Parks & Recreation Commission

PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 ACTIVITY CENTER 12:00 NOON Present: Greg A. Weitzel, Brent Martin, Ronnie Campbell, PJ Holm, Linda Beard, Bill Combo, Jeff Forbes, Jim Hammon, Matt Hill, Steve Janes, John LoBouno, Kris Millgate, Dave Radford Absent: Tim Reinke, Mike Davis, Tom Hersh, Kerry Martin, Jill Kirkham Guest Attendees: Lisa Jones, Robert Nitchke, unidentified person APPROVAL OF MINUTES November Minutes – Jim Hammon motioned to approve as written. Jeff Forbes seconded. All in favor. December Minutes – Dave Radford motioned to approve as written. Matt Hill seconded. All in favor. PUBLIC COMMENT None. DIRECTOR’S REPORT – Greg Weitzel  Thanks to Commission for all of their help and support to maintain the mission of Parks and Recreation.  2016 showed preliminary volunteer hours of 30,000, which is over $700,000.00 of labor.  Other 2016 highlights: o More progress on the Connecting our Community Plan o Updates to the west and east side of the Riverwalk o Zoo hosted record breaking numbers of visitors o Phase 1 of the signage and wayfinding is complete o Phase 1 of zoo signage is complete o Hosted IRPA conference o Won Nature Based programing award o Completed Melaleuca outfield fence o Have begun recycling efforts o Growing water conservation efforts o Refurbished Vietnam memorial o Hired Special Event and Volunteer Coordinator o Took over War Bonnet Round Up o New air system and hot tub at the Aquatic Center o New dasher boards at the ice arena o Growing new golf programs o Increase in recreation program participation o Tautphaus and Heritage Park masterplans completed with corresponding website o $200,000 in donations for Heritage Park development o Funds donated to the Friendship Garden in Sportsman’s Park o Security Camera’s donated and installed at Tautphaus  2017 goals o Moving Parks Maintenance Office to Rollandet o Instituting Parks Maintenance Management Plan o Investigating xeroscaping per Mayor o Potential movement on a Zoo Education Center addition o Open Space and Feasibility studies for CAPRA o $500,000.00 grant for multiuse path around Pinecrest golf course with pedestrian safety measures o Pedestrian safety and pathway upgrades from Key Bank to Pancheri o Events and camping for Eclipse events o Work with airshow o Possible move of the Independence Day celebrations o Developing of new Department sponsorship and memorial program o Park improvements DEPARTMENT REPORTS Golf – Greg Weitzel for Tim Reinke  Sales are increased over this time last year  Will be asking Council for a 3-5% increase in fees  Working on improving marketing and advertising for non-profit events and mass mailers  2017 will bring a new concessionaire to all three courses MLC Taylor Services, LLC  Getting new GPS enabled teaching equipment  New billboard going in at Sand Creek Zoo – Linda Beard for David Pennock  Working hard on weather related changes  Saving $4,000 a year by changing lights, received rebate from the purchase of new fixtures as well  2017 will bring more water conservation efforts Recreation – PJ Holm  In the process of writing grants for Heritage park development funds and another for the addition of a restroom at the River Gardens at Taylor’s Crossing  Spring summer guide is in the works  Ice Updates  AC updates  Thank you to Parks maintenance for help with snow removal  Festival of lights debrief Parks/Cemeteries – Brent Martin  General updates.  Festival of lights was better this year  Decreased outdoor ice sheets from 4 to 3  Cross-country trails are being groomed at Tautphaus, Mel Erikson. Need separate fat bike trails.  Thanks to weed control guys for help setting up and running Festival of Lights  Looking at the possibility of building a new niche wall at Rosehill BONNEVILLE COUNTY – D. Radford  Festival of Lights is a good thing for the community  IRPA conference well received  New parking lot opened at Blacktail  Juniper campground housed firefighters and is now getting upgrades  Citizen fire watch instituted  Slight possibility that Palisades may get an additional dock  New County Commissioner has been sworn in  Sandy Down is still on a possibility list for the 4H GOLF REPORT – Tom Hersh  No Report. SCHOOL DISTRICT #91 – Kerry Martin (absent)  No Report SCHOOL DISTRICT #93 – Mike Davis (absent)  No Report SHADE TREE COMMITTEE – Matt Hill  No Report MEETING ADJURNED AT 1:09 P.M. Recorded by Lisa Jones Parks and Recreation Division