Minutes_Park and Recreation Advisory Commission 5 14 13PRESENT:
ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT:
MINUTES
APPROVED;
VOTE:
CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT
BUDGET
REVIEW:
OPERATING
BUDGET:
PORT OF
DUBUQUE
MARINA
UPDATE:
PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
4:30 p.m., Snack Bar, Bunker Hill Golf Course
Bob Blocker, Chuck Harris, Paul Hoffmann, Ken Klinge, Karen Lyness and
Evelyn Nadeau
Dave Schlueter
Marie Ware, Steve Fehsal, Dan Kroger and Eileen Trimble
It was moved by Lyness, seconded by Nadeau, to approve the minutes of the
April 2, 2013 meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
It was moved by Hoffmann, seconded by Lyness, to approve the minutes of the
May 6, 2013 special meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
Ware provided Commissioners with two documents showing projects that were
recommended during the budget process and the final capital improvement
budget approved by the Council. Both documents may be found as part of the
original minutes.
Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware gave commissioners the summarized
version of the FY 2014 operating budget for each division. It shows the totals
and improvement level projects requested and recommended. The city website
has the complete budget broken out into individual activities if commissioners
want more detail.
Commissioner Nadeau said she was surprised the improvement level request for
healthy snacks for after school programs was not recommended since there is
so much focus on children and health. She felt it was a good idea to request it.
Manager Ware said a lot of different people are working to help get ready for the
June 1st ribbon cutting. We are getting licenses and permits for beer, wine,
tobacco, cigarettes and lottery, etc. A company has been hired to help consult
on the start -up and staff has been working with their representative to make sure
the city is doing everything that needs to be done. We are working to get a
manager that would be a contract employee of the company and the rest of the
seasonal staff would be employees of the city. Staff is working on logo, policies,
website, etc. Other city departments are also involved helping to do inspections.
Staff is using all the experts possible throughout the city organization to get
marina up and running. The City Council has a work session Monday, May 20th
before the regular Council meeting so they will do a walk- through to see
everything. Commissioners are invited.
Commissioner Blocker asked: • will the manager be a city employee after one
year; will there be signage outside the flood gates saying marina; will there be
any courtesy docks; and could a boater make a reservation for two weeks?
continued
May 14, 2013 meeting
page two
Manager Ware said the marina manager contract will be done one year at a
time; signage is being worked on by Engineer Bob Schiesl; at this time boaters
would pay, no courtesy docks; and reservations can be for a maximum ten days
as defined in the grant. Commissioner Hoffmann asked if a local boater can
leave their car in the parking lot — would they be charged for car parking.
Manager Ware said it would depend on where they park. There are city lots at
the Port of Dubuque.
PARK DIVISION Park Division Manager Steve Fehsal informed commissioners:
REPORT:
• The parks are now open for the season except for Miller Riverview; not sure
when the campground will open, but probably not in time for Memorial Day
Holiday. Rest room building renovation continues because flood water is not
affecting that project. • Lucas Gonyie has been hired as the new Assistant
Horticulturalist. He is an Iowa State graduate. • Hanging flower baskets are
going up next week; crews are behind on grass cutting; tree crew is busy. •
Dubuque Community Days of Caring had 150 students work at Port of Dubuque
doing mulch in the flower beds.
RECREATION Recreation Division Manager Dan Kroger informed commissioners:
DIVISION
REPORT: • Spring programs are starting to wind down and registration for summer
programs has begun. • Golf pass sales are up 13% so now we are working on
keeping those golfers at Bunker Hill (customer retention). It has been a rough
spring with no (0) rounds in March compared to 1,393 rounds in March 2012. •
We had 122 teams register for adult softball leagues and 20 adult volleyball
teams. • Staff is working on a new brochure design and layout for the fall
brochure. • Steve Schilling was hired as the full time Golf Technician so now we
need to hire his part -time replacement. • We started filling Flora Pool — takes
two days to fill. Sutton still has river water so can't start filling yet.
MANAGER
REPORT:
Commissioner Lyness asked when we anticipate opening the pools. Manager
Kroger said May 25th.
• The Humane Society has withdrawn their request for funding for a pet park at
their new site so we are back to working on a second pet park on IDOT property
at Highway 20 and Locust Street. We will get back to work on this project after
the marina opens. • Staff is currently working on ordinance regarding pets and
removing all the "allow" language that was proposed and making other changes
to make sure other parts of proposed ordinance are brought back. • The City
Manager has asked Parks / Police / Animal Control to come up with a plan to
enforce the ordinance regarding no pet areas. Right now individuals are kindly
asked to leave the area but the procedure will likely change to issuing tickets. It
will be an operational issue so it will probably not come back to the Commission.
• FIDO contacted Manager Ware about working on a dog friendly brochure to
pet owners • Staffing: an Assistant MFC Director has been hired and will begin
work May 28th. Managers and supervisors are working on seasonal positions
continued
OTHER
BUSINESS:
ADJOURN;
VOTE:
May 14, 2013 meeting
page three
now. Recreation Division has a temporary adult athletic supervisor but hope to
hire the full time person by the end of the summer.
Commissioner Nadeau asked if the department has possession of the house
next to Hilltop Park yet since nothing has been done with the area. She is
worried about safety of children in the park. Manager Ware said the city has
possession and bids went out for deconstruction of the house but a contractor
contested the bids so the project was re -bid.
Manager Ware asked if commissioners would be interested in change the date
of the June and July meetings because of upcoming vacations. After general
discussion, the consensus was leave dates on regular second Tuesday and if
there are not enough for a quorum, no meeting would be held.
Manager Ware asked if commissioners wanted summer meeting to be held at
different department facilities as in past summers. Commissioners said yes.
Reminder that ribbon cutting for the new Port of Dubuque Marina is Saturday,
June 1st at 11:00 a.m. Commissioners were encouraged to stop and see the
area.
It was moved by Hoffmann, seconded by Lyness, that the meeting be adjourned
at 5:12 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
Attest
Chairperson