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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-08-16 PARCOFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK KAREEMAH FOWLER, CITY CLERK PARC AUGUST 8, 2016 4:18 P.M. Committee Members Present: Committee Members Absent: Other Council Present: Others Present: Agenda: Elbel Park & Randy Kelly, Oliver Davis, John Voorde, Dr. David Varner John Mazurkiewicz, Ralph Lampkin Jo M. Broden, Regina Williams- Preston, Gavin Ferlic Kareemah Fowler (late), Jennifer Coffman, Kathleen Cekanski - Farrand, Adriana Rodriguez Golf course Update, Aaron Perri- Superintendent of Parks & Rec. Committee Chair Randy Kelly called the meeting of the PARC Committee to order at 4:18 p.m. with one item on the agenda. Elbel Park & Golf course Update, Aaron Perri- Superintendent of Parks & Rec. Aaron Perri, Executive Director of South Bend Parks, brought a monthly update on Elbel. It consists of a summary of the six (6) recommendations as well as a timeline of what has happened since those recommendations were made. The USGA report came back after Elbel and Erskine were visited, and it is available in the Office of the City Clerk. Orbis Environmental Consulting also reported on their twelve (12) visits to Elbel, where they took inventory of everything out there. Mr. Perri has already put together preliminary recommendations on how to better manage that property as it relates to those topics. The full report will not be ready until next May, because they have to see the full growing season over a period of one (1) year. The bulk of the growing season is the summer, so they have already been able to give us good information. A night sky assessment was completed by Chuck Buetter at Nightwise, which is on the Parks Department website and available in the Office of the City Clerk. JJ Keegan and Associates has been working on an ongoing, in depth consulting process. They first came and did secret shopping and played every course in the area. They did a lot of comparing and contrasting of what we have to offer in this marketplace. The secret shopping was extremely valuable. Six (6) members of our golf team have spent about ninety (90) minutes per week with them on focused topics as they relate to our golf operations. Meanwhile, he is 455 County -City Building - 227 W. Jefferson Boulevard • South Bend, Indiana 46601 Phone 574- 235 -9221 • Fax 574- 235 -9173 • TDD 574- 235 -5567 • www.SouthBendTN.gov JENNIFER M. COFFMAN ALKEYNA M. ALDRIDGE EMILY SEXTON CHIEF DEPUTY/ CHIEF OF STAFF DEPUTY/ DIRECTOR OF POLICY ORDINANCE VIOLATION CLERK using a survey of 1400 people in the community to form his recommendations to the Park Board which he will present next Monday at the O'Brien Center. He will give summary recommendations on how to adjust whether it be pricing, staffing, and other different business decisions as it relates particularly to golf. His business model will involve some changes, but it will make golf sustainable without any operational subsidy from the taxpayers. The Parks Department should be able to fund future capital, but the deferred capital maintenance remains a puzzle, and conversations about that will continue. Golf is fully budgeted for Elbel in 2017. Departments have already submitted their budgets to the Mayor, and there is money in the budget based on the recommendations. The Ecological Advocacy Committee is one (1) of the standing working groups we are going to continue. The committee gave a resolution to the Park Board last month and they are voting on it this month. It is not yet available on the website because it has not been acted upon. As soon as the Park Board passes this resolution, the Ecological Advocacy Committee will be ready to be formed. Committeemember Oliver Davis asked how wide - scoped the Ecological Committee would be, and Mr. Perri explained that it would be over the whole parks system, and that they are in the process of developing the first ever natural resource management plan for the entire parks system, so the Parks Department wants to start with this committee to engage in the process. The hope is to have it completed by next June. Committee Chair Kelly asked how they plan to form the committee. Mr. Perri stated that it is spelled out in the resolution, and the Park Board will take nominations. Councilmember Jo M. Broden asked how that committee will dovetail with the Office of Sustainability, or if they are separate tracks. Mr. Perri stated that he doesn't think they should be separate tracks. The Office of Sustainability has been focused on building maintenance and building sustainability, and they haven't done a lot with green space, so this will nudge them a little more into focusing on green space. This group will have the opportunity to be the tie that binds the Parks Department and the Office of Sustainability together. Committeemember Dr. Varner stated that we'll hear a presentation by the Sierra Club for the Council to look at a proposal that suggests wind and solar energy as a solution to a problem, but there is an absolute conflict coming. Dr. Varner stated that he remembers when it was a federal crime to damage or kill a bald eagle, yet the Department of Interior has authorized the loss of four - hundred (400) Bald Eagles per year to wind farms. There will have to be a coming together of people from both sides, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of interest in that. N Councilmember Broden asked if a golf committee is part of any of the recommendations that the Park Board is looking at. Mr. Perri stated that he envisions at least two (2) more advisory committees, possibly for recreation or athletics rather than narrowing them as much as golf. Councilmember Broden expressed her appreciation for Mr. Perri and the Park Board's work. Committeemember Oliver Davis asked if the Council can be included in the plans, and Mr. Perri offered to add it to the resolution. Councilmember Broden brought up the great work being done at Bowman Creek, and explained that there are a lot of benefits coming from the students and volunteers that are working out there. Councilmember Broden stated that Gary Gilot and another professor from Notre Dame wrote the grant and put together internships, and now there are multiple rain gardens and other specific improvements in the park. The Committee discussed having Gary Gilot come to the Council to give an update. Committeemember Dr. Varner explained that even though it is a large volunteer project, the grant has taken care of many of the monetary expenses. Committee Chair Kelly asked Mr. Perri to discuss how the ropes course is coming as well as the letter Vice President Davis sent out today regarding restrooms in the parks. Mr. Perri stated that he has received several comments regarding the Seitz Park restrooms this year. The portable restrooms were eliminated in Seitz Park, and the Parks Department made a deal with the Emporium to allow park patrons to use restrooms in the atrium of the building. The deal is that they keep them unlocked from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. There is signage in the park and on the door indicating the location of the restrooms. We had complaints about the cleanliness and unsavory activity that happens in portable restrooms after hours. Now where there used to be two (2) toilets, there are now eight (8) with running water and a comfortable place for parents to change their babies or people can change out of their East Race clothes. The down side is that it is a little further away. There was one time when the restrooms were locked early during one of our busiest days, the fourth (4th) of July during the concert and fireworks. Committeemember Davis asked if there is any way to look at having restrooms a little closer to the park. Committeemember Dr. Varner stated that he has been to events where they bring in top notch restrooms with air conditioning that are as nice as anything you could build. He asked if Mr. Perri would look into getting them for Seitz Park. 3 With no other items on the agenda, Committee Chair Randy Kelly adjourned the meeting at 4:40 p•m• Respectfully Submitted, ', t C�n�' �� t Randy Kelly, ommittee hair