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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Ames Park and Recreation Commission Meeting 01/14/2016AMES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES DATE: January 14, 2016 COMMISSION PRESENT: Julie Johnston, Sarah Litwiller, Dakota Canning, Jason Schaben, Melissa Rowan, Ed Moran ABSENT: Vikki Feilmeyer STAFF: Keith Abraham, Kellee Omlid, Joshua Thompson, Jill Burt CALL TO ORDER: 4:00 PM APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Rowan with second by Canning to approve the December 17, 2015, meeting minutes. No Discussion. No Opposition. Motion Approved PUBLIC FORUM No Public Forum DIRECTOR’S REPORT A) Indoor Aquatic Center Update Director Abraham explained partnering opportunities had come forward for a new facility and representatives from Heartland Senior Services, Iowa State University and Mary Greeley Medical Center were present to speak to the Commission regarding partnering opportunities. Bob Gelina (Heartland Senior Services) Mr. Gelina explained to the Commission that Heartland is interested in an intergenerational healthy life center complex. He requests the Commission to consider being part of a discussion along with Heartland Senior Services, Iowa State University (ISU) and Mary Greeley Medical Center (MGMC) to develop this intergenerational healthy life center complex. He states that 60 years of age plus is the fastest growing element of the population. Heartland’s mission is to offer life enriching opportunities to older adults and provide support to their families and caregivers. He states that the current location is bursting at the seams. Heartland Senior Center management and board members have been exploring options for expanding programming and facilities. This board is of the opinion that the best option is to partner with ISU and MGMC as Heartland already has relationships with those entities. What would make this facility truly intergenerational is the pool. Heartland is asking the Commission to sit down with them and look at things that we may do together. Warren Madden (Iowa State University) Mr. Madden wanted to be clear that at this point ISU has not entered into any kind of agreement with anyone. He wants the Commission to understand that the University at this point has not agreed to do anything. ISU is interested in exploring this partnership as they have a number of programs that work in the areas of Gerontology. He stated that there is a history of looking at the area near Ontario and Scholl road for this type of project. Specifically the land on the south side of the tracks as it is on the bus route. He explained that any group wishing to engage ISU in this matter needs to show what benefits it would bring to teaching, outreach and research programs as well as what it would offer to the faculty and staff who are dealing with parents or others in their family unit and need this kind of community support. Also pools and recreational facilities enhance quality of life in Ames and help make Ames a better place. ISU is certainly open to conversations and has not made any decisions about anything. Brian Dieter (Mary Greeley Medical Center) MGMC has not made any decisions but thinks this is an idea worth discussing. MGMC promotes an active senior healthy lifestyle but what happens when that lifestyle is no longer available. MGMC is also a large employer and can see the benefits for better and more services and increasing outreach for people who want to stay in their own homes. Mary Greeley wants to improve the health status of people and an emphasis on proactive health as a benefit to the community. MGMC has a very small warm water pool that was built for therapy and rehab only. This pool will serve for a while longer and there is no burning need to change it. If there was a better option for people it would be easy to understand that MGMC would be open to relocating some of their services to a more comprehensive center. Collaborating is important to MGMC; for example they have a partnership with Story City on a joint facility that is adjacent to the therapy clinic. Mary Greeley certainly thinks there is more dialog to be had. There needs to be compelling vision balanced with the costs. Heartland, ISU and MGMC feel that Ames Parks and Recreation and the School District should be in on those discussions. Gelina also stated that the School Board has been approached and that they want to be included in the discussion as well. Rowan feels that the services that Heartland provides are incredibly vital. She would like him to help the Commission understand what Heartland would envision at a new facility. Gelina stated that a larger adult daycare, nutrition, and activities are important to his group. They would also like to expand to the younger senior population. Heartland would still use ISU students. Heartland is open to add and change things. Schaben states that he is excited to have these discussions. He feels getting more of the community involved could lead to a bigger and better facility which will bring in people from all different generations. Rowan inquired as to next steps. Gelina would like to know if this is something that the entities would like to continue to move forward with by June 1. Schaben stated his feeling is that the quicker discussions could take place the better. He stated that the current pool has a few years but he does not feel that we should push this to the very end and then make a decision that may not be the best one. Gelina stated that for Heartland to s erve this population, one that needs recreational services and equipment, an old building is not the environment that Heartland wants to have. Abraham said the next step would be to get all the entities in one room over the next few months and put together what this would look like. Johnston stated that the public has made it very clear “once we dig a hole somewhere it needs to be big enough and progressive enough” so she is very excited by this opportunity. Schaben moved to direct staff to continue discussions with Heartland Senior Services, Mary Greeley Medical Center and Iowa State University on the proposed concept of an Intergenerational Healthy Life Center Complex. Second by Johnston. No discussion. No opposition. Motion Passes. B) Staff Report: Born Learning Trail The criteria identified by United Way for learning trails is that they are in a low income area, on a loop trail, and are accessible. Staff and representatives from the United Way identified parks that met the criteria. Greenbrier Park, Patio Homes West, and Brookside Park have been identified for this program. This program includes a series of signs with activities, little libraries and activities painted on the pavement such as hop scotch. The next step would be to put together a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Way regarding this project. The Parks and Recreation Department will help with initial set up and the United W ay will cover the costs. Kim Hanna from Raising Readers in Story County and Allie Prusa from the United Way explained more about the program. Moved by Johnston, second by Schaben for Staff to work with the United Way to develop the Memorandum of Understand and continue to move forward with the Born Learning Trails project. No Discussion. No opposition. Motion passes with Rowan abstaining. . C) Staff Report: All Inclusive Playground and Miracle Field Abraham reported that an all-inclusive playground is a playground where every component is accessible to anyone. It is not just for children with disabilities, but parents or others with disabilities. Abraham and representatives from Arc of Story County and Friendship Ark Homes determined after observing the Ankeny inclusive playground that this is a project that they want ed to pursue. Mainstream Living, the Ames Community School District and the Ames Foundation have all been interested in this project and have been involved in the discussions. The Ames Foundation is interested in serving as the fiscal agent for this proj ect which will cost approximately $1,500,000. The group has been contacting potential steering committee members throughout the community. There has been some conversation regarding location. The area needs to be accessible, have adequate space, available parking and be easy to get to. Lloyd Kurtz Park has been identified as a potential location. The Kiwanis clubs in Ames and Nevada are really behind this. They are willing to reach out to other communities to see if they would like to be involved. Sheila Lundt (806 Furman Drive) Ames Foundation The mission of the Ames Foundation is not just beautification projects. Part of the mission is recreational opportunities in our community. The Foundation will help with the steering committee and fund raising. They will also be the fiscal agent for this project. Tricia Crane (Arc of Story County) Her nationally based organization oversees special Olympic activities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She feels this is another added component to serve the needs of the community. Mike Miller (Ames Noon Kiwanis) Kiwanis members have been involved with Miracle League for many years. He states that one of the best things you can do is volunteer and watch the kids and parents. The participants are part of a team. They have shirts and hats. They all run the bases and score and have a good time. Landscape Structures is also involved with Kiwanis as well. The local Kiwanis have a goal to get this started here in Ames. Every group approached has indicated they want this to happen, that they will maintain this, and they will volunteer for this. Lloyd Kurtz was a big part of the Noon Kiwanis and the Ames Noon Kiwanis planted the bushes and trees at that park. The Kiwanis are r eady just waiting for the Commission to hop on board. Rowan inquired about the role that Parks and Recreation would have in this besides the use of the park. Abraham stated that the steering committee will do the fund raising and the Ames Foundation serve as the fiscal agent. Staff’s role is to support the steering committee and have a say in the final design. Rowan asked if this (a miracle field) could be used during the Special Olympics. Crane stated that it could be and that the Arc has kickball teams and softball teams that would use this. She could see this being a regional draw. Ankeny has teams from all over the state come to use their field. She would like to keep it open for use all the time and not just used on Saturday mornings. Johnston asked about scheduling issues. Abraham stated that Miracle League is always on Saturday. Abraham said that who schedules the leagues will have to be worked out. Every child has a helper on the field as well. Ankeny said that it is easy to get people to volunteer. Johnston states that she is very excited by this project. Rowan moved for the Ames Parks and Recreation Commission to support this concept, to direct staff to continue to move forward in a supportive roll to make this a reality, and that staff move forward holding conversations with the neighborhood and Stone Brooke Church. Schaben Second. No Discussion. No Opposition. Motion Passes. D) Commission Action Form: Program Fees Abraham explained changes in the fees and charges including streamlining passes at Homewood Golf course over a 6 year plan. Staff recommends Alternative #1. Moved by Rowan with second by Litwiller to approve Alternative #1. No Discussion. No opposition. Motion passes. E) Staff Report: 2016/17 Proposed Budget Abraham reviewed the proposed Operations Budget for informational purposes only. F) Staff Report: 2016 – 2021 Proposed Capital Improvements Plan Abraham explained the items in the proposed Capital Improvements Plan. Moved by Schaben, with second by Rowan to request the Ames City Council approve the 2016-2021 Capital Improvements Plan as presented with the addition of allocating $50,000 to the All Inclusive Playground. No discussion. No opposition. Motion Passes. G) Correspondence None MONTHLY REPORT There were no Commission questions or comments regarding the report. COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS Schaben stated that it was an exciting meeting. He stated that he is hopeful that the Commission and Staff can move quickly on these discussion groups and get these things rolling. He feels that all of them can agree that some things have been going on too long. Rowan feels that it is good that all the engaged parties will sit down and talk about it. She feels there are lots of possibilities. Schaben feels that what this group can come up with for the City of Ames could include everybody. “If we could make this work with everybody I think it could be very exciting.” Moran feels that there would be more community support at the time this item would go to bond. ADJOURNMENT Move to adjourn by Rowan. The meeting concluded at 6:02 PM. Next Meeting: - Thursday, February 18 at 4:00 PM