Parks & Recreation Commission

PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MAY 4TH, 2020 WEBEX MEETING 12:00 Noon Members in Attendance: B. Lee, J. Forbes, B. Combo, M. Hill, K. Hope, T. Hersh, C. White, P. Lloyd, S. Smede, J. Frances, T. Reinke, D. Pennock, C. Horsley, P. Holm, R. Campbell, Members Not In Attendance: J. Hammon, J. LoBuono, D. Radford, W. Johnson CALL TO ORDER – B. COMBO B. Combo called the meeting to order at 12:12. APPROVAL OF MINUTES C. White motioned to approve the February and March 2020 minutes. K. Hope seconded. All in favor. DIRECTOR’S REPORT – P. Holm P. Holm reported on the following: Covid 19 Update:  The department was taxed with cutting the budget by $744,000.  All Parks and Recreation Divisions have been asked to halt all non-essential spending.  We are dealing with staff reductions and devising management plans to do more with less staff.  Last year the Parks division had hired about fifty-five seasonal employees, and this year we have twenty-four. During the peak of last year’s season we had nine-one Parks Division seasonal employees, whereas this year we expect to cap at forty.  The Parks Division will focus on high visibility areas this year and have reduced maintenance in low visibility areas such as storm ponds.  We will be closing the Sandy Downs track and stall rental facility.  We are closing Noise Park for the season which will save us approximately $100,000. We will keep the OHV riding trail open to the public.  The Downtown Association gave us a bid to maintain the downtown planters and watering which will save us approximately $60,000.   The Horticulture Division will purchase no additional flowers and all beds will be planted and maintained by volunteers.  The playgrounds and skate park are closed until further notice.  We have opened up fourteen restrooms after large amounts of human feces were found in park locations. Restrooms will operate under modified hours and be cleaned often.  We will be laying off one full time position out of Recreation.  We closed the facilities on March 16th and will reopen the Recreation Center at the end of June. The reopening of the Aquatic Center is still to be determined.  The Aquatic Center pool has been drained and the staff have been relocated to help in the Parks Dept.  We will open some modified youth sports in June during Stage 3.  We will maintain ball fields and not charge user groups. Some groups may have to line the fields themselves.  We have cancelled sports that we are unable to maintain social distancing such as soccer, basketball, and some of our other smaller programs.  The Splash Pad has been delayed until further notice. We have however picked the company who will build it.  We have reduced the work force at the Zoo.  The Zoo will open May 16th with modified hours and social distancing protocols.  There will be no zoo events this summer.  The War Bonnet has been cancelled.  Budget Implications of Covid were outlined. Comp Plan Update:  There have been several teleconferences with Pro’s Consulting.  We are doing internal research on items they need to save money on the contract.  Pro’s Consulting expects to have the plan finished by the end of July.  They are currently working on the environmental plan and benchmarks for us. Soccer Fields:  The Old Butte Soccer Complex FAA issues were discussed. At this point the fee to use the fields won’t be as high as we originally expected.  We should not have to remove the soccer field lights at this time. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT – C. Horsley C. Horsley reported on the following: Grants Update:  He contacted a firm called Resource Associates who can assist with researching grants. They offer several packages at different prices. They can identify what our goals are and then they have a grant researcher find at least twenty grants that might work for our department. For an additional cost, they can write the grants themselves or assist us in writing them. Aquatic Center Structural Assessment  We are moving forward with the assessment. We got the quote down to 26k. We have currently been in a holding stage because of the Covid but we will move forward when the assessment team can travel. Motion to Adjourn: M. Hill motioned to adjourn at 1:45pm. All in favor. Next meeting will be held June 1, 2020. Recorded by: Tracy Sessions, Clerk, Parks & Recreation