HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark Board Minutes 07.07.2016 City of Laurel
Park Board minutes
Thursday July 7, 2016
In attendance were Iry Wilke,Chuck Dickerson, Bruce McGee,Amy Pollock,Scot Stokes, luAnne Engh
and Gretchen Paulson. Absent was none. Called to order at 5:30 pm.
Others in attendance:Tom Nelson,city council; Kurt Markegard, Public Works.
Additional items for Tuesday City Council workshop from the Park Board:
• None
1. Public comment
None.
2. Discuss combining committees with Park Board,Cemetery Commission and Tree Board
Discussion covered approx.40 minutes:
Tom Nelson:the cemetery is always in a state of growth, needing road access, and there is a budget for
capital improvements.
• Small communities usually combine cemetery&parks boards. Given the low volume of
volunteerism and the need for council members to be on the boards, it makes sense to
reduce the number of boards/committees there are in the city.
Can there be sub-committies for the Tree&Cemetery commission to get specific issues/projects
discussed? Not necessarily. If the boards are combined,there would be a smaller group to meet and
the items on the agenda would be discussed.
Each board/commission has different ordinances for their membership. This is to ensure a variety of
members from the community are involved.
• Cemetery meets on Tuesdays @ 5pm and they need 2 people from Yellowstone County to
fill the board.
• Tree board needs 3 for a quorum,there are currently only 2 active people on the board.
Bruce: If the Park board wants this to happen then it can happen easily. Otherwise it won't work.
Tom: I hope to see activities in the parks that bring people to the parks, possibly charge fees to create a
revenue stream to create improvements. The downside is this takes time, personnel,and funds to
initiate these programs.
Kurt:The parks budget is only for maintenance and comes from the general fund. Tree board has
revenue from City of Trees for improvements. Cemetery commission has revenue from plot purchases.
Parks is hard to improve given it has no revenue stream.
The rules and regulations would need to be re-written if the boards would combine. We could write it in
who would qualify as members, require a portion of the shelter rentals or lease fees go to parks
improvements(not into the general fund),etc. If the groups combine,then we could work together
(rather than against each other)for a portion of the general fund for improvements.
• This board could be real busy creating activities/events to get people into the parks for a fee.
• If the boards combine, use a timer to stay on task and on time per agenda topic(similar to 4H
meetings).
• Once a budget is set,there is very little the Park Board has to do. Riverside Park is underway,
Kurt will come to us for recommendations as needed on the project progress. This would allow
more time for the other board agenda items.
Bruce: Book"4 Disciplines of Execution" He said this is a good book for all of us to read. Exerpt from
their website: "The 4 Disciplines exist for one reason:to execute on a plan in the midst of the whirlwind
of distractions. Most people are so busy just maintaining the business just keeping their heads above
water—most of the time they can't even hear you,let alone execute on your most important priorities.
The 4 Disciplines focuses your team's energy on a winnable game in the midst of distraction."
He said Step 1 is to create a grand project plan such as "combine trees, parks and cemetery boards".
3. Lease negotiations–Discussion with Mayor,CAO or city attorney
The Mayor,CAO and the city attorney did not attend. This discussion will table until they are available.
Irv: Iry still wanted to discuss the lease negotiation over the Laurel Rod &Gun Club(LRGC) building. If
we had a lease in place,we would be in the building and using it. Then maybe the vandalism that
occurred would not have happened. Iry shared pictures of broken windows and the rocks inside the
building that did it. (See attached photos).
Irv: He brought it to Heidi's attention that the Laurel Rifle Club(LRC) building is in use. She notified him
that it is on city property and no one from the city had keys to the building. He has provided a key to
the city stating the locks were changed to keep the building secure.
If the vandalism does not stop,then the LRGC and LRC will install surveillance system to watch the
buildings.
4. Riverside Park priorities for improvement
Jonathan with Great West Engineering will be in Laurel on other city business and will also visit Riverside
Park, next Friday,July 15. Kurt hopes to get a scope of work and cost estimate within a week of the visit.
If it is acceptable, Kurt could take the Great West task order to council by August 2 council meeting.
5. Follow up from May minutes
The Jaycees are not opposed to managing the campground,but since the city hasn't been clear about
what is happening with the park,they are also waiting to see what happens before committing
resources.They don't want to have all the responsibility of keeping the park safe and clean,they would
need more details before committing.
6. Other items.
Followup from May and June meeting: Iry has provided to Kurt the company name and phone number
for a pool liner. Company: Renosys Phone 800-783-7005
Kurt:water is being added slowly and daily to offset the evaporation, leaking and splashing that occurs.
This was suggested by Tim,one of the many maintenance crew members. The pool is being tested daily
and it is easier to add the cold water in small amounts daily rather than a large amount once a week. It
gives the pool more time to stay warm from the sun's heat. THANK YOU TIM!!!
Priority list of improvements requested by the Park Board for permitting:
1. Install vault toilets&ADA ramping
2. Open campground—(Jaycees to manage)Add bbq pits, upgrade tables,add fire pits and
shelter(similar to Thomson park shelter).
3. Add playground equipment—flow through materials,tables and/or benches
4. American Legion building improvements—septic tank and drain field work and fix
bathrooms.
5. Clean up metal at old dump in back of Riverside Park—previous estimate sent to Kurt
Markegard from Billings metal company to come and do clean up work.
No August 4 meeting, not enough plan to be in attendance for a quorum.
September 1 at 5:30pm Agenda items:
• Discuss combining committees with Park Board—Cemetery and Tree Board? Is there further
discussion?
• Lease negotiations—discussion with Mayor,CAO or city attorney
• Should there be a lease for use of the LRC(Laurel Rifle Club) building?
• Next steps for gifting building to Laurel Rod&Gun Club?
• Should we use lease template to start lease agreement processes? Gretchen will bring park
lease templates used by the city as a starting point.
• Riverside Park Priorities for Improvement—next step?
• Vault toilets—Was the cost estimate/task order passed onto council for approval?
• Riverside Park permitting process
• Ideas for park activities and recreation (i.e. movie night in the park,etc.)
Adjourn at 6:40pm
Gretchen Paulson
Park Board member
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