HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes October 9 2008Bozeman Recreation & Parks Advisory Board
P.O. Box 1230 · Bozeman, MT · 59771
Minutes of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board
October 9, 2008
Present:
Board: Terry Baldus, Anne Banks, Gene Brooks, David Cook, Sandy Dodge,
Adam Fruh, Chris Guy, Joanne Jennings, Ted Koterwas, Bill VandenBos
City: Ron Dingman, Sue Harkin, Dan McCarthy. Thom White
Other: Judy Blackmore
Minutes: The minutes of the September meeting were approved as written.
Public comment: There was no public comment.
Bogert Playground report from October 6 meeting: Thom reported that there
were only two companies that presented information: Playscape, from Utah,
with equipment similar to that at the Sandan and Hawthorne School
playgrounds, and Summit, from Colorado. There was a little public comment. A
playground master plan will be developed. Joanne asked what will become of
the swing set now at Bogert; Thom replied that it will stay there. David asked if
Langohr Park was involved; Thom said there had been some communication
with GVLT and Playscape about Langohr, but that the October 6 meeting had
concerned Bogert only.
Committee reports:
Subdivision review. Sandy said there was no report because there are no
new subdivisions; however he presented a letter from Dave Skelton to the
Meadow Creek developers concerning a request for an extension of
preliminary plat approval. After a brief discussion of the letter (handed
out at meeting), it was agreed the review committee should meet to
discuss the matter. [The meeting has since been scheduled for October
17 at 10 a.m. at the Planning office.]
Dump committee: Terry had visited Butte’s landfill, which has been
transformed into a park with many amenities. She and Ron will meet in
Butte to look it over further.
Liaison reports:
GVLT: Anne reported that the Drinking Horse Mountain Trail official
opening had been a great success, with many appreciative hikers. She
noted that GVLT has also had a lot of recent favorable media attention.
David commented that the Snowfill opening had been a great success
also, with many people and dogs enjoying it.
Regional Park: Joanne reported that there will be a meeting on Saturday,
October 12, from 4:30-5 p.m. in the Public Library Community Room to
recruit volunteers for the Dinosaur Playground.
Board membership: Sandy noted that several board members’ terms expire in
January 2009 and suggested that members recruit possible volunteers and ask
them to apply. Sue announced that Ted and Chris’s terms expire, as well as
Anne’s and Joanne’s.
Sandy would like to use the January meeting to review ethics for the board.
Some discussion followed about when to hold elections for board officers;
elections will be held either at the end of the January meeting or at the
February meeting.
Sue is retiring at the end of December. A retirement party will be held at Beall
Park on January 4. Sue would like to celebrate Joanne’s and Anne’s retirement
from the board there as well. Sue also suggested a December celebration at the
home of Terry Baldus. It was agreed that the celebration should be held
separately from the December board meeting, date TBA.
Mayor’s report: in the absence of Mayor Jacobson, who was out of town on city
business, Sandy presented her report on R&R Construction’s report on bids
and expenses for the Story Mansion renovation (letter attached). David
recommended that the board not get involved with this project, agreed by the
board.
Park and Recreation Director’s report: Ron reported on his presentation to
the City commission regarding the Bogert Bandshell. The three options are 1.
Restore it. 2. Move and restore it. 3. Tear it down and build a new one. The
commission’s choice was to make it safe for the time being while trying to
secure funding. The planning department will try to get a historic preservation
grant. Private fund-raising efforts seem to be stalled. Meanwhile, Ron and Thom
are working to make the present shell safe and accessible.
Ron and Thom met with Ted Lange and Stephen Johnson of GVLT to coordinate
trail efforts; they will continue to do this every couple of months.
Ron missed a library board meeting at which parkland dedication was
discussed. Discussion continues about where parkland will be located
(apparently not the Dell) and who will maintain it and the other library land.
David asked who bought the land on East Main just east of the library. Ron was
not certain but hopes to work with the new owner.
Park Superintendent’s report: See attached report. Thom also announced that
the Rose Park disk golf course will have a formal opening soon and that it is
playable now.
Recreation Department report:
Sue noted that the Fall Outside Bozeman magazine has several mentions of
David and contains an article by Sue. Jamie will take over writing the article
beginning next year. The winter program brochure has also appeared in the
Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
Sue pointed out the Lindley Center renovations. The board responded
enthusiastically. The Beall Park Recreation Center window trim is finished. The
Beall renovation has received a Historical Society award for civic rehabilitation.
The Presentation will be on November 7, 7:00p.m. at the Beall.
The Montana Recreation and Parks Association annual conference was
excellent, with an emphasis on getting kids outdoors. Jamie was selected as one
of six young participants in a nation-wide think tank to work on this issue.
Dan McCarthy, the new aquatics director, reported that pool attendance has
picked up, with many groups competing for pool time. Underwater lights have
been installed at the Swim Center, and Friday night activities featuring them
and a disco ball are planned.
Dan also presented the Aquatic Report on the Swim Center and Bogert pools,
which he will present to the commission on October 13. The board
congratulated him on a thorough and informative report. Moved by Anne,
passed, that the board endorse the report and recommend that it be adopted as
the work plan for these facilities.
Other: Anne inquired what’s going on with the cash-in-lieu committee. Ron
replied that there has been no new progress. It was agreed that the real solution
to valuation of the amount of cash-in-lieu of parkland must be legislative. Local
representatives will be contacted about carrying such a bill.
Respectfully submitted,
Anne Banks