2021-06-09
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
Meridian City Hall Council Chambers, 33 East Broadway Avenue, Meridian, Idaho
Wednesday, June 09, 2021 at 5:30 PM
Mission:
The Meridian Parks & 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.
All materials presented at public meetings become property of the City of Meridian. Anyone desiring accommodation
for disabilities should contact the City Clerk's Office at 208-888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the public meeting.
Agenda
VIRTUAL MEETING INSTRUCTIONS
If you'd like to join the meeting virtually, here is the link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87103256841
Or join by phone: 1-669-900-6833
Webinar ID: 871 0325 6841
ROLL-CALL ATTENDANCE
____ Jo Greer, President ____ Keith Bevan, Vice President
____ Dom Gelsomino ____ John Nesmith
____ Autumn Short ____ Albert Kang
____ Jennifer Bobo ____ Jessica West
____ Camden Hyde ____ Jessica Perreault, City Council Ex-Officio
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
1. May 12, 2021 Special Meeting
Jo Greer, MPRC President ~ 2 minutes
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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2. Upcoming Events
Shelly Houston, MPR Marketing Coordinator ~ 5 minutes
NEW BUSINESS
3. MPR Department Urban Forestry Management Plan Update
Matthew Perkins, City Arborist ~ 20 minutes
4. MPR Department Strategic Update
Steve Siddoway, MPR Director ~ 25 minutes
5. MPR Department External Events Update
Garrett White, MPR Recreation Manager ~ 10 minutes
OLD BUSINESS
6. Lakeview Golf Club Tour Debrief
Mike Barton, MPR Parks Superintendent ~ 10 minutes
7. Spring Pathways Tour Debrief
Kim Warren, MPR Pathways Project Manager ~ 10 minutes
8. Discovery Park, Phase 2 Update
Mike Barton, MPR Parks Superintendent ~ 20 minutes
WORKSHOP ~ NONE
STAFF REPORTS
9. MPR Staff ~ 20 minutes
ADJOURNMENT
NEXT MEETING ~ July 14, 2021 at 5:30 PM
2021 All-Commission Goals:
1. Support development of a connected pathway system across the City of Meridian, with a
focus on developing projects for future construction.
2. Support design and construction of Discovery Park Phase 2.
3. Participate in the design and programming of a new Community Center on the Civic Block.
4. Participate in the development of the Lakeview Golf Course Master Plan.
5. Pursue improved tools and opportunities to engage citizens and stakeholders.
6. Engage other task forces, commissions, entities, and agencies through workshops and other
outreach for partnership opportunities.
7. Participate in the partnership with the Meridian Arts Commission to add theming and
identity reinforcing art in Meridian parks and along pathways.
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8. Continue to foster greater Commission involvement/presence in community events
whenever appropriate.
9. Discuss progress on Goals and Objectives in the MPR Master Plan.
10. Hold workshops during Commission meetings to address current issues.
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Parks & Recreation Department Staff Reports ~ June 9, 2021 Page 1 of 5
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.
PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORTS
June 9, 2021
Administration Division
Director’s Report:
STEVE SIDDOWAY
(Please note, a verbal report will be provided at the June 9, 2021 MPR Commission
Meeting.)
Parks Division
Parks Superintendent Report:
MIKE BARTON
(Please note, a verbal report will be provided at the June 9, 2021 MPR Commission
Meeting.)
Pathways Project Manager’s Report:
KIM WARREN
(Please note, a verbal report will be provided at the June 9, 2021 MPR Commission
Meeting.)
City Arborist’s Report:
MATTHEW PERKINS
1. Plant Health Care – Lilac Ash Borer prevention sprays have been and continue to
be in process on all Ash trees throughout the parks and city properties. Infested
trees at Lakeview Golf Course have been and continue to be treated to help manage
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Parks & Recreation Department Staff Reports ~ June 9, 2021 Page 2 of 5
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.
and contain/get a hold of the pest populations that are damaging trees throughout
the golf course.
2. Urban Forestry Management Plan – The Parks & Recreation Commission will
receive an update and presentation on the Meridian Urban Forest Management Plan
on June 9, 2021.
3. Tree Inventory at Lakeview Golf Course – Tree inventory has been completed.
There are approximately 737 trees on the property, including multiple
occasions/opportunities for removing old stumps and replacing trees, as well as
planting new ones. Multiple pest problems were identified, and IPM strategies have
been put into action. There are several trees that need hazard mitigation pruning
and/or removal, and this work is already being planned for with multiple contract
work orders in progress.
4. Tree Planting – Approximately 50 or more stumps throughout the parks are being
removed both by contract and in-house to accommodate the replanting of new
replacement trees.
Recreation Division
Homecourt Facility Manager’s Report:
JAKE GARRO
1. Facility Operations – Hours are Monday – Friday 7 AM – 9 PM; weekend hours are
10 AM – 8 PM.
2. Facility Schedule – We are starting to see a few more patrons use the facility for
Pickleball during the morning hours. We do see an increase of patrons using the
facility when the weather is cold, windy, or rainy.
We are seeing a high volume of noon basketball players showing up on Monday,
Wednesdays, and Fridays from Noon – 3 PM. Typically, we do schedule two
courts for noon basketball. With the high volume of players we are seeing, three
courts have been used during these times. We are seeing a good number of noon
basketball players on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well. On these days, there are
enough players that two courts are being used.
Facility usage in the evening has been steady and consistent. As we transition
into the summer months, the AAU groups have decreased their usage of the
facility. We are seeing a high volume of volleyball players using the facility
consistently throughout the week.
I continue to work with groups outside of the Treasure Valley seeking space to
run basketball camps and clinics in our area. I am looking to scheduling these
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Parks & Recreation Department Staff Reports ~ June 9, 2021 Page 3 of 5
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.
and solidify space for fall 2021. These activities will be scheduled as special
events and take place during weekend hours.
I am looking forward to having more on our department’s community education
classes start again in Court 5. A number of our classes were not offered or held,
due to COVID. Having those instructors, students, and parents back in our facility
will be a welcome sight.
3. Homecourt Staff – City Council has granted approval for us to turn two of our part-
time positions into one full-time position. This position is titled as Homecourt Site
Supervisor. We currently are in the process of filling this position and are hopeful
we will have another Homecourt Site Supervisor position approved through the
budget process. These positions will be welcome and are much needed as we look
to secure consistency in our staff and customer service.
Recreation Coordinator’s Report:
JENNA FLETCHER
1. 2021 Summer Camp – I have been hiring staff to run sports camp and day camp.
Currently, we have enough staff to run at two sites: Discovery and Siena Elementary.
Day camp will run from June 21st – August 13th, 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM. Sports camp will
run June 14th – August 6th, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. We are full most of the weeks with
the amount of staff we have for each week. We continue to increase numbers
depending on how many counselors I have available at each site.
2. 2021 Classes – Summer classes start June 1 and will run through the end of August.
Classes include: fencing, youth and adult art, photography, line dancing, jazzercise,
Legos, yoga, and youth tennis. Numbers look great!
3. 2021 Fall Guide – We will put together the schedule for the Fall Activity Guide
soon. The guide will be released mid-August, and classes will run September –
December.
Recreation Coordinator 1 (Sports) Report:
SKYLER COOK
1. Staff Update – Josh Herker has been hired on full time for the Evening Night
Supervisor position. We are excited to have him!
2. Field Reservations – I am working with tournament, camp, and league directors on
their Attestation Form submissions for Central District Health Covid Protocols. We
are sending out unpaid invoices and collecting insurance.
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Parks & Recreation Department Staff Reports ~ June 9, 2021 Page 4 of 5
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.
3. Tournaments –
6/3-6/6- BAPA Pickleball Tournament all courts all day at Settlers Park.
6/5- Lacrosse Tournament at Bear Creek 1 & 2 from 11:30 AM-8:00 PM.
6/12- Camp River Run Volleyball Tournament at Settlers all day on fields D and E.
6/19-6/20- Triple Crown Softball Tournament at Bear Creek, Discovery,
Heritage, and Tully.
6/19- Cornhole Tournament at Settlers Park Field F from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM.
6/25- MPR Cornhole Tournament for Dairy Days at Mo Brooks 6:00-10:00 PM.
6/23-6/27- USA Pickleball Tournament all courts all day.
4. Sports Leagues –
Spring volleyball league has concluded.
Spring Softball End-of-Season Tournament begins June 7th and will run into the
2nd week of July.
Summer/Fall Softball registration is open with a deadline of Wednesday, June
16th.
Volunteer Program Coordinator’s Report:
CHELSEA CANTRELL
1. Volunteer Hours – In the last two months, we have had 247 volunteers donating
517.25 hours completing projects in the parks, including bark projects, park
cleanup, shelter tape removal, and flower planting.
2. Upcoming Projects – Upcoming projects include the Pine Street School repainting
of the fence outhouse and sign. A large group is coming out in July to clean up the
pathways (trash and goat heads).
3. Sparklight Movie Night – Movie nights are starting this month which we will utilize
8 volunteers a night to help run that event.
4. Lakeview Golf Club Volunteers – The Golf Player Assistants have started, and I am
working on filling the schedule with 21 volunteers running 7 days a week.
5. Park Ambassador Program – I am working on growing the Park Ambassador
program.
6. Special Events – I am looking forward to events returning! I have several people
inquiring about volunteering at community events and am getting signups started
early for that.
Arts & Culture Coordinator’s Report:
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Parks & Recreation Department Staff Reports ~ June 9, 2021 Page 5 of 5
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.
AUDREY BELNAP
1. Meridian Arts Commission –
Selected artwork from local artist submissions for the Traffic Box Repository
2021-2023.
Selected artwork to be wrapped for the Traffic Box Series 2021. Five pieces will
be wrapped from the Repository, and six pieces will be wrapped from the WASD
Annual Art Show. Wrapped boxes will be completed in August/September.
Completed second reviews for the Meridian Mural Series mural designs for the
Boise Co-op and Meridian Cycles locations. Both property owners and selection
panel were immensely pleased with the designs.
Currently exhibiting artwork from the WASD in the Initial Point Gallery with
plans to install a new exhibit featuring five regional artists for the month of June.
Received applications for local and regional artists to participate in the Initial
Point Gallery for 2022. The selection panel will review these submissions this
week. We anticipate completing the calendar for 2022 by July.
Received proposals for the new Ten Mile Trailhead public art installation from
all three artists on the Parks Identity Roster. The selection panel is reviewing
and scoring the submissions; MAC will approve the selected design in July.
Beginning to coordinate and set formal plans for Art Week 2021. Potential
activities include: free art classes, downtown performers, in-person chalk art
competition, Community Art Party, and traditional Art Drop.
Signed agreements with two performing groups for Concerts on Broadway, and
planning on bringing multiple performers to the stage for the third night of
Concerts on Broadway. Specifically, the last night of Concerts on Broadway will
be a Heritage Night with multicultural performers.
The Arts Inclusivity Meridian Subcommittee drafted a statement for the
Commission to adopt regarding the Commission’s commitment to include all
demographics in the arts and making the arts accessible to all.
2. Meridian Historic Preservation Commission –
Approved to retain its Certified Local Government status, enabling the
Commission to continue receiving SHPO grants.
Carried out a Preservation Month celebration via a Scavenger Hunt on social
media, including prize giveaways.
Sought applications and marketed for a History Competition for students,
attempting to engage students in Meridian History and give away prizes.
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