Parks & Recreation Commission

PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MARCH 4, 2019 ACTIVITY CENTER 12:00 Noon ATTENDANCE: Members in Attendance: J. Freeman, C. White, T. Hersh, M. Hill, J. LoBuono, W. Johnson, D. Pennock, R. Campbell, P. Holm, B. Combo Members Not In Attendance: B. Lee, J. Forbes, K. Hope, J Hammon, D. Radford, P. Lloyd, G. Weitzel CALL TO ORDER – B. COMBO B. Combo called the meeting to order at 12:09. PUBLIC COMMENT Bob Nitschke commented that the Auditorium District will have two board openings and the filing date for these openings is approaching. He thought the commissioners might be able to suggest this opportunity to community members they might know who could fill these spots. APPROVAL OF MINUTES C. White motioned to approve the February 4, 2019 minutes. M. Hill seconded. All in favor. DIRECTOR’S REPORT – G. WEITZEL (ABSENT – REPORTED BY P.HOLM) P. Holm reported on the following: Department Updates: Recreation:  Both dehides at the Aquatic Center are working for the first time in a long time.  There has been a new ice arena manager hired named Erin Tucker.  The Learn to Skate recital was held at the arena last weekend.  The Jr. High swim teams and adult men’s basketball leagues finished up. Zoo:  The Maeck Education Center grand opening on February 22 was a success with approximately 120 attendees.   The AZA accreditation application was submitted. Golf:  Sales for February have been good. Staff has sold numerous sets of clubs this month because customers want the professional fitting that the pro shops are able to provide with our Launch Monitor along with our indoor driving nets.  Golf staff sold the advertising spots on scorecards for this year and as a result was able to eliminate the over-crowding of too many sponsors on the cards resulting in a much cleaner look and more attractive scorecard.  Golf staff once again took the First Tee golf lesson program to just over 1200 third graders each week during the entire month of February. They spent 30 minutes with each class each week to introduce them to the game and its inherent values. Parks & Cemeteries:  Eleven days of snow removal on sidewalks, parking lots, and pathways.  Maintaining outdoor ice pond, ice ribbon, and grooming cross country ski trails.  Staff is working on interior renovations in the grandstand at Sandy Downs.  Staff addressed homeless situation at Ryder Park.  Trees were trimmed at Hitt Rd., Sunnyside Rd. and Capital St. for sidewalk clearance. Over 100 trees small and large were cut down on canal banks.  Addressed street trees and public awareness.  Addressed landscape projects for downtown and Broadway planter boxes including tree removal.  Cemeteries had eleven burials and one cremation.  The second half of Community Park path has gone out to bid. RECreate I.F.  P. Holm explained that Parks & Recreation would like to get the letter and the Needs Assessment Community Survey off to our consultant Neelay Bhatt right away with hopes of getting it mailed out to the community by week’s end.  The letter and the survey draft was handed out to the commissioners for their review. There was much discussion on the survey in particular. The consensus of the commissioners is that “shorter is better”, and the survey would be further cut down. There were some duplicate questions that everyone agreed should be deleted, as well as combining certain sections, and condensing the long charts. P. Holm advised he’d make the changes as suggested. CALL FOR AGENDA ITEMS Meeting adjourned at 1:05 p.m. Next meeting will be held April 1, 2019. Recorded by: Tracy Sessions, Clerk, Parks & Recreation