HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-05-13 MinutesC�E IDIAN�--
PARKS Ft RECREATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING • MINUTES
Meridian City Hall
33 E. Broadway Avenue, Meridian, Idaho
Wednesday, May 13, 2015 • 6:00 p.m.
The Meridian Parks 8 Recreation Commission is a volunteer citizens' group that is created and
empowered to advise the City on issues relating to park facilities and recreation programs of the City.
Their mission is to gather input from staff and other qualified personnel on issues relating to the
creation and design of public parks and open spaces; to listen to public input; and to provide advice
and recommendations on parks and recreation related matters to the Mayor and City Council.
1. Roll -Call Attendance
Commission President Matt Stolt called the meeting to order at approximately 6:09
p.m. MPR Administrative Assistant II Rachel Myers took roll -call attendance as
follows:
X Matt Stoll, President X Kent Goldthorpe
X Creg Steele, Vice President X Jo Greer
O Treg Bernt X Phillip Liddell (arrived at 7:02 p.m.)
O Sharon Borton X John Nesmith
0 William Fitzgerald
Others present were: City Council Liaison Luke Cavener; MPR Department staff—
Director Steve Siddoway, Parks Superintendent Mike Barton, Parks Ft Pathways Project
Manager Jay Gibbons, Ft Recreation Coordinator Colin Moss; Meridian Co -Op Gardeners
President Juli Bokenkamp; Treasure Valley YMCA President Jim Everett; Ft citizen Tom
Daily
2. Adoption of the Agenda
Commission President Matt Stoll entertained a motion to accept the agenda as
presented. Commissioner John Nesmith moved to adopt the agenda as presented.
Commission Vice President Creg Steele seconded the motion. All were in favor of the
motion.
3. Approval of Minutes of the April 8, 2015 Special Meeting (Spring Pathways Tour)
Commission President Matt Stoll entertained a motion to approve the minutes as
presented. Commissioner Kent Goldthorpe moved to adopt the minutes as presented.
Commission Vice President Creg Steele seconded. All were in favor of the motion.
Parks a Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - May 13, 2015 Page 1 of 9
Persons desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and/or hearings:
Please contact the City Clerk's Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
4. Announcements
a. Commission Team -Building Event in June - Matt Stoll
President Matt Stoll stated over the past few years, a picnic event has been held in
the park with lots of games, a barbecue, and a scavenger hunt (one year) with all
of the Commissioners. There was a proposal to have another get-together again
this year in June to build the Commission team. After some discussion, there was
general consensus to have a picnic barbecue this year in Storey Park. Participants
will be able to take a tour to see the construction progress of the Bark Park site
and play some lawn games.
Commission participants broke out into their respective committees at 6:15 p.m.
5. Committee Meetings
a. Recreation it Special Events Committee
b. Parks Amenities ft Signage Committee
c. Community Liaison Committee
The Commission reconvened from committee meetings at 7:05 p.m.
6. Committee Reports
a. Recreation £t Special Events Committee - Colin Moss
Committee member Colin Moss reported the Recreation ft Special Events
Committee met that evening. Those in attendance were Chairman John Nesmith,
Colin Moss, and Emily Kane.
• Independence Day Festival - The City will partner with the Meridian Speedway
again to split the cost of the fireworks, as usual. There will be an evening of
music with bands starting at 3 p.m., food vendors, and inflatables for the
children. A time capsule will be opened up at 7 p.m.
• Barn Sour Race - This event, which has traditionally been held at the end of
June, will move to August this year. This is a fundraiser for the Care Enough to
Share program.
• Disc Golf Fall Classic - This event will be held on October 10, 2015. The
Committee has set some goals for attendance and sponsorships. Last year
there were 26 teams that participated. This year they are targeting 30 teams.
They hope to get up to 10 sponsors this year. Proceeds will benefit MPR
Department programs.
• CableONE Movie Night - There are 13 shows lined out for this movie season. All
sponsorship spots have been filled. The MPR Department had to increase
revenue in sponsorships by $4,000 this year to offset the addition of event
security throughout the summer.
• Gene Kleiner Day - This event is scheduled for June 13, 2015. There will be a
concert provided by the Meridian Symphony Orchestra. A statue of Ben Kleiner,
who is the grandson of Gene Kleiner, will be unveiled. There will be bounce
houses, face painters, a balloon artist, a food truck, and treats will be given
away.
Parks Ft Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - May 13, 2015 Page 2 of 9
Persons desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and/or hearings:
Please contact the City Clerk's Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
Kleiner Park LIVE - This concert series is returning this year. Plan Ahead Events
is the production company. A beer garden will be onsite. There are seven
dates scheduled for the series of band performances.
Community Block Party - This event is scheduled for September 19, 2015 and is
moving to Kleiner Park. Colin is hopeful to increase the attendance. There are
a lot of new sponsors this year with new activities, including a chalk art
festival, a food truck rally, and an evening concert.
Christmas in Meridian - The first committee planning meeting was held in April.
The next meeting is scheduled for May 18. Borton Lakey Law Et Policy has
agreed to be the presenting sponsor of the event. Sponsorship costs are
increasing this year in an effort to help break even for holding this event.
Commissioner Jo Greer is the sponsorship chairwoman.
b. Parks Amenities it Signage Committee - Jay Gibbons
Committee member Jay Gibbons reported the Parks Amenities 8 Signage
Committee met that evening. Those in attendance were: Chairman Matt Stoll,
Creg Steele, Mike Barton, Steve Siddoway, and Jay Gibbons.
• The Committee followed up on the Kleiner Park shade project. Steve led off
the discussion. The MPR Department is hoping to add shade in the
playground/splash pad area. The Kleiner Park Trust is considering paying for
the amenities, if possible, but cannot make that call until the concession
window shade project and the statue project are complete. In the meantime,
staff has drafted an enhancement for the FY2016 budget. This would provide
funding for the proposed shade structures if the Trust is unable to do so.
• The Committee opened a discussion on adult activity amenities. It was decided
that this discussion would be rolled into a new `park theming' topic.
• The Committee opened a new discussion topic to jump into, beginning with the
July Committee/Commission meeting. Theming ideas to be addressed may
include: unique amenity ideas, shelter designs, pathway trailheads, new -style
playground designs, fitness equipment, etc.
c. Community Liaison Committee - Jo Greer
Committee Chairman Jo Greer reported the Community Liaison Committee met
that evening. Those in attendance were: Kent Goldthorpe, Rachel Myers, and Jo
Greer.
• Update on Park Et Pathway Z -Card Map Printing Sponsor - A printing sponsor has
been secured, and the Department is awaiting a check. This agenda item will
be tabled until next month, when Commissioner Treg Bernt will be present to
provide an update.
• Update on QR Code Status - This agenda item will be tabled until next month,
when Shelly Houston will be present to provide an update.
• Update on Mobile Website - The Committee discussed the potential of creating
a downloadable calendar for cell phones with ways of filtering. This agenda
item will be tabled until next month, when Shelly Houston will be present to
provide an update.
• Discuss Next MPR Event Series ft Commission Involvement• i.e., Movie Night? -
The Committee discussed potentially manning a display booth at a Movie Night
to help promote the MPR Department.
Parks Et Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - May 13, 2015 Page 3 of 9
Persons desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and/or hearings:
Please contact the City Clerk's Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
• Review Pathway Bike Event Ir Brainstorm Future Community Involvement - Both
Jo and Rachel enjoyed the Spring Pathways Tour on bikes and thought that it
was a great way to see the featured pathways and any issues at hand. Kent
mentioned potentially having some people from the legislature come to see
these pathway segments to help get a head start regarding eminent domain—
perhaps a pathways tour or a special meeting to view some photos or a slide
show.
• Discuss Potential Event Calendar Posted at Each Park for Non -Online Patrons -
After discussing the potential calendar as a phone app (noted above), the group
felt this agenda item may be a moot point. The issue was trying to find a
central location for everyone to view a calendar of events (if a hard copy was
created).
7. Community Presentations
a. Kleiner Park Community Garden Update - Juli Bokenkamp
Meridian Co -Op Gardeners Club President Juti Bokenkamp provided a presentation
to update the Commission about the Community Garden in Kleiner Park. Copies of
her PowerPoint slide handouts are attached to these meeting minutes.
Commission Feedback:
• Vice President Creg Steele - He inquired as to the number of families that are
currently active with the garden this year. There are 26 families involved.
• Commissioner Phil Liddell - Regarding the raised beds, he inquired as to what
percentage of the overall area is raised and what are the dimensions? The two
raised beds are 4'x10-12', which are located on the far end, right at the
entrance of the maintenance yard.
He would like for the MPR Department to accommodate her by helping to
promote the community garden on the City's website, etc.
• Councilman Luke Cavener - He stated he has been fortunate to work with
different iterations of this group since 2009 or 2010. Since the organization has
been taken over by Juti, it has been run fantastically. He hears from the
community and citizens time and time again the impact the Club is making in
their family situation and that the feedback from the Meridian Food Bank has
been nothing short of amazing. He expressed his appreciation for the Club
members for their hard work and for Juti as their leader. In addition, he is very
thankful for Juli who continues to serve in this capacity.
• Director Steve Siddoway - He stated community gardens have a potential to
be a real eye sore. When Juli talked about her efforts and desire to make it
nice and beautiful, he feels the garden is a very attractive addition to the park.
He commended Juli for the beauty she brings to the garden area. Commissioner
Phil Liddell concurred.
• President Matt Stoll - On behalf of the Commission, he thanked Jud for her
efforts and for her comprehensive presentation, which gave a sense of how the
community garden is faring from year to year.
b. YMCA/Field House Facility Update - Jim Everett
Treasure Valley YMCA President Jim Everett gave a presentation about the YMCA
and an update regarding the potential facility planned in southeast Meridian near
Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - May 13, 2015 Page 4 of 9
Persons desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and/or hearings:
Please contact the City Clerk's Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
Amity and Eagle Roads. Copies of his PowerPoint slide handouts are attached to
these meeting minutes.
Commission Feedback:
• Vice President Creg Steele - He wanted to know where the City stands with
the YMCA in terms of funding. This is still to be determined. There is a letter
by the City which is a pledge from a couple of years ago for a total of $4
million. The City's main participation of this site as a partnership is the park.
Hillsdale Park will be a ten -acre neighborhood park adjacent to the
YMCA/school/library combination facility. MPR staff just finished the
paperwork this week to get the budget needed to start the planning work for
the design and construction documents for the park. The necessary funding
for the park itself will go through the budget process. Regarding the Field
House, City staff members are still exploring multiple options.
8. New Business
a. Grants Presentation - Steve Siddoway/Mike Barton
MPR Director Steve Siddoway stated at the last Commission meeting a question
came up about what the MPR Department is doing for grants; what the City is going
after; and what funds the City is using. At that time, the Commission talked about
inviting someone from the Finance Department who is on the Grants Review
Committee to come. As this was talked about more, it did not really make a lot of
sense to have that be the main focus of the presentation, because this committee
is in place to just review the process and requirements when departments submit
for grants.
MPR Parks Superintendent Mike Barton gave an update on the Department's grant
projects funding. Copies of his PowerPoint slide handouts are attached to these
meeting minutes.
Commission Feedback:
• Vice President Creg Steele - He pointed out that the City in general does not
have a designated staff member hired who is proactively pursuing grants and
believes a position should be created for one.
How many designated low-income/urban blight areas are there in Meridian?
There is one designation. A map of the current tow -to -moderate income area
is attached to these meeting minutes.
• Commissioner Phil Liddell - He inquired as to why so much flexibility between
impact fees and the general fund. In looking at the charts from the
PowerPoint, impact fees for 201.1 were 1%. No MPR impact -fee -eligible
project was executed that year because the City was banking impact fees. The
general fund is a function of the City Council allocating towards the needs of
the departments.
He suggested the MPR Department contact some of the other cities to see how
they reach out to satisfy their funding needs.
• Director Steve Siddoway - If the current part-time CDBG Administrator goes to
full time, he hopes this person could do some research into grant opportunities
on a city-wide basis.
• President Matt Stoll - He stated this is not the end of the conversation
regarding grant opportunities. He encouraged the Commissioners to bring ideas
Parks 8: Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - May 13, 2015 Page 5 of 9
Persons desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and/or hearings:
Please contact the City Clerk's Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
to MPR staff for potential partnerships, such as the one by the lacrosse group
that gave a $1 million donation to the City of Boise at the McDevitt Youth
Sports Complex. In addition, he found out the Union Pacific Railroad has a
foundation and gives money out to communities. Perhaps there is some
signage or something else needed for a dog park, children's program, or young
adults program that the UPR Foundation would be willing to contribute to.
b. Friends of Meridian Parks Presentation - Creg Steele
Commission Vice President Creg Steele stated there are a lot of opportunities that
the City cannot pursue, but the Friends of Meridian Parks (FMP) organization can,
because they are a non-profit group. This organization has been in existence for
many years but is basically dormant at this time. If there are people who would
like to take it over and start using it to raise money for the City, it can be revived.
This group can open up doors for grants and fundraisers and could assist the
City's/Department's funding issues. FMP funds can only be used in parks. Past
accomplishments included fundraisers, such as the March for Parks and a golf
scramble.
Commission Feedback:
• Director Steve Siddoway - Is Friends of Meridian Parks active enough that if
the Department identified a grant today and the City could not go after, would
FMP be the recipient? Vice President Steele would have to talk with Mayor De
Weerd and the FMP accountant to find out what this would entail. Essentially
another board would need to be identified with elected officers. The current
board is still in existence but would just have to call a meeting and re-elect
officers, etc.
• President Matt Stoll - Is FMP looking for volunteers for the new board? Yes.
Commissioner Treg Bernt started to look at this to potentially pull a group
together. FMP is looking for four or five committed people. Commissioner Stoll
suggested to the Commissioners to think about whether they have an interest
in this; if they do, get with Commissioner Bernt.
c. Spring Pathways Tour Debrief - Steve Siddoway
MPR Director Steve Siddoway stated last month, as Commissioner Greer noted
during her committee report, Commission participants went on a pathways tour on
bikes and experienced for the first time a length of pathway that is getting better
connected. To recap, participants toured the following pathway segments on April
8, 2015:
1) Five Mile Creek Pathway Segment H4 - From Pine to Badley.
2) Proposed Five Mile Creek Pathway, Segment H2 - From Badley to Fairview.
3) Jackson Drain Connection - Connects the Bud Porter and Fothergill
Pathways to Fairview Road at Fairview Lakes.
4) H.R. Bud Porter Pathwav - Runs along the Five Mile Creek between Meridian
and Linder Roads.
5) Five Mile Creek Pathway, Segment E - Between Linder and Ten Mile, off of
Ustick in the Bridgetower Subdivision.
6) McNelis Pathway Segment - Between Ten Mite and Black Cat, off of Ustick.
Steve opened this portion of the meeting for debriefing and feedback from those
who attended. What did they tike? What did they not like about it? What would
Parks rt Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - May 13, 2015 Page 6 of 9
Persons desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and/or hearings:
Please contact the City Clerk's Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
they change, if another bike tour was held next year? What was the take -away
lesson of the pathways tour?
Commission Feedback:
• Commissioner John Nesmith - He personally enjoyed the tour. By specifically
looking at the pathways, this helps to quantify the situations in what's been
done to increase the segments. The challenge year to year is to look at new
areas. This tour makes him want to encourage City Council to make the Five
Mile Pathway spine a little longer through connectivity. He would also like to
get the downtown connection to the Five Mile Creek Pathway.
He commended MPR Parks lr Pathways Project Manager Jay Gibbons for his
work on the pathway system. His efforts have been huge. Commissioner
Nesmith has sat on the Commission for eight years and has seen a lot
accomplished during this span of time.
• Vice President Creg Steele - He said the tour was a lot of fun. To get out on
the bikes was great. In addition, to get a first-hand look at some of the
problem areas regarding a lack of pathway signage around the retirement
village near Hastings really helps. Connectivity is another issue at Badley,
which is changing. Another piece that needs to be connected is from the
middle school on Linder over to the Bridgetower pathway system which would
ultimately bring connectivity from Eagle Road at[ the way to Heroes Park.
Steve stated it is the Department's intention to continue forward with one annual
pathways tour. MPR staff members have identified a second bike ride route, if this
is of interest. There was general consensus to have the next tour on bikes.
d. Annual Facilities Tour Planning - Steve Siddoway
MPR Director Steve Siddoway stated this was a request by Commissioner Nesmith
after last year's facilities tour to talk about this year's event and to get ideas
flowing early. Steve opened up this time for questions and feedback from the
Commissioners.
Commission Feedback:
• Commissioner John Nesmith - He would like to took at Kleiner Park and
specifically view the bandsheR/amphitheater to see about potential shade
improvements.
• President Matt Stoll - Since the South Meridian 77 -Acre Property will be going
through the master planning process this fiscal year, he would like to visit this
site. He also would like to see the Hillsdale Park site.
This year will be a city election cycle, so he suggested tailoring the tour to
reflect what the Department would like to have the various candidates talking
about and to help make this tour a little more dynamic.
• Commissioner Phil Liddell - He inquired of any new developments regarding
Bainbridge/William Watson Park. MPR staff members are working with the
developer to plan this facility.
• Councilman Luke Cavener - As a former candidate who participated on the
tour when he was a candidate, he found it to be tremendously beneficial to
have a better understanding as to the needs of the park and the workings of
the MPR Commission. He highly encouraged MPR staff to invite all the City
Council candidates to be able to participate.
Parks rt Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - May 13, 1015 Page 7 of 9
Persons desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and/or hearings:
Please contact the City Clerk's Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
Other potential sites may include the Storey Dog Park, Settlers Park tennis facility,
Borup/Bottles Properties, and Margaret Aldape Park.
e. FY2016 Budget Enhancement Prioritization - Steve Siddoway
MPR Director Steve Siddoway stated the City is currently in the FY2016 budget
process. The enhancements are those items separate from the City's base budget.
Budget enhancements identify an opportunity or problem, a course of action to
address the problem, and the financial impact of the course of action. Steve
provided a PowerPoint presentation and reviewed the 13 draft budget
enhancement forms, which are all attached to these meeting minutes. City staff
members are working hard to create a balanced budget in which they hope the
City Council can support.
9. Old Business
a. Meridian Parks & Recreation Master Plan Update - Steve Siddoway
MPR Director Steve Siddoway hit some highlights regarding GreenPlay's findings
presentation regarding the MPR Master Plan Update project held on April 29, 2015.
Copies of the PowerPoint slide handouts are attached to these meeting minutes.
10. Workshop - NONE
11. Staff Reports - NONE
12.Adjourn
Commission President Matt Stoll entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Commission Vice President Creg Steele moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner
John Nesmith seconded. The vote was unanimous and in favor of the motion.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 10:15 p.m.
(AUDIO ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
iTLTGSTOLL, PR SIDENT
C EG EELE, VICE PRESIDENT
/rem
2/ �— /
DATE
Parks rt Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - May 13, 2015 Page 8 of 9
Persons desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and/or hearings:
Please contact the City Clerk's Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
Attachments:
1) PowerPoint Presentation: Meridian Co -Op Gardeners (9 pages)
2) PowerPoint Presentation: South Meridian YMCA (23 pages)
3) PowerPoint Presentation: Capital Project Funding: Grants (5 pages)
4) LMI Area Map (1 page)
5) PowerPoint Presentation: Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Enhancements (2 pages); Draft
FY2016 Budget Enhancement Forms (26 pages)
6) PowerPoint Presentation: Parks and Recreation Master Plan (15 pages)
Parks 8 Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - May 13, 2015 Page 9 of 9
Persons desiring accommodation for disabilities related to documents and/or hearings:
Please contact the City Clerk's Office at 888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.