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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParkRec.Minutes.08-10-2020 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Minutes Monday, August 10, 2020 The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board held their regular meeting on August 10, 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 David Cantrell, Board Member Penny Williams, Recreation Division Manager Anne Dohogne, Board Member Lisa Seyer, Administrative Coordinator Gunnar Knudtson, Board Member Brad Labruyere, Board Member Absent: Dan Presson, Nicholas Snyder, Beverly Evans, Pete Frazier, Tracey Glenn, 1. WELCOME / INTRODUCTIONS Chairman, Kevin Noel welcomed everyone and then called the meeting to order. 2. OLD BUSINESS A. Approval Of Minutes Kevin Noel asked for a motion to approve the July 13, 2020 minutes. Ken Stilson made a motion, seconded by Anne Dohogne. All approved. B. Aquatics Committee Update Division Manager Penny Williams updated the Board on the Jefferson Project. She met with Cape Central School representatives and project consultants to review design options. The current plan includes three lanes and a play feature with zero depth entry. Everyone will meet again on August 12 to finalize budget figures and other data. The City Council was updated on the project at their last meeting. The Council’s recommendation is to move forward with the Jefferson Project first before proceeding with the work on Central Pool so there are no interruptions in service to the local diving teams. As far as our part of the Jefferson Project, we are done. The school has other design items they are working on to get this project moving forward, but there is no hold up on our end. C. July-Parks & Recreation Month Recap Division Manager Penny Williams reported that all the July Movies in the Park, league tournaments, and all our summer camps went on as scheduled. This was a more subdued Parks and Recreation month than in past years due to COVID. But, all of our summer camps were up in numbers and all of them were huge successes. Kudos to all the staff for being creative in their class management and organization this year—great job everyone. 3. NEW BUSINESS A. COVID Update “Operation Resume Play” Phase II – Discussion of Future Programs & Events Parks & Recreation Director Julia Jones reported that Corporate Games were cancelled this year due to the lack of signups by the companies who normally participate in the past because of COVID this year. We are working on the logistics for our next two largest events, Haunted Hall of Horror and Spaghetti Day, to accommodate the guidelines for COVID and large crowds. Division Manager Scott Williams reported that NFL Flag Football and Fall Soccer are still down in registrations at this point. Waiting to see how Jr. NBA and Fall Volleyball League registrations will follow. Despite COVID, our city’s Parks & Recreation has hosted record travel league baseball and softball weekends throughout this summer with no contact tracing back to these events. The Board expressed their thanks to the staff for all they have done to make this happen. B. City Hall Customer Service Operations Division Manager Penny Williams reported that with the renovations of City Hall and its future operations, they are looking at relocating their customer service operations to the Osage Centre and Public Works. The plan is to have two customer service representatives and a supervisor at each location by March 2021. 4. REPORTS A. Parks and Recreation Project Updates i. Capaha Park / Pond, Fort D, Indian Park, Downtown Restroom , River Heritage Museum Parks & Recreation Director Julia Jones asked the Board to refer to the Cherry Hill site updates in their board packets. Included were topical views of the Dan Cotner Amphitheatre layout, the expanded parking on Cherry Hill, and the new playground. There were also visuals of each included too. Parks Division Manager Brock Davis reported that they are working with Strickland Engineering on a lighting plan for the Dan Cotner Amphitheatre, Cherry Hill and Capaha Pond Project. They are also going through with the planning and hydro study of Capaha Pond this Thursday, August 13, despite the delay in the MDC grant funding, so that they are ready when the funds do become available. The Capaha Splash Pad has been received well by the public. People tend to monitor themselves as far as COVID distancing within the splash pad. All in all, residents are really appreciating and enjoying all the improvements at Capaha Park. Fort D is nearing completion. The hope is to be done by September for their reenactments. The downtown restrooms were hooked up today and testing on the lines is in progress. Nip Kelley will be working on the lines for the Indian Park restrooms next. Earn Norman has reached out to Parks & Recreation Director Julia Jones to do some signage on the Bloomfield Trail. This is a hidden treasure of Cape Girardeau; more to report on in the future. B. Golf Course Advisory Board i. Division Manager Penny Williams the golf course has experienced their biggest July ever in the history of the golf course. They have been extremely busy this season. People really appreciate the new carts. Maintenance has been able to keep up with things despite the record season and being down one full-time maintenance person this year. Coming events include the Parks & Recreation Glowball Tourney on August 29. C. Tree Advisory Board i. Parks & Recreation Director Julia Jones reported that they met earlier today. MDC is going through a major reorganization of their agency. Their local representative did report though, that the city’s TRIM grant is in review at Jefferson City for a tree survey at Arena Park. ii. D. Red House Interpretive Center Committee i. Parks and Recreation Director Julia Jones reported that part-time coordinator Augusta Welsh is keeping them organized and Dr. Frank Nickell will be this month’s speaker on Saturday, August 15 at 11:00 a.m. at the Shawnee Park Center. He will discuss early Cape Girardeau under Spanish rule. E. Parks and Recreation Foundation i. Recreation Division Manager Scott Williams reported that Southern Convenience Stores July Give Back is over and expects to hear results from Scott Blank soon. The Foundation set a membership budget goal of $12,000 and we have already surpassed that, and look to exceed $14,000 this month. Upcoming Foundation events include Doggy Swim Day, the Carry Flanagan Tournament, and the Glowball Tournament, to name a few. Looking ahead to Spaghetti Day, we will likely reduce seating and increase carry-outs and deliveries this year. F. Council Report i. No report 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. Division Manager Penny Williams reported that the Movies in the Park “Goonies” were postponed to August 14 at the Shawnee Park Center. Cape Splash has gone to reduced hours this week. Division Manager Scott Williams reported that 300-player basketball camp/tournament is being booked in Cape Girardeau for late August/early September. H. Other Items None. 5. OTHER BUSINESS A. Next Board Meeting The next board meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 14, 2020, at the Osage Centre. 6. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned with a motion from Anne Dohogne and seconded by Ken Stilson. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned. Submitted by: Kenneth Stilson, Secretary