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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-05-2007 Parks and Recreation Advisory Council Minutes PARK& RECREATION ADVISORY COUNCIL July 5, 2007 In attendance: Duane Taber, Mike Mathews, Curt Shaw, Cheryl Smyth and Edmon Daniels. Staff. Stan Strebel,Administrative and Community Services Director, and Paul Whitemarsh, Recreation Services Manager. Dan Dotta was excused. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Taber. The minutes for the previous meeting in April were approved as presented. STAFF REPORTS Recreation Paul reported on recreation activities. There is a new supervisor at the Martin Luther King Center who has a good raport with people and is very creative and taking good control of the facility. Special programs include the July 4th activities with the parade and fireworks. They were very successful. Swim lesson registration has been extremely smooth. Having up to 50% of the registration opportunities available for City residents on-line has been very helpful. The second phase of the Senior Center Study Development plan for action will be underway shortly. The main planning event will be held at the Senior Center on July 26 from 8:30 to 3:00 p.m. All Advisory Board members are invited to attend. Facilities Dan Dotta was on vacation. Stan passed out a written summary of maintenance activities. Most emphasis this past month has been on getting pools prepped and ready for opening in early June. Chiawana Park maintenance activities are continuing. A new Groundsman was recently hired. Update on Projects Stan reported that work is continuing on the approval process for the Sacajawea Heritage Trail. The City had recently been notified that the Corps of Engineers anticipates a delay in finalizing the lease agreement for Chiawana Park to December 1 due to the complexity of securing approvals for the replacement boat dock. However, maintenance operations are continuing. Pool Discussion Stan reviewed the contents of the memo that was provided to Advisory Board members recounting the recommendation that the Park Board made last August to the City Council to 1) close Richardson Pool and replace with a water playground; 2)undertake renovation of Kurtzman Pool and 3) study the feasibility of covering Memorial Pool and undertake renovation thereof. As ORB Organization had completed a study this spring updating the cost of various improvement and replacement alternatives this information has been provided to the City Council and the Advisory Council. Staff has attempted to take the August recommendation of the Park Board, together with the alternatives and cost estimates provided by ORB, and present a possible recommendation for the City Council. Stan emphasized that, with the growth in the community, the Advisory Board should consider what package of improvements would best serve the entire community, keeping in mind that while a Regional Aquatic Facility may be built, it may also not be built and the City's plans need to be able to stand regardless of the eventual outcome of the Aquatic Facility. As the Board discussed a number of questions and alternatives, Chairman Taber suggested that perhaps the consensus of the Board was forming that 1) Richardson Pool should be closed, that 2) Kurtzman and Memorial Pools would be replaced or substantially renovated and that 3) perhaps a new facility in the West Pasco area should be considered. This appeared to be the consensus of everyone with the exception of Cheryl, who expressed some reservation. There was also concern expressed by Mike that rebuilding Kurtzman Pool at the same size might be a missed opportunity since the pool is small and not suitable for competition. It seemed to be the consensus of the group that 25 yd. facilities should be the minimum built. Curt asked about the relationship between the City pools and the Aquatic Facility. He questioned the usability of spray grounds and asked about Richardson Pool. Edmon said that he favored bringing all existing pools up to code and proceeding with additional facilities. It was the consensus of the group that staff should attempt to develop a motion for consideration by the group at the next meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m.