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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985 01.28 PRC Minutes195 CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION 1001 North Idaho Road Apache Junction,Arizona 85220 REGULAR MEETING January 28,1985 A regular meeting of the Apache Junction Parks and Recreation Commission was held on January 28,1985 at 7:00 p.m.at the Apache Junction City Hall pursuant to notice as prescribed by law. PRESENT ABSENT Michael Carden -Chairman Ted Millspaugh-Vice-Chairman Lois Broman-Secretary Redena Bilotti Chuck Heermans Janice Palson Jack Rivers James Appler Suzanne Bartell STAFF PRESENT:Jeff Bell,Community Services Superintendent Phyllis Wolfe,Secretary CALL TO ORDER: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA: ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: SUPERINTENDENTS COMMENTS: Michael Carden,Chairman,called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Michael Carden,Chairman,led the Com- mission in the pledge of allegiance. Janice Palson made a motion to accept the agenda as presented.Ted Millspaugh, Vice -Chairman,seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Janice Palson made a motion to accept the minutes of January 14,1985 special meeting.Redena Bilotti seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Staff briefed the Commission on the status of the various programs being offered by the Community Services Department. Approximately 55 Senior Citizens rode the Community Services Bus to the Desert Bot- anical Gardens on December 7,1985.Staff will schedule one trip per month with the Pinal/Gila Senior Citizens. The Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony was held at City Hall on December 8 with ap- proximately 250 individuals in attendance. Mayor Clarke welcomed approximately 100 bikers,from around the state,to the 4th Annual Toy Run.The bikers collected toys which go to needy families. 197 P &R Commission Regular Meeting 1/28/85 Page 2 OLD BUSINESS: A.Status of Land and Water Conservation Fund Application: B.Status of Prospector Park Improvements: C.Update on Bureau of Land Management Lease Appli- cation: Staff was involved in a Christmas Basket Program.170 families were assisted this year.Approximately $1,600.00 was donated from churches,civic groups and individuals. The Adult Volleyball Leagues Double Elimin- ation Tournament concluded in December, with ten teams participating. Men's and Women's Winter Softball Program began the first part of January.The Men's league has 10 teams participating while the Women's league have 8. The middle of January marked the start of another session of Little Rec'rs.65 three and four year olds are currently enrolled with an additional 10 on a wait- ing list. T.G.I.F.program continues every Friday offering a variety of recreational ex- periences to our handicapped community. Due to the rain only two of three events that were scheduled for Lost Dutchman Days were completed.The annual tennis tournament has been postponed until March 2nd,while the racketball and softball events saw a small but successful turnout. Assistance is provided to the Youth Soccer League every Saturday for field preparation. Staff continues to provide assistance to the Apache Junction Reach Out Food Bank and the Community Action Human Resource Agency for distribution and storage. Staff informed the Commission all projects have been approved.We are waiting for the final O.K.on the money.Apache Junction ranked 5th on the list of all the communities and counties that applied.There were 56 applicants with over 4 million dollars of requests.Only 1.1 million dollars was available. Jeff Bell informed the Commission we cannot commit any local funds until we get the final word from the National Park Service or the LWCF grant. Staff informed the Commission the City Manager has the lease.The City Attorney will review the lease before he takes i t to the City Council.Approximately 60 acres of Hohokam Archaeological sites have been found in Section 11.B.L.M.has been in touch with an A.S.U.student,who is working on his doctorate,and try to get him to oversee this project.The City 199 P &R Commission Regular Meeting 1/28/85 Page 3 D.Five -Year Parks Improvement Program Discussion: Financing Alternatives- City Manager: NEW BUSINESS: A.Presentation of Recreation Facility Development: L.D.S.Church: Manager will inform the Council on the stipulations and cost of this project. B.L.M.will come to the City Council meeting on February 19 to present every- thing to the Council and answer any ques- tions. Mike McNulty,City Manager,discussed with the Commission financing alternatives for the Five -Year Parks Improvement Pro- gram. One method of financing is with a grant. The Council can apply every year for a grant,but the money is limited.There is a considerable amount of competition for these funds.The amounts available are also restricted and we would have to be able to match whatever we requested. Another means of financing would be a general fund appropriation made available by the City Council to see these types of improvements are made. Currently we have $300,000.00,but that came out of a special approval by the voters of that excess surplus fund that the city had accumulated over a number of years. We are back in that business of accumulating money,however,this year we are going back to the people.TheCity Council has authorized the question to be placed on the ballot in March to allow the city to budget its income, which would give us a considerable enhanced capability to meet these kinds of needs. The lease purchase is another method of acquiring capital improvements.We lease purchased the swimming pool.I t is easier to negotiate a lease purchase for some added enhancements to Prospector Park,than i t is to go out and float bonds. The lease purchase,the person who builds it,accepts the fact that there will be dedicated monies within the yearly budget to pay i t off.Lease purchase is like bonds,but i t doesn't require voter approval. Basically that's what we are looking at in a way of being able to finance what you are going to recommend to the City Council.A general discussion followed. Mr.Perry,President of the Mesa,Arizona Salt River Stake of the L.D.S.Church, presented the Commission with information concerning the proposed site plan for the new stake center. Mr.Perry would like to develop some rec- reational property not only for the church, 7,01 P &R Commission Regular Meeting 1/28/85 Page 4 B.Discussion on Municipal Golf Course: C.Discussion of Park Ordinances: D.Request for Upcoming Agenda Items: PUBLIC COMMENT: but in conjunction with the city.He suggested a possible arrangement in which the church will provide the Mat- erials and labor and the city would pro- vide maintenance and upkeep for the ball- fields.The city could then lease the fields for a nominal fee of $1.00 per year. A general discussion followed. Jack Rivers suggested the Commission pursue the possibility of a municipal golf course. Discussion about the cost of developing, operating and maintaining a course coupled with enormous water cost to irrigate fol- lowed. After a brief general discussion concern- ing park ordinances,Staff suggested the Commission come back with their ideas on rules and regualtions on our parks next meeting. Park Ordinances,Purchase of a new Com- munity Services Bus,Easter Egg Hunt, Five -Year Parks Improvement Program,Status of Land and Water Conservation Fund Appli- cation. Chuck Jastrzemski,Chairman of the A.J. Superstition Horsemen's Association, suggested placing signs along the eques- trian trails so the public is aware the land is for public use.I f there is any- thing the Horsemen's Association can do to be of assistance they are available. BOARD DISCUSSION:None ADJOURNMENT: APPROVED C H A I e There being no further business,Janice Palson made a motion to adjourn.James Appler seconded the motion which passed unanimously.