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Home My WebLink About2000 05.03 PRC MinutesCITY OF APACHE JUNCTION PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION 1001 North Idaho Road Apache Junction,Az.85219 A regular meeting of the Apache Junction Parks and Recreation Commission was held on May 3,2000.6:00 p.m.at the Apache Junction City Hall pursuant to notice as prescribed by law. PRESENT ABSENT Nick McVicker,Chairman Patricia Richmond,Vice Chairman Richard Anderson Andrea Hinkel Brian Milkey Tess Nesser STAFF PRESENT:Jeff Bell,Director of Parks and Recreation Mary March,Secretary OTHERS PRESENT:John Pein,Annabelle Richards,Nancy Koerner of Superstition Horsemen's Association. CALL TO ORDER:Chairman McVicker called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.and led the Commission in the Pledge of Allegiance. ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA:Brian Milkey made a motion to accept the agenda as presented Tess Nesser seconded and the motion passed unanimously. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES:Richard Anderson made a motion to accept the minutes of April 5,2000 regular meeting as presented.Tess Nesser seconded this motion which passed unanimously. STAFF COMMENTS:Jeff Bell distributed copies of Summer Citizen and Park Naming Policy to Commission members. Mr.Bell informed the commission staff is busy readying the pool to open Memorial Day weekend.We are in the process of hiring our Aquatics staff and Recreation staff for summer program.We have hired two Parks Maintenance Workers Aaron McDonald and Tim Sizemore who was promoted from a Park Attendant position.We have also hired three Park Attendants,John Main,Gerald Long,Gerald Seccombe. We have had first go around in the budget process,some of our personnel request are being highly consider,park project mainly improvements to existing facilities are still being consider at this time. Pay rates for summer employees have been adjusted recently,in an attempt to be competitive locally we are still 15% to 20% below other east valley communities who employ summer seasonal staff. Growth indicator:ballet and tap dance classes will be having their spring recital on Saturday May 7,2000 with 50 participants up from 10 last year. OLD BUSINESS: A.Multi -use Trail Naming:John Pein of the Superstition Horsemen's Association informed the Commision about 3 months ago the Dobson family made a presentation at one of their meeting.The Dobson family has been running sheep for 60 years through the East Valley along with 4 or 5 other sheep families. At one time there was approximately a quarter of a million sheep in one run.The Dobson family is the only remaining family to run sheep,approximately 5.000-7,000 this year and this may vary likely be their last.Their permit to cross federal land is up for renewal and renewal will not be an easy thing to do with new environmental concerns.During general membership and board discussions,comments about the City's trail being part of the sheep run trail and actually part of it a holding area for the sheep along the run:the trail not having a name and concerns with the loss of history in the valley,locally and state wide:the name Sheep Run Trail could be considered and the trail would have a name,historic in nature. B.Park Project Update: Jeff Bell,would like to contact our local historian Tom Kollenborn,and the Historical Society for more information and their comments about the Sheep Run Trail and relay back to the Commission. Jeff Bell relayed to the Commission that the sidewalks are in at Phelps Drive and a preconstruction meeting for the shotcrete is schedule for tomorrow May 4th with work beginning Monday.May 8m,followed up by landscaping. Bids for the Traffic Islands at 88 & Idaho opens May 26 th, The State is handling this project City pays 25% of project cost and takes over maintenance upon completion. about midsummer. Library Improvement design work is done.We are soliciting price quotes,improvements are under $10.000 will not need to formally bid. C.Capital Facilities Discussion: NEW BUSINESS: A.Discussion on Senior Center: Tepee Park,Development Services Department is having a title search done before quit claim can be done by Attorney. The City Council is scheduled to pass sales tax increase to fund the capital facility plan at their May 16° meeting. May 17°we anticipate to be underway,the Southside Park/Swim Center/Skateboard Park is the #1 priority.The School District had offered $200.000.00 toward this project.Dr.Sutter asked this money be used for education improvement rather than recreational.The school currently has under contract a project manager, Pinnacle One for improvements to the school,we will be in need of a project manager .Our project is additional improvements to school facilities which Pinnacle One is already contracted to manage,so we suggested they do a change order with Pinnacle One and pay them rather than us and this will save us months of time. Jeff Bell relayed to the Commission that we have performed electrical,plumbing and maintenance evaluations on St George's old church facility. Development Services Director recommended asphalting parking lot.Ramping needs to be done for accessibility purposes and restrooms need to be upgraded.We have money in budget to make these improvements.We need to find out what the Catholic Church wants or needs from us. Would like to have enough information by next months meeting to make a formal recommendation. B.Discussion on Commission Reappointments:Mr.Bell informed Tess Nesser,Pat Richmond and Andrea Hinkel that their terms are expiring on June 30.2000 and asked if they are still interested in serving another 3 year term.All expressed interest in continuing to serve on the commission. C.Discussion on Commission's Role:Commission discussion on their purpose and role and if we need to make changes,does Commission wants to take more active role,should staff provide more information and involve the Commission more.Nick McVicker feels the commission's input and recommendations are a very important voice to the City Council.With his schedule he needs a set date.He also feels meetings keep him informed about things he might not otherwise hear about i.e.skateboard parks.Tess Nesser believes if their are no issues to address,maybe a letter updating would be sufficient until next meeting date.Commissioners may also be able to help by doing research for Parks and Recreation.Andrea Hinkel suggested maybe commissioners could support parks and recreation issues more actively, i.e.support at city council meetings.Jeff relayed that the APRA has a boards and commission day at their annual conference,if commissioners would be interested in attending to see what roles or duties other commissions perform.We would need to budget for not this year because Phoenix is hosting the National Conference but the following year.Pat Richmond suggested bi-monthly meetings. Andrea Hinkel made a motion to maintain a scheduled monthly meeting date on an as need basis.Pat Richmond seconded this meeting which passed unanimously. D:Request for Upcoming Agenda Items:Multi -use Trail Naming:Park Project Update;Senior Center Discussion:Capital Facilities Discussion E.Establish Next Meeting Date:June 7,2000,if necessary. PUBLIC COMMENT:None ADJOURNMENT:Their being no further business Pat Richmond made a motion to adjourn.Andrea Hinkel seconded this motion which passed unanimously. V4ce Chairman