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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Ames Park and Recreation Commission Meeting 11/17/2011AMES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES DATE: November 17, 2011 COMMISSION PRESENT: Jane Acker, Jim Gunning, Ed Moran, Jason Schaben STAFF: Keith Abraham, Nancy Carroll, Steve Schainker, Kevin Shawgo CALL TO ORDER: 4 PM City Manager Steve Schainker met with Commission to review his proposed Capital Improvement Plan (attached). This five year planning document will be formally presented to the City Council in late January. Schainker wanted to gain Commission input and comments related to the projects related to the Department of Parks and Recreation. Schainker reviewed that multi-million dollar projects need to be funded by passing a bond referendum (gymnasiums, indoor pool, etc). He said that smaller projects ($25,000 to $500,000) are usually funded through the Local Option Sales Tax. Acker questioned what the trend with Local Option Sales Tax revenues. Schainker said that revenues are up by 2 to 3%. He also noted that requests have increased by 15%. Carroll then reviewed the individual projects with the Commission as follows: Municipal Pool She reminded the Commission that this facility needs to be replaced after 2015. Schainker commented that the City’s partnership with the District for Municipal Pool. Acker asked what the status of the discussion is currently with the School District regarding replacement of the pool. Carroll commented that the School District staff has talked about relocating the pool to the southwest corner of the high school property (corner of 16th and Ridgewood) but that it would take the passage of a bond issue. The District is concerned that if a new pool was included with the anticipated upcoming bond vote for renovating / constructing five new schools that the bond issue could fail. As future phases of renovation occur at the High School, Municipal Pool will be addressed. Carroll commented that this could mean that the pool may need to function until 2019. She noted that the 2015 date is not a “drop-dead” date for Municipal Pool. That is the date architects have stated when large capital investments will not be cost-effective long-term. Ada Hayden Heritage Park Carroll reviewed that funds are included to re-surface the hard surface trails at this park. Gunning questioned why this work activity was required. Carroll commented that the surface is almost 10 years old. Schaben said that the mix that was applied to construct a trail that receives pedestrian usage is not the same grade of product that would be used for roads. He commented that this is probably the anticipated life span of the asphalt. Facility improvements Tennis Courts at Brookside Park Carroll commented that staff had met with approximately 12 residents of the Brookside Park neighborhood. They support maintaining the tennis courts at this site. Gunning said that the Citizen Satisfaction Survey suggested that these courts are not a high priority to the community at large. Carroll commented that to the residents in this overall neighborhood the courts are important and that staff will recomm end that they be reconstructed in 2011/12. Northridge Heights Acker questioned when this park will be constructed. Carroll said that this work activity will occur in during the summer of 2012 with a ribbon cutting anticipated for the fall of 2012. Sand Volleyball Complex – McCarthy Lee Park Carroll reported that participation in Sand Volleyball Leagues has increased dramatically over the past few years. She said that additional courts are required to accommodate this growing activity and that McCarthy Lee Park has been selected as the location. Acker questioned if there will still be room for soccer at this location. Carroll responded that both activities can be located at this site. Gunning asked if there are two baseball diamonds located in the green space. Shawgo said they have been removed. Community Gathering Venue Acker asked if staff still had access to the conceptual drawing of this project that new Commission members could review. Carroll said that she did and that she would include them as apart of the CIP presentation to the Commission on January 19 th. Gunning asked Schainker if there are two competing visions for this space – the Community Gathering Venue and housing. Schainker reported that the proposal for incorporating condominiums with green space was rejected by the City. Gunning questioned the wisdom of the project including a water feature that could only be used a few months of the year. He commented that he was not supportive of a water feature being included. He also asked what Department in the City would provide oversight to this project. Schainker commented that it would probably be governed by Parks and Recreation because it would be considered a park. Schainker said that the development of the CIP is not a science, rather it is an art. He said that projects can be shifted from one year to another based on multiple factors. He thanked the Commission for providing reaction to the proposed CIP and asked if they had any other feedback. Acker commented that over the years, Schainker has listened to the Commission feedback and that additional fiscal support has been directed to trail development throughout the community. Gunning questioned if converting the bathhouse at Carr Pool would be similar to Gates Hall in Nevada. Carroll responded that no specific design plans have been developed and this will take community involvement to determine. Gunning suggested that a west side dog park be considered. Perhaps on the City land where the water tower was located adjacent North Dakota. Schaben question if Geitel Winakor specified any specific project for her bequest to be directed toward. Carroll responded that she had not, but that staff would be sharing some criteria with the Commission based on their relationship with Ms. Winakor over the past decade. Acker commented that people have been making suggestions for how this bequest can be used. She asked Carroll if one option could be an “endowment fund”. Carroll said that an endowment will not be considered because her bequest would have stated that usage had that been her desire. David Eaton, the City’s Risk Manager then met with the Commission to review three winter activities that occur in the park system. He reviewed that the City goal is to “manage risk - not avoid it”. He said that he had met multiple times with staff to create policy and signage related to sledding, ice activities, and trail usage. Carroll then provided an overview of the recommended policies that will be presented to the City Council in December as follows: Sledding: Gateway Hills and East of the Cemetery on 13th Street Signage will be posted at each location Fencing with hay bales will be installed on the east hill at Gateway Park Acker questioned if lighting is provided for night sledding. Carroll responded that it is not. Ice Activity: Ada Hayden Heritage Park and Moore Memorial Park Signage will be posted Schaben questioned if huts will still be allowed on the ice and Carroll confirmed that this is an allowable usage. Trail Usage: Signage will be posted and the same level of snow / ice removal will be provided as it has in the past. Gunning asked Eaton if the City is more vulnerable to lawsuits by doing maintenance on trails. Eaton responded that the City’s role with these three activities is to educate residents (through signage) of the inherent risk associated with winter activities and that the City assumes no greater risk. Meeting Adjourned at 5:35 PM Capital Improvement Plan Project Overview 2012/13 to 2016/17 Workshop Meeting with the City Manager November 17, 2011 Municipal Pool 12/13: Boilers need to be repaired versus replaced 14/15: Joint agreement expires in April 2015 Ada Hayden Heritage Park 12/13: Erosion issues under the bridge (new) 13/14: Removal of invasive plant species on shore line (new) 14/15: Resurface north trail loop Based on northern growth, install a parking lot in Northwest corner 15/16: Resurface south trail loop Facility Improvements 12/13: Carr Pool and Meadowland Drive demolished together South River Valley Softball Field new fencing and lights Replace basketball standards at the Community Center (new) 13/14: Install additional cart paths and construct a small storage building at Homewood Golf Course Replace stage lighting at Bandshell Asphalt overlay an existing crushed rock pathway at Franklin Park Replace coin-operated lockers at Community Center Renovate the restroom at Brookside Park Replace metal coping at Skate Park Renovate the concession stand at River Valley Softball Complex Replace existing cooling / heating systems at P&R facilities (new) Renovate west gym wall at Community Center (new) 14/15: Replace carpet, install new ceiling in restroom, new sound shell Weatherproof the domed roof of the Bandshell 15/16: Renovate the restroom adjacent Duff Avenue 16/17: Replace shingles on 13 shelters within the park system Tennis Court Improvements 12/13: Reconstruct the four tennis courts at Brookside 14/15: Resurface courts at Inis Grove 15/16: Resurface courts at McCarthy Lee Northridge Heights 12/13: Develop this neighborhood park Brookside Park 12/13: Rebuild the limestone steps and walls 13/14: Remove existing gravel drive / parking lot and install a small lot adjacent 6th Street (new) Playground Equipment 12/13: Brookside Park tot piece 13/14: Gartner Park 14/15: Duff Avenue Park 15/16: Daley Park 16/17: Inis Grove Park Ames/ISU Ice Arena 12/13: Replace rubber flooring in the lobby 13/14: Replace water heaters Sand Volleyball Complex 13/14: McCarthy Lee Park (new) Community Gathering Venue 13/14: Water feature, pavilion and open space ($1 million / private funds) Inis Grove 15/16: Restroom constructed north of tennis courts (new) Bequest of $1.6 million • The estate of Geitel Winakor will not be settled until sometime in 2012 • Staff will prepare some general criteria (for Commission reaction in January 2012) to assist the City in determining the best use of this funding. Commissioners, do you have any criteria suggestions at this time? If not, forward your thoughts and they will be shared with the staff recommendations in January.