PARKS & RECREATION BOARD

CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2010

REGULAR MEETING

 

 

  1. ROLL CALL.  Ms. Hammond called the meeting to order at 7:05. Present were  Ms. Carter, Mr. Dean, Mr. Barletta, and Ms. Hammond. Also present were Mr. Carr and Mr. Ross of the Parks Department, and City Council member Tricia Sanders..

 

  1. ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING. Ms. Hammond opened the floor to nominations for Chairperson of the Board for 2010.  She then nominated Mr. Pawlowski; seconded by Ms. Carter. There being no other nominations, Ms. Hammond called for a vote. Ms. Hammond aye; Mr. Dean, aye; Ms. Carter, aye; Mr. Barletta, aye.  Mr. Pawlowski was approved 4-0.

Ms. Carter nominated Mr. Dean for the position of vice-chairperson; seconded by Ms. Hammond. There being no other nominations, Ms. Hammond called for a vote. Mr. Dean, aye; Ms. Carter, aye; Ms. Hammond, aye; Mr. Barletta, aye.  Mr. Dean was approved 4-0.

Ms. Hammond called for suggestions for meeting nights and times for 2010 Board meetings. She then said that the last Wednesday night of each month at 7 pm seemed to work well. Ms. Carter added that the Tree Commission had voted to move its meetings to the last Wednesday at 6:30 pm, in the hope that their meetings, preceding the Park Board’s, would offer opportunities for joint sessions and work sessions. Ms. Hammond moved for the last Wednesday dates; seconded by Mr. Dean. Ms. Hammond called for a vote. Ms. Carter, aye; Mr. Dean, aye, Ms. Hammond, aye; Mr. Barletta, aye. Motion passed 4-0.

 

 

  1. APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER MINUTES.  Since only two of the Board members who had attended the November meeting were present on this night, it was decided to postpone the acceptance of the November minutes until the group’s February meeting.

 

  1. COMMUNITY COMMENTS.  There were no community comments.

 

 5.  REPORTS

 

PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR’S REPORT.   Mr. Carr reviewed the status of several  Department projects. The Disc Golf Course will open for play on Memorial Day weekend. To date, the City’s cost for construction is $45,600. The low cost is due to the combined efforts of City service employees and volunteers, and to a $12,278 NatureWorks grant from the Department of Natural Resources. Also, Columbus Flyers Disc Golf Club  president and Hoover Dam course pro Paul Jay has volunteered countless hours designing the course.

Mr. Carr reported that 277 season swimming pool passes were bought by city residents in 2009. Revenue from all passes, lessons, concessions, rentals and insurance reimbursement totaled $269,156. After paying operating expenses, the City reinvested $123,996 on facility improvements: concrete approach and lower parking lot sealing and striping, a new perimeter fence, new exterior doors, interior and exterior painting, new awnings, new bathroom fixtures, a quartz-textured floor, deck repair, new guard chairs and umbrellas, pool filters, a a photo ID system. A final installment payment on the pool, totaling $115,000 will be financed through the Parks Impact Fee Fund in 2010.

He mentioned that the safety record in 2009 was unblemished, and that the only room for improvement is in the City’s relationship with the swim team. Mr. Dean asked if there was a problem. Mr. Carr explained that the swim team does a nice job, involving over 100 kids, but that there were minor communication issues that will be addressed. Ms. Carter explained that, historically , the pool membership was upset when the pool was closed for swim team events. Mr. Carr said that there were only four events, but that swim team parents selling concessions caused minor friction.. He concluded with the thought that the only other issue of note was the photo ID system; that will occur in a different way this summer.

Mr. Carr then briefly summarized a list that included the Department’s  partnerships with community groups in 2009 projects.

 

NOTE: Mr. Pawlowski arrived at 7:31. Ms. Hammond asked him, as chairperson-elect, to conduct the rest of the meeting.

 

Mr. Pawlowski noted that mention should be made of the Parks Department’s mandate to create a Community Garden, followed by the initialization of that program in 2009.

Ms. Sanders added that Greg Bachman, the City Engineer, is moving ahead with the trail

system. He recently hosted a “Meet and Greet” with ODOT.

A discussion about volunteerism ensued, sparked by Mr. Pawlowski’s comment that Parks and Rec is understaffed. Ms. Carter mentioned that she and City Council member Cristie Hammond had adopted several areas and planted flowers. She feels as if planting and tending to flowers in the light pole baskets would be a worthy contribution. Mr. Carr

explained that those baskets require almost daily watering, difficult for volunteers to manage. Ms. Sanders stated that coordination of needs and volunteers is important. Groups need to be registered. Strengths and weaknesses need to be discovered, and utilized appropriately.

 

 

      6.   COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE’S REPORT.  Due to the fact that this was Councilman  Barletta’s first meeting, there was no report.

 

 

  1. BOARD DISCUSSION ITEMS:  The Board cited three areas to visit as focus areas in 2010: the Joint Park District, identifying volunteers, and seasonal events.   

 

 8.   OTHER BUSINESS   There was no other business.

           

9.      ADJOURNMENT.   Ms. Hammond moved to adjourn. Seconded by Ms. Carter

Mr. Pawlowski adjourned the meeting at 7:55 pm.

 

 RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED BY: 

 

 

 

 ___________________________________

 Donald R. Ross, Recreation Coordinator

 

 

ATTEST: ____________________________

Stephen A. Carr, Director, Parks and Recreation