Minutes_Park and Recreation Advisory Commission 8 13 13PRESENT:
STAFF PRESENT:
WELCOME NEW
COMMISSIONER:
ADMINISTER OATH
OF OFFICE AND
SIGN PAPER FOR
NEW AND RE-
APPOINTED
COMMISSIONERS:
ELECT OFFICERS;
VOTE:
MINUTES
APPROVED; VOTE:
APPROVE
HILLCREST
AGREEMENT FOR
PARKING SPACES
AT FLORA PARK;
VOTE:
PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
4:30 p.m., Greenhouse, 2241 Lincoln Avenue
Bob Blocker, Chuck Harris, Ken Klinge, Kate Lydon, Karen Lyness, Evelyn
Nadeau and Dave Schlueter
Marie Ware, Steve Fehsal, Dan Kroger and Eileen Trimble
Commissioners welcomed Kate Lydon to her first official meeting as a new
Park and Recreation Commissioner.
At the start of the meeting, Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware shared the
Oath of Office paperwork with Bob Blocker to administer to new
commissioner Kate Lydon and re- appointed commissioners Karen Lyness
and Dave Schlueter.
It was moved lay Nadeau seconded lay Lyness, to elect Dave Schlueter as
Chairperson Chuck Harris as Vice - Chairperson, and Ken Klinge as
Secretary. The motion passed unanimously.
It was moved by Lyness, seconded by Klinge, to approve the minutes of the
June 25, 2013 meeting.
Gary Gansemer was present representing Hillcrest Family Services.
Manager Ware explained that the agreement for parking spaces at Flora Park
is up for renewal and she wanted to make sure the agreement matched other
city agreements for open parking lot rentals. She talked to Parking Division
Manager regarding current fees being charged by city and this agreement
less. However, the difference with this agreement is that Hillcrest does all the
snow removal. The agreement has been in existence for six years with no
fee increase. Staff is proposing a $5.00 increase to $20.00 per month per
parking space and changing the agreement from two years to one year.
Mr. Gansemer said Hillcrest and the City have partnered for many years but
officially this arrangement has only been for six years. This lot is used for
staff in the special education program. Hillcrest would also like to have
discussion about long term arrangement and possible future expansion of
parking. They could be adding more classrooms which would require more
parking. Hillcrest may come to the City at some point in the future about
partnering to build more parking spaces on park property.
It was moved 12y Klinge seconded la Blocker to approve the Parking
License Agreement with Hillcrest Family Services for 30 parking spaces in
Flora Park during the 2013 -2014 school year. The motion passed
unanimously.
continued
COMMISSION
CORRESPONDENCE
TO COUNCIL
BEFORE GOAL
SETTING SESSION:
REVIEW OF PAST
PET PARK
LOCATION
OPTIONS:
PARK DIVISION
REPORT:
August 13, 2013 meeting
page two
Commissioners discussed the 2012 memo they sent as a group to City
Council before goal setting session as a review before sending a memo this
year.
Commissioner Nadeau asked if we could ask for some kind of time limit
regarding the Pet Park. Commissioner Lyness asked if the skate park money
was dropped. Ms. Ware explained the money for a study is budgeted first.
Ms. Lyness also said it is an embarrassment to the City that we have not had
more development at Usha Park — it has been on the list for a long time.
Commissioner Schlueter asked if the group from Reality Check is working on
the skate park and Ms. Ware said they are and the hope is to re- engage the
group in October and do an RFP for a firm. Commissioner Schlueter also felt
the rest room at Jackson Park and Usha Park development should be higher
priorities. Commissioner Blocker said the handicap accessible walkway to
Log Cabin at Eagle Point has also been on the list a long time.
Manager Ware reminded commissioners that last year's list to the City
Council gave a list of commission priorities but it said "not in any particular."
It was moved l Harris seconded l Nadeau to approve the proposed
memo to City Council with three changes: under Discussion section add "top
priorities" to first sentence combine continued Eagle Point Park improve-
ments and accessible walkway to the 1::)g. Cabin to read "Continued
improvements at Eagle Point Park including but not limited to accessible
walkway to the Log Cabin Pavilion; and add "and trails" at end of Enhance
pet - friendly amenities as a art of the Pet Park(s). The motion passed
unanimously
Manager Ware sent commissioners a memo listing past pet park options and
a little history on pet park discussions.
Ms. Ware asked if commissioners knew of any other area(s) that had not
been considered. She also included a list of current parks in the agenda
packet to see if the Commission felt anything in the current facility listing
could be used for a possible pet park.
Commissioner Schlueter asked what is an acceptable size and Ms. Ware
said department would prefer at least 4 acres. Commissioner Lydon felt the
IDOT property would require a large portion of the funding to be used for
fencing so you would be taking away from amenities for the dogs; she liked
the Terminal Street site and the huge field next to McGraw -Hill would be a
good area. Commissioner Harris asked about the old city garage area.
Park Division Manager Steve Fehsal updated commissioners:
• Miller Riverview campground opened July 26th. The park looks pretty
good but there is still some cleanup to be done. The rest rooms renovation
continued
August 13, 2013 meeting
page three
project was completed and it looks really nice. • Staff is busy on
maintenance of all areas, tree trimming, mowing, flowers, etc. • New larger
trash truck has arrived. • Staff is in the process of purchasing new items for
maintenance of Bee Branch and 32nd Street detention areas which
department starts this fall. • Staff is working on new pet related signage —
more informational type including park hours, etc. • New sidewalk has been
installed at McAleece with more scheduled to complete the project. • Eagle
Point Park visitors (total cars and buses) for May 2013 was 5,814, June
11,348 and July, 9,777.
Commissioner Blocker commended park crew for the fabulous job they did
cleaning Miller Riverview Park in such a short time.
RECREATION Recreation Division Manager Dan Kroger updated commissioners:
DIVISION REPORT:
• Pools: Sutton doggie dip had 150 dogs. Flora Pool closes Sunday and the
doggie dip is at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, August 19th. May thru July 2012 had
105,000 swim admissions and the same period in 2013 only saw 79,000
swimmers due to bad weather in May and June. • Marina: Fuel sales in
June totaled $7,104. There were 1,022 gallons of fuel sold in June and 2,072
gallons in July. There were 49 boat slip rentals in June, 62 through the first
two weeks in July. • The fall brochure is at the printer. It will be mailed
August 23rd and has a completely new look and format. • Summer
registration numbers through July were right on last years with a little over
5,000 registrations. • Dubuque Green America is doing a cleanup project at
frisbee golf course in Veterans' Memorial Park. • Golf course: there is a
beautification project being done at the front entrance to the building — flower
bed has been put in and flowers planted by park crews. An Eagle Scout is
doing a limestone planter for his project. Kudos to Gerry Lange and
maintenance staff for keeping the course looking good even though they
were short a mower and tractor the entire month of July.
Commissioner Blocker commented that the boat slips at the Marina are first
class.
MANAGER REPORT: Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware updated commissioners:
• Fiscal Year 2015 budget process is starting. CIP project requests are due
October 4th so commissioners should let Ms. Ware know if they want a
particular project requested; operating budget is due in November. • There
are a lot of improvement projects being completed before the League of
Cities Conference in Dubuque in September, including a lot of budgeted
projects at the Grand River Center. • Staff has been requested to look at
placing security cameras in all parks — staff will be having meetings with
other departments on the issue. Cost of installation plus maintenance and
contract on all the cameras will be researched. There are currently cameras
at Allison- Henderson, Comiskey and Jackson Park will have cameras soon.
continued
August 13, 2013 meeting
page four
Commissioner Schlueter asked if the cameras have been helpful at the
current locations. Ms. Ware said they have been helpful in a couple
instances where footage was reviewed. Commissioner Nadeau doesn't feel
cameras are needed in every park but doesn't want them in just parks that
some people feel are in bad areas.
OTHER BUSINESS: • Aquatic Center Study: There will be public input sessions coming up.
• Reminder that September meeting is Wednesday, September 11th, not
the second Tuesday.
• The City Life invitation that was sent to Commissioners came from Human
Rights Department. The program is a very interactive program and is
great for somebody that may want to learn more about city government,
etc. It is a free program but there is limited space. Others that have
participated in the program recommend it.
ADJOURN;
VOTE:
It was moved by Blocker, seconded by Lyness, that the meeting be
adjourned at 5:48 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
Attest
Chairperson