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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-05-09 PRC MINUTES• • • City of Englewood PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Minutes of May 9, 2002 I. CALL TO ORDER The regular monthly meeting of the Englewood Parks and Recreation Commission was called to order at 5:3 lpm by Chairperson Gomes at the Adult Activities room at the Englewood Recreation Center, 1155 W. Oxford . Present: Austin Gomes, Chairperson Kathy Christie, Commission Member Mitch Waldman, Commission Member Jim Woodward, Commission Member (arrived at 5:40pm) Kendra Grazulis, Youth Commission Member (arrived at 6:25pm) Doug Garrett, City Council Liaison Steve Neyer, Vice Chairperson (left at 6:30pm) Carolyn Armstrong, Commission Member Jerrell Black, ex officio Janet Moore, Cultural Arts Commission Liaison Absent: Tara Holmes, Youth Commission Member Also present: Gary Hultberg, Recreation Manager Dave Lee, Open Space Manager Bob Spada, Golf Course Manager Wayne Niles, Golf Course Supervisor Denise White, Marketing and Public Information Administrator Bob Gnaegy, Tacito Design II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairperson Gomes asked if there were any changes or corrections to the minutes of April 11, 2002. There were none. The minutes were approved as presented. III. SCHEDULED VISITORS There were no scheduled visitors. IV. UNSCHEDULED VISITORS There were no unscheduled visitors. Jerrell Black informed Commission members that Denise White, Marketing and Public Information Administrator, was present at tonight's meeting to assist a videographer in the filming of the meeting. Black explained that the video would be used in the final video presentation the Department is submitting for the Gold Medal Award . V. PARK SIGNAGE-LEE AND BOB GNAEGY, TACITO DESIGN The meeting was turned over to Dave Lee, Open Space Manager, who introduced Bob Gnaegy ofTacito Design. Gnaegy began discussion on park signage for the City by showing Commission members the four designs under consideration. Gnaegy explained that he had been working with Dave Lee , Austin Gomes , and others from Community Development to create a family of signs for Englewood parks. Gnaegy said that the purpose of the signage is to unify and create attention for the park system . Gnaegy explained that the signs would be double-faced and placed in conspicuous locations in each park. Gnaegy added that there was a range of detail options that could change according to budget. Commission members discussed size, maintenance concerns, etc . Chairperson Gomes asked Gnaegy what the cost would be for the signs. Gnaegy responded that the estimate was $9,000 -$14,000 apiece if purchased six at a time , including installation. Chairperson Gomes asked Lee to tally Commission members ' votes for one of the four designs. Design #2 was chosen. Gnaegy told Commission members that a revised design would be presented to Commission again in the future. VI. RECREATION BOND PROJECT UPDATE -BLACK Gary Hultberg, Recreation Manager, announced that the Rec Center and Malley Center parts of the Bond Project were on schedule and on budget. Hultberg said that requests for qualifications had just gone out for the aquatics center, and that construction should begin by February or March of next year. Hultberg added that the aquatics project was expected to be completed by Spring of2004. VII. GOLD MEDAL AW ARD -BLACK Black returned discussion to the Gold Medal Award briefly discussed at the beginning of the meeting. Black said that just to be selected as a finalist for the award was very important, and says a lot about Englewood leadership and staff. Black added that this was the Department's second time as a finalist , the last time being in 1970. Chairperson Gomes asked when the award would be presented . Black replied that the announcement would be made at the National Parks and Recreation Association convention in October. VIII. GOLF COURSE CITY ADMINISTRATION FEE-BLACK Black announced that the Director of Finance Administration had discussed with him asking the Golf Course to pay an administrative fee to the City of $130 ,000 per year. The Director of Finance Administration suggested raising fees $2 per round to cover the fee. Black and Commission members discussed the importance of keeping the fees low, citing a Denver Post article included in members ' packets regarding the current glut of golf courses. Commission member Waldman asked what the administrative fee was for . Black replied that it is to cover services that other departments (Human Resources, City Attorney, etc .) do for the Golf Course. Discussion ensued . Council Member Garrett added that City Council is looking at all enhancements and cutbacks to balance the City's revenue shortfall. Jerrell Black mentioned the possibility of getting the funds from the Golf Course's reserve fund of $600,000, but added that there were numerous other Golf Course projects that have been projected for those funds. The Commission was not in support of raising golf fees or using funds from the Golf Fund balance . Council Member Garrett said he would convey the Board's concerns to City Council. • • • • • • IX . x. WATER ISSUES -BLACK Black told Commission members that the Parks Division has irrigation systems up and running. Black stated that the City is encouraging a voluntary watering schedule of every third day, and added that the Parks Division will be following that schedule, with a few minor exceptions. Black also added that the Golf course will be putting in a weather station that automatically adjusts watering schedules. OFF-LEASH PARK PILOT PROGRAM UPDATE -LEE Dave Lee reported on the Off-Leash Park Pilot Program. Lee passed on information he had received from Code Enforcement, saying that violations had increased from 38 in March to 46 in April. Lee said that more violations occur in the northern part of the City, particularly Romans Park and Emerson Park, and that most violators are Englewood residents. Lee added that the grace period ended May 1, subsequently Code Enforcement has begun issuing citations. XI. CENTENNIAL PARK UPDATE -BLACK Recreation Manager Hultberg updated Commission members on the Centennial Park expansion. Hultberg informed Commission that the ballfield has been in use since March, and that the last batch of sod had been laid today. Hultberg added that many favorable comments regarding the field have been received since All Souls School began play on the field . XII. CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION UPDATE -MOORE Cultural Arts Liaison Janet Moore reported that the Cultural Arts Commission has been meeting with Community Development to create a cultural section as a component for the Comprehensive Plan. XIII. CITY CENTER UPDATE -GARRETT City Council Liaison Doug Garrett updated Commission on the development at City Center, saying that apartments on the east side are finished, and those on the south and west sides are ready for certificates of occupancy. Garrett added that Bally's is scheduled to open in June, and Petco mid summer. XIV. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE -CAPITAL PROJECTS Black announced that the City has taken ownership of Riverside Miniature Golf/Go Kart, and that City Council had just approved the demolition. Discussion ensued regarding plans for the site. Black told Commission that the business was scheduled to cease operation on May 19. A Master Plan is to be developed for the property, including a salvage sale for equipment. Black then reported that due to the City's revenues being $1.5 million below projections, City Council has asked each department to trim their budget by 2%, which amounts to approximately $100,000 for Parks and Recreation. Black then turned discussion to the new Show Wagon, which had just been delivered from Minnesota. Black explained that the purchase was long overdue, and would make Parks employees' jobs much easier. The first official use will be on June 20 for the Summer Concert series . Black added that the department has received several inquiries on the old Show Wagon, and a special auction will be announced at a later date. XV. COMMISSION MEMBER'S CHOICE Commission Member Christie reported that the school district is facing budget cuts similar to the City. Christie added that negotiations with teachers are currently underway. Commission Member Armstrong reported on her recent trip to the Midwest Conference of the NRP A. Armstrong said that she gained a lot of information to share on the three main topics: employee lawsuits, drought, and the graying of America . Commission Member Waldman remarked that he has noticed signs of someone driving through Duncan Park several times recently. Waldman said that he and three neighbors had all reported the incidents to the police, and were not aware of aware of any action being taken . Black said he would look into the matter. Youth Commission Member Kendra Grazulis reported that she was late and Youth Commission Member Tara Holmes was absent due to rehearsals for the play "Enemy of the State" being put on by Englewood High School. Kendra urged Commission members to attend the play. Kendra said that Tara Holmes was talking to other students to help find a • replacement for her, since her commission ends in June. Black told Commission that a cake • and a plaque for Tara had been brought to the meeting to honor her for her service to the Commission, but would be delivered to her since she could not attend tonight's meeting. City Council Liaison Doug Garrett announced that he would not be present at June's meeting due to his being on vacation. Garrett then informed Commission that City Manger Gary Sears was slated to receive the prestigious Leo C . Riethmayer Public Administrator Award on Friday. Garrett added that he and several other Council Members would be accompanying Gary Sears to Arvada to receive the Manager of the Year Award for the state of Colorado. Gary Hultberg told Commission Members that Parks and Recreation Summer brochures were back from the printer. Hultberg said eight pages had been added to this issue, with six pages of special events. Commission members were invited to take a brochure. Commission Member Christie asked what the Parks and Recreation Department's policy was regarding using vans to transport children. Recreation Manager Hultberg replied that the Department was very concerned about van safety; therefore the Department has bolstered driver training programs and is considering restrictions on locations and loads . Hultberg added that they would be looking at replacing the vans with mini-buses, which would be ADA accessible, at a later date. Commission Member Waldman asked whether the Department would be giving up operation of its Summer Camp program as well as the Before and After program. Hultberg replied that • this summer would be the last for the traditional full day Summer Camp program, and that the school district will begin operating its own Before and After program this fall. The Department will continue to operate before and after school licensed daycare at St. Louis School, and will support the school daycare with recreation programming. • • • Golf Course Supervisor Wayne Niles informed Commission that the Golf Course has purchased a weather station which should be on-site in 2-4 weeks. Niles said that the weather station would be a great improvement, taking the guesswork out of watering. Niles reported the improvement plan for the front 9 was almost complete, and noted that improvements were planned for other holes as wel~. Bob Spada, Golf Course Manager, reported that he had received word that the Englewood Golf Course had won "Best of the Best" for golf courses for the third straight year. XVI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7 :35pm .