Board of Parks Commissioners Meeting

Norman Board of Parks Commissioners Regular Meeting December 6, 2018 The Norman Board of Parks Commissioners of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, met in Council Chambers on the 6th day of December, 2018 at 5:38 p.m. and notice and agenda of the meeting were posted at 201 West Gray Street, 24 hours prior to the beginning of the meeting. ITEM 1, being: ROLL CALL Present: Chairman Dolan, Commissioners Favors, Isacksen, Sallee, Salmond, and Wright Absent: Commissioners Moxley and Rogers City Officials Present: Jud Foster, Director of Parks and Recreation Karla Sitton, Administrative Technician IV ITEM 2, being: APPROVAL OF THE NOVEMBER 1, 2018 MEETING MINUTES Commissioner Wright made the motion and Commissioner Sallee seconded to approve the minutes. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chairman Dolan, Commissioners Favors, Isacksen, Sallee, Salmond, and Wright NAY: None ITEM 3, being: APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Commissioner Wright made the motion and Commissioner Salmond seconded to approve the agenda. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chairman Dolan, Commissioners Favors, Isacksen, Sallee, Salmond, and Wright NAY: None ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 4, being ANNUAL PRESENTATION FROM PERFORMING ARTS STUDIO DBA THE DEPOT Ms. Shari Jackson, Executive Director, Performing Arts Studio DBA The Depot, said The Depot was created in the Fall of 2003, and is located in the Historic Santa Fe Train Depot. She said The Depot produces Summer Breeze, Winter Wind, and Whistle Stop Concerts, The Depot Gallery, and Second Sunday Poetry Readings. Ms. Jackson said they also manage the rental of the Norman Depot for weddings, meetings, parties, and other events. Ms. Jackson highlighted the programs stating the Summer Breeze Concert Series is a Norman tradition featuring national and local musicians performing at Lions Park from May to September and the Sunday evening concerts are casual family-friendly events. She said the Summer Breeze kicked of the 2018 season on Park Board Page 2 of 5 December 6, 2018 new stages courtesy of a grant from the Kirkpatrick Foundation and the new modular stages are lighter, easier to put up and tear down making it much more manageable by the all-volunteer crew. Ms. Jackson said this year’s concerts included local artists Jacob Tover, Caleb McGee and the Underdogs, and a slate of amazing nationally-known touring artists including Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy, Handmade Moments, Brandy Zdan, Dehli to Dublin, the Mulligan Brothers, and Herpeth Rising. Ms. Jackson said the Winter Wind Concert Series continues to showcase the best of what The Depot is about featuring musicians that perform in the listening room at the historic train station. She said the concerts are on Sunday evenings, October through March and has been expanded to include a subset of concerts produced and promoted in collaboration with Jazz in June. Ms. Jackson said The Depot is now a part of the Folk Alliance which is drawing audiences from Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas and included musicians Ari Hest, Barron Ryan, Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines, Beppe Gambetta, Goodnight Moonshine, David Coen, Harpeth Rising, Kyle Reid, Carter Sampson, Garrett Jacobson and Jeremy Thomas, Honey Dewdrops, Don Conoscenti, Caroline Cotter, Opal Fly, and Ellis Paul. Ms. Jackson highlighted the Whistle Stop Concerts stating the program was devised in 2015 as a way to diversify musical offerings on the Depot stage. She said the concerts allow The Depot to bring in national touring artists who might not otherwise stop in Norman on a more flexible schedule. Ms. Jackson said the Second Sunday Poetry Readings present monthly readings with regional poets coordinated and hosted by Former Oklahoma Poet Laureate and Oklahoma Book Award-winning poet Carl Sennhenn. She said the Depot Gallery works with outstanding Oklahoma artists that are exhibited in The Depot throughout the year with bi-monthly artist receptions. Art chats and workshops with the artists have been added to create educational components and allow art patrons the opportunity to get to know the artists’ work, history, and process. Ms. Jackson said The Depot participates in the 2nd Friday Art Walk as well as other art events. She said the gallery is free and open to the public. Ms. Jackson highlighted The Depot revenue sources to include rentals, membership programs, and Program Partners. She said The Depot is extremely grateful to the City of Norman for the use of the beautiful, historic Depot and for paying a percentage of the utilities. The City of Norman is one of six cities in place for commuter rail and, maybe someday, The Depot will be a “grand central station” for Norman. A written report including financial information was submitted prior to the meeting. Commissioner Isacksen asked about the grants The Depot received and Ms. Jackson said The Depot received a small management grant in the amount of $8,000 from the Kirkpatrick Foundation for staging. Commissioner Sallee asked about the tuition shortfall and Ms. Jackson said the tuition is for the workshops taught by the artists; however, The Depot does not want to make money off the workshops but merely cover the costs of them. The board acknowledged the report. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 5, being ANNUAL PRESENTATION FROM THE NORMAN TENNIS ASSOCIATION Mr. Marc Claude’, Westwood Tennis Center (WWTC) Head Professional, said he has worked at the WWTC for over 20 years and took over at the Head Professional WWTC in the last year. He said the WWTC had a great year and has become one of the busiest tennis centers in the state of Oklahoma. The WWTC has hosted 11 tournaments in 2018, including three USTA national events, along with many one day local events. Mr. Claude’ said it was estimated that the WWTC brought in $922,109 of total local business sales. Mr. Claude’ said the WWTC’s mission is to serve the public and to promote the game of tennis to all ages and levels. He said goals are to continue to increase warm body count and provide high quality customer service to everyone. Mr. Claude’ said he is certain the goals can be achieved with the addition of the soon to be Park Board Page 3 of 5 December 6, 2018 completed indoor facility. He highlighted the league and tournament fee structure for events the WWTC hosted and said USTA Oklahoma is an organization that decides where the leagues and tournaments will be played. Mr. Claude’ said he bids on the events every two years and USTA Oklahoma sets the fees for everything and gives a portion back to the tournament director. He said those fees are used to cover balls, official, tournament staff and awards for the participants. Although these events do not generate much of a profit the economic impact on Norman is huge as well as bring people from all over the country to see Norman’s Tennis Facility. Mr. Claude’ highlighted WWTC programs to include Junior Clinics, Junior Team Tennis, Adult (and Senior) local leagues, and weekly Adult drills. He said on average there are 50-60 kids and 20-30 adults per week in the programs. Mr. Claude’ said he strives to never turn away a customer due to financial reasons and will provide rackets and instruction to them as either a discounted cost or free. He said in 2018, WWTC provided countless scholarships for junior players and through the Net Generation Program he has partnered with eleven different elementary schools in Norman who have received free rackets, balls and lesson plans to teach their students. Commissioner Sallee asked who at the schools teaches the lessons; and Mr. Claude’ said the Physical Education (PE) teachers are given the lesson plans (however WWTC Staff will attend the first day and assist with the training). Commissioner Salmond asked who applies for the grants; and Mr. Claude’ said he assists the schools with the applications. Commissioner Isacksen said the economic impact that the WWTC has on Norman is fascinating but asked for additional information regarding the 2018 financial reports and Mr. Claude said the revenue to the City was approximately $7,400 through November 2018. Commissioner Wright asked when the Indoor Tennis Facility will be completed; and Mr. Jud Foster, Director of Parks and Recreation, said early March, 2019. The Board acknowledged the report. YEAH: Chairman Dolan, Commissioners Favors, Isacksen, Sallee, Salmond, and Wright NAY: None _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 6, being MISCELLANEOUS Mr. Jud Foster, Director of Parks and Recreation, provided an update on the Norman Forward projects beginning with the Norman Indoor Tennis Facility and said the contractor will be able to pour the foundation and slab when the weather is 40 degrees or higher. He said after that is done, the contractor can begin erecting the building beams. Mr. Foster said the contractor was 13 days ahead before the recent cold snap and now they are back on schedule. He said the Indoor Tennis Facility should be completed by early March of next year. Mr. Foster said re-grading of two more soccer fields for the Norman Forward Griffin Park project are completed and the contractor continue to works on a punch list. He said the City will be notifying the consultant soon to regrade the southwest corner for four football fields, plaza and restroom area which will be followed by two more soccer fields being re-graded. Mr. Foster said the City and Department of Mental Health agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a long-term lease of the property at Robinson Street and 12th Avenue N.E. (Griffin Park). He said Council will be considering the MOU in the near future. Mr. Jud Foster, Director of Parks and Recreation, said Council has recently been discussing many options regarding locating the Indoor Aquatics Facility, Multi-Sport Facility and Senior Center (one and/or all three) at: Park Board Page 4 of 5 December 6, 2018  Ruby Grant Park - a stand-alone Senior Center building and a second building for the Aquatics Facility and Multi-Sport Facility;  Reaves Park – locating only a Senior Center at the current Reaves Building site and demolishing the existing building and building a new facility for seniors;  Andrews Park – locating only a Senior Center;  West of the New Central Library – building only a Senior Center - which would involve purchasing land, demolishing the apartments and building a new facility for seniors; or  North Base – land next to the YMCA – purchase land, construct a stand-alone Senior Center and construct another building holding both the Aquatics Facility and Multi-Sport Facility. He said Council’s preferred location is the North Base site and current discussions between the City of Norman and University of Oklahoma (OU) are being held to determine whether OU will sell and the City can buy the property. Mr. Foster said in order to make their decision; Council requested feedback from both the Reaves Park Ad Hoc and Ruby Grant Park Ad Hoc Committees - not specifically where the Senior Center should but whether or not they approved or opposed a Senior Center possibly being located at Reaves Park or Ruby Grant Park. Mr. Foster said the Ruby Grant Ad Hoc Committee met on November 29, 2018, and the Reaves Park Ad Hoc Committee earlier today. He said at each of the meetings, Staff presented the options along with maps of where the facilities could possibly be located and said there is nothing defined about the shape of the buildings; and that they are merely for spatial representation since all new facilities would need to be discussed, professionally designed and constructed. Mr. Foster said the Ruby Grant Park Ad Hoc Committee discussed and approved a motion and agreed they are not opposed to the facilities concepts/options, (i.e., Aquatics Center, Multi-Sports Facility, and Senior Center), potentially using approximately 14 acres in the southwest corner of Ruby Grant Park - provided that considerations are made for keeping the natural integrity of the park master plan intact; as well as for the increased traffic flow. Mr. Foster asked the Ex-Officio Members for their input regarding whether or not they approved or opposed the Aquatics/Multi-Sport Facility and Senior Center concepts/options for Ruby Grant Park and Ex-Officio Britt said he approved the concepts/options. Ex-Officio Favors said she opposed the facilities being located to Ruby Grant Park and felt the more logical place for the facilities is on North Base near the YMCA. Mr. Foster said the Norman Forward Reaves Park Ad Hoc Committee discussed a motion to support a Senior Center being constructed at Reaves Park, designed to minimize the impact to the existing open space in the Reaves Park Master Plan and include electrical infrastructure accommodations for special park events in Phase I. Mr. Foster said he received emails in support for new construction of a Senior Center at Reaves Park from both Members Murray and Wells since they were unable to attend the meeting. He said Ex-Officio Reiger also supported the proposal and the motion passed with Member Eckart voting against the proposal. Mr. Foster said further updates regarding the Ruby Grant Park include a public meeting hosted by the Disability Coalition to gather feedback on the possible components for the new all-inclusive park. He said the consultant team attended and felt it was a great meeting. Mr. Foster said a second meeting is scheduled on Saturday, December 15, 2018 at City Hall that will again be hosted by the Disability Coalition and he said he is very encouraged about the input being received. He said everyone is invited to attend. Commissioner Favors agreed and said the meeting was very helpful. She said parents and teachers were also in attendance, and it was very eye-opening for the consultants to hear from those who will be utilizing the all-inclusive park. Commissioner Favors said there is currently no public transportation to or from Ruby Grant Park which she felt will be needed. Mr. Foster said there are four major components for Ruby Grant Park that includes: playground, cross-country running and concrete walking trails, dog park, and disc golf. He said the disc golf course could become more accessible for people with disabilities, even if only one of the holes had multiple tee areas. Commissioner Wright asked if the trails and disc golf were located in close proximity of one another and Staff said the trails run throughout the park; therefore, some of the trail(s) will be near the disc golf area. Commissioner Wright said she was concerned that those walking or running or the trails could be hit by disc golf players and Mr. Foster said he is trying to schedule a meeting with the disc golf stakeholders to walk the park in order to determine where the disc Park Board Page 5 of 5 December 6, 2018 golf holes should be located. He said the dog park includes transition entry gates, as well as a walkway through the middle for those with disabilities. Mr. Foster said there is also an aggressive fund-raising component for the Ruby Grant Park, specifically the playground area. Commissioner Wright asked whether corporations and/or companies will be able to put their names on equipment/areas within the park; and Mr. Foster said yes, the fundraising will include sponsorships that can include donor plaques. She asked whether the playground area is funded through Norman Forward and Staff said yes, approximately $600,000. Commissioner Favors said most of the cost for an all-inclusive playground is the surface area and Staff agreed. Chairman Dolan asked if all the meetings are open to the public, and Staff said yes. Commissioner Salmond asked whether the Norman Christmas Parade would still be scheduled for Saturday, December 8th and Staff said it is not a City-held event and had not heard yet if it would be cancelled with the predicted bad weather. Mr. Foster said the WinterFest at Legacy Park that is scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, December 7th has been rescheduled due to the pending weather; however, it has been rescheduled to next Friday, December 14th. He said the Andrews Annual Tree Lighting was held on Friday, November 30th, and it had a great turn-out. Commissioner Salmond asked if the Ball Clubs of Norman (BCN), were getting materials out and would baseball/softball signups begin soon. Staff said yes and signups should begin in January, 2019. Commissioner Wright requested Staff get agenda packets out earlier in order to read/study all the material before the meeting(s) and Staff said it would do so. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 7, being ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Salmond made the motion and Commissioner Isacksen seconded to adjourn. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chairman Dolan, Commissioners Favors, Isacksen, Sallee, Salmond, and Wright NAY: None Passed and approved this ____________of ________________________ 2019 Bud Dolan, Chairperson