Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutParkRec.Minutes.01-11-2021 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Minutes Monday, January 11, 2021 The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board held their regular meeting on January 11, 2021, at 5:30p.m. at the Osage Centre. Board Members Present: Staff Present: Kevin Noel, Chairman Julia Jones, Parks & Recreation Director Roger Hudson, Vice Chairman Brock Davis, Parks Division Manager David Cantrell, Board Member Scott Williams, Recreation Division Manager Beverly Evans, Board Member Penny Williams, Recreation Division Manager Tracey Glenn, Board Member Lisa Seyer, Administrative Assistant Kenneth Stilson, Board Member Anne Dohogne, Board Member Brad Labruyere, Board Member Meghan Harville, Board Member Pete Frazier, Board Member Daniel Presson, Council Liaison Absent: Nicholas Snyder, Board Member Others Present: 1. WELCOME / INTRODUCTIONS A. Chairman Noel called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. 2. OLD BUSINESS A. Approval of Minutes Kevin Noel asked for a motion to approve the December 14, 2020, minutes. Dave Cantrell made a Motion; seconded by Pete Frazier to approve the minutes. Motion passed with no one opposed. B. Aquatics Update Recreation Division Manager Penny Williams reported on her meeting with Cape Girardeau Public Schools and the architect last Friday on the scope of the Jefferson School Project. Nothing in regards to the size of the project has changed, but the layout is looking much better. C. Discussion on Operating Budget Challenges Director Jones informed the Board that the city is currently paying entry level part-time employees $8.60/hour, which is below the current minimum wage of $10.30/hour as the city is exempt from adherence to minimum wage laws. Director Jones has made a recommendation to the City Manager to bring our existing entry level part-timers and any new entry level new hires up to the current PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD JANUARY 11, 2020 PAGE 2 minimum wage effective July 1. This will create a potential $100K impact to the budget without addressing the compression issues for those in pay grades above the entry level. We are waiting on direction from the City Manager and Finance Director. The pay disparage was addressed in previous budget years by our department with the justification to offset the increased minimum wage by increasing fees and by making significant budget cuts within our divisions. Unfortunately, the cuts and fees were approved, but the increase in minimum wage was not. 3. NEW BUSINESS A. Potential Property Donation Director Jones advised the Board that Vince Kelley has offered to donate two parcels of land. One is a small lot adjacent to the River Heritage Museum and would not offer any development opportunities for Parks and Recreation, but could be sold later. The other lot is adjacent to the Red Star Flood Buyout property the city owns and would be an excellent development opportunity. This will be addressed at tomorrow night’s Parks and Recreation Foundation meeting and hope to finalize something soon. B. Play Cape Distribution Director Jones had copies for all Board members and referenced the lookback section that will be in all 2021 issues in recognition of Missouri’s Bicentennial this year. 4. REPORTS A. Parks and Recreation Project Updates Parks Division Manager Davis reported they are taking advantage of the weather to start dirt work at the Rose Garden, Amphitheatre, Shelter #4, and Playground areas at Capaha Park. All of this will take some time to get done. They are meeting with the architect for the River Heritage Museum to discuss planned improvements. B. Golf Course Advisory Board Parks Division Manager Davis reported the Golf Course suffered extensive and expensive damage recently from an intoxicated driver who drove through the course from the Pilot House and overturned their vehicle. Maintenance is busy working hard to repair the damages. C. Tree Advisory Board Director Jones reported that they are working with the University and Davey Tree Consulting in February to discuss Arena Park regarding their MDC Trim Grant Application. D. Red House Interpretive Center Committee No report. E. Parks and Recreation Foundation 1. Foundation Membership 2021 Campaign Recreation Division Manager Scott Williams reported the 2021 Membership Campaign is underway. Letters will be mailed out by third week in January. He would like to wrap up the campaign by March this year. He is also working with local restaurants on the year’s discount card. 2. Celebration of Youth Sports Awards Banquet Recreation Division Managers Scott Williams and Penny Williams reported this event will be held January 22nd. They asked that anyone available to help would be appreciated and to email them or Lisa their availability. The silent auction will be set up in Room 1AB to allow more room on the Main Floor for spacing of tables and less milling around. This is a masked event aside from the meal PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD JANUARY 11, 2021 PAGE 3 portion. As tickets are sold, people are asked to choose their table and sit with familiar people. Table numbers are written on the tickets as they are sold so that they know exactly where to go upon arrival that night. Drinks and desserts will be on the table as they arrive, and the meal will be delivered to them on carts after they are seated. Jackson Head Football Coach, Brent Eckley, will be the guest speaker. F. Council Report Councilman Liaison Dan Presson commented his support moving forward on the minimum wage increase for part-time staff that was discussed earlier. He was also happy to hear about the Red Star property donation reported by Director Jones. The city is in the process of hiring a new City Manager and the company that is working to help the city in the search has compiled an exceptional document that promotes the city that he hopes to make public. Macy’s will be closing in Cape Girardeau. Finally, he noted the need to work on passing an online sales tax in Missouri. G. Monthly Staff Report/Calendar Update Staff briefs were handed out to board members informing them of the upcoming events and projects in the Parks and Recreation Department. H. Other Items Director Jones announces that Nicholas Snyder will be getting married and moving out of the city limits, and therefore will be resigning from his position on the Board. She went through the current applications we have that listed the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board as their first choice to serve. She has asked if the Council can wait to appoint his replacement until the second meeting in February as we are likely to get more applications if we wait. She also recognized Board Member Pete Frazier for his spotlight in the B Magazine for his duck calls. 5. OTHER BUSINESS A. Next Board Meeting The next board meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 8, 2021, at the Osage Centre. 6. ADJOURNMENT There being no other business to come before the board, Tracey Glenn made a motion to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Dr. Evans. Motion passed with no one opposed. The meeting was adjourned. Submitted by: Kenneth Stilson, Secretary