Parks & Recreation Commission

LACONIA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING Monday, August 19, 2024 Laconia Community Center 6:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER: Commissioner Hamel called the meeting to order at the above date and time. RECORDING SECRETARY: Director Amy Lovisek recorded this meeting. ROLL CALL: Commissioner Hamel called the roll with the following Commissioners in attendance: Rodney Roy, Mitch Hamel, Arthur Kirk and Laura Ringer. Absent Deanna Guyer. PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF PRESENT: Director of Recreation and Facilities Amy Lovisek, Asst. Director of Recreation and Facilities Matt Mansur. Absent- Administrative Secretary Liza Kelleher. ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS: 1. Regular meeting minutes of July 15, 2024 Commissioner Roy moved to adopt the minutes from the July 15, 2024, meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Kirk. All were in favor. I. FACILITY USE REQUEST FORM: A. Laconia Middle School- Opechee Park field C & D- Wednesdays and Thursdays, July 17 to August 29, 2024, from 2:30pm to 4:30pm for boys’ soccer practice. Commissioner Kirk motioned to accept the request with all the requirements and changes listed in the application. Commissioner Ringer seconded the motion. All were in favor. B. Laconia Middle School- Opechee Park field C & D- Monday through Friday, September 2nd to November 1, 2024, from 2:30pm to 5:00pm for boys’ soccer practice. Commissioner Kirk motioned to accept the request with all the requirements and changes listed in the application. Commissioner Ringer seconded the motion. All were in favor. C. Laconia Middle School- Opechee Park field A & B- Monday through Friday, September 2nd to November 1, 2024, from 2:30pm to 5:00pm for girls’ soccer practice. Commissioner Kirk motioned to accept the request with all the requirements and changes listed in the application. Commissioner Ringer seconded the motion. All were in favor. D. Laconia High School- Robbie Mills- August 26th through November 1, 2024, Mondays and Fridays from 2:30pm to 5:30pm for soccer practice. Commissioner Roy motioned to accept the request with all the requirements and changes listed in the application. Commissioner Ringer seconded the motion. All were in favor. E. Hands Across the table- Opechee Cove picnic area- Wednesday, August 21, 2024, from 2:00pm to 7:00pm for a picnic event. Commissioner Roy motioned to accept the request with all the requirements and changes listed in the application. Commissioner Kirk seconded the motion. All were in favor.  F. Weirs Action Committee- Endicott Rock Parking Lot- June 14 through 22, 2025 from 8:00am to 8:00pm for Laconia Motorcycle Week Parking fundraiser. Commissioner Roy motioned to accept the request with all the requirements and changes listed in the application. Commissioner Kirk seconded the motion. All were in favor. G. WOW Trail- Opechee Park-Smith Track- Friday, October 25th from 8am to 10pm and Saturday, October 26th from 9:30am to 11:30am for the runaway pumpkin 10K & 5K run/walk. Commissioner Roy motioned to accept the request with all the requirements and changes listed in the application. Commissioner Ringer seconded the motion. All were in favor. II. OLD BUSINESS: III. ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVALS-ROTARY PARK, BEACHES, WEIRS AMPHITHEATER & PAVILION A. Amy Parker- Bartlett Beach- Saturday, July 27, 2024, from 10:00am to 2:00pm for picnic with family and friends. B. Victoria Micheli-Bond Beach – Saturday, July 27, 2024, 1:00pm to 4:00pm for a birthday party. C. Victoria Mansfield- Opechee Cove- Sunday August 4, 2024, from 1:00pm to 5:30pm for a birthday party. IV. NEW BUSINESS: A. Organization of sub-committee meeting regarding summer 2024 rules and regulations. It has been decided that Director Lovisek will send out a Doodle to poll the Commissioners for a date for this meeting. It will be sent out soon and the meeting will be noticed as required. V. ANNOUNCEMENTS: VI. NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS & ELECTIONS: VII. PUBLIC COMMENT: VIII. COMMUNICATIONS: IX. OTHER REQUESTS REQUIRING COMMISSION ACTION: A. Commissioner Roy brought up the possible need for AED’s at athletic locations throughout the parks. He suggested putting them inside or outside in a controlled box that users would have access to. Director Lovisek will look into this possibility. She suggested contacting the LFD regarding possible grants for the initial cost. If the grants are enough or are unavailable to use User Fee money to purchase the AED’s. X. PARK ASSOCIATION REPORTS: A. Leavitt Park Association- July 1, 2024, and August 5, 2024, minutes of the meeting. B. Weirs Community Park Association- No report  C. Tardif Park Association- No report XI. DEPARTMENT REPORTS: A. Director’s Report submitted by Amy Lovisek We can all feel it in the air recently that summer is starting to whine down. It is a little more difficult to find seasonal staff as they are going back to college and fall sports. The beach goers are less now too. We had a record year for attendance at Weirs Beach with very little problems. The problems we did have were minimal. Perhaps the Commission would like to have a subcommittee meeting regarding the past summer and some of the issues we did have and how best to mitigate them in the future. The Capital Improvements Projects we received funding for this fiscal year have started to go out to bid. The basketball courts at Leavitt, Wyatt and Tardif have gone out as well as the drainpipe for Tardif Park House. The scoreboard for Robbie Mills baseball is in and has been awarded. I am currently working on the park system key renovation, and I am including the Community Center and City Hall in that bid. We will need a new key system in order to get the keys back each time they are lent out. I am looking for suggestions on this one. The homeless were removed from state land on Hounsell Ave and moved into the sledding hill property. This is a very large encampment. Residents are very upset by this and have made that known. The city has told them they need to be out of there by August 14, 2024. Then the city will hire a company to go in to clean out the trash left behind. The city manager has tasked each department head to come up with a 10-year plan for their departments. This is a very broad view of the departments and where we want to see them move towards. We are to assume money is not an object and just tell him what we want or need. This is a very interesting assignment to work on and I would welcome any suggestions from the Commission. Feel free to reach out to me and we can meet to discuss this. The WOW Board has asked this department to help them with the Adopt a Section. We are doing all we can and are installing new signs that were recently purchased with a QR code for donations. A new organization has reached out to us regarding the use of Robbie Mills for a wooden bat league. The city manager and I are setting up a meeting to discuss this and what they are looking for. We don’t plan to give them the deal the Muskrats were given. I will provide further details when available. The city is hiring a new Economic Development/Housing Director. This is great news for the city in general. As the facilities department we were tasked with finding that person an office at City Hall. This was more of a process than need be, but it has been solved. We will be building a new wall in the mayor’s office to accommodate this new employee. It will be a major project and must be completed by the beginning of October. Bond Beach is still a very difficult project. The latest update is that the water pump we had was not strong enough to push the water up the pipe to the building. We needed to purchase a new pump. That will be in by next Tuesday. The plumber will start again on Wednesday of next week and then they can put the ceilings on and finish the project. I am truly sorry this has taken so long and feel the worst for the citizens who wish to use the bathrooms. We are trying our best. Leavitt gazebo has been taken back to the designers with some modifications. We will put it back out to bid once complete. The walking track will be done this fall as well as the edging around the new playground. B. Assistant Director’s Report submitted by Matt Mansur Greetings! Beaches Things have calmed a little at the beaches a bit. The start of the season was crazy and it kept at a high pace for a while. Usually at this point of the season the demand for beaches drops considerably. It is still high, but it is a noticeable drop. Weirs We have had a very busy season with all the great weather. It has been 80+ and sunny for most of the summer. The staff are pretty tired and I am concerned for our ability to retain next year. That being said, we haven’t had many incidents this year. Only two calls to the police for the whole season and they were both very bizarre situations. We had a lot of garbage this year. With the amount of people that we saw, we had a ton of garbage. Most of it made it into the dumpster, but some did not and our team had to pick it up. It seemed a lot in the middle of the season, but we overcame. Bond Bond has been operating smoothly since going to “No Lifeguard On Duty”. Given that it is a working construction zone, we have not had too many complaints about the beach. Not since the first month of the season. I have high hopes for future years at that facility. Opechee We had high levels of E.Coli Bacteria at both Opechee Cove and Opechee Point for a week. Opechee Point has since had samples below the threshold, but we are just leaving the Cove posted for the remainder of the season. I will test all of the beaches one more time toward the end of August. Opechee Day Camp The day camp has done very well this season. We haven’t had too many issues regarding campers and only one or two staff issues. We will have a Talent Show on Friday 8/16. The week we couldn’t use the swim area because of bacteria was a challenge, but the team did well utilizing sprinklers, the A/C, and the Fire Department came out to help. Community Center Programs Basketball is back and pickleball is sporadic. The pickleball community continues to grow outdoors. I am aware that there is a title wave of pickle people that will be kicking down our doors relatively soon. C. Foreman’s Report submitted by Dane Anderson COMPLETED Column2 Project Additional Notes Bartlett Plumbing- Replaced backflow. Bartlett Vandalism- Graffiti removal Bond Forestry- Large downed section of tree trunk and leader removed. City Hall Grounds- Removed and replaced trash can at building entry. City Hall Electrical- Lighting- light replacements. City Hall Carpentry- Door repair/ adjustment City Hall Carpentry- Rear entry door closer replacement City Hall Electrical- Lighting- Installed light above rear entry door. City Hall Furniture- Relocation and assembly of file storage shelving. City Hall Vandalism- Replaced welfare application drop box Endicott Rock Park Vandalism- Graffiti removal. Gale Library Carpentry- Table repair. Gale Library Flag Pole- Cabling repair. Gale Library Plumbing- Clogged kitchen sink repaired Gale Library Plumbing- Irrigation- Backflow rebuilt Gale Library Furniture- book case and desk chair assembly. Gateway Plumbing- Irrigation- Removed above ground backflow and meter lock box and replace with inground style containment box. Grounds Horticulture- Annual beds and pots prepped and planted. Laconia Middle Events- Voting booth set up and take down for student council voting. School LCC HVAC- Installed AC units Leavitt Forestry- Tree removal. Leavitt Events- Youth soccer camp event and field prep Leavitt Plumbing- Restored water supply to exterior spigots and installed new tamper resistant spigots at concession building. Leavitt Vandalism- Graffiti removal from new playground equipment. Leavitt Concession building- final flood damage repairs. Drywall, Trim, plumbing fixtures, painting. Leavitt Roofing- Tree removed growing out of chimney. Memorial Plumbing- Rebuilt backflow in Hardball restroom Memorial Plumbing- Rebuilt backflow for irrigation system. Memorial Carpentry- Replaced vandalized door to storage garage that was kicked in. Replaced door handle and added deadbolt. Opechee Plumbing- Replaced spigot with new tamper resistant style at Day camp Opechee Hardscape- Vandalism- Reinstalled step by Day camp that had been torn out. Opechee Events- 4th of July- Firework show prep and clean up. Opechee Forestry- Downed tree limb removal at Skate Park Opechee Carpentry- Gaga ball pit door repairs. Opechee Vandalism- Graffiti removal. Parks Carpentry- Continual repair work to picnic tables and benches. Parks and Irrigation- Start ups, repairs and programing. Facilities Robbie Mills Roofing- Shingle replacements Robbie Mills Carpentry- Missing siding replacements Robbie Mills Baseball Field- Infield edging, new infield mix, 66 tons, put onto field. Dressed with conditioner Robbie Mills Hardscape- Reset and resecured loose blocks and step caps by bleachers. Rotary Vandalism- Graffiti removal Rotary Forestry- Downed tree limb removal. *Close to 10 large limbs and leaders lost within the last year, Several trees hazardous now needing removal. Likely due from lack of pruning and canopy thinning we don't have the resources for and is problematic throughout many of our Rotary Sun Dial repairs Sanborn Vandalism- Graffiti removal Seasonal Plumbing- Water Meter readings Facilities and Irrigation Seasonal Plumbing and Irrigation- Water Dept. Backflow testing. Facilities and Irrigation Sport Fields Game and Event prep for Middle School, High School, Youth and Club sporting events. Sports Fields Events- NHIAA Tournament Sports Fields Fertility Program- Second application of fertilizer and soil amendments. Spring Clean Ups Grounds- Acorn/Leaf/Pine Cone and Down Limb removal. Stewart Electrical- Park pathway light fixture repair Tardif HVAC- Installed AC units Truck 399 Vehicles/Equipment- Removed all tools and parks property from vehicle. Vets Square Event- Memorial day Prep and flag work. WCP Hardscape- Sunken pavers repair. Weirs Events- Bike Week prep Weirs Beach Beaches- Sand relocation to raise/fill area of beach in front of bathhouse. Weirs Beach Beach- ADA beach mat installed. Weirs Beach Events- 4th of July- Firework show prep and clean up. Weirs Beach Plumbing- Rebuilt 2 flushometers that failed and unclogged main drain line. Weirs Beach Beach- Large metal plate removed from beach area in front of bathhouse. Weirs Community Park Electrical- Removed paper towel dispensers Weirs Community Park Plumbing- Rebuilt backflow in season restrooms. Welcome Signs Horticulture- Beds clean up and mulching Wyatt Vandalism- Graffiti removal IN PROGRESS Location Project Additional Notes Bond Beach Construction- Monitoring and documentation of new bath house installation. Bond Beach Site prep work and tree removal for new bathhouse and septic construction. City Hall Plumbing Faucet replacements Department Wide Dog Bags- Checking and filling dog bag dispensers Facilities Plumbing, building locked and secure, as needed. Facilities Electrical- Lighting timers adjustments as needed Gale Library Carpentry- Damaged and stained ceiling tile replacements Gordon Lawerence Forestry- Down limb removal Cemetery Beaches Weekly Beach grooming and debris clean up. Grounds Janitorial- Property checks and clean up of litter and unsheltered refuse. 2-3 times per week and as needed. Grounds Routine mowing, trimming and trash clean up of parks and facilities grounds. 1 time per every 1-2 weeks depending on priority level of area. LCC Plumbing- Faucet replacements LFD Central HVAC- Repairs and reinsulate of piping from mold remediation project. Memorial Electrical- Baseball scoreboard repairs. Opechee Electrical- Smith field scoreboard troubleshooting. Paint Paint standards, colors, and procedures project. Parking Lots Parking bumper log replacements. Parks and Facilities Irrigation- Regular checks, scheduling adjustments and repairs as needed. Parks and Facilities Carpentry- Picnic table repairs and painting Parks and Facilities Fertility Program- Thatching, overseeding and fertilization. Robbie Mills Plumbing- Concessions building- Water supply trouble with minimal to no well production. Restrooms running at limited capacity in combination with portlets. Seasonal Restrooms Janitorial- Checks, cleaning and stocking. 2-3 times per week or prior to event usage. Sports Fields Routine Mowing of sports fields turf. 2 times per week. Sports Fields Game and Event prep for Middle School, High School, Youth and Club sporting events. Storm Damage Grounds- Downed and damaged tree and limb removal throughout properties. Vandalism Graffiti- continual monitoring and removal throughout parks and facilities. XII. PRESENTATIONS XIII. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Roy motioned to adjourn at 7:10pm. Seconded by Commissioner Kirk. All were in favor. Respectfully submitted, Amy C. Lovisek Mitch Hamel Director of Recreation & Facilities Chair Commissioner