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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-01-2007 Parks and Recreation Advisory Council Minutes PARK& RECREATION ADVISORY COUNCIL MINUTES February 1, 2007 In attendance: Duane Taber, Stacy Estes, Edmon Daniels, Steve Putnam and Cheryl Smyth. Staff: Stan Strebel, Administrative and Community Services Director, Paul Whitemarsh, Recreation Services Manager and Dan Dotta, Facilities Services Manager. Guests: Mike and Janice Mathews. The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. Chairman Taber requested a motion to approve the minutes of the December 7 meeting. This was passed with all voting in favor. Recreation Paul reported that the Martin Luther King Center is busy with indoor soccer, drop-in soccer and Court Kids basketball. The spring brochure will be ready for publication shortly. The 27tn Annual Cable Bridge Run was successful with one of the highest attendances ever. Paul explained the new experience with electronic timing. Some liked this, others did not. Basketball leagues are going on throughout the City and the Senior Center has been somewhat reorganized with the Senior Association giving up the Saturday evening dance in favor of supporting the Wednesday evening dance in exchange for a reduction of the rent. Shortly, we will be undertaking the Phase II study recommending future plans for the center. Facilities Dan reported that the crews are participating in training,pruning, painting and cleaning up (primarily tumbleweeds). New drinking fountains are being installed at Memorial Park and the Cemetery canopy has been replaced after having been damaged in a wind storm. Twelve funerals were conducted this last month. Stan mentioned that Dan recently attended training to become a Pool Operators Course certified instructor. This will enable us to train our Groundsmen in-house for the operation of the pools. We will save on travel and lodging costs as most trainings are out of the area. OLD BUSINESS Stan reported that the Kurtzman building, pavilion and Golf Course restroom project is nearly complete, with only a few other items to finish. We have recently been contacted by I.R.I. regarding the golf course lease and their desire to purchase equipment for a tent pavilion to be used to house larger tournaments and banquets at the course. In consideration for making this installation, I.R.I. has requested some modifications to the lease. This will be referred to the City Council and it is likely that the Council may refer the matter to a committee for in-depth review. Stan reported that two new parks appear to be moving through the system. The first is located in the First Place subdivision, west of Road 44 and north of the irrigation canal. This is a 5 acre park that the developer intends to construct the park and dedicate to the City. The staff has recently received plans and is in the process of reviewing them for compliance with City standards. A brief plan of the park was reviewed by the Council. Stan also reported that the School District contacted him recently and indicated that they may be proceeding with a bond issue in 2008 for the construction of a new elementary school at Road 60,just north of Sandifur Parkway. The school site has an adjacent 5 acre park site and it is anticipated that the park may be constructed in conjunction with the development of the school. In other items, Stan reported that negotiations are continuing for a lease at Chiawana Park. The City is satisfied that, as much as possible, its conditions precedent to signing the lease can be met in the document and the Corps is in the process of drafting a lease for City review. Also, the process continues for getting approvals for the Sacajawea Heritage Trail Phase II extension. This continues to be slow going waiting for approval from the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission for the pedestrian bridge across the trail spur and working through all the necessary approvals with the Corps for the lowering of the levee. NEW BUSINESS Stan reviewed the recommendations of the Bikeway Advisory Committee, including the goals and policies, (which include design and maintenance), the WA DOT Bikeway standards and the map showing existing and proposed bikeways and routes. This information is also being forwarded to the Planning Commission on February 15. Mr. and Mrs. Mathews were at the meeting and were interested in the recommendation. The Council asked for more time to review the recommendations so this will be discussed further at the next meeting, March 1. Stan reminded Council members that terms on the Advisory Council were expiring for Chairman Taber and Steve Putnam. He encouraged both of them to submit an application to be reappointed to serve on the Council.