Park Commission

Minutes of a Regular Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting April 4, 2023 A regular meeting of the Blue Springs Parks Commission was held on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at the Fieldhouse. The Chairman called the meeting to order. Jon Burke -- Present Parks Dept. Staff: Dennis Dovel Keith Hannaman -- Present Parks Dept. Staff: Justin Stuart Gabriel Mejia – Absent Parks Dept. Staff: Derek Mayden Ken Horrell – Present Parks Dept. Staff: Mary Herrington Nick Brummel – Present Parks Dept. Staff: Matt Asikainen Tony Lopez – Present Parks Dept. Staff: Jayla Coleman Almitra Buzan – Absent City Council Liaison: Susan Culpepper –Present Debbie Canfield – Present Tara Johnson – Present A motion was made by Tony Lopez and seconded by Debbie Canfield to accept the Consent Agenda. It passed unanimously. Visitors/Correspondence: None Program/Activity Spotlight: Mary Herrington presented on Vesper Hall Programs. Vesper Hall Meals program provides congregate meals that has been doing well. On average over 1,200 meals are served monthly. Over the budgeted year many meals were served with over 1900 new patrons. New fitness classes have been added along with special event lunches and support groups. Finances: Dennis presented on financials. Staff Reports: Staff reviewed their reports. Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman’s Report: None City Council Liaison Report: None Old Business: Dennis presented an update on the Aquatic Center. Precast wall panels began installation on March 27th on the natatorium. Additional wall panels will be installed later, once other site conditions have been completed. Outdoor Aquatics, many of the main drains have been set for the lazy river, wave ball pool and social pool. Return lines have been run and one of the five floor pours is scheduled for the week of April 3rd. The Aquatic Mechanical Pump Room walls are complete along with the roof structure. Plumbing rough-in is complete with electrical rough- in starting. The floor slab should be prepared and poured in the next two to three weeks. Dennis then presented an update on Youth Sports League Information. He stated that this topic will be on hold for now until summer meetings to see what the state level determines. Keith Hannaman explained that he would like to present to the city administration a free membership to Fieldhouse and Blue Surf Bay for park commissioners as a reward for all the hard work the commissioners put into being on the board. New Business: Justin presented on Fees and Charges. Staff is proposing to specifically increase Field rental fees due to department taking on added fields from another association. A motion was made by Nick Brummel and seconded by Ken Horrell to accept the Fees and Charges. Dennis then presented on FY2022-23 Budget Development. Staff has been actively working on the FY2022-23 Budget. Budgets will be submitted to city Administration at the end of April. This year’s budget development will 1 include an expanded Fieldhouse budget to include the operation of the new Blue Surf Bay Waterpark. Also included in our budget request will be several additional full-time staff members to assist with the operations of the Aquatic Center as well as additional Recreation staff to assist with the workload of staff with the program growth that has occurred over the last three years. The positions related to the Fieldhouse/Blue Surf Bay Waterpark will be funded through the operations of the facility and are not subject to General Fund appropriations. Dennis discussed Fieldhouse and Aquatics proposed budget structures. Miscellaneous: Park commissioners Keith Hannaman and Ken Horrell presented their park visit reports. Dennis then presented an update on the request for park commission to receive memberships to Fieldhouse/Blue Surf Bay. He spoke with city administration, and they let him know that it is important to keep all commissions held at the same level and standard. As there was no further business, a motion for adjournment was made by Jon Burke and seconded by Tony Lopez. 2