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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Ames Park and Recreation Commission Meeting 12/04/2014 AMES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION WORKSHOP MINUTES DATE: Thursday, December 4, 2014 PRESENT: Melissa Rowan, Julie Johnston, Leo Milleman, Vikki Feilmeyer, and Ed Moran ABSENT: Alisa Frandsen and Jason Schaben STAFF: Keith Abraham, Joshua Thompson, Kellee Omlid, Steve Schainker CALL TO ORDER: 4:02 PM Abraham gave a brief overview of difference between Capital Projects and Operational Budget as well as the funding sources for the projects. Steve Schainker, City Manager explained how the local option sales tax is collected and disbursed. The fees received from the cell tower at Homewood were also discussed. The goal is to cover operational expenses with user fees as we don’t know how long the tower will remain a funding source. Schainker explained the park development fund and how the laws and regulations do not allow a separate fund for that purpose. It is part of the local option sales tax pool but reserved for park development. 2015/2016 Abraham went over the items in the CIP for the fiscal year 2105/2016. Municipal Pool: Milleman wanted to know if demolition is going to be part of the agreement extension with the Ames School District for Municipal Pool. Schainker, “The contract is silent on that. Usually in these instances the property owner keeps the asset.” There will be a separate negotiation for the demolition. Johnston, “Is now the time where we agree on this, when we are renegotiating the agreement?” Schainker, “Yes.” Feilmeyer asked who paid for the wading pool demo. Abraham, “We did.” School District Facilities: Abraham explained that funds had been set aside for upgrading the volleyball standards and basketball hoops for the school gymnasiums. Schainker explained the school district does not need the money so “we are putting it in other places”. Ada Hayden Heritage Park: Abraham explained that the money in the CIP for resurfacing paths in Ada Hayden Heritage Park has been reduced as some areas of path are in pretty good shape. The department will only be replacing the areas that are damaged. Inis Grove Park: The plan is to replace/relocate the restroom by the Shagbark shelter as it is on a septic system. The restroom will be placed in a new location closer to parking, tennis courts and Homewood. Looking at some prefabricated restrooms as well as stick built. Milleman wanted to know if there were any plans for the Carr Pool area. Abraham, “Down the road there are, but nothing is planned this year”. 2016/2017 Inis Grove Park: The Duff avenue restroom is to be renovated. As it is very visible, the department would like to upgrade this facility to a better looking restroom and funding has been increased to replace it. Milleman, “Is that on sewer?” Abraham, “Yes.” Community Center Gymnasium: Abraham highlighted that we are going to paint and refinish the gym floor. The project includes painting badminton lines so that they no longer need to be taped. Brookside Park: Milleman, “Why do we have to replace that lighting?” Abraham explained some lighting did not get back in along that path and some of the fixtures need to be upgraded. Solar lights will not work because it is so heavily wooded. Moran commented that the path going back toward the aquatic center is very dark. Abraham said that they will place lighting “as far as we can go”. River Valley Park: Abraham explained to the Commission that the infield renovation project has been moved up in the CIP. Nothing has been done to the infields since the mid 1980’s. Staff feels that we can renovate the infields and improve the drainage. Then with all the other improvements that have been completed, the softball complex will be completely finished and last for many years. Homewood Golf Course: Rowan asked about the plan to install cart paths. Abraham explained that we are doing this over a 4 year span. 2017/18 Carr Park: Abraham explained that this is where the Carr Park shelter and restroom come in. Furman Aquatic Center: It is in the plan to add an amenity to Furman Aquatic Center. Kellee Omlid and Jill Burt are looking at slides and other options including a sun deck at the top of the hill or to do something different with the roof of the concession stand or bath house for seating and sun bathing. 2018/19 Gateway Park: Included is to add a restroom facility which would great for sand volleyball and disc golf. Staff feels that it would improve the service level at this location. Also included are exterior improvements to the Administration building. It has recently been discovered that there is mold in the basement of this building, but not on the office level. Milleman asked what was in the basement. Abraham explained that it is old locker rooms and shower rooms and that it is “not very nice” down there. Ames Police are using if for storage. Milleman wanted to know if it could be remodeled to be used as a Community Room. Abraham stated that there is some big space down there. He explained, “If we did that we would have to look at staffing when someone is here using it, but it has potential.” Rowan asked if it would meet ADA requirements. Thompson stated that there is a ramp that currently does not meet the requirements but it could. Homewood Gold Course: With regards to replacing the Homewood club house. Staff feels that this is a good candidate for donations. There are people that have played their whole lives at Homewood. Schainker, “Would the footprint allow for some community space?” Abraham, “Yes.” He explained that it would be configured in a different way. There would an office and a counter but also as much open space as possible that could serve as a community space in the winter. Brookside Park: Included is tearing out the wading pool and adding a splash pad out of the flood plain. This would increase the level of service, be open more hours and not need to be staffed. 2019/20 Ada Hayden Heritage Park: The plan includes clearing out the area at Jensen’s pond, installing a dock and maybe stocking fish to make this area more attractive to families. The department is also looking at putting a viewing platform west of the north lake to see the wildlife in the wetlands. Furman Aquatic Center: There have been requests for a shelter to use for a company picnic in conjunction with pool rentals. We do have daycares that come to Furman and go out for snacks. This would serve them as well. Rose Prairie: If there are things that we want to put in this park, let’s do it right now so when the people move in, they know what the park is going to be used for. We could apply for a reap grant to acquire land for this park. Feilmeyer, “Is money included in the CIP for land acquisition?” Abraham, “No.” Abraham explained that it may be over estimated as “W e don’t know what we would do there”. He explained that staff used Northridge Heights for the guideline and emphasized it is for development not acquisition. COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS Johnston asked for an explanation regarding the price differences for playgrounds in the parks. Thompson explained that it depends on the size of the park and the size of the piece and what other amenities are there Rowan, “So in terms of staff opinion, this is what you all think is needed.” Johnston “Based on your thoughts on parks and equipment.” Abraham, “Yes, we feel very good about this. So if you have something that you wanted to plug in here, we have to decide what we would delay.” Milleman asked about the low head dam project wondering if more funding will be needed down the road to make this better. He likes the idea of a trail along the river. Abraham, “If I am hearing you correctly, you are in favor of the $40,000.” Milleman stated yes he is in favor and thinks “we may need more money down the road” as once it happens and people start using it there may be a need for parking or lighting. Schainker, “I think you did a good job. We need to fix what we have and repair what we have. But you have go out and get the projects done.” Johnston stated that she thinks that a park with games installed sounds like an interesting project. “I just can’t justify the new parking spaces (Furman Aquatic Center) for just a few days. Moran wanted to know if the school has plans for tennis courts at the 24th St. location. Abraham explained that initially the Ames School District wanted to do them on the 24th St sight and wanted the City to pay half the cost. The current agreement for the courts at the high school is through 2023 in which the Department and the District share maintenance expenses fifty/fifty. We replied that we don’t have the desire to fund new tennis courts. Moran: The Brookside lighting project, is there a cost saving to do it now? Look at the path that goes over the bridge and into the park. Moran would like to know more about the Low Head Dam plan. Abraham explained that WPC has other sources of funding. Our money is for shore access and recreational features. Rowan said that the water at Ada Hayden is a high priority for her. Feilmeyer agreed stating “I would say for me, don’t you dare take that one out.” Feilmeyer also stated, “I’m like Julie, I like that idea of the game park in an intense area of the city, like in the downtown area.” Johnston, “Seems like it could be kind of a minimal cost. Abraham said they could go anywhere, maybe Bandshell or in the pocket parks in Somerset. Chess and checker tables were brought up at Roosevelt Park meetings. WORKSHOP ADJOURNED AT 5:40pm