PARKS & RECREATION BOARD
CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD
MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2007
REGULAR MEETING
7:30 P.M.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 27 REGULAR MEETING.
(There was no December meeting.) Ms. Green moved to approve, seconded by
Ms. Hammond. Ms. Green, Ms. Hammond, and Mr. Frazier voted to approve.
Motion carried 3-0.
chairperson for the Parks
Board for 2007, and Ms. Hammond as vice-
chairperson. The motion was
seconded by Mr. Frazier. Mr.
Frazier, Ms.
Hammond, and Ms. Green, all
aye. Motion carried 3-0.
Ms. Hammond moved to continue meetings on the fourth Mondays at 7:30.
Seconded by Ms. Green. The
board voted 3-0 to keep the meetings on the
fourth Monday of each month, beginning at
7:30.
4. COMMUNITY COMMENTS. None
5. PARK DEVELOPMENT/IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
A. MASTER PLAN. There was nothing to report.
B. JOINT PARK DISTRICT. Nothing new to report.
C. NATURE WORKS UPDATE.
1. DISC GOLF COURSE. Mr. Carr announced that work on the disc golf course will begin in early spring. Ms. Green asked if the project will be finished by June 30, the grant-use deadline. Mr. Carr answered that the project will be well along by that date; he doesn’t anticipate any delays.
2
6. FACILITY USE DISCUSSION. Mr. Carr explained that the proposal agreed
upon by the Board should include decisions in four areas: priority use, liability
insurance, establishing use rates, and determining scheduling procedures. He
suggested that the board consider giving the schools high priority because of their
long-standing positive interaction with the department. He also added that his
opinion on liability insurance and field use is that the fees incurred should not be
cumbersome. The usage fee structure could mirror the structure in place for
shelter rentals. He continued with background information. He has contacted
prior users notifying them of the development of a policy. He referred to a
policy in effect in Grove City, which solves scheduling conflicts with a lottery
procedure. Finally, he mentioned that the Board should refer to the staff
recommendations included on a hand-out sheet in the Board’s packets.
Ms. Green asked if the Board could recommend to City Council that the city opt
out of an use agreement with PASA that had been approved years ago, and that
had subsequently “rolled over” through succeeding years. Mr. Frazier explained
that Council can act of its own volition or countermand any Board decision. The
Board can only recommend.
Mr. Frazier said that he believes that the final draft of this policy should favor
groups which best serve the community.
Ms. Hammond asked for some understanding of the philosophy of PYAA. Mr.
Frazier explained that the group takes anyone who wants to play; they offer non-
Select competition, and that he feels that may be the most important
consideration in a priority decision.
In reply to a question from Ms. Hammond, Mr. Carr stated that in the past few
years, an increasing number of teams have requested field use. He cited soccer
teams representing PASA, Flash Soccer, and Thunder Soccer. He also listed three
baseball organizations—PYAA, the Big Katz, and Cobra—as examples of the
expanding number of requests which he may receive in upcoming seasons.
Ms. Green mentioned that she agrees with a percentage-of-residents-participating
basis as the most important factor in determining priority.
Mr. Frazier stated that has worked on ballfields in many neighboring
communities, and that his belief is that Pickerington doesn’t support its youth
programs adequately. He feels that the city could do a better job of supporting
PYAA and PASA.
Mr. Carr responded that we don’t have a vast number of fields, 2 1/2 for soccer,
and four for softball and baseball.
3
Mr. Frazier said that PAYA has a lacrosse program forming, and that those teams
have no place to practice or compete. The participating kids would not all be city
residents, but they would be in the Pickerington School District. Their eligibility
to use city fields should be high. Ms. Green said that to ignore the importance of
the taxpayers’ right to get top priority would be irresponsible; their percentage of
membership should come before other considerations.
Mr. Carr said that he viewed the city’s position as taking care of its citizens,
whatever their affiliation.
Ms. Green said that the staff recommendations constitute an equitable start. She
felt that the best solution is to settle on a plan, go with it, and evaluate it after a
year.
Ms. Green moved to approve the staff recommendations, and then to take a look
at how it was working at the June meeting. Seconded by Ms. Hammond. Ms.
Hammond, aye; Ms. Green, aye; Mr.
Frazier, nay. The final vote was 2-1.
Three
cumulative votes of either aye or nay are required for any Board action
to become official. The motion thus failed to get the requisite votes for
adoption or rejection.
7. RECREATION AND EVENTS. Mr. Carr mentioned the partnerships between the
Parks & Recreation Department, and groups and organizations in the city, and
previewed projects for the upcoming year.
8. OTHER BUSINESS. There was none.
9. ADJOURNMENT. Ms. Green moved for adjournment. Ms. Hammond
seconded. ALL AYE.
The meeting was adjourned by Mr. Frazier at 8:40 pm.
Respectfully submitted:
________________________
Don Ross, Board Recorder
__________________________________
Steve Carr, Parks and Recreation Director