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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Ames Park and Recreation Commission Meeting 08/20/2015AMES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES DATE: August 20, 2015 COMMISSION PRESENT: Julie Johnston, Alisa Frandsen, Dakota Canning, Jason Schaben, Vicki Feilmeyer, Melissa Rowan ABSENT: Ed Moran STAFF: Keith Abraham, Joshua Thompson, Kellee Omlid, Lisa Lang CALL TO ORDER: 4:00 pm APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Schaben, second by Feilmeyer to approve the July 17 meeting minutes including the correction/clarification by Rowan. PUBLIC FORUM None DIRECTOR’S REPORT a) Donation Presentation: Ames Jaycees Sarah Spotts, President of the Ames Jaycees, presented the Commission with $1,500.00 for youth scholarship programs. Abraham stated that the department appreciates everything the Jaycees do for us. b) Staffing Update Lisa Lang, Recreation Coordinator Abraham introduced Lisa Lang as the new Recreation Coordinator. Lang told the Commission that she had just moved here from Minneapolis and was very excited about the position. Mike King, Auditorium/Bandshell Manager Abraham informed the Commission that King has decided to retire. September 16 will be his last day. King has had 19 great years with the City of Ames. c) Presentation: New Well Field Pipeline Route Study (River Valley Park) Christina Murphy, Water & Pollution Control Assistant Director, and Mark Dubin of HDR, Inc. gave a presentation on the proposed well field and pipeline project and its impact on the park system. Murphy stated that power lines may need to cross the park and/or the golf course. Underground boring would be used to lessen the damage. Schaben inquired about the timeline. Murphy replied that the bidding process would begin early next year with construction starting during summer 2016. Rowan asked Abraham and Thompson what they felt the long-and short-term effects would be. Abraham stated there would be no long-term effects. Short-term effects may include temporary path closures. Rowan asked Murphy how long this pipeline would last. Murphy told her 50-plus years. d) City Council Referral: Skate Park Naming Abraham stated that he met with the requestor and family members of Georgie Tsushima regarding their request for the skate park to be named for him. They also requested that helmets be required. Abraham explained that staff is researching naming policies. Parks and facilities have been named after land donors, monetary contributors or people with history to the local community. Abraham would like guidance from the Commission. Would the Commission like a naming policy put in place? Once a policy is in place, staff could take requests/petitions. Abraham also requested guidance on the requested rule for helmets. Abraham stated that there was not a way to enforce this rule. Rowan stated that it was a good idea to put a naming policy in place. Feilmeyer asked if the naming policy would be for the city as a whole or just the park system and would like to move this on to Council. Abraham will speak to the City Manager to see if it he wants the policy to be broad or just for Parks and Recreation. Rowan likes encouraging people to wear helmets. A plaque telling Tsushima’s story may provide some sort of recognition for him at the park. e) Correspondence: Playground for Emergency Residence Project Emergency Residence Project has several different buildings for homeless and transitional people. They have asked if the city would be interested in putting in a playground and a basketball pad on property on S. 3rd St. near the shelter. Abraham stated there are concerns as this is a very busy street. The area would have to be fenced and the ordinance allows fences up to 4 foot which would not contain basketballs that bounce or miss rims. Abraham also explained that this would have to go through the CIP process. There is no need to take any action right now. Canning asked if fencing would be on S. 3rd or the whole area. Abraham stated at least on 3 sides. Johnston stated that she completely understands the request but it would serve a very specific and narrow group. Abraham will put this on the CIP list. Rowan asked if the ERP could apply for grants or other funding opportunities. Abraham said they could apply for a Neighborhood Improvement Grant which is a matching grant up to $5,000. This would be at least a $30,000 project. f) Pool Update Water’s Edge is contracted to look at 9 options and will come back to the Commission with building and operational costs. The next opportunity for public input will be after the final report from Water’s Edge. There will need to be a joint Commission/Council meeting which will be open to the public. Once the decision is made on a joint or a separate facility, there will be more opportunity for input. The estimated time lapse between the preliminary and final report is 1-2 weeks. That gives Water’s Edge time to respond to questions. g) Project Update Skate Park: There is money for repairs and significant upgrades to this facility. Northridge Heights: Weather has not cooperated with this project. We are continuing to work there when we can. Roosevelt Park: Installed the waterline and drinking fountain. The schedule for playground installation is on the 27th through the 29th of August. Sand Volleyball: Staff is moving dirt there and some ash trees need to be removed. Bandshell Roof: Staff is getting those plans and specifications together. Probably next spring. Ice Arena: Plans and specifications for the Ice Arena Evaporative Condenser to go to the City Council Sept 8. McCarthy Lee: Resurface tennis courts and add pickleball lines. Ada : W ater line plans and specifications to City Council soon. h) Donation Presentation: Friends of Roosevelt Park Susan McNicholl (1225 Curtiss Ave), Anneke Mundel (1111 Harding Ave) and Stacey Ross (1121 Marston Ave) presented a check for over $44,000.00 to the Park and Recreation Commission on behalf of the Friends of Roosevelt Park. They exceeded their goal by several thousand dollars. Abraham stated that the department appreciated their efforts and enjoyed working with such positive people. i) Commission Action Form: Memorandum of Understanding – Friends of Roosevelt Park Staff recommends Alternative #1 to recommend City Council approve the Memorandum of Understanding with the Friends of Roosevelt Park. Motion by Feilmeyer, second by Rowan to approve Alternative #1. Motion passes. MONTHLY REPORT The irrigation system is done on all 6 softball fields at River Valley. The Grant road paving project includes a new parking lot in the northwest corner of Ada Hayden. Furman Aquatic Center closes on Labor Day, September 7, at 8:00 PM. Staffing is a concern and the goal is to keep the 50 meter pool and the splash pool open. We may have to close some amenities. Abraham stated that the staffing issue is not unique to Ames, Nevada closed their pool last weekend and many pools across the state have closed or are open weekends only. Abraham explained that staff works to keep as much of the facility open as possible. Schaben asked Abraham if we could reach out to staff from Nevada. Abraham replied that we have done so in the past. COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS ADJOURNMENT Moved by Schaben to adjourn. The meeting concluded at 5:39 PM. Next Meeting: TBD