Park Board

Park Board Meeting Minutes January 9, 2024 Park Board Members Present: Ron Brunk, Jim DeHerrera, Ray Boksich, Melissa Hartman, Frank Sweeney, Antonia Malchik Park Board Members Absent: Teri Dunn City Staff Present: Maria Butts, Jennie Bradford Guests: Kevin Slaybaugh (Glacier Twins) and Shiva Solaimanian (Forestoration) Public Comment: Richard Hildner of 104 5th St A. Call to order at 6:01 PM B. Approval of the January 9, 2024, Agenda – Motion to approve made by Member Sweeney and seconded by Vice President Hartman. All ayes. C. Approval of the November 14, 2023, Minutes. Member DeHerrera noted an amendment to the last line of the minutes for Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee. Correction: They were more receptive to conducting a preliminary review of the plans. Motion to approve made by Member Sweeney and seconded by Member DeHerrera. All ayes. D. Public Comment: Richard Hildner provided public comment on Block Parties. Two examples of block parties - Hildner’s luminary event at Riverside Bridge on Christmas Eve. This event has evolved over the past 20 years and lasts approximately 1.5 hours. A little over a year ago he was informed he would need a permit and insurance. The fees are $180 plus insurance. Another example is the Somers Avenue Block Party which they are no longer able to do because of insurance requirements and City fees. Hildner experienced great difficulty in obtaining the necessary insurance. In the end, the City Manager waived the insurance requirement, but the fees weren’t waived. Hildner looked at what other cities require, namely Missoula, whose application is shorter and like many other cities in Montana, can waive insurance requirements, as well as the fees. Hildner expressed the City of Whitefish process is too cumbersome and encourages the board to look for a way to permit block parties without it being an impediment or burden on the neighbors who wish to gather. President Brunk shared the board would discuss this further. Member Sweeney offered to take this to council. E. Committee Reports: a. Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee: Member DeHerrera – 1) Riverbend condos - Malmquist easement. City Council approved submitting a combined 124 permit to move the project forward to FWP. Malmquist will have to sign an MOU with the City to reimburse them for the cost of his part of the easement. The project is moving forward, which is progress. (2) The viaduct improvements – City council approved moving forward with design and hopefully this is started by end of summer. (3) Safe routes to school - City  required a 160k grant and will add $40k to complete a plan which will put us in a good place to compete for other grants to implement the project. b. Tree Advisory Committee: Nothing to report as did not meet. c. WSFF: President Brunk – WSFF has been looking into the possibility of buying land at the north end of the valley and constructing a building with 2 sheets of ice. They have hired a firm to begin an architectural design and have been working on fundraising efforts as well. Last meeting, they learned there is another privately funded group that has property on Hwy 2 across from the airport and has approval to build a facility for indoor soccer and basketball, and 2 sheets of ice. Brunk shared if this group moves forward, the WSFF isn’t sure if the valley could support additional sheets of ice. President Brunk will keep the board informed of new developments as he becomes aware. In other news, the ice den roof is still leaking, but everything is running full speed ahead. d. WAG: Member Boksich – with the extended fall, WAG got the hill cut down and it is now much less steep so should be easier for the city to maintain. Fence repairs and repairs to asphalt are on the list for first thing this spring. F. Presentations: NA G. Public Hearings: NA H. Old Business: NA I. New Business: a. Consideration of Approval of Glacier Twins Maintenance Plan and Funding Request The Glacier Twins shared the drainage in the dugout fills with water and they cannot get it to drain. They put in a pump, but it freezes up. They may need to dig a frost line. They have not had any success with remediation efforts thus far. The maintenance of bathroom facilities is complete. They installed new low flush toilets, but they are still on the old system. They have problems with plumbing and insulation. They bathrooms are better but not as good as they should be. Motion to approve made by Member Sweeney and seconded by Member DeHerrera. All ayes. b. Consideration of Approval of the Skye Park Bridge Design Director Butts mentioned she showed the design to PW as the utilities for the lift station are located at this site. PW approves of the plans as presented. Park Board members raised questions about the required setbacks according to the river protection corridor. Director Butts will connect Shiva of Forestoration with Nelson Loring in the Planning Department to determine the necessary setbacks. The design is to be amended to respect required setbacks and is to be amended to remove the proposed permanent structure and use vegetation to screen the lift station. Motion to approve as amended made by Member Sweeney and seconded by Vice President Hartmen. All ayes. c. Consideration of Approval of the WAG Park Obstacle Course Redesign  Member Boksich presented the redesign and shared this is not a new obstacle course but rather an addition to the existing course. The focus is to keep the park aesthetically in tune with rest of dog park. The obstacles will be shades of green and brown so they blend in. Motion to approve made by Member Sweeney and seconded by Member Malchik. All ayes. J. Other Items: K. Items from the Parks and Recreation Department a. Administrative Report: Director Butts expressed she has some additional items to share. 1) Brandon Theis is no longer with RPA. He has started his own engineering business. We will be working with Ryan Mitchell and Austin of RPA on the Armory Park project. 2) There is a new potential park we may be leasing from BNSF. On the property west of roundhouse (Walker residence) there will be a boundary line adjustment because the property comes in at a triangular angle that cuts off public access to the boat launch area. The concrete pad that went under water has been removed. We are still talking to them about a replacement but could not replace at this time as it is on private property. The property next to the Walker property (further to the west) is working to deed their land to BNSF so it is open for public access. BNSF reached out to the City to see if we would want to add it the lease agreement that we have for the Roundhouse Landing. Director Butts walked it with BNSF this past fall. It has a very gradual progression into river. Not many improvements would be required, perhaps a path from the bike/ped path and a sign. This will be coming to the board in the future. 4) Director Butts asked if the board would like to see the list of priorities again that was brought to them in the fall or if she should bring the CIP plan to them in February. The board agreed to bringing the CIP plan next month. b. Recreation Coordinator Report: NA c. Maintenance Report: NA d. Community Services Coordinator Report: NA L. Correspondences: a. Letter from Linda Gust proposing an outdoor rink at Depot Park The board did not direct staff to add this as a priority item to the CIP. M. Items from the Park Board: Member Boksich shared that WAG is brainstorming ideas for next year’s Community Foundation project. They have been speaking with people in the park and conducting surveys, and two ideas are a webcam at the dog park, and lighting along the path. Member Boksich met with Chris Hunt (IT Administrator) and learned installing a webcam is very doable. They discussed placing it on the kiosk. It would need electricity to run from bathrooms. Member Boksich clarified the webcam would not be for surveillance but like the camera at City Beach and Big Mountain, could be used to see the park conditions and if it is crowded. The camera would be a live feed so footage could not be accessed. There was no opposition from the board for adding a webcam at the dog park. Member Boksich moved on to discuss lighting the path at WAG and shared the neighboring residents are ok with it so long as it is done tastefully; like the bollard type lighting on Texas Ave. There was mention that this would be inconsistent with dark skies. There was also mention that this area of  town is more rural. In addition to the initial cost to install lights, there is an added monthly operating cost that needs to be considered. Director Butts shared this question will be brought to the Bike/Ped Committee as well as Council. Lastly, Member Boksich spoke to Richard Hildner’s public comment about the challenges to obtaining permission for a block party. Member Boksich shared his experienced of when he tried to close Columbia Avenue for Halloween. Director Butts shared changes to the special event application must go through Council. Member Sweeney restated he will discuss this further with Maria and Angie, and the Council in general, and report back. N. Motion to adjourn made by Member Sweeney and seconded by Member Boksich. Adjourned at 7:31 PM