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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019 10.02 PRC Minutes City of Apache Junction, Arizona Meeting Location: City Council Chambers Meeting Minutes at City Hall • 300 E Superstition Blvd Parks & Recreation Commission Apache Junction,Az 85119 www.ajcity.net P:(480)983-2181 Wednesday,October 2,2019 6:00 PM City Council Chambers 1. Call to Order Chairman Standage called the meeting to order at 6:02pm 2. Roll Call Present 5- Chairperson Standage, Commissioner Schoenbeck, Commissioner Moeller,Vice Chair Gage,and Commissioner Buzzin Excused 2- Commissioner Waldie,and Commissioner Borey Staff Present: Liz Langenbach. Parks and Recreation Department Director Mary March, Parks and Recreation Department Administrative Assistant 3. Pledge of Allegiance Chairman Standage led the Commission in the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. Acceptance of Agenda 19-481 October 2, 2019 Chairman Standage called for a motion to accept the agenda for October 2, 2019, regular meeting. Commissioner Buzzin motioned to accept the agenda as presented. Commissioner Schoenbeck seconded. The Parks and Recreation Commission accepted the agenda as presented.Approved in a vote of 5 in favor 0 opposed.(yes: Moeller, Buzzin, Schoenbeck, Standage, Gage. no: none) 5. Acceptance of Minutes 19-482 September 4, 2019 Chairman Standage called for a motion to accept the minutes of September 4, 2019 regular meeting. Commissioner Buzzin motioned to accept the minutes as presented. Commissioner Moeller seconded.The minutes were approved in a vote of 5 in favor 0 opposed. (yes: Buzzin, Schoenbeck, Standage, Gage, Moeller. no: none) City o/Apache Junction,Arizona Page 1 Parks&Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes October 2,2019 6. Parks and Recreation Director's Report 19-483 Facilities Update- Director's update on projects and opportunities in the parks and other service areas Director Liz Langenbach advised the Commission that Nick Blake, Parks Superintendent is officially retired but will be retained in a consultant/contract capacity. We have started transitioning the parks division,we will retain the superintendent position but, not recruit for a replacement at this time. We have underfilled the vacancy with another supervisor. Parks division and Public Works have been very busy with storm damage clean up. Community service workers through the court have been very helpful with the cleanup as well. Prospector Park received substantial damage as well as the median project being prepared for make a difference day event on October 26th. So staff will be very busy getting eveything repaired and ready for that event as well as Think Water immediately following and the Halloween Carnival that evening. Liz further advised the commission the storm came at a bad time for overseeding of Flatiron Park and the schedule of fall/winter special events this year. We have been considering trying overseeding every other year, so this will provide us an opportunity to see how that will work. Our parks division will stay on top of maintenance issues as needed to keep facility well groomed and attractive through the winter months. 19-484 Program Update-Director's update on upcoming events and activities Director Langenbach updated Commission on department program activity to include record participation at our annual Mad Science event on September 20th of 350 participants. Upcoming events include Annual Mud Run on October 19th, Halloween Carnival and Lost Dutchman Realty Trunk or Treat on October 26th as well as Make a Difference Day and Think Water Annual Event at Flatiron Park. Annual Wellness Event will take place November 15,16 & 17 at the MGC, Festival of the Superstitions November 9th. Veteran's Day Parade November 11th and annual Holiday Event first Saturday in December. All upcoming event information can be found at ajcity.net/parks/calendarofevents. 7. Old Business 19-485 Dog Park Design and next steps-The City Council has directed staff to begin the design phase of the Dog Park, start exploring funding sources and begin working with Pinal County to finalize agreement. Director Langenbach advised the commission the City Council unanimously voted for J2 Engineering to continue with the design of the dog park at the county detention basin. Engineering of the drainage is the first and most important obstacle to manage.We have received a lot of ideas and information from groups such as Paws and Claws, Claws for Life, animal control and more. County is very supportive of project. We will be looking at applying for grants and soliciting corporate sponsorship as well as utilizing development fees on this project. Commissioners inquired about water features, research of pros and cons, possibility of phased development and preferable walkway surfaces. City of Apache Junction,Arizona page 2 3 Parks&Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes October 2,2019 19-486 General Plan 2020-presentation and discussion on draft Chapter 2 -Parks, Recreation and Open Space Element Director Langenbach updated commission on the general plan. The plan is very general more of a plan to plan. Parks and Recreation has moved up in importance from chapter nine to chapter two which is very exciting. Our funding sources consists mainly of general fund dollars, fees, grants and gifts and bonds which we do not have at this time but is how we built the MGC. Commissioner Schoenback inquired if that is something we could utilize to acquire Prospector Park and the Rodeo Park. Director Langenbach expressed it's an option definitely to explore. Mini parks, neighborhood parks like the City Hall Complex Park and community parks such as Prospector Park are the three main catergories when looking at our developments. Facility inventory updates include the addition of pickleball courts at Prospector Park, Flatiron Community Park which would be a special use park and the addition of the Dog Park. The City is required to update and adopt the general plan every ten years, reviewing to define the City's overall vision and goals,for development, maintenance and safety, need assessment, funding sources and marketing. The Parks and Recreation Master Plan is where development and priortization is defined. 8. New Business 9. Call to Public None 10. Requests for Future Agenda Items Director Langenbach advised congratulations are in order for Heather Moeller and Luciano Buzzin on being reappointed to to Commission for three more years. Annual election of officers should be scheduled for the December meeting, also BLM and Dog Park Updates. 11. Adjournment There being no further business Chairman Standage adjourned the meeting at 7:09 pm Chairmaili Vice- hair a City of Apache Junction,Arizona Page 3