HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Ames Park and Recreation Commission Meeting 04/17/2014AMES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
DATE: Thursday, April 17, 2014
COMMISSION
PRESENT: Alisa Frandsen, Melissa Rowan, Leo Milleman, and Vikki Feilmeyer,
ABSENT: Jason Schaben, Ed Moran, Julie Johnston
STAFF: Keith Abraham, Joshua Thompson, Kellee Omlid
CALL TO ORDER: 4:04 PM
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Nominations for chairperson, Frandsen nominated by Milleman, second by Rowan to
continue as chairperson. No discussion. Motion Approved.
Nominations for vice chairperson, Milleman nominated by Rowan, second by Frandsen to
continue as vice chairperson. No discussion. Motion Approved.
AWARD PRESENTATION
Steve Jordison, Executive Director of Iowa Parks and Recreation Association presented
the Iowa Parks and Recreation Association’s 2014 Business Support Award to Holub
Garden & Greenhouses.
This award recognizes Holub’s Garden and Greenhouse generosity as a great asset to the
community. Their support of the Adopt a Flower Garden since 1995 has resulted in the
donation of more than 1,000,000 plants with a value of over $100,000. Iowa Park and
Recreation recognizes Mike and Diane Holub for their outstanding dedicated and unselfish
service to the community.
Frandsen and Milleman offered thanks on behalf of the Commission.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion by Milliman, seconded by Rowan to approve the March 27, 2014 meeting minutes.
Motion Approved
PUBLIC FORUM
No Comments
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
a) Commission Action Form: Ames Cyclone Aquatics Club (ACAC) Agreement
Kellee Omlid, Recreation Superintendent, explained this is similar to last year with a small
time change on Saturday mornings. The agreement covers the use of Municipal Pool year
round and the 50 meter basin of Furman Aquatic Center in the summer season. ACAC
participants must purchase swim passes for each season they participate in.
Staff recommends alternative #1 to approve the Ames Cyclone Aquatics Club agreement.
Milleman asked, “What are the dates of ACAC’s competitive swim meet and is the meet
part of the agreement? Omild replied, “June 6, 7 & 8 are the meet dates and it is not part
of this agreement.”
Moved by Milleman, second by Rowan to approve alternative #1. No Discussion. Motion
Approved.
b) Commission Action Form: Ames Little League Agreement
Joshua Thompson, Parks & Facilities Superintendent, explained this is a new agreement
with Ames Little League. Parks and Recreation staff and representatives from Ames Little
League met to set up roles and responsibilities. The City will mow the outfields, fertilize,
spray and maintain fencing. Dugouts and infield mowing are Ames Little League
responsibility. They provide their own insurance.
Milleman asked, “There’s two little league fields in Brookside and one at North River
Valley? Thompson, “Yes. Two little league fields are on the west side of Brookside Park,
one field in River Valley” Milleman, “Are they used for anything other than little league?”
Thompson, “Yes, with all of the other types (AAU and USSSA) of baseball leagues and
teams playing in Ames, Little league wants to make sure they are not liable if anything
happens when they are not using the fields.”
Frandsen, “I think I saw they have to have their schedule to you by the first of April and
then the City gets next dibs on the fields and then it is open to the public?” Thompson
stated yes.
Recommendation is alternative #1which is to approve the Little League Agreement.
Milleman, “We have talked about irrigation systems in the parks, is there irrigation there
now?” Thompson, “No.”
When little leagues is not using them, is there opportunity for a church softball league or
others to play? Thompson, “Yes, contact the office to schedule.”
Moved by Milleman, second by Feilmeyer to approve alternative #1. No Discussion.
Motion Approved
c) Commission Action Form: Friends of Roosevelt Park Request
Abraham indicated the friends group has been conducting their Sunday concert series in
the park for 11 years. June 8-August 10 is the schedule for this year. We are in the
process of working through the design of the park and amenities. Their request is to
continue to have the concerts in the park and would also like to sell items and take
donations with the proceeds going toward park development. The request is to waive city
fees as all proceeds will go back to the park for development and the concert series. Only
change in this agreement is there will be no food vendor.
Staff recommends alternative #1 which is to approve the use of Roosevelt Park to host the
concert series and waive fees from sales.
Moved by Rowan, second by Milleman to approve alternative #1.
Discussion
Milleman, “Is there a President of the group?” Abraham, “Stacy Ross and Anneke Mendel
are the co-chairs that spearhead that group . They are a joy to work with and are very
organized.”
Motion approved.
d) Discussion: Updating Municipal Code Chapter 19
For background purposes, there have been many requests to utilize Ada Hayden lake for
triathlon training, scuba diving, and training for swimming the English Channel . There is a
no swimming policy listed for the parks, however, when we checked with the City of Ames
Legal Department, there is actually no ordinance on the books regarding swimming. This
made us take a look at other items in the Municipal Code regarding the parks systems,
such as camping.
We feel this is a good time to review Chapter 19, which governs the Parks and Recreation
Commission, and get the Commission’s feedback on some of these topics. The final
decision would be left to the Council.
One of the things in the ordinance is the Commission is to be six members with three year
terms and one member with a one year term. This is to encourage ISU students to
participate. Some boards and commissions have been doing away with this one year term
and making it a three year term.
Milleman, “I like the original thoughts of a one year term.”
Rowan, “Is there a limit to the number of one year terms that person can serve?”
Abraham, “No member who has served two full consecutive terms can be reappointed.
We may need to clarify that.”
Feilmeyer, “I think that it is probably a good idea, and if there have been issues with filling
the term maybe it is more of a communication and contact issue.”
Other items may need to be cleaned up throughout the document.
We will look at the other chapters of the Municipal Code as we are doing this. We may be
allowing some exceptions in the park system that are not addressed in the code, such as
bow hunting.
19.12 prohibits bike riding in Brookside Park on the hard surface pathways, however there
are a lot of people that ride in Brookside Park.
Feilmeyer, “Do we mark this anywhere, I’m just thinking, perhaps, for example, bike riding
in Brookside Park?”
Rowan, “Why wouldn’t you, is it because of people playing?”
Abraham, “I think it has to do with the narrowness of some of the paths.”
Frandsen, “I’m just thinking about the number of kids who pass through on the way to the
Aquatic Center, some of us may be guilty of that.”
Abraham, “As a city as a whole we are really looking at connectivity, about getting from
one side of town to the other. W e plow that path in the wintertime. There are people that
ride their bikes on that path to work every day.”
Frandsen, “Can we make it a shared use path?”
Abraham, “Yes, for all those reasons this is something we should take a look at. We
allow them in the other parks on the hard surface paths.”
Feilmeyer, “Has anyone been injured by a bicycle that is on a path that it shouldn’t be?”
Abraham, “Not to my knowledge.”
We have heard of people putting lanes on paths for safety. We have had some concerns
with people training for races at Ada Hayden. That isn’t really what the paths are for but
we can’t really stop it. We don’t know if we have enough in the budget to widen the paths
out there.”
19.13 Cleaning up the language with ADA using the right terminology.
19.14 Getting rid of number 2 as we would make all the penalties the same.
19.15 & 16 Looking at inserting something about swimming and camping.
We have not granted requests for swimming, even if we did, then others would see people
swimming and feel that swimming was allowed there. The steep drop off and depth of the
lake are the reasons we don’t support swimming there.”
Milleman, “I support no swimming at Ada Hayden.”
“Milleman, I think we should not allow camping in the areas where we have had trouble.
But is there any camping allowed. Or would we entertain it down the road.”
Abraham, “No, we don’t allow camping and it is not in the Park Masterplan.”
Feilmeyer inquired about RAGBRAI. “Did we allow them to camp in the parks.” Abraham,
“No they stayed on campus.”
19.8 Bait Dumping. We follow the DNR ordinances for this. Do we take it out or leave it in
as a reminder.
Feilmeyer, “Largely and honestly you have been around long enough that we would follow
your recommendations.”
e) Discussion: Indoor Recreational Aquatic Center
Abraham, “I just wanted to come back with the information you requested at the last
meeting. I am handing out a list of when special elections can be held in 2014 and 2015.
We are probably looking at a bond referendum in 2015. The City Manager wants us to
make sure we have enough time to educate people before a referendum.
Abraham, “Do you have any feedback, comments?”
Milleman, “I think we need to look at 2015 sometime, not August 4th.”
Rowan, “How much time do we need for this education?
Abraham, “With Furman, it was about 2 months. A lot of the background and education
was done when we did the RecPlex. When the RecPlex failed, the commission knew right
away that the outdoor facility was needed.”
Rowan, “When you did the education piece, did you have renderings, or was it
conceptual?”
Abraham, “Part of that process is getting input from the public, then get two or three
conceptual drawings from that feedback. Then invite the public to view them. Once we
pick the design, the architect will come back with the price.”
Also, questions have been added to the Citizen Satisfaction Survey to start gathering input
including if they support it, where it should be located and what amenities are important to
them.
Rowan, “Could be feasible to do it in March, looking at the timeline.”
Abraham, “I think March is doable, Council would have to set the date.” That is where I
think a workshop is needed for us to sit down and hammer out some things and have
somewhat of an idea of what we want to accomplish. Then have a second workshop with
the consultant.”
Also, the school district has slowed down their process a little bit and is really thinking
through what they are going to do.
Frandsen, “For the public, this is important because we share the facility with the school.
When does the agreement end.”
Abraham, “We will have to look at that agreement which ends April, 2015. Do we do an
extension for a couple of months at a time or do we do an extension for a couple of years
with a clause regarding the agreement is void once either pool is operational.” “If we have
to extend the agreement, we will also take a look at the demolition of that facility. We will
probably address that in an extension agreement as well.”
f) Update: Sesquicentennial Legacy Project – 150 Trees
This is going to happen on Saturday, April 26. All commissioners are invited to help. The
project is going to plant 152 trees throughout the park system. Trees are going to be
planted in 22 of our 37 parks. Joshua is working with Jim Mason regarding the holes for
the trees, the delivery of the trees and mulch for the trees. We are looking at 45 to 50
volunteers. Webfilings is the largest donator of trees and providing a lot of volunteers.
Volunteers meet at Webfilings at 1:00 PM to get their assignments and see a
demonstration of how to plant a tree before they start. Webfilings is going to have a BBQ
for all the volunteers after the trees are planted. Thanks to everyone involved.
MONTHLY REPORT
Joshua Thompson, Park Superintendent.
Just a couple highlights. We have delayed turning on the water because of the weather.
We are hoping to have all the water turned on in the next week or so. Homewood opened
on April 6. We are working on opening the Aquatic Center.
Feilmeyer, “When is it supposed to open?” Abraham, “May 24.”
Kellee Omlid, Recreation Superintendent
Now that Homewood is open, you can now reserve your tee time from a computer and
from your mobile phone. You can also call the clubhouse at 239-5363.
Softball preseason games start Monday. Soccer for youth started last week. Feilmeyer, “I
also received an alert that Parks and Recreation is sponsoring a Pitch, Hit and Run?”
Omlid, “We are.” Feilmeyer, “and that is a great thing because it is free and open to the
public. Omlid, “It is, and we are partnering with the Boys and Girls Club, and it is next
Saturday, April 26. If you win your division, you could go to the finals at Target Field in
Minneapolis, and go to the All Star Game.”
Abraham, “Kellee is reaching out to groups to partner with for events and has reached out
to several groups such as ISU Volleyball and a group for kayaking at Ada Hayden. She
also held a flashlight egg hunt in Brookside Park.”
Frandsen, “Just a reminder for the public, the discount for summer swim passes ends on
May 15. Twenty percent discount on a renewal and ten percent on a new pass.”
COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS
None
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Rowan, second by Feilmeyer to adjourn. The meeting concluded at 5:23 PM.
Next Meeting: May 15 at 4:00 PM