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PARCS February 20, 2014 4:00 P.M. Committee Members Present: Dr. Fred Ferlic, Derek dieter, Henry Davis (AB), Tim Scott Other Council Present: Valerie Schey (AB), David Varner, Oliver Davis, Gavin Ferlic (AB), Karen White (AB) Others Present: Phil St. Clair, Chris Chockley, Louella Webster, Larry Clifford, Mathew Moyers Agenda: Organizational Meeting Dr. Fred Ferlic, Chair of the PARC Committee, with a quorum of the Committee present, opened the meeting with introductions of the Park Commissioner Phil St. Clair and two representatives of a company helping the City put together a five year parks plan. Though billed as a committee organizational meeting the focus was clearly on the development of a five year park plan. Before getting into the details of the planning process Phil St. Clair in a forum answered a few questions from committee members. Dr. Ferlic was informed by Phil that the City has 57 parks of all sizes and for all variety of activities. Volunteers, whose efforts ebb and flow according to Phil, nonetheless contributed over 20,000 volunteer hours to help primarily with programming. Phil responded to questions about the East Bank Area saying the original Howard Park Plan was too expensive. Further planning was put on hold until the Transpo site plan took form. Regarding the Howard Park Ice Rink, Phil said in its current aging repairs constant and losing $30,000 a year it should be scrapped. Preliminary costs estimates to replace the rink are upwards of $1.5 million dollars. This amount necessitates putting it on a bond wish list. Moving to dollar and-cents parameters, Phil said the Park Department ran on a $13 million annual budget, $7.5 million coming from the general fund. Phil then shifted discussion to the ongoing planning process to result in a five year master plan. To assist, the City contracted with Jones Petrie Rafinski, an urban planning firm. Chris Chockley and Mathew Moyers from the firm were present to help Phil describe their design of the planning process. The process will involve identifying current and future funding sources to help quantify resources. The crucial need for input from all stakeholders was seen as vital to develop a vision for the parks. To that end meetings in each Council district had been scheduled for early March working toward completion of a strategic 5 year plan by July 14th. (Schedule Attached) The Jones Petrie Rafinski representatives then described the guide for developing a visionary master plan. Using a handout (attached) they said the process begins by asking: 1. Who we are? 2. What we want? 3. What we can do? 4. How to get it done?