Coralville Civil Service

Coralville Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes May 17, 2021 Call to Order Commission Chairperson Fred Fevold called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Present were Commission Members Kyle McEvilly, Marti Mount, Alex Taylor, and Council Representative Dhuha Tawil, Parks Superintendent Alex Buhmeyer, and Director of Parks and Recreation Sherri Proud. This meeting was held at Creekside Adult Sports Park. Citizen Comments None Approval of April 19, 2021 Minutes Commission Member Mount made a motion to accept the minutes with the noted changes. Commission Member McEvilly seconded the motion; unanimous approval. Creekside Cross and Flow Trails Walking Tour The Parks and Recreation Commission completed a walking tour of the Creekside Cross and Flow Trails. Highlights of the tour included:  Flow trails opened in October. Over 16,000 ride trips were documented from time of opening to snow fall.  Total cost for the trail construction and bridges is approximately $95,000 and budgeted through Parks and Rec Projects funding.  Staff built all the bridges and rock features themselves. Many features have repurposed materials like the use of the Highway 6 old telephone poles or directional stones that have been hit and chipped at roundabouts.  Maintenance of the trails includes mowing sides, cutting back foliage, and an occasional wash out repair. Riding keeps the trails packed down.  Observation Plaza will give riders a place to meet, rest, get a drink of water. Observers will also be able to enjoy a seat a the plaza and watch riders. This is the lower observation plaza. A second observation plaza is planned for the pinnacle of the trails where the Commission stopped to admire the view and discuss the trails. Council Update Council person Jill Dodds reported that staff members for the City including Buhmeyer and Proud have been included in the development of the restoration plan for Bridgewater Lot 62 illegal removal of trees. Mark Vitosh, IDNR Regional Forester, and Alex Buhmeyer developed a plan that was submitted to the developer. After a few back and forth exchanges of critiques, a plan has been agreed upon which will protect the large specimen oak tree, restores trees on the north side of the new townhouses, places trees on the east end flat area where there will be the most viability for the tree plantings, and on the flatter part of the slope on the south side of the damaged area. Dodds also gave thanks and praise to the department for their leadership of the May 5 City clean up day. She also reported that the Town Center Ramp at the Library and CCPA will be shut down 8-9 weeks for sealing cracks and coating with an epoxy layer. This may affect parking at library and CCPA. Council is hearing an ordinance for community cats. Volunteers gather feral cats, have them spayed or neutered, ears are clipped, and they are returned to the community. They may not be returned to City property or fed on City property. Fevold asked how this may affect ground nesting fowl like pheasants or quail. The cats may not be fed on City property and likely would stay near their food source but Proud will bring this up to Dave Johnson with the Building department so that when feeding stations are set up by the volunteer organization, we can make sure they are not near prairie areas. On May 20, the hockey team will unveil its name and mascot. Dodds also thanked the parks staff for their attention to the singletrack trails. He son rides on his uniwheel and has commented on how well groomed they are. Directors Report Director Proud shared the difficulties with staffing for the Marriott at Brown Deer. She is working on a solution for the closures or lack of food preparation at Divots Restaurant and Bar. Another lifeguard class will be held in June. Commission Comments Commission Member Kyle McEvilly No comment Commission Member Marti Mount No comment  Commission Member Alex Taylor Commission Member Taylor inquired if staff had seen the Cedar Rapids Gazette article on pools and lifeguards for Cedar Rapids, who are also struggling to hire staff. Proud said they had and many of the ideas they are doing in Cedar Rapids have also been tried in Coralville like recruiting bonuses, food, holiday pay at end of summer. Adjournment Commission Member McEvilly made the motion to adjourn at 8:45 p.m.; Commission Member McEvilly seconded the motion; unanimous approval. Next Meeting: June 21, 2021