PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES

APRIL 17, 2007

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Jones at 7:00 p.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Russ Jones, John Howard, Rowland Seymour, Mary Catherine Rodenberger Excused: John Marshall Absent: Cathy Dwertman

OTHERS PRESENT: Steve Conley

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: There being no additions or corrections, the minutes for the meeting on January 16, 2007 were approved as distributed.

REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION: No report.

REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PARKS & RECREATION: Mr. Conley reported that the newsletter is almost done. It’s scheduled to be sent out the first of May. It includes the pool schedule and activities and concerts going on this summer.

Work is beginning on the restroom shelter at Mill Valley South. Mr. Conley showed the Commission the plans. The City has run the water line, and the sewer line will be installed as soon as possible.

COMMISSIONER’S REPORT ON INDIVIDUAL PARKS:

Mr. Seymour reported that Schwartzkopf Park looks great. He recommended expanding the parking area. More parking is needed around the ball park areas. There are some dead limbs lying around. He also noted that it looks like a couple of trucks had gotten stuck. Mr. Conley said there used to be a tree there, but it was cut down. The workers removed the stump and put some dirt in that area. While doing that, the ground was soft and the workers sunk a little. The ground will be smoothed out and grass seed planted.

Mr. Howard said Legion Park looks fine.

Ms. Rodenberger said Butterfly and Trinity Parks look fine.

The other day, Mr. Conley drove by Mill Valley Central where the soccer and ball fields are. He noticed the workers were cutting the lawn and felt it was too wet to be cutting the grass. The mowers were leaving tire tracks. He talked to Lane Stillings, who will handle the issue.

CITIZEN’S COMMENTS NON-AGENDA ITEMS:

OLD BUSINESS

· Greenwood Park Update

Mr. Conley reported that the trees will be planted as soon as it dries up so workers can get the equipment into the area. City crews are doing the work. The tile is on hold until it dries up.

Mr. Seymour noted that it had been 2-1/2 days since the last rain and there is about a 6” stream of water coming out under Rt. 38. Unless that tile is run all the way to Rt. 38 and hooked into the tile that comes under Rt. 38, he feels “we’re fighting a losing battle.” It is Mr. Conley’s understanding that the water from the Women’s Reformatory and that area drains over to the golf course and over to South Park and over to the Town Run. Mr. Seymour stated that before the golf course, there were 44 acres draining into that tile under Rt. 38; after the golf course, there are 144 acres draining into that tile. Feels we need to do something with the water on the west side of Rt. 38, or make sure that tile on the east side of Rt. 38 is big enough to accommodate all the water coming from the golf course.

Mr. Conley asked if there was any standing water in the park now. Mr. Seymour stated there is today. There is a problem with the water coming from the golf course. There are 19 wells on the golf course, which are used to water the fairways. The excess water drains into the retention pond, which in turn drains into Greenwood Park. He feels all the money that is being spent on the tile is going to be for not unless we make sure it handles the water from the golf course.

NEW BUSINESS

Mr. Jones reported that Debbie Groat has resigned from the Parks & Recreation Commission effective immediately. A replacement has not yet been named. The individual appointed to replace Ms. Groat must live in Ward 3.

Mr. Jones noted a concern that Mrs. Groat had at the January meeting. She proposed putting a policy in place to close the park if conditions are bad, such as high water from which a teenager had to be rescued. She was concerned about liability issues. Mr. Conley stated rules and signs can be made for every single thing, but the Commission cannot control parenting. Mr. Conley said he is considering posting, at the beginning of each of the trails, basic park rules, and will add “if the water is rising or flooding, the park is closed.”

Regarding the liability issue, it’s just like the skateboard park or the playground in a park, the City is subject to sovereign immunity.

· Submittal of Park Project Plans

On the Plan, South Park should be changed to read Greenwood Park.

Aldersgate - After the concrete sidewalk and restroom are completed, there should be no other projects in that park.

American Legion Park – Update picnic tables, which are not considered capital improvements. Mr. Conley said they are working on those.

About five or six years ago, Mr. Conley asked the American Legion for an electric sign board to be used by the Legion and the City. The members voted it down. At the entrance of Park Avenue is a sign board, which is for Mr. Conley’s use. However, he doesn’t mind if the Legion uses it occasionally. The sign no longer looks good. He noted posted on one of the posts is a small sign “Hall Rental” along with a phone number. Also in the middle of the sign is a notice for Fish Fry or some other event. On May 1^st, Mr. Conley will be putting his signs up and those other signs will come down if they are still there. He has no problem helping to advertise events, but he does not want to advertise hall rental. Mr. Conley is planning to send a letter to the Legion about working together to put in a nice sign board along 5^th street for the proper advertising of events. He would like the Legion to consider splitting the cost. He will look at prices for various types of sign boards. Mr. Seymour and Mr. Howard thought the existing sign board belonged to the Legion. Mr. Howard said the City made the Legion put up the triangular signs at the entrance. Mr. Conley will do some research to see who owns the sign.

Mr. Seymour noted money is tight for the Legion because they’ve had to do extensive maintenance on the building, but feels they would be sympathetic toward sharing the cost of something that they and the City could use.

The sign could be a project for 2012. Mr. Conley will do some research on signage before adding it as a project.

Mr. Howard questioned the City cutting down some trees, which did not look dead. The Agreement the Legion has with the City states that no healthy tree shall be removed without consultation with the Legion. Mr. Conley feels Mr. Stillings and Mr. Tracy would not cut down a healthy tree.

Butterfly Park - Ms. Rodenberger stated there is not much to the park. Mr. Conley stated when this park was laid out, it was designated as only green space. No projects proposed.

City Pool - Mr. Conley said the building will be re-roofed after it closes for the season.

Eljer Park - Mr. Seymour questioned the Bridge Repair Replacement on the Plan for 2011. He didn’t feel the bridge needs replaced. It is safe and sturdy. Mr. Conley wonders if it wasn’t put in the Plan as anticipated maintenance. Clerk Patterson will check the minutes to see why the project was put in the Plan.

Jim Simmons Trail - Regarding extending the trail in 2010, as Glacier Ridge is developed, it was discussed that a trail would be made toward Marysville and that one of these days, the City’s trail would hook up to that trail.

Lewis Park - Only project on the Plan is to replace the basketball court in 2009. Mr. Conley talked to a couple of people on the Jr. Football League. They suggested removing the goal posts because their organization doesn’t use them. Mr. Conley will run it by the Junior Monarchs because they don’t use goal posts either. Mr. Conley mentioned the need for soccer goals and they said they’d check into purchasing them and that way it would give them flexibility where to place the football field. Mr. Conley told them a letter of request would be needed. Mr. Conley would talk to the Jr. Football people to make sure they don’t have any objection.

Proposed paved parking for Lewis Park in 2012 - $60,000

MacIvor Woods - Once the City puts in the parking lot and the drive, there is nothing else to do, because the City is not allowed to do anything else.

McCloud Park - No projects proposed.

McCarthy Park – No projects proposed.

Mill Creek Park - Mr. Conley would like to see the parking area increased before 2011. Other members agreed. Proposed moving it to 2008.

Mill Valley Park – Central - No projects proposed.

Mill Valley Park – South – No projects proposed.

Greenwood Park - Mr. Howard said money was set aside for this park, but it magically disappeared. Something has to be done there because it is a park now. Mr. Conley stated there is money for that in this year’s budget. In 2006, $50,000 was budgeted, but was not spent. $12,000-$14,000 was spent on trees and the remaining $36,000 was put back in the City-approved budget that Mr. Conley can spend over there. Once the trees are planted and the drainage lines are in, we need to square off a parking lot, put up a sign and cut some trails. Hopefully all this will not cost more than $36,000. Mr. Howard asked if the pond was going to be put in the park. Mr. Conley responded no.

Mr. Seymour stated that park, which is now Greenwood Park, was there long before MacIvor Woods and feels it should have priority. Once the tile is in and the water problem is resolved, City should put in the walking trail, even if it’s gravel. Mr. Conley said once the tile is in and trees are planted, and if there is money left, the walking path will be put in this summer.

Proposed moving the $20,000 from 2010 to 2009.

Trinity Park - No projects proposed.

Shalom Park – No projects proposed.

COMMENTS OF CITIZENS – AGENDA ITEMS: No comments.

COMMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS:

Mr. Seymour commented that he was pleased with the new shelter house at Schwartzkopf Park.

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before Parks & Recreation Commission, the meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.