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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-02-11 PRC MINUTES• • • City of Englewood PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Minutes of February 11, 2010 I. CALL TO ORDER II. The regular monthly meeting of the Englewood Parks and Recreation Commission was called to order at 5 :32pm by Chairperson Gomes at the Englewood Ci vic Center, City Council Conference Room, 1000 Englewood Parkway. Present: Austin Gomes , Chairperson Mitch Waldman, Vice Chairperson Carolyn Armstrong, Commission Member Douglas Garrett, Commission Member Karen Miller, Englewood Schools Liaison Jim Woodward, Commission Member Bob Mccaslin, City Council Liaison Donna Schnitzer, Cultural Arts Commission Christina Kruk , Youth Commission Member Jerrell Black, ex officio Also Present: Bob Spada, Golf Operations Manager Dave Lee , Manager of Open Space Gary Hultberg, Recreation Manager APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairperson Gomes asked if there were any changes or corrections to the minutes of January 14, 2010. There were none. The minutes were approved as presented. III. SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT There were no guests present for Scheduled Public Comment. IV. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT There were no guests present for Unscheduled Public Comment. V. BROKEN TEE PARTNERS AGREEMENT Bob Spada, Manager of Golf, informed the Commission that on November 30 , 2009 , McGetrick Golf Academy gave notice that it would be terminating its agreement with the Broken Tee Golf Course. Spada stated that two partners from McGetrick Golf Academy have approached the City in regard to taking over operation of the Learning Center. Spada reported that the new partners plan to provide some new programming in addition to bringing in a Junior Golf expert. Spada told commission members that he and Director Black will be going to Study Session on Tuesday, February 16 1h to give an update to City Council and to get its approval on the new contract. Vice Chairperson Waldman asked if the name of the Learning Center will remain the same. Spada replied no , stating that the new name will be Metagolf and plans are to slowly incorporate the new name. VI. TENNIS COURT USAGE In regard to last month's discussion on tennis court usage and an increase in demand to reserve the courts, Lee informed the Commi ssion that included in the packet is a survey of what other local municipalities do with their tennis courts . Lee told the Commission that based on the information gathered, it is his recommendation that the Department leave its tennis courts open to the public for drop-in use with the exception of school requests. Lee explained that due to the lack of number of tennis courts in the City of Englewood, he feels it would be problematic to reserve the courts while accompanying drop-in use. Gomes asked if the courts at Englewood High School are included. Lee explained that the courts at the high school will be available for drop-in use by the public even though they are owned and operated by the high school. Discussion followed. A motion was made by Vice Chairperson Waldman and seconded by Commission Member Miller that the Department continue to not reserve its tennis courts, leaving them open to the public for drop-in use with the exception of recreation programming and school requests. Ayes: Gomes, Waldman, Armstrong, Garrett, Miller, Schnitzer, Woodward, Kruk Nayes: None Motion passed VII. WEST HARV ARD GULCH TRAIL PROJECT Lee informed the Commission that there are plans to complete the West Harvard Gulch Trail project, a trail connection from the Northwest Greenbelt to the South Platte River. Lee explained that thi s is the third time there are plans to complete the project but that funding has actually been appro v ed for this time. Lee reported that they are currently in the design phase with expectations to go out to bid in the summer and construction to start in the fall. Commission members were told that the biggest obstacle will be going under the railroad tracks. VIII. COMMUNITY GARDEN UPDATE Discussion turned to an update on the community garden. Lee reported that the Steering Committee is starting to meet on a weekly basis and things are moving forward. The Commission was told that there will be a Community Meeting on the garden on Tuesday, March 2nct at 6:30pm in Hampden Hall in which neighbors and interested citizens have been invited to . Lee stated that the parks division will be building the garden and hopes are that construction will begin soon. Lee also reported a ground-breaking/work day is being planned. Lee reported that Joe Sack has been working very diligently with the Steering Committee on the application, rules and regulations and waiver and he and Black have been working on the Cooperative Agreement with Denver Urban Gardens . Lee noted that once the agreement is finalized , it will be taken to City Council for approval. Cultural Arts Commission Liaison Schnitzer told the Commission that Susan Bayless , Chairperson for Keep Englewood Beautiful is now serving on the Steering Committee and that she had attended the KEB meeting last Tuesday night to give an update on the garden. Black reported that DUG has raised $6 ,000 from grants with another $9,000 outstanding . Black stated that City Council has allocated up to $15,000 from Open Space Contingency Funds to use for the garden but explained that if DUG is successful in receiving the $9 ,000 in outstanding grant funding then the City will not need to use all of the $15 ,000. Armstrong asked how many garden • • plots will be available. Schnitzer reported that there will be 22 plots and will include two plots for • the food banks. Black added that Englewood residents will be given priority. • • • IX. CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION UPDATE Schnitzer reported that at the February Cultural Arts Commission meeting, commission members were informed that signage to the Cone Flowers artwork located in the Wal-Mart parking lot was replaced due to vandalism. Schnitzer also reported that the Commission use money from the one percent art fund to purchase two pieces of artwork by Olga Wolosyn. Schnitzer explained that the artwork will be hung in Hampden Hall as permanent pieces. Schnitzer also reported that the Art Shuttle is now being operated by a different company and that there are new buses that will soon be covered in artwork similar to the old buses . XII. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE There were no items for Director's Choice. XIII. COMMISSION MEMBER'S CHOICE Youth Commission Member Kruk informed commission members of the upcoming National Honor Society blood drive at Englewood High School and encouraged board members to sign up to give blood if available . Kruk announced that she is in the high school musical "Annie Get your Gun " that will be on March 5th and 6th . Commission Member Woodward asked in regard to the new signage for the off-leash parks to inform users of the new hours that go into effect on March 1 51 • Lee told Woodward that the new signs will be posted the week of February 22nct . Lee told the Board that Englewood Unleashed had contributed $800 .00 towards the new signs . In regard to a search for a new Superintendent, Englewood Schools Liaison Miller announced that fliers and applications have been sent last week and this week . Armstrong spoke in regard to the Night of the Stars Talent Show that will be held on March 12th at 6pm in Hampden Hall. Armstrong stated that she has volunteered at the event for a number of years and encouraged commission members to attend. Armstrong asked staff if City Council enjoyed the Great Outdoors Colorado and Arapahoe County Open Space presentation that was held at the January l 81h City Council meeting. City Council Liaison Bob Mccaslin and Woodward both said that the presentation was very good and informative. McCaslin spoke in regard to Englewood Schools being eligible to receive GOCO funds through a partnership with the City of Englewood . Black told McCaslin that Englewood Schools and the City of Englewood partnered together with the Clayton Athletic Field. Lee invited commission members to the Volunteer Flower Garden Lunch on Thursday, March 4th at 11 :30am at the Englewood Recreation Center to honor and recognize the flower bed gardeners. Lee reported that last year there were thirty people who had attended the luncheon last year that included two groups and several individuals. Lee spoke in regard to a special recognition at last year's luncheon that recognized June Hawkins , the volunteer flower gardener for Duncan Park. Spada reported that registration for the Jr. Golf program will begin tomorrow . Hultberg distributed a recent article from the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association's Byline magazine regarding Night of the Stars Talent Show that was written by Jeni Rulon, Youth Administrator. Hultberg reported that eleven cities/districts participate in the event and it won the Columbine Award for programming a few years ago . Hultberg informed the Commission that the Department has applied for two grants for the development of Duncan Park including a $700,000 grant through GOCO and a $250 ,000 grant through Arapahoe County Open Space Funds. Hultberg said that the Department will know in March if it will be awarded the GOCO grant. Commission members were told that there was a pre-construction meeting for the lights at Brent Mayne Field. Hultberg distributed copies of the Spring Activities Guides ; noting that the publication now includes "green pages". Hultberg informed commission members that staff will be attending the March 1 st Study Session to discuss changes in regard to distribution of the Activity Guides. Hultberg reminded the Commission that Denise White, Marketing Administrator, was at the November Commission meeting to discuss the changes that include no longer doing bulk mailing . Commission members were told that by not doing the bulk mailing, the Department will be going green and can re-direct the money saved into marketing. Hultberg also noted that the Department will give the public ample time to adjust to the changes . XIV. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:07pm. /s/ D. Severa Recording Secretary • • •