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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark Board Minutes 04.02.2015 City of Laurel Park Board minutes Thursday, April 2, 2015 In attendance were Chuck Dickerson,Amy Pollock, Bruce McGee,and Gretchen Paulson. Absent was Scot Stokes and LuAnne Engh. Called to order at 5:30 pm. Others in attendance: Ken Gomer, resident, Kristie LaCasse, Pool Committee, Mona Rae Adkins, Pool Committee,Curtis Lord, LRGC; Iry Wilke, LRGC; Kurt Markegard,city staff; Kathleen Gilluly, Laurel Outlook. 1. Public comment No Comments—all want to hear agenda items. 2. Pool Committee update Immediate goal was to get the pool open for summer 2015, done! Starting to raise funds for long term project, new pool. Non-profit status is in progress. They are teaming up with a new Laurel non-profit group called Laurel Community Foundation made up of local business members Rotary club members,attorney and accountant,to provide scholarships and a place for funding to service the community as a whole. The foundation is a support team or management,but not specifically on the pool committee. The pool pump is on order,the ladder is purchased per Kurt. Kurt is looking into purchasing shade that can fit in the current budget after paying for the pump. Possible shade at Costco,but may not be up to commercial standards. Plan to fill the pool 1 week before opening,open planned for June 8,which is 1 week after school gets out. Next Pool committee meeting April 20 at 6:30pm at Altana conference room. They meet monthly, contact Mona Rae Adkins at Altana for more details. August 15, Patsy Klein music will be at the High school auditorium,pool fundraiser. 3. Pool Management Resolution on Tuesday,April 7 for YMCA to be the pool management. The council is more in favor of opening the pool because of the new Pool Committee and their efforts. YMCA may work to help build pools,the Pool Committee will contact Tina Postel for details. If local kids want a job at the pool,contact the YMCA. Must be 16 years old,CPR training is given. 4. Jaycees lease agreement Howard sent proposed lease terms via email on March 25. These terms were shared with all board members and read over during the meeting. A copy is being attached with these minutes. The letter discusses 3 uses of Riverside Park,current Jaycee building use,leasing and managing the old American Legion building,and managing the campground. The board agrees that all 3 should be handled separately,keeping the remaining items on the agenda until they are completed. Tonight we will handle only the lease terms of the current Jaycees building. Mona Rae suggests that they Jaycees be charged the same as the baseball groups since the buildings are income producing. Items from Howard Rickards letter were read to indicate there is no profit taken in from the building income. The fees collected are used directly for utilities. Ken Gomer commented that we are blessed to have a community center run by such a responsible group of young community members. Amy's concern is that the Jaycees serve the whole community where as the baseball and gun clubs are specific groups serving specific parts of the community. But Amy was glad to hear Mona Rae's point, it is needed to be heard when considering lease pricing. Recommendation:Chuck recommends to city council to continue the Jaycees expired lease of $100 or more per year for 5 years with similar conditions/terms that were in the expired lease. Jaycees should negotiate lease price with the CAO and city attorney,but the Park Board would like to see the pricing stay minimal given that the group is very committed to this community. Amy seconded motion,all were in favor. Iry—concerned with rate increase for Jaycees given how the group is very committed to the community. Chuck responded that this is the city's opportunity to review the lease cost,not necessarily a given that the rates would increase. Mona Rae—baseball is a service organization too, it's a good organization that provides a service to the kids. The high cost of$110/kid is mostly to cover insurance expenses. Further discussion on the reasoning for the baseball lease pricing between Mona Rae and Kurt Markegard. 5. Discuss transfer of ownership of building at Riverside Park to LRGC. Bruce received a response from the Mayor and city attorney. It is acceptable to transfer property with the city's approval, if they have historical significance, and if the terms provide for reversion to the city if not keeping in compliance of the terms of transfer. Montana codes: MCA 7-8-4201 discusses the Disposal or lease of municipal property. Montana code: MCA 7-16- Part 42 specifically discuss the Park Boards authority. Recommendation:Bruce recommends to city council for a workshop to discuss the desire of the park board to transfer ownership or lease to the Laurel Rod and Gun Club the entire log building located at Riverside Park.Chuck seconded motion, all were in favor. Park board highly recommends transfer of ownership as detailed in MCA 7-8-4201. See previous minutes for all the discussion with LRGC and their attendance to the Parks meetings. 6. Other items Issues of vandalism in Kids Kingdom playground. Teenagers are enacting"Fight Club"in the playground since their landings would be soft. Profanity and pictures are marking up the playground equipment. It was suggested the Outlook goes out with the City employees to photograph the issues and write about it. Other issues with kids in the playground were discussed. May 7 Agenda items: • Report-Pool Committee • Jaycees lease agreement proposed terms for camping management • Jaycees lease agreement proposed terms for managing the old American Legion building. • Chamber building lease • Discuss bringing back to the table: closing parks at 10pm.See June 2014 minutes and July 31, 2014 minutes for previous discussions. • Skatepark: is there still a group that wants to build a skate park? Adjourn at 7:00pm Gretchen Paulson Park Board member Letter to the City of Laurel,Montana The Laurel Jaycees would like to take this opportunity to express our thoughts and intentions with the Jaycee Hall Building, the former American Legion Building and Riverside Park camping opportunity. The Laurel Jaycees have occupied the Jaycee Hall since the 1970's,and have made the building an integral part of the service to our community of Laurel, Montana. On average,we rent out about 10—15 weddings per year,which rent for$150-$400 per event.This income is crucial to our paying our utilities and maintenance on the Jaycee Hall building. In 2014,our utilities for gas and electricity were over$3,100.00. Our expenses for maintenance,such as minor repairs,cleaning supplies,toiletries,et al,were $1,670.98. Our income from wedding rentals was$4,700.00.As you can see by the math,we did NOT make a profit on renting out the Jaycee Hall building in 2014. This is typical for our organization.We have kept our rates low enough for our community to enjoy the building,while making enough income to keep the doors open and the building presentable,sometimes subsidized by our other fund-raising efforts. We average about 4—8 funeral services/receptions per year.This service is FREE of charge to the public. We have several organizations in our community that use our building for events and meetings all year long.The Cool Clovers 4-H,the Silver Spurs 4-H, Laurel Hometown Troops,the Laurel Rod and Gun Club,the Laurel Shooting Education Program, Hunter's Safety training, Bow Hunter's Safety training,local Bunko game clubs, local church organizations,just to name a few.We do NOT charge these organizations for the use of the Jaycee Hall.We are providing a service to the community so that these organizations can utilize their funds in a more productive manner for our community. We have been utilized by the Judicial System as a means for juvenile offenders to work off their community service requirements by cleaning up around Riverside Park and the Jaycee Hall. We have hosted over 10 different fund-raising events in 2014 for our community inside the Jaycee Hall.These events are all provided at NO COST to the organizations or the families in need. With this description of our use of the Jaycee Hall building in mind,we would like to first,thank the City of Laurel for allowing us to LEASE this building.We have been paying on our lease$100.00 per year for the last 6 years.We have been thankful that we haven't had to ask the City of Laurel for much in return for the relationship over the many years,with only a few exceptions.We had a sewer pipe to our septic collapse,and the City of Laurel repaired it.We just recently received 2 new furnaces to replace our 40-50 year old furnaces that quit working in 2013.When the water line broke in 2013,we were without water for almost 6 months.We paid for porta-potties to the expense of over$1,500.00. This was our commitment to our community to keep providing a location for organizations to meet and fundraisers to be hosted. Our rental income during that period was around$800.00. The Laurel Jaycees would like the City of Laurel to consider a few opportunities concerning the Laurel Jaycee Hall and Riverside Park. 1.We would like to continue our lease program of$100.00 per year,committing to a new 5 year lease in writing,with similar conditions as exist at this time. Almost all of our income from fund-raisers and rentals are committed to the families in need,local organizations and the upkeep of Jaycee Hall.We don't have a disposable income balance to pay for a large lease fee increase. If the City of Laurel sees fit to raise the rate,we would certainly oblige,knowing that we would either have to raise our rates or host a fund-raiser for the lease fee. Both choices would be a burden on the community groups that use the Jaycee Hall, but we are certain we could accommodate. 2.We would also like to be seriously considered for taking over use of the previous American Lesion Building in Riverside Park. We have had a number of opportunities to assist other organizations,churches and families in need,but have had to turn them away because of a previous rental commitment at the Laurel Jaycee Hall.We have a strong history and a lot of support in our openness to allowing our building to be used for the community, many times at NO Charge.This service is vital to many who don't have the funds to go elsewhere for their events,meetings,receptions or funeral services. We would be willing to commit to a separate 5 year lease agreement with the similar terms as we have for the Laurel Jaycee Hall. We would be putting the former American Legion building to GREAT use and bring life and activity back to Riverside Park. As we understand it,the building has a leak over the bathrooms and a problem with the septic system. If these challenges could be remedied,the opportunity would be ideal for revitalization.We would be willing to offer any assistance that we could to assist in these remedies,if possible. 3.The Laurel Jaycees would also like to be considered for the role of operating the camping areas located inside Riverside Park. For the last few years,camping has been prohibited,and this may be a severe detriment to the allure of Riverside Park as an asset for the community of Laurel, Montana.We would be willing to monitor and collect fees from the campers on a daily basis during the camping season.We would not require access to the water or electricity hookups.We believe that most campers would be accepting of a place to rest and enjoy the atmosphere,even though such amenities were lacking. We would work with the City of Laurel to come to an agreement for the division of funds received from camping in Riverside Park.This would provide a revenue stream during the summer for the City of Laurel to off-set any expenses incurred during the season,such as minor repairs,landscaping or mowing. Hopefully,the City of Laurel would be able to make the restrooms operational,as this is an obvious need for a campground.We would be willing to clean and maintain the restrooms regularly.We are sure that there are other dynamics to be considered in running the campground,and we would be open to discussion and helping devise a competent plan of action with the assistance of the City of Laurel. The Laurel Jaycees are an active group of young adults in our community. We have been serving Laurel since 1961.We have a long history of impacting families and our members through our community service and leadership training.This list of opportunities for Riverside Park and the Laurel Jaycees would go a LONG ways towards securing a foundation of commitment and service to the citizens of Laurel, Montana,and the many, many visitors that show up every day,every year to enjoy our community. If you have any questions or comments,please feel free to contact the Laurel Jaycee Hall Manager Howard Rickard at 855-9572. Thank you for your consideration, Howard Rickard