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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-02-11 PRC MINUTES• • • Englewood Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of February 11, 1988 The regular monthly meeting of the Englewood Parks and Recreation Commis- sion was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Acting Chairman Neyer at the Engle- wood City Hall. Members present: Armstrong, Braucht, Clayton, Gomes, Hathaway (alter- nate), Neyer, Vanderleest, Wiggins, Kuhn, ex officio Members absent: Hoyt, Kozacek Also present: Jim Kavinsky, Parks Supt. Stefanie Pillow, Former Youth Member Mike Shaffer, Parks & Recreation Intern Acting Chairman Neyer asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of January 14, 1988. There were none. A motion was made and seconded that the minutes be approved as presented. The motion passed. Commissioner Braucht entered the meeting at 5:32 p.m. Acting Chairman Neyer introduced Bill Clayton to the Commission. Bill is a newly appointed Council representative to the Commission . Commissioner Armstrong entered the meeting at 5:36 p.m. Former Youth Commission Member Pillow was present to discuss the Parks and Recreation Commission Students of the Month. She thanked the Commission for their patience and assistance in getting the program set up. She reviewed the procedures for nominating students, whose anonymous biographies are then passed on to the Commission for the final vote. There was considerable dis- cussion with regard to whether or not the Commission should be involved in this type of program. Several Commission members stated they believe the pro- gram should be handled within the school system since the nature of the pro- gram involves the students of Englewood High School. It was suggested that instead of offering a student of the month program, the Commission should sponsor a "recreation program of the month". Discussion included honoring a youth participant of a recreation program each month, or featuring a recre- ation activity and its participants each month with candid photos to be dis- played in the recreation center and also through the Englewood Sentinel. Com- missioner Gomes made a motion, seconded by alternate youth Commissioner Hath- away, to turn the Parks and Recreation Commission Students of the Month pro - gram over to the Englewood High School for their future consideration. The motion passed. Commissioner Braucht made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Gomes, that the Parks and Recreation Department select a recreation activity each month to be highlighted through photographs at the Recreation -Center. The motion passed . Acting Chairman Neyer introduced Carolyn Armstrong who has been appointed to replace Jack Poole on the Commission. - 1 - • • • Director Kuhn reported on City Council's action regarding charging fees for use of parks to day cares, day camps and pre-schools. Kuhn stated that the parks staff originally recommended to the Commission that the situation of over-crowding of park facilities by commercial day cares, day camps and pre- schools be observed through the summer months last year and then they would · recommend a feasible course of action to the Commission for consideration when all data had been compiled and studied. He stated that the staff's recommen- dation required the groups to obtain a permit from the Parks and Recreation office with no fee, but it was the feeling of the Commission that a use fee should be charged . A fee schedule was then recommended to City Council who, in turn, tabled the issue and referred it back to the Commission for further study. Kuhn stated that after reviewing this matter for more than a year, staff recommends to continue the permit system in order to know what groups are using the parks and when, and that no fee be charged. This will allow staff to maintain some control of over-use of the parks. Commissioner Clay- ton stated that some of the concerns expressed by City Council include: 1) the problem of over-crowding of parks which was not alleviated by charging a fee; 2) problem groups, when approached by staff, could be specifically re- quested to clean up the park area before departing; 3) costs for day care ser- vices are high and it is feared that a charge for park use may cause a rise in day care prices and the problem of latch-key children to worsen; and, 4) a fee should not be charged if additional personnel are not available to enforce the fee system. Clayton stated that Council is not against the idea of a permit system or charging a fee, but the problem of over-use should be addressed and the problem of enforcement should be addressed to manage vandalism. After considerable discussion, the Commission recommended that ·a permit system be set up which would allow for a workable scheduling system for use of Englewood parks by day cares, day camps, etc., which would alleviate over- crowding of the parks. Director Kuhn will send Commission's recommendations to City Council through a Council Communication, and a letter will be sent to all day care centers in the Spring advising of City Council's decision regard- ing fees and permits. Director Kuhn reported that Council re-appointed Orris Saunders to the Malley Center Trust Fund Committee, and advised that he notified the City Man- ager that Council Member replacement is needed on the Trust Fund Committee for former Council Member Bradshaw. Director Kuhn reported that members of the recreation staff, as requested by the Commission, have developed some activities at the recreation center for middle school age youth. Two activities have been planned for two Saturday nights -March 26 and April 23: 1) a movie to be held in the pool area with refreshments, at an estimated cost of $545, and 2) Spring shuffle dance wi th a DJ and refreshments, at an estimated cost of $438. Kuhn stated he will solic i t volunteer teachers from the middle schools to help chaperone which will help to keep the cost down. He stated the staff has recommended an ad - mittance fee of $3 .00 to each activity. Kuhn stated that it is likely there will be a few in the group who will want to smoke and asked the Commission if they thought it would be necessary to provide an outside smoking area for this age group. The Commission agreed that the students will have to go without smoking for the time they are there for the activity. Kuhn stated that these types of activities will give the students of the middle schools an opportuni- ty to meet others their own age and this has been requested by students at both schools. - 2 - • • • Discussion included a required number of lifeguards, safety and liabili- ty, selling the refreshments rather than including them in the price of admis- sion, selling tickets for the activities through the middle schools, the necessity of a police patrol on the nights of the activities, etc. Director Kuhn will check on police patrol, and the legality of showing a rental video cassette for the pool movie activity when a fee is being charged. The Commis- sion agreed that activities for middle school and high school students should not be combined. Commissioner Clayton suggested that staff contact some of the high school clubs that are wanting to raise money to see if they would be interested in selling tickets and refreshments at these activities for a percentage. Commissioner Clayton made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Braucht, to recommend that staff continue to finalize details of these recreation activi- ties for the middle school age group and present final plans to the Commission at the March meeting, and to advertise and promote the program within the schools and city newspapers. The motion passed with two opposing votes from Commissioner Gomes and alternate youth Commissioner Hathaway. Commissioner Gomes expressed that, due to the City's financial status, he does not feel it is the responsibility of the City to provide entertainment for the school stu- dents of Englewood, but rather the school's responsibility. Several Commis- sion members stated that the school district is also financially restricted. In response to a recent newspaper article regarding unsafe play equip- ment, Director Kuhn reported that all play equipment must meet safety stan - dards and must be approved by OSHA. A piece of play equipment in an Englewood park was named in the article as being unsafe. Kuhn stated that all of Engle- wood's play equipment is regularly inspected and maintained for safety. Kuhn discussed this matter with City Attorney DeWitt who advised that it is not necessary to remove the named piece of equipment as long as it is maintained properly and was originally marketed as being safe. Park Supt. Kavinsky advised that all play equipment at Romans Park will be removed soon and then placed back i n the playground area with proper spac- ing for safer play. Safety standards require 8 ft. between pieces of equipment. Director Kuhn stated that a request has been received from Gary Price, Principal at Englewood High School , for use of the recreation center for the after-prom party on the evening of May 14. Kuhn stated he will contact Gary Price concerning legalities with regard to the "casino night" activity that is planned for entertainment at the party. Commissioner Braucht made a motion, seconded by alternate Commissioner Hathaway, to approve the request from Gary Price to use the recreation center, excluding the use of the swimming pool facility, for the after-prom party on May 14. The motion passed. Director Kuhn reported that Arapahoe County has awarded the City of En- glewood a $19,000 grant from their lottery fund to assist in the construction of a pedestrian/handicapped access bridge across Big Dry Creek at Belleview Park. Commissioner Braucht inquired about an article she read in the Englewood Sentinel concerning the use of golf course funds by the URA and expressed con- cern that there may be a delay in scheduled improvement projects at the golf course if the funds are used in other areas. It was stated in the article that there would be a 7-10 year pay back period. Commissioner Clayton stated -3 - • • • there is a surplus of $440,000 in the golf course fund. He stated that URA is in a financial situation that must be remedied. Clayton stated that due to the economic climate, the alternative would be to raise taxes to complete some Downtown Development projects. Clayton stated that it is not the intention of Council that needed maintenance at the golf course will be postponed or eliminated. Clayton advised the Commission that some nature center funds have been diverted to the South Platte River Greenway. Alternate youth Commissioner Hathaway asked about the status of the miniature golf course. Director Kuhn stated that Council has approved a con- tract for construction of the course. Preliminary surveying is now being done and construction will begin when the ground thaws. Hathaway asked about the maintenance of the Little Dry Creek walkway. Director Kuhn stated that the contractor will retain liability control of the walkway until the Spring at which time it will be turned over to the City. Hathaway asked about the status of youth Commission member Hoyt. Direc- tor Kuhn stated that he has attempted to contact Hoyt and has not reached him. Kuhn recommended that if he does not hear from Hoyt pr ior to the March meet- ing , Hoyt should be eliminated from the Commission. It was suggested that a letter be written to Hoyt as a last attempt to reach him. Acting Chairman Neyer read a letter to the Commission that he received from former Chairman Jack Poole . There was some discussion regarding the possible impact on the surround- ing neighborhood of the proposed location change for the Cushing Park parking lot with the reconstruction of the Santa Fe and Dartmouth interchange. Direc- tor Kuhn stated he will make arrangements to contact the neighbors regarding this matter. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Linda Wilks, Recording Secretary Note : The March 10 meeting minutes reflects discussion, a motion and amend- ment with regard to the voting status of alternate youth Commission Member Hathaway . Director Kuhn is corresponding with City Attorney DeWitt to clarify this matter . -4 -