PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES

 

DECEMBER 20, 2005

 

 

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

 

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

 

OTHERS PRESENT:  Steve Conley, Connie Patterson

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  There being no additions or corrections, the minutes for the meeting on November 15, 2005 were approved as distributed.

 

REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION:  No report.

 

REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PARKS & RECREATION:  Mr. Conley reported the Frozen Nose 4 Miler would be held on January 21.  Some registration forms had been turned in already.  Volunteers are needed.  Please call Mr. Conley if you can help out. 

 

The ice rink is within a day from opening.  Lights over the rink will be turned off at 10:00 p.m.  Police will lock the gate and city employees will open gate in the morning.

 

Mr. Conley and Ms. House met with the newly appointed Joint Recreation District board members.  Those individuals are Tina Platt, Angela Zellers and Bob Gugel.  The City expressed the need for open communication.

 

Skatepark equipment has been ordered and should be delivered mid January.

 

COMMISSIONER’S REPORT ON INDIVIDUAL PARKS:  Mr. Conley said the City is plowing only asphalted areas in the parks.  The parking area at Millcreek Park and the asphalted trails are plowed.

 

“City Property No Trespassing” signs will soon be posted

 

All parks are snow covered, so nothing to report.

 

CITIZENS’ COMMENTS NON-AGENDA ITEMS:  None

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

          User Fees -  Mr. Conley distributed sample forms he got from the Joint Recreation District website, as well as the current form used by the City.

 

Mr. Conley stated he had received an email from the YMCA inquiring about City soccer field usage.  In the past, they have used the Joint Rec facility. 

 

Discussed charging a reservation fee or a game usage fee.  Suggested a 24-hour cancellation notice in order to keep from losing deposit.  If cancellation is due to bad weather, game will be rescheduled.  Teams should pay upfront.  No fee for practice, just games.  Teams will line their own fields.  A $40 usage fee is currently being charged per field for all-day usage.

 

Mr. Marshall stated a representative from the Joint Rec Board presented a future development plan for Joint Rec to Council at the last meeting.  He commented he did not want the City in competition with UCJRD since City is helping to support them.  Rates and rules and regulations should be similar. 

 

Proposed game-usage fees:  $5.00 per baseball/softball game, $20.00 per soccer game (lining the fields to be done by teams), and $40.00 all-day usage fee.  Motion was made to recommend these fees to Council; affirmative voice vote was unanimous.

 

Clerk will draft legislation to be reviewed by the Finance Committee prior to being put on Council agenda.

 

          Terms of Office – Discussion at the last meeting was to change the date for term expiration from November to December because new members are appointed in November and would not be attending meetings until December.  Mr. Jones does not feel a change is needed, thinking that new people coming on Board may not want to run for office at that time.  No change will be made.

 

          After discussion about the change to #5, deleting “Director of Administration and Director of Public Service,” Clerk brought to the Commission’s attention that the language is part of Chapter 131 of the Code and would need legislation to make the change.  Motion was made to put the language back in the Rules of Procedure; affirmative voice vote was unanimous. 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

COMMENTS OF CITIZENS – AGENDA ITEMS:  None

 

COMMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS: 

 

Mr. Seymour asked if there had been any change in plans for South Park.  Mr. Conley stated that Adena Pointe plans were progressing and had nothing new to report.  Mr. Seymour asked if Parks and Recreation Commission could be involved with the location of the pond at South Park.  Mr. Conley believes that the lay of the land based on elevation would determine the location of the pond.  Mr. Seymour recommended that the pond be located between the Links and South Park.  He noted he hopes the developer would come back to Parks & Recreation Commission with the final plan.  Mr. Marshall will get an update on South Park/Adena Pointe from Administration.

 

Mr. Seymour stated the latex coating will have to be redone because motorcycles have damaged the surface down to the blacktop.

 

ADJOURNMENT:  There being no further business to come before Parks & Recreation Commission, the meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.