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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-01-10 PRC MINUTES• I. • CALL TO ORDER City of Englewood PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Minutes of January 10, 2008 The regular monthly meeting of the Englewood Parks and Recreation Commission was called to order at 5:30pm by Vice Chairperson Waldman at the Englewood Golf Course Maintenance Conference Room, 4000 S. Clay Street. Present: Mitch Waldman, Vice Chairperson Carolyn Armstrong, Commission Member Douglas Garrett, Commission Member Jim Woodward, Commission Member Bob McCaslin, City Council Liaison Janet Moore, Cultural Arts Commission Liaison Karen Miller, Englewood Schools Liaison Reb ecca Laughlin, Youth Commission Member Krista Niederjohn, Youth Commission Member Jerrell Black, ex officio Absent: Austin Gomes , Chairperson Also Present: Dave Lee, Open Space Manager Bob Spada, Golf Course Manager Gary Hultberg, Recreation Manager Wayne Niles , Golf Course Superintendent Scott Rhodes , Golf Course Program Administrator Brit Tyson Fuiks , Charles Hay PTSAA (left at 5:57pm) Katrina K . Kristofferson , Charles Hay PTSAA (left at 5:57pm) Stacie Smith , Charles Hay Elementary PTSAA (left at 5:57pm) Chris Anderson, Charles Hay Elementary PTSAA (left at 5:57pm) Peg LaPlante , Englewood Schools Chief Financial Officer (left at 5:57pm) Ingrid Unruh, Charles Hay Elementary PTSAA (left at 5 :57pm) Jennifer Grady, Charles Hay Elementary PTSAA (left at 5:57pm) Chri s Laney Barnes, Principal , Charles Hay Elementary (left at 5 :57pm) II . APPROVAL OF MINUTES • III. Vice Chairperson \Valdman asked if there were any changes or corrections to the minutes of November 8, 2007 and December 13, 2007. There were none. The minutes were approved as presented. Before moving on to agenda items , Golf Course Manager Bob Spada introduced Scott Rhodes , Recreation Program Administrator for the Englewood Golf Course. Spada told the Commission that Rhodes comes from Foothills Golf Course and is replacing Michael Pickens who has retired. SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT There was no one present for scheduled comment. IV . UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT There was no one present for unscheduled comment. V. CHARLES HAY ELEMENTARY MASTER PLAN Di sc u ss ion began on the Charles Hay Master Plan. Black informed the Commission that he had attended a meeting with Chief Financial Officer Peg LaPlante and Charles Hay Elementary School Principal Chris Laney Barnes to discuss the school's Go Green Plan that falls under Charles Hay's Campus Master Plan . Black explained that he felt it would be beneficial for the group to present its Plan to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Black turned discussion over to Peg LaPlante and Chris Lane y Barnes . LaPlante thanked the Commission and explained how the Go Green Plan fits in with Charles Hay's Education Plan . Laney Barnes gave a hi sto ry of the project, explaining th at it began when families at Charles Hay approached her in regard to beautifying the area along Eastman Avenue and Dartmouth Street. Laney Barnes went on to explain that the area is currently an old baseball field full of stickers with no real green space to use . Laney Barnes told the Commission that the group is here tonight to share their plans with the Commission, get its feedback , answer any questions, and determine how to involve the City. Discussion was turned over to Britt Tyson Fuiks with Charles Hay PTSAA who had PTSAA members introduce themsel ves. Fuiks told the Commission that the group's main priority is to green the area with as much donated work as possible due to there being no money in the budget. A preliminary Master Plan drawing was shown to commission members. Fuiks explained that Ph ase I of the project will entail prepping the area , pulling in irrigation, laying the sod and walking path , installation of shade structure and creating a dry bed or garden area. Fuiks went on to say th at Ph ase II will include bringing in trees . City Council Liaison Bob McCaslin asked if the group has been able to get the irrigation system donated . Fuiks replied that they think they ha ve th e equipment donated and but that they will need to pay for labor . Fuiks explained that the PTSAA is now working on raising $5,000 to pay for upfront costs. Commission Member Garrett asked in reg ard to their short term perspective in regard to costs . Fuiks stated that the group anticipates th at they will need a minimum of $15,000; noting that they are responsible for paying b ack the PTSAA for a loan. Laney Ba rnes explained that the $15 ,000 is based on the assumption that the City w ill be able to help . Commission Member Woodward asked what the group is wanting the City to do. Laney Barnes explained that it is the groups hope that the City will be able to assist with the prepping of the dirt for irri gation and sod. Discussion followed regarding the garden area. Commission members offered suggestions to the group in regard to where it m ay be able to find some assistance or ideas . Black told the Commission that when he had first met with the group and discussed City support, he had discussed whether Public Works or Building Services should also be involved. Woodward noted that Council Member Jefferson is also someone that they need to speak to . Commission Member Annstrong asked in regard to the impact to Barde Park. Black referred to the Parks Master Plan and its suggestion that the tenni s courts be removed and turned into green • • space to allow a larger playing field for youth sports. Woodward commented that he recall s the • area being a flood plain . Lee explained that the area being discussed is higher up and out of the flood plain area. Laney Barnes and Charles Hay vis ito rs thanked the Commission for their time and left . • • • VI. VII. CUSHING SKATE PARK Recreation Manager Gary Hultberg reported that staff will be presenting the Cushing Skate Park comprehensive report at the February Commission meeting. Garrett asked if the City has invited the Cushing Park neighbors to the February meeting. Hultberg explained that the presentation will be more informational. NORTH\.VEST GREENBELT GRASS CHANGES Open Space Manager Dave Lee infonned the Commission that as part of the Parks Master Plan, areas of the Northwest Greenbelt have been converted over to a dry land grass becoming more of a nature area. Lee explained that the change will help to conserve water in addition to saving money in maintenance costs. Lee al so noted that area businesses were notified of the plan. VIII. SHERIDAN REDEVELOPMENT UPDATE Black reported that at Monday night's City Council meeting, Garrett and he gave an update on the Sheridan Redevelopment project that included a history of the project and the schedule for an opening date of May 24, 2008 . Black stated that staff is looking at back-up plans if it does not occur. In regard to construction on the golf course, Lee reported that activity has dwindled with all drainage projects completed . Golf Course Manager Bob Spada told the Commission that staff is working on a new logo for the golf course and hopes to have something to show the Commission in February. Spada reported that staff will be attending the Denver Golf Expo on February 8 -10 where they will start marketing the new golf course. Black informed the Commission that the golf course has received the City Attorney's Office approval for outside legal services for working on a logo, trademark, etc . In regard to Black 's discussion pertaining to the golf course being ready to open on May 24t 11 , Waldman asked if the golf course will be bringing in any outside individuals to survey the course. Lee to ld Waldman that the USGA will be coming out on March ih to analyze the course . Black added that ha ving the USGA come out to the course was part of the Miller Weingarten agreement. IX. CULTURAL ARTS CO MMISSION x . Commission members were informed that the Cultural Arts Commission is considering the purchase of artwork as part of the one percent art fund . Hultberg explained that the artwork that is being considered is the Red Wedges (watermelon pieces) that are located in the piazza area behind Olga's sculpture . Hultberg reported that the pieces are currently part of the Art at the Shuttle Stops and will be removed at some point if not purchased by the City. DI R ECT O R'S CH O ICE Black told the Commission that Chairperson Gomes was not able to attend tonight's meeting due to his wife, Sheila, being back in the hospital but that Gomes hopes to be back in February. Black reported that on February 11th, he and Community Development Director Alan White will be meeting with City Council to discuss the landscape and art fund . Black explained that the fund was created some years ago through Community Development and now has $62,000. Black explained that when a business moves into the City or redevelops , the business is required to have a percentage of their property in landscape or art. Black went on to ex p lain that if the business is unable to do so , and if approved by Community Development, the business can off-set the requirement by putting a percentage of money into this fund. Black stated that he had spoke to City Council back in the fall but that City Council deferred the decision and requested that staff come back with a list of items to be considered to spend the money on. Black told the Commission that examples of items to be considered include improvements to the downtown district, parks related projects , renovation of the walkway in addition to several projects from Community Development. XI. COMMISSIO N MEMBE R 'S CHO ICE In regard to the presentation by Charles Hay staff and PTSAA members, Waldman asked what the Commission's next step should be. Black stated that it is his understanding that the group does not have any definite plans in regard to what it wants from the City at this point. Black went on to say that Charles Hay is aware that the City helped with the Cherrelyn project and could possibly do the same for them. Black stated that from the beginning, he has told the Charles Hay group that the City does not have money in the budget to help that way but that he encouraged them to speak to the Parks and Recreation Commission in addition to their City Council Representative and Members at Large. Lee told the Commission that when they get to planning and prepping for the playing field, the parks division can do a lot for them as they did with Cherrelyn. Waldman commented in regard to the new sign at Duncan Park from Arapahoe County showing money was received towards a project. Black explained that the City had received a $250 ,000 grant from Arapahoe County for the purchase of Duncan Park and a s part of the agreement with Arapahoe County , all grant recipients are required to post the sign and provide photographs. Hultberg ga ve an update on the Parks and Recreation Scholarship program that has been funded by interest earned from the sale of the Franklin Street property. Hul tberg reported that in 2007, $8, 527 was distributed in 189 scholarships, with an average of $45 per scholarship. Hultberg explained that the amount the scholarships covered varied from 25 % to l 00 % of the cost of the program. Hultberg noted that 175 scholarships were issued in 2006 . Hultberg also informed the Commission that the Department of Parks and Recreation has just kicked off it's 3rd Annual Fitness Challenge at the Englewood Recreation Center. Hultberg stated that 500 participants have registered for the ten week program . Hultberg explained that registered participants who come in to work out three or more times a week will be eligible for that weeks prize drawing and those that come in three or more times a week for all ten weeks will be eligible for a grand prize drawing . Lee reported that he had met with Englewood Unleashed Board Members to discuss their requests for improvements and projects at Canine Corral. A list of the requests was distributed to commission members. Lee stated that some of the requests involve routine parks maintenance work which can be accommodated and other requests will be paid fo r by Englewood Unleashed. • • Black noted that the City of Englewood has a formal agreement with Englewood Unleashed that • requires the organization do certain things at the dog park. Discussion followed . X II . A DJ O URNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:24pm. • l~W.UIL~ Deborah A. Severa, Recording Secretary • •