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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda & Packet 05-23-22 AGENDA ITEM 1 CALL TO ORDER ITEM 2 APPROVAL OF April 13, 2022 MINUTES ITEM 3 PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA ITEM 4 RECREATION FACILITES AND PROGRAM MASTER PLAN REVIEW OF DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS – DANNIELLE WILSON, ELSA FISCHER, BERRY DUNN CONSULTING a) City Park Pool b) Mercer + Robert A. Lee Pools c) Facilities for Recreation Programming d) Recreation Programming ITEM 5 REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF a) Parks & Recreation Director – Juli Seydell Johnson b) Recreation Division Superintendent – Brad Barker c) Parks Division Superintendent – Tyler Baird ITEM 6 CHAIRS REPORT ITEM 7 COMMISSION TIME/SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ITEM 8 ADJOURN If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate in this program/event, please contact Gabe Gotera, Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department at 319/356-5210 or ggotera@iowa- city.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs. Iowa City Parks and Recreation Commission Special Meeting Monday, May 23, 2022 5:00 p.m. Robert A. Lee Recreation Center – Meeting Room B 220 S. Gilbert St. IOWA CITY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION PRELIMINARY MINUTES April 13, 2022 ROBERT A. LEE RECREATION CENTER – MTG ROOM B Members Present: April Schmidt, Brianna Wills, Melissa Serenda, Alex Hachtman, Brian Morelli, Missie Forbes, Members Absent: Boniface Penandjo Lemoupa, Christopher Odinet, Michelle Wiegand Staff Present: Juli Seydell Johnson, Tyler Baird, Brad Barker, Kate Connell Others Present: Mary Curran, Marc Cannon CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Hachtman called the meeting to order at 5 p.m. RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL: (to become effective only after separate Council action): None OTHER FORMAL ACTION: Moved by Wills, seconded by Serenda, to approve the November 10, 2021 minutes as written. Motion passed 6-0 (Penandjo Lemoupa, Odinet, & Wiegand absent) PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA: None Aquatic Facility and Programs Discussion – Brad Barker, Kate Connell Barker & Connell both present and discuss the attached PowerPoint. Commissioner Wills asked about allowing private instructors to teach swimming lessons in the City’s pools as a way to help meet the need for additional swimming lessons. Seydell Johnson explained that instruction is limited to City employees or instructor contracted by the City. Mary Russel Curren address the Commission to state that Aqua Fitness participants need warmer water for their classes, many live near downtown and like to participate at Robert A Lee. She asked for additional lap and open swim hours at Robert A. Lee since retired users like to leave the early hours to lap swimmers who can only swim at times before their workday. Mark Cannon echoed Mary’s remarks. He said that he felt that the aquatics staff does an excellent job. He enjoys swimming at Robert A. Lee but feels that paying for parking is an issue for some people who wish to swim. The Commission will review future Aquatic Facility recommendations as part of the Recreation Facilities Master Plan Draft review at a special meeting to be held on Monday, May 23, 2022 beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Robert A Lee Recreation Center. The Commission is expected to make recommendations to the City Council regarding the priorities of the plan at this meeting. PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION April 13, 2022 Page 2 of 12 REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF Parks & Recreation Director – Juli Seydell Johnson Butler House: Johnson explained that staff are waiting for direction from the council on setting up a work group/committee between the Parks Commission and Historic Preservation regarding the future of the Montgomery Butler property. New Hires: Johnson announced that the Administration Coordinator position has been filled and would begin work Monday, April 25th. Johnson also announced that the Special Events position had been filled and would begin work Monday, May 9th. Project Starts: Johnson revealed several summer parks projects that would begin as the season continues. Whispering Meadows Wetlands will be getting a pathway and a playground. Chadek Green park is getting restroom upgrades in the gardens and a playground. Court Hill Park is getting a new park shelter and playground. Johnson said that playground manufacturing has been delayed. Public Works Open House: Johnson talked about the upcoming Public Works Open House taking place at the new Public Works Facility on Saturday May 21st. The event is free admission and will have activities involving, the Public Works’ Trucks, the Animal Care Center and the Fire Training Tower. There will also be a stage with live entertainment, food trucks, and over 300 quilts on display. The night will end with an outdoor showing of the film Field of Dreams once the sun has set. Rec Center Parking Lot: Johnson announced that during the next construction year, the Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center Parking Lot is scheduled to be resurfaced and receive improvements. Johnson further explained that the recent clearing of the nearby creek was in preparation for the repairs. Recreation Division Superintendent – Brad Barker Events: Barker talked about the recent Things That Go event, which took place March 18th & 19th and had good attendance across the two days. Upcoming events include Yahoo, It’s a Bug Zoo on April 24th and Underwater Egg Hunt on April 19th. Barker notes that Underwater Egg Hunt already has 40 people enrolled with more on the waiting list. Farmer’s Market: Barker said that the Farmer’s Market will return in-person Saturday, May 7th with a reminder that this year will only have the Saturday Market. Summer Registration: Barker details that Summer Registration will begin Tuesday, April 19th for Iowa City residents. Non-residents will be able to register Wednesday, April 20th. This staggered registration was recently implemented to provide a higher focus on the Iowa City resident. Parks & Forestry Superintendent – Tyler Baird Tree Planting: Baird said that staff are working with the Noon Rotary Club to plant 100 trees at Scott Park and some at Rita’s Ranch Dog Park. Baird announced that Parks had recently received a $5,000 grant from the DNR, which will go towards funding half of the tree planting project at Thornberry Dog Park. The Thornberry tree planting is expected to take place May 7th, in which staff will plant 41 trees with the help of Group Liberty and other volunteers. For Arbor day, staff will be speaking with students and planting a tree at Willowwind school. PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION April 13, 2022 Page 3 of 12 Staff will also be planting 15 trees at Glendale Park with City High School’s Community Inclusion Club as an Arbor Day celebration. Park Projects: Baird explained that staff are working on having restrooms and water in working order for the season. Parks staff have been conducting prescribed burns on 30 acres of prairie areas, including Kicker’s soccer field, the Terry Trueblood Recreational Area, and Waterworks Prairie Parks. Staff would be getting in more burns later in the week depending on the weather. Baird said that the new temp staff have begun working on the athletic fields to have them up and running properly. CHAIRS REPORT: None COMMISSION TIME/SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: Hachtman suggested looking at the Trail Systems and considering options to build a connection between the growing community and the local trails. ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Hachtman adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m. PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION April 13, 2022 Page 4 of 12 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION ATTENDANCE RECORD KEY: X = Present O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused NM = No meeting LQ = No meeting due to lack of quorum * = Not a member now NAME TERM EXPIRE S 04/14/21 5/12/21 06/09/21 07/14/21 08/11/21 9/8/21 10/13/21 11/10/21 12/8/21 1/12/22 02/09/22 03/09/22 04/13/22 Steve Bird 12/31/21 X X X NM X X X X NM * * * * Missie Forbes 12/31/25 * * * * * * * * * X NM X X Brian Morelli 12/31/25 * * * * * * * * * X NM O/E X Alex Hachtman 12/31/24 X X X NM O/E X X X NM X NM X X Christophe r Odinet 12/31/24 X X O/E NM X X X X NM X NM X O/E Boniface Penandjo Lemoupa 12/31/23 O O O/E NM X X O O NM X NM X O Ben Russell 12/31/21 X X X NM X X X X NM * * * * April Schmidt 12/31/22 * * X NM X X O O/E NM O/E NM O/E X Melissa Serenda 12/31/23 X X X NM X X X X NM X NM X X Angie Smith 12/31/21 X X O/E NM X X X X NM * * * * Brianna Wills 12/31/22 X X X NM X X O/E O/E NM O/E NM X X Michelle Wiegand 12/31/25 * * * * * * * * * X NM X O/E PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION April 13, 2022 Page 5 of 12 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION April 13, 2022 Page 6 of 12 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION April 13, 2022 Page 7 of 12 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION April 13, 2022 Page 8 of 12 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION April 13, 2022 Page 9 of 12 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION April 13, 2022 Page 10 of 12 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION April 13, 2022 Page 11 of 12 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION April 13, 2022 Page 12 of 12