Park & Recreation Board

AGENDA MINUTES OF PARKS & RECREATION BOARD MEETING Monday, January 15th, 2024 City Hall 2nd Floor Conference Room– 7pm Present: Aaron Paden, Connie Giese, Wendy Eairleywine, Dian Christensen-Hillis, Nick Hansen, and Nate Schwanke. Call to Order: Meeting was called to order at 7:00pm by Chairman Giese. The agenda displayed at City Hall, 400 E Military and was distributed to the Park Board, Mayor and City Council on January 8th, 2024 and is open to the public. The open meeting law is posted continually for public inspection. Roll Call: Roll Call showed members Giese, Paden, Eairleywine, and Christensen-Hillis present. Absent: Moran Open Meeting Law posted for public review. Reading of the Parks & Recreation Board Minutes, November 6th, 2023. Eairleywine moved to suspend the reading since the board has read them, seconded by Paden, to suspend the reading of November 6th minutes. Motion carried. Discussion of fee waivers from FFA and Fremont and Bergan post prom was discussed by parks board and waived $650 from the requests to cover our cleaning and maintenance cost. Hansen discussed the bocce ball courts located at Christensen field and possibly moving them to Van Anda. This would allow space out at CF for possibly a Quonset SW of Christensen Field. Swanke discussed that the Rebels baseball organization would like to place a batting cage at Ronin. A request by Antique Car Club usage of City Park West Lawn Thursday’s June-September. Board discussed the request and see no issues as long as the venues provided insurance. Motion was made by Eairleywine. Seconded by Giese. Motion carried. Schwanke discussed Venom softball was interested in leasing a field for their organization. They have approached the P&R department in the past for interest in using a specific field for their own organization. Board discussed the use of Venom Softball and had no issues with Schwanke to continue discussion with Venom. Hansen discussed it would be a lease that mirrors Nighthawks and Rebels organizations. Schwanke presented the recreation report and what programs or events finished up. Schwanke discussed the activities and numbers provided for free skate, movie, and bowling that was scheduled for winter break. Schwanke discussed the numbers from breakfast with Santa and thanking Kiwanis, board member Giese, and other volunteers that made this event work. Schwanke discussed getting ready for hires for summer positions.  Hansen discussed that the library has moved everything out of the Auditorium and P&R department is fixing a few things before it opens back up for rentals. Hansen mentioned they have some touch up painting, lining the sewer pipes, and touching up some of the main arena floors. P&R Department had some nice winter weather that allowed them to finish Davenport shelter and agri-lime to Ronin and Christensen Field. P&R staff hung the wreaths and will remove them in the month of January. Hansen mentioned P&R staff sent 4 workers to turf management conference. Hansen discussed another bubble has occurred out at Johnson park playground. Hansen mentioned there a special permit city staff is working on for venues to use city property. Hansen discussed that the train at Splash station was refurbished and the pads are being refurbished over the winter. Hansen mentioned Cunningham Rec sent a first design for Buch park. P&R department reviewed the contents in all parks and facilities to get a better understanding of all the contents in the building for insurance purposes. Hansen discussed that Sawyer construction was awared the bid for Hormel boat ramp and JEO was awarded the bid for P&R master plan. Hand discussed that Ridge Cemetery was completed and P&R department is finishing the furnishing. Hansen discussed he received formal quotes for the Quonset for Christensen Field. The quotes came back high and will need to go out for formal bidding. Hansen discussed that P&R received $113,000 from the EDA tourism grant of the $850,000. Hansen mentioned they have sent the additional paperwork over and now waiting for the process to be completed. Hansen discussed he applied for the Tree City USA, P&R will plant a tree on Arbor Day for the completion of Tree City USA. Hansen mentioned that there’s a new Maintenance Worker open position for forestry. Hansen discussed that public transportation is still in high demand even though there is a small fee to ride now. Hansen mentioned the city has reviewed the program and is moving forward with a Transportation Manager. Hansen discussed capital improvements that are in the near future for the P&R department. Next Meeting – Monday, February 5th 2024, 7pm, East RoomCity Auditorium . Adjournment- Motion was made by Paden, seconded by Christensen-Hillis to adjourn. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:28pm. Respectfully submitted, Nicholas Hansen, Secretary I, the undersigned, the Secretary for the Parks and Recreation Board, Fremont, Nebraska, hereby certify that all of the subjects included in the attached proceedings were contained in the notice of said meeting of January 15th, 2024 kept continually current and available for public inspection at the Parks & Recreation Office; that such subjects were contained in said notice for at least twenty-four hours prior to said meeting; that the minutes of the Park Board of the Parks and Recreation Department, Fremont, Nebraska were in written form and available for public inspection prior to the next convened meeting of said body. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of January 2024. Nicholas Hansen, Director of Parks & Recreation January 15th, 2024