Minutes_Park and Recreation Commission 11 10 09PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
Wednesday, November 10, 2009
4:30 p.m., in the snack bar, Bunker Hill Golf Course
PRESENT: Bob Blocker, Tom Blocklinger, Gary Harjehausen, Paul Hoffmann, Karen Lyness
and Evelyn Nadeau
ABSENT: Mark Noble
Staff present: Gil Spence, Pat Prevenas, Bob Fritsch and Eileen Trimble
MINUTES It was moved by Hoffmann, seconded by Harjehausen, to approve the minutes
APPROVED; of the October 13, 2009, meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
VOTE
APPROVE Recreation- Division Manager Pat Prevenas reviewed the expense and revenue
RECREATION summaries for swimming, golf maintenance, golf operations, C.D. target
DIVISION FY 2011 programs, adult athletics, McAleece concessions, children's activities,
OPERATING therapeutic recreation and recreation classes. (Printed copies may be found as
BUDGET; part of the original minutes.)
VOTE:
Golf Operations: Expenses and revenue associated with pro shop, snack bar
and carts. To be combined with golf maintenance activity for overall golf course
profit/loss, last fiscal year equaling approximately $65,000 surplus to
development fund.
Golf Maintenance: This budget shows a deficit but when combined with the golf
operation activity there is a $7,000 profit. Fee increases proposed are: .25
cents for senior citizen, league, weekend/weekday 9-hole rate; $10 for individual
season pass; $15 for family and couples passes.
Swimming: No fee increases are proposed; percentage of self supporting has
decreased to 61 % but the city manager does not want pool fees increased.
Adult Athletics is combined with McAleece Concessions to get the overall
percentage of self supporting for adult athletics activity. Fee increases are
proposed to cover cost of running program and a $1.00 pay increase for officials
and .50 for scorekeepers. League fee increase of $15 per team is proposed for
softball and $25 for basketball. The concession operation has had a good profit
margin since the City took over and it helps make adult athletics 80% self
supporting overall.
Children's Activities: This activity includes playgrounds, tennis, baseball,
softball, golf, et cetera. The tax subsidy is up a little this year due to amusement
park/water park ticket sales being down around $4,000 from previous years.
Therapeutic Recreation: No changes in this activity. There is a higher tax
subsidy due to hiring more instructors for programs.
continued
November 10, 2009 meeting
page two
Recreation Classes: The tax subsidy in this activity is the same. Just For Kids
revenue is half of what it used to be, impacted by the free preschool programs
offered through the schools/state.
C.D.Target Programs: These programs are not supported by property taxes,
but Community Development block grant funds. The budget is the same but we
are proposing day camp fee increase from $100 to $135 per person to cover our
full cost for individuals above the income levels and/or living outside the city
limits.
The overall division expense/summary report shows a tax asking increase of
$100,000. Approximately 60% of that total is due to Multicultural Family Center
director and assistant director and some other center costs that have been
added to recreation administration activity.
It was moved ~ Hariehausen, seconded by Lyness, to approve the FY 2011
Recreation Division operating budget as presented ~ staff. The motion ap ssed
unanimously.
APPROVE PARK Park Division Manager Bob Fritsch reviewed the FY 2011 operating budget
DIVISION FY 2011 proposal of $2,676,998 in expenses and $303,490 in revenue. (Printed copies of
OPERATING the expense/revenue summary and equipment priority list may be found as part
BUDGET; of the original minutes.) The budget is for maintenance level; not a lot of
VOTE: significant changes.
Forestry request is down a little; less equipment purchases this year. Park
Patrol increased; requesting a patrol car replacement. Park Areas is up due to
general cost of living and some equipment. Port of Dubuque Maintenance is
up a little due to general cost of living. Park Equipment Maintenance request is
less due to less fuel and equipment. Greenhouse request is down due to less
equipment. Technology Park and Industrial Center West are up a little due to
general cost of living.
We are shuffling a few people around internally. No fee increases are proposed
for Eagle Point Park or Miller Riverview campground.
It was moved ~ Blocker, seconded ~ Hoffmann, to approve the FY 2011 Park
Division operating budget as presented by staff. The motion ap ssed
unanimously.
Commissioner Blocker commented that he camps at Miller Riverview fairly often
and he has basically been very happy with his experiences. He asked about the
possibility of requiring campers to pay at the time of reservation so we don't lose
revenue from no shows on a busy weekend.
continued
November 10, 2009 meeting
page three
PET PARK SITE Leisure Services Manager Gil Spence reminded commissioners that the
UPDATE AND commission recommendation to the council for a second pet park was for the
RECOMMEN- Barnstead Thermolyne property as a first choice and Dodge and Locust Street
DATION; VOTE: as a second choice. Mr. Spence has not received any response from Barnstead
Thermolyne but he is going to try and contact the General Manager to see if they
would be interested in a long term lease for that section of their property, even
though they will be selling their business.
It was moved ~( Lvness, seconded k~ Blocker, to keep on final recommendation
for ~ park to the C~ Council; t~ for Barnstead Thermolyne area first and if that
fails, go with Dodge and Locust Street site. The motion ap ssed unanimously.
PET PARK Mr. Spence received a note from the City Manager including a letter from Penny
RULES; VOTE: and Jim Ehlinger. They asked if pet park rules could be posted and enforced; if
a separate sign could be put up asking patrons to help keep barking to a
minimum out of respect for the neighbors; not open gate before 8:00 a.m. as it
had been on several occasions; give consideration to recommending muzzles or
bark collars for the dogs. Mr. Spence also received a call from a person that
would like the signage for the small dog area changed. Instead of "this area is
primarily for small dogs, change it to small dog area only or no large dogs
allowed, or something to that effect.
Mr. Spence said the early opening had been because the person opening the
park each day thought it should be the first thing he did when he started work at
7:00 a.m.; that shouldn't happen again. The rules have been posted and there
was a separate one there about the barking, but he is not sure it is still there. He
is okay with a separate sign about keeping barking to a minimum. Enforcement
of rules would need to be self-enforced unless we want to charge users to cover
cost of having a person there for enforcement. During the park season, the
patrol makes period stops to check on the site.
Jenny Cook (animal control officer) was present to give a couple
recommendations on changes to park rules: #4, owners that do not clean up
after their dogs could be fined up to $750; #6, instead of "license and wearing
tags", change to "and wearing license and rabies tags"; #9, change to only two
dogs per ADULT. If changes are approved, Mr. Spence will order new signs.
It was moved ~ Lvness, seconded ~ Harjehausen, to revise ~ park rules as
outlined, including a separate sign for " Ip ease help keep barking to a minimum
out of respect for neighbors." The motion ap ssed unanimously.
continued
November 10, 2009 meeting
page four
PARK DIVISION Park Division Manager Bob Fritsch updated commissioners:
REPORT: .Staff is getting ready for snow; have new equipment purchased so we can try
and ensure walks and roadways are cleared within 24 hours of a snow event.
• We have a new employee coming over from Operations and Maintenance to fill
an open maintenance worker position -Jeff Steuer.
RECREATION Recreation Division Manager Pat Prevenas updated commissioners:
DIVISION .October weather resulted in the lowest October golf rounds since 1972 but the
REPORT:
overall golf season is the best since 2005. • Fall softball league canceled the
final game and certificates were given to teams. The final game had been
rescheduled 3 times due to weather. • We have 35 basketball teams and 24
volleyball teams registered for adult winter programs, both down a little from last
year. • Open gym programs at Prescott, Fulton and Lincoln started last
weekend.
OTHER Iowa 32 Hike/Bike Trail project is behind schedule. Crews ran into some water
BUSINESS: seepage issues so drain the has to be put in certain areas to deal with that
problem.
Bergfeld trail is paved; parking lot may not get completed until spring. There will
also be blue light emergency phones placed there.
ADJOURN; It was moved by Harjehausen, seconded by Blocker, that the meeting be
VOTE: adjourned at 5:25 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
Chairperson
Attest