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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark Board Minutes 06.06.2013 City of Laurel Park Board Minutes From Thursday, June 6, 2013 In attendance were Mark Mace, Chuck Dickerson, Hazel Storck, Gretchen Paulson and Amy Pollock Jennifer Ries from the Outlook Newspaper and Jolene Rieck from Peaks to Plains Designs also attended. Called to order at 5:34pm. 1. No public comment. 2. Public Meeting regarding Billie Riddle funds. We do want to have the public meetings. Mark received a copy of Billie Riddle's Will, the city Attorney will contact family members or heirs. This will be to find out if the family objects to City of Laurel using her funds towards a splash park rather than a city pool. Public works department has determined it would be best to use the same water system as the city pool for the splash park location. There are other options for splash park location, but next to the existing pool water system and filtration system is the best choice. Given new state laws regarding spray and splash parks, having it next to the pool changing room facilities also gives us a cost savings advantage. Spray parks have more requirements than they did just a few years ago. Requirements from the MT Department of Health include adequate signage, fencing, bathrooms and change rooms, etc. Jolene asked what our budget looks like for the spray park, her company helped to design Castle Rock Spray Park in Billings Heights around 6 years ago and it cost approx. $325,000. In 2003, her company designed the Highland Park Spray park and it cost approx. $200,000. Judge Jean Kerr was in attendance and asked if the proposed Master Park Plan would include a pool? Jolene responded that we could ask the public their opinion on it when the citizen survey is conducted. We could pose it as two separate questions: would 1. the citizens rather keep and maintain the existing pool or 2. Spend $4 MM in a few years for a brand new pool? Judge Kerr said she contacted the Better Billings Foundation and Harvest Church and asked how they raised the funds to build the Oasis water park. Harvest Church started it with asking its members for donations towards the project. Then a 501(c)3was created to take it out of the church and into a separate fund. The Better Billings Foundation was then able to take those funds and ask for the remaining donations, stating here is what we have, look what is started, can you help us get the final distance? Could the city of Laurel do something similar? Put together a 501(c)3to raise funds? Jolene mentioned that Lewistown is putting in a new pool, some one could call the city to see how they are raising funds. Currently the Better Billings Foundations runs the Oasis Water park and contracts out to the city, eventually the water park will transfer to the city for management and maintenance. RECOMMENDATION: Chuck recommends to the City Council to move forward with process to use Billie Riddle funds for a Spray Park. This includes having necessary public meetings and notice to family members. Amy seconded the motion. 3. Splash park options Mark has received information from several companies that do splash and spray park designs said that $100,000 would be enough for a possible design. 6. Park Master Plan proposal from Jolene Rieck was discussed at this time (yes, out of order) It was asked who and how many people would be surveyed by the Citizen Survey conducted by Peaks to Plains. 700 mailings would be sent out and hopefully 225 completes would return as a minimum for a successful survey. Jolene's response was that 33% is what we are looking to get back, but 40 -50% would be best. The mailing survey would be random to household citizen within the City of Laurel limits. Chuck asked if additional copies of the survey could be available at the water office, this would allow citizen who don't receive a mailing to give their comments and input. Jolene agreed this would be possible, those results would need to be kept separate as they would be considered more of a focus group results rather than random citizen survey results. What is the timeline for completing a citizen survey? Jolene said it was approximately 10 to 12 weeks. This is start to finish, which includes creating /gathering the questions and getting back the results from the mailings. The mailing survey itself is approximately 2 to 3 weeks. When could we put the Special Improvement District for Parks on a ballot for voting? The November 2014 ballot would be the soonest. This allows us to have the survey, review the results, gather maintenance cost of our existing parks and facilities, and gather more information as support for a Parks district. We would also be able to determine how much cost would be needed per year to complete the improvement the citizen want (as determined in the survey). Then the total cost would need to be divided among all the city parcels, this calculation would need to be agreed upon by the Park board and City Council. Other questions asked and open for discussion: Could the Billie Riddle money go into a 501(c)3 to start a splash park account? If yes, then this would show citizen and other donors that we have a separate account special for this project, separate from the city, to be used solely for this project. Can the paper put a story out asking for information on past pool projects and fundraising efforts? RECOMMENDATION: Chuck recommends to the City Council to use Jolene Rieck and Peaks to Plains Designs firm to create a Park Master Plan. Hazel seconded the motion. Jolene agreed to put together a contract to take to City Council on June 11 meeting. Estimated cost is $29,050 for the survey, 3 board meetings, a town hall meeting, and research funding opportunities. 4. Sign from the Scout person We are waiting to hear from Kurt and his discussion with the Scout. Kurt was to give the scout information on what would be allowed for the signs. Amy said she would follow up with the scout and his family for an update. 5. Discuss the Riverside Park issues after annexation Shooting would disappear if Riverside Park was annexed into the city. The city is already providing water, sewer, and other city services. The major thing not currently provided by the city is Police services, this is currently done through the County Sheriff. RECOMMENDATION: The whole Park Board recommends to City Council that Riverside Park be annexed into the city limits. All attending members were in agreement. REMOTION: At the May 16 meeting, LuAnn motioned to approve and send to City Council the American Legion's install of electrical pole in Thomson Park. Amy seconded the motion. Items to be included in next months meeting, July 11, 2013 at 5:30pm at FAB. • Pool discussion • Eagle Scout park signs • Naming of Fireman's Park and State Firefighters Memorial Park • Any questions regarding the Park Master Plan should be compiled and sent to Jolene Rieck. The Park Board meeting adjourned at 6:46pm. Submitted by Gretchen Paulson, Park Board member.