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, August 14, 2024 7:00 PM Gahanna City Hall, Committee Room A. CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair Kevin McGinn called the August 14, 2024, meeting to order at 7:02 PM. The agenda was published on August 2, 2024. B. ROLL CALL Staff in attendance: Stephania Ferrell, Director of Parks and Recreation; Joann Bury, Director of Finance; Nichole Butler, Clerk Present: 7 - Chrissy Kaminski, Kevin McGinn, Eric Miller, Daphne Moehring, Jan Ross, Ken Shepherd and Donna Simmons C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Ross, seconded by Simmons, that the June 12, 2024, Minutes be approved as presented. The motion carried the following vote: Yes: 7- Kaminski, McGinn, Miller, Moehring, Ross, Shepherd and Simmons June Minutes 2024 D. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA Butler requested that the fee waiver request from the Gahanna Jefferson Education Foundation be removed from the agenda. Butler requested that the 2025 Budget discussion with Director Bury be moved before old business. E. HEARING OF VISITORS F. OLD BUSINESS City of Gahanna Page 1 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes August 14, 2024 Master Plan Action Plan Director Ferrell noted that the Master Plan Action Plan updates are provided in red on the attached document. Ross asked for clarification on the update regarding the Aquatics Master Plan where it discusses have a person from the school involved but also notes acquiring church property. Ferrell stated that item was in regard to Saint Matthews property behind the current Gahanna Swimming Pool property, not Gahanna Schools. Ferrell stated she will note that clarification in the next update. Master Plan Action Plan update 08.24 H. CORRESPONDENCE AND ACTIONS G. NEW BUSINESS 2025 Budget- Director Joann Bury Director Ferrell introduced Director Bury, the Director of Finance, to give an overview of the budget process. Director Bury stated there are 13 different departments that are providing different services to the City of Gahanna and are all part of the budgeting process. Bury stated that before making any budget decisions the staff determine how they will use the resources available to meet the mission, vision, and goals of the City of Gahanna. Bury explained that the resources are the revenue estimates for the upcoming year in addition to what the city believes it will have in unreserved fund balance. Bury stated that there are four different resource types; restricted resources, committed resources, assigned resources, and unassigned resources. Bury explained each resource and how they are used in a specific order. Bury stated that the budget process begins with the largest operational expense, human capital. Bury stated that departments determine staffing levels, vacancies, and what the departments need to accomplish the goals. Bury stated that the departments are then directed to determine the remaining of their operating budgets with the bulk of it being; contract services, and materials and supplies. Bury stated that the departments are also responsible for providing the finance director with what the revenues will be for charges for services. Bury stated that each department has a pricing policy that they follow and are responsible for providing their services at a reasonable cost to the residents. Bury stated that all operating costs and capital improvement plan costs are added together to make the requests. Bury provided an overview of the Capital Improvement Plan. City of Gahanna Page 2 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes August 14, 2024 Miller asked where the board can go to see the Capital Improvement Plan. Bury stated the full plan is available on the City of Gahanna website. Bury stated after the numbers are put together, the requests are reviewed by finance and the Mayor to ensure the requests are reasonable, and match with the mission, vision, and goals of the City of Gahanna. Finance prepares the budget book that goes out to the City Council for review. Bury states that the budget discussions start in June and is presented at Council and is passed the last meeting of the year. Shepherd asked who determines what amount Parks and Recreation get in their budget. Bury stated the Parks and Recreations budget comprises not only general funds, but special revenue funds, and those budget requests are proposed by the department to Council in line with their expected revenues for the year. Bury stated that the Council adopts the appropriations each year and the city operate within that appropriation. Miller asked if the city were to sell off a pocket park, if the funds would go into Parks and Recreation. Bury stated that because it is a land sale, the funds would go back into the general fund, however Parks and Recreation could request it back to use in their budgets and Council could approve that. Ferrell stated that during the next meeting, the board will receive an overview of the actual 2025 requests of the Parks and Recreation Department. Donation Request: Hops and Vines Butler stated that as the document attached outlines all requests for this evening, something of note is that the request for the Gahanna Parks and Recreation Foundation is the same as that which was requested in at least the last 3 years. A motion was made by Moehring, second by Simmons, that the request be approved as presented. The motion carried the following vote: Yes: 7- Kaminski, McGinn, Miller, Moehring, Ross, Shepherd and Simmons Fee Waiver Request: GLHS Band Friendship Park Oct 26th, 2024 A motion was made by Miller, second by Kaminski that the fee waiver request be approved as presented. The motion carried the following vote: Yes: 7- Kaminski, McGinn, Miller, Moehring, Ross, Shepherd and Simmons Fee Waiver Request: GRIN Chilli Cook Off Friendship Oct 19th, 2024 A motion was made by Ross, second by Moehring that the fee waiver request be approved as presented. The motion carried the following vote: Yes: 7- Kaminski, McGinn, Miller, Moehring, Ross, Shepherd and Simmons City of Gahanna Page 3 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes August 14, 2024 Volunteer Opportunity: Goblin Fest Oct 25, 2024 Ferrell stated that the annual Goblin Fest will be coming up on Friday, October 25th, 2024, from 5:30-9:30. Ferrell stated that in the past the Parks Board and the Foundation hosted a tent on the Trick or Treat Trail to pass out candy. Ferrell requested that the board participate again this year, and that shifts will be sent out soon for participation. Fee waivers and donation requests I. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Directors Report July 2024 Ferrell stated that the Directors Report is attached to the agenda. Ferrell noted that during the Gahanna 175 celebration there was an opportunity for public input around the Action Park and the community seemed very excited. Ferrell stated that the demolition of the current skate park at Shull Park is scheduled to take place this week. Ross asked what the timeline is on the new Action Park. Ferrell stated that the department is anticipating actual construction to begin in 2026. Ferrell stated that the Mountain Bike Trail builders will be on site beginning this weekend. Ferrell noted that residents will likely not notice the trail builders on site as they will begin clearing invasives and some smaller clearings and that they anticipate a fall completion. Director Ferrell noted that seasonal operations are winding down with the last day of camp and Gahanna Swimming pool happening today. Ferrell stated that the Splash Pad will remain open from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM every day through the end of September weather permitting and that there is no fee to utilize the Splash Pad. Ferrell noted that the department had an excellent seasonal staff this summer. Shepherd asked if there were any major behavior problems at the pools this summer. Ferrell stated that there were not, as the rules that were put in place seemed to have corrected many of the issues the department was seeing. Ross asked how the feedback was on the Active Transportation Plan. Ferrell stated that Burton Planning has taken all the feedback received from the open house in July as well as the survey results that went out in July and complied them into the results and the document and has submitted the final draft plan to be reviewed and was reviewed by the Bicycle Trail Advisory Committee prior to tonight's meeting. City of Gahanna Page 4 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes August 14, 2024 J. COMMITTEE REPORTS i. Bicycle & Trail Advisory Committee (BTAC) Miller stated that Bicycle Trail Advisory met this evening. Miller stated that the committee discussed COTA LinkUs, Signage on the Trails, and safety issues on some of the roads and trails. Kaminski asked if there are still plans for a path from Hannah Park to Headley Park. Ferrell stated that the Franklin County Engineers office is partnering with the City of Gahanna to create a feasibility study to cover all of Clark State. Ferrell stated the department has the funding for Hannah to Headley now, but they have held off any additional work until the feasibility study is complete not to overlap work with the Franklin County Engineers office. ii. Gahanna Active Senior Advisory Committee (GASAC) Simmons stated that the next meeting of GASAC is September 17th from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM. GASAC Minutes August 2024 iii. Natural Resources Advisory Committee (NRAC) Ferrell stated the next meeting has not been set yet however it will soon be scheduled. K. POLL MEMBERS FOR COMMENT i. Gahanna Parks & Recreation Foundation Miller stated that volunteers are still needed for Hops and Vines. Ross stated that the Corvette Club presented the Foundation with a check for $2500 to go towards scholarships. ii. School District Update Moehring stated that the first day of the school year is tomorrow August 15th, 2024. Moehring stated that the hiring process went well and that all classrooms are staffed as well as bus drivers. Moehring stated that there are new start times for all of the schools this school year with High School starting at 8:35 AM, Elementary starting at 8:05 AM and the Middle School starting at 9:05 AM. Moehring stated that the School Board had the chance to walk thru the construction site of the new high school and are amazed with the progress. City of Gahanna Page 5 Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes August 14, 2024 iii. Veteran's Advisory Committee - None L. ADJOURNMENT Nichole Butler Clerk APPROVED by the Parks & Recreation Board, this day of 2024. Kevin McGinn City of Gahanna Page 6