The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2018 03.07 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 March 7, 2018 at the Apache Junction City Hall pursuant to notice as prescribed by law. Present Theresa A. Nesser, Chairman Wayne Standage, Vice -Chairman Judy Borey Luciano Buzzin Jesse Gage Heather Moeller Frank Schoenbeck Absent Staff Present: Liz Langenbach, Parks & Recreation Director Mary March, Administrative Assistant CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Nesser called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. and led the Commission in the Pledge of Allegiance. ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA: Chairman Nesser asked for a motion to accept agenda with the change that item #6 be moved up to follow item #4 on the Agenda. Frank Schoenbeck motioned to accept the agenda of March 7, 2018 meeting with the aforementioned changes as requested. Jesse Gage seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: Liz Langenbach explained to the Commission the process we followed for elections of officers is not the preferred process the city follows.At our next regularly scheduled meeting we will take action to reverse the action item and conduct election of officers utilizing the process in place. In the meantime we will research what other city boards and commissions have in place and try to make things a little more uniform, like scripts for motions and nominations, etc. Liz Langenbach provided a draft copy of Parks & Recreation Update Report to be providing bi-monthly or quarterly. It is a public record so we will have some guidelines to follow in the spirit of processes and doing things the right way. You will find information related to the replacement of the kooldecking at the community pool that will be complete and ready for the upcoming April Pool's Day Event.Updates on status of city facilities like all city playgrounds being ADA accessible with approved manufactured woodchips.Part-time park personnel, who work special events, weekends, evenings and holidays being transferred back to the park ranger program under the supervision of Kelly Martin.Parks has identified two specialized areas within the park maintenance division, building/facility and irrigation and have promoted two Park Maintenance Workers to these positions, providing for more internal movement and much needed proficiency and consistency of maintenance in these specific areas. The Park Ranger program is also fully staff with the recent addition of Kelly Bair part- time park ranger. New events at Flatiron Community Park include fitness classes twice a week, a running program that starts at the park and traverses our community, this is a partnership with the school district. We have looked into hot air balloon events, these are very expensive.The Apache Junction School District recently voted to return to a 5 day school week. We will continue to provide programs for our families & kids.The City will not be doing a before/after school program as not to compete with the Boys & Girls Club or the school district who will continue to provide their TLC program. But, we will continue to work with them to offer well rounded programming to meet our families and community's needs.The school season will be longer and the summer season will be shorter but, we do not believe this will change our summer programming. Liz Langenbach advised the Commission, the Bureau of Land Management has moved forward on renewal of the Multi -Use Trail Lease.The City has contracted a Real Estate Specialist to assist with adjustments needed to the Rodeo Grounds and Prospector Park leases as they relate to the parking lot and to assess the value of land related to the Rodeo Grounds lease. Liz advised the Commission pickleball has become very popular and in demand.Two tennis courts can be lined to make 4 pickleball courts. Which we have done at Prospector Park. Four of the six courts at the High School have been lined to be pickleball courts also. We also have indoor play at the Multigenerational Center.There is much more demand for pickleball then there is for tennis. These to sports can coexist it will just take a little bit of an adjustment and this is the dilemma we have been faced with for the past few years now, with pickleball becoming increasingly more popular. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: Jesse Gage motioned to accept the minutes of January 3, 2018, regular meeting with the exception of New Business item Election of Officers. Wayne Standage seconded the motion which passed unanimously with afore mentioned change. OLD BUSINESS: Senior Services Update: Liz Langenbach shared with the commission that Senior Services have been expanded and we are currently fully funded. Statistics were provided on meals provided, both congregate and home delivered; transportation for shopping, medical and to center; ride share program we pay half, they pay half this is a reimbursement program. AAA is our federal funding source, we receive donations and have applied for and have received grants from Krogers, Gila River Indian Community which enables additional transportation. The City allotted additional funds in our budget for senior services this year and we recently received a FEMA grant.We have put out RFP to PGSSC, we have no indication from federal government that there will be any changes to their budget, so they should remain our basic services funding source but, for us to be fully funded we will have to continue to apply for grants or gifts and seek out other funding sources. Liz Langenbach shared with the commission a video of Senior's Appreciation Day where the seniors appreciated senior services staff for making them feel welcome and for providing great food, activities. NEW BUSINESS: Special Event Process: Liz Langenbach advised the commission Jeff Kopp is our department go to guy for facility reservations/coordination of special events, as is Al Bravo for the City.The public gets confused on who to contact and what processes to follow related to special events.So in an attempt to simplify this process and better inform the public we have combined information/questions/guidelines necessary to determine what kind of special event is being requested, which have been categorized into 5 groups.This will further determine who the contact person should be as well as what documents mostly likely will be required.Facility location maps will also be included to assist the public and City staff when making or referring requests.We have solicited input from the City Clerk's office and other individuals who have had or are doing special events with the City, recently for example Renee Mullender with the Earthheart Park Event. Active Transportation Plan: Liz Langenbach relayed to the commission that Development Services successfully applied and received a grant to develop the City's first Active Transportation Plan.Active transportation is any form of human powered transportation, for example walking bicycling, wheelchair, inline skating, skateboarding, riding a horse or non -combustion motorized transportation (MAV's) which would include electric powered wheelchairs, bicycles, scooter, hooverboards, skateboards, Segways and defined as electric only and/or motor powered vehicles that operate at a maximum speed of 15 mph.Paths can be hardscape which is a shared use path that is paved, off street and typically 10' wide accommodating a variety of non- motorized users traveling in both directions.Whereas trails are non -paved surface and vary in width from 10' or wider down to 2'. Request for Proposal have been solicited, applicants interviewed and J2 Engineering and Environmental Design LLC. is the successful applicant. The first phase of the campaign has started with a survey on the City's website @ www.ajcity.net/active,as well as several public events for public input and an initial meeting date of April 4th, 7:00 pm at the Multi -generational Center. Call to the Public: None Request by the Commission for placement of items on future agenda. Election of Officers, Special Event Process and Transportation Plan. Adjournment: There being no further business Chairman Nesser adjourned the meeting at 7:16 p.m. Approved: Vi c e - ChUi rman