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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks Minutes 081618 CITY OF CENTRAL POINT Parks Commission Minutes August 16, 2018 MEETING CALLED TO ORDER II. ROLL CALL: Fran Settell, Neil Olsen, Mark Ludwiczak,Jennifer Horton, Patricia Alvarez Absent: Lee Orr, Dennis Browning Staff: Matt Samitore, Dave Jacob, Nikki Petersen, Elizabeth Blodget III. REVIEW MINUTES Fran moved that the minutes from the December 7 meeting be approved as submitted and Jennifer seconded the motion which was approved by all. IV. CHANGES TO AGENDA: No Changes V. PUBLIC APPEARANCES: None VI. BUSINESS A. Flanagan Park Parking Area Revised Parking Plan: At the May meeting, staff had presented a parking plan for Flanagan Park that provided 2 regular and 1 disabled parking spot. Commission members had requested that a new plan be developed that would provide an additional park spot. Matt presented the revised plan to the commission. Also reviewed were parking plans that had been developed when the park was originally designed. The two designs provided for parking areas within the park itself. Commission members felt that the new design still would not meet the needs of park users and would potential be used by park neighbors rather than park users. Commission members liked the original in-park designs but wanted to limited impact on the park. Matt said that staff would put together a design for the in-park design. Staff will also provide cost estimate for the designs at a future meeting. B. Discussion of Park Closing Hours: Dave said that the purpose of this discussion was not to make a decision on closing hours at this meeting but to get a sense of what the commission thought about the issue. Currently, park hours are 6 am to 10 pm. The problem faced by parks staff is that noise complaints and park damage occur primarily after dark. If park hours were changed to dawn to dusk this could potentially limit these issues and provide the police department with a tool to better manage park complaints. The downside is that these hours would also limit access to parks for those using City of Central Point Parks Commission Minutes August 16, 2018 Page 2 them after dusk. In reviewing other city most do have set hours like Central Points. Very few have dusk to dawn hours. Matt said that the most of the problems occur at the Don Jones Park basketball courts and the resulting neighborhood complaints primarily during the summer months. Commission members suggested seasonal hours or setting the closure for an hour after dusk but felt this would be too complicated. They also suggested adding additional signage. Matt said this might be helpful but there are currently a lot of signs at the park. Lights on the basketball courts are on a timer switching off at 10 pm but the courts are used after hours using vehicle lights. Matt suggested adding additional signage adding one to the basketball courts and keep current closure hours. The commission agreed to this strategy but the commission may revisit if complaints continue. VII. OTHER BUSINESS— A. Park Project Updates: Pfaff Park Playground: Dave said that he has contacted multiple contractors but has yet to get a confirmation. Hopefully the playground will be installed this winter. Don Jones Park Concession Stand:The project will go out to bid this fall. Matt reported that the police substation may not be completed with the initial construction due to zoning issues. Once these are resolved the work may be completed or if not it could be used as a storage area. Once in place the concession stand would be operated only on a seasonal basis. Skyrman Arboretum: The original plan had been to use the existing house as classrooms and office space. A contractor had done an inspection of the house and there were lots of issue to deal with including asbestos removal and problems with the foundation. Repairing the foundation would cost approximately$60,000. The thought currently is to remove the house and replace it with another structure such as a log cabin or a modular. Matt said that the next phase of landscaping and irrigation would go to bid this fall. This would focus on the entrance area and providing irrigation to more of the site. There are funds still available from the Skyrman family for the project but these may or may not be released. Bohnert Family Farm Park: The contractor has not completed work on the park yet so it has not been transferred to city. Once completed the city has grant funds available to finish the park which would include playground, restroom, and other features. Matt said that if the contractors work is not completed by this fall grant funds may not be used. Community Center: Dave reported that the Community Center Ad Hoc Committee continues to meet. A floor and exterior plan has been developed for discussion purposes. The committee will meet one more time this fall and then bring the concept to the full city eiR) council for discussion. Matt said that at a council study session they had City of Central Point Parks Commission Minutes August 16, 2018 Page 3 discussed three funding options: 1. Do a bond which would require a community vote and which would raise taxes. 2. A rate funded option which would raise the recreation fee on water bills to pay off the bone. 3. Currently the city has a couple of outstanding bonds but these could be paid off in the next year. The city currently has a large funding carryover. The carryover would be used to pay off the existing bonds which would allow for a new bond. Under this scenario there would be no raise taxes or fees. Council was interested in the option but they are concerned about long-term staffing and maintenance of the facility. Additional staff would be required to manage the facility. A question will be added to the upcoming community survey on this issue. A pool will not be a part of this community center due to expense but the council would like to see a spray park. B. Special Event Updates: Nikki Petersen reviewed the upcoming calendar of events with the commission and reported that the first annual Parks and Recreation held in June had been a great success with approximately 500 attending. Also, the special event fee schedule will be brought back to the commission for review in November. Nikki provided an overview of the new Rec & Go Program which is a mobile recreation program that started in June. The idea is to bring games and crafts to all city park so that we can more effectively get kids and their families out of their houses and into the parks. Two staff people were hired to run the program and set up a summer schedule where the van visit parks two days a week. The program was also at all city special events. Schedules were printed went out to every school in the city and all other appropriate venues. Plans for the future including getting the Rec &Go program into the schools and offering the program for rent for parties. Overall the program has been a great success and we look forward to expanding it in the future. Fran suggested that multicultural elements might be added to the program so that other cultures might be focused on. C. Recreation Program Updates: Dave introduced Elizabeth Blodgett who is responsible for putting together the recreation guide and coordinating all recreation classes. Dave said that the recreation guide has never looked better. Elizabeth provided an overview D. Public Works Update: Matt said that the work on E. Pine Street is nearly complete. Work on the Twin Creek Rail Crossing is underway and will hopefully be done in December. City of Central Point Parks Commission Minutes August 16, 2018 Page 4 E. Park Commission Question: Mark said that he had forwarded a question concerning a butterfly garden art Flanagan Park. Dave said that one had just been installed in the Don Jones Park Community Garden. The project had been done primarily by volunteers including the Central Point Garden Club and an Eagle Scout. Matt said that the city could provide funds toward this as well. Jennifer asked about the dog bag station and what the cost was. Dave said that he would look into it and get back to her. VIII. ADJOURNMENT:The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 pm. IX. Next Meeting: Schedule for next year: February 14, May 16, August 15, and November 14