 to discuss the pros and cons and capital costs regarding real ice or synthetic. Real ice will need plumbing and pipes running underneath it and synthetic ice will need storage and replacement. Abraham stated there are still no details of the redevelopment along Lincoln Way. Indoor Aquatic Center City Staff have met with the Department of Transportation (DOT) to confirm that they are willing to sell the property. The DOT must complete an internal process and get a final appraisal before the land can be sold. Staff has also had some conversation with the DOT regarding the buildings that are still on the property. The city and the DOT are trying to find a way to coexist on the site. City Council recently approved the Urban Renewal Area and the Urban Renewal plan which includes the Reinvestment District and has been approved by Planning and Zoning. A hearing for the issuance of bonds will be set once the urban renewal area is adopted. Right now, there are $10 million in private donations which would lower the amount of the bond issuance to $21.2 million. The Council could give themselves the opportunity to issue those bonds at a later date. Stecker-Harmsen Inc., a firm that does future cost estimating, will look at the project and come back with a figure that reflects what is happening regarding construction costs. There will also be a Phase 1 environmental study on the history of this property. Based on the results there could be a Phase 2 environmental study. Staff is also asking Council to authorize Staff up to $50,000 to pay for some of the above items and additional expenses. Cady asked where the state funding comes into play with this as she can’t remember. Abraham stated that the project is $31.2 million. The fundraising of $10 million takes it down to $21.2 million. The City Council could issue bonds for the $21.2 million. The $10 million rebate from the state would take the taxpayer burden to $11.2 million. Abraham also reminded the Commission if the private fundraising comes in over $10 million it would reduce the taxpayer burden as well. He reminded the Commission that the $10 million from the state rebate program is a preliminary award and the final application will determine the outcome. Ludwig asked about the construction if the DOT wants to hang onto the North Annex through 2024. Abraham answered that the proposed aquatic center will be built to the south of the current annex. This is a complicated project with lots of moving parts. Many additional meetings will be needed. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN (CIP) TIMELINE Abraham went over the timeline for the CIP. Looking at developing long term plans and care plan for the items that we have. PROJECT UPDATES a) Agility Course Location Abraham informed the Commission that there was a zoom meeting on this project last week. The department was going to bring a recommendation to the Commission on the location which has been narrowed down to Carr Park or Emma McCarthy Lee Park. There were very few attendees who participated in the zoom meeting. Abraham gave an overview of the concerns which were an increase in traffic, that the equipment will bring people into the area, safety, and loss of green space. Abraham reminded the Commission that there are already plans for a shelter and a restroom and a play structure there. Abraham stated that these are the same neighborhood concerns that we heard from the Miracle Park, that people are not opposed to this kind of equipment, they just don’t want it in their neighborhood. We sent 180 postcards to people whose property is adjacent to Carr Park and a couple of streets over. Some people said it didn’t look important and threw it away. There will be an additional neighborhood meeting to clear up confusion and misinformation. b) Pickleball Courts Zoom meeting went well with many participants who are pickleball players and only one person from the neighborhood. The comments with this meeting were positive and applauded the efforts of the city to provide these courts. There were a lot of good suggestions on the use of the space. Eric Facio (610 Garnet Dr) Facio informed the Commission that the Ames Pickleball Club wants to be as helpful as possible. They would like to help with questions regarding windscreens and lighting, as well as developing leagues. He feels there is the potential to grow in McCarthy Lee Park. Reeves asked Facio about the number of players. Facio said that the club has just been organized and has about 80 members. The Facebook group has around 400 people. People are coming from Huxley, Boone, Ogden and Marshalltown to play. c) AHHP Fishing Pier Started work today on rerouting the path. The project will start the week of September 6. MONTHLY REPORT Thompson informed the Commission that work is starting on Hira Park. Staff are finishing the shelter in Franklin Park and running water lines to the fountain. The path will be completed next spring or summer COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS Ludwig asked about pickleball as he was unsure what it is. Cady and Abraham explained the basics of the game to him. Cady asked about bees or wasps. She said her husband and dog encountered some in Emma McCarthy Lee Park. Reeves asked why there are so many wasps and hornets in the park system. Thompson does not know. NEXT MEETINGS: Thursday, September 9, 2021, at 4:15 PM and Thursday, September 16, 2021, at 4:00 PM. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Reeves to adjourn. The meeting concluded at 5:21 PM.