Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020 07.01 PRC Minutes City of Apache Junction, Arizona Meeting Location �. City Council Chambers t. at City Nall Meeting Minutes g 300 E Superstition Blvd Parks & Recreation Commission Apache Junction,AZ 85119 w .ajcity.net P:(480)983-2181 Wednesday,July 1, 2020 6:00 PM City Council Chambers 1. Call to Order Chairman Standage called the meeting of the Apache Junction Parks and Recreation Commission to order at 6:02 p.m. and requested roll call attendance. 2. Roll Call Present 7- Chairperson Standage, Commissioner Schoenbeck,Vice Chair Moeller, Commissioner Gage, Commissioner Waldie, Commissioner Buzzin, and Commissioner Borey Saff Present: Liz Langenbach, Parks and Recreation Director Mary March, Parks and Recreation Administrative Assistant 3. Pledge of Allegiance Chairman Standage led the commission in the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. Acceptance of Agenda 20-321 July 1, 2020 Chairman Standage called for a motion to accept the agenda for July 1, 2020, regular meeting. Commissioner Buzzin motioned to accept the agenda as presented. Vice-Chairperson Moeller seconded. The Parks and Recreation Commission accepted the agenda as presented. Approved in a vote of all in favor and no one opposed. 5. Acceptance of Minutes 20-322 March 4, 2020 Chairman Standage called for a motion to accept the minutes of March 4, 2020, regular meeting. Commissioner Buzzin motioned to accept the minutes as presented. Commissioner Waldie seconded. The minutes were approved in a vote of all in favor and no one opposed. 6. Parks and Recreation Director's Report City or Apache Junction,Arizona Page 1 Parks&Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes July 1,2020 20-323 Facility Update- Director's update on projects and opportunities in the parks and other service areas. Director Langenbach advised the commission that due to the current situation with the COVID 19 pandemic and our new, renewed intergovernmental agreement with the school district, where we will be maintaining Superstition Shadows Park again, our parks divisions have been very busy manicuring our parks. Prospector Park pump received a new manifold,work was done in house with the help of Apache Junction Water District for about$10,000 in parts realizing a savings of$15.000 if we would have contracted. Superstition Shadows Park has received a complete face lift, ramadas have been painted, irrigation redone and grass seeded. Skatepark fencing replacement was budgeted for this year and was needed, facility is 20 years old. Repairs were done in house saving about$80,000.00 and giving us 4-5 more years of life before we will need to revisit. 7. Old Business 20-325 BLM Update-Discussion on various projects with the Bureau of Land Management Director Langenbach advised the Commission all leases on BLM properties have been renewed and will not need to be renewed again for a very long time. Our next step will be asking City Council for consideration of contract to move forward with the appraisal process. Estimated cost is$70,000-$80,000 and would not be done all at once. Mike Weaver with Public Works is tasked with redirecting water runoff into retention areas to help with flooding in our downtown areas. Many of the areas identified are on BLM property and our covered in BLM leasing. 20-326 Dog Park Update- Discussion and presentation on dog park design and next steps for grant solicitation, corporate partnerships and a citizen committee for further help on fundraising and feedback. Director Langenbach advised the design drawings for the Dog Park are 60%complete. Nick Blake retired Parks Superintendent and Landscape Architect has been contracted for the project and keeps Emil from Public Works updated. Estimate for the park is a little less then a million dollars about$800,000.00. The next step in the design will be determining alternates for example solar lighting and/or trees. The addition of alternates such as concrete in the bottom of water channel rather than decompose granite as design calls for now. Funding options for construction will include development fees, grants, volunteer citizen fundraising committee. We will have a better idea of cost estimates when we are at 90%of the design process. 8. New Business 20-327 COVID19 Discussion Director Langenbach summarized for the Commission actions related to COVID19 pandemic to date. Intense surface cleaning was ramped up to include all playground equipment, restrooms, etc... in parks. MGC already had intense practices in place and those were stepped up. Parks had lots of work needing to be done when facilities were not in use. Part-time and full-time recreation staff have been utilized by the Police Department for cleaning and trash pickup and City of Apache Junction,Arizona page 2 Parks&Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes July 1,2020 the City Clerk's office for scanning and filing.A full assessment of what should or should not be done and how to implement in accordance with Governors order was conducted by staff. COVID Leads Team meetings were held 3 times weekly Parks& Recreation heavily involved, in an emergency situation we are a closed POD-for essential workers. Open POD for public would utilize school gymnasium, etc... Next we started preparation for reopening emphasizing physical distancing and sanitization. MGC staff had to wear masks in common areas temperatures checks were taken and physical distancing required. Walking track limited to small amount of individuals. Game room equipment was moved into lobby area by climbing wall allowing for distancing. COVID cases tripled and quadrupled,fitness was shutdown, registered programs such as karate, art, science with Jake, small groups at MGC and reservations for sports team in small groups of 10 continued. Most municipal pools did not have enough staff on board when the first shutdown happened, no open swim was offered. Swim lessons were offered but significantly decreased requiring parents or an adult to participate with non swimmers and practicing social distancing in the water. Commissioner Borey inquired in regards to staff testing. Currently City of Phoenix is the only city testing employees. If you are symptomatic you will need to be tested, it takes two days to get in for test followed by a retest. All staff are masked.We are disappointed,we should have just stayed home in the beginning. Senior Services has never changed,they have stayed the course. Commissioner Schoenbeck and Gage encouraged minimizing indoor activity as much as possible and monitor CDC and State guidelines and heed advise. 9. Call to Public No public in attendance. 10. Requests for Future Agenda Items Dog Park Design and Apache Junction Median Project 11. Adjournment There being no further business Chairman Standage adjourned the meeting at 7:25pm Chairm / A, Met Chairman City orApeehe Junction,Arizona page 3