Arts, Parks, and Recreation Committee

ARTS, PARKS, & RECREATION COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS January 4th, 2024 The Amery Arts, Parks, and Rec. Committee met on January 4, 2024, at the Amery City Center. The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. Present: Members Tommy Dusek(left at 4:48pm), Colleen Adams, Catherine Olsen, Joyce Shaefer and Ex Officio Member Mike Manor. Others Present: Deputy Clerk-Treasurer, Taylor Larson; Mayor, Rick Van Blaricom; Public Works Director, Jeff Mahoney, Parks Supervisor, Kyle Schultz and Justin Runberg - Amery Free Press. 1. Approval of Minutes from December 5th, 2023. Motion by Adams; seconded by Olsen; to approve the minutes with the addition of a sentence under Recap of 2024 Budget Discussion with City Council stating no additional money was added to the parks budget for 2024. Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion Carried. 2. Ordinance 02-2024 Amendment of the Arts, Parks, and Recreation Committee – Rick presented an amendment to the Arts, Parks, and Recreation Committee Ordinance. The ordinance would rework the committee to have 5 members, but 2 would be from the council and one would be from Lincoln or Black Brook. The Parks Supervisor would also be an Ex-Officio member. It would still have terms for 3 years, but terms would be staggered which they currently are not. An annual facility review was also added under duties. Rick would like to start the staggered positions and change the makeup of the committee when the current terms are done in May of 2025. 3. 2024 Goals and Objectives a. Community Club has approved $5000 of Design Amery money to be used to redo the mural on the side of Apple River TV. b. The committee would like the flowers to be out by Memorial Day. c. The committee would like explore options at South Twin to increase water recreation including taking steps towards getting some hard numbers for a splash pad and get DNR feedback about the water quality and a splash pad. d. Look into more inclusive equipment for North Park for handicapped people including looking into the surface under the equipment. e. The committee doesn’t believe it is their place to decide about signage for the Stower Family at the Stower Trailhead. f. The Committee will investigate Christmas decorations. 4. Parks Update – Jeff and Kyle explained that Public Works plans to repair/replace picnic tables this year. They also plan to fix poles at South Twin’s shelter. Slides have been ordered for North Park and will be installed in the spring as the base footings are different. Many pickleball donations were received to help pay for the pickleball court remodel that is underway. The committee asked Jeff if he could rearrange some trash cans to get more on the central part of Keller Ave. 5. Splash Pad Discussion – Jeff spoke to some other communities about their splash pads. Many felt that it is important to have the splash pad manned. He spoke to the DNR, but it is hard to get much information from them without having a plan that will be funded in place. He will see if he can get any more information. A future meeting was set for March 5th at 4 P.M. 1 Motion by Shaefer; seconded by Adams; to adjourn at 5:09 p.m. Ayes – 3 Nays – 0 Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Taylor Larson Deputy Clerk-Treasurer January 9th, 2024 2