Park Board

Park Board Meeting Minutes August 9, 2022 Park Board Members Present: Ron Brunk, Ray Boksich, Melissa Hartman, Jim DeHerrera, Terri Dunn Park Board Members Absent: Frank Sweeney City Staff Present: Maria Butts, Carla Belski and Jennie Bradford Guests: John Phelps and Bruce Boody (Bike Ped Committee), Cassie Lasson (Front Desk, Inc.) A. Call to order at 6:04 p.m. B. Approval of the August 9, 2022, Agenda: Approved by Member DeHerrera, and seconded by Vice President Hartman. All Ayes. C. Approval of the July 12, 2022, Minutes: Approved by Member Boksich, and seconded by Member Dunn. All ayes. D. Public Comment: N/A E. Committee Reports: a. Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee (Jim): No Bike Ped meeting in August. During the July meeting they discussed the Riverbend path design. b. Tree Advisory Committee (Terry): Nothing to report. c. WSFF (Ron/Frank): President Brunk did not attend the last meeting, but the minutes are in the packet. d. WAG (Ray): No WAG meeting in July. Meetings will be held every other month, with executives meeting the month in-between. Member Boksich reported that construction at WAG is underway, and in the process large rocks were uncovered that WAG would like to request permission to use, if not being used elsewhere. President Brunk advised this could be discussed under “J. Other Items.” F. Presentations: a) Bicycle Advisory Committee request for recommendation to Council of Riverbend path design John Phelps and Bruce Boody presented the conceptual designs for the Riverbend path. On behalf of the Bike Ped committee, they recommend the design where the path is elevated along the Riverbend Condos. This would allow the path to be ADA compatible with a grade no greater than a 5%, and the path to be 10’ wide, which is the minimum width for a shared use/multi-user path. Member Dunn made a motion to move to support the conceptual design as presented to the Council. Seconded by Vice President Hartman. All Ayes. G. Public Hearings: N/A H. Old Business:  a) Consideration for final approval of the Park Sign Master Plan Cassie Lasson of Front Desk, Inc. presented the park signs to the board. Cassie will confirm with the sign manufacturer that they will have a laminated topcoat. Director Butts informed the board that the pollinator gardens will have local sponsors. Member Dunn made a motion to approval the final sign plan as presented. Seconded by Vice President Hartman. All Ayes. I. New Business: NA J. Other Items: a) Rocks uncovered at WAG during construction. There are approximately 20 rocks that have been uncovered during initial construction of the Armory Park Phase III project. WAG is requesting permission to use some rocks for the swale, and to stabilize the pond in the dog park. Director Butts added some could also be utilized at the southeast end of the Armory parking lot. Another option is for the contractor to buy them back. The Park Board directed staff to utilize the rocks for WAG and Armory, as they see fit. K. Items from the Park Board: a) Administrative Report: Director Butts updated the board on the current porta- potty situation. The porta potty at Memorial and Soroptimist Park have been removed. The rental company has had to scale back due to lack of facilities that will accept porta-potty waste. Steve, the Parks Foreman, has secured 2 porta potties with another supplier. The Parks department would like to add a porta potty at Riverside due to increase traffic, and the Community Center has requested one at Kay Beller. President Brunk suggested the board revisit the Capital Improvement plan this fall as priorities may have changed some. Public Works is working with the DEQ in hopes of finding a way to accept some of the waste. b) Recreation Coordinator Report: NA c) Maintenance Report: NA d) Community Service Coordinator Report: NA L. Correspondences: N/A M. Items from the Park Board: a) Member DeHerrera inquired as to the frequency of trash pick-up. Director Butts commented there have been ongoing challenges with Republic Services. Member DeHerrera asked when we would be moving to bear proof trash cans. Director Butts advised all trash cans in parks are bear proof. b) Member Boksich inquired as to whether all events could move to being zero waste. Several events are now moving in that direction, providing compost sites, and covering trash receptacles; however, efforts with recycling have continued to prove challenging. Director Butts shared the weeklong study of the contents of the recycling container at Depot Park. Of the 3 containers in the receptacle, only one contained was not contaminated, one day out of four. That container only had single item in it. There are no longer recycling  containers at City Beach because of continued contamination. Director Butts added she spoke to the Parks & Recreation director of each city in Montana, and the general finding has been that if the recycling site is not staffed, it does not work. A request was made to add zero waste to a future agenda. c) President Brunk inquired about adding the islands back to the Riverside Pond. Director Butts added those were placed there by Public Works and were ineffective at filtering water. President Brunk asked if there were something else that could be added to the pond to circulate the water and prevent it from becoming stagnant. Director Butts will speak with Public Works. N. Adjourn: Vice President Hartman made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Member Dunn. All ayes. Meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.