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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParkRec.Minutes.07-13-2020 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Minutes Monday, July13, 2020 The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board held their regular meeting on June 8, 2020, 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 Kenneth Stilson, Secretary Scott Williams, Recreation Division Manager Beverly Evans, Board Member Penny Williams, Recreation Division Manager Pete Frazier, Board Member Lisa Seyer, Administrative Coordinator Tracey Glenn, Board Member Gunnar Knudtson, Board Member Brad Labruyere, Board Member David Cantrell, Board Member Anne Dohogne, Board Member Absent: Dan Presson, Nicholas Snyder, Shannon Truxel 1. WELCOME / INTRODUCTIONS Chairman, Kevin Noel welcomed everyone. Julia Jones introduced our new council liaison, Shannon Truxel, via Zoom to the Board, and recognized David Cantrell as the recipient of this year’s 2020 Spirit of America Award. Kevin then called the meeting to order. 2. OLD BUSINESS A. Approval Of Minutes Kevin Noel asked for a motion to approve the June 8, 2020 minutes. Ken Stilson made a motion, seconded by Gunnar Knudtson. All approved. B. Aquatics Committee Update Division Manager Penny Williams and Parks & Recreation Director Julia Jones updated the Board on the Jefferson Project. We are moving forward. Drafts are being reviewed. Not a lot of detail to report at this time. There is a meeting on Wednesday, July 22 to discuss public access, school usage, and other considerations as we proceed. The geo-tech assessment at Central Pool was completed May 19. The full report exposed some good news as well as some concerns. In particular two of the pool walls are extremely bowed. Solutions to correct this issue are being reviewed with more details to follow. There are some positive options to consider, so all is not bad. 3. NEW BUSINESS A. COVID Update “Operation Resume Play” Phase II Parks & Recreation Director Julia Jones reported on the recent positive COVID cases of part-time staff. We have had four total between the SportsPlex, Cape Splash and the Golf Course. No other staff involved have tested positive. The July 4th Spirit of America event was cancelled at the last minute due to an increase in positive cases, and the anticipated high attendance at this event. This was not an easy decision, but one made jointly with the Cape County Health Department. Beginning July 10th, masks must be worn inside all city facilities until further notice. COVID presents enormous daily challenges to our department with regards to staffing, scheduling, refunds, the media, contact tracing, programming, and more. Division Manager Penny Williams shared how the golf course staff of seven were hit hard over the 4th of July weekend when one part-timer tested positive, and then immediately Cape Splash had a part-timer test positive the same weekend. It took time to contact trace so many at Cape Splash, so this facility had to close. It reopened Monday the 6th to programming and then to the public on the 8th, but the facility is really feeling the brunt of the negative media exposure from this. Lately, Cape Splash is not reaching half capacity. On a better note, Comic Con went off well at Osage with no complaints about masking. Overall, we are trying to be overly cautious and transparent to help the public feel at ease and be assured we are following the guidelines. Division Manager Scott Williams reported on the last six weeks of tournaments in the city. These have been some of our biggest weekends in Cape ever with over 15,000 visitors overall and no reports back from anyone of community spread from these events. The impact of these past six weekends has been great for our hospitality industry. We do a great job of sanitizing and practicing safe practices. Parks & Rec Day was cancelled. The plan is to do a combined Parks & Rec event with fireworks sometime later. The golf course stays busy and full most every day. We benefit from other areas not opening. Parks Division Manager Brock Davis reported that shelter rentals stay busy and people are cooperative. All the extra cleaning and sanitizing takes a lot of time though, which has a big impact on park maintenance staff time—meaning the mowing projects are getting behind. Splash pad usage is great and visitors are very cooperative as well. Tracey Glenn asked that when there are facility changes due to COVID, could the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board be notified and used as soundboards to help get the word out on what is true and accurate information. Parks and Recreation Director Julia Jones said that could be done. B. July – Parks & Recreation Month Parks & Recreation Director Julia Jones reported that the proclamation for Parks & Recreation Month was a small signature ceremony at City Hall on July 6th due to COVID. The theme is We Are Parks & Recreation. There are t-shirts and calendars available for board members at the end of the meeting. 4. REPORTS A. Parks and Recreation Project Updates i. Capaha Park / Pond, Fort D, Indian Park, Downtown Restroom , River Heritage Museum Parks Division Manager Brock Davis reported that Bowen Engineering is wrapping up documents for Capaha projects. Fort D is slated to be done August 3 in time for their Labor Day event. The downtown restrooms will be installed tomorrow at Indian Park and Red House, but not connected. It will take a month for Nip Kelley to do the ground work to facilitate the connections. We will be meeting with architects to discuss plans for the River Heritage Museum improvements and Arena Park improvements. We are looking at a RFP for the youth ballfields in 2020 and a bond to complete the Central Pool project quickly. B. Golf Course Advisory Board i. Nothing further to report. C. Tree Advisory Board i. Board Member Beverly Evans said they have not met this month, so no report. D. Red House Interpretive Center Committee i. Parks and Recreation Director Julia Jones reported that the Red House is open and the part- time coordinator Augusta Welsh is doing a great job. The Speaker Series is going well. E. Parks and Recreation Foundation i. Recreation Division Manager Scott Williams reported that Southern Convenience Stores July Give Back is underway to be a big month at both locations per Scott Blank. The Night Fall Glow ball and Senior Two-Man Scramble are coming up at the golf course, and the Cary Flanagan Memorial Softball Tournament is not far off either. The Foundation membership goal of $13,000 has been surpassed and still growing. The Foundation Board meets this Thursday, July 16. F. Council Report i. Councilman Liaison Shannon Truxel attended the meeting via Zoom to say she is happy to be a part of the Parks and Recreation team and looks forward to getting involved. She noted from the council end the two big items being looked at are the monuments—no decisions made yet and any suggestions are welcome, and the masking situation. G. Monthly Staff Report/Calendar Update i. Staff briefs were handed out to board members informing them of the upcoming events and projects in the Parks & Recreation Department. H. Other Items Parks & Recreation Director Julia Jones acknowledged Kevin Noel and Charter Communications for their partnership to promote parks and recreation programs via television ads. Division Manager Scott Williams reported that all the signage for our 11th and second largest corporate sponsor, Saint Francis Medical Center, is up. Also, August 1st is the memorial service for Terry Slattery at St. Vincent De Paul. Division Manager Penny Williams reported that all the summer classes are going well this year. The instructors are well prepared with their programs. 5. OTHER BUSINESS A. Next Board Meeting The next board meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 8, 2020, at the Osage Centre. Kevin Noel has asked that we use the projector for any future Zoom meetings to make them more inclusive for all Board Members. 6. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned with a motion from Tracey Glenn and seconded by Roger Hutson. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned. Submitted by: Kenneth Stilson, Secretary