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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks Commission minutes - 12-09-15.docx Yakima Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes for December 9, 2015 Commissioners Present: Chairman Rod Bryant, Vice Chairman Sam Karr, Paul Williams, Roger Lewis, Jo Miles, Matt Tweedy, Rosana Bravo and Maureen Adkison, Yakima City Council Liaison Absent and Excused: Tom Hinman Staff present: Ken Wilkinson, Parks & Recreation Manager and Jenise Sanders, Administrative Secretary for Parks & Recreation Call to Order Welcoming everyone in the audience and viewers watching on YPAC, Chairman Rod Bryant called the nd meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. at City Hall in the Council Chambers, 129 North 2 Street, Yakima, Washington. Approval of the Meeting Minutes of October 14, 2015. It was Moved by Roger Lewis, Seconded by Rosana Bravo, to approve the Minutes as written from the October 14, 2015 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting. The motion carried unanimously. Southeast Yakima Community Park Playground Update Ken Wilkinson stated that we were able to complete the construction of the new playground at Southeast Community Park. The playground was purchased from Landscape Structure and the installers were able th to start on November 17 and finish it before the weekend. We had volunteers from East Valley Four Square Church come and help spread the soft fall safety mulch. Ken acknowledged Park Maintenance staff and the Streets Division for removing the old play structure and prepping the site for the new one. The cost for the project was approximately $110,000 and was funded by the $750,000 Parks Capital money. Maureen Adkison asked if we have thought about sending out notices to the neighbors to see if they would like to volunteer to help with projects like this. Ken stated that we did discuss that but it was not really possible with this project due to the short turnaround. Matt asked about the life expectancy on a playground. Ken advised about 25 years. Matt asked how long the warranty is on one of these play structures. Ken said he would have to check on that. He stated that we have a couple of other Landscape Structures playgrounds within the city and they are really good about checking them when they are in town. They will go out and inspect them and let us know if there is something that needs to be fixed or tightened and things like that. Ken stated that the playground that we just replaced at Southeast Community Park was 20-25 years old. The new one is three times the size of the one we replaced. There has been a change in playground design. They are no longer the imagination stations, they are geared more toward building core strength and being more physical to help combat childhood obesity. Fisher Park Golf Course – 2015 Report Ken presented the numbers for Fisher Park Golf Course for 2015. He advised that we were down 500 rounds of golf which translates to about $7,000 decreased revenue. He stated there were a couple of contributing factors for the decrease in numbers. Rivers Ridge Golf Course offered a tremendous annual golf package. Some of the Fisher Park golfers may have taken advantage of that package since it is a golf course that is close in size to Fisher. The other factor could have been the heat. We had at least a month of extremely hot weather and that will drive attendance down. We did purchase two golf carts for those that still want to play golf but may not be able to walk the course. We did not add them until mid July so we are hoping that will show improvement next year. Matt asked if the school district do any activities at the golf course. Ken advised that they do occasionally hold a gym class there. Some of schools have used it for their golf teams and the First Tee holds there program there. Matt asked if they reimburse the city for the use of the course. Ken stated we have a reciprocal agreement with the school district but we do charge a fee. Matt asked about the cost for a golf pass. Ken stated that passes vary in price and we can bring that information next time. Discussion followed regarding the golf package that was offered by Rivers Ridge. Sam Karr asked what the cost is for a normal round of golf at Fisher. Ken stated $9.25 and we do have a number of specials that reduce the price to $7.00. Men’s day is Thursday and Ladies day is Tuesday. Seniors day is Monday and we still have KXDD Loyal Listener Wednesday where the price is only $5.00. Ken commented that KXDD has been a wonderful partner and that Dewey does a great job of promoting that golf course on his morning show. He acknowledged the golf course staff and the excellent job they do. Maureen stated that the rezoning of the Westwood Golf Course was just approved this week and suspects that work will begin soon. The closing of Westwood Golf Course would have a big impact for Fisher. Discussion followed. Sam asked when the last time we had a price increase at Fisher. Ken stated he believes it was around 2008, but that we feel we are targeted pretty well. If you raise the price too high, less people will play and if you keep it too low, you don’t get enough revenue. Matt suggested that we may want to look at a price increase after we see what happens next year. Discussion followed. Sam asked if we are considering making any other improvements at Fisher. Ken advised we would like to do something with the starter house and would like to have a little snack area with seating, but it is a costly endeavor. Discussion followed. Randall Park Improvement Project Update Ken stated that we met with HLA, a local engineering firm, to discuss cost for them to design the parking lots and walkways. We had hoped that the Engineering Department would be able to help us but they are short staffed and have a lot on their plate and are just not able to do that right now. We are looking at doing one parking lot in the Spring and the other in the Fall. Scott Schafer, Public Works Director has committed the Streets Department to do the work parking lots and walkways and we will pay all materials. thth We are thinking we will do the 48 Ave. side first and the 44 Ave. side in the Fall. We met today with Southwest Rotary. President, Bill Gilmore has committed to replacing the basketball court. They will be starting that project in late February or early March and hope to pour concrete in April so it will be ready to play on in the Spring. Ken advised that he ordered the CXT restroom today and the price is $129,000, but match from the RCO grant brings that down to about $65,000. We are still hoping to put the second th restroom on the 48 Ave. side, but not sure if we will have enough money to do that. Sunrise Rotary has agreed to do two picnic shelters by the pond. We will be working with them on the agreements to have those constructed sometime in the Spring as well. We are hoping to rework some of the dirt around the pond soon so the observation deck looks like it is part of the design. Maureen asked about the barrier that was there to help keep people out of the water. Ken advised that there is silt fence there and may just need to be put back up. Stormwater has applied for a grant through the Department of Ecology to make improvements to the pond. We still have not heard whether we received the grant but if they do not get it, we still some money from Stormwater to help make the edge of the pond look nice. Matt asked if part of the money will go toward fixing the spillway area. Ken advised that it will go for cleaning up the outfall area. Stormwater is working with AHBL to do the work on the pond and some of the design work has already been done. Matt asked if they don’t get it, can they reapply or is it a grant that goes away. Ken stated he believes we can reapply again. Discussion followed. We would like to control the access points with plantings. Maureen commented that the dog park is being used a lot. Ken stated that we did have some vandalism over the weekend. They broke the hinges on the gates and we met with the contractor to get prices to get them replaced. Manager’s Report Ken advised that Heidi Tollackson, Department Assistant, put together information regarding our park picnic shelter rentals. The spreadsheets are included in their packets. We did not allow rentals at Randall Park this year due to the renovations and the picnic shelter has been removed. Discussion followed. Rod Bryant asked about the beaver problem at West Valley Park. Ken advised that we believe we have that under control. Ken stated that we are looking at making some changes with the park reservations in 2016. We have had some problems with larger groups in the past and as a committee we are trying to come up with the best solutions for everyone. One thing that we are looking at is having someone from Park and Recreation on site during the large group event to answer questions, help with problems and deal with issues as they arise. Matt asked what is classified as a large group. Ken stated over 300. Matt asked what type of large groups we have had issues with. Ken stated it can be the traffic, parking, trash, music and noise from a family reunion, organization yearly picnic or any large group. Matt asked if we see charging a supplemental fee for these groups. Ken said that is what we are considering. Jo Miles asked if there is a fee now. Ken stated not for a site supervisor and we are probably looking at about $25 per hour and it really benefits the groups. Discussion followed. Jo asked if there are any fees right now. Ken advised there are graduated fees and this would be in addition to those. We currently have this at the Harman Center, so if you rent the facility you pay for a building supervisor that is there to answer questions or take care of issues. Sam asked if the cost will be based on the size of the group. Ken stated it would. Discussion followed. Ken advised that the climbing wall for Lions Pool has been ordered and the restroom for Milroy has also been ordered. Discussion followed regarding the location of the restroom. Maureen asked if the restroom facilities are open 24 hours a day. Ken stated that we have tried leaving them open and opening in the morning and closing in the evening, there are issues with both. We have people that vandalize and want to live in them if we leave them open or we have to have someone drive around and close them all in the evening and open them back up in the morning, neither is good. Discussion followed. st Ken advised that the program guide will be mailed again and should be out just after January 1. Ken stated that Seniors Inc., our volunteers at the Harman Center, have agreed to donate $8,000 for a new copier and $6,000 for new stacking chairs at the Harman Center. The total cost of the chairs is $12,000, so the other half will be paid out of Parks Capital. Seniors Inc. also paid for new carpet in the computer room. Ken thanked our partners, Seniors Inc. and all that they do. Ken also thanked each of the park commissioners for their service, wished them Happy Holidays and reminded them the election of officers will be held in January. Rod thanked Ken and the Parks and Recreation staff for all that they do. Discussion followed. For the Good of the Order Sam inquired about the meeting that was held last month at Public Works. Ken stated that it was not an official meeting since we did not have a quorum. Ken stated that we are starting to embark on our 2017- 2022 Comprehensive Plan. Discussion followed. Sam asked if there is any new information from RCO on the conversion. Ken stated that it will be Spring at the earliest before we have a determination. Maureen stated that SOZO is definitely moving forward on the soccer fields. Discussion followed. Matt commented about MLK Jr. Park and asked when the buildings there and at Miller will be removed. Ken stated that we have been given permission to use the Risk Management fund to have those demolished in 2016. Discussion followed. Matt asked about restrooms in the parks that don’t have them. Ken stated that there is a park size to restroom need ratio that has to be factored in as well as them being expensive to purchase and maintain. Discussion followed. Rod asked about the education center at Miller Park. Maureen stated that it is going forward at the location across from Miller Park. Discussion followed. Adjournment The next Parks and Recreation Commission meeting will be January 13, 2016. The meeting adjourned at 6:26 p.m.