Park Board

Park Board Work Session Minutes October 11, 2022 Park Board Members Present: Ron Brunk, Ray Boksich, Jim DeHerrera, Frank Sweeney Park Board Members Absent: Terri Dunn, Melissa Hartman City Staff Present: Maria Butts, Jennie Bradford Guests: Celesta Collacchi A. Call to Order at 5:56 p.m. B. Interview with Celesta Collacchi for Tree Advisory Committee Vacancy C. Adjourned at 6:09 p.m. Park Board Meeting Minutes October 11, 2022 Park Board Members Present: Ron Brunk, Ray Boksich, Jim DeHerrera, Frank Sweeney Park Board Members Absent: Terri Dunn, Melissa Hartman City Staff Present: Maria Butts, Jennie Bradford Guests: Dom Gorach (True North) A. Call to order at 6:13 p.m. B. Approval of the October 11, 2022, Agenda. President Brunk added there is correspondence that was received and under “Other Items” add a consideration for an appointment to the Tree Committee. Moved by Member Sweeney. Seconded by Member DeHerrera. All ayes. C. Approval of the August 9, 2022, Minutes: Approved by Member DeHerrera. Seconded by Member Sweeney. All ayes. D. Public Comment: NA E. Committee Reports: a. Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee: Member DeHerrera reported John Phelps resigned, so the committee will need a new chairperson. With regards to the Riverbend Condo project, Angela is sending a letter to HOA members requesting feedback on the new design. Simultaneously, Public Works is taking steps to work with FWP. b. Tree Advisory Committee: No updates as the committee did not meet this past month.  c. WSFF: Member Sweeney reports the projected net income was significantly negative, yet they ended up with positive number. Director Butts added the Ice Den is undergoing repair to the roof and staff is getting an estimate on having the roof replaced. The water heater is also being replaced. Member Sweeney asked if there has been any further discussion on them getting a second sheet of ice. President Brunk added the rink is looking for a facility where they can have 2 sheets of ice in one location. If this was secured, they would hand the Ice Den back to the City. They are in the preliminary phase of this process. d. WAG: Member Boksich reports they are getting ready for winter. The water is off, and they are waiting to get projects mostly completed before the snow flies. F. Presentations: N/A G. Public Hearings: N/A H. Old Business: N/A I. New Business: a) Snowy Mountain Subdivision: Director Butts shared the subdivision is a 29-lot subdivision on 13.45 acres located at 6345 Hwy 93 S. between the highway and the river. Applicant has included a Whitefish River water protection buffer area, so total parkland dedication is over 1 acre. The City has an easement for the proposed bike path in this area. Director Butts strongly advocates accepting this as we are not sure where the path could go, and ownership of this land would allow us to place the path where it would be permitted. We have parkland on either side of river corridor, so it would complete a linear park. Staff recommend the Park Board accept this parkland, at which time it will then it would go to City Council. Dom Gorach of True North summarized the project. Member Sweeney moved to accept the dedicated parkland as presented. Seconded by DeHerrera. All ayes a) Review of Capital Improvement priority list: President Brunk asked if the estimated cash reserves on the bottom of page 1 means are we in the red? Director Butts explained this is not updated with the correct year-end cash balance. We received additional LWCF funding in the amount of $257K, and this will offset the ending cash balance. Director Butts asked the board if the priorities listed are in the order they should be and if anything is missing. Member DeHerrera requested a new trail project be added – Riverbend Condo. Member Sweeney asked if we could add a footnote that the riverbend trail is a priority to the Park Board, but it is a Public Works project. Director Butts will present idea to Dana and see how she wants it added in the budget. Director Butts did say it can be placed as a higher priority than the 2nd Street reconfiguration project in Resort Tax and add that we want to see Impact Fees go towards it. The board agreed to prioritize it for next year, FY24. President Brunk added he would also like to reprioritize the Riverside Park bridge due to increase in traffic but does not know what we would take out. Director Butts shared next year we have proposed a recreational shuttle to give us the ability to meet the increased need for our afterschool program. As for the  2nd St bridge, Director Butts shared staff’s idea to widen the existing sidewalk and remove the bridge, changing it to a viewing area. This doesn’t prevent us from putting in a bridge in the future if the City does want to fund the project. We have a woodchipper on our list as ours is broken and need one. City Beach is also on the list. We would like to work on making it more ADA compatible and replacing the old infrastructure. Director Butts is also looking at the next steps for Armory Park, beginning with the softball fields. b) Other Items: Member Sweeney moves to appoint Celesta to the Tree Advisory Committee. Seconded by Member Boksich. All ayes. c) Items from the Park Board: a) Administrative Report: Director Butts shared the plan for the boulders at WAG/Armory and asked for the boards feedback. Member Sweeney advised Director Butts to carry on. Director Butts shared photos from Oktoberfest. Turf repair quote for irrigation and fertilization. Want to confirm this includes replacing broken sprinkler heads and rolling the turf due to staking that has created divot. As per the policy, any damage is to be paid for by the event organizer. Director Butts believes we need to rehabilitate park this fall and reevaluate it in spring to see if it was effective. If not, the Chamber will be responsible for any further rehabilitation required. Director Butts will add a review of the Depot Park policy to the November agenda, as well as discussion of a cap on the number of events in the park. The board would like to add a recommendation to have a zero-waste event. If it does not gain traction, then consider making it a requirement. Director Butts will ask the Climate Action Committee to make pamphlet to explain how zero waste can be achieved by special events. Director Butts shared she will inform the Chamber of the plan for the holiday lights in Depot Park. Member DeHerrera asked what the plan was for replacing trees we remove from Depot Park. Director Butts shared there is no established plan. President Brunk asked if the Tree Committee could come up with a plan for reforesting our park. Member DeHerrera asked that we retroactively replace those tree that have already come down. President Brunk suggested also planting now for trees we foresee needing to be replaced in the future. b) Recreation Coordinator Report: NA c) Maintenance Report: NA d) Community Service Coordinator Report: NA d) Correspondences: a) Letter from Sean Person re: Futsal court at Memorial Park Director Butts shared the City did a neighborhood questionnaire in years past and public input indicated residents wanted it to be kept as open space.  Director Butts said if we do want to amend the plan it will need to be a public meeting. The board requests that next spring Sean have an event and invite the neighborhood to see if there is interest, and then come back to the board with more specifics. e) Items from the Park Board: President Brunk received a call from Ray Queen regarding Skate Park hours. Director Butts will find out when hours changed and why. f) Motion to adjourn by Member Boksich. Seconded by Member Sweeney. Adjourned: 7:56 p.m.