PARKS & RECREATION BOARD

CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2011

REGULAR MEETING

7:30 P.M.

 

1.      ROLL CALL    Mr.  Dean called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm., with roll call as follows:  Mrs. Lisk, Mrs. Carter, Mr. Dean, Mr. Burre and Council Representative Mrs. Sanders.  Ms. Hammond was absent.  City Manager Mr. Vance, Councilwoman Mrs. Hammond, Service Manager Edward  Drobina, Recreation Administrator Rebecca Medinger, Peggy Portier, Sandy Mellow, Vince Malone, Mark Matthews, Dan Heitmeyer, and Service Department Administrative Assistant Angie Perrine were also present.

 

2.      APPROVAL OF MINUTES of  January 26, 2011 Regular Meeting.   Mrs. Carter brought to attention two corrections that she would like changed in the minutes.  They both are located on page two, part B in the minutes, “group would like to volunteer in the Sycamore Park clean-up,” omit VIP program.  “Mrs. Carter replied that night,” omit tomorrow.  Mr. Dean moved to approve; Mrs. Sanders seconded the motion.  Mr. Burre, Mrs. Lisk , Mrs. Carter, Mr. Dean and Mrs. Sanders voted “Yes”    Motion passed, 5-0.     

  

3.      COMMUNITY COMMENTS   Ms. Sandy Mellow President of  the Pickerington Village Business Association stated she was asked to attend tonight to speak about the upcoming events for 2011 (a handout of events was given).  She commented that the events will not start until May this year and went down the list of events in the handout.  Mrs. Lisk asked why the Pet Fest was not being done again she thought this was pretty popular.  Ms. Mellow stated that it got to large for the area and the committee chairs decided to do other events.  Mr. Vance commented that we are fortunate to have such an active downtown business association working with us on these fantastic events.  Mr. Dean agreed.           

    

       4.   REPORTS

 

 A.       Recreation Administrator’s Report (Mrs. Medinger)

 

            Mrs. Medinger stated that everyone should have a copy of the report and asked if         anyone had any questions.  Mrs. Sanders commented she was talking to the       owners of Coldstone and stated that they are thrilled with the ice rink possibilities      of  setting up a booth, they could sell hot chocolate, carmel apples, etc. and for us             to give them a call next year. 

 

            Mrs. Medinger commented that she had attended an OPRA Conference in        Cincinnati and made a lot of contacts with other parks & recreation staff and            vendors. 

 

            Mr. Burre asked where we stand on the size of ice skating rink.  Mrs. Medinger            replied it is up for discussion we estimated a 40 foot by 60 foot just to give us a    rough idea of pricing which would be around $3,000.00.  Mrs. Carter asked if          they had decided a location yet.  Mrs. Medinger replied that they do not have an             exact location decided.  Some more discussions went on regarding the location of          the ice rink and the possibilities of a sand volleyball court.  With people selling         hot chocolate Mrs. Lisk asked if something could be built temporary so       companies or people could reserve the ice skating rink.  Will we be able to rent it             out?  Mrs. Medinger stated no because it is in a park and if we do charge it would         be a higher liability on the city.  Mrs. Carter asked if the city is planning on purchasing a system to keep the ice frozen since the temperatures are up and            down in the winter in Ohio.  Mrs. Medinger stated that you can purchase a             cooling system but that is another concept rather than just purchasing a mobile kit.          This cooling system would probably be out of our budget.  Mrs. Lisk commented    that she thinks what made the ice skating rink so successful was the location of    the rink so many people drive by it.  Mrs. Medinger agreed.  Mrs. Lisk stated she             thinks this is a good location because it’s not being used in the winter.  Mr. Vance

            commented, that the $3,000.00 is basically for a foundation for the rink and the             bigger the foundation the higher the cost.  We have time before the next season to figure out what size.  The staff will work on some type of stand for vendors to be     able to use.  We may have to have some kind of lottery system if we get to many    vendors.  As far as location it would be easier for the police to patrol at Victory             Park by just swinging by versus a more remote area.  Mr. Dean stated that since       the rink is portable we could start out in Victory Park and later moving it to        another location.  Mr. Vance replied maybe even have more than one rink at             different locations.  Mrs. Carter stated can we get feed back from the people.    Mrs. Lisk commented that it sounds like we already have.  Mr. Vance replied that     we can advertise a public meeting in regards to the ice skating rink opportunities.         More discussions went on regarding the location. 

 

            Mrs. Medinger stated that we have two disc golf tournament applications.  Mr. Vance stated once these applications are complete then they will come back to    the board for approval.                                     

           

  B.       Parks Maintenance Report (Mr. Drobina)

 

     Mr. Drobina stated that everyone should have his report and if anyone had any questions.   Mrs. Lisk asked if there was going to be any additional information   regarding the treatment of the ash trees.  Mr. Drobina stated that he did some    checking into this and has come up with a chemical that you inject into larger      trees and for smaller trees to drench the root system and is getting prices on this.  I          should have these prices at next months meeting.  As far as the grant we have not

     heard anything back for that.  We have also started removing some of the under             brush at Sycamore Park.   The restrooms in the park I recommend that we use            ATR for the portable restrooms.  The cost is lower and they clean them twice a week.  We are also ordering three new grills for the parks and picnic tables for the

     shelters.        

    

      C.        Council Representative’s Report (Mrs. Sanders)

 

     Mrs. Sanders stated that she didn’t have anything tonight.  Does anyone have    something they wanted sent back to council? (No responses)  

 

5.   BOARD DISCUSSION ITEMS

     

      A.        Discussion regarding proposed archeological testing of Indian Mound

                  Mr. Vince Malone stated that he lives in Simsbury not to far away from the                                mound on Route 256.  My professional background is environmental consulting                                   geology so I have a natural interest in this historical structure.  I did an internet                           search and found nothing about it.  So I called the Ohio Historical Society and                                     they put me in   touch with Ohio State and Dr. Kevin Noland.  The focus is to learn                   more information about the mound.  Dr. Noland is willing to do some radar                          electro-magnetic surveys without any cost to the city.   I’m looking for access to                                    the mound.  Mr. Dean stated that this sounded like this would be a non-invasive                                     study.  Mr. Vance stated that the committee could recommend this to the Safety                                 Committee.  Mrs. Carter moved to motion to send this to the Safety                                                 Committee; Mr. Burre seconded the motion.  Mrs. Lisk, Mrs. Sanders, Mr.                                 Dean, Mrs. Carter and Mr. Burre voted “Yes”.  Motion passed 5-0.

     

      B.         Review and request for motion to recommend approval of Violet Festival Event

                  application packet

                  Mr. Mark Matthews President of the Violet Festival has completed the application                    packet.  Mr. Vance stated that the staff has reviewed the application and supports                                   the approval.  Mrs. Carter asked if the restrooms would be located in the same                                    spot as last year, she remembered an issue last year.  Mr. Matthews stated that                                    was corrected.  Mr. Dean moved to motion to support the City Manager to                                execute the application of the 2011 Violet Festival; Mrs. Sanders seconded                           the motion.  Mrs. Carter, Mr. Dean, Mrs. Lisk, Mr. Burre and Mrs. Sanders voted           “Yes”.  Motion passed 5-0.   

 

      C.        Update on additional recreational programming space

                  Mrs. Medinger stated that they went back to the realtor at the old Big Bear space                                  to see if they could start a negotiation process even though the city has no money

                  budgeted for this at this time. Mr. Vance stated he would like to know they would                                 like to accomplish without any funds being available.  Mr. Dean asked if they had                       any ideas that would take it to the next step.  Mr. Vance stated that we have new                                  vendors in the recreation that have to be turned away because of no space for                                   them to provide such opportunities.  Mrs. Medinger stated that was correct.  We                                 do have some churches that have reached out to us and we are utilizing them to                           increase the recreation programs that we provide.  Mr. Dean asked if they needed               additional facilities.  Mrs. Medinger replied they still need more facilities for gym                         activities in the winter time.  Mr. Dean asked if she had contacted churches that                              have gyms in them.  Mrs. Medinger asked Mr. Dean if he had any                                                         recommendations.  Mrs. Lisk stated that she has recommended Peace United over                            on Diley.  They have a lot of kitchen space and classrooms once we move forward                     I will have them contact you.  Mr. Dean stated that he knows Violet Baptist has its                           own dedicated gym.  I have some friends that attend this church, maybe I could be                    of some help.  Some more discussions went on regarding churches and available                               spaces in the area.  It was decided to keep discussions going regarding this topic.                

                 

      D.        Discussion regarding co-sponsoring the PACC Sweet Street event

                  Tabled for March meeting.

                 

      E.         Identification of 2011 Parks & Recreation Board goals

                  Mrs. Carter asked if it was possible for the board to get together and walk the                           parks, so we can help figure out what we need for our parks.  Mrs. Lisk agreed                                 that this would be the best way to come up with our goals.  Discussions went on                                  regarding when they could get together and do this.  It was decided to meet on                          April 10th at 2:00 p.m. at City Hall.        

                 

      F.         Review of proposed 2011 Community events (OPVBA)

                  Discussed earlier in the meeting.

 

      G.        Bike Trail Grant –Update          (No comments)

 

6.   BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS & FUTURE AGENDA RECOMMENDATIONS  

      (No Comments)

                                         

7.   ADJOURNMENT.   There being nothing further, Mrs. Carter moved to adjourn,      Mrs. Sanders seconded the motion.   Mr. Burre, Mrs. Lisk, Mr. Dean, Mrs. Sanders and   Mrs. Carter voted “Yes”.   Motion passed,  5-0.  The Parks & Recreation Board       adjourned at 8:35 p.m. on February 23, 2011.

 

  RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: 

 

 

 

 ___________________________________

 Angie Perrine, Administrative Assistant

 

 

ATTEST: ___________________________

                Edward J. Drobina, Service Director