Parks & Recreation Board

200 South Hamilton Road City of Gahanna Gahanna, Ohio 43230 Meeting Minutes Parks & Recreation Board Jan Ross, Chair Donna Simmons, Vice Chair Chrissy Kaminski, Secretary Scott Lofton Kevin McGinn Eric Miller Ken Shepherd Wednesday, January 13, 2021 7:00 PM Virtual Meeting *Organizational & Regular Meeting* Call in details: 513-306-4583, Conference ID: 395 078 274# A. CALL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING TO ORDER Mayor Jadwin called the Organizational Meeting of the Parks & Recreation Board to order on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at 7:03 pm, via Microsoft Teams due to the continuing COVID-19 emergency. B. SWEARING IN OF BOARD MEMBER(S) Mayor Jadwin administered the Oath of Office to Eric Miller and Chrissy Kaminski. C. ROLL CALL Present: 7 - Donna Simmons, Jan Ross, Chrissy Kaminski, Scott Lofton, Kevin McGinn, Eric Miller and Ken Shepherd D. ELECTION OF CHAIR Mayor Jadwin opened the floor for nomination of Chair. Miller nominated Ross. Ross accepted the position. A motion was made by Kaminski, seconded by Shepherd to nominate Ross as Chair. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Simmons, Ross, Kaminski, Lofton, McGinn, Miller and Shepherd E. ELECTION OF VICE CHAIR At this time Mayor Jadwin turned the meeting over to Ross, Chair. Ross nominated Simmons as Vice Chair. Simmons accepted the position. City of Gahanna Page 1 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes January 13, 2021 Motion was made by Shepherd, seconded by Miller, to nominate Simmons as Vice Chair. The motion carried with the following vote: Yes: 7- Simmons, Ross, Kaminski, Lofton, McGinn, Miller and Shepherd F. ELECTION OF SECRETARY Ross opened the floor for nomination of Secretary. Miller nominated Kaminski. Kaminski accepted the position. A motion was made by Simmons, seconded by Miller, to nominate Kaminski as Secretary. Motion carried with the following vote: Yes: 7- Simmons, Ross, Kaminski, Lofton, McGinn, Miller and Shepherd G. ESTABLISH TIME AND DAY: Regular Board Meetings A motion was made by Lofton, seconded by Kaminski, that Parks Board will meet on the second Wednesday of each month in 2021. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Simmons, Ross, Kaminski, Lofton, McGinn, Miller and Shepherd H. ADOPTION OF RULES OF OPERATION AND PROCEDURE A motion was made by Shepherd, seconded by Simmons, to approve the Rules of Operation and Procedure. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Simmons, Ross, Kaminski, Lofton, McGinn, Miller and Shepherd 2021-0005 PR RulesOfOp 2021 I. COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS a. Bicycle & Trail Advisory Committee (BTAC) Miller volunteered for BTAC. b. Gahanna Active Senior Advisory Committee (GASAC) Simmons and Miller volunteer for GASAC. c. Natural Resources Advisory Committee (NRAC) Kaminski volunteered for NRAC. d. Veteran's Advisory Committee Shepherd volunteered to update the Board on the Veterans Memorial City of Gahanna Page 2 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes January 13, 2021 Committee. J. ADJOURNMENT OF ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING There being no further business of the Board the Organizational Meeting adjourned at 7:18 pm. K. CALL REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER Ross, Chair called the January 13, 2021 Regular Parks Board meeting to order at 7:18pm. L. ROLL CALL Present: 7 - Donna Simmons, Eric Miller, Jan Ross, Scott Lofton, Kevin McGinn, Ken Shepherd and Chrissy Kaminski Staff in attendance Stephania Bernard-Ferrell, Director and Pam Ripley, Office Coordinator. M. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion was made by McGinn, seconded by Shepherd, to approve the minutes from the November 18, 2020 Board meeting. Motion carried with the following vote: Yes: 7- Simmons, Miller, Ross, Lofton, McGinn, Shepherd and Kaminski 2021-0004 PR mins 11-18-2020 N. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA New Business: Capital Projects 2021 O. HEARING OF VISITORS None P. OLD BUSINESS None Q. NEW BUSINESS City of Gahanna Page 3 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes January 13, 2021 a. 2021 Capital Projects Ferrell shared that Council approved the Splash Pad for GSP. The design plan will be discussed at a future meeting. The Price Road house renovations were approved. After the renovation it will be used as recreational program space and additional rental opportunities for the community. Staff is in the process of hiring an architect. The project will be on a future agenda. The Big Walnut Trail Section 8 was funded. The timing of this project is important; the bridge rebuild on Hamilton Rd is slated to happen in 2021. This will help get the trail to Pizzurro Park. The Parks Division had fourteen part time positions that were moved to four full time general maintenance workers. Normally the division was dependent on part time staff. The turn over was high in those positions. Also approved was a full time Horticulturist Position for the Arbor Team and a Facilities Maintenance Coordinator who will be the Pool Technician. The Parks Superintendent position is currently posted. The hopes are to get the Superintendent hired soon in order to help hire the six positions. Ross asked if there were any projects that were not approved? Ferrell shared that when projects are submitted they are prioritized. Those projects identified as priority were funded. The other projects are still desired but it came down to what makes sense for the department to get accomplished right now. R. CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIONS None S. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Ferrell shared the Director's Report that was included in the packet. The report included the November and December financials for the Golf Course. In February staff will present a year end report for the Golf Course. The Senior Center remains closed to programming. Staff is working on some virtual programming. The parks scavenger hunt and the holiday lights were very well received. Attached to the Director's Report is a report on the programs and events that the Gahanna Parks & Recreation Foundation funded in 2020. A lot of the programs would not have been possible without their funding. Simmons asked what is happening with the cell tower at Academy Park and if the individual who is installing it will be fixing the walking path. Ferrell shared that there is a cell tower now at Academy Park and the City of Gahanna Page 4 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes January 13, 2021 path will be redone. The schedule has not been identified yet. Ross asked when this happened. Ferrell share that it was accepted a year or so ago by Council. The installation started in mid December and was completed in about two weeks. Miller stated that the Parks Board had previously voted against putting cell towers in the parks. Ross believes that the Board gave their recommendation to Council and shared that the board talked at length about cell towers in parks. McGinn questioned how much revenue is being brought in with the tower. Ferrell stated the first payment is $50,000 and is not sure of the annual payment; she will find out. Ross asked if the money goes to parks or into the general fund. Ferrell stated that it goes into the general fund. Ross said that was also part of the prior discussions about cell towers in the parks. Miller said the board also had a discussion about the height of the tower, and the fencing around it. Miller thought the tower was going to go across the street in Ashburnham Park. Ferrell can not explain what transpired at this time but will seek details. Miller shared that Council was going to develop a cell tower plan and questioned if that happened . Ferrell shared that to her understanding it was a lengthy process of about two - three year process to be approved and the contract needed to be completed by December 2020. Miller said the Board discussed it for over a year. There was a lot of discussion, and thought put into it. He said the Board all agreed and Council did too that it wouldn't be put at Academy Park. Ross said that she understands that the Board is only making a recommendation; but that if the outcome is going to be that drastically changed making the Board aware of the decision would be a courtesy. Ross shared that it is a frustrating to have spent so much time discussing the tower, making a recommendation and then not being informed of the final decision. Miller asked if there is a Cell Tower Plan in the City. Ferrell will see if there is a city code for cell towers. Miller remembers Council talking about creating a Cell Tower Plan. Miller is disappointed. Ferrell stated that she will include the Cell Tower as Old Business next month. 2021-0008 Director Report 1-13-2021 T. COMMITTEE REPORTS a. BTAC None b. GASAC None City of Gahanna Page 5 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes January 13, 2021 c. NRAC None U. POLL MEMBERS FOR COMMENT a. Gahanna Parks & Recreation Foundation Miller shared that three new Board Members were elected. The meetings may temporarily be quarterly until activities increase. b. Veteran's Advisory Committee None c. School Board Report Lofton shared that the bond issue passed for the new high school and some additions to some of the middle and elementary schools. Staff is meeting with architects and reviewing proposals. School is in a hybrid mode. Hopefully the vaccine will be getting to the school staff soon. V. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business of the Board the meeting adjourned at 8:15pm. Pam Ripley Office Coordinator APPROVED by the Parks & Recreation Board, this day of 2021. Jan Ross City of Gahanna Page 6