Parks & Recreation Board

200 South Hamilton Road City of Gahanna Gahanna, Ohio 43230 Meeting Minutes Parks & Recreation Board Chrissy Kaminski Kevin McGinn, Chair Daphne Moehring, Vice Chair Donna Simmons, Secretary Eric Miller Jan Ross Ken Shepherd Nichole Butler, Clerk Wednesday, February 14, 2024 7:00 PM Gahanna City Hall, Committee Room A. CALL MEETING TO ORDER Daphne Moehring called the February 14, 2024 meeting to order at 7:03 PM. The agenda was published on February 9, 2024. B. ROLL CALL Present: 6 - Chrissy Kaminski, Eric Miller, Daphne Moehring, Jan Ross, Ken Shepherd and Donna Simmons Absent: 1 - Kevin McGinn C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Ross, seconded by Simmons to approve the January 10, 2024 minutes with submitted corrections. Yes: 6- Kaminski, Miller, Moehring, Ross, Shepherd and Simmons Absent: 1- McGinn Minutes Parks Board 01.10.2024 D. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA E. HEARING OF VISITORS F. OLD BUSINESS Orientation Manual Director Ferrell stated that the orientation manual was provided at the City of Gahanna Page 1 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes February 14, 2024 January meeting with the note that the board would be able to come back with questions or comments around the intent and the content of the manual. Ross stated that section five of the manual references the Parks and Recreation Board and mentions the chair and vice chair but does not list the secretary. Moehring stated that in the section on code regarding the Parks and Recreation Board, the secretary responsibilities are typically given to a staff member to perform. Ferrell stated that they will add that section of code to the initial document to describe that position and note that the duties are performed by the staff member. Ross asked that an updated board roster also be included. Simmons asked if there were a listing of parks included in the manual. Ferrell stated that the park matrix can be included. Simmons also requested that a section regarding the city’s other boards and commissions have a description included. Moehring requested that the executive summary of the master plan be added to include aspects of programming as well as parks. Master Plan Action Plan Director Ferrell stated that the requests for proposal for the Aquatics Master Plan will be released on the 19th of February with application deadline on the 18th of March in hopes that the assessment will take place in the peak of the season for the aquatic facilities to be open and running so that the assessors may see the full scope. Ferrell noted that the recreation division has put a lot of effort into perfecting the budget strategy and how the department manages cost recovery and the allocated budget. Moehring asked what the vision was or the plan with the RFP for the Aquatic Facilities was hoping to accomplish. Ferrell stated that the department recognized that thru the master plan process, the residents rated aquatic facilities as a high priority and that both current facilities are aging and in locations that are challenging. Ferrell stated that the Aquatic Master Plan will evaluate the aquatic assets the city currently has as well as assess what the city needs and strategize a location, and options for facilities that will fit the community volume and need with the land use that the city currently has. Moehring asked what the timeline for the project would be. Ferrell stated that the goal is to have a completed plan by this time next year, and then will begin the work of how to fund the projects to implement the plan. City of Gahanna Page 2 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes February 14, 2024 Moehring asked the status of the Exploration Center at Price Road. Ferrell stated that the department has been able to secure additional funding in 2024 to close the funding gap. Ferrell stated that the estimates that had originally come in were double the engineers estimate and the department has been able to improve the scope of the project. Ross asked if the facility is still on track to be completed by the end of 2024. Ferrell stated that would not be realistic. Ferrell stated that for the next meeting, she will provide the board with an update of projects. Master Plan Action Plan Board Orientation Manual G. NEW BUSINESS Golf End of Year 2023 Director Ferrell introduced Brian Gill, Recreation Superintendent and Krista Johnston, Recreation Coordinator to provide an update on the 2023 operations at the golf course. Gill provided the board with a document showing the budget numbers reflecting the 2023 year. Gill recognized Krista Johnston and her team at the golf course for receiving an Ohio Parks and Recreation Association Award on February 6, 2024, at the state conference at Kalahari. Johnston received the award for the program Sips and Tips FORE ladies. Johnston stated that golf is growing since 2020 and golf courses are disappearing however due to many factors such as type of course and location the Gahanna Golf Course is seeing a increase in memberships, in holes played and a growth in revenue. Johnston stated that the course tries to provide one weekday evening a week open for public play as opposed to league play. Johnston stated that due to the success of the Sips and Tips program in 2023, the department is now able to offer an additional level of class for those who took the program last year as well as continuing to offer the level one course. Johnston described Sips and Tips FORE ladies, as targeted to new women golfers. Johnston stated the program is formatted so that each class has a different topic, for example, rules and etiquette of the course, and builds up to a scramble format so that the participants can use their skills. Johnston stated that there were approximately 30 people in each class. Johnston noted that after the completion of the program, around half of the participants returned to be a golfer on the course for leisure. 2023 Golf Year End City of Gahanna Page 3 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes February 14, 2024 Fee Waiver- GMSW 8th Grade Butler stated that a teacher from Gahanna Middle School West, has requested a fee waiver consideration at Friendship Park on Friday May 17, 2024. Butler stated that the school is looking to host approximately 120 students at the park, and that these students are those that are not able to attend the eighth-grade trip to Washington D.C. Butler stated that the cost to the school would be $105.00. A motion was made by Kaminski seconded by Ross to approve the full fee waiver for Gahanna Middle School West 8th Grade. The motion carried the following vote: Yes: 6- Kaminski, Miller, Moehring, Ross, Shepherd and Simmons Absent: 1- McGinn Fee Waiver- GMSW 6th Grade Butler stated that Tracie Clay, a sixth-grade teacher at Gahanna Middle School West, is requesting a fee waiver for the entire sixth grade to attend Woodside Green Park for Friday May 25, 2024 for their end of year celebration. Butler stated that the cost to the school would be $75.00. A motion was made by Kaminski seconded by Shepherd to approve the full fee waiver for Gahanna Middle School West 6th Grade. The motion carried the following vote: Yes: 6- Kaminski, Miller, Moehring, Ross, Shepherd and Simmons Absent: 1- McGinn Fee reduction request- Patel Butler stated that a request was made by Gahanna resident Thakor Patel to ask for a fee reduction for their group from BAPS Temple, located in Columbus, to utilize the Senior Center one Friday a month at a reduced rate in addition to the current 25% off for not for profit (501c3) organizations. Butler stated the rate provided to the group currently is the $206.25 per Friday night. A motion was made by Kaminski seconded by Shepherd to approve fee reduction for Thakor Patel and BAPS Temple. The motion carried the following vote: Yes: 0 City of Gahanna Page 4 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes February 14, 2024 No: 6- Kaminski, Miller, Moehring, Ross, Shepherd and Simmons Absent: 1- McGinn H. CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIONS I. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Ferrell stated that the Golf Course cart path paving did go to bid as part of the asphalt bid with the engineering department for replacement of the paving of the cart path. Ferrell stated that the Active Transportation Plan survey was released and is open to those who wish to provide feedback. Ferrell noted that the National Recreation and Parks Association was seeking applications for nominations for the 30 under 30 awards, and Julie Predieri the Forestry Supervisor was selected out of over 100 applications for the work she has completed and the dedication she provides the department. Directors Report 02.2024 J. COMMITTEE REPORTS i. Bicycle & Trail Advisory Committee (BTAC)- None ii. Gahanna Active Senior Advisory Committee (GASAC) Simmons stated that the meeting took place on January 10, 2024 and the minutes are attached. Simmons stated that the next meeting will be March 19, 2024. GASAC Minutes iii. Natural Resources Advisory Committee (NRAC) Ferrell stated that there will be a meeting called of NRAC as the department has been working on a Land Management Plan as well as initiate an idea of resident tours or education sessions in the parks. Ferrell stated that in the past members of this committee may meet at a park to provide information on any local, nature based educational information. Ferrell will provide the board with that date when that meeting is determined. Ferrell stated that they will open the meeting to City of Gahanna Page 5 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes February 14, 2024 anyone wishing to be involved. K. POLL MEMBERS FOR COMMENT i. Gahanna Parks & Recreation Foundation Ross stated that the Foundation reinstated its officers for the 2024 calendar year. Ross stated the board approved their 2024 budget. Miller stated that the board approved $29,500 in scholarships and program sponsorships for the department. Butler stated that the Foundation approved the scholarships to be able to be applied to up to five (5) weeks of camp where as prior, were only able to be applied to up to two (2) weeks of camp. ii. School District Update Moehring stated that the district had their state of the schools’ event in January. Moehring stated that 30 classrooms were added in 2023 and efficiency improved. Moehring highlighted that total enrollment is 8,248 students, and that the district paid to have an enrollment study done and the projected enrollment provides a high number and a low number, and that the district is 45 students away from the high enrollment. Moehring also noted that a new school board member , Megan Dimmerling, was sworn in to replace the vacancy left by Beryl Piccolantonio. iii. Veteran's Advisory Committee- None L. ADJOURNMENT City of Gahanna Page 6