Parks & Recreation Board

200 South Hamilton Road City of Gahanna Gahanna, Ohio 43230 Meeting Minutes Parks & Recreation Board Chrissy Kaminski, Chair Kevin McGinn, Vice Chair Eric Miller, Secretary Sue Horn Jan Ross Ken Shepherd Donna Simmons Nichole Butler, Clerk Wednesday, August 9, 2023 7:00 PM Gahanna Senior Center 480 Rocky Fork Blvd. A. CALL MEETING TO ORDER Kaminski, Chair called the August 9,2023 meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. The agenda was published on August 4, 2023. B. ROLL CALL Present: 4 - Chrissy Kaminski, Jan Ross, Ken Shepherd and Donna Simmons Absent: 3 - Sue Horn, Kevin McGinn and Eric Miller Staff in Attendance; Stephania Ferrell, Director of Parks & Recreation; Nichole Butler, Clerk C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES P&R Board Minutes 7.12.23 A motion was made by Ross, seconded by Shepherd, that the Minutes from July 12, 2023 be Approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 4- Kaminski, Ross, Shepherd and Simmons Absent: 3- Horn, McGinn and Miller D. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA Ross added a Donation request for HOPS and Vines under new business. City of Gahanna Page 1 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes August 9, 2023 Sue Horn arrived at 7:09 p.m. E. HEARING OF VISITORS Jenny Hecker, 211 Kamilah Lane, states that she is present to speak in favor of the skate park in Gahanna. Jenny states she is advocating because she believes it is important to have a new skate park, due to unsafe conditions of the elements currently there. Hecker states she believes that a new updated skate park would bring people to Gahanna from surrounding communities. Hecker states that while she isn’t able to transport her son to the surrounding communities all the time, she would love to have something close that he can transport himself to. Hecker states that while her son cannot play traditional team sports, skateboarding has been the first sport that he can set goals for himself. Hecker states that he has grown himself by doing this sport. Shepherd asked Hecker if she could place a skatepark anywhere in Gahanna, where it would be. Hecker stated that she would like to see something close to the freeway and in a highly visible area as the current location is not frequently patrolled and feels that that has brought some unsavory behavior to the skate park. Jack Hecker, 211 Kamilah Lane, states that the ramps are very aged and that the protective metal flap at the bottom of the ramps are curled up. Hecker states the asphalt in the skatepark is cracked and unsafe. Hecker states he would like to see the new skatepark made from concrete. Hecker states that he and his friends have had to leave the park due to other people smoking marijuana in the skate park. Liam Mueller, 4194 Berry Ridge Lane, states he is 12 years old. Mueller states that the skate park is in need of repair and that it would be a true disservice to the community to rid them of physical activity. Mueller states that the skate park is a place for making friends and learning new skills. Mueller states that he remembers visiting a skate park when he was younger and states his skills where ok, but it motivated him to get better. Ewan Mueller, 4194 Berry Ridge Lane, states he is 8 years old. He states that a skatepark is a good way to have fun and exercise. Mueller states that the skatepark helps people get healthy and helps kids feel like they have a place to fit in if they don’t fit in other places. Lyndsay Mueller, 4194 Berry Ridge Lane, a mother of three children 12, 8, and 4. Mueller has lived in Gahanna for three years. Mueller states when her family lived in Georgia, they encountered many behavioral problems common in young children, lack of grit, lack of focus, hyperactivity, and lack of obedience. Mueller states that she registered her kids for a BMX (Bicycle Motocross) program on a pump track and had a skatepark. Mueller states that over the year and a half that her children were in that program their behavioral problems disappeared. Mueller states that organized sports are not an option for all families, with City of Gahanna Page 2 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes August 9, 2023 demanding schedules, and the need to work extended hours to make more money to just get by. Mueller states that organized sports also don’t interest many kids and can create a sense of ostracism. Mueller states that a safe and updated skatepark needs to be a priority because it helps kids learn to get back up and try again. Alisha Tackett, 710 Schyler Court, states the skatepark is an unsafe location, as well as unsavory behaviors. Tackett states that she has been taking her son to Westerville’s skate park as much as she is able because it is in better condition, and they have instructors there from the Westerville Skate Shop. Tackett states that she isn’t always able to take him there as it isn’t convenient however the Gahanna skatepark is not where she would prefer, he go. Caden Tackett, 710 Schyler Court, states that the skatepark is a great place to meet friends. Tackett states that he has stopped skating at Shull park due to the condition of the asphalt and the ramps and states he cannot skate there. Tackett states that due to flooding it is constantly muddy, and ruins pieces of skateboards and wheels which are expensive to replace. Nick Battiste, 331 Schyler Way, started skating when he was ten years old, 21 years ago. Battiste states he moved to Gahanna five years ago, and grew up in Worthington, OH, skating at the Thomas Worthington Skatepark. Battiste states he has met some of his life-long friends at the skatepark. Battiste states that he agrees with all previous speakers in that the condition of the Shull Park is in very bad shape. Battiste states that he has a four-year-old, who he is trying to teach to skate. Battiste states that there is not much he can do with his son because of the condition of the skatepark and he has to hold his hand and walk him around. Kaminski thanked everyone for speaking and coming to the meeting. F. OLD BUSINESS i. Master Plan Director Farrell gave a summary of the purpose of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Ferrell states that the City of Gahanna is establishing a Capital Improvement Plan that encompasses all city departments and is an identified project list of the next 20 years. Ferrell states that the reason the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and the Capital Improvement Plan are tied together is that the Parks Master Plan is what drove what is formulated in the Parks and Recreation portion of the Capital Improvement Plan. Ferrell states that it is very hard to hear all the difficulties that are happening and they are not unnoticed by the department. Ferrell states that there is an Action Park incorporated in the Capital Improvement Plan for 2024- 2025 because of the magnitude of the project. Ferrell states that the department will be looking for individuals that actually utilize the facility, for community input for the development of the skate park as the project progresses. Ferrell states that Leon Younger, from PROS Consulting will be present at the August 14th 2023council meeting to answer any remaining questions on the master plan from council and the following Monday, City of Gahanna Page 3 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes August 9, 2023 21st of August 2023, both the Citywide Capital Improvement Plan and the Parks and Recreation Master Plan will be voted on for Adoption by City Council. Ferrell states at the Monday 21st 2023 Meeting, there will be the ability to give comment regarding either the Master Plan, and or the Capital Improvement Plan. G. NEW BUSINESS ii. 2023 Pricing Policy Director Ferrell states that the Pricing Policy is required by code to be reviewed annually. Ferrell states that in September the department will provide redline edits to the pricing policy to the Parks and Recreation Board. Ferrell states that the Pricing Policy is a document that helps the department establish fees for the programs and services the department provides. Ferrell states that the board will also receive the draft 2024 budget to review for the next meeting with the agenda. iii. GRIN- Fee waiver request 9.12.23 Hannah Park GRIN fee waiver request Butler states that Gahanna Residents In Need have requested a fee waiver for the use of Hannah Park on Tuesday September 12, 2023 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm for their Chili Cookoff. Kaminski asked what the fee for rental of Hannah Park would be. Butler states that the standard weekday rate of Hannah Park for a half day is $75.00. A motion was made by Ross, seconded by Simmons, that a full fee waiver be Approved for the rental of the Shelter for GRIN on September 12, 2023. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Horn, Kaminski, Ross, Shepherd and Simmons Absent: 2- McGinn and Miller iv. Hops & Vines Donation Request Ross states that historically the Parks and Recreation Foundation has asked for donation requests. Ferrell states that in the minutes last year the request was approved for 1 (One) Family Pool Membership, 1 (One) Rental of the GMAC Gahanna Mobile Activity Center, 1 (One) 4 Hour Shelter rental at Hannah Park and 12 Golf Passes to the Golf Course. A motion was made by Simmons, seconded by Ross, that the donation request City of Gahanna Page 4 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes August 9, 2023 be approved. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Horn, Kaminski, Ross, Shepherd and Simmons Absent: 2- McGinn and Miller H. CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIONS - NONE I. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Directors Report August 2023 Ferrell states that the directors report is attached. Ferrell would like to give kudos to the golf staff, not only do the greens look like they put pride in their work, but they have also added programming this year. Ferrell specifically states that the Sips and Tips program is doing exceptionally well. Ferrell states that the department is wrapping up the 2023 aquatic season. Ferrell states that the Gahanna Swimming Pool will close as of August 16th end of day and that Hunters Ridge swimming pool will only be open weekends thru Labor Day. Ferrell states that these hours are limited as the majority of staff are high school and college students who are back to school which limits the ability to have staff to run the facility. Ferrell states that the department has had a great success with the first year of the Future Leaders Program which offers career development within our Parks and Recreation system thru interviewing, customer service, leadership development and helps with retention of employees. Simmons states that the seasonal staff that the department has provided for the farmers market has been phenomenal and they are very appreciative. Kaminski states that her kids were enrolled in the swim lesson program thru the pools and the staff were amazing and her kids did two rounds and are flourishing in the swimming department. J. COMMITTEE REPORTS i. Bicycle & Trail Advisory Committee (BTAC) Ferrell recognized that on Monday August 7, 2023, council recognized August as Share the Road Awareness Month. The proclamation was presented to Patricia Kovacs who is the chair of BTAC. Simmons states that Patricia Kovacs is a great advocate and resource for the department. ii. Gahanna Active Senior Advisory Committee (GASAC) Simmons states that GASAC has met and that the committee is revising their by-laws to allow for one member appointment by the parks and recreation board City of Gahanna Page 5 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes August 9, 2023 and 6 appointed by the membership of the senior center. Simmons states that the members of GASAC are also actively involved in the needs for the new senior center that will be in place at Tech Center Drive. Shepherd asked when the by-laws will be revised and brought to the Parks and Recreation Board. Simmons states that they will be brought in front of GASAC again in September so it will likely be October before it comes before the Parks Board. iii. Natural Resources Advisory Committee (NRAC) - NONE K. POLL MEMBERS FOR COMMENT i. Gahanna Parks & Recreation Foundation Ross states that there are still spots to volunteer for Hops & Vines, and if anyone would like to donate any items for the auction there is still time. ii. School District Update Horn states that school starts next week, and the staff are looking forward to having the students back in the schools. Horn states the schools are looking at doing open houses for different new updates to show the community what has been done not only for existing families but those whose kids graduated. Horn also wanted to put the reminder out that with the students back in school it is important to drive safely in school zones. iii. Veteran's Advisory Committee - NONE L. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m. APPROVED by the Parks & Recreation Board, this day of 2023. Chrissy Kaminski City of Gahanna Page 6