Coralville Civil Service

Coralville Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes March 23, 2009 Call to Order Commission Chairperson Fred Fevold called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Present were Commission Members Mike Knudson, Marti Mount, Marcia Stoos, and David Thayer, Council Member Mitch Gross, and Parks and Recreation Director Sherri Proud. Citizen Comments None Approval of Minutes Commission Member Stoos made the motion to approve the meeting minutes from the February 23, 2009 meeting with the following correction noting the commission name with the corresponding statement: Commission Member Thayer stated that he continues to be concerned with the acquisition of more land when it is clear that the staff will have difficulty maintaining the land; Commission Member Thayer seconded the motion; unanimous approval. JCCOG Metro Bicycle Master Plan – Parks and Recreation Director Proud forwarded the master plan document with commission members via email. Proud provided a summary of the plan at the meeting. Highlights of the discussion related to this document included: • Proud shared with the Commission that she is a member on the Regional Trails Bicycle Committee that oversees the Metro Bicycle Master Plan. • JCCOG supported City of Iowa City by writing and submitting their application for the pursuit of the award as an American League of Bicyclist. An honorable mention was received by the League with the request to JCCOG to provide continued assistance to meet the recommendations following their application. • Two forums were conducted last fall to address the question of how to support the bike on the street – garnered on how people bike within the greater regional community. • Grants continue to support metro trails within the community. • The City Councils will review and act upon the recommendations of the Action Plan in May; additional agencies and organizations will review the plan and act upon the recommendations this spring. In addition, other departments (i.e. streets, police, and engineering) within the city are also reviewing the plan. Public comment will be solicited this spring. The ultimate goal will be that every community will formally adopt the Master Plan. • Commission Member Thayer noted that he found it disturbing that the document was written by and complimentary towards JCCOG; Proud noted that she will use examples within the document to reference the need to clarify the respective roles. • The City of Coralville staff need to review the requirements and related steps to pursue a Bicycle Friendly community. • The question of how money is funneled through JCCOG and local entities was briefly discussed. • The City of Coralville has questions related to specifications of a Complete Streets Program which would be adopted and then may later create barriers within the community. Examples which may inhibit the implementation of the plan may include deep ditches, railroads, etc. • Parks and Recreation Director Proud stated that the concern of limitation will be pursued to determine the impact of how this may affect the City of Coralville. This question applies to both commercial and subdivision locations as well as future and current locations. . • The implementation of a bicycle rack infill program may be considered as an option to best meet the needs of the community. This program will review neighborhood and commercial areas as to who has what and where these sites are located. Commission suggested Bicyclists of Iowa City may be able to help survey the community for these needs. • The Commission discussed the issue of sharrows and the implications of sharrrows across the community. • The Commission discussed locations across the community that have existing bike lanes, curbs that roll off, wide area sidewalks, trails, etc. • Bicycle friendly communities, such as Madison, were showcased with respective amenities such as sharrows, bicycle lanes, and bike boulevards.  • The implication of city maintenance was discussed, i.e. sweeping of roadways, driveway accesses and crossroads, etc. • Commission Member Mount inquired as to the educational component that would be required for the community if varied bike options and amenities were implemented; Proud noted that the educational component could be compared to the roundabouts. • Commission Member Fevold inquired as to the changes that would be required with concerns specific to roads like 12th Avenue. On Street Parking is allowed on 12th Avenue from 8th Street to 7th Street and this could be a concern if sharrows were selected on this route. • Discussion as how recommendations for Council and public input are and will be utilized. • Discussions related to routes moving east to west through Coralville were discussed as an ongoing obstacle within the community. • Commission Member Thayer questioned whether Coralville has put their money in the wrong place with trails when individuals express their desire to ride on roadways; Proud clarified that this plan distinguishes between trails and streets respectively and there is the need for both. Definitions and purposes of recreational and transportation avenues will support one another and not hinder one another. • Parks and Recreation Director Proud noted that she was uncertain about the use of sidewalks within the community resulting in police citations. Police citations should be encouraged when bicyclists are not following the rules of the road, vehicles parked illegally in streets and over sidewalks on driveways. • AASHTO Guidelines were discussed regarding dedicated trails and wide sidewalks. • Various city needs would need to be impacted: moped and bicycle parking, helmet and promotional programs, headlight and reflector laws, covered bike storage and bike locker availability, signage, maintenance of sharrows, cost effectiveness of sharrows and bike lanes, widths of roadways and allowance for car door openings, lighting on street roadways, avoidance of grates and other hazards in roadways. Director’s Report Parks and Recreation Director Proud, along with Council Member Gross, discussed the mitigation projects for the City of Coralville. A one page mitigation project sheet will be forwarded to members. Briefly, the plan includes flood walls along the Iowa River, raising the Crandic RR, and flood areas along Rocky Shore Drive, The Sales Tax Option will be critical for the City of Coralville and the City of Iowa City respectively to be able to address projects to provide the preventative measures for future floods implications for the parallel communities. The connective measures of the two communities has created greater importance as projects are related. Council Member Gross noted that Ellen Habel has the current document specific to the appropriated funds being provided by FEMA. At his time, the proposed park and transit building is at a standstill. Proud explained that some of the difficulties results with FEMA personnel changing every ninety days in a given location. The current site lease expires in December 2009. The Iowa Parks and Recreation State Spring Conference will be hosted at the Coralville Marriot Hotel and Convention Center on April 5-8. This conference allows for learning, fundraisers, and special events. Commission Members are encouraged to attend with the City providing registrations fees. A flier for a local taco dinner fundraiser for Terry Trueblood, City of Iowa City Employee, was provided who is currently ill. Parks and Recreation Director Proud briefly reviewed current projects – trail construction, grading at the Youth Sports Complex. Council Report Council Member Gross shared that community patrons have inquired regarding the bridge parallel to Camp Cardinal route located on the trail. This is a give-away bridge and will not be raised even though it has experienced water going over it just recently. Another constituent noted that the trail along Oakdale to Wickham Elementary may need to be cut back.  Gross also shared the Performing Arts Center scored well with Vision Iowa; many positive comments were received, Commission Comments Commission Member Fred Fevold Commission Member Fevold inquired about the communication avenues which were explored at the open city meeting. These avenues included Facebook, use of the Coralville website to announce and inform residents of upcoming spring activities. Parks and Recreation Director Proud noted that she will have Rhonda pursue some of these avenues after the conference. She noted that Brown Deer Golf Course currently has an active Facebook profile. Proud clarified that she was looking at a database that would be facilitated and dictated by the city to residents and not vice versa. Proud will secure specific information related to the spring mustard pull as to how who, when, how, with who, etc. Commission Member Mike Knudson Commission Member Knudson reiterated his long term goal to secure garden plots. This is being capitalized with Michelle Obama’s garden being featured recently in the news. Parks and Recreation Director Proud noted that the garden plots may not be feasible during the summer of 2009 given varied sites that may be considered for the future. Proud noted that she wants the site to be stabilized and have the features needed over a period of time rather than putting plots where they may have to be moved in the future. Commission Member Marti Mount Commission Member Mount inquired as to the maintenance of the pond, limestone, and flowerbeds on the NW corner between Lowes and City of Coralville landscape; Proud will address the concerns with Parks Superintendent Coberly. Commission Member Marcia Stoos No additional comments. Commission Member David Thayer Commission Member Thayer questioned the role of the Hope House individuals and their role in things that are happening within the City of Coralville. Parks and Recreation Director Proud noted that coordination among the Community Corrections Program, Street Parole, Hope House, and AmeriCorp patrons continues to occur with their participation with varied projects: decorating and removing Christmas lights, raking parks, and removing sand and debris from city parking lots. Proud informed the Commission as to the partnership and future endeavors that may be considered with the Parks Department. On April 25, the Clear Creek belt will be targeted for mustard garlic pull. This invite for service will also be extended to the Muddy Creek area. Proud noted that since the open meeting, twelve additional contacts have been made expressing interest in the service program. Adjournment Commission Member Knudson moved to adjourn at 8:42 p.m.; Commission Member Thayer seconded the motion; unanimous approval. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetings will resume the third Mondays of the month. Council Member Gross noted that his attendance at the meetings will be limited given his coaching commitment with the West High tennis team. If rain occurs, Gross will be able to attend.