Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-02-09 PRC MINUTESI. CALL TO ORDER City of Englewood PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Minutes of February 9, 2006 The regular monthly meeting of the Englewood Parks and Recreation Commission was called to order at 5:3 lpm by Chairperson Gomes at the Englewood Service Center Training Room, 2800 S. Platte River Drive. Present: Austin Gomes , Chairperson Carolyn Armstrong, Commission Member Douglas Garrett, Commission Member Mitch Waldman, Commission Member Jim Woodward, Commission Member Bob Mccaslin, City Council Liaison Karen Miller, Englewood School District Liaison Krista Niederjohn, Youth Commission Member Jerrell Black, ex officio Absent: Rebecca Laughlin, Youth Commission Member Janet Moore, Cultural Arts Commission Liaison Al so present: Dave Lee, Open Space Manager Gary Hultberg, Recreation Manager Bob Spada, Golf Course Manager Jenna Sutheimer, Parks and Recreation Department Intern e Dr. J L Gerardi, Englewood Resident and Former EHS Band Director II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairperson Gomes asked if there were any changes or corrections to the minutes of January 12, 2006. Commission Member Armstrong had a change in regard to Dog Park Update and her discussion with Englewood Unleashed President Alice Hanna concerning non-profit status. Armstrong stated that the minutes should read "Armstrong asked Hanna if Englewood Unleashed was a 501c3 and not had a 501c3. The minutes were accepted as amended. Ayes: Nayes: Abstained: Gomes, Armstrong, Waldman, Woodward, Miller, Niederjohn None Garrett and McCaslin III. SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT Recreation Manager Hultberg introduced Jenna Sutheimer, Intern for the Department of Parks and Recreation. Ms. Sutheimer is from the University of Georgia where she is majoring in Recreation Administration. Chairperson Gomes turned discussion over to Dr. Jess Gerardi, Englewood resident and former Englewood High School band director. Dr. Gerardi stated that an all high school band reunion is being planned for July 6-8, 2007, and was attending tonight's meeting to request use of Bates/Logan Park for a picnic on the Sunday in addition to the City sponsoring an additional concert in the 2007 summer concert series for an impromptu concert at the Civic Center piazza on the Saturday afternoon . Dr. Gerardi explained that 1,200 students are being invited to the reunion but that expectations are that only 800 would attend. Dr. Gerardi went on to explain that he is aware of the policy limiting permits to groups of 200 or less. Dr. Gerardi told the Commission that in order to facilitate parking, he is asking the school district to allow parking at the high school for a shuttle bus to move people to and from Bates/Logan Park. Armstrong noted that sanitation is also a concern with a group that size. Commission Member Woodward 9 asked Dr. Gerardi why Bates/Logan. Dr. Gerardi explained that parking is already an issue at Belleview with Pirates Cove and Bates/Logan is closest to the high school. Armstrong suggested that maybe the Hosanna complex or the high school stadium would be a better facility due to the size of the group. Dr. Gerardi told the Commission that they will be using the high school stadium for a band rehearsal and that he did not want to cause any conflicts with games. Discussion followed. Gomes told Dr. Gerardi that the Commission would take his requests into consideration and would get back to him as soon as possible. Dr. Gerardi thanked the Commission and left. IV. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT There were no visitors present for unscheduled public comment. V. MURALS AT LOCAL PARKS Dave Lee, Manager of Open Space, told the Commission that Jean Schlaeger with the Alternative High School has provided pictures to show quality of work for murals at Cushing Skate Park and possibly the Northwest Greenbelt. Discussion followed regarding the pictures. Commission members told Lee to proceed in requesting designs of the proposed murals for the Board's approval. VI. PARKS MASTER PLAN UPDATE Commission members were told that notes from the January Parks Master Plan Open House had been included in their packets. Lee encouraged commission members to read the public suggestions and comments. Discussion followed. Lee reported that the next Parks Open House will be on March 27th in the new cultural space at the Civic Center. A Parks Master Plan update will be given at the March meeting. VII. SHERIDAN REDEVELOPMENT UPDATE Commission members were updated on the Sheridan Redevelopment project. Black informed the Commission that City Council has asked Douglas Garrett to act as Special Council for the City of Englewood in regard to the Sheridan Redevelopment project. Black noted that Garrett has been involved with the project since day one. Black reported that Miller Weingarten is seeking imminent domain of properties along Santa Fe and Hamdpen A venue. Black spoke in regard to a situation regarding one property owner along Hampden Avenue east of 285 who had taken Miller Weingarten to court on the imminent domain process. Black explained that the court ruled in favor of Miller Weingarten giving them permission to take immediate possession. Black noted that there is one more case to go. Discussion followed in regard to lease of the golf course and environmental issues. Black explained that when the golf course was originally capped, there were very little regulations for landfill. The Commission was told that now that the landfill is being opened up, new regulations will need to be followed where the site will need to be cleaned. Black noted that the City has environmental legal council who are working closely with the State of Colorado. Commission Member Waldman asked if all of the landfill is being moved off or only a portion. Garrett explained that only the landfill under the Riverpoint Parkway (road) and portions of the buildings will be moved, up to 1.5 million cubic yards. Discussion followed. Waldman asked in regard to a timeframe . Black explained that it keeps getting pushed back but that it is the City's intent to only lose one prime season and to be opened by the next prime season. Black went on to explain that if construction can start without impacting play on the golf course, that the City would give its approval. Waldman asked of the impact to the Jr. Golf program. Golf Manager Bob Spada responded that staff feels that it can be managed; noting that the bigger impact will be to the high school golf teams. City Council Liaison Mccaslin spoke in regard to high school golf teams who use the Englewood Golf Course and their comments that Englewood has been more than receptive to their kids. Black discussed the belief that the future of the golf course is with youth and where they learn to play will be where they come back to play as an adult. Discussion followed in regard to the national recognition the Jr. Golf program has received. VIII. DOG PARK UPDATE IX. XII. Lee distributed new pictures of the dog park at the Belleview nature area. Lee reported that Streets and Engineering are currently working on the pond and drainage swale for the dog park. Discussion followed in regard to fencing for the dog park. The question was asked in regard to vicious dogs in the City of Englewood and concerns that dogs not being allowed in surrounding cities could be brought into Englewood. Commission Member Woodward explained that Code Enforcement Advisory Committee discussed the issue back in January and will be having further discussion next week but that a specific breed ban does not look like an acceptable choice. Discussion followed. CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION UPDATE Recreation Manager Gary Hultberg announced that the cultural space at the civic center has been named "Hampden Hall at Englewood Civic Center". Hultberg stated that the grand opening for the space will be March 18-19, 2006, with a ribbon cutting ceremony prior to the Back to Bach concert. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE Bob Mccaslin, the newly appointed City Council liaison to the Parks and Recreation Commission, was introduced. Black turned discussion back to requests made by Dr. Gerardi. Black gave a brief history in regard to discussions he and staff had with Dr. Gerardi prior to tonight's meeting and the department's concerns of a group of that magnitude being allowed at Bates/Logan Park. Black told the Commission that it is the department's belief that Hosanna or the high school stadium would be a more adequate facility for the event. Armstrong suggested that Centennial as another possibility. A motion was made by Commission Member Waldman and seconded by School District Liaison Miller that a letter be sent to Dr. Gerardi informing him that the Parks and Recreation Commission does not give its approval for the use of Bates/Logan Park for the Englewood High School all-band reunion and instead suggests the Hosanna Athletic complex or Centennial Park as possible venues which are more suited for a group of his size. Ayes: Nayes: Gomes, Waldman, Armstrong, Garrett, Woodward, Neiderjohn, Miller, Mccaslin, None Commission members discussed Dr. Gerardi's additional request for a concert in the 2007 Summer Conceit Series , to be held on Saturday, July 71h. Black explained that a concert could be added in if logistics could be worked out. Hultberg noted that the Department oversees the Summer Concert Series and advertising for the concert series and would work with Dr. Gerardi on details. The motion was amended to show support for a free concert in the 2007 Summer Concert Series if logistics could be worked out. Motion Carried XIII. COMMISSION MEMBER'S CHOICE I Youth Commission Member Neiderjohn announced the Englewood High School musical "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying" playing March 2-4. Neiderjohn asked in regard to hanging posters for the play in city parks. Black explained that they could not be hung in the parks but that they could be displayed in the City facilities if she wanted to get some posters to staff. Englewood School Liaison Miller reported that the Englewood School Board and City Council met last week. In regard to the City/School Committee that is being reformed, Miller stated that it is really exciting to have the Committee back together working towards the same goal. Miller announced the fundraising golf tournament for the Englewood High School golf team has been scheduled for May 6th. Woodward spoke in regard to the recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Commission for bricks at the dog park and naming of the facility. Woodward explained that City Council has recommended that it come back to staff to work on a contract with Englewood Unleashed. Discussion turned back to Black who informed the Commission that he has directed Recreation Manager A Gary Hultberg to work with the School District in updating and consolidating the School/City W' agreements. Black explained that numerous agreements have accumulated over the past years and he feels it would be beneficial to consolidate them into one agreement that will address key elements with sub-agreements addressing usage of specific facilities, etc. Gomes reported that the Malley Trust Fund has made a recommendation in regard to changes on Lincoln Street due to safety issues. Gomes told the Commission that Lincoln will remain a two-way street but will be narrower with a flashing light to caution cars. There will not be a cul-de-sac as discussed in previous years. Drawings of the recommended changes would be provided in the next packet. Black explained to the Commission that the Malley Trust Fund will be presenting the proposal to City Council in addition to funding $11,000 of the $22,000 to $24,000 project. Woodward noted that the Malley Trust Fund will be asking City Council to fund the solar power light. Hultberg stated that wheelchair rugby games ·wm be played at the Englewood Recreation Center this Friday and Saturday. Hultberg said the games are in conjunction with a tournament through Craig Hospital. XIV. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:00pm. AOL/vJJ!JUA--a @_µ-t_J?LL/ Deborah A Severa, Recording Secretary