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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-14-12 Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Minutes a LINKED MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE RECREATION AND PARKS ADVISORY BOARD JUNE 14, 2012 7:00 PM LINDLEY CENTER - 1102 E. CURTISS BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: David Cook, Chairperson Sandy Dodge Alan Engelbart Sue Henning Salal Huber McGee Karyn Milledge Farr Elizabeth Thorsen Julie Zickovich Carson Taylor, Commission Liaison Kelly Pohl, GVLT Liaison Absent: Steve Roderick Bill Vandenbos Bob Wade CITY STAFF PRESENT: Ron Dingman, Director Thom White, Park Superintendent Jamie Saitta, Recreation Dan McCarthy, Recreation Michelle Dipzinski, Recording Secretary GUEST PRESENTERS: None COPIES OF THE RECORDING ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. 0:00:00-Item #1— David Cook called the meeting to order at 7:02 0:00:10- Item #2—Approve May 10, 2012. meeting minutes: • No changes were requested Linked Minutes of the Recreation and Park Advisory Board Meeting,June 14,2012 Motion: Boardmember Dodge motioned to approve the May 10, 2012 minutes as presented. Boardmember Henning seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 0:00:30—Item #3—Public Comment Period, limit 3 minutes per speaker: • No members of the public were present • Chairperson Cook discussed Jared Nelson's resignation 0:.02:12—Item #4—Update of Park Bond Issue—Sandy Dodge: • Chairperson Cook and Boardmember Dodge met with Mayor Becker to discuss his concerns: • thought it should have been a grass roots issue and put on ballot by petition or generated through the Commission • maintenance is an issue, the bond should include maintenance • didn't want another real estate fiasco such as the Mandeville farm,the Story Mansion and the S. Church St. property • concerned about voter fatigue that could possibly affect the passage of other more important issues, he suggested the 2013 ballot instead of 2012 • Chairperson Cook, Boardmember Dodge and two members from GVLT, Kelly Pohl and Penelope Pierce, regarding the Mayors meeting • it is important to get the Mayor on board • it is possible to put a maintenance component in the bond but that is generally a losing strategy with the voters • The Bozeman Magpie, a local blog, awarded this project the Best Fabulously Expensive Civic Plan Without Objectives o Kelly Pohl met with Blake Maxwell the editor of the Magpie to address a lot of his concerns and explain the bond information • Discussed the Maintenance issue o if the bond were to include maintenance, only land acquired with bond money would be maintained • Board members are encouraged to attend the Monday night Commission meeting in support of the bond 0:13:06— Item #5—Gallatin Valley Land Trust Update: • Kelly Pohl provided the following updates: o Bike Park at the Landfill 2 Linked Minutes of the Recreation and Park Advisory Board Meeting,June 14,2012 • the landfill has perfect terrain for bicycling and there are areas that will never be used as a landfill that are adjacent to the area that was used as a landfill • a map was provided of possible use areas for Cross Track and Multi-purpose bike area, BMX and Pump Tracl<area, Youth riders and the parking area • accessing the area was discussed • the size of the proposed parking area was discussed; there is concern that it would not be big enough if tournament type events were held there. • there is a push to get more competitive sports in the area and this would help • the Triple Tree Trail bridge has been installed and the trail will be re-routed soon • have been working with the Montana Conservation Corp crews working on trails, they have removed the fencing along the Sourdough Trail • permission has been received to replace the bridge for the Sundance Springs neighborhood. • Highland and Burke Park Trails will be resurfaced, if anyone sees trails that need work please contact GVLT 0:33:01—Item #6--Committee Reports: • Subdivision Review—Sandy Dodge o Knoll at Baxter Meadows • This phase was purchased out of the Baxter Meadows foreclosure. History of the subdivision and the parkland was provided. • the Homeowners Association has a 10 acre park that they have been maintaining for the last two years and it looks nice. Now the developer wants to come back and maintain the parkland • this area will be added to the tour • the concern is that developments that are developing big parks are now split up and the city is getting little parks that don't have much room for recreations • how the land is split up after a foreclosure was discussed • Recreation Committee—Julie Zickovich o restructuring of the Recreation Department • Director Dingman, Human Resource Director Tricia Gowen and City Manager met to discuss Recreation Leadership. The Superintendent position has been empty for over a year;Jamie Saitta is now the land based Superintendent and Dan McCarthy is now the aquatics Superintendent. The restructuring has been approved for one year • Director Dingman provided information on why and how the approval was granted • Interviews for the director position were held, there were two different groups involved in the interview process and both groups came back preferring the same candidate Linked Minutes of the Recreation and Park Advisory Board Meeting,June 14,2012 0:54:40— Item #7—Update on Recreation &Aquatics Feasibility Stud —Jamie Saitta Dan McCarthy: • working on the questions and have the questionnaire to the point that reaches the answers that are needed • the company putting the survey together will re-format and cleanup the questionnaire and then mail it out hopefully next week • the survey will be a random mailing that targets certain areas within the city, if the response level is not met then phone calls will be made; the YMCA has donated funds to expand the area; if someone wants to email an opinion they can email agenda @bozeman.net • discussed making sure all voices are heard 1:05:00— Item #5—Recreation Division Report—Jamie Saitta: • Superintendent Saitta provided the following information: o summer season started,this is first week of programs o T-ball is ending, had over 400 kids signed up 0 15 teams signed up for the Adult Kick Ball League, this continues to grow each year o Administrative Assistant started last week and doing well • Superintendent McCarthy provided the following information: • Bogert boilers are running and hoping that the pool will open next week • Bogert pool is losing 5,000 to 10,000 gallons of water through the cracks, not sure where it is going • Commission needs to make a decision about funding, this will be Bogerts last year without the money • Due to health code rules the slide will not be open • the Swim Center would not be able to take the extra people if Bogert Pool closes 1:11:25—Item#9—Parks Division Report—Thom White: • crews are working hard, seasonal staff is keeping dog stations clean and parks mowed • ball fields and undeveloped parks have been sprayed • there has been discussion about putting parks in charge of boulevard maintenance, mowing and weed eating; in order for that to happen more seasonal workers and mowers will be needed; discussions with City Manager Kukulski will happen in July • a basketball court has been installed at Bozeman ponds, that park is pretty much done; leveraging and moving the groups that have proven they can get a job done to other parks is being considered • user groups are using the parks and sports fields, discussed the material used to help lower the cancellations due to rain • Parkland Grant Fund projects were discussed • Parks Tour is scheduled for next Thursday at 10am, commissioners are also invited o will look at HOA parks both good and badly maintained 4 Linked Minutes of the Recreation and Park Advisory Board Meeting,June 14,2012 o respond to Superintendent White so he knows how many people will attend • This is Director Dingmans last board meeting; his retirement party is July 6 at the Lindley Center starting at 5pm 1:53:51—Item #10— Parks and Recreation Director's Report--Ron Dingman: • Director Dingmans Final Words: o this is one of the most engaged boards in the city, a good group of people interested in the community o Wish List • Medians should have greenery including grass and shrubs; it calms traffic and cools things down • Parks Maintenance District is needed; the city is growing and the Parks Department is not able to keep up. Funds should stay in the General Fund but gradually reduce the amount that comes out of it as the maintenance district generates more funds and develops enough to operate adequately on • large parks and trails could be maintained by the Parks Dept. • smaller parks could be contracted out • Bozeman creek enhancement committee is a good group of people and the city is lucky to have that group; Superintendent White will start working with them • Recreation needs to expand to adult programming; adult kickball has 15 teams with 18 people on each team it is a good start • Recreation Department needs superintendent (s) • the large chunk of land at the landfill should become a park, l of it is a landfill so it can't be built on but it can be a park • trail connection weakness is east to west, there is a great system on the east side of town and a lot on the west but they don't connect; need to work on getting connections east and west and from the Bozeman Ponds to Rose Park and that would help lead to a pathway to Belgrade. There should be shared use along 19th to Hyalite and one up to the M • Sports Tournaments and Swim Meets would be good for Bozeman. It cannot be done now but the bond issue would be great for getting that going; Bozeman is a perfect place to bring people from all over the state and the region; they come spend money and then leave, it wouldn't affect infrastructure. • the East Gallatin may go to the chopping block by the state;they will probably liquidate it and will want to sell it to us; if the city buys it should not be at fair market value. • He thanked the group for making his 32 years enjoyable -- — i Linked Minutes of the Recreation and Park Advisory Board Meeting,June 14,2012 1:23:26— Item #11— City Commissioner Perspective—Carson Taylor: • explained the Bogert pool decision, they were concerned spend $500,000 on the pool then have the survey come back indicating the pool should be removed; he voted to no release the funds • suggested getting the bond on the ballot this year otherwise it may not happen for another five years. Economic development is happening now, for this to pass be transparent with the public and include a maintenance piece o discussed who would decide on land purchases o discussed maintenance issue • discussed the aquatics survey, the report should be in by mid July or early August • discussed the water rate increase verses loosing of 8 to 10 thousand gallons of water a day at the Bogert pool Item #12— FYI: • No other items were discussed 2:06:51—Item #13—Adjournment: • Adjourned at 9:08pm. The meeting adjourned at 9:08pm. David Cook, Chairperson ATTEST': '-�6 JAZ r Michelle Dipzins i, c rding Secretary PREPARED BY: 61 I'al L—, Michelle Dipzin <i, rding Secretary Approved on )'w" Z'�