Parks & Recreation Commission

MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Parks Administration Office 1101 W. 4th St. June 21, 2021 5:30 PM A. CALL TO ORDER Chair JaneAnn Oldrup called the June 21, 2021 meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. B. ROLL CALL The following Members were present: JaneAnn Oldrup, Meagan Sanders, Kim Elliott, and Becky Joyce-via GoToMeeting. The following members were absent: Barry Mathison and James Edwards. Staff present: Jim Burress, Special Services Director; Stephanie Mervine, Recreation Director; Juanita Jennings, Public Affairs Director; Louis Najar, City Engineer; John Wright, Zoo Director; and Sharene Brooks, Parks Administrative Assistant, Sr. Guests present: Rita Kane-Doerhoefer, Patsy Felber, Perry Toles, Carolyn Mitchell, Ann Dunn, Vicki Burress, Juno Ogle, Ivan Hall, and Bob Edwards. C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Member Elliott motioned to approve the agenda, Member Sanders seconded; a voice vote was unanimous, and the motion passed with Members Mathison and Edwards being absent and Member Joyce participating via GoToMeeting. D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Member Elliott motioned to approve the minutes of the May 17, 2021 meeting, Member Sanders seconded; a voice vote was unanimous, and the motion passed with Members Mathison and Edwards being absent and Member Joyce participating via GoToMeeting. E. REGULAR ITEMS (ACTION ITEMS) 2. Consider Approval of a Recommendation to Connect the Spring River and Cielo Grande Paths. Guest Bob Edwards of the Spring River Corridor Foundation went over the four options to connect the trails. He indicated Option #1, which would utilize the old runway area, would be the foundation’s choice. Option #3, using the alley between 8th St. and Riverside Dr., would be a dead issue per City Engineer Louis Najar. Member Joyce fully supported using the help from the Foundation and was in favor of Option #1. Member Elliott was also in favor of Option #1 and commented that there may be possible future options with extending a trail further to the North. Member Elliott made a motion to recommend Option #1 to the General Services Committee for the connection of the 1 Spring River and Cielo Grande trails. Member Sanders seconded; a voice vote was unanimous, and the motion passed. F. NON-ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion on Parks and Recreation Commission Member Vacancy. Chair Oldrup informed the members of a vacancy on the commission due to Member Patterson resigning. She would like to get the word out to possible applicants. 4. Discussion on New Online Donation Buttons. Director Burress had reached out to the Marketing Department to add donation buttons on the City website for Parks, Animal Control, and the Veterans’ Cemetery. The ability to donate online would make it easier for donors so they would not have to write and mail or deliver checks. 5. Discussion on RISD Schools Using Tennis Courts, Tearing Up Soccer Fields, and Cutting Benches. Director Burress questioned if there were written agreements between the schools and the City of Roswell regarding joint usage of tennis courts and basketball courts. He and Member Elliott discussed agreements that had previously been in effect. In the past, schools would allow usage of courts when they were not using them. It was also previously set up for the City to pay the electric bill on the lights, with the school district maintaining the courts. Member Elliott thought that the prior agreements had been fashioned so that they would not have to be renewed each year. 6. Discussion on Status of New All-Inclusive Playground. Per Director Burress, meetings would be starting soon. The site assessment at Cielo Grande had been done, there would be a stakeholders meeting, and then public meetings would take place asking people what they want for the park. 7. and 8. Report on Aquatic Center/Recreation Center. Stephanie Mervine, Recreation Director, gave the aquatic and recreation report. Revenue for the recreation, aquatic, and adult center was at $25,004, which was up over $8,000 from the previous month. Membership visits were over 2,000 in May. The USA Pentathlon was a big success, with two of the participants going to the Olympics. The center is now fully opened from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Summer Camps were at full capacity. Instructor classes had been added at the Adult Center. Software transition issues had been resolved. Due to flood issues, Facility Maintenance and Director Mervine had been working together to ensure the quality of the facility was maintained. 9. Report on Zoo. Juanita Jennings, Public Affairs Director, gave the zoo report. The new Zoo Director, John Wright, was introduced to the commission. The number of guests that visited the zoo in May totaled 13,042. Eight new memberships were sold and the retail store was now open two additional days per week. Donations received in May were a little over $225. Flood damage to the gate had been taken care of. Other highlights for the month of May were given including public events, animal upkeep, training, and safety. Data showed that more out-of-towners than locals had been visiting the zoo. The new director addressed the commission and felt that the zoo had a lot of potential. 2 10. Report on Parks Department. Jim Burress, Director of Special Services, gave the report on the Parks Department. He has been in the process of hiring for all of his departments. The new Carpenter Park splash pad is getting close to opening. City Council has designated the Chisum property as a park. He plans on installing cement picnic tables at City parks; making that the new style. G. OTHER BUSINESS 11. Public Comments. Guest Rita Kane-Doerhoefer addressed the commission concerning the lack of porta potties at City parks and the issue of the Adult Center being too high priced. Guest Carolyn Mitchell addressed the commission concerning the Pecos Valley Quilters being forced to move out of the Adult Center, as they cannot afford to stay in the building. They are looking for another place to move to and will not set foot back into the Roswell Adult Center building, as they do not want to be billed. Guest Patsy Felber addressed the commission concerning what the Adult Center has offered to seniors on fixed incomes in the past and what the current intent of the center is. H. ADJOURN Member Elliott motioned to adjourn the meeting, Member Sanders seconded; a voice vote was unanimous, and the motion passed with Members Mathison and Edwards being absent and Member Joyce participating via GoToMeeting. The meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m. Next Commission meeting: July 19, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. 3