Parks & Recreation Commission

PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING September 13, 2021 MAECK EDUCATION CENTER 12:00 Noon Members in Attendance: B. Combo, B. Lee, M. Hill, C. White, J. Francis, J. Freeman, L. Burtenshaw, J. Walker, P. Holm, R. Campbell, S. Katseanes, T. Reinke Members Not in Attendance: B. Nitschke, R. Foote, W. Johnson, P. Lloyd, T. Hersh CALL TO ORDER – B. COMBO B. Combo called the meeting to order at 12:08 pm. APPROVAL OF MINUTES No quorum. July minutes tabled. DIRECTOR’S REPORT – P. Holm P. Holm reported on the following:  The War Bonnet Roundup. The rodeo sold out both Friday and Saturday night. The Wild Horse Race event was dropped and they are working on finding an opening act that can replace the event and become our new show case opener for the future.  Knife River has begun construction on Heritage Park. They are grading and developing the snake stream, among other projects. The company is starting late so it is expected that the irrigation phase of the park that was expected to begin this fall will be pushed into spring.  P. Holm discussed the group that is working on the bike/run trail system south of Gem Lake. They are working with approximately twenty acres.  Discussion on the homeless situation in the City parks.  There is ongoing discussion on how to move forward with Noise Park and what options there are for this facility.  The dehumidifier construction project bid for the Aquatic Center opens up on September 21st. Construction starts in November and is expected to last up to 180 days.  The new budget highlights were reviewed including the Skyline tennis courts, Funland at the Zoo, the irrigation system for Heritage Park, etc.   There was a “soft opening” for the splash pad at Reinhart Park on August 24th. All of the landscaping was done with Park Department staff. The splash pad construction company Stratton & Bratt will be here October 4th to replace the underground tanks that were damaged and to teach the staff how to winterize the equipment. The Parks Department is planning for a spring or early summer ribbon cutting next year.  Kathy Muir, grant manager for the LWCF, met with Director Holm and the City Council to better educate them on the LWCF process.  Discussion on future Park Stewards/Ambassadors who could help keep an eye on parks and curb the ongoing vandalism. They would be given hats or maybe vests to identify them. There are people eager to volunteer for this roll. Division Updates Golf Updates – T. Reinke  T. Reinke reported the golf revenues have exceeded expenses this year.  Half of the Pinecrest Irrigation Project has been completed. He said the craftsmanship of the work is spectacular. The project has been slightly delayed due to all the lava rock on the front nine holes. Park Updates – R. Campbell  R. Campbell reported that eighty percent of his staff has left to go back to school. The remaining crew is struggling to keep up with all the projects.  They are working on a formal bid for the Skyline tennis courts. Tennis court companies are in high demand at this time and therefore R. Campbell does not expect to get the project started until summer 2022.  The Parks Department is developing the landscaping plan for Heritage Park.  Winterizing the park system begins as early as September 20th in order to have it completed in time.  The Department will begin prepping the ice rink for the skating season the week of September 20th. Zoo Updates – S. Katseanes (reported for D. Pennock)  This year marked the third highest numbers of visitors to the zoo ever.  The gift shop revenue was approximately fifty-five to sixty thousand dollars higher than projected.  There is ongoing discussion of closing the zoo on weekdays at the end of September but opening on weekends for as long as the weather allows.  Zoo Brew is Friday, September 17th.  Fluor Idaho’s Family STEAM Day is September 18th.   September 13th was Media Day at the Zoo, but unfortunately due to a bus crash the media was unable to show up.  The Zoo has two new red panda cubs who were born on July 1st. Commissioner Reports J. Walker – County Commissioner  J. Walker advised that due to the drought, the water level at Calamity boat ramp is so low that trucks trying to put in or pull out boats have gotten stuck in the mud and had to be towed out.  There has been ongoing shore erosion damage repairs while the water levels are low. A helicopter dropped in shore erosion management supplies at Ririe Reservoir. T. Hersh - Golf Advisory Board (absent) School Dist. 91 – Pat Lloyd (absent) School District 93 – W. Johnson (absent) Shade Tree Committee – M. Hill No report at this time. Adjournment at 1:35pm. Next meeting will be held October 4, 2021. Recorded by: Tracy Sessions, Clerk, Parks & Recreation