Parks and Recreation Commission

PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES MEETING DATE: May 24, 2023 LOCATION: Recreation Complex CALLED TO ORDER: 7:00 p.m. MEETING ADJOURNED: NEXT MEETING ROLL CALL NAME PRESENT ABSENT unfilled, School Board Liaison X Andrew Clapper X Tracy Downing X Ben Eckler-Chair X Mike Johnson X Kate Krieger-Sectretary X DR Dan Meehan Lindsey Michaud Douglas Milford Karen Alexander, Council Liaison Scott Davis, Staff Liaison APPROVAL OF MINUTES X X X X moved to approve to the August 2022 minutes. Mike seconded. Minutes were approved by voice vote with no dissent, abstention. Moved to approve the January 2023 minutes. Seconded. Minutes were approved by voice vote with no dissent, abstention. VISITOR COMMENTS None OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS 1. Future meeting times/frequency/format. F  2. Review of potential policy on naming of parks and facilities. COUNCIL REPORTS-presented by Karen Alexander STAFF REPORTS-presented by Scott Davis PARKS & RECREATION GRG will have a survey out soon on amentities for the new park. Once it is ready I will get it broadcast around the City’s social media and websites. The City participated in No Mow April. I would like to get your thoughts and opinions on that program. We have one open full-time position in park maintenance. We are hoping to do interviews in the next week, as we have a person retiring on June 1. We are also in need of several part-time park employees. We are currently writing a grant for EPA 319 funds for $400,000. We met with DNR this morning to go over this project. We were the only city that DNR gave preapproval to submit for the full grant for this round. That will help to remove invasives and repair the riparian cooridor around Shady and Deer Creeks. Last week our pool consultant and I presented to the City Council during their work session about the aquatics master plan. That presenation can be found online at the City’s website and the full video is available on the DR Youtube channel. We will be wrapping up the master plan in the very near future. The next step after that would be to start the construction planning phase, which will last at least 9-12 months. Then a vote of the residents on a potential bond issue to pay for the new facilities. The pool is ready for this weekend’s opening. We actually had Hixson students in the water today for their annual cardboard boat regatta. Since we last met Miki retired. We promoted from within to backfill her Superintendent position with Katie Kearbey. We then posted the Rec Managers position and hired Dan Eastham to fill it. We are really looking forward to what Dan and Katie can accomplish in their new roles. P&R budget looks really good for the current year. We are up about $240,000 over last year. Most of that is in facility rentals and fitness as both those areas are finally coming around to pre-Covid levels. SET NEXT MEETING The next regular meeting scheduled for ADJOURNED F Moved to adjourn, seconded. Approved by voice vote with no dissent, abstention. Meeting adjourned at p.m.