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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Ames Park and Recreation Commission Meeting 01/17/2019AMES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES DATE: January 17, 2019 COMMISSION PRESENT: Sarah Cady, Ed Moran, Jeremy Bristow, Kelsey Culbertson, Eve Lederhouse, Sean Carlton-Appleton, Sarah Litwiller, ABSENT: STAFF: Keith Abraham, Joshua Thompson, Craig Kaufman, Pat Wynja, Brooke Rogers CALL TO ORDER: 4:01 PM INTRODUCTION OF SEAN-CARLTON-APPLETON Carlton-Appleton lives in Ames works at MGMC. He participated in the Ames Community Institute which sparked his interest. He loves the parks and has a daughter who goes to gymnastics. ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRPERSON Lederhouse moved to nominate Cady for the position of Vice Chairperson. Bristow seconded the motion. With no other nominations from the Commission, Moran closed the nominations. No discussion. No opposition. Motion Approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Bristow, with second by Litwiller, to approve the November 15, 2018 and December 6, 2018, meeting minutes. No discussion. No opposition. Motion Approved PUBLIC FORUM Lori Beiderman (1239 Orchard Drive) Beiderman is working to set up a Friends of Brookside Park group. She is holding a meeting to gauge public interest on February 2, 2019 at 2:00 PM in the Rotary Room at the Ames Public Library. Assuming that people are interested, the next step would be to send out a survey and see what projects people would like to see. Abraham stated that there are three active friends groups in town, Roosevelt, Ada Hayden, and McCarthy Lee/Munn Woods. A friends group is made up of people who are passionate about the park and helps in many ways. DIRECTOR’S REPORT a. Check Presentation for Scholarship Fund – Ames Jaycees Melissa Angstrom, representing the Ames Jaycees, presented a check to staff for the scholarship fund. She stated that it is a goal of the Jaycees to give back to the community and to make sure that something special is happening with the funds that are raised. So for the past four years they have chosen to donate part of the proceeds from Ames on the Half Shell to the scholarship fund. b. Update: Healthy Life Center The committee has met in preparation of the January 31 meeting. The meeting will consist of an overview of the project itself, the fundraising efforts so far, and the options moving forward. The meeting is Thursday, January 31at City Church on Oakwood Dr. c. Staff Report: 2018 Homewood Golf Course Year in Review Brooke Rogers, Recreation Manager and Pat Wynja, Turf Maintenance Supervisor, spoke about the 2018 golf season. The course opened April 11, which is later than usual due to the weather. Wynja showed photos of the course conditions in both wet and good weather. Future plans include added drainage, cleaning up some native areas that are overgrown, and adding some pollinator sections. Rogers stated that the new clubhouse is an exciting thing for staff and the community. Lederhouse asked about the percentage of golfers using carts and if it is going up as the clientele is aging. Rogers answered that cart use has gone up and at times the Thursday Morning Ladies League use all the carts. Cady asked about attracting new users, including young adults in their 20s and 30s maybe something like holding an event for beginning golfers. Rogers informed Cady that there is a free clinic offered to adults in the beginning of the season. Rogers also stated that all of the youth and adult indoor lessons are full and she has increased our presence on social media. Wynja is the past president of the Iowa Golf Course Associations. Abraham asked him about young people not playing golf as it is too slow. Wynja stated that staff keeps speed of play in mind when doing course set up for the day. There are also things you can do with the turf to speed up play. Abraham told the commission about new Fling Golf which is almost like a lacrosse stick which is played on a regular golf course. Abraham gave kudos to Wynja and Rogers for all they and their staff do. d. Staff Report: 2019-2024 Proposed Capital Improvements Plan Abraham went over the Proposed Capital Improvements Plan. There have been public meetings, meetings with staff, and meetings with the City Manager to put this plan together. There have been unexpected additions such as the McCarthy Lee Bridge and the fishing pier at Ada Hayden. Lederhouse asked if the new clubhouse would be rented by Staff like the Bandshell and the Auditorium. Abraham stated that it would be a part of the department and any rental fees would be in the Homewood budget. Litwiller asked about the capacity. Abraham said community room would hold about 80 people. The entire facility approximately 100 people. e. Staff Report: 2019-2020 Proposed Budget Abraham went over the operating budget for the department. Lederhouse appreciates what we do to keep things affordable, but she also wants to make sure we get paid for our value. Carlton-Appleton asked if the raising of the fees was discussed with the public. Abraham stated if there is a large jump in rates, staff will sit down with user groups and have the conversation. Abraham also stated that there has been little feedback from the public when the rates go up 3-5 percent. Cady asked if some of the tree removal at the east end of McCarthy Lee was due to the sanitary sewer work. Thompson informed her that staff had to remove some trees to remove the bridge that washed out this past summer. Cady moved to recommend the 2019 Parks and Recreation Budget as is to the City Council. Lederhouse seconded the motion. No discussion. No opposition. Motion Approved. f. Commission Action Form: Program Fees Bristow asked what if any fees were raised more than 3-5 percent. Abraham stated that some of the season golf passes were raised more as it is our goal to reduce the number of types of season passes available. Municipal indoor swim passes during the school year are also more. Almost everything else is in the 3-5 percent range. Abraham also informed the Commission that these proposed fees were used for the proposed budget. Bristow feels like the value is definitely there for these programs. Lederhouse made a motion to approve Alternative #1. Bristow seconded the motion. No Discussion. No opposition. Motion approved. g. Project Updates i. Homewood Clubhouse Abraham stated that one of the conversations yet to be had is should we pursue LEED Certification. Staff is looking at everything, trying to be as energy efficient as possible Staff would like to take this to Council on February 12. The Parks and Recreation Commission needs to look at whether or not they want to pursue the certification as it will raise costs and delay the project. Staff would like to hold a special meeting sometime between now and February 12 to bring the Commission as much information as possible on this topic. Bristow asked about the importance of the LEED Certification. Abraham stated the certification process has different levels. The project would have to pass the prerequisites before trying to pursue some of the levels of points. The certification is a piece of paper that states you did everything in your power to be as energy efficient as possible. Expanding sustainability efforts is a goal for the City Council. The question has been raised so now Staff needs direction. Bristow stated that most building codes and building materials are energy efficient. Carlton-Appleton feels it is worth the discussion. Cady is interested in planning for some things now and adding additional items like solar charging for the golf carts later. Maybe we don’t need the plaque. But it is worth having the discussion. Abraham will look at some open dates and let the Commission know when the special meeting will take place. h. Correspondence MONTHLY REPORT Omild wanted to thank the fitness class participants for donating 45 bags of food to MICA. She also wanted to thank Mediacom and Downtown Ames for sponsoring the Home Alone movie and snacks. Thompson thanked the Ames Minor Hockey Association for caring for the outdoor ice rinks. COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS Carlton-Appleton thanked everyone for welcoming him and stated that hopefully he will be of some use. Moran thanked staff for taking care of the paths and snow removal. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Lederhouse to adjourn. The meeting concluded at 6:07 PM. Next Meeting: Thursday, February 21 2019, at 4:00 PM