Parks & Recreation Advisory Board

MINUTES
ORO VALLEY PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
REGULAR SESSION
ORO VALLEY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
11000 N. LA CANADA DRIVE
ORO VALLEY, ARIZONA 85737

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

PRESENT:

Lyra Done, Chair
Bob DeLaney, Vice-Chair
Karen Chatterton, Member
Susannah Myerson, Member
Greg Roberts, Member
John Scheuring, Member
Ali Boelts, Member

ALSO PRESENT:     Ainsley Legner, Parks and Recreation Director
                               Barry Gillaspie, Town Council Member
                                   Pat Sporel, Oro Valley Historical Society
                                   Joyce Rychener, Oro Valley Historical Society

MOTION: A motion was made by Vice-Chair DeLaney and seconded by Member Roberts to approve the November 17, 2009 regular session minutes.

MOTION carried, 7-0.

~ Town offices are closed on December 25, 2009 for Christmas Day.
~ Town offices are closed on January 1, 2010 for New Year’s Day.
~ Deadline for submittal of agenda items, packet materials, and presentations for the next meeting is January 6, 2010.
~ Town offices are closed for Civil Rights’ Day on January 18, 2010.
~ Next Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting is January 19, 2010.

Oro Valley Resident Zac Sharpe announced that he represents CDO Little League and would like to work with the board and provide information on various issues relating to CDO Little League.

Barry Gillaspie was appointed to this board as the new liaison council member. He discussed his background in natural resource recreation. He explained that he feels that boards and commissions should reflect the issues of the community. He asked the board to focus on parks and recreation priorities and strategies as we approach another difficult budget year.

The board members introduced themselves to Council Member Gillaspie.

Chair Done introduced Pat Sporel and Joyce Rychener from the Oro Valley Historical Society.

Pat Sporel gave a summary of the garden’s history:
The master plan for Steam Pump Ranch was approved in May, 2008 and it included three phases (Pre-opening, opening, full build-out). The garden is currently in the pre-opening phase including restoration and infrastructure, so access is limited. This phase includes opportunities for docents and limited activities under Town supervision.

The draft master plan includes an area labeled "crops" and there are two aspects they would like to research. The first is offsite programs such as giving a PowerPoint presentation to civic groups. The second is onsite programs, site tours, and development of the series of heritage gardens. Last February, the Town Council approved a license agreement with the Historical Society to allow for access to construct the garden and to provide one tour per month. A monsoon garden has been planted.

Education Coordinator Joyce Rychener presented the following:
~ The Native American garden is the first of at least four heritage gardens planned by the Historical Society. Other gardens may include mission gardens, children’s gardens, a heritage orchard and an agave field.
~ The garden represents the Tohono O’odam Nation currently and will eventually represent tribes all over Arizona.
~ The field was origionally barren with no plants or insects and the soil was compacted.
~ The soil was turned and sunken sand beds were made for water absorption.
~ Once water was in the ground, many animals appeared.
~ It is a corn, bean and squash garden. It is a three sister’s garden meaning that the crops support each other and grow well together.
~ A trench diverts the rainwater to the garden.
~ Native bees and other insects have inhabited the area.
~ This garden can teach national history, local history, prehistory, heritage foods and culinary arts. Garden program possibilities are botanical illustration, plein air painting, and traditional crafts (basket weaving).
~ The Historical Society hopes to work with Native Americans in the area to demonstrate and sell their crafts.
~ Seasonal festivals could be held at the heritage garden.
~ Bill Adler provided funding for the garden.
~ A table was donated by Fred Ruth from the Historical Society.
~ Old Pueblo Archeology donated a corn grinding stone and they are interested in partnering with the Historical Society and starting programs.
~ Steam Pump Ranch is distinguished by its western heritage.
~ Children are interested in volunteering and participating in the programs.

Further discussion followed regarding:
~ Funds could be gained by seed generating.
~ Education on using water harvesting and composting.
~ Education on gardening methods and how to grow dry climate crops.
~ Future garden possibilities and possible sponsors.

The Historical Society would like to partner with Parks and Recreation on programs. Parks and Recreation Director Ainsley Legner stated that the Parks and Recreation Department is ready to partner with the Oro Valley Historical Society and the Library and look at options. Ms. Legner offered to set up a meeting to discuss this issue with Ms. Rychener in January.

Parks and Recreation Director Ainsley Legner stated that the proposed user fee increases recommended by the Board were approved by the Town Council on the consent agenda on December 2, 2009. Those fees may incrementally increase as we prepare for the 2010-2011 budget. Users have received advanced notification of the increase in fees and there has been no negative feedback.

Member Scheuring discussed the following:
~ This project has been in motion since May 2009.
~ The purpose is to increase informational value in Oro Valley parks.
~ Four docents from Tohono Chul have joined together to focus on the CDO Linear Park, West Lambert Lane Park, and the desert Loop in James D. Kriegh Park.
~ Docents worked with Pima County Parks and Recreation.
~ $15,000 was assessed from Parks and Recreation in in-lieu funds.
~ There are 45 small signs to identify plants, birds and mammals.
~ There are 5 large interpretive signs.
~ The bid from Panir Graphics was $12,002.
~ The desert creature art was voted down at the last Town Council meeting.
~ The signs should be installed in the parks by February 1, 2010.
~ Docents may lead tours on the first Saturday and Sunday of January and February. Saturday tours will be at West Lambert Lane regarding desert nature. Sunday tours will be at James D. Kriegh Park regarding birds. If there is enough interest, the tours will continue.

The Board decided to hold the Adopt A Trail clean up on February 13, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.

The Board decided to schedule the tour for January 9, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.

At the last Finance and Bond Committee meeting, the Committee accepted the auditor’s report. The next meeting will be on December 28, 2009.

There was a question at the last meeting about why certain issues were not included in the report generated by Multi Modal Planner Nancy Ellis. The reason was that the issues had gone to the Development Review Committee with staff prior to implementation of the current reporting process. A report was emailed to the board.

Ms. Legner discussed the following:
~ Reception area of Calle Concordia office was reworked to be more secure.
~ Received "Sticks for Kids" grant for golf clubs for programs.
~ $500,000 was received for a transportation enrichment grant for Steam Pump Ranch.
~ The pool was audited and did very well.

The next Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for January 19, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. in the Hopi conference room.

MOTION: A motion was made by Vice-Chair DeLaney and seconded by Member Myerson to adjourn the meeting at 7:40 p.m.

MOTION carried, 7-0.

Prepared by:

Danielle Tanner
Senior Office Specialist