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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Ames Park and Recreation Commission Meeting 08/14/2014 AMES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION WORKSHOP MINUTES DATE: Thursday, August 14, 2014 PRESENT: Alisa Frandsen, Melissa Rowan, Julie Johnston, Leo Milleman, Jason Schaben, Vikki Feilmeyer, and Ed Moran ABSENT: None STAFF: Keith Abraham, Joshua Thompson, Kellee Omlid, Jill Burt, Steve Schainker CALL TO ORDER: 4:06 PM Frandsen explained to the gallery, “This workshop is only about the indoor aquatic center not a full meeting, that is next week, August 21”. INDOOR RECREATION AQUATIC CENTER WORKSHOP PURPOSE Abraham explained that the Commission Meeting in August will include Commission Action Forms and staff recommendations regarding sand volleyball. “That is not the topic for tonight.” Abraham stated that tonight is to have conversation about getting to the next steps in the aquatic center process. UPDATE ON THE AMES COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Keith reported on the progress of the Ames Community School District’s plans. He stated that they (the School District) are really looking at how they can pare down some of the cost and the scope of the project. The School District plans to have their decisions made in the next month and to open in 2016. Abraham also stated that the School District is in discussions with ACAC to manage their pool and potentially do programming. Also, the window of opportunity for a City pool to be built on the high school site is beginning to close. There are benefits to have the facilities close to each other. “We need to check with the school district to see how long we have to decide. We will look at other locations but we don’t know if there are other locations out there.” Feilmeyer asked for clarification. Abraham stated that the School District is taking a look at where they are planning to locate their pool and the next phase of their construction project at the high school site. Where will things be located and how does that all look. Where the district decides to locate their pool may limit where we could put an indoor aquatic center. Feilmeyer wanted to clarify that the pools cannot share systems because the basins would have separate uses and temperatures. Abraham agreed. There may be some opportunities to share costs such as stubbing in utilities and sharing parking. POOL QUESTION RESULTS FROM 2014 CITIZEN SATISFACTION SURVEY Abraham went over the results from the Citizen Satisfaction Survey regarding, support for the pool and amenities that people would like to see in an aquatic center. Feilmeyer asked if the question regarding why they would not support an aquatic center was open ended or if we gave a list of reasons. Abraham said that the question was open ended. REVIEW OF THE FURMAN AQUATIC CENTER PROCESS Abraham reviewed the process that was used for the Furman Aquatic Center starting with the failed RecPlex plan in 2003 and continuing through the timeline of that facility until the bond issue passed. Milleman asked, “In the 7 month process where did we come up with the dollar amount?” It was explained, when you hire consultant, they will tell you generally what these things cost. If you package all this stuff together, this is what the cost may be. We need to get cost figures for amenities from the consultant and then meet and share with the public. Then get conceptual drawings and go back out to the public. Milleman, “With the Furman center we had a lead gift. At what time frame did that occur?” This gift was known before referendum. The Furman’s stepped forward because we were scaling back from a 50 to a 25 meter pool due to costs. Schainker stated “People’s desires do not always match what they are willing to pay.” He continued that we probably won’t get everything everybody wants. We will be up front what the operational costs will be. The consultants are usually pretty good at estimating costs of the project. That is the number that you take to the public. That number is very important. Milleman wanted to make sure it was clear that property taxes are what covers this, not school district tax, not sales tax. Operational costs come out of the general fund. Abraham stated that if a bond referendum passes, the next steps would be to develop specs and bids for the project. Contractors will bid on the actual construction of the facility. The bequest has grown to almost 2 million dollars. Our goal is to use this, as well as any other donations. Time Frame Rowan asked how a friends group is formed, “What can we do and what can’t we do”? Schainker, “You are agents of the city. You cannot donate any time or funding towa rds the advocacy of the project.” He compared it to a campaign and stated that City staff cannot ask people to vote yes, we can encourage them to vote. City staff can speak to a group using facts to educate the public. City staff can say there is a bond referendum please go vote. Staff cannot say vote yes. Brochures with fact can be printed and handed out. Importance of a Friends Group A friends group is not a part of city of government. A friends group will drum up support so they can get out their vote and tell people how to vote. Friends groups are very, very, very important. Frandsen thought that she filled out her name and email on a clipboard at a public meeting. Then someone sent out sent out an email and that is how the friends group was formed. Susie Petra (2011 Duff Ave) “I think it is important to get the stakeholders involved in that. The league hopes to get involved with that.” Abraham stressed that we need to inform, educate and listen. CONSIDER A POOL DESIGN CONSULTANT Scope of Services We need to know the scope of services – conceptual design and budget. Do we want them involved in the public input meetings? How many times do they meet with staff? Hiring Process $ 20,000 to $25,000 to have them help us through this first phase. Do we go through a hiring process up front or and RFP with specs and bids. The committee takes it to the Commission and then to the council with a recommendation to hire. Committee Members Feilmeyer wanted to know the role of the commissioners in all of this. Abraham stated that he would like one or two members to sit on that committee. Other members could be the Gerry Peters (Ames Community School District), Corey Mellies from Public Works, Jill Burt, Keith, Kellee, one of the City’s Certified Pool Operators. Mike Giles, ISU Rec Services Director is willing to sit in and offer assistance. POTENTIAL INPUT MEETING TOPICS Educate Educate on the following topics. Why an Indoor Recreational Aquatic Center? Why Not a Pool with the Schools? Geitel Winakor Donation Potential Facility Uses What are our needs, is it lap swimming, swim lessons, open swims, fun, therapeutic? What are the potential uses for this facility? Potential Amenities Lap pool, splash pool, current channel, therapy pool slides. What other amenities? Meeting spaces, exercise equipment, training room or class rooms? Abraham reminded staff that we can’t let it grow into an $18,000,000 facility. Then it won’t pass. Location Options The High School or Middle School? There is nothing within the park system or city owned property. Is there potentially another partner? Milleman wanted to clarify that the school has already been approved and has the money. “This is not part of that.” Johnston, “Is Municipal Pool going to have another year?” Abraham, “Right now yes, knock on wood. We have made improvements and we are feeling good that by doing what we did, we have extended the life of that pool.” The question of this seems to be, do we know what our options are now? Middle school site is a viable option today. We need to see the footprint and we will know how many acres we need. Feilmeyer asked if land acquisition would be part of the bond. Schainker replied, “W e hope not. “ Maybe there are opportunities to partner, say a physical therapy office looking for a therapeutic pool. What Dollar Amount is the Public Willing to Support for a Bond Referendum Schainker stated that there is nothing else planned for the City in terms of a big project. Somewhere in the future is a fire station but it isn’t even in the 5 year plan. He also stated that the best time for a bond is when you get 60 percent of the vote. Schaben wondered if 2016 would be pushing it fairly close on our part. He feels it is better not to rush. It takes time to educate the public. POTENTIAL GROUPS TO CONDUCT INPUT MEETINGS WITH Public - We obviously want to hear from the public. Stakeholders - Could be current users, the school district, homeschoolers, therapists, special needs populations, MGMC? Get all the stakeholders in the mix and have the conversations. Try and find a win win. Help us all make this a better project. Keith pointed out that the Commission members had copies of the communication that he received from the League of Women Voters. Potential User Groups Homeschoolers, tot time participants, seniors, intergenerational programming, who are they, how do we bring them in. Frandsen asked about the pool at Forker, “Is there more potential opportunities there?” Abraham stated, “We actually use that pool right now. W e have aqua classes there. We work with ISU Rec Services for the rental.” .Abraham also informed the Commission that we are programming at Green Hills and many of those classes are full. FACILITY CONSIDERATIONS Programming Philosophy What does that look like? We don’t want to be going out there and say this is what we are going to be doing something and not do it. We need to be transparent. Hours Per Day, Summer Schedule, Staffing, Sustainable Design Are we pushing sustainable design, what does that look like? Rowan asked, “Are these some of the questions we would ask of the public? Abraham, “Yes, we are here to find out what the public wants. Not what is convenient for us.” Abraham also stated that sometimes we may have to limit it. W e have to be realistic, can we staff it for that amount of hours. FUNDING Capital, Operational (Subsidy Level), Fee Schedule Part of the consulting team’s job will be to make recommendations of the fee schedule. PROCESS FOR BOND REFERENDUM PROJECTS Legal Requirements - There are only certain dates you can hold a special election. We don’t want to rush. Timeline - What is the timeline? It has been a long time since this issue has been before the public. COMMISSION WISHES Milleman stated he thinks we need to start right now, we are ready right now. Moved by Milleman, second by Rowan for Staff to move forward with the development of an RFP for hiring a consultant. Motion approved Milleman and Schaben requested the Staff to bring recommendations for the consultant selection committee to the Commission. Milleman voiced concerns about the referendum time frame? Keith agrees and feels that the Commission may need to schedule additional meetings discuss these items. Frandsen stated that the August 4, 2015 concerns her, as people are on vacation. Feilmeyer feels it is not premature to start talking about dates. “Time and the condition of the existing pool make this a priority.” HARRISON ROAD PROPERTY Keith showed a map with a piece of property highlighted which is at the end of Harrison Road. It is a City owned property. Would the Commission be interested i n making it into a neighborhood park? It is a very small area maybe a path and a mini shelter. There are interested parties to purchase the land if the Commission does not want to make it a park. Milleman, “Does it connect to anything?” Milleman states that he needs more information regarding trails and connectivity. Schaben stated that it wouldn’t be very beneficial at this little spot. Milleman, agreed, “I’m not thrilled yet.” Feilmeyer, “The extended area of service does not appear to be that great.” Johnston, “At first you think you can’t say no to a park, but you can.” COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS Milleman, “Jill are you a CPO?”. Burt, “Not currently but I have been in the past.” Milleman, “Good information, positive project.” Next Meeting: Thursday, August 21 at 4:00 PM Adjournment