MINUTES
ORO VALLEY PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
REGULAR SESSION
HOPI CONFERENCE ROOM
11000 N. La Canada Drive
ORO VALLEY, ARIZONA 85737
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Chair Stinnett called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
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PRESENT: |
Jack Stinnett, Chair
Sue Bishop, Vice Chair
Mary Kay Durfee, Member
John Hickey, Member
Clifton Wickstrom, Member
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ALSO PRESENT:
Ainsley Legner, Parks & Recreation Director
James Gardner, Parks Manager
Brandon Laue, Assistant Recreation Manager
MOTION: A motion was made by Vice Chair Bishop
and seconded by Member Hickey to approve the minutes as written.
MOTION carried, 5-0.
Parks & Recreation Director Ainsley Legner stated that this draft document will be looked at by the Town Council on January 16, 2013. She reviewed the document.
Ms. Legner reminded the group that the General Plan Update methodology is currently being reviewed. The Development & Infrastructure Services Department will include the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board in the update process when it begins.
Member Wickstrom announced that the Strategic Plan has a technical error. The election for the general plan will be in 2016, not 2015.
Chair Stinnett discussed the need to develop committees for specific issues. This will assist the Parks & Recreation Department while seeking grants and partnerships.
The group discussed adding special events and ceremonies as a subset of the grants and partnerships committee.
Chair Stinnett made the committee assignments below:
~ Naranja Park Improvements committee will include Member Wickstrom, Member Durfee and a new member.
~ Aquatics committee will include Member Hickey and Chair Stinnett.
~ Trails, Multi-Use Path and Environment committee will include Chair Stinnett and a new member.
~ Grants, Partnerships and Ceremonies committee will include Vice-Chair Bishop and one or two new members.
Chair Stinnett requested the following from the board members:
~ Participate in the committees and outline the committee assignments for the next meeting.
~ Attend the events.
~ Be present at the parks or on the trails and get feedback from users. He added that "Significant Feedback" should be on all future agendas for reporting purposes.
| a. |
NARANJA PARK IMPROVEMENTS |
| b. |
TRAILS & MULTI USE PATHS |
Chair Stinnett explained that staff received a letter from Terry Dudas, who is strongly in favor of a dog park. Ms. Dudas states in the letter that she has obtained 60 signatures of people who are also in favor.
Chair Stinnett reviewed the PowerPoint presentation:
~ Many residents have dogs.
~ The dog park at James D. Kriegh Park does not separate dogs by size, lighting is minimal and the entrance is not optimal for "off-leashing".
~ Dogs are often off-leash on the trails, fields and grassy areas.
~ There is a training area at Reid Park.
~ Many parks separate dogs by size.
~ Turf costs more money to maintain and could cause health issues. There is no water available at Naranja Park to maintain turf.
~ The Naranja Park Plan had 1.5 acres for a dog park. Riverfront Park had $60,000 budgeted prior to the State's budget sweeps.
~ Recommendation is to expand into Naranja Park with a separated dog park including an obedience area.
MOTION: A motion was made by Chair Stinnett
and seconded by Member Wickstrom that the Town of Oro Valley will benefit from upgrading and exapnding "off leash" dog excercise and training areas. The Parks Department is requested to develop a budget for the following:
1) Enhance the existing James D. Kriegh dog park by adding adequate lighting for evening use.
2) Implement a 1st phase "off leash" dog park at Naranja Park without lighting which will be deferred until electric services are available.
The Parks & Recreation Advisory Board will use these developed costs in our recommendations to the Town Council.
MOTION carried, 5-0.
Ms. Legner stated that the grand opening is scheduled for March 8, 2013. She reviewed the construction status which is on schedule.
Ms. Legner discussed the items that the Town Council will review on January 16, 2013.
~ Establishing Aquatics facility hours. Staff recommends 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
~ Amending the fee schedule for the facility.
Ms. Legner explained that the recommended fees are structured to provide sufficient revenue to maintain the aquatics general fund subsidy at the fiscal year 2010-2011. When the facility is fully operational, next fiscal year, the increase costs of the expanded facility will be covered by a subsidy of the bed tax fund. That amount will be approximately $150,000 with the full year operating budget of the aquatics center estimated at $740,000. Revenues are anticipated to be approximately $271,000 in fees.
Parks Manager James Gardner explained that he has been working with Development & Infrastructure Services on the archery park. He discussed the following:
~ There are plans for a permanent structure with a bulletin board and an iron ranger, but they are waiting for grant money.
~ Anticipate completion of the walk around course by March.
~ Once all the sights are fixed, they will proceed with the trail work.
~ There will be an aerial map illustrating the course.
Ms. Legner commented that the department has begun selling passes.
The board members decided to meet at the office and then go to the trail and conclude with a tour of the aquatics center. The date will be Friday, February 8, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. with the tour of the aquatics facility to begin at 10 a.m.
Ms. Legner reported on the following:
~ The Town selected a new Parks & Recreation Director (Kristy Diaz-Trahan) and she will begin on February 4, 2013.
~ She expressed her appreciation to the board.
~ Discussions regarding the committees.
~ Parks and Recreation observations/feedback.
Chair Stinnett expressed his gratitude to Ms. Legner for her service with the Town.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: A motion was made by Chair Sinnett
and seconded by Vice Chair Bishop to adjourn the meeting at 7:41 p.m.
MOTION carried, 5-0.
Prepared by:
Danielle Tanner
Senior Office Specialist
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the regular session of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board of Oro Valley, Arizona held on the 15th day of January 2013. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present.