City of
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
STUDY SESSION
MINUTES
November 17, 2008
Present: Commissioners Eggers, Gardiner, Lewis, Noraas, Rosenthal; Director Robertson; Superintendents Gies and Teige
Absent: City Council Liaison Navickas
Gardiner called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Parks office, 340 S. Pioneer. He addressed a recent speculation about the potential liquidation of golf course land for affordable housing and said the matter lacked validity and was not included in the evening’s agenda.
RECREATION MASTER PLAN PRESENTATION
Robertson introduced professional parks and recreation planner Sally McIntyre of MIG and invited her to speak to the commission.
Sally McIntyre said parks and recreation master plans serve as roadmaps, providing direction to parks and recreation staff and boards. She said MIG master plans focus on human development, sustainability, and economic development. Typical master planning goals were identified as building a customized and realistic plan for the future, involving a wide range of citizens in the process, and building a constituency for parks and recreation. McIntyre emphasized the importance of including community members of all ages and abilities in the process. She said advisory committees could oversee the project and represent community interests. She recommended soliciting public input through mail-out and telephone surveys, online recreation questionnaires, and focus groups targeting specific community interests. She suggested hosting workshops and open houses to collect additional information. She said master plans range in cost from $35,000 to 100,000, depending on the level of detail, and require 12-18 months to complete.
McIntyre offered to develop a scope of work to help the commission decide whether to move forward. Commissioners provided McIntyre with positive feedback and thanked her for her time.
FEES AND CHARGES REVIEW – GOLF COURSE AND CALLE
Robertson said the commission would review fees and charges for the third consecutive year and the four-month process would include a review of all aspects of the recreation system.
Oak Knoll Golf Course
Teige reviewed Oak Knoll Golf Course revenues and expenditures. She said revenues were generated from green fees, power cart rentals, driving range fees, monthly specials, and annual passes (single and family). She said the commission approved a 10% increase in annual passes in February 2008 as well as increases in summer daily fees, senior fees, and summer cart fees, along with an increase in the senior age to 55, all implemented on April 1, 2008. She said labor costs went up in ’07-’08 while rounds went down. Teige reported that ‘07-‘08 revenues were $301,819.39 and expenditures were $361,824.55, bringing the total subsidized to $60,005.16, an 83% recovery rate.
Teige said Oak Knoll fees were comparable to other area courses and recommended no further increases in the next year.
Public Input
Jerry Hauck,
Brett DeForest,
Joanne Johns,
Discussion Among Commissioners
Commissioners asked about costs for promotions and advertising over the past two years and were told they ranged from $10,000 to 12,000 per year. Eggers suggested offering a discount to golfers who brought new golfers to the course. Noraas spoke favorably about offering the course for the cross country meet and said she liked hearing that the course was used for sledding. She proposed enhancing the amenity for a broader range of community members.
Calle Guanajuato
Teige said the Calle walkway was used by the artisans market and for restaurant seating from May through October. She reviewed her handout, stating that the market generated $6,913.50 in revenues in the past year while restaurant seating generated $5,981.50, bringing total revenues to $12,895. She said the commission approved, in February 2008, an increase in the rate of square footage from $3.10 to $3.30 and she recommended a further increase to $3.60 per square foot, estimated to bring in an additional $800-1,000 in the coming year. She reported that maintenance, materials, and labor costs totaled $10,692 and said the program was self-sustaining, with any surplus revenues placed into the Capital Improvement Fund for future improvements.
Discussion Among Commissioners
Gardiner said the Calle required repaving within the next ten years, with an estimated cost of $100,000. He suggested developing a repaving plan utilizing assistance from its primary users. Robertson reported that two new restaurants planned to open in the near future, both requesting seating along the Calle. He said the artisans also voiced a desire for additional space in that area and across the creek. Rosenthal questioned whether donations to the Parks Foundation (earmarked for
Public Input
Melissa Jensen, 690 South Mountain, owner of Louie’s Bar and Grill, asked the commission to continue allowing restaurateurs to stack unused tables and chairs along the Calle during the off-season. In light of the faltering economy, rising taxes and rents, high food costs and dwindling clientele, she questioned staff’s request to raise the square footage rate, especially since there was a surplus of revenues over expenses for the Calle program. She was told any surplus funds would assist with maintenance improvements in the area.
William Barchet,
Commissioners thanked staff and agreed to further discuss, at the February regular meeting, the recommendation of a thirty cent increase per square foot.
ADJOURNMENT – By consensus, Gardiner adjourned the meeting at 9:02 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Susan Dyssegard,