1999-10-18
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DEC - 9 1999
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Meridian Parks and Recreation Commission October 18 , 1999
The regular meeting of the Meridian Parks and Recreation Commission was
called to order by Jim Keller at 7:33 p.m.
Present were Jim Keller, Sheri Baker, Glenn Bentley, Tammy deWeerd, Trace
Leighton, Joe da Rosa and Tom Kuntz.
Introduction of new Commissioner: Joe da Rosa told us about himself. He has
been a resident in Meridian for 22 years, and has been involved in youth
activities for about the same amount of time.
Public Introductions/Comments: Dan Bromet, Rob Oskolkoff, Joe (no last
name given) and Gail Oskolkoff came to let the commission know that they want
a skate/BMX park in Meridian.
Agenda: Sheri Baker made a motion to adopt the agenda. Trace Leighton
seconded the motion. All ayes, the motion carried.
August Minutes: Sheri Baker made a motion to approve the September
minutes, Trace Leighton seconded the motion. All ayes, the motion carried.
Correspondence/Announcements: Tom Kuntz informed the Commission that
he has been in contact by Planning and Zoning regarding comments on the Bear
Creek development, south of the freeway off Stoddard Road, it is an approximate
150 acres. Tom then showed the Commission approximately where the location
was on a map. Tom had also spoken to Becky Bowcutt of Briggs engineering and
the Developer who had brought the proposal in and wanted to know if we would
be in favor of it. We are definitely in favor of it, but there are some sewer
problems that need to be addressed first and it doesn't sound like those are
going to well. Jim Keller asked if they would be hydro-seeding and putting an
irrigation system in themselves? Tom told him that was correct. Joe da Rosa
asked if the park would be in the middle of the sub-division, or would there be
access off Stoddard? Tom said there would be entrances into the sub-division
and they would go right into their park. Jim asked if there would be a drain going
through the park. Tom told him that that was correct and he wasn't sure if that
would be live water year round or not. Planning and Zoning recommended that it
be piped.
Tom stated that it sounded like the sewer problem was pretty major. Jim asked if
this had been to Council yet, Glenn said not yet. Tom informed the Commission
that the memo had already been sent and that it was just information at this point
And it was probably pre-mature since they haven't addressed the sewer problem
yet.
The skateboard petition is next on the agenda. Jim Keller asked Rob Oskolkoff if
he would like to comment on this. Rob said that they are building a lot of parks in
Meridian with Tots of baseball diamonds and we just want 1 skate park so instead
of putting in 1 baseball diamond, why don't we put in 1 skate park that is the
same size. Tom asked if he could be more specific about what they would like.
Rob said they would Tike a half pipe, a quarter pipe, and Rob then came to the
dry erase board and drew what they want. Sheri asked if these things were for
bikes or blades. Rob said they were for both. Tom asked if they had been to fort
Boise. Rob said he had not but it was pretty cool. They also said that Ft Boise
had a "bowl", which is basically a swimming pool and that they are cool, but they
would rather see a street course because there are more activities for kids to do
and in a "bowl" only 1 person can go at a time. On a street course, a lot of people
can go at the same time. Jim Keller asked Tom how much land it would take up.
Tom told Jim that it would take up about an acre.
Tom stated that a key role must be played by the participants about what they
want there. They will be using the area and policing it so they should have say in
what goes in there. The commission asked if the kids would be willing to sit on a
committee and go door to door to get signatures from neighbors. The boys said
yes.
Glenn said that he thought a good location would be the soon to be old
speedway parking lot.
Old Business:
Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update (survey?):
Tom informed the Commission that our last public meeting was scheduled for the
next Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at the Old Library. He told them about a tentative
public workshop to present the proposal for Thursday December 2"d at 7:OOp.m.
This will be when they (Landerman-Moore) come in and present the master plan
to the public. Tammy De Weerd asked if this was a final product or a draft. Tom
told her that it was a draft before it went before the City Council later on in
December.
Tom asked if the Commission thought that they should do a community survey
about the Master Plan. Sheri Baker stated that she thought that people would be
to specific as far as what we need right now instead of what we need long term.
Trace Leighton was saying that his general feeling is that people want a
community centers not a recreation center. The Commission debated what would
be the best way to go about getting a survey out.
Tom stated that he wanted to make sure we met the needs of the community.
56 acre master plan update
Tom invited the Commission to the meeting with Robert Droll who is the
Landscape Architect who is doing the 56 acres with Norm Landerman. Tom then
said the purpose of the meeting is to come up with 3 concepts of components
that we would like to have in the park. Those components will then be put in a
bubble diagram that will be displayed at the one and only meeting scheduled for
Veterans Day at the North Park Church at 7:00 p.m. Tom let them know that we
would be getting the word out through the November water bill because we get to
put in a full page flier for "Pennies for Parks" which will mention the meeting and
where it is being held ETC. Tammy asked if they would have costs tied to the
projects at this meeting. Tom told her that costs would not be tied in to this
meeting.
Tiling Davis Drain/Chateau Park
Tom told the Commission that we had opened the bids to the Davis drain 2
weeks ago and the lowest bid came in from Sommer Construction at $60,000.
Council Member Bentley took this to the Council, and they gave Tom the green
light to move forward with this. Public Works is working on finalizing the bond
along with everything else that goes along with that, and we are hoping to have
the ditch tiled and filled in by Christmas.
New Business
8th Street park Neighbors
A Mr. Wood came to see Tom concerned about all the kids coming and using the
park for soccer. The general feeling from the commission is that that is what a
park is for. Mr. Woods concerns are 1) He was told that it was a neighborhood
park and yet it seems that everyone is using it. Tom told him that it was a city
park and it is open to all citizens of Meridian. 2) The kids who meet for practice
shade themselves right at the fence line of his home, and soccer balls are going
into his yard. Toms partial solution is to plant some trees along that property line
which will hopefully force the soccer practice out into the middle of the park.
Sheri asked if we could contact the soccer people and ask them to not use that
area, The general answer was that there are so many teams that it would be
difficult to keep track of whom we contacted and whom we didn't. Sheri then
asked where the money was going to come from for the trees. Tom told her that
it was money already set aside for trees. With Tully Park open, hopefully kids will
start using Tully. Tom let everyone know that the new playground equipment is
in at Bch street.
Coca Cola Scoreboard
Tom let the Commission know that we contacted Pepsi and Coke about the
scoreboards in our budget trying to find alternate ways of funding them. Pepsi
was not real interested, but Coca Cola submitted a proposal where they are
willing to come in and install a new scoreboard 1 a year for the next 3 years 2 at
Tully and 1 at Storey if we will allow them to put in 5 vending machines at our
parks and give exclusive rights to Coke fora 5 year period. We would be making
20% profit off of what we sale. The total commissions from what we make over a
5 year agreement would be in the $22,000 dollar range, but that is assuming that
we sale a certain amount of soda in that time.
Joe da Rosa asked if we have any Pepsi products currently at any of the parks.
Tom told him that was correct. Joe stated that if he was reading the page
correctly, the total commission for one year would be $4500 dollars. The value of
the scoreboards over the three years would be $14,512 plus the $4500 per year.
Joe said if we said 'go ahead and put in your machines' we would be making the
same amount that we would be spending to put in scoreboards on our own. Tom
said that was correct that not only would we have $4500 dollars in our pockets,
we would also have new scoreboards. Tom said that a new scoreboard, with
insulation would cost us $5,000. Then if you add the $4500 per year, we are
ahead almost $10,000.. Tom stated that he isn't saying that we should agree to
all of their terms, it is all negotiable. Trace asked what happens if the Legion
uses Pepsi. Tom said that they had already addressed that and Coke feels like
they are 2 separate entities. Tom wanted to make sure that there weren't
restrictions on who uses the parks. Joe asked if there would be concession
stand at Tully. Tom said hopefully there would have afour-plex in the new 56
acres where we could have concessions. Jim Keller asked if the concept
something that the city and the commission can agree to. Tom said that that is
really all that he was trying to find out was if the Commission was in favor of the
concept. Glenn said he thought we need to find out what "exclusive rights"
includes, and does this include future parks or only what is there at the time of
signing the contract.
We will continue to have discussions with Coke and bring this up at a later date.
Directors Informational Items-
Pennies for parks will be going out in Novembers water bill. What this does is
ask citizens of Meridian to round up the amount of their water bill to the next
dollar and the extra money goes directly to parks.
The commission needs to start giving some thought into how we will be naming
parks. Sheri Baker stated that she had information on park naming policies, and
that it was partially by donation, or geographic area etc. Trace suggested that
we have a contest to name the parks. Tammy said we should have a name by
the meeting or ask the people at the meeting.
Other Business
Sheri asked about the tennis court contract. Tom told her that we did get it done,
and that we paid the school district $27,000 to get the tennis courts done but they
will not get them done until next summer. The school board approved the low
bidder. Sheri then asked what that would do to the recreation tennis classes.
Tom said that we will try to have them in June through the beginning of July and
then they can come in and do them.
Trace Leighton stated his dissatisfaction about how the recommendations of the
Commission were handled by the Mayor and Council (specifically Glenn). Glenn
said that the reason that the Mayor recommended Vicki Russell, among other
things, was that she resided in the area of impact, which has little representation.
Trace and Sheri said that they took that into consideration when the three
Commissioners (Tammy De Weerd included) met. They thought that their other
choice had better qualifications, which were more important then the "area of
impact" issue. Jim Keller reminded the Commission that they are an advisory
committee and that their recommendations were taken into consideration but the
Mayor and Council have the final say. Sheri added that she felt like the Council
rarely takes the Commissions recommendation to consideration.
Adjournment:
Motion to adjourn was made by Tammy De Weerd seconded by Sheri Baker.
Adjournment at 9:15 p.m.