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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-05-14 PRC MINUTES• [. City of Englewood PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Minutes of May 14, 2009 CALL TO ORDER T he regular monthly meeting of the Englewood Parks and Recreation Commission was called to order at 5:45pm by Chairperson Gomes at Baker Park , 2200 W. Wesley Ave. Present: Austin Gomes, Chairperson Mitch Waldman , Vice Chairperson Carolyn Armstrong, Commission Member Douglas Garrett, Commission Member Bob Mccaslin, City Council Liaison Jim Woodward, Commission Member Karen Miller, Englewood Schools Liaison Christina Kruk , Youth Commission Member Rebecca Laughlin , Youth Commission Member Donn a Schnitz er , Cultural Arts Commission Liai s onJerrell Black, ex officio Also Present: Bob Spada, Golf Operations Manager Dave Lee , Manager of Open Space Gary Hultberg, Recreation Manager • II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES • Chairperson Gomes asked if there were any changes or corrections to the minutes of April 9, 2009. There were none. The minutes were approved as presented. HI. 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. LIONS CLUB TRAIN Gomes turned discussion o ver to Director Black who gave an update on the Lion's Club Train. Black informed the Commission that at Monday night 's City Council meeting, Council passed a motion to accept the Bellev iew Train from the Englewood Lion's Club . Black reported that staff has been working on the train and tracks so that it will be ready to open on Memorial Day weekend. Recreation Manager Hultberg stated that the Department has hired two conductors and cashiers ; noting that both of the conductors are real train buffs . VI. C O MMUNITY GA RD EN Manager of Open Space, Dave Lee, gave an update on the Community Garden. Lee reported that staff, the Community Garden Steering Committee and Denver Urban Gardens Executive Director Michael Buchaneau will be attending the City Council Study Session on Monday, May 18th to discuss the Community Garden and strides that have been made so far. Lee explained that the Department of Parks and Recreation has been notified that it needs to apply for a Condition Use Permit through Planning and Zoning in order to put a community garden on the Depot property. Lee went on to explain that the Department will be applying for the permit on behalf of the City. Lee informed commission members of the Community Garden Open House on June 9 th at the Malley Senior Recreation Center. Commission Member Woodward spoke in regard to the $20,000 estimated cost to start the community garden and DUG doing fundraising to raise the funds. Lee reported that the Steering Committee will also be applying for grants. VIL 2009-2010 B UDGET UP DATE Discussion turned to the 2009-2010 Budget. Commission members were informed that City sales tax figures through March have declined so the City Manager has directed Department Director's to review their budgets and recommend necessary changes and /or reductions in order to prepare for 2009 revenue budget shortfalls. Black discussed the Department transferring funds from the Golf Course Fund and Vending Fund to the General Fund to help with the decline in revenue. Commission members were told that reductions in the parks division could • include parks seasonal workers which could have an impact to service. In regard to the drop in • sales tax figures , Woodward reported that sales tax has dropped d 5.5% which actually is better than what other municipalities are reporting. Woodward stated that in 2008 , the City ended with a sixteen percent reserve; noting that it is City Council 's goal to not have anything less than a ten percent reserve. Woodward stated that the City is looking at any possible savings in 2009 that can be carried over in to 2010. VII . CULTURAL AR TS C OMMISS IO N UPD ATE Cultural Arts Commission Liaison Donna Schnitzer reported that at the May Cultural Arts Commission meeting, Doug Cohn, President of Englewood Days, was present to discuss the inclusion of an art event as part of the 2009 Englewood Days celebration. Schnitzer explained the Commission agreed to table the idea until 2010 when there would be more time to organize the event. Schnitzer reported that the artist of the Wal-Mart Art Wall "Dream Tree" was also present to discuss with the Commission funding for the restoration of the Art Wall. Schnitzer stated that the restoration work will cost $7 ,000 and the commission continues to discuss if it will fund the work. Schnitzer informed commission members of the upcoming Artabout Englewood event scheduled for Saturday, August 1st from l 2-4pm in the Civic Center Piazza area. Schnitzer explained that the event will include art exhibits, art demonstrations , music and a stage performance by MOA. Schnitzer announced that the National Juried Art Show is taking place right now in Hampden Hall. Schnitzer reported that following the Juried Art Show will be selection and hanging for • the Hampden Hall Art Wall , a showcase of artwork by community artists. IX . • VII. • • DIRECTOR'S CHOICE There were no items for Director's Choice. COMMISSION MEMBER'S CHOICE Vice Chairperson Waldman asked in regard to the floor in racquetball court #4 at the Englewood Recreation Center. Recreation Manager Gary Hultberg explained that moisture is accumulating underneath the racquetball court which is in tum causing the floor to "pop". Hultberg went on to explain that there is a discharge line that runs under the courts that was capped and abandoned during the Englewood Rec Center expansion and are questioning if it is the cause of the moisture. Waldman was told that the court is being repaired and will be open soon . Hultberg also noted that when the Rec Center is closed in August for maintenance, there are plans to core into the gro und to find the problem . Waldman asked when the driving range lights at Broken Tee Golf Course will be turned on. Golf Manager Bo b Spada told Waldman that they will be turned on tomorrow. Commission Member Armstron g spoke in regard t o the recent Hotcakes and Hoops Event that included a basketball scrimmage at the Englewood Rec Center between the City of Englewood's Police and Fire and Englewood School District employees . Armstrong thanked staff for donating use of the facility for the event. Armstrong commented on the Farmer's Market that is being held on Saturdays at the comer of Broadway and Englewood Parkway. Armstrong stated that the Farmer's Market is small but still great with lots of people. Englewood Schools Liaison Karen Miller announced that the Englewood School Board has appointed Michelle Gonzales as interim School Board Member to fill the vacancy created by Shelly Thompson's resignation. Miller told commission members that Gonzales grew up in Englewood and is very committed to the School District and will bring something new to the Board of Education. Miller noted that Englewood High School's graduation will be held on Friday, May 29th in the morning. City Council Liaison Bob Mccaslin spoke in regard to Keep Englewood Beautiful maintaining the flower garden in front of the entrance to the Englewood Recreation Center. Both Lee and Black thanked KEB for their work on the flower garden and commented that it looks very nice. Mccaslin asked in regard to the recent Arbor Day tree give -a-way that was held on Saturday, April 25th at Centennial Park. McCaslin commented that there didn't seem to be a lot of people at the event. Lee explained that the event was originally scheduled for April 18th but due to a snow storm was rescheduled for the 25 1h. McCaslin commented that the low turnout may be due to the location changing ev ery year and suggested keeping the event at the same location each year. Lee replied that he would pass the suggestion on to parks staff. Woodward told the Commission that he had participated in the Department of Parks and Recreation's Volunteer Appreciation Lunch that was held at the Malley Senior Recreation Center on April 23 rd. Woodward spoke in regard to the larger n umber of volunteers and hours that go into making parks and recreation programs and classes a success and how it helps in off- setting expenditures and costs of running the programs. Black explained that the Department • saves on average $285 ,000 to $350 ,000 annually in volunteer hours, community support and grants. Black noted that in 2008, the Department sav ed $600 ,000 due largely to the grants it received . Youth Commission Member Laughlin announced that she will be graduating on Saturday. Commission members congratulated Laughlin . In regard to the Oxford Bridge and Dartmouth Bridge , Lee stated that most of the work is completed on the two bridges . Lee reported that crew is finishing up with masonry work that involves using stone from the old City Hall building in. Commission members were told that the estimated completion date is the first week in June. Spada in vited commission members to the Jr. Golf BBQ on Wednesday, June 24111 from I lam to 3pm. Spada told the Commission that they are also looking for volunteers for the BBQ if anyone is interested. Spada reported that registration for the program is currently at 583 children with expectati ons that it will reach over 600 . Spada informed the Commission that Broken Tee Golf Course has been notified by USGA that it will not receive any grant money this year due to "other golf entities needing the money more." Spada reported that he has a lso heard that Golf 4 Fun funds are also getting tighter. Hultberg spoke in regard to the information in the packet concerning a reduction in SCFD • funding for 2009. Hultberg told commission members that the Department expects to receive about half of the funding it received last year which continues to dwindle each year. Woodward commented that the Arapahoe County Open Space Shareback Funds will probably be impacted too. Black replied that staff has the date and time for the presentation of grants but that the Department is still waiting to hear if it has been awarded any of the grants that it applied for. In regard to earlier discussion on the Jr. Golf program, Woodward spoke in regard to an email City Council had received recognizing Bob Spada and the Jr. Golf program . Woodward stated that the email suggested City Council and staff attend the BBQ to see what a great program it is. Woodward acknowledged Spada and his staff for their hard work with the program. D iscussion followed in regard to a recent incident in Belleview Park involving a coyote that had killed a small dog. Lee reported that the City is working with the Division of Wi ldlife in preventing other attacks . IX. A DJ O URNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:15pm. @_AJAJ_jc Cl_ ~ Deborah A . Severa, Recording Secretary •