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 Amy Moneypenny, Clerk Wednesday, November 10, 2021 7:00 PM Gahanna Senior Center 480 Rocky Fork Blvd. A. CALL MEETING TO ORDER Ross, Chair, called the November 10, 2021 meeting to order at 7:05pm. B. ROLL CALL Present: 7 - Donna Simmons, Eric Miller, Jan Ross, Scott Lofton, Kevin McGinn, Ken Shepherd and Chrissy Kaminski Staff in attendance- Stephania Ferrell, Director and Amy Moneypenny, Administrative Coordinator Visitors in attendance- Trenton Weaver, Council-Elect Ward Four (4) C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2021-0233 PB Minutes 10.13.21 A motion was made by Miller, seconded by Simmons, that the Minutes be Approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Simmons, Miller, Ross, Lofton, McGinn, Shepherd and Kaminski D. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA Addition- Request for facility reservation fee-waiver City of Gahanna Page 1 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes November 10, 2021 E. HEARING OF VISITORS Trenton Weaver, Council-Elect Ward Four (4), introduced himself to the Board and stated he wanted to show his support for the department and get to know its members. F. OLD BUSINESS- NONE G. NEW BUSINESS i. 2021 Aquatics Update Ferrell distributed documents to the Board that displayed membership and financial information for our Aquatics department in 2021, documents attached. Ferrell explained that due to the pandemic, it was unknown if or when the city would be allowed to open pools for the 2021 season until spring, which delayed the pool membership sales until March 22nd, 2021, instead of December of the previous year. Once Governor DeWine eased restrictions on pool regulations in early June, membership purchases began to rise. Shepherd asked if there is typically any revenue coming in for pool rentals. Ferrell advised that because of the pandemic, rentals at the pool were not available for 2021, but typically they do allow pool shelter rentals. Ferrell then referenced a document outlining the number of visits at both pools, made by members and day pass participants throughout the 2021 season. The last document displays programs that are included into the aquatics program and how much participation each program had including lifeguard certification, diving teams and swimming lessons. Ross asked about the Splashpad and how it could impact programs participation. Ferrell explained that the Splashpad is housed at the Gahanna Swimming Pool and while the pool is closed, there will be a gate that will allow it to be accessible without a pool membership or day pass. However, when the pool opens for the season, it will not be accessible without a membership or day pass to the Gahanna Swimming Pool. Ross asked if there will be a way to track how many people are visiting just for the Splashpad and Ferrell advised that while the City can City of Gahanna Page 2 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes November 10, 2021 track visits to the facility, there will not be a way to distinguish who is visiting for the pool and who is visiting for the Splashpad. Miller asked if capital projects are included in the cost-recovery model. Ferrell advised that capital projects are not included in cost-recovery figures. Visitor Weaver asked Ferrell if she had an idea of how many visitors coming to the pool are resident and non-resident. Ferrell replied that there is a way to track through RecTrac. Ross asked how aquatics staffing was last season and Ferrell advised that staffing levels were down, and they have already started recruiting for the 2022 season in hopes of getting those levels back to where they need to be. Ross asked what the recruiting strategies were, and Ferrell answered that recruiting happens within many different avenues including the high school, job fairs, social media, employee ambassadors, and on college bulletins. 2021-0256 2021 Aquatic Program Report 2021-0257 2021 Pool Visits Data ii. 2022 Pricing Policy 2021-0258 2021 Pricing Policy Ferrell introduced the Pricing Policy to the Board, document attached. Ferrell highlighted the recommended changes which included changing the year from 2021 to 2022 and updating the current cost-recovery strategy to reflect the changes that were made to the Gahanna Ordinance Chapter 153 earlier in the year. Ferrell added that the shelter rental-fee waivers should also be added into the pricing policy for 2022 since the Board has previously discussed the addition, but in order to have the shelter rental fee-waiver request comply with Chapter 153, the Pricing Policy must include a clause that states any fee waiver that meets the criteria that is set by the Board, would not have to go directly to the Board for approval. After brief discussion, it was decided that Ferrell will add in those changes and bring the revised policy back to the Board for approval in January. Ross asked if non-resident fees have been a deterrent for those from outside the city limits wanting to use our facilities. Ferrell answered that City of Gahanna Page 3 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes November 10, 2021 there hasn’t been any pushback from those paying non-resident fees, and we are able to track resident vs non-resident usage through our RecTrac software. Ross also asked if there was a definition of non-resident within the current Pricing Policy and Ferrell advised that there was, on pages five (5) and seven (7). Visitor Weaver asked for clarification on what defines someone as a resident. Ferrell explained that for someone to be considered a Gahanna resident they must pay income tax to the City, however, there is a Corporate Resident category for businesses within city limits who pay Gahanna income taxes. Ross asked Ferrell if there was a way to track recoverability levels. Ferrell advised that there is a way to track it and each program has its own miniature business plan that establishes the cost recovery for each program and how it fits within the pricing policy. iii. 2022 Budget Update Ferrell updated the Board on the current budget request. It has been presented to City Council and expects a final approval by mid-December. iiii. Facility Reservation Request There was a request from a staff member to use the Senior Center for their Girl Scout Troop meetings starting in February at no cost. After brief discussion, the Board agreed that because they are a non-profit organization, they would offer a 25% discount to the staff member for their rental, but not a complete a fee waiver, consistent with guidelines previously discussed. H. CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIONS- NONE I. DIRECTOR'S REPORT 2021-0235 Director's Report Ferrell advised that the Headley Park playground is almost complete, the ages two (2) to five (5) playground area is scheduled to be installed in January and shade structures will be added in the Spring. Ferrell City of Gahanna Page 4 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes November 10, 2021 explained that a grant was submitted in November for the Price Road House, also referenced as The Exploration Center, and they will know the outcome of that application in the Spring. Ferrell announced that The Great Goblin Trail event of 2020 won first place for the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association Awards of Excellence and will accept the award at the annual state conference in February. J. COMMITTEE REPORTS i. Bicycle & Trail Advisory Committee (BTAC) Miller explained that the committee had a discussion about updating the trails plan and finding a safer way to take the trail over Hamilton Road and connecting it to Pizzuro. The next meeting will be in January . ii. Gahanna Active Senior Advisory Committee (GASAC) Ferrell advised that at this time, there still has not been a meeting or any updates. iii. Natural Resources Advisory Committee (NRAC)- NONE K. POLL MEMBERS FOR COMMENT i. Gahanna Parks & Recreation Foundation Miller explained that the Hops & Vines event was a success, and the smaller crowd was received well by attendees. The Foundation is participating in Giving Tuesday in November in partnership with the Gahanna Arts Council, and six (6) other Gahanna non-profits. ii. School District Update Starting Monday, November 15th, the fencing at Highpoint and Blacklick elementary schools will begin to be installed. The new schools will be finished in two (2) phases, the first phase will be the academic areas by August 2022 and the second phase finishing in early 2023. iii. Veteran's Advisory Committee Shepherd advised that the Veteran’s Day Ceremony will be held at the VFW on November 11th and starts at 11:00am. City of Gahanna Page 5 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes November 10, 2021 L. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business of the Board, the meeting adjourned at 8:51pm. Amy Moneypenny Clerk APPROVED by the Parks & Recreation Board, this day of 2021. Jan Ross City of Gahanna Page 6