Coralville Civil Service

Coralville Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes July 20, 2020 Call to Order Commission Vice Chairperson Alex Taylor called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. via ZOOM given the COVID 19 Pandemic. Present were Commission Members Kyle McEvilly, Marti Mount, Dhuha Tawil, and Parks and Recreation Director Sherri Proud. Citizen Comments Parks and Recreation Director Proud referred to the citizen comments related to the indoor pool, aquatic center, and recreation gym for resident and non-resident usage. Citizens have been appreciative of being given first opportunities to use and to have special resident hours, especially since North Liberty and Iowa City recreation facilities have been closed. Approval of Minutes Commission Member Mount made the motion to approve the meeting minutes from June 15, 2020, with comments noted. Commission Member McEvilly seconded the motion; unanimous approval. Review of Metro Bike Plan by MPO of Johnson County Parks and Recreation Director Proud referred the Commission to the Community Summary and the related public meetings that were held related to both local and regional information to develop an updated Metro Bike Plan. The importance for this plan includes mapping and bike plan with on street accommodations, signage, and best bicycle routes. The comments also include the bicycle community status for the MPO Bicycle Plan targeting riding for transportation and riding for recreation. Proud described the bike safety rodeos, summer camp wheel days, and Trail Trekkers safety program and bike travel, along with the program to take adults on best route rides. She also highlighted information related to equity for access/snow and routes, E-assist programs including bike and scooter language and community focus. Another aspect of the plan includes the PUD – Subdivision Reviews – that addresses bike racks in the subdivision plans and in their construction. Proud would like to make these features along with the bike sharrows and trails within an ordinance. Proud recognized that the speed of traffic on First Avenue has created additional difficulties related to access and safety. Other projects include trails behind Heartland Inn and in the West Land Use area. The review of grant funding opportunities were shared; the Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Technical Advisory Committee target federal and local options. In 2016, Coralville received a bronze level as a bicycle community. The recommendations to increase level work focusing on street accommodations, bike boulevards, bike racks and fix it stations. Unfortunately, bike initiatives would require the focused attention of designated FTE to lift this level to a gold or platinum level. Some of the structural limitations of roadways, paths and trails, and safety considerations will also inhibit an improved level. Coralville Comprehensive Trail Plan Parks and Recreation Director Proud noted that during COVID 19, efforts focused on this plan to identify historical information along with moving forward with policies and maintenance to create a living document for hard surface and natural surface trails. Facilities may also be included as trailheads and additional site based designated trailheads. The trails not included in developer plans were identified across the community with grant dollars and city dedicated monies. Secured grant monies has funded approximately 75% of the trails in Coralville. Regional attention for Coralville includes the several mile trails with respective trailheads. Challenges for this comprehensive trail plan include the number of driveways which may be on a given routes, dead end trail ways, and maintained year round access with the connections. Commission Member Mount made the recommendation for a summation page specific to the average cost per mile along with the overall trail cost. Commission Member Mount made the recommendation to the City Council to approve both the Metro Bike Plan by MPO of Johnson County and the Coralville Comprehensive Trail Plan. Commission Member McEvilly seconded the motion; unanimous approval. Annual Report 2019 Parks and Recreation Director Proud shared some of the highlights of the Annual Report 2019; the report itself contains all of the accomplishments within the comprehensive review of the year: • Building maintenance projects • Parks projects which included renovation, replacement, and development across the City • Increased Brown Deer Golf Club golfing rounds, wedding, programs, and district athletic golf events • Brown Deer Golf Course grounds projects • Special Events – targeting bigger events with greater impacts • Reap Grants • Coralville Center for the Performing Arts for events, programming.  • Recreation Programs – varying from recreational programs to adult community events • Recognition of Amy Erickson as a recipient of the Robert E Yager Active Learning from the Iowa Children’s Museum • Recognition of Josh Worrell named Arborist of the Year by Tree City USA. Commission Members applauded the departments’ efforts and accomplishments. BASP and the ICCSD School District Given the ongoing changes as proposed by the ICCSD, the impact on the BASP Programs and a review of the community needs overview was shared. Proud noted that the impact economically of COVID 19 has become a group effort in streamlining programming and has required a great amount of reshifting of services and utilization of facilities. Director Report As noted with the Department Highlights, Proud noted the ongoing requirements and changes which have been posed to staff to manage the new normal, conditions, and safety precautions including social distancing guidelines for Parks and Recreation. Programs are open and being used. People are appreciative of the services being offered and that they are safe to attend. Commission Comments Commission Member Kyle McEvilly Commission Member McEvilly commented about the Aquatic Center painting of the spray features which was completed in the spring. These efforts gave the Aquatic Center a clean look as it opened for the season. Commission Member Marti Mount No additional comments. Commission Member Dhuha Tawil No additional comments. Commission Member Alex Taylor Commission Member Taylor thanked the Parks Department for the bridge on the Woodpecker Trail. The bridge is so nice and appreciative for bikers and runners. Parks and Recreation Director Proud shared that this bridge included recycled materials. Taylor also commented on the parking area at MA Ewalt and Proud shared that an additional path to the berm will be built and in the future, it is planned to add a dock. Adjournment Commission Member Tawil made the motion to adjourn at 8:09 p.m.; Commission Member Mount seconded the motion; unanimous approval. Parks and Recreation Director Proud shared that the September meeting may include a tour. Commission Members are requested to provide input. No meeting in August 2020.