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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-02-12 PRC MINUTES• I. CALL TO ORDER City of Englewood PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Minutes of February 12, 2009 The regular monthly meeting of the Englewood Parks and Recreation Commission was called to order at 5:32pm by Chairperson Gomes at Englewood Civic Center, City Council Conference Room, 1000 Englewood Parkway. Present: Austin Gomes, Chairperson Mitch Waldman, Vice Chairperson (arrived at 5:38pm) Carolyn Armstrong, Commission Member Douglas Garrett, Commission Member Bob Mccaslin, City Council Liaison (arrived at 5:50pm) Jim Woodward, Commission Member Rebecca Laughlin, Youth Commission Member Christina Kruk, Youth Commission Member Donna Schnitzer, Cultural Arts Commission Liaison Jerrell Black, ex officio Absent: Karen Miller, Commission Member Also Present: Bob Spada, Golf Operations Manager Dave Lee , Manager of Open Space Wayne Niles , Golf Course Supervisor • II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES • Chairperson Gomes asked if there were any changes or corrections to the minutes of January 8, 2009. There were none. The minutes were approved as presented. III. SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT There were no items for Scheduled Public Comment. IV . UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT V. There were no items for Unscheduled Public Comment. COMMUNITY GARDEN Discussion was turned over to Dave Lee , Manager of Open Space to discuss the community garden . Lee reported that he had met with the Executive Director of Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) today at the Depot site to discuss the community garden . Lee explained that DUG will assist the City in drawing up a design for the garden in addition to developing an operating plan. Cultural Arts Commission Liaison Schnitzer asked if there was any discussion pertaining to soil quality and testing . Lee replied that they did not get into specifications but that it can't be all that bad since grass and trees are growing on the site. Lee stated that compost would need to be added to the soil. Director Black asked Lee to discuss estimated costs for the community garden. Commission members were told that cost could be around $10,000 to $15,000. Lee explained that the majority of the cost would be for a fence; noting that the site already has potable water and irrigation which would need some changing. In regard to soil prep, Lee reported that some of the prep work such as adding amendments and tilling could be done in-house . Black told the Commission that the Cultural Arts Commission has formed a subcommittee on the community garden and that he is looking for a representative from the Parks and Recreation Commission to serve on it. Black discussed the community garden being a cooperative project • between the two commissions . It was decided that Commission Member Waldman would serve on the committee. Lee also noted that the Cultural Arts Commission is also looking at the potential in having art in the community garden at some point. Discussion followed. Black stated that the Department will be notifying the surrounding neighborhood so if there are any concerns or complaints, they can be dealt with at the beginning . Commission Member Armstrong asked if Denver has had complaints. Lee explained that there has been some. Armstrong asked where the $15,000 will come from. Black told Armstrong that staff will need to figure out total cost first before determining where the money will come from. Lee noted that the DUG website discusses sponsorships which the City will be gathering information on. Chairperson Gomes asked how large of an area the Cultural Arts Commission is looking at for the garden. Lee stated that it would encompass the northeast comer of the Depot property but does not know the square footage of the area. Lee noted that the City wants to start out small. Discussion followed. VI. GOLF CART STUDY Discussion turned to Golf Course Supervisor Wayne Niles and the Golf Cart Study. Lee informed the Commission that Broken Tee Golf Course is scheduled to purchase eighteen golf carts in 2009 as part of its fleet rotation. Lee explained that golf cart studies were done in 1995 and 1997 which resulted in a series of multiple-year Bid Awards with E-Z Go . Lee went on to explain that the end result is that every year, twelve new carts are purchased and twelve carts are traded in. Commission members were also told that the 1997 study had looked at electric golf carts which determined that there were • performance concerns and customer acceptance issues . Commission members were told that the current contract ended in 2008 . In addition, Lee reported that as a p art of the redevelopment agreement, Miller Weingarten is required to pro vi de funding for eighteen new golf carts in 2009. Lee told commission members that the City of Englewood is implementing a "Going Green" initiative that includes an ESCO energy audit. Lee stated that this will make it a good time to research electric golf carts including storage , electrical needs and venting that wo uld be required for the cart s. Gomes asked if there is storage . Lee yes, but that a new electrical system would be needed along with some additional storage. Following discussion , A motion was made by Commission Member Garrett and seconded by Vice Chairperson ·waldman to recommend that City Council move forward with the purchase of eighteen golf carts from Easy-Go in 2009; and implement a study in regard to electric golf carts that would include researching what would be required pertaining to storage and electric system requirements for the electric golf carts. Ayes: Gomes, ·waldman, Armstrong, Garrett, Mccaslin, 'Woodward, Kruk, Laughlin, Schnitzer Nayes: None ]\'lotion Passed • Black told commission members that staff will be meeting with City Council on March 3rd to discuss the purchase of golf carts . • VII. LION'S CLUB TRAIN • • Black reported that City staff has met with the Englewood Lion's Club in regard to the operation of the Lion's Club train in Belleview Park. Black told the Commission that the last few years have been difficult for the Lion's Club in regard to operating the train and finding personnel to work so they have been talking to the City in regard to alternatives. Black stated that the Lion's Club has asked the City to operate the train for the 2009 season. Black explained that the City and Lion's Club would enter into an operational agreement while the Lion's Club would still be responsible for maintenance costs such as track and train expenditures. Black explained that there would be a possibility the train will not be in operation for this summer if the City can not take over operation of it. Commission members were told that more information will be brought back for discussion at the March meeting. Commission Member Woodward told the Commission that as a Lion 's Club member, the Club is not so large anymore and the majority of the members are elderly. Woodward explained that for the last four to five years, the conductor has been an individual operator from the community that has been hired by the Lion's Club . Waldman asked if the revenues from the train cover the expenditures. Woodward confirmed that the revenues exceed expenditures . Black explained that part of the negotiations have included discussions concerning the split of revenues between the City and the Lion's Club . Black stated that the City knows that there will be cost associated with the operation of the train and wants to make sure that the City's cost will be co vered. Discussion followed. Black told the Commission that some members of the Lion's Club would like to tum the train over to the City permanently but that the City needs time to perform due diligence . Black stated that he wants to make sure the Board supports the idea before entering into discussion with the Lion 's Club . The Board had no objections . Commission Member Garrett stated that the agreement should be a cost plus agreement. VIII. CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION UPDATE Schnitzer gave an update on the Cultural Arts Commission. Schnitzer announced the upcoming Museum of Outdoor Arts show , Object Project that opens on February 21 st and Englewood Arts ' N ational Juried Art Show that opens on February 25 th. Schnitzer told commission members that Englewood Arts is looking for volunteers to gallery sit if anyone is interested. Schnitzer also informed the Commission of the February 14 1h Englewood Arts concert , Zephyr Duo . Schnitzer spoke in regard to the Art Wall in Hampden Hall that currently is showing Cultural Arts Commission member's artwork. Schnitzer explained that the Commission will soon be opening up the art wall for citizens to show their artwork. Schnitzer stated that commission members are very excited about the community garden. IX. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE Black informed the Commission that Karen Miller's mother passed away last week and Gary Hultberg 's sister has also passed away from ALS . Black reported that the City is preparing to close on the 2°d parcel for the Duncan property but before it can do that it needs to receive the deeds from Englewood Schools for the 1 sr parcel. Black stated that staff is working with Englewood School and hopes to close by the end of the month. In regard to future plans for the Duncan property, Black discussed the Department applying for a planning grant through GOCO in 2011 or later depending on funding and community support. VII. COMMISSION MEMBER'S CHOICE Woodward announced the upcoming Economic Forecast presentation by Patti Silversteen, a well- known economist in the metro area. Woodward explained that the presentation will be on Tuesday, • February 241h and is being offered by the Englewood Chamber of Commerce for citizens and local businesses. Woodward congratulated Youth Member Christina Kruk on being selected as one of two youth representatives to attend the National League of Cities Conference in Washington D .C. Woodward stated that the 2008 year-end financial report came out for the City which showed revenues up 2 .9% over 2007 . Woodward commented that City Council is very pleased but have asked staff to be positioned and ready to present budget cuts if necessary. Waldman asked if there were any plans for the practice area and former temporary Jr. Golf site at Broken Tee Golf Course . Black told Waldman that the Master Plan calls for a large shelter and a possible storage area which the Department plans on submitting for a grant in a couple of years . Discussion followed. Waldman spoke in regard to hole #3 at the golf course where a cart path runs through a sand trap . Golf Course Supervisor Wayne Niles informed Waldman that plans are to keep the path where it is and to make some changes in regard to the sand trap such as adding crusher fines and sod to make the area more defined . Commission members were told that the golf course recently received the Back 9 Improvement Plan from Dye Designs . Lee stated that one suggestion from Dye Designs that has little cost to the golf course is the removal of some trees along the 13 Fairway. Lee explained that the feeling from the architect is that the cottonwood trees are narrowing and the removal of the trees will help to open the shot in addition to the view of the lakes . In regard to the new bike pedestrian bridges that are being built at Dartmouth and at Ox ford , Lee told commission members that abutments at the Dartmouth brid ge are complete and construction is currentl y being done on the center pier; noting th at the Oxfo rd bridge is about two weeks behind the Dartmouth schedule . Lee stated that plans are for the brid ges to be completed by late May. Golf Operations Mana ge r, Bob Spada, announced that Broken Tee Golf Course was voted Best Practice Facility by A vid Golfer and nominated by Golf Diges t, a top rated national publication, as the best place to play for women. IX. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:20pm . Deborah A . Severa, Recording Secretary • •