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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-09-10 PRC MINUTES• I. • II. City of Englewood PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Minutes of September 10, 2009 CALL TO ORDER The regul ar monthly meeting of the Englewood Parks and Recreation Commission was called to order at 5 :32 pm b y Chairperson Gomes at Jason Park, 4299 S . Jason Street. Present: Austin Gomes , Chairperson Mitch Waldman , Vice Chairperson 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 (arrived at 5:35pm) Absent: Carolyn Armstrong, Commission Member Jerrell Black , ex officio Also Present : Bob Spada , Golf Operations Manager Dav e Lee , Manager of Open Space Gary Hultberg, Recreation Manager Brad Anderson, Recreation Program/Facility Supervisor APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairperson Gomes asked if there were any changes or corrections to the minutes of August 13, 2009. There were none. The minutes were approved as presented. III. SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT • Recreation Manager Gary Hultberg informed the Commission that he had asked Brad Anderson, Recreation Program and Facility Supervisor for Aquatics to attend tonight's meeting to give the Commission an update in regard to aquatic projects. Discussion was tuned ov er to Anderson. Anderson informed the Commission that that the Englewood Recreation Center was closed last week for annual maintenance which gave the opportunity to complete several projects in the aquatics area . Anderson explained to the Commission that on December 19 , 2008 , Congress enacted the Virginia Graeme Baker Act which required all public pools and spas to have compliant pool drain covers (domed drain covers) to prevent drain entrapment. Anderson went on to explain that in order to install the new pool drain covers the pool needed to be drained which meant waiting until August. Anderson reported that the Department worked with the City Attorney and was told it w as no problem as long as the City was able to show that it had a date the work was to be completed . Commission members were told that the Englewood Recreation Center pool is now 100 % compliant with domed pool cover drains . Anderson reported that another project that was completed last week was the installation of a Ultrav iolet Dechloramination and Disinfection System in the Rec Center pool. Anderson reported that the new UV system, in conjunction with the current chlorine system , will help with the sanitation of the pool. Anderson explained that besides making the pool water much safer, • the new UV system will also help with the air quality in the pool. Commission members were told that the leisure pool at Pirates Cove also has the UV Dechloramination System and that expectations are that UV Systems will be mandated for public pools in the next few years. The Commission was informed that a new slide was also installed at the Rec Center and the pool and deck were acid washed and the deck stained. In regard to Pirates Cove, Anderson stated that attendance for the 2009 season was down 13 % but noted that while June and July attendance was down, August attendance was up. Anderson reported that construction has started on the leak repair from June. IV. UNSCHE D ULED PUBLIC C O MMENT There were no guests present for Unscheduled Public Comment. V. OFF-LEASH PRIVILEGES IN ENGLEWOOD PARKS Discussion was turned over to Dave Lee , Manager of Open Space, who reported that following last month's meeting, a memorandum was sent to City Council informing them of the Commission's decision in regard to a fence in Jason Park and off-leash privileges being moved from Jason Park to Rotolo Park. Lee reported that the memo also addressed the Commission's suggestion to allocate specific times for off-leash privileges in the four off-leash dog parks. • Lee told the Commission that City Council concurred with the Parks and Recreation Commission in regard to the fence , Rotolo Park and allocating hours for off-leash use. In regard to the allocation of hours , commission members were told that City Council has recommended that for March through October, off-leash hours be limited to 6am to 9am and 7:30pm to 11 :OOpm, seven days a week and for November through February, off leash hours be limited to 6am to 11 am and 4pm to 11 :OOpm , seven days a week. Lee noted that the times would be for all off-leash dog parks with the exception of Canine Corral. City Council Liaison Bob McCaslin explained to the Commission that these times are not definite . Lee stated that City Council will be holding a Public Hearing on October 5th and if all goes according to plan, the new hours will go into effect January 1, 2010. Lee told the Commission that new signage will be required at all of the off-leash parks which Englewood Unleashed has still offered to pay for a portion of the cost. Lee stated that temporary notification would be posted at the parks from October through December. Woodward thanked the Commission on its input in addition to Commission Member Garrett's letter suggesting allocating hours for off-leash . Discussion followed. VI. 2010 BUD GET Hultberg informed commission members that included in their packet was information regarding the 2010 proposed budget and budget cuts. Hultberg explained that there are three levels of reductions • that are being proposed: Priority # 1 that will have no impact to City services ; Priority #2 that will • • VII. • include a couple lay offs and Priority #3 that will include sixty layoffs including 9 Yi Parks and Recreation positions . Hultberg told the Commission that Priority #1 has already been implemented in to the 20 l 0 budget unless City Council decides to put any of the cuts back in . Hultberg explained that most of the Parks and Recreation programs and acti v ities either break-even or make revenue while most program cuts are a11/cultural programs becau se they are subsidized . Hultberg repo11ed th at there are two re v enue enhancements for Priority# 1: a fee increase for Pirates Cove and a 50 ¢ fee increase for the Belleview Fa1m and Train. In regard to the fee increase for Pirates Cove , Hultberg explained that a fee increase has already been appro v ed for 2010 and this fee increase would be in addition to the first fee increase . Hultberg re viewed the program cuts for Priority # 1 including : Englewood Arts Sponsorship $12,000 Eliminate sponsorshi p that helps to sub sidize the Englewood Arts Hampden Hall Concert Series. Special Events $12,500 Eliminate Funfest , Sound s of Summer Concert Series and Kidstage Concert Series . Summer Drama $ 7,000 Elimina te the summer dra ma production. Hultberg not e d that the summer drama program ha s be e n in ex istence since 1968. Rec Zone $ 9,000 Eliminate the Rec Zone program that serves youth ages 8-1 7 at the Englewood Recreation Center. In 2008 , Rec Zone served approximately 4 ,500 youth. Senior Taxi Program $ 3,500 Eliminate the Senior T a xi Program that provides taxi subsidies for low income Englewood seniors and those Englewood residents with disabilities. The 2008 Senior Taxi Program served 37 participants. Parks Operating Supplies $26,800 Reduce parks small operating equipment, irrigation equipment and agricultural supplies . Cultural At1s Commission Liaison Donna Schnitzer asked Hultberg if there are any other programs in the City that are being cut besides the Parks and Recreation programs . Hultberg explained that all Departments in the City were asked to make the same percentage in reductions. Woodward stated that this is not the worse case scenario ; noting that if the economy gets worse then City Council will be going into Priority #2 or #3. Discussion ensued regarding the programs that are being considered for elimination and the impact the cuts would have . Discussion turned to raising revenue for Pirates Cove . Hultberg reported that Pirates Cove is already more expensive than other community pools including Splash in Golden and Broomfield Bay . Waldman asked Hultberg if he knew what their increases were going to be for next year. Hultberg said no. Hultberg stated that there has been three fee increases over the last si x years for Pirates Cove . Woodward stated that pa11 of the bond issue was that the facility would remain affordable and that he does not want to raise the fee to where it is priced out of the market. COMMUNITY GARDEN UPDATE Schnitzer reported that the Community Garden Steering Committee will be holding a yard sale on Saturday, September 19 th at the Englewood Depot property in addition to a plant swap on Saturday, October 3rd . Schnitzer told the Commission that the Steering Committee has talked to Keep Englewood Beautiful in regard to support and ideas for fundraising . Discussion followed . VIII. CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION UPDATE Schnitzer announced that the 2009-2010 Englewood Arts Concert Series opens on Sunday, September 2i11 with Hazel Miller at 2pm in Hamdpen Hall. IX. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE There were no items for Director's Choice. XI. COMMISSION MEMBER'S CHOICE In regard to the proposed budget reductions , Schnitzer informed the Commission that the Cultural Arts Commission will be writing a letter to City Council in opposition to the proposed , cultural/art programs being considered for elimination in the 2010 budget. Woodward told the Commission that if the P arks and Recreation Commission wanted to write a letter to City Council in regard to an y specific cuts , it would be of value to City Council. Discussion followed. It was decided that the Commission would write a letter to City Council. Englewood School s Liaison Karen Miller announced that there are four ca ndidates running for the School Board election in November. Miller noted that there are three openings on the School Board. Lee informed the Commission of a recent incident at Rotolo Park where a driver drove his 4 x 4 • truck down into the park and damaged the turf. Lee reported that the driver was caught and is up • on felony and DUI charges. XII. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:55pm. iflL/uJA/LL a. ~ Deborah A. Severa, Recording Secretary •