HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-05-11 PRC MINUTESEnglewood Parks and Recreation Commission
Minutes of May 11, 1995
The regular monthly meeting of the Englewood Parks and Recreation Commission was called to order
at 5:35 p.m. by Chairman Gomes at the Englewood Golf Course Maintenance Facility.
Members present:
Members absent:
Also present:
Christie, Dreiling, Gerlick, Gomes, Neyer, Waggoner, Black, ex officio
Armstrong, Markwood
Chris Korba, Parks Administrator
Dave Lee, Golf Course Superintendent
Mike Moesta, Leadworker, Golf Course
Carol Coover-Clark, Coover-Clark and Associates
Dave Clark, Coover-Clark and Associates
Chairman Gomes asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of April 13, 1995 .
There were none. A motion was made and seconded that the minutes be approved as presented. The motion
passed unanimously.
Commissioner Gerlick entered the meeting at 5:36 p.m.
Director Black introduced Golf Course Superintendent Dave Lee and Golf Course Leadworker Mike
Moesta. Black advised that he plans to invite one or two staff members to attend each Commission meeting to
provide an opportunity for staff and Commission members to become acquainted.
While awaiting the arrival of representatives from the architectural and landscape planning firm of
Coover-Clark and Associates, Chairman Gomes proceeded to Director's Choice on the agenda.
Director Black reported that South Suburban Parks and Recreation District, originally planned to
privatize the operation of a miniature golf course and batting cages at Regional Park, held a public hearing with
the Arapahoe County Commissioners to construct the facility, in-house. Black stated that Scott Simpson,
proprietor of Riverside Miniature Golf and Go-Karts located at the Englewood Golf Course, spoke at the public
hearing regarding his position concerning the direct competition situation they would create with the private
e sector should South Suburban own and operate the facility. Black stated that Arapahoe County Commissioners
approved South Suburban's petition to construct the facility. Black noted that South Suburban is also required,
e according to state statute, to obtain approval from Jefferson and Douglas Counties prior to construction.
Director Black advised that the proposal to expand the Riverside Miniature Golf facility, presented to
the Parks and Recreation Commission at the April meeting, will be presented to City Council at the May 15,
1995 Council meeting .
Director Black reviewed Commission 's recommendation , made in December of 1994, regarding
making a change to the existing policy concerning shot gun tournaments at Englewood Golf Course. The
Commission's recommendation supported staffs proposal to continue the existing policy and reconsider
options in 1995. Commission also recommended allowing the Clean, Green & Proud Commission to hold their
proposed shot gun tournament in 1995, using the experience as a means to examine possible problems that
may be created with regular golfers when the course is closed to open play. Black stated that due to a
misunderstanding between City staff and the Clean, Green & Proud Commission , their tournament was
scheduled for a Friday in June rather than Monday through Thursday as stated in the policy. Since the Clean,
Green & Proud Commission has already committed the date to a number of their players, staff agreed to
proceed with the Friday tournament date.
Director Black advised that the Clean, Green & Proud Commission and a number of other City
committees and groups have suggested that consideration be given to reduce their tournament green fee and/or
cart rates because of the services they provide to the community. Black stated that Clean, Green & Proud may
discuss the matter of tournament rates at their meeting with City Council on May 15. Commission agreed that
rates for the 1995 tournament should not be reduced. Further, Commission agreed to review this matter at the
time revision of the tournament policy is considered later this year.
Director Black reported that registration for the Fall football program is scheduled for later in May.
Program and registration information has been distributed through the schools and the Englewood Herald.
Director Black called attention to, and apologized for, the typographical errors that appear in the
Summer Recreation Brochure. Black stated measures have been taken to prevent a recurrence.
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Recreation Program Administrator Carol McGuigan briefly appeared to inform the Commission that
e Kathy Wilks, formerly Kathy Powell, and former Englewood employee for several summers at the Englewood
Childrens Farm at Belleview Park, is receiving her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from CSU on May 12.
The Commission offered their congratulations to Kathy.
For Commission's information, Parks Administrator Chris Korba advised that repair costs for the
drainage greenbelt area on the Northwest Greenbelt, near Vassar Ave. and Tejon St., is totally funded by the
Urban Drainage and Flood Control District. The repair will consist of construction of a surface pan similar to
the drainage pan in the Southwest Greenbelt. Korba stated that a variation in the drainageway could include a
boulder edging, for which the City would be required to provide funding. Construction is scheduled to begin in
1996.
Korba noted that Great Outdoors Colorado has awarded a trails grant to the City of Englewood in the
amount of$10,000 to match City funds for construction of a trail connection between the Arapahoe Greenway
and the loop trail to be constructed around Centennial Park Lake in 1995.
Carol Coover-Clark and Dave Clark, from Coover-Clark and Associates, were introduced to the
Commission. Korba briefly discussed a draft master plan, funded through the Conservation Trust Fund, for
landscaping and development of Centennial Park. Carol Coover-Clark, exhibiting a diagram of the draft master
plan, discussed each aspect of proposed future development of the park and highlighted some of the proposed
basic features, including ADA trail and restrooms, picnic pavilion, landscape screening to diminish the size of
the Public Service Company towers along Union Ave., replant the island for wildlife, formalized parking areas,
relocation of the existing playground, sand volleyball courts, group picnic shelters, soccer field and smaller
play lot facility, and skateboard ramp facility.
With regard to the proposed relocation of the playground, Director Black expressed concern for
playground safety because of the close proximity with the softball field. Parks Administrator Korba stated that
an evergreen tree-type screen would be installed to shield the playground from flying balls. Commissioner
Waggoner expressed that he would be in favor of retaining the same location for the playground rather than
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relocating it and constructing a parking lot in its place, as the diagram illustrates. Korba stated that there are
e funds currently available in the Conservation Trust Fund eannarked to modify the playground for ADA
accessibility in 1995.
Discussion continued regarding placement of the soccer field and additional restrooms; the location of
the smaller play lot in conjunction with the bike trail; and desirability of constructing a pennanent skateboard
facility . Korba advised that the skateboard facility at Cushing Park, originally constructed as a temporary
facility, is in need of being rebuilt in the near future. The Commission agreed that the Centennial Park location
would be more accommodating to skateboard facility users, as well as park users and park neighbors.
Korba summarized Commission's comments regarding the draft master plan that Commission
concurred with plans to develop a skateboard facility, soccer field, additional restroom facilities, sand
volleyball courts, and loop trail; some members of Commission were not convinced that relocating the
playground would be feasible.
Korba stated that Commission's comments will be incorporated into a final draft master plan for
Commission's recommendation to Council. Korba stated that the master plan will allow staff to prioritize
projects and funding and provide a logical, methodical means to develop Centennial Park. To Commissioner
Neyer's inquiry, Korba stated that some funding exists in the Conservation Trust Fund, and with the possibility
of obtaining grant money, he hopes to progress, yearly, with the park development. Discussion ensued.
At Parks Administrator Korba's inquiry, the Commission agreed that, when funds are available through
grants, etc., acquisition of additional park land would be worthwhile for the City's overall future parks
expansion program
Korba stated he will proceed to use Conservation Trust Fund monies for ADA playground
modifications.
Dave Clark, from Coover-Clark and Associates, advised of a grant application, in the amount of
$44,000, that he assisted Mr. Korba in submitting to Great Outdoors Colorado. The funds from this grant, if
received, would be used to match City funds to establish a city-wide park master plan.
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Commissioner Neyer advised that he has been in contact with Englewood Herald reporter, Tom Munds,
e regarding publication of a notice inviting the public to attend the June Parks and Recreation Commission public
forum meeting at Baker Park.
Commissioner Gerlick distributed copies of the final draft of the Commission's 1995 Goals and
Objectives.
Commissioner Gerlick reported that Jason Park neighbors have not submitted any complaints regarding
soccer balls in their yards resulting from Englewood Soccer Association practice or games, as had been
reported during previous soccer seasons. Gerlick stated that the Soccer Association distributed notices to
participants regarding showing consideration to the neighbors of the park soccer facilities.
Commissioner Christie mentioned that there was a picture of Englewood High School Art Club student,
Sarah Van Seiver, in the Rocky Mountain News recently, with a caption regarding the Art Club painting a Van
Gogh mural in Englewood's Northwest Greenbelt in cooperation with the City's Parks Division anti-graffiti
program.
For Commission's information, Commissioner Christie called attention to an article in the Parks and
Recreation Magazine regarding the current popularity of the sport of sand volleyball.
Youth Commissioner Dreiling stated a fellow student would like to apply for a youth member vacancy
on the Commission and requested some youth member application forms be sent to her. Recording Secretary
Wilks advised that she mailed application forms following the April meeting but will mail additional forms to
her.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:53 p.m.
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