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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-01-11 PRC MINUTES• • • I. CALL TO ORDER City of Englewood PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Minutes of January 11, 2007 The regular monthly meeting of the Englewood Parks and Recreation Commission was called to order at 5:30pm by Chairperson Gomes at the Malley Senior Recreation Center, 3380 S . Lincoln Avenue . Present: Austin Gomes, Chairperson Mitch Waldman, Vice Chairperson Carolyn Armstrong, Commission Member Douglas Garrett, Commission Member Jim Woodward, Commission Member (arrived 5:34pm) Karen Miller, Englewood School District Liaison Rebecca Laughlin, Youth Commission Member Krista Niederjohn , Youth Commission Member Jerrell Black, ex officio Absent: Bob Mccaslin, City Council Liaison Janet Moore, Cultural Arts Commission Liaison Also Present: Dave Lee, Open Space Manager Bob Spada, Golf Course Manager Gary Hultberg, Recreation Manager Denise White, Marketing Public Information Officer for Parks and Recreation (left at 5:37pm) Jeff Sanchez, Commander, Englewood Safety Services (left at 6: l Spm) Sam Watson, Commander, Englewood Safety Services (left at 6:15pm) II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairperson Gomes asked if there were any changes or corrections to the minutes of ' November 9, 2006 and December 14, 2006. There were none. The minutes were approved as presented. III. SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT There were no visitors present for scheduled public comment. IV. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT There were no visitors present for unscheduled public comment. Recreation Manager Hultberg introduced Denise White, Marketing Public Information Administrator for the Department of Parks and Recreation. White briefed the Commission on upcoming events including Malley's 30 th Anniversary in December of 2007 . White told commission members that Malley is promoting its 30th anniversary with the "30 Steps to Improve Your Mind, Body and Spirit" program . White explained that the program will encompass participants earning points through paiiicipating in Malley events . Once a participant has earned thirty points, he /she will be eligible for the grand prize. White stated that the drawing will take place on December 3, 2007 at Malley's 30th Anniversary celebration . V. CUSHING SKATE PARK Director Black introduced Commander Jeff Sanchez and Commander Sam Watson with the City • of Englewood Safety Services Division. Black turned discussion over to Commander Sanchez. In regard to the Council Request on Cushing Skate Park and concerns of drug activity, Sanchez apologized to the Commission for his recent suggestion to close the skate park. Sanchez briefed the Commission on how the suggestion to close the park came to be and what was meant when he suggested closing it. Sanchez explained that when Safety Services received the Council Request, he pulled the Calls for Service for the park which showed approximately 125 calls had been received. Sanchez reported that he had also spoken with an Englewood police officer who has experience with gang activity whose perception was that a number of the people hanging out in Cushing Park are coming from outside the Englewood area and that there is potential for gang- related issues. Sanchez stated that it is Safety Services opinion that the problems in Cushing Park emanate from the skate park. Sanchez noted that he did not contact Director Black or Recreation Manager Hultberg to discuss these concerns and instead suggested closing the skate park temporarily, or long enough for the people hanging out in the park to find another place to go. Sanchez told the Commission that currently, Safety Services' strategy for Cushing Park has been to do extra patrols and walk-thru's. Sanchez turned discussion over to Commander Sam Watson who informed the Commission that over the past couple of years Englewood, along with the metro area, has seen an increase in metal thefts. Watson explained that although backflow devices in the parks have been the most popular, thieves are removing whatever metal they can find and turning it in at scrap yards for money. Watson discussed the issue also being with the scrap yards and them willing to accept the stolen items. The Commission was told that a multi-agency task force has been created and has an investigation pending. Watson spoke in regard to how difficult it is for a patrol car to patrol a park • more than once in the evening. Dave Lee, Manager of Open Space told commission members that the Department has been working on ways to deter the thefts. Black acknowledged the on-going work and support of Safety Services and Safety Services Director Chris Olson. Discussion returned to Commander Sanchez who discussed graffiti in the City of Englewood. Information was distributed to commission members including a recent article on graffiti from the Englewood Citizen and an e-mail pertaining to the removal of graffiti. In regard to graffiti removal, Sanchez stated that the City has combined its efforts to remove graffiti as soon as possible; noting that Parks has done an excellent job. The Commission was told that City Council is considering changing the timeline for graffiti removal from a 7 day notice with a 14 day posting to a 3 day notice followed by a 3 day posting. Chairperson Gomes asked Commander Sanchez if he thought the graffiti was coming from a group in Englewood, or from outside the City. Sanchez replied both. Discussion followed . In regard to Commander Sanchez' previous discussion on Cushing Park, Commission Member Armstrong asked Sanchez if it was his impression that Cushing Park was a problem park, and something the Parks and Recreation Commission should pay closer attention to . Sanchez reported that Cushing will occasionally have its problems . Armstrong asked how the incidents at Cushing Park compare to incidents at other Englewood parks. Sanchez stated that there is a higher number of incidents at Cushing compared to the average park in Englewood. Armstrong discussed it being the Parks and Recreation Commission's responsibility to see that the skate park continue to stay open and allow Englewood park users to recreate in a safe environment. • Sanchez told the Commission that Safety Services has discussed temporary solutions but whatever Safety Services decides to do, they will work with Parks and Recreation and the Commission so to • VI. be proactive and not reactive . Armstrong commented that whether it is Cushing Skate Park or any other park, the Commission needs to take care of the problem and resolve the issue because it may be a short amount of time before it moves to another park. Sanchez told the Commission that they need to be the eyes and ears of the community, and keep Safety Services informed of any concerns they see or hear. Discussion followed. SPECIAL EVENT POLICES FOR ENGLEWOOD PARKS In regard to discussion at the November '06 meeting regarding events at Canine Corral and special event policies, Lee stated that staff reviewed and revised its park and special event polices for City of Englewood parks to now include Canine Corral. Commission members were told that the revised policies had been included in their packet. Discussion followed regarding the revisions in addition to other park policies. Commission members concurred with the changes . VII. DUNCAN PROPERTY UPDATE Commission Member Woodward told the Commission that the City has received its appraisal for the Duncan property and is now waiting on Englewood Schools appraisal. Woodward spoke in regard to a memorandum that Hultberg had sent identifying grant money through GOCO and Arapahoe County Open Space funds that the City will be applying for. Woodward noted that Englewood Schools has been working with the City of Englewood to move forward as quickly as possible to meet the grant cycles. Woodward asked Englewood School Board Liaison Karen Miller ifhe is correct in saying that both the School District and the City has the same intent of working out a solution that will benefit the community, City and School District. Miller agreed with Woodward. • VIII. 2006 SCHOLARSHIP REPORT IX. • Discussion turned to the 2006 parks and recreation scholarship program report. Hultberg reported that the majority of revenue for the scholarship program came from interest earned from the sale of the Franklin Street property. Hultberg noted that money for the program had also been received from the Seth Payne memorial fund and Positively Englewood. Hultberg stated that in 2006, 126 scholarships were given which totaled $9,587. Of the 126 scholarships given, 60% were full scholarships and the remaining 40% were for an average of20% of the program fee. Average amount per scholarship was $54.40. Hultberg distributed a recent article from the 4th Quarter CPRA Byline about an Englewood resident who received a scholarship from the Department of Parks and Recreation to participate in South Suburban's Individuals with Disabilities program. Hultberg explained that the City of Englewood has a partnership South Suburban Parks and Recreation District that allows Englewood residents to participate in South Suburban's Thrills and Skills program at resident rates. The Commission was told that the Thrills and Skills program aims to create an environment for individuals with disabilities to enjoy recreation programming with his/her peers. Hultberg noted that also in the same Byline is the 2006 CPRA Annual Awards that lists Pirates Cove as a recipient of the Columbine Award for Parks and Recreation Design. SINCLAIR HANDBALL COURTS UPDATE Lee told the Commission that back in November, he had discussed with them a proposal the City had received for $4,500 to provide professional engineering services to remove the handball courts at Sinclair Middle School. Lee asked Miller if she had discussed the proposal with the School Board. Miller told Lee that she did and Chris Gramstorff was going to speak to Sinclair Middle School Principal Randy Johnson to see what use he may have for the area. Black told Miller that Gramstorff had been in touch with him after speaking to Mr. Johnson and that it was their feeling that with the middle school consolidation, there may be an interest for that area but at this point it • is not critical the courts be removed. Miller noted that a study is being done in regard to the middle school merge and where things will go, which may help determine a use for the handball court area. X. SHERIDAN REDEVELOPMENT UPDATE In regard to the Sheridan redevelopment project , Black noted that even with the snow, work is continuing. Black told commission members that crews have gone through the wooded area along the South Platte River clearing out the trees. Commission members were told that most of the trees could not be saved. Black told the Commission that with the redevelopment, the City will have opportunities to plant more trees. The Commission was told that work has started on the Jr. Golf area which will need to be completed by June 1, 2007, for the summer program. Lee reported that starting Monday, crews will be hauling approximately 33,000 cubic yards of dirt into the woodland area to raise it above the flood plain. In regard to the amount of trees that had been removed in the woodland area, Vice Chairperson Waldman asked why some of the trees weren't able to be saved. Lee explained that most of the trees were native species, particularly cottonwoods and willows, and 30 to 40 years old . Lee added that most were broken or dead from the 2002 drought and not what you would call a "park tree". XI. CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION UPDATE There was no update for the Cultural Arts Commission . XII. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE Black informed the Commission that Joyce Musgrove's mother passed away in addition to Jim Ulrich, a former Safety Services employee. XIII. COMMISSION MEMBERS' CHOICE Miller announced that the Englewood High School's National Honor Society will be holding their annual blood drive on February 23, 2007, dedicated to the armed forces. Miller told the Commission that an Englewood resident, who also graduated from Englewood High School, won the Mini Cooper raffle. Miller reported that Englewood Education Foundation made $20,000 from the raffle, and $17,000 from the Fall Fling. Woodward reported that he had applications for any youth that is interested in attending the NLC Conference in Washington D.C. in March. Woodward added that City Council approved funding for two youth to attend; noting that a chaperone is also needed. XIV. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:48pm. • /QL/vJ)lJ_jc (L d!JLU(_j___/ Deborah A. Severa, Recording Secretary •