Coralville Civil Service

Coralville Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes February 24, 2014 Call to Order Commission Chairperson Fred Fevold called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were Commission Members Eve Casserly, Marti Mount, and Alex Taylor, Council Member Laurie Goodrich, Recreation Department Intern Cody Curtis, Recreation Superintendent Scott Prochaska, and Parks and Recreation Director Sherri Proud. Citizen Comments None Approval of Minutes Commission Member Casserly made the motion to approve the meeting minutes from January 27, 2014; Commission Member Mount seconded the motion; unanimous approval. Recreation Policy Review Parks and Recreation Director Proud shared that a review of policies for Parks and Recreation occurs every five years. This review will target the policies unifying consistent language and word usage and a focus on customer service, safety, and recreational guidelines. Proud also stated that staff while reviewing policy also make sure that the language is indeed policy and not procedure. With the policies, the intent is also to provide the support and tools for staff to implement procedures. The following considerations and clarifications were noted within the current policies: Pool o Patron minimum ages by years instead of months o ages for minors and supervision criteria o specific skills of swim test abilities o closing protocols and procedures o enforcement of smoking areas o notifications regarding swim pool schedules o justification for patron admittance regardless of intent to swim o consistency related to enforcement of policies Commission Member Taylor posed the issue related to electronics including both headphone swim gear and camera usage. Proud will direct Aquatic Supervisor VanNostrand to investigate these issues with the IPRA Aquatics Committee. Commission Member Mount revisited that the policies reflect safety as priority related to services. Part Time/Seasonal Employees o utilization of additional background checks as avenue to protect the City o monitoring of Iowa Courts Online and Sex Offenders Registry for employees o recommendation from police to document that the sex offenders registry list is checked routinely o consideration of personal choices related to piercings and body skin art in conjunction with safety and offensive marks (including discriminatory or harassing marks) resulting in removal or coverage o termination guidelines including responses to suspensions, inappropriate use of recreational facilities and equipment including vehicles o change from monetary amount to absolutely no gifts and gratuity by state law. Commission members discussed wordings related to policies to ensure accuracy and intent; supervisors will be responsible to understand and convey policies related to employment. Proud noted that there are differences between the part time/seasonal employees and contracted employees. Volunteers o following Safe Youth Sports program guidelines to complete background checks o appropriateness related to recreational facilities and equipment o benefit limitations with no medical or accident insurance University of Iowa and City of Coralville Collaboration The UI is projecting the construction of a nine hundred employee facility near the Youth Sports Park on Ridgeway which will connect the two entities with common outdoor grounds. The funding of the projects will allow the city to target plaza space, picnic tables, trail loops and connections, focus on ADA projects, small shelter expansions, and aesthetic improvements to the retention basin. Planning includes efforts to create recreational and leisure areas which may include fitness trail stations or QRFit stations. Commission Members discussed considerations related to amenities which would maximize the space and current features. Construction of the facility which will conclude in the summer of 2015 but work on the trails and shelters will begin in the fall of 2014. Director’s Report Parks and Recreation Director Proud noted that focus this month has been on attention to the completion of any outstanding project warranties including the Center for Performing Arts and the Coralville Operations Facility. Proud indicated that one of her goals with future projects, LEED certified or not, is to require a facility be commissioned at end of project. This has proved effective in catching any errors. Proud reported that if the City has to resort to talking with a contractor about using the project performance bond to make corrections, the relationship can be tenuous. The Commission discussed how to promote the community to the tournament participants. Proud indicated that coordination with the Coralville Visitors and Bureau and the IRL Marketing committee would one way to get the word out to the local businesses about the visitors coming to Coralville. Proud will have staff work on a collateral piece that can be e-mailed to tournament organizers with information about Coralville. Council Report Council Member Goodrich announced the upcoming public hearing and opportunity for input related to the Community Plan. The Plan will be reviewed during the next three Council meetings to seek approval. At this time, there are eleven applications for the five positions on the Center for Performing Arts Commission. The Council will accept these positions and this Commission at the th March 11 meeting. Commission Comments Commission Member Fred Fevold No additional comments. Commission Member Eve Casserly No additional comments. Commission Member Marti Mount Commission Member Mount shared that she had secured the contact regarding the recommendation to connect with UI Urban Environment - Geography Professor and club sponsor to support the geological GPS project for the city discussed last month. Commission President Alex Taylor No additional comments. Adjournment Commission Member Taylor moved to adjourn at 8:43 p.m.; Commission Member Mount seconded the motion; unanimous approval. Commission Member Casserly reported that she would not be in attendance at the March meeting.