Parks and Recreation Commission

Inger Hiller, Chair Brian Glotzbach, Vice Chair Parks and Recreation Commission Sarah Grider Meeting Minutes Shawn L'Esperance Madeline Self Michael Smith Wednesday, January 20, 2021 5:00 PM Virtual Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission NOTE: THIS MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THREE OR MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY ALSO ATTEND THIS MEETING, DURING WHICH THE ITEMS LISTED HEREIN WILL BE DISCUSSED. TIMES SHOWN ARE APPROXIMATE AND MAY BE ADJUSTED DUE TO CHANGES TO THE AGENDA. This meeting will be held in a fully-virtual format. JOIN MEETING ONLINE https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/9nS5CADgARTlpkpIG4qt4?domain=crgov.webex.com JOIN BY PHONE +1-720-650-7664 Meeting number (access code): 146 085 0381 Meeting password: Sc3JmHZHk43 CALL TO ORDER ADDITIONS/DELETIONS/MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Inger Hiller called the virtual meeting to order at approximately 5:00 p.m. Council Liaisons Caryn Johnson and Ryan Hollingshead were present, as were Town staff including Jeff Brauer, Jeff Smullen, Jennifer Martin, Mike Kilman, Brian Peterson, Bob Maloney, Dan Wahl, Barbara Spagnuolo, Matt Gohl and Maia Aman. Present 10 - Commissioner Madeline Self, Commissioner Madeline Self, Vice Chair Brian Glotzbach, Commissioner Michael Smith, Commissioner Michael Smith, Chair Inger Hiller, Chair Inger Hiller, Commissioner Shawn L'Esperance, Commissioner Sarah Grider, and Commissioner Sarah Grider PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THIS TIME, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AND STAFF ON ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA. COMMENTS SHOULD BE LIMITED TO NO MORE THAN FOUR (4) MINUTES. None. WELCOME NEW COUNCIL LIAISON RYAN HOLLINGSHEAD Parks and Recreation Commission members and staff welcomed new Town Council Liaison, Ryan Hollingshead of District One. MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes January 20, 2021 PRAC Approval of the Minutes of December 16, 2020 2021-001 It was motioned by Shawn L’Esperance and seconded by Sarah Grider to approve the minutes of the December 16, 2020 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. "I move to approve the minutes of the December 16, 2020 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting." Yes: 7 - Commissioner Self, Vice Chair Glotzbach, Commissioner Smith, Chair Hiller, Chair Hiller, Commissioner L'Esperance, and Commissioner Grider AGENDA TOPICS PRAC Noxious Weed Management Plan Update 2021-002 Barbara Spagnuolo presented an overview of the Town of Castle Rock’s Noxious Weed Management Plan. Noxious weeds are defined as non-native plants that displace or out compete native plants and degrade the natural habitat. Last summer, the Town received notification regarding noxious weed inquiries within Castle Rock and is now working to meet the statutory requirements established through the Colorado Noxious Weed Act. The law requires all Colorado residents, including local land managers, to control noxious weeds using integrated methods. According to the statutes, the responsibility of municipalities includes: · Establishment of a local advisory board, which may be an auxiliary function of the Parks and Recreation Commission · Adopt and administrate a noxious weed management plan · Treat public lands, including rights-of-way, to impede the spread of noxious weeds The Park Operations and Maintenance Division actively manages noxious weeds found in parks and open space within Castle Rock boundaries, utilizing an integrated process of mowing, spraying, pulling, planting native landscaping and biological controls. Other areas of concern include undeveloped lots that have been graded in preparation of development, right-of-ways and drainage areas. To address the statuary requirements, Town Council will soon approve a resolution creating an auxiliary function of the Parks and Recreation Commission to serve as the Noxious Weed Advisory Board. The board will meet on an as-needed basis to review the management plan or receive particular updates from staff. Once the creation of the board is approved, staff will seek additional approval of a weed management plan and update the municipal code to reflect state statutes. Staff will also implement public education tactics to help address the management of weeds on non-public lands. Vice Chair Brian Glotzbach expressed concern over the lack of specialized knowledge that Commission members may have in regards to weed management. Jeff Brauer addressed this concern by explaining that the board would rely on the expertise and knowledge of staff, and would simply be providing advisory recommendations based on available data. The Parks and Recreation Commission seemed like a natural fit for the role given the fact that the Department currently oversees the implementation of the management of noxious weeds, as well as maintaining the quality of open space. Madeline Self noted that she had volunteered on a similar board in Boulder County where volunteers would engage in a monthly day of weed pulling. Barbara agreed and explained Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes January 20, 2021 that the Town has organized similar outings in the past. Barbara also noted that public education would need to be a key component of the program’s future execution. Chair Inger Hiller expressed agreement that it would be positive to engage community volunteers such as Keepers of the Rock or the Ridgeline Wranglers, especially given their existing familiarity with the various properties. Councilmember Johnson highlighted the potential need to coordinate action across a variety of stakeholders given the varied number of parties who will be responsible for successful implementation, such as Castle Rock Water, Public Works, HOA’s and Douglas County. Barbara agreed and again highlighted the importance of public education. PRAC Recreation Division Update on Returning to Wellness 2021-003 Dan Wahl provided an update on the current state of the Recreation Division and their plan to return to wellness. The Recreation Center was operating at about 50 percent when compared to January 2020. January typically represents the time of year where facility attendance ramps up, and the month experienced 1,222 membership renewals or members coming into the Recreation Center. Staff are hopeful that patrons will continue to feel more comfortable visiting the facility as COVID restrictions decrease and the vaccine becomes more widely available. Both recreation facilities had also received the 5-Star Certification from the State of Colorado, which allowed them to operate at an increased capacity while abiding by specific mitigation standards. Leisure pool attendance had increased due to this change, and youth sports would also soon ramp up once the COVID dial transitioned to Level Orange within Douglas County. PRAC Indoor Recreation Facility Feasibility Study Discussion 2021-004 Architecture firm Barker Rinker Seacat (BRS) led a visioning session at the December Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. The purpose of the exercise was to gain a better understanding of perspectives related to possible program desires for a future indoor recreation facility. Programming was balanced with information related to capital cost and return on investment for the various options. Parks and Recreation Department staff completed a similar effort independent of the Commission and BRS provided data to compare the results. In January, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Jeff Smullen presented a summary of these results. New capital construction funding is generated through parks and recreation impact fees charged to new residential development. Each year the Town updates its capital planning based upon development projections. The capital schedule may be advanced or delayed depending on the rate of residential development. The current 2021-2025 Parks and Recreation Capital Improvement Plan includes the design and construction of a neighborhood component to the Cobblestone Ranch park site, a yet to be determined neighborhood park and the early payoff of the COP debt used to construct the Miller Activity Complex. In 2026, $20 million is projected to be available for indoor recreation or park capital construction. The budget numbers prepared by BRS for the facility study have a well-developed schedule that pulls together a significant amount of cost data broken down by individual program elements within a matrix, which will make it easy to assess individual programs in future planning models. Councilmember Hollingshead confirmed that the goal would be to begin construction of the next facility in 2026 since that’s when funding would be available and inquired if there were additional funding sources available. Jeff Smullen explained that some communities use voter-approved bond initiates to fund major projects. Jeff also noted that Town Council could Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes January 20, 2021 shift priorities and defer certain projects to develop a facility sooner or could work to develop partnership opportunities with external agencies or businesses to limit phasing or develop the facility sooner. Councilmember Johnson asked what size of a site the Town would need to construct a facility of this size. Jeff explained that BRS’s next step would be to create a conceptual layout to be prepare for the site selection process. Jeff Smullen closed the discussion by noting that the project’s next step will be to present benchmarking data and models to Town Council for their consideration and direction. PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT COMMENTS Staff provided Commission members with the following updates: - After an extensive interview process, Brian Erickson was offered and accepted the position as the new Head Golf Professional at Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course. Brian will join the Parks and Recreation Department from the Perry Park Country Club, where he served as the Head Golf Professional since 2011. Brian will bring the Town an extensive skill set with over twenty years of golf and hospitality management experience at public, private and resort-level courses. - The structures at the Plum Creek North Park were demolished and the area will soon be seeded and crimped. Design work is also underway for the park’s renovation master plan. - Staff are continuing their work to finalize the design for Castle Rock’s next neighborhood park in Cobblestone Ranch. Once design work is finalized, staff will put the project out to bid and anticipate beginning construction in late spring. - Recreation Manager Mike Kilman announced that the department does not plan to host summer camps in partnership with Colorado State University this year due to licensing requirements combined with COVID restrictions, which would have prevented CSU’s ability to hire apprpopraite staff in time for the program offerings. To accommodate these changes, staff will work to offer increased opportunities, as well as expand registration capacities as public health guidance allows. - The annual Daddy Daughter Ball will be held on Sunday, Feb. 7 with social distancing and capacity restrictions in place, and the Night to Shine prom-night event for participants with special needs will also be held on Friday, Feb. 12. - To date, over 1,600 trees had been recycled through the Christmas Tree Recycling program. Drop off locations will continue to accept trees through the end of the month. COMMISSION COMMENTS Brian Glotzbach thanked department staff for fixing zip lines at Deputy Zack S. Parrish III Memorial Park. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:26 p.m.