Parks and Recreation Board

CITY COUNCIL AND PARK BOARD JOINT MEETING OF APRIL 26, 2023 A meeting of the Warrensburg City Council and Park Board was held on April 26, 2023 at 7:00 p.m., at 445 E. Gay Street, with Chairperson Pro Tem Uhler and Park Board Chairperson Collins presiding. Park Board Chairperson Collins declared a quorum and called the meeting to order. The Park Board Directors Roll was called as follows, Present: Erica Collins, Joshua Greene, Shawnacy Johnson, Bryan Jacobs, Dawn Gauvin, Jason Duffey. Absent: Ernest Graydon, Brandon Campbell. The City Council Members Roll was called as follows, Present: Eddie Osborne, Jan Jones, Bruce Uhler. Absent: Jim Kushner, Tarl Bentley. Also present were City Manager Dulin, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Villegas, City Attorney Harris, Interim Parks Director Deal, Parks and Recreation Office Manager Carrie Battles and Parks and Recreation Business & Information Specialist Brandon Maberry. The adoption of the agenda was considered. Park Board Director Greene made a motion, seconded by Park Board Director Johnson, to approve the agenda. Yes: Greene, Johnson, Collins, Duffey, Jacobs, Gauvin. No: none. Interim Parks Director Deal presented an update on operations and services for Warrensburg Parks and Recreation. Deal said the department was established in 1931 by ordinance and donation of Shepard Park. The nine-member park board, appointed by the Mayor and approved by City Council, oversee four operational divisions of Administration, Maintenance, Recreation Programs, and the Community Center. The four hundred acres of parkland includes eight parks, trails, playgrounds, ball fields, Lions Lake, Community Center and outdoor pool. Deal said Ordinance 5751 adopted September 1, 2022 transferred the Parks Maintenance Division from the Parks and Recreation department to the Public Works department. Deal listed positive outcomes from this transfer which included the completion of the new playground safety surface at Hawthorne Park, Blind Boone Park brush roadway clearing for park visibility, and remodeling the restrooms at Cave Hollow Park. Deal noted a recently acquired Zero Turn Mower and Field Painter for the department. Deal works with the Public Works supervisors on parks maintenance staffing, routine parks maintenance, and snow removal of parking lot areas. The Community Center indoor pool renovation project is a collaborative effort. Deal said the indoor pool operations reopened in January. There are some issues with the paint finishes and the pool will close for a few weeks for repair this summer while the Nassif Aquatic Center outdoor pool is open. Deal said that the Nassif Aquatic Center is being renovated at this time and is scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend, May 27th. A five-to-ten-year period improvement plan for Park and Community Center projects was compiled by Deal and Villegas together. Deal highlighted the 25-year anniversary celebration of the Community Center opening, added a Building Supervisor for the afterschool hours, hired a new Fitness Supervisor and Business & Information Specialist, and future installation of new park entrance signs by community volunteer organizations. Deal mentioned the purchase of new water heaters for the indoor pool 1 was a timely purchase as the hot tub water heater recently failed. Deal said through the use of donated funds, the department purchased new fitness equipment and the future renovation of two tennis courts in Grover Park into 2-3 pickleball courts. Deal said membership had grown by 43% since January and expected continued growth with expanded pool hours in the morning and the new offering of 10% off corporate and military memberships along with 10% off Nassif Summer Pass with a community center membership. Deal relayed challenges ahead included FY24 budget development, increased debt service to pay off the Nassif pool and Midwest Pool Management (MPM) operations current contract increases. Deal said the park staff was optimistic and thanked both boards and staff for their support. Park Board Director Johnson asked whether MPM was utilized for pool operations due to the size of the facility. Deal said MPM was utilized as a preference for providing experienced and certified pool operators and lifeguard personnel for pool operations not based on the size of the community or facility. There were no additional comments or questions. Park Board Chairperson Collins requested a motion to go into Closed Session pursuant to Section 610.021 RSMo., relating to (1) Legal actions, causes of action or litigation involving a public governmental body and any confidential or privileged communications between a public governmental body or its representatives and its attorneys. Park Board Director Green made a motion, seconded by Park Board Director Johnson, to go into Closed Session. Yes: Greene, Johnson, Collins, Duffey, Jacobs, Gauvin. No: none. City Council Chairperson Pro Tem Uhler made a motion to go into Closed Session pursuant to Section 610.021 RSMo., relating to (1) Legal actions, causes of action or litigation involving a public governmental body and any confidential or privileged communications between a public governmental body or its representatives and its attorneys. Yes: Uhler, Jones, Osborne. No: none. The City Attorney advised on legal matters. Park Board Director Greene made a motion, seconded by Park Board Director Jacobs, to adjourn the meeting. Yes: Greene, Jacobs, Collins, Duffey, Johnson, Gauvin. No: none. The meeting adjourned at 8:29 p.m. _______________________________ Bruce D. Uhler, Chairperson Pro Tem Attest: __________________________ Jodi L. Schneider, City Clerk 2