Board of Park Commissioners

Board of Park Commissioners Regular Meeting Minutes Monday, December 11, 2017 3:00- 5:00 P.M. 455 NMain c ,, . T' .y �- o F City Hall, 11th Floor ilrl:t:Hlt·e Park & Recreation Conference Room Wichita, Kansas 67202 Members Present: Cindy Claycomb, Hoyt Hillman, Tori Deatherage, Troy Palmer, Bill Ramsey, Eddie Fahnestock City Staff: Troy Houtman (Director, Park & Recreation), Penny Garding (Cle�k),.Stacey Hamm, Troy Hendricks, Larry Hoetmer, Mark Elder Absent: Elizabeth Harlenske (Assistant City Attorney) Gtiest: Brandon Johnson (Councilmember Elect,.District.l) Item Descri11tion Call to Order Cindy Claycomb, President, called the meeting to order at approximately 3:05 p.m. Public Comments There were no Public Comments. 1 Approve Minutes Recommended Action: Approve, sign and file minutes of the November 13, 2017, Board of Park Commissioners Regular Meeting. Motion by Palmer, second by Ramsey, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED to approve, sign and file the minutes of the November 13, 2017 Board of Park Commissioners Regular Meeting (6-0). 2A 2017 PROS Implementation Plan Houtman stated that for our accreditation we .have to do an annual implementation plan for 2018. We are going to review 2017and talk about what needs addressed and worked on. This is something the auditors will look at when they return three years from now. Townsend stated he would highlight the 2017 PROS Implementation Plan. It is an update from the PROS Plan Update that was approved in 2016. It provides internal tracking of our priorities and enables us to set realistic goals. Staff will get together at the end of this month or early next to begin talking about our 2018 priorities and achievables. Some of the ones incorporated in this plan already have 2018 drop dates. There are a few others we might want to revise or enhance as needed. • We met most of our 2017city-wide recreation objectives with just a couple exceptions. Art supplies and equipment that can be rented or checked outwith a deposit may become a pilot.in some of the recreation centers in late 2018. BOARD OF-PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING December 11, 2017 Page 1 of 11 • Most of the public awareness and joint marketing effort goals were met. The social media outreach goal didn't hit the·percentagewe were looking for, but as we discovered through survey. data and our public meetings, a lot of our target demographic is age 55 and over. They still prefer a print_ed guide, they are not as active on social media as we initially thought. • Program improvements included expanded recreation hours. Some target test were done at some of the recreation centers. Number of participants increased by 6% on an annualized basis. The one thing that did not was the increase in golf rounds played by 7%. That is in large part due to weather. • One of Mr. Houtman's big goals was to implement a fall event. We achieved that with Open Streets ICT. • Additional recreational opportunities on the Arkansas River and downtown areas. We had planned to have something in place for Naftzger Park by the end of next year. The time frame is still in flux and plans are continuing-to be developed. Chester I Lewis Reflection Square Park has had some substantial improvements during the fall. This was done with grant funding and department knowledge. Recreation has some programming coming _in 2018. • Additional planning includes a ,renovation plan for all recreation centers. Public Works is working on a facility condition index and is still fine tuning their results. It will not be met by the end of this year, but is in process. • CIP projects have had some good successes. o Harrison Park upgrade to tennis courts. o Facility improvements, Linwood and Edgemoor flooring bidding process was just extended. That.should be completed next.week and anticipate work starting early 2018. o The Golf Division received a fleet of new golf carts earlier this year. o Pracht Wetlands is an ecologically sensitive area and is a big project for us. Hoetmer added we plan to implement a CMAR type of process to be more proactive in selecting a contractor. To date there,has only been one passed through state statutes; This may be number two in city in CMAR projects. o Irrigation systems have been installed at Linwood and Orchard Recreation Centers. o Cornejo has been working on dredging and sculpting the. bottom of the lake at Crystal Prairie Lake Park to make it a recreational destination for outdoor water sports. The work happening now is very important but is not immediately apparent to the eye. o Golf improvement projects are still ongoing with 2012 CIP funds. o Park path and exercise systems. at Harrison Park. We replaced a big portion of the pathway there. o We currently have plans underway to construct a new ADA boardwalk at Chisholm Creek Park. o OJ Watson Park had several things this year including the natural screen wall, the yellow brick pathway was replaced, new permanent trash receptacles were installed and SPT has begun design work for the existing shelter and also the restroom facility and concession stand. We are. also BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR.MEETING December·11, 2017 Page 2 of 11  working on a reclaimed water line coming from Herman Hill Park that will go under the Arkansas River to help irrigate Watson. Design work is currently underway with PEC, they are projecting to break ground in 2018. o McAdams Park was completed in 2016. A restroom and concession building was installed in 2017. There were also improvements to lighting, backstops and bleachers. The rest of the improvements should be installed by early 2018. o Naftzger Park is still underway. The timeline is not looking to be completed by 2018, but the project is moving forward. o We have dedicated a lot of capital .resources to playground improvements. A new playground has been installed at Chapin Park with some grant funding. New playgrounds are currently in process of being removed and replaced at Redbarn, Glenn Village and Dr. Glen Dey. Those should be completed in early 2018. Hoetmer stated Glenn Village was just completed last week and Redbarn will be finished before Christmas. Chapin Park pour in place surface is going in thisweek. Hoetmer added there are a tremendous amount.of sites that have been addressed by replacing our poured in place systems. The ones addressed so fare include Seneca Park, Central Riverside Park, Linwood Park and a couple others. These. safety surfacing systems normally last 7-10 years. We have some that are over so we are reinvesting into these playground systems. Another thing happening is the conversion of the sand surfacing with engineered wood fiber at a number of our parks. Artificial grass was installed at Elm Neighborhood Park, Redbarn, Glenn Village and some in Dr. Glen·,Oey. Currently there is an RFP out for Pawnee Prairie. Park. That one will also be artificial turf. Palmer inquired how do you maintain the temperature on the turf. Hoetmer responded it can get warm, but you have shade from the trees when available. It does get hotter, but it is riot bad. Houtman added whatyou normally see is on athletic fields where it is an issue, There is playground equipment on, over, around and next to, providing shade. It is not ih the sun constantly for 12-13 hours a day. Hillman inquired about how long the wood chips last and are they fire retardant. Hoetmer responded yes they are fire retardant. The big part o these engineered wood fiber systems is making sure you deal with the drainage aspect. There is a special drainage system that these new installations has.to allow the water to get out-properly. They decompose more quickly if you do not have good drainage. Over time you will need to add more fiber. It is a good alternative to dealing with the sand. It is a much safer surface than the sand. Townsend added the sand surface is less than desirable by users ofthe playgrounds. Of the 84 playgrounds in the system, we are taking the sand out of approximately half those playgrounds. Hoetmer stated we are building new playgrounds but we are also taking care of what we have in our inventory. o Linwood Park is getting irrigation and the restrooms are being redesigned with shelter and lighting. Construction is anticipated during summer of 2018, BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING. December 11, 2017 Page 3of 11  o MKEC was selected as the designer for the Stryker Soccer Complex. o Park staff been at Pawnee Prairie Park for the.last two months doing·a lot of work on the firebreak, path connector, signage and kiosk design. This works should be completed by spring of 2018. Additionally the equestrian watering station, hitching post and signage have been completed as well. The playground is projected for completion by summer 2018. • Other multi year projects slated for initiation in 2018 0 o Aquatic Master Plan Design o Athletic Court Improvements 3A Naftzger Park- Elder Houtman stated we have had some starts and stops, but we are moving forward again. We have not had a full design completion yet. Elder stated the project was put on hold for a bit as City staff was working with the developer on the agreement on the development side. Since they were tied together and the TIF drives the funding for this the park itself was stalled as well. The Assistant City Manager has been doing a lot of the work and is ready to move forward on development agreement for City Council consideration. As for the park update, SWA Balsley was put on hold until we knew the project was going to move forward. It will most likely kick off in early 2018. We will then go out and start looking for the contractor that will be doing the design work. We will be kicking offwith SWA Balsley to start back up where they left off with the design. Part of the developer's project will include a Community Improvement District (CID). It is an additional sales tax on sales that occur within the district.that can be used within it. What is being requestedis the developer, for any retail they have on their site, would have an additional 2.% sales tax·charged for any of those.sales. They would receive a portion of it for some of the costs they had with the development of the site. Additionally, the City will receive 10% of that revenue to be used for improvements to be made in Naftzger Park or ongoing maintenance. Because we are requesting some of those funds will be used for ongoing maintenance on Naftzger Park, we are requesting the Park Board sign onto the Petition to include the park property within the CID. Ramsey stated he thought the developer stopped this project. Elder responded they did. Ramsey added that the rework of the park was based upon. the TIF itself. Elder responded the rework was: based on the fact that their project was going to create the TIF to fund the park, so they both stopped. The developer has been working with the City to see if it could restart theirproject. They have agreed to turn the development agreement to start their project which will also start this together. Palmer inquired if this isn't listed back on the market. Elderresponded he.has not seen that. Claycomb added it was reported in the newspaper that it was. Elder responded it may have been, but if they don't have a contract they can still sell the facility. Palmer inquired how are they going to sell a building with a TIF thatmay not work. Elder responded if they don't have a contract they will just puUit off the market to develop their site. All the contracts say this deal is with you as the developer, any transactions or sales do not make it eligible. This is happening quickly and this is just covering both sides of things. BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING December 11, 2017 Page4 of 11 Hillman inquired about the TIF with the benefits, are theyjust extended to Spaghetti Works or does it cross Douglas, what is the district? Elder responded the TIF district in general goes north of Douglas. Douglas is the dividing line for the majority of the TIF district, the only part that goes north is from Market to First Street. Hillman inquired if he were to go to Old Mill Tasty Shop is it going to cost an extra 20C? Elder responded that is the CID. The TIF there is no additional charges, it is strictly their increased property taxes pay for it. The CID .is ,solelythe part for purposes of being able to use the funds on the park. The sales tax they generate if they put in a restaurant on the. development on that site next to the park that is where that sales tax is charged. That is the only location right there, Ramsey stated you are saying the developer is still wanting to move.forward. Elder responded yes, they have agreed to move forward. Ramsey added he just does not want the board to approve or make a recommendation on something that is not actually going to happen. Elder responded through past experience staff knows that these agreements have the terms that say if you sell or transfer the City has the right to review, approve .or terminate the agreement. Palmer responded then it is too because we have already spent the money. Claycomb stated we are not spending any money. Palmer responded we will if we do the park just because they are agreeing that they are going to do it at some point. Elder responded they are being held on the obligation of even the park expenses being reimbursed through that TIF. They have certain milestones to make sure their project starts at certain times. The way the contract is being written, they are being held responsible for park. Claycomb added we won't reconfigure the park if their project does not go forward because there won't be the money to do it. Palmer inquired then this project sits on the table for the S to 10 years. Claycomb inquired they can't do that, right? Elder responded their development agreement would require it to go forward. If they stop and the park stops. If their development doesn't occur then we stop the park? Palmer responded if we are waiting for them to do their development for us to get the money to pay for the park, then it will sit on the table for 5 to 10 more years. Elder responded there are timelines within that project. They start their project the same time this starts or it doesn't start. They have obligations to begin their project. Ramsey stated theri we don't start park until they start. Elder responded yes. Claycomb added they have some performance measures that they.have to meet to move that forward. Ramsey stated we already have an outiay ofcash to the firm that did the design work. Elder responded it is on the developer. Claycomb clarified the TIF agreement is in place. Elder responded the TIF project is in place. That means it has been approved by the City. We can now do .a TIF project in that area, no funds spent on the TIF. The City Council has approved if this agreement goes forward then the City will start the project. Ramsey inquired if the Council has approved the CID as well. Elder responded nothing has been approved at this time. There is an agreement that will be presented to Council on December 19, but the petition has to be signed before that can happen. The board is being asked today to sign the petition. Claycomb added potentially there will be money generated through the TIF. That is the $1.S million for the park. And the CID, that 2%, the City Parks get 10% to go back to park maintenance. It looks like that will be a maximum of just over $3 BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING December 11, 2017 Page 5 ofll  million generated by the CID and 10% of that would be $300,000 for 22 years. Palmer inquired what is the timeframe they have to start this project. Elder responded he believes it is spring 2018 when a groundbreaking has to occur. Ramsey inquired what are we voting on. Claycomb ahd Elder responded we are voting to include the park land in the CID. Motion by Ramsey; second by Claycomb, IT WAS VOTED AND APPROVED to sign on to include the park property for the CID. (S-1). Elder left the meeting, Houtman stated he is looking forward to continuing with the design. Hillman inquired if the board will get to vote on that or will it be a staff decision. Houtman responded you will get a chance to look at it.. 4 Recreation Update (Stacey Hamm) Hamm stated Night with Santa was held last week. The Winter Guide went to printtoday, it will be out the week of Christmas. • Colvin Recreation Center has had a partner program with Girls on The Run for several years. The program focuses on girls between third and fifth grade. It helps them to get ready and prepared to do a SK run yearly. Included in that training they receive some leadership and self-confidence programming. It is a 10 week program, meeting Mondays and Wednesdays after school at Colvin Recreation Center. Their SK this November was at Watson Park. There was over 500 girls participating in this program for 10 week.s. • Linwood Recreation Center's Golden Age Club hosted a Veteran's Day dance on Veteran's Day. They had 118 seniors attend, including 28 veterans that were recognized for their service. • McAdams Recreation Center offered a new class this fall called Afrovibe™ . It was a 14-week class, only offered once. There were 176 people who attended. It generated $704 in new revenue. It is currently the only class of its kind offered in Kansas. It will be offered again in the winter and there will be two sessions. • Orchard Recreation Center had a new class called Outsmart Your Smartphone. There were two sessions.offered in the fall. There was a total of 24 registered (12 per session). It generated $240 in new revenue. It will also be offered in the winter. • Lynette Woodard Recreation Center held their annual Piano Recital. This comes from the private music .lessons offered each session. Currently they offer drums, guitar and piano. Piano is the only recital at the end of each session. There were nine students who performed. To date, they have 150 participants in their private lessons. Rates will be increasing in January and she will begin offering orchestra instruments in 2018. At the end of 2018 they will continue with their piano recital, but wiUadd drums, guitar and orchestra instruments and have one big concert. Claycomb inquired if she pays us to hold the sessions at the rec center or do we just provide the place. Hamm responded we provide the place and we keep the registration fee. She has several students from the WSU music department who instructors. BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING December 11, 2017 Page &of 11  • OJWatson Park's Polar Express classes filled within the first two weeks of November. We added 12 additional classes. This year it has generated over $10,000, which way exceeds the previous two years combined. • Recreation will host the annual Kansas Recreation & Parks Association meeting at the Hyatt on January 23-25. Several of our staff are part ofthe planning committee. Their final meeting was November 20. This year they have nominated eight individuals and programs for awards. Houtman stated we know of two who have won awards. Hillman inquired about KRPA and will we sponsor board members to attend? Houtman responded if someone is interested, the departme·nt will pay part of that registration fee. Claycomb stated if anyone is interested let Troy know if you are interested in attending. Hillman stated we often talk about scope of quality of life. Botanica, Cowtown and others are receiving record attendance this year. At our retreat we should probably look at how we can complement some of those things. When he was covering Watson Park, it was covering 51% of expenses. This year with the train and Halloween are we closing in on breaking even? Houtman responded probably not, but probably at 60- 65% cost.recovery. The improvements to the mini golf, the addition of standup paddleboards and the other activities and programming, those are all having an impact. Once we get the irrigation system goihg we will have a more picturesque park with greener.grass. The big project going on is the new rental shelter. We will be working on that in 2019 and it should have a huge impact on revenue as well. 5 Golf Update (Troy Hendricks) Hendricks stated the $1.lM CIP fund from 2012 still has about $120,000. Wewill be utilize that to repair bridges atAuburn Hills where the abutments need repaired. Gift cards sales revenue can't be recognized until the cards are redeemed. It goes into a liability account until that time. We might have $68,000 in gift cards sold through the holidays, but until those are redeemed, that is when we can recognize that as revenue. We have some. outstanding gift certificates and rain checks thatare over 18 months old. We will now go in and inactivate those and convert those from a liability account to a revenue account. That is about $30,000. • Rounds are down 5% y+d. That is approximately 7,000.rounds. • Revenue has decreased from 2016 by 2%. That is about $100,000. • Expenditures are. up 3% y-t,d. This is what we anticipate our expenses to be up every year. • Net income is down about 78%. Looking at November rounds are down 2,000. The first half of November was very cool. We lost a lot of rounds there. Revenue was down $55,000 and expenses were up $13,000 for the month. • The average high in November 2017 was 59° and 2016 was 66° . The average low was three degrees cooler too. The 2 nd report shared was prompted by an email from Mr. Palmer. He was asking about a Profit and Loss Statement for each of the courses. The 2017 numbers are for thefirst 11 months. Everything else from 2011 to 2016 is a 12 month period. The BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING December 11, 2017 P�ge 7 of 11 debt service payments are not included. By year-end we were scheduled to pay $215,000 in debt service payments. Through November, we have paid approximately $191,000 but that has not been calculated in on the P&L statement. If we had Auburn Hillswould be losing money as well because all of it is charged there. Claycomb inquired if we owe .an additional $215,000. Hendricks responded no, we owe an additional $24;000. Hendricks added Finance has taken the money on paper but the funds have not actually transferred yet. They may adjust it based on where we are at year end. Houtman added if it goes poorly and we cannot operate without­ a margin of safety they won't take all of it out. Palmer inquired when will we have the conversation about golf as a business. Hillman responded the Golf Advisory Board is starting that conversation. Palmer added that is a lot of money for Clapp to lose every year. Clendenin was re-elected so is that conversation going to come back up? Hillman responded it already has happened within the Golf Advisory Committee. Claycomb inquired what might we expect from them? Hillman responded over the next couple of months we will be discussing it and coming up with alternate plans. Claycomb added and bringing it to this board. We need to have that discussion at some point in time. Houtman asked i' anyone wanted to be invited to the meetings. Hillman responded it is an open meeting. Palmer responded he would come to the meetings, let me know when. the meetings are. R"amsey added he would like to know as well. Claycomb asked Houtman to send a reminder to everyone about the Golf Advisory Committee meetings. Houtman responded he would do that. Hillman inquired if there is any issue with open records. Claycomb responded since it is an open meeting you are fine with more than three being there. Houtman added if there is a topic they want to address they can be there to address it. Claycomb added that board takes comment all the time. Hillman added send him ideas for the agenda if you have them. Claycomb stated if you have the golf system as what you are going to discuss, they can come speak to that. We are at the point where it needs to be something strategic not just "let's try this" or "we need to do this." We've done that already. Hendricks stated at last week's Council meeting we took the proposal for the $2 fee increase and it passed unanirnously. Claycomb added with no discussion. Council did take note of the Park Board members in attendance. Hillman stated we set a good precedent with Finance to protect funds for the Golf Enterprise.system where they can't just dip in and take money. We may want to protect that further depending on future needs. It has.been a benefit to this organization that 60% of the land belongs to this board. We get a decision as opposed to being just an advisory board on these types of things. Hanging on to these'properties and discussing it openly rather than just to succumbing to what staff wants to do in each case. It is a good balance. Claycomb inquired about how much of the $2 fee is being set aside. Hendricks responded $1 of the increase will be set aside for equipment replacement and $1 will go into regular operating costs. Rounds atlW Clapp will get $2 going into operating and $1 for equipment. We raised their fees to be in line with the other four courses. Houtman added it is the same thing we BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS-REGULAR MEETING December 11, 2017 Page 8 of 11  did when we go the golf carts, $1 of the golf cart fee was going into a replacement fund for the golf carts. 6 Golf Advisory Committee Update (Hoyt Hillman) Hillman stated there is nothing additional to add. 7 Wichita Parks Foundation Update (Troy Houtman) Houtman stated things are still moving forward with the license plates-Plates for Parks. Unfortunately they don't come out until 2019.. The final language is going to the state legislature being sponsored by the City. The 501(c)3 that will be benefiting from the revenues will be the Wichita Parks Foundation. They will be using it primarily for CIP projects that we will see that are needed but are not necessarily on regular list. Palmer inquired if you gotS00 people needed. Houtman responded we got 1,900. If we get 1,000 plates a year that is $50,000. Save thatfor two or three years and that is a playground. Part of it could be used for other kinds of capital projects. It's not huge, but it wiUbe put to good use. They are working on getting sponsorships and talent lined up for July 4.. They are still working on improvements to organization bylaws, etc. 8 OJ Watson Park Committee Update (Troy Houtman) Houtman stated the projects are moving forward. The big one is the reclaimed water for irrigation. The bids came in lower than expected and the project is looking a bit easier than anticipated. 9 Aquatics Master Plan Update (Troy Houtman) Houtman stated we have visited all the DABs and have an idea of what we will be doing. January or February will go out to bid. One question still unanswered is where the $4M site in District I will go. Will it go back.at McAdams or to Edgemoor or another location? There was an idea that was brought up that maybe at the Boys & Girls Club be a site where a pool could be built and let them operate it. Claycomb inquired where they are now located. Board members responded on 21st Street and Boys & Girls Club Way, back off of 21 st. Houtman added they are.still trying to get options, In January they will tour six schools with a group of stakeholders. They will go listen to whatthe kids want. They will then use that information to make the decision. 10 President's Update (Cindy Claycomb) Claycomb stated she sent pictures of Night with Santa trees we paid to have decorated. Claycomb stated this is her last meeting, she is term limited. It is an important board and you see a lot of things that other boards don't get to see. She provided a suggestion for when going into retreat. Visit Wichita does a lot of advertising about Wichita, but nowhere in their literature is there anything about parks. Our parks are an asset and I would like think about ways of working with them to see if we can get parks featured. She. would be happy to help with that even though she is no longer on the board. 11 Director's Update (Troy Houtman) BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING Decembe� 11, 2017 Page 9 of 11 Houtman stated they have hired the new person to fill Jim Mason's position at the GPNC, her name is Amanda Alessi. Next Tuesday, November 19, at Council we are doing a going away for Jim Mason. It would be great to see everyone there to congratulate him on his retirement after 39 years. Amanda works with the Friends of the GPNC so she is already there. She is very familiar with the program and is very knowledgeable. She has a background in natural resources. She will do a great job. She has good potential. A finalist has been selected for the Tennis Director. We are going through the final processes to get this gentleman on board. If everything goes well both will start on January 2, 2018. Palmer inquired about what is going on with tennis and this instructor. Houtman responded Jeff Clark was fired two months ago. There was a proposal that maybe he would continue on asa contract instructor; In the meantime, there were several other investigations going on regarding issues .and conduct that can't be discussed. Other things come to light that it was in the City's best interest not to continue to contract with him at all. Therefore we have cut all ties. It was some timing things where some of his supporterswere very anxious to see him get a contract. His contract would have had to gone to Council tomorrow if we had gone forward with his contract because it is over $50,000. We had prepared everything for that. Meanwhile HR is doing their investigation to find issues that were going on. We are moving forward with a new Tennis Director to revamp the whole program. We are still working on the Recreation Superintendent. We have been using the brochure for our recruiting. The response has been not as good as hoped. Palmer inquired if the brochure scared people because it was "over the top", it was cool though. Houtman responded he received a lot of response from people not qualified, people that were maybe a baseball coach thinking now they can be a recreation superintendent. We are putting it out again and include ICMA this time. We will not be interviewing until after the New Year. We will have several park and recreation directors from the area screen them with him and then screen them one more time to the top three. You will be part of the final interview process. If you are.interested, you will be invited to be on the interview panel. Houtman will follow up with CM Johnsonabout his open.seat on the Board. The Gander Mountain Trail is supposed to break ground after Christmas. The bids are out there. Claycomb stated it doesn't take very long, because they are going to be ready for NCAA. Houtman responded itwon't be ready by then. The board clarified it is the Ea.st Bank Trail. You are all invited to the KRPAConference. Ramsey added the cost is•$200 for members and $275 for non-members. Houtman added it is cheaper than that for just one.day. Ramsey added it is cheaper and then depends on which day it is. Deatherage inquired if we had to bid to g_etthe conference here. How did we get it? Houtman responded we worked with Visit Wichita to host these and the Hyatt BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING December 11, 2017 f>age 10of11  because it is there as well. It is a whole city effort to bring it here. A lot of the people here are part of the planning and rely on us to get things done. Things are moving forward with design at Stryker. We got favorable bids on the artificial turf, less than what we expected. Claycomb inquired if we decided on a turf vendor? Houtman will have the design overview at next months meeting. There is a lot going on at Pawnee Prairie Park. The fire break, the one-way entrance and exit to the horse trailer area and a lot of other things have been completed and continue to move forward. We are keeping everyone informed via Facebook on what is going on out there. On January 1, 2018, we will have a First Day Hike. There will be a group picture at 9:00. As a Staff member I appreciate all of you in promoting parks and recreation. A special thanks to Cindy for her eight years. When topics or information comes up and I have questions she has always been there and knowledgeable. Thank you on behalf of the entire staff. Deatherage stated someone recommended to her that we do the next Open Streets during Riverfest. Houtman responded Riverfest does not want us to do that. The Riverfest people helped us put it on. They were the day of operations, using their expertise, knowledge and ability to get it all done. They have enough to do with Riverfest and to add this on to it. We don't want to dilute their event. This one stands for something different and we want them each to stand alone for what they represent. We will be doing it on September 23, 2018, the same Sunday in September. Hillman inquired if Houtman is working on a Retreat date yet. Houtman responded it is up to the board and what they want to do. We talked about it as a group and we probably didn't want to do anything until February or March. We should wait until after January and have our new board members appointed, talk about it in February and have it in March. Claycomb stated if anyone have suggestions or know people who would like to serve on the Park Board, please pass those along to her. She would like to appoint someone from District 6, but it is not required. She has ideas and has not made any decisions yet. Adjourn There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:27 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Monday, January 8, 2018. Cindy Cl�, President Penny Gar ing,lerk BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING December 11, 2017 Page 11 of 11