HomeMy WebLinkAboutRec Bd Minutes December 08Bozeman Recreation & Parks Advisory Board
P.O. Box 1230 · Bozeman, MT · 59771
Minutes of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board
December 11, 2008
Present:
Board: Terry Baldus,
Anne Banks, David Cook, Sandy Dodge, Sue Henning, Joanne Jennings, Ted Koterwas, Bill
VandenBos
City: Ron Dingman, Sue Harkin, Kaaren Jacobson, Thom White
Other: Judy Blackmore; Mary
Vant Hull; Gary Vodehnal, GVLT
Minutes: The November minutes were approved as written.
Public Comment:
Mary Vant Hull expressed her appreciation to Sue Harkin, Terry, Joanne and Anne
for their contributions. She also made a pitch for the Dinosaur Playground to be constructed at the Regional Park in June; volunteers and funds are needed. People can buy fence pickets
for $45 each, to be inscribed with names as desired.
Gary Vodehnal also expressed his thanks to Sue, Joanne and Anne, all of whom are retiring at the end of December, Anne and Joanne
as board members and Sue as Recreation Superintendent.
Board member recognition: Sue also recognized outgoing board members Ted, Joanne and Anne, with large plants and certificates
of appreciation.
Committee reports:
PROST amendments: Sandy presented a letter of support (attached) for Marianne Amsden and the GallEP equestrian group’s proposed amendments to the
PROST plan. It was approved by the PROST committee.
Subdivision Review: Sandy reported that the Meadow Creek developers are still trying to get reorganized for an extension of their
preliminary plat; the subdivision review committee will probably meet next Friday to look it over.
The Rosa developers have not fulfilled their parkland improvement requirements from
2005; Thom, Dave Skelton and an engineer for the project made a site visit and reviewed the eight items that need to be addressed.
Park Improvement Grants: Thom is putting together
a Power Point presentation demonstrating how the grants have helped to improve the city.
FOR Parks: Joanne reported that the group will also make a Power Point presentation to the board next month.
Liaison Report: Gary Vodehnal reported on GVLT projects: the Drinking
Horse Mountain trail and bridge and the Snowfill, which had a sledding fundraiser recently.
Gary also presented maps of a proposed trail along the West College Ave. right-of way between
South Black and a branch of the Gallagator linear park. He hopes to align the trail so as to overcome the objections of three of the four neighboring condo owners. Moved by Terry, passed,
that the board support Gary’s proposal.
Mayor’s Report: Kaaren commented on several items:
Cowdrey Towers: Many objections to the development were raised at the commission meeting.
Its parkland dedication requirement is approximately six acres. The board felt that the six acres should be all in one piece and that it is desirable to install park improvements at
the same time as project infrastructure. No parkland was shown on the preliminary plat. Sandy will discuss this with Brian Krueger, the planner in charge.
Cooper Park: The commission
has received many aggrieved letters and emails from dog owners who want the park to be leash-free. Board members had divergent opinions on the subject. David reminded Kaaren of the extensive
report from the Dog Committee, which the commission has ignored.
Horse use of city trails: Kaaren felt this would be a “hard sell.”
Swim Center: Some Park Improvement Grant funds were
used to replace the air handler.
Story Mansion: About one-third of financing for continued improvements must be raised privately. Mandy Drysdale and an interested group are working
to set up a public charity for the purpose. It will be completely separate from the city.
Park and Recreation Director’s Report: See attached report. Ron passed out maps showing the
location of land to be “declared” as parkland at the base of Peet’s Hill. There was considerable discussion of the legal ramifications of “declaring” parkland vs. dedicating it.
Ron
wants to meet with Sandy, local legislators JP Pomnichowski and Bob Hawks, city attorney Bob Planalp and Kaaren about legislation to change the state statutes determining how cash-in-lieu
of parkland is valued.
Park Superintendent’s Report: See attached report. Thom also noted that there will be a telephone hotline for daily ice rink reports rather than website information
because the current city IT setup can’t be updated daily. The website will show the hotline number.
Recreation Department Report: Sue reminded the board of the holiday party at Terry’s
on Monday, December 15. Swim Center holiday programs are set, and pre-schoolers have been enjoying programs at Beall Park The Beall Park building had its final inspection today. Sue
noted that an oven and granite countertop were installed instead of a very costly hood and stovetop. The
Lindley Center remodel is also complete. Sue will spend her last two weeks covering for employees who must be elsewhere.
Other: Ted and Anne expressed their appreciation for their fellow
board members and city staff and opportunity to serve on the board.
Respectfully submitted,
Anne Banks