Parks and Recreation

Advisory Board Minutes

November 9, 2010             

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  

Chair Jana Dobbs, Kelly Barth,  Andy Clayton and Kevin Loos

 

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:  

Vice Chair Joe Caldwell

 

 

STAFF PRESENT: 

Ernie Shaw, Mark Hecker and Roger Steinbrock

 

 

GUESTS:

 

 

 

I.             Meeting called to order by Chair Dobbs

 

II.           Approval of October 12 Minutes -- Motion to approve October 12 minutes by Loos and seconded by Clayton.  Motion approved.

 

III.         Concerns of the Board – Loos feels the situation with the schools and the use of gyms and recreational needs are getting worse instead of better. Shaw mentioned a meeting had been scheduled with the superintendant, Rick Doll, and that he was going to brief Doll on our concerns of the usage of the school gyms.  Shaw said he wants to keep the support of the school district and work together as a team. Shaw said at the meeting they would discuss the potential new recreation center and see how the City and school district could continue to collaborate to further enhance the community’s assets. The idea for a recreation center has been discussed with the Assists Foundation as a potential partner in financing its construction. They are supportive of the idea. A committee needs to be formed to begin the discussion with the community.

 

IV.         Trail work – DeVictor, Clinton Parkway, Burroughs Creek – Hecker said all trails are complete and that it was a big year for trails. 

 

V.           Staff Reports

 

a.     Recreation/Golf Revenue/Expense Report – Shaw reported that revenue continues to climb up some in the recreation fund. It is now up to 102 percent.  If you remember earlier this year, we held back 5 percent of everybody’s budget and put it into a contingency fund.  He said we still have the majority of those funds.  He said we are doing a few year-end purchases and we project our revenue will be okay. He said we will probably return approximately $300,000 from the recreation fund.  One of the year-end purchases is all new weight room equipment and a new treadmill for the Community Building, about $25,000 worth of equipment, which is coming from the sales tax reserve fund.  Shaw also said the Golf budget isn’t as bad as it looked last time.  He said we are not getting a lot of players, and the percentages have gone down a little.  He said we still are holding the line on expenses and that we may have take $8,700 from our reserve.  He said a lot depends on the remaining months and how much play takes place.

 

b.    Parks/Projects Report – Hecker discussed the tennis courts lights at Lawrence High School. He said we know what the neighborhood thinks and what the tennis group think, and now it is time for a decision – is it worth the strain on the neighborhood to put lights in.  We know we have the funding for it.  We are requesting that the tennis group sends us a reason why they need eight courts lit.  We will then compare it with what the neighborhood has said, write a memo and send it to the City Manager for discussion with the City Commission.  We hope to get some decision made by spring 2011. 

       Hecker updated work on other projects: YSC- he said we have paved sections of the parking lots going east-west to keep some of the dust down, and we would like to continue that as money allows.  He said holiday lights have been put up downtown.

c.    Marketing Report – Activity Guide is at the printer.  This edition we have a story on the Woodyard Anniversary Garden, and that George and Eleanor are on the cover.  There is also a story about the renovation of the Carnegie and its availability of rental space for community use and events. The guide will be in the Sunday, Nov. 28, Lawrence Journal-World.

 

Shaw mentioned the KRPA conference will be February 1-3, 2011, in Wichita. 

 

The meeting concluded with a tour of the Carnegie building.

 

Meeting adjourned.  Next Advisory Board meeting scheduled for Noon, Tuesday, December 14, 2010, Parks and Recreation Conference Room.