2000-05-15• ~ REr~~D
O C T 2 3 2000
CITY OF D'LERIDIA
Meridian Parks and Recreation Commission May 15, 2000
The regular meeting of The Parks and Recreation Commission was called to
order by David Moe at 7:35 p.m.
Present were David Moe, Sheri Baker, Ed Fong, Tammy deWeerd, Joe Da Rosa
and Tom Kuntz.
Agenda: David Moe said he would like to move old business in front of new
business. Tom said he would like to discuss a feasibility study for a recreation
center and a new neighborhood park. A motion was made by Ed Fong to accept
the agenda with those changes. This was seconded by Sheri Baker. All ayes,
motion passed
Minutes: Sheri Baker made a motion to approve March's minutes, seconded by
Ed Fong, all ayes motion passed.
Public Introductions/Comments: Tom introduced Elroy Huff, the new Parks
Superintendent. Elroy told a little about his past experiences in the Caldwell
Parks Dept.
Correspondence/Announcements:
Tom brought up an article on the good Sams Club who cleans up at Tully Park
each week. Next is a letter to Little League, which a copy was C.c. to us which
states about a boy who was not placed on a team. Ed will follow up on this.
Next is a letter from the Bureau of Reclamation stating that they support the use
if the pathway. David asked if there was going to be any problems with their
agreement with Nampa Meridian Irrigation. Tom said they were waiting for the
list of changes about moving the bridge at the end of Tully Park off of Joe
Siminich's property down to 8th Street Park. Tom and Gary Smith will see about
doing. a drawing to see if they can get this moving. Nampa Meridian is working
on an agreement, but they don't own the majority of the land around the pathway,
and the bridge will meet their specifications.
Tom also showed the Commission a memo sent to the school district about the
tennis courts. He just wanted the Commission to know that we communicate
with them on a regular basis.
Old Business:
Naming of Legion Field- Tabled until more information is sent.
Comp Plan Review- Tom spoke with Norm Landerman-Moore. Norm is
planning to have the reviews to us after June 6th. Ed was concerned that will set
back the budgeting process. Sheri asked if we could move on the 56 acres.
Tom sent a list of the components of the 56 acres and invited Bob Droll down to
go over the flow of the park. Bob is coming down on June 5th. David asked what
the cost of having Bob Droll come down was going to cost. Tom said it was
included in the fees that we were paying. Sheri said she was concerned about
the time issue with the 56 acres. Tom agreed and said that he was planning on
moving forward on the 56 acres because time is an issue. Tammy asked what
the target date was. Tom said he would like to move it up at least one week.
Sheri asked when we would throw together a public hearing. Tom said mid June.
Sheri asked when budget was due. Tom said the end of June. Sheri wanted to
make sure that we had something to go to Council with. Tammy said all Council
budget hearings will be open over a 2 day time period. Tom asked if the
Commission members were interested in prioritizing the day to day operation
items, which he feel is not necessary, or in helping justify and defend projects.
Tom feels the latter is the role of this commission. David wanted everyone to
respond. David's concern is what we will do as far as new and existing parks.
David is interested in types of equipment that the Dept. wants to buy and why.
Ed Just wants to make sure that the item in the budget balances what we need
for the future. He doesn't know much about equipment, but the needs of the
parks are primary. Sheri says she would like to know on major purchases that
would be considered capital items. She is mostly concerned with planning for the
future. Joe said that is what Tom and Elroy were hired for, and let them do their
job. He wants to know about land acquisition and future projects. Tom wanted
to know why the Commission felt the need to approve major equipment
purchases. David said he doesn't want to approve it, just know where we are
with it. The Commission is the public voice, and he feels that on large/
equipment purchases it should go through the Commission. Tom felt the
Commissions responsibility is long term planning, support for funding,
development and prioritizing, not the day to day operations. Tammy said that
when Tom is adding new acreage, Tom will want to add staff and maintenance
costs built in to show what the true costs are going to be to maintain it.
New Business:
Restriction of dogs on Legion field- Tom Solova from Legion Ball asked if we
could restrict dogs in the legion area of Storey Park. The Commission felt that if
the ordinance at Storey Park says dogs allowed on leash, the whole park needs
to be that way. If Tom Solova feels that way, he can come in and address the
Commission.
Naming of Chateau Park-, The deeding process is complete on the property
deeded to us by the Sunny Brook Farms neighborhood. The only thing left is for
the Council to formally accept that property. The attorney says in order for that to
happen, the park needs to have a legal name. After some discussion, Sheri
Baker made a motion to recommend naming the combination of property as
"Chateau Park", based on geographical location. This was seconded by Joe da
Rosa. All ayes motion carried.
Pathway Master Plan Committee-Tammy discussed the members of the
Pathways sub-committee, and asked the Commission to accept these names so
they can get started. Tom asked whom they would answer to on the
Commission and how it would affect the staff as far as time. It was agreed that
they would answer to Ed Fong. Joe made a motion that we accept the list of
names for the pathway master plan sub-committee. This was seconded by Sheri
Baker. All ayes, motion carries. Tom asked where this was on the priority list.
Tammy said that this was very timely.
Summer Activity Guide- Catrina Thomas handed out the Activity Guide for the
summer. She went through the classes with the Commission. She let them
know where they had been delivered
Directors Informational Items-
David Moe asked about the grass at Tully Park. Elroy said that he had been
looking into that and it kooks like a soil problem. He says the pH is very high
and the soil is a very fine clay. Turf grass has trouble with that. Elroy says once
he gets into it a little deeper, he will be able to see what is involved.
Other Business
Tully playground sign Re: March for Parks- Tom informed the Commission
that the sign had been put up at Tully park listing the contribution of March for
Parks was up for the March for Parks walk. We have ordered a small plaque for
the Kiwanis Club thanking them for the shelter.
Youth 2000 (Y2K)-We are participating in a program for the students at the
alternative high school who will be helping us out for the summer. The Private
Industry Council will pay their wages. They will be placed through out the parks,
and they will have a full time supervisor. Joe da Rosa asked why there are not
programs for the kids who are just average. It seems that there are no programs
for kids who are just being good. Joe would like to see us do something for
those kids.
Generations Plaza Phase 11-Tom went over transparencies of the possibilities
for Generations Plaza phase II. The major differences are the shape of the
seating wall, and where trees are placed. Tom went over the plans for the
buildings and for the patio. The patio is approx. 1125 sq. feet. We are
recommending a lease rate of $1,688.00 per year for the property. Concept #1
has a grass break in the brick pavers between the east building, and the seating
around the fountain. Both concepts 2 and 3 have solid brick with no break
between the building. The difference between the two is in concept #2 there are
more trees. Concept #3 has fewer trees inside the small seating wall area.
Some of the other items in the concepts include a stage area, another memorial
wall, and a drinking fountain. The Commission said that they liked the brick
pavers all the way through without the break. Tom said that he would like to see
an oval shape to the seating wall instead of the round look. This should increase
the grass space. Sheri did not like #2, to many trees. Jim asked if the
businesses that were moving in were paying enough to cover the cost of cleaning
up after the patrons who bring their garbage out into the park. Tom said the
lease amount was formulated by a real estate investor here in town. He
recommended that we take the total square footage (1125) and figure $10.00 a
sq.ft. He said that we should have a return on the property of 1.5%. The
Commission said that was very cheap and that they should be paying more.
Tom said he was open to the idea of re-approaching them with a different offer.
Jim Keller said he thought they should be paying for the land that is contiguous
with their property. This means they should do all of their own maintenance and
irrigation for that property. If we don't do this, it will set precedence for other
business owners. Tom said that Mr. Benoit met with p&z and proposed that their
building would be built right out to the property line. He then stated that he would
like the City side of that property to be a walkway for Starbucks. Tom suggested
that we both extent to mid-line and there be no walkway at all. Mr.Benoit feels
that the City should provide its 8 feet in that area to be used as a walkway for the
public. David Moe suggested that Stewart-Laney-Benoit pay for the entire
walkway. Tom said that the issue is that we are providing the walkway, and this
establishment is providing no sidewalk. Tammy and Ed said make them pay for
the sidewalk. Mr. Champion, who lives in the area of the park is now challenging
through ACRD, the plans, because he feels that Stewart Laney Benoit are getting
everything they want, and not having to give at all. Tammy feels that this is a
good opening to look for common ground so that this can go through. Jim says
this is a fair return for the land they are leasing. The Commission feels
comfortable with us giving up our 8 feet of easement, as long as they are willing
to pay for improvements to the area.
Feasibility Study- Tom presented a letter from JC Dragoo regarding a feasibility
study for an indoor recreation center. Tom plans on including this in his budget
request for next year. Sheri asked how much the study would cost and Tom said
$25,000.
Autumn Faire- Subdivision is considering donating asix-acre park, which we will
trade out in impact fees.
Tom went over some of the things that the Dept would like to accomplish this
year, as well as the price attached. Some of these things are as follows:
Generations Plaza phase II, 5-mile creek pathway, and Storey Park irrigation-top
priority. Tom asked the Commission what they felt the priorities were. They said
don't put much into Bear Creek because there is nothing around it yet. Spend it
on Chateau Park. Leave the feasibility study. Jim said to sneak something in
there about the 56 acres.
Tammy handed out an agenda for Boise parks and Recreation commission, and
invited the Commission to go.
Adjournment
Sheri Baker made a motion to adjourn at 10:30, seconded by Joe da Rosa.