Minutes Park & Rec 12 11 01PRESENT:
ABSENT:
OTHERS:
MINUTES
APPROVED;
VOTE:
LITTLE DUBLIN'S
IRISH FEST;
VOTE:
REQUEST FROM
GARY LATHAM
TO MAKE SNACK
BAR A NON
SMOKING
FACILITY:
PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
Tuesday, December 11, 2001
4:30 p.m., Third Floor Library Auditorium
Klm Daykin, Chuck Duggan, Paul Hoffmann, Karen Lyness and Tom
Schrobilgen
Tom Blocklinger and Gary Harjehausen
Staff present: Gil Spence, Pat Prevenas, John Hail and Eileen Tdmble
It was moved by Schrobilgen, seconded by Lyness, to approve the minutes of
the November 13, 2001, meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
John Finn and Jeff Cremer were present representing the ldsh Fest committee.
They distributed an outline for 2002, which addressed some of the
commission's cencems: l~a 503B nonprofit account has been set up for the
Irish Fest; I~outside secudty would be used or the committee would hire city
employees. Leisure Services Manager Gil Spence and Park Division Manager
John Hail talked after the last meeting, and listed some things they felt would
need to be done if the lest was held at Murphy Park again: ~6200 deposit; ~
department would hire staff for parking/security/maintenance; ~ite plan must
be turned in two weeks in advance of date; ~beer area would need to be
confined, but details can be worked out later.
Mr. Finn would like more picnic tables and if possible waive the fee for hauling
the tables. Mr. Spence said we do not waive the fee for any of the other
festivals, but the commission could waive it if they wanted to. Mr. Cremer
asked if a commission member would serve on the Irish Fest Committee, and
that person could update the commission each month; Commissioners Duggan
and Schrobilgen volunteered.
Commissioner Duggan would like off duty police officers working - at least one
when the beer starts being served, and from 6:00 p.m. until closing.
It was moved bv Lyness, seconded b_.y Daykin, to approve the Little Dublin Irish
Fest to use Murphy Park on October 12, 2002, with the stipulation that all
requirements/restrictions presented b_y staff be met. The motion passed
unanimously.
Gary Latham was present requesting that the commission make the golf
course snack bar a totally non-smoking facility. There are more non-smokers
and they should be given first consideration. Mr. Latham did not feel it would
work to make one section smoking and the other non-smoking because there
is no ventilation and he hoped the commission would take that into
consideration when making a decision. He said many people leave after their
goff league because the smoke is so bad you can't breathe.
Commissioner Schrobilgen said we should try smoke eater machines; a couple
of those along with the higher ceiling fans in the newer section should
continued
DISCUSSION ON
PROFESSIONAL
BASEBALL TEAM
AT PETRAKIS:
PARK
DIVISION
REPORT:
RECREATION
DIVISION
REPORT:
December 11, 2001 meeting
page two
work well as long as the machines were maintained/cleaned properly. Mr.
Spence said staff would look into installing smoke eater machines before the
start of the season, and then let commissioners know at the May and June
meetings if that improved the situation.
Mr. Spence informed commissioners that he has met twice with Steve
Spielman on the possibility of building a stadium at Petrakis Field and bringing
a professional baseball team to Dubuque. Mr. Spielman wants to construct a
stadium around the current field, lease the field rent free, and they would do all
maintenance. On the weeks when they are home they would have games
Tuesday through Sunday. Mr. Spielman was told that Loras College and the
high schools would have priority in scheduling. The Loras season would be
over before the pro team's games start, but the high school schedules could be
a problem.
Mr. Spielman would like to be playing in 2003 if we get an agreement, so
decision needs to be made as soon as possible.
Commissioner Lyness asked about funding and Spence said the team would
raise the money from sponsors. Commissioner Hoffmann would like to see a
pro team here but is concerned about how they will get crowds four or five
nights in a row for their home games.
Park Division Manager John Hail reported:
~ renovation at Cleveland Park is finished except for top soil and seeding; will
complete in the spring; ~ equipment is being changed over to get ready for
winter; ~ most of seeds have been delivered; mower parts have been ordered;
~ staff continues to work on refinishing picnic tables; ~ playground piece from
Sutton Pool was delivered/installed at the zoo; I, construction of the building in
Comiskey Park is going well.
Commissioner Lyness asked about ice rinks - Mr. Hail said staff plans to flood
if weather permits. Commissioner Duggan asked if the fishing pier was in at
Bergfeld Recreation Area and Mr. Spence said yes.
Recreation Division Manager Pat Prevenas reported:
~ water playground progressing nicely - with the good weather, project is on
schedule; ~ Program Supervisor Sara Meints was married at Thanksgiving
time and is moving to Arizona January 2nd; hope to have a replacement on
board by mid-March.
Commissioners were mailed a packet of golf expense and revenue
comparisons, which may be found as part of the original minutes.
The expense sheet compares budgeted amounts with what was actually
spent: seasonal workers was lower than budgeted because season was late
continued
OTHER
BUSINESS:
ADJOURN;
VOTE:
December 11, 2001 meeting
page three
starting; dram shop insurance was higher; nothing was spent for property
maintenance since everything is new; $20,000 was budgeted for food and
$41,521 was spent; $23,000 was budgeted for cart lease/rental and $29,742
was spent - the additional amount is for cart rental for weekend events.
The revenue sheet compares what was budgeted versus actual income: food
revenue was higher than anticipated, but includes pop and tobacco; liquor did
not bring in as much as budgeted; pro shop sales were down from anticipated
amount but a large portion of event revenue could be credited to pre shop
because that is how most event certificates are used.
Commissioner Schrobilgen asked about inventory figures - they need to be
included to have the truest figures; inventory should be taken quarterly, or a
minimum of once a year.
Mr. Spence said the pre shop was not as prof~able as expected, but we did not
stock as heavily either. One of the areas we need to concentrate on for next
year is food products - possibly giving too much for the money now.
Commissioner Duggan asked about giving out chips for different kinds of beer;
different chips for tap, cans, et cetera.
The golf rounds summary compares rounds for the last ten years. Mr.
Prevenas talked to Fillmore Golf Course and found from their survey that
rounds are down county-wide and nationally. Part of the problem with our
numbers is because of the month of April when the building was not ready.
Commissioner Daykin asked staff to look into the possibility of renting Loras
College pool during the holiday season or from mid-August through January
when there are no pools available for public use.
Commissioner Hoffmann asked Schrobilgen to report at next meeting on what
a 503B status is.
It was moved by Daykin, seconded by Duggan, that the meeting be adjourned
at 5:27 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
Chairperson
Attest