Coralville Civil Service

Coralville Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes November 17, 2014 Call to Order Commission Chairperson Fred Fevold called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Present were Commission Members Eve Casserly, Marti Mount, Alex Taylor, and David Thayer, Aquatics Supervisor Faron VanNostrand, and Parks and Recreation Director Sherri Proud. Citizen Comments None Approval of Minutes Commission Member Mount moved to approve the minutes from the October 20, 2014 meeting as submitted. Thayer seconded. FY16 Budget Discussion The following budgets were presented for the Recreation Division: North Ridge Pavilion, Coralville Community Aquatic Center, and the Coralville Indoor Pool. Pavilion: Staff highlighted the presented budget. The Pavilion continues to be a popular rental venue to the City of Coralville. The Pavilion budget supports the operations for the facility, the trash, electrical, and outdoor restroom expenses for the entire park. This budget also supports 20% of the Recreation Program Supervisor’s salary who is responsible for its operation. The budget remains stable for the Fy16 proposal. Highlights of the budget are completing a three year plan for upgrades for ADA accessibility and to replace the eight foot tables which are original with opening the facility in 2003. This year, the drinking fountain will be modified with a hi/lo bowl installed and the kitchen countertops will be modified in the sink area to accommodate accessibility. During the past year, an accessible oven was installed. Staff are recommending a 4.5 percent increase in projected revenues and a 1 percent increase in projected expenses. Coralville Community Aquatic Center: For revenue projections, staff recommend keeping daily admits at $4.25 per admit. Currently North Liberty charges $3 for children and $4 for adults and Iowa City charges $3.25 for admission. Looking at past history, the revenue projection for the Aquatic Center is $1200 less than last year. For expenses, a wage increase of 10-15 cents is being recommended for staff across the wage scale to keep positions competitive with other like industry positions. The majority of discussion for the Aquatic Center centered around keeping competitive with features such as adding the third slide in the master plan, the upkeep of equipment, and the need to refurbish the slide tower and the two large slides. Staff shared past numbers of revenue to expenses with the Commission. On a five year average, revenue has been able to cover 85% of the expenses. Staff recommends a budget in which revenue will cover 86.5% of expenses. Indoor Pool – Discussion for the Indoor Pool focused on discussing the age of the pool and the Model Aquatic Health Code, a federal initiative for recommendations for the regulations of pools. At present time, the indoor pool condition is in good working order for mechanical systems. Upcoming projects include continuing to paint pool basin every years and to replace the lights with LED lighting which will also address an upgrade to candle footlights for the very dim pool area. The most pressing maintenance project is to find a replacement manufacturer for the pool grates. The pool grate system is original to the pool construction and the manufacturer has gone out of business. Three to five replacement grates are needed per year. Staff is working with a pool company to source new grates. If new grates can’t be found, a grate and gutter system will be needed. Money has been allocated yearly in maintenance reserves for projects like these. Aquatics Supervisor Faron VanNostrand shared information regarding the current Iowa Health Code for Pools and about the Aquatic Health Code being reviewed at the federal level. The item that may effect the Coralville Pools is requirement of UV systems. The indoor pool has been plumbed for the addition of UV. Ultraviolet light systems are an additional insurance in sanitizing water, especially effective against cryptospirdium, a bacteria that can be spread if a person comes in contact with an infected persons fecal matter. Proud shared that the indoor pool is now twenty seven years old. A typical indoor pool basin life is 35 years. If UV is added to the facility, staff recommends making sure that it can be removed and reused if the pool is renovated. Money is being set aside in the mechanical systems reserve for this possibility. The other topic discussed is the recommendation to increase the indoor pool admits in June 2015 from $3.25 per person to $3.50 per person. The last rate increase was in 2012. The budget as presented has a 4.5 %increase in revenue and a 4.8% increase in expenses. Council Report: Goodrich was unable to attend. Director Report: Proud shared that the City is currently interviewing management companies for the IRL CAM District which encompasses the area north of E. 9th Street, east of First Avenue, south of I- 80, and ending at Quarry Road in the Iowa River Landing. Currently Proud has managed the contracts for landscape care, trash removal, and snow removal for this area and these will switch over the management company. Proud also shared that staff has been working on budget for all divisions and bids have been received for the Turf and Horticulture Bid. A recommendation will be made at a December meeting for the award of contract. Commission Comments: Commission Member Thayer shared an article about inclusive playgrounds and urged the City to make sure as it grows that there are more and more kids that aren’t being included in programming and playgrounds. He also commented that he wonders if the Indoor Pool and Recreation Center being almost 30 years old and 45 years old respectively, if they are keeping up with the population, the space needed and if they really represent what people want. Commission Member Casserly also commented that the master plan for renovation and addition to the Rec Center is now ten years old. Proud said it will be important to revisit the master plan before making a decision regarding renovation and a complete replacement may make more sense. Casserly also shared that a group is looking at buying and developing a senior apartment complex at the Lantern Park area. Proud shared that the City and the developer have preliminarily discussed ideas regarding senior programming. These will continue to flesh out once the developer hears back regarding some tax credit information. The meeting adjourned at 8:24 p.m.