Recreation Advisory Commission

Recreation Advisory Commission Wednesday, September 21, 2022 1:00pm Municipal Complex Council Chambers 100 Ann Edwards Lane, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 AGENDA Roll Call. Present: Frederick Rodewoldt, Kevin Kollegger, Ken Ayoub, Michelle Cormack, Keely Enright, Renken Carlin, April Gift, Greer Hanlon, Perry Rourk. Absent: Edwin Cuttino, Thomasena Stokes-Marshall, John Dodds. Staff Present: Steve Gergick, Andy Weis, Christiane Ferrell I. Call to Order a. Mr. Rourk Called to order at 1:00pm II. Approval of Minutes from August 31, 2022, and September 15, 2022 meetings a. Mr. Rourk asks for motion to approve minutes from August 31, 2022 and September 15, 2022. b. Motion: , Action: Approve, Moved by Ken Ayoub, Seconded by Renken Carlin. Motion passed unanimously. III. Public Comments a. Daniel Brownstein of 1391 Downsberry Drive informs the Commission about the creation of a citizens group to help promote  the referendum and is working to create an informational website with the url voteparks.org. b. Michael Anhaeuser of 1405 Water Oak Cut is the General Manager of South Carolina Surf offers a thank you for the help with the tournaments. IV. Discussion and possible action regarding maintenance of Town of Mount Pleasant Recreational Facilities a. Mr. Rourk explains why this item in on the agenda to clarify to the commission how the maintenance works. b. Mr. Gergick describes how maintenance is currently carried out through coordination with the Public Services Department. c. Mr. Ayoub asks how decisions about conditions of the fields are determined. Mr. Gergick explains the process. d. Mr. Rourk inquires if there is staff with Public Services that is dedicated to each of the facilities. Mr. Gergick explains briefly before turning to Mr. Weis for specific data. e. Mr. Weis speaks on break down of employees of Public Services as it pertains to the Recreation facilities. Mr. Weis mentions examples of items and duties that are the responsibility of Public Services at facilities. f. Mr. Rourk asks for clarification on dedicated employees for facilities. Mr. Gergick explains how work assignments are allocated. Mr. Weis breaks down how his employees are allocated through the facilities. g. Ms. Gift inquires if the Public Services department is understaffed. Mr. Weis explains the reasons why the Public Services department uses in-house labor over contracted labor and volunteers. h. Mr. Ayoub inquires about personnel for special events. Mr. Weis explains employees are pulled from different departments to staff events. i. Mr. Rodewoldt inquires how Public Services prioritizes work orders. Mr. Weis explains the process of work orders. j. Mr. Kollegger inquires if the Recreation Coordinator positions are assigned by sport. Mr. Gergick explains how the coordinators  are assigned to sports and events as it pertains to current activities as well as projected facilities. k. Mr. Hanlon inquires about staffing shortfalls within the Recreation Department. Mr. Gergick explains the Recreations Department is currently fulling staffed. l. Mr. Rourk asks for clarification on how inspections are complete between Public Services and Recreation. Mr. Weis explains the processes. Mr. Gergick explains the hierarchy of daily inspections. m. Mr. Rourk asks how maintenance cost is budgeted for the facilities. Mr. Weis explains what falls under public services budget. n. Ms. Gift inquires how many more employees will be needed should the referendum pass. Mr. Weis explains a projection was submitted for proposed projects based off current needs. o. Mr. Ayoub requests an explanation on the difference between a Recreation Coordinator and a Recreation Specialist. Mr. Gergick explains the difference. p. Mr. Rourk explains he toured some of the facilities and inquires about how to improve upkeep and training on facilities. Mr. Weis explains there is ample communication to constantly improve processes. Mr. Weis explains they are testing Carolina Park to go organic and the process that requires. V. Discussion and possible action regarding utilization and fees for Town of Mount Pleasant Tennis and Pickleball Courts a. Mr. Rourk introduces the next topic. b. Mr. Gergick answers questions emailed prior to the meeting. c. Ms. Gift asks if the Recreation would entertain having membership fee for pickleball. Mr. Gergick explains the split for instructors for lessons and why with current facilities, a fee would not work without dedicated pickleball courts. d. Ms. Gift inquires if an online court reservation system exists for tennis and/or pickleball. Mr. Gergick explains a reservation system is in the works for tennis. e. Kollegger asks for clarification on the dynamics of becoming members of tennis facility. Mr. Gergick explains the tennis courts are for public use, however the Mugsy Kerr requires a membership. f. Mr. Hanlon asks for clarification on what the membership provides. Mr. Gergick explains the membership provides use and participation in leagues. g. Mr. Ayoub ask if there is a way to determine the number of non- residents playing pickleball using the facilities. Mr. Gergick explains the Recreation Department would only be able to spot check but no system of check-ins or rosters. h. Mr. Ayoub asks if there are pickleball courts at Whipple Road and if a membership would be appropriate if there are dedicated courts. Mr. Gergick agrees that membership could be an option if there were dedicated courts. i. Mr. Rourk asks for clarification on if pickleball courts will be built if the referendum passes. Mr. Gergick verifies there will be dedicated courts. j. Mr. Hanlon asks if there will be pickleball courts at Carolina Park. Mr. Gergick explains there will be multiuse courts. k. Mr. Hanlon inquires if any tennis pro is able to use a court for lessons. Mr. Gergick explains the Recreation Department has tennis professionals available and the process to have lessons. Mr. Gergick explains the courts are not able to be used for private gain. l. Ms. Gift asks for clarification on courts for league play. Mr. Gergick explains the courts may be used for league play. m. Ms. Gift inquires who the Recreation Department has teaching pickleball. Mr. Gergick explains lessons are contracted out. n. Mr. Hanlon inquires about the cost of a tennis membership. Mr. Gergick explains the costs. Mr. Hanlon speaks on the potential revenue available with membership. o. Mr. Hanlon asks about the demand for beach volleyball. Mr. Gergick explains the current courts. p. Mr. Rourk and Ms. Gift discuss equipment for Pickleball. q. Mr. Rodewoldt explains this is the first year boys will be playing volleyball through the schools. r. Mr. Rourk speaks on the available Volleyball courts being currently utilized. s. Ms. McCormick expresses concern over residents feeling pushed out of facilities by non-residents. Mr. Gergick does not have  current data but in the past, there have not been an influx of non- resident users. t. Ms. Gift talks about the number of teams that were turned away due to lack of space. u. Mr. Rourk asks about methods of reporting issues at facilities/fields in an online platform. Mr. Gergick explains there is not an online program that exists currently other than end of program surveys. Mr. Weis explains Civic Plus where residents report an issue. Ms. Ferrell explains there is a “Report a Concern” link on the main page for the town. Mr. Rourk inquires if the committee would need to vote and forward this to the Health, Recreation, and Events Commission for approval to make the process more accessible on the Recreation Department webpage. Ms. Ferrell responded no. VI. Discussion regarding Recreation Capital Project Referendum a. Mr. Rourk requests a list of current projects laid out currently. b. Mr. Kollegger inquires about establishing a FAQ page. Mr. Gergick will have to consult with legal counsel. c. Mr. Ayoub requests a FAQ page to distribute to the public. Mr. Gergick states an informational FAQ should be acceptable. d. Mr. Ayoub asks if Commission has ability, legally, to respond to public inquiries. Ms. Ferrell offered to check with legal counsel. e. Mr. Rourk requests that Commission members share with each other information to keep consistency. f. Ms. Gift inquires if the referendum information can be distributed to the public. Mr. Gergick explains the information is public knowledge. g. Mr. Ayoub suggests in order to make sure all Commission members have the same message, all messages should be run through the Chair, Mr. Rourk. Mr. Rourk will work on creating a bullet point presentation of informational talking points. h. Mr. Hanlon asks for clarification on funding of the road for the Rifle Range project. Mr. Gergick explains it is not part of the referendum. VII. Adjourn  a. Mr. Rourk adjourned the meeting at 2:17 Minutes by Erin Brewton Title VI Notice: The Town of Mount Pleasant fully complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. Town meetings are conducted in accessible locations, materials can be provided in accessible formats, and provided in languages other than English. If you would like accessibility or language accommodation, please contact the Title VI Coordinator one week in advance of the meeting, at the Town of Mount Pleasant at 843-884-8517.