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Home My WebLink About2017 08.02 PRC MinutesCity of Apache Junction Parks and Recreation Commission 300 East Superstition Blvd. Apache Junction, Az. 85119 A regular meeting of the City of Apache Junction Parks and Recreation Commission was held August 2, 2017 at the Apache Junction City Hall pursuant to notice as prescribed by law. Present Theresa A. Nesser, Chairman Wayne Standage, Vice -Chairman Nancy Burgess Heather Moeller Marit Runyon Frank Schoenbeck Absent Jesse Gage (Excused) Staff Present: Liz Langenbach, Parks & Recreation Director Jamie Sullivan, Recreation Superintendent Larry Binion, Recreation Facilities Manager Mary March, Administrative Assistant CALL TO ORDER: Vice -Chairman Standage called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. and led the Commission in the Pledge of Allegiance. ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA: Nancy Burgess motioned to accept the agenda a presented. Frank Schoenbeck seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: Frank Schoenbeck motioned to accept the minutes of June 7, 2017 meeting as presented.Heather Moeller seconded the motion, which motion passed unanimously. Vice-chairman Standage requested the record show that Chairman Nesser is present and will chair the remainder of the meeting. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: Liz Langenbach, updated the Commission on department activity as follows: Flatiron Community Park's grass looks good thanks to the weather and parks maintenance staff.The park is very busy pretty much all the time.We have faced some challenges with the splash pad activation button. Every time the power was interrupted it would reset everything. Contractor and staff worked together to get it all worked. Also worked with IT for modem so park rangers & park maintenance staff can remote in and reset. Bees have been another issue at the splash pad. We called around to other communities inquiring if they were experiencing a problem. Florence was the only one that had any issues and they advised us of a product that is working as a deterrent. Regulations signs for splash pad have been purchased and are going up.They turned out really nice and were designed by JayRey Graphics. Once the temperature starts rising the Concert in the Parks Series participation dwindles. So we decided to offer Movies in the Parks at Flatiron Community Park. In June we offered a Dog's Purpose and approximately 200 individuals were in attendance. Nancy Burgess commented on how well organized the event was, blankets were all up front, staff even had chairs out.There were a lot of give-aways. Recreation staff kept fresh trash bags in receptacles. They did any and everything they were asked, happily and very accommodating. Rogue One had about 150 participants in July, program coordinator Jeff Kopp had storm troopers come to interact with the kids.Lego Batman Movie will be the last movie of the season coming up on August 12th. The Chamber of Commerce "Festival of the Superstitions" will be held at Flatiron Community Park this year. We will be talking to businesses across the street, keep in mind this is a weekend event. Event activities include but are not limited to car show, live music, chili cook off, petting zoo, pie eating contest, beer & sports garden, over 80 vendors and Veteran's Tribute. The road will be closed for a short period of time for parade and reopened when tribute is completed. Nancy Burgess asked, if we have numbers on homeless bathers in the park. Liz Langenbach replied we have had no reports of bathing in the park. Central Arizona Council for Developmental Disabled Citizens has been awarded senior services transportation bid.They are funded by the same source that PGCSS is, so they have all the equipment and training required. We are very excited and believe this will be a good partnership. We will be looking for grants and donations and will be working with Friend of Apache Junction to expand services.We are very excited. Our food service provider, Bateman's have been on board for about a month and things are going great. Friends of AJ received a very generous donation of $32,000.00 from the Apache Greyhound Park Owners Foundation,for one playground shade structure at one park. The City Hall Complex Park has had the newest improvements and is used very heavily, with this donation we will be able to purchase a shade structure which will finish up improvements to this park at this time. The structure will take 6 to 8 weeks to manufacture. We cannot express enough how appreciative we are of this generous donation. Superstition Shadows Aquatics Center was remodeled over 15 years ago, this year we have requested funds for the much need replacement of the kool-decking.Last year we budgeted for much need repairs to the roof at the Multigenerational Center. Liz inquired on the status of roof.Larry Binion replied we have some very minor issues, they are under warranty and are being worked on. We will be hiring a fulltime park ranger in October to assist with all parks issues, assisting police department and animal control. We will also be hiring a recreation assistant for senior services to assist with operation and associated reporting responsibilities. This programming area also has the responsibilities of school programs, 4 major special events and youth advisory council.This additional position specifically for senior services is desperately needed. Frank Schoenbeck inquired on Silver and Fit update. Jamie Sullivan replied we are currently waiting on contract. Heather Wright inquired when we anticipate the recreation assistant to be hired. Liz Langenbach replied by the end of August. OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: Presentation and discussion on public swim season at Superstition Shadows Aquatic Center Liz Langenbach, advised Commission that Jamie Sullivan, Recreation Superintendent and Larry Binion, Recreation Facilities Manager will be presenting, leading discussion and answering any questions regarding our community pool public swim season. Larry Binion began by providing information on what the current public swim season program includes. Starting with staff training in the spring followed by weekly in-service meetings. Public swim season opens Memorial Day weekend and runs through first weekend in August from twelve o'clock noon to six o'clock every evening.Swim lessons are provided before and after open swim with five morning sessions and three evening sessions. Saturday and Sunday evenings are available for pool reservations from the first weekend in June through the last weekend of July. Water aerobics and lap swimming is offered from opening weekend until the last weekend in August.Special events start with April Pool's Day in April and include Itty Bitty Beach Party, Teen Nights and July 4th Festivities. The Apache Junction Unified School District uses the pool for swim team in the fall and Superstition Fire and Medical District utilizes the pool for trainings year round primarily during the off season. Things to consider in regards to extending public swim season are the average daily attendance per day May -July averages 409 patrons per day. In August average attendance drops to 304 patrons per day. In order to stay compliant with Universal Healthcare requirements, seasonal staff can only remain on payroll for 120 days.Since most of our staff consists of students, once school starts whether, it is college, high school or sports, retaining staff after August dwindles.By the end of the pool season parks maintenance staff primarily assigned to the pool during season are needed for other projects. Staff costs per day (12-6pm) for a 12 guard rotation is $966.49 for nine guard rotation per day cost is $751.24.The average cost of heating our competition pool (220,000 gallons)is $160 per day which would need to begin in September annually. The play pool does not have a heater. Larry relayed survey information related to what other cities similar to us are doing.Of the twelve surveyed 3 completely close the end of July, first of August. Six close during the week and are open weekends Saturday/Sunday, August/September or Labor Day.One has a modified year round schedule.One closes its play pool first week of August but has lap swim year round and one is open year round these are both connected to a community/recreation center. Cost to be open during weekends for August/September far outweigh the benefits. Staff further relayed that we are always looking at other options for programming at the pool. For example we extended water aerobics into August this year, we could include more water fitness activities these program do not require full staff.Other areas that do not or would not include full staffing would be merit badge classes, or a Labor Day event.We could consider programs like paddleboard or scuba diving if were proposed.We of course will need to research insurance requirement, budgeting etc_ when putting programs in place. Next year we will be asking for an extra $5000 towards another program this follows are standard guidelines and procedures. Chairman Nesser asked how other cities are able to stay open year round? Larry Binion replied, the larger communities around us have a greater amount of facilities and staff available, they can close all but one pool and manage, we are small we have one pool to meet our communities entire needs. Jamie Sullivan replied, we are fortunate now to have the splash pad at Flatiron Community Park available once pool closes. It is just not feasible and to challenging for the pool to remain open. She further relayed will be looking into self- sustaining programs beginning in August. Heather Moeller asked if we could generate a statistical report online regarding interest in pool usage. Liz Langenbach, relayed we could add to our survey that is provided to participants in our programs inquiring of interest in weekend pool use. Call to Public: None Request by the Commission for placement of items on future agenda. Employee Safety Report Adjournment: There being no further business Chairman Nesser adjourned the meeting at 7:14 p.m. Vice -C airman / 1