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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-07-12 PRC MINUTES• • • I. CALL TO ORDER City of Englewood PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Minutes of July 12, 2007 The regular monthly meeting of the Englewood Parks and Recreation Commission was called to order at 5:30pm by Chairperson Gomes at Country Buffet Restaurant, 301 Englewood Parkway. Present: Austin Gomes , Chairperson Mitch Waldman, Vice Chairperson Carolyn Armstrong, Commission Member Douglas Garrett, Commission Member Jim Woodward, Commission Member Bob Mccaslin, City Council Liaison Karen Miller, Englewood Schools Liaison Rebecca Laughlin, Youth Commission Member Krista Niederjohn, Youth Commission Member (left at 7:00pm) Jerrell Black, ex officio Absent: Janet Moore, Cultural Arts Commission Liaison Also Present: Dave Lee , Open Space Manager Bob Spada, Golf Course Manager (left at 6:34pm) Gary Hultberg, Recreation Manager Jill Wilson, City Council Candidate Tom Nazzaro, Country Buffet Service Manager II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairperson Gomes asked if there were any changes or corrections to the minutes of June 14, 2007. Under Commission Member's Choice, it was noted that Youth Commission Member Laughlin 's last name was omitted. A misspelling was noted under Director's Choice. The minutes were approved as amended. III. SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT There was no one present for public comment. IV. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT v. There was no one present for unscheduled comment. PRESENTATION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AW ARD TO COUNTRY BUFFET Gomes called on Commission Member Armstrong who presented Country Buffet Service Manager Tom Nazzaro with the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association's Community Service Award. Armstrong thanked Nazzaro and Country Buffet for the many years of support in pro viding food and beverages for the Department of Parks and Recreation special events . VI. ENGLEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL'S HANDBALL/RACQUETBALL COURTS Di scussion turned to Director Black and handball/racquetball courts at Englewood Middle School. Bl ack informed the Commission that Englewood School s has decided that they would like to keep • the handball/racquetball courts. In regard to problems that hav e arisen in the past with graffiti and drug use , Black explained that Englewood Schools will place a fence around the courts with a lock. Black went on to explain that Englewood Schools has worked out a partnership with the handball association that will allow them to continue to use the courts . Vice Chairperson Waldman spoke in regard to the public not having access to the courts and how he wo uld prefer to see them stay open and used for drop-in. Englewood School Board Liaison Karen Miller stated that the courts are rarely used by the public and with the courts now being school property, the public can be denied access . It was suggested to wait and see if there is a problem with the public not having access , and if there is, discuss it further with the Board . Discussion followed. A motion was made by Commission Member Armstrong and seconded by Vice Chairperson Waldman that the City of Englewood turn the handball courts at Englewood Middle School over to Englewood Schools pending review by the City of Englewood City Attorney's Office. The motion passed unanimously. VII. DUNCAN PARK UPDATE Black reported that closing on the purchase of Duncan Park is moving forward and that City Council will be approving the deed for purchase on first reading at Monday night's City Council meeting. Waldman spoke in regard to the donation of a picnic bench at Duncan Park and the need for a water hose hook-up for the flower garden volunteers . Lee told Waldman to have the volunteers contact him. Commission Member Woodward told the Commission that the neighbors of Duncan Park are organizing a party to celebrate the City's purchase of the park . Woodward noted that the party will coincide with National Night Out on Tuesday, August ?1h. Black told Woodward that the City would be willing to help coordinate the event. VIII. SHERIDAN REDEVELOPMENT UPDATE Manager of Open Space Dave Lee reported that areas on the golf course are now being seeded in addition to sod being laid around the sand bunkers. Commission members were told that the cement pylons are ready to go up for the driving range and asphalt is being laid for the driving paths. Manager of Golf Course Bob Spada added that staff is now trying to determine future plans for the temporary teaching area, possibl y extending the parking lot. IX. CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION UPDATE • Discussion moved to an update on the Cultural Arts Commission. As previously discussed , Recreation Manager Gary Hultberg reported that when the golf course reopens in May of 2008 , the plan is to have public art in one or two landscaped garden areas . Hultberg explained that a • committee has been formed with representatives from the Cultural Arts Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, City Council and Parks and Recreation staff. Hultberg noted that Armstrong is the representative from the Parks and Recreation Commission. Armstrong spoke in • • • regard to the selection of artwork , noting that there have been a lot of great ideas . Waldman asked if the committee will be commissioning a piece of art. Hultberg explained that due to time constraints , the committee is pursuing a completed piece of art . Hultberg stated that the Cultural Arts Commission is also invol ved with the 2°ct annual Artabout Englewood scheduled for Saturday, August 11th that will include a shuttle art tours , self guided studio tours and entertainment. X. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE XI. Black acknowledged Englewood Schools for their assistance with the summer drama program and a problem they were having with the air conditioning system in the high school auditorium. Black reported that Peg LaPlante and Dave Henderson with Englewood Schools Administration came up with a temporaril y fix and assured the City of a long-term plan to fix the system. Black spoke in regard to McCaslin's letter in the recent CPRA Byline magazine recognizing Englewood 's Parks and Recreation department and staff. Black told the Commission that he has recei ved several calls from Directors of Parks and Recreation agencies in Colorado commenting on the letter. Black thanked McCaslin for the taking the time to write the letter. COMMISSION MEMBERS' CHOICE City Council Liai son Bob Mccaslin asked if the Department of Parks and Recreation was in charge of Arbor Day acti vities and if so , Keep Englewood Beautiful was interested in helping with it. Black explained that the parks division oversees the Arbor Day activities and in the past KEB worked with the Department on Arbor Day and would be delighted to have them do so again. Lee told Mccaslin hat in the winter when parks staff begins to plan for Arbor Day, he would get in touch with him and KEB. McCaslin spoke in regard to the Christmas tree mulch program and why there was not a drop off in the summer for branches and tree limbs . Mccaslin also asked if there was an adequate amount of mulch for the public in the summer. Lee explained that there is not a drop-off in the summer for tree branches and limbs due it being the parks division's busy season and there not being enough staff or time. In regard to McCaslin 's question ifthere was enough mulch for the public . Lee replied that there usually is plenty. Miller stated that Englewood Schools is preparing for the start of the school year that includes Flood being moved next week and a lot of painting at Englewood Middle School. Woodward reported that he had attended Senior Splash last night at Pirates Co ve where there were approximately 110 people in attendance. Woodward noted that attendance was down from last year which was probabl y due to the cooler weather. Woodward told the Commission that people were having a great time and asking why it wasn 't offered more than once a year . In regard to the Board and Commission Appreciation Night at Pirates Cove , Woodward told the Commission that the date has been changed to Saturday, August 25th in order to accommodate those that would like to swim . Woodward stated that more information would be forthcoming . Woodward informed the Commission of a new policy being implemented by Englewood Schools where schools will no longer be distributing non-curriculum school information in Friday folders. Woodward discussed the partnership between the Parks and Recreation Department and Englewood Schools and the impact the policy will have to the Department programs in addition to youth sports organizations, Englewood Arts and boy and girl scouts. Miller explained that there were a number ofreasons behind the school board's decision including not being able to be • selective in regard to what material goes into the folders in addition to the perception that anything that goes into the folders is endorsed by Englewood Schools. Miller explained that if the school accepts material to distribute from one organization then it needs to accept material from all organizations. Miller noted that information will be in the school newsletters letting parents know that the information is available at the school. Miller discussed making an amendment on second reading to accept material from parks and recreation; adding that if material pertains to cultural or arts, it is considered a form of education and would be accepted. Woodward commented that he was glad to hear that but is still concerned for the youth sports association, noting that lack of registration could put them out of business. Discussion followed. Youth Commission Member Laughlin announced that she has been appointed as Youth Commission Member to the Englewood Library Board. Laughlin spoke in regard to the Library's upcoming book sale and the plan to send any unsold books from the sale to a school in Fiji that she had visited during her recent trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji as a youth ambassador. Gomes welcomed City Council candidate Jill Wilson to the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. Wilson thanked the commission and explained that she is running for an at-large seat and is visiting the City's board and commission meetings to find out what is happening. Wilson noted that she had worked with parks and recreation in the past when she served on the dog park task force. In regard to the recent decision to have commission packets sent electronically, Gomes commented on how ideal it was to receive this month's packet through e-mail and hopes that it • will continue. Hultberg announced that the August 9th Parks and Recreation Commission meeting will be at Pirates Cove which is also the Englewood Middle School night at Pirates Cove for students and families . Hultberg noted that prior to the meeting at 5 :OOpm, Tara Micheli, Program Administrator, will be giving a tour of Belleview Children's Farm for those interested. XII. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:10pm. IWJUJU4 {{__~ Deborah A. Severa, Recording Secretary •