[00:00:05]
>> WELCOME TO NOVEMBER PARKS COMMISSION MEETING.
THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO JUST PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE.
[APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA]
WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY CHANGES OR A MOTION TO PROVE?
>> OPPOSE. THAT PASSES SEVEN, ZERO.
NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM OUR AUGUST 7TH,
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES. ]
2023 PARK COMMISSION MEETING.DO WE HEAR A MOTION OR ANY EDITS?
>> MS. PRAGUE AND THEN ALL IN FAVOR.
WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THIS TO PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ANYTHING THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU HERE, MAYBE YOU'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE [INAUDIBLE] ITEM.
WE'LL HOLD SOME PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR AFTER THAT PRESENTATION IF YOU WOULD.
THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT AFTER EACH OF THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
IS ANYONE HERE TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ANYTHING THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA? NO. THAT AND MOVE TO OUR STAFF REPORTS.
[STAFF REPORTS.]
>> THANK YOU. [NOISE] ONE OF THE INITIATIVES THAT OUR PARK COMMISSION IS WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IS THE ADOPTED PARK PROGRAM UPDATE.
WE HAVE COMMISSIONERS HUDDIE AND PORTER HAVE BEEN WORKING ON UPDATING THIS PROGRAM AND HELPING IT TO BE A LITTLE MORE STREAMLINED PROCESS TO GET PEOPLE IN THE DOOR AND HOW THEY WORK WITH THE PARK COMMISSION AND WORK IN OUR PARKS AND UPDATED WEBSITE.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SOME OLD DOCUMENTS THAT THEY JUST NEED TO BE UPDATED, INCORRECT, OR THERE'S SOME CORRECTIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE PARK COMMISSION LOOKING AT.
YOU MAY PUT TOGETHER A SLIDE FOR US SO WE HAVE OUR CURRENT PROGRAM INFO.
WE SEE IT'S DATED RIGHT NOW IF YOU GO ON OUR WEBSITE, WE HAVE A WORD DOCUMENT THAT THAT'S THE ONLY INSIGHT INTO WHAT THAT PROGRAM IS.
WE HAVE SOME OLD OUT-OF-DATE ADOPTERS OF THE PARK.
SOME ARE STILL CURRENT, SOME WOULD STILL LIKE TO CONTINUE WITH THOSE PARKS AND OTHERS HAVE LEFT OFF OVER TIME.
WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES.
WE HAVE A LOT OF BLANK SPACES IN THOSE FOR OUR PARKS THAT NEED TO BE ADOPTED OR SHOULD BE ADOPTED.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE BRIDGE THAT GAP.
HOW DO WE BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO THIS? WHAT ARE OUR NEEDS AND OUR PARKS? OUR WEBSITE ISN'T THE MOST INTUITIVE WHEN YOU GET ON THAT.
SOME OF OUR PEERS IN OTHER CITIES, THEY ARE CREATING DOCUMENTS THAT ARE A LITTLE MORE PLEASING TO THE EYE.
THEY'RE EASIER TO FOLLOW AND THEN THEY HAVE CLEAR EXPECTATIONS AS WELL OF THE OUTCOMES THAT ARE EXPECTED FROM ADOPTING A PARK.
RIGHT NOW, STAFF IS IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING DOCUMENTS THAT ARE EASY TO DISTRIBUTE AND ALSO AESTHETICALLY PLEASING AS THEY'RE ON THE WEBSITE.
[NOISE] WE MET MAYBE A WEEK OR TWO AGO AS A SUBCOMMITTEE FOR THE ADAPTIVE PART PROGRAM AND I THINK COMMISSIONERS HUDDIE AND THEN PORTER THEY BOTH TALKED ABOUT NOT JUST FOCUSING ON ADOPTING A PARK, BUT ALSO ADOPTING A SPOT OR AN ACTIVITY, OR EVEN JUST A SMALL LOCATION OF A PARK.
[00:05:01]
THIS REALLY CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF OUR GARDENS OR FLOWER BEDS, LANDSCAPING BEDS, WHERE WE SEE IN NAVARRE, LIVINGSTON PARK, LINEAR BEACH.WE SEE SOME AREAS WHERE WE HAVE SOME GARDEN BEDS THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO BE MAINTAINED.
THERE'S QUITE A FEW GARDEN BEDS.
IF SOMEONE HAD A GREEN THUMB AND WANTED TO GIVE THEIR TIME TO CLEANING UP A FLOWER BED, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO ADOPT A WHOLE PARK.
THEY COULD JUST FOCUS ON A SPOT.
THIS SPOT COULD WORK IN QUITE A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AS A SUBCOMMITTEE.
[NOISE] AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE THE CLEAREST OF EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT IT IS ONCE YOU ADOPT A PARK.
WE'RE TRYING TO OUTLINE THAT AND GIVE PEOPLE REASONABLE GOALS TO ACCOMPLISH ONCE THEY DO ADOPT THAT PARK OR SPOT.
WOULD EITHER OF YOU LIKE TO COMMENT ON THIS?
>> I WOULD LOVE TO YOU. THIS REALLY CAME ABOUT IN OUR LAST MEETING.
EVERYTHING FROM CALVARY CHURCH CAME AND CLEAN UP THE NAVARRE PARK TO MS. DELANEY WAS TALKING ABOUT DONATION GARDEN IN THE WAITLIST THAT THEY HAD FOR HOW MANY PEOPLE WANTED TO HELP WITH THE DONATION GARDEN.
THEN LATER THAT MONTH, JOSH AND I MET WITH THE ADOPTED PARK FOR KESCO POINT AND SHE'S NOT EVEN LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE, SO IT WAS JUST UNCLEAR WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS WERE INSTEAD THAT REALLY HAS PUSHED US TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THIS IN A DEEPER WAY.
TRY TO CREATE SOME OF THOSE EXPECTATIONS, GIVE A REFRESH.
I THINK ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT IS THE EXPECTATIONS ON THE BOTTOM, WHICH INCLUDE US AS PARK COMMISSIONERS.
I THINK ONE OF THE BIG THINGS I'D LIKE TO SEE IS THAT ONCE SOMEBODY ADOPTS A PARK, THEY WOULD GO TO THAT SITE WITH A PARK COMMISSIONER AND WITH STAFF.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD WAY FOR US TO INTRODUCE OURSELVES.
US GET MORE IN TUNE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTIVE IN THE PARKS THAT WE ARE VOLUNTEERING TO BE SPONSORS OF.
THEN ALSO HAVE AN ANNUAL MEETING FOR THEM TO COME TOGETHER, PARTIALLY FOR RECOGNITION AND JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT.
PROBABLY THEIR Q1 WORK SESSION JUST TO TALK ABOUT THE YEAR AHEAD.
A LITTLE BIT MORE COMMITMENT FROM US IN THIS PROGRAM AS WELL.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS IN FRONT OF ALL OF YOU AS WELL. ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD?
>> JUST WITH RESPECT TO THE PLANTING AREAS WITHIN THE PARKS.
HOW THE AVAILABILITY OF VOLUNTEERS TO ADOPT THOSE THINGS MAY HELP DRIVE WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S EVEN A GARDEN WITHIN A PARK.
IF THEIR STAFF REALLY IS UNAVAILABLE TO GO WITH OUR BEDS AND THERE'S NO VOLUNTEERS TO WEED THE FLOWER BED IT'S PROBABLY WORSE TO HAVE ONE THAT'S OVERGROWN THAN THERE IS NOT TO HAVE ONE.
I THINK THIS CIRCLES BACK A LITTLE BIT TO EVEN INFLUENCING THE DESIGN OF SOME OF THESE PARKS AND WHICH OF THOSE GARDENS WE'RE GOING TO KEEP.
>> HAVE YOU CONSIDERED A RECRUITMENT PROGRAM? WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW YOU ENGAGE PEOPLE? IS IT JUST BY POSTING IT ON THE WEBSITE OR DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS ABOUT THAT?
>> WE BRIEFLY TALKED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.
WE DO MARK A PARK WHEN IT IS ADOPTED IN THE FAMILY.
TALKED A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT BROADCASTING THAT SIGNAGE A LITTLE BIT MORE.
PERHAPS WHETHER IT'S A QR CODE THAT BRINGS YOU THE INFORMATION OR COULD WE USE THOSE FLYERS IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
THE FREQUENT USERS OF OUR SPECIFIC PARKS WOULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE INSIGHT INTO I HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE.
THEY CAN GET MORE INFORMATION.
I THINK EVEN TALKING ABOUT APPROXIMATING, HAVING THOSE WORK SESSIONS PEOPLE CAN SEE IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE ENGAGING.
DO YOU THINK IT'S A SERIES OF US ALSO SPEAKING UP, GETTING OUT THERE INTO THE PUBLIC AS WELL.
>> I ASSUME PARK COMMISSIONER WOULD BE THE ONE ASSIGNED TO THAT PARK, THE DEFAULT.
>> CORRECT. THAT'D BE THE DEFAULT.
>> BECAUSE WE COULD DO SOME PROMOTION AS WELL.
>> CURRENTLY WHAT WE HAVE IS AGAIN, JUST THAT WORD DOCUMENT AND YOU REALLY HAVE TO SEARCH FOR IT ON OUR WEBSITE.
THAT'S ON STAFF TO FIND WAYS WHERE WE CAN PROMOTE THIS A LOT MORE THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, THROUGH UTILITY BILLING, ANY TYPE OF ADVERTISING THAT WE CAN GO IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET THIS MESSAGE CONFIDENTLY.
I THINK IT'S A REALLY EXCITING PROGRAM.
WE ARE JUST IN THE BEGINNING STAGES OF IT.
SOME OF IT WILL BE TWEAKED OVER TIME.
BUT I DO THINK IT IS ONE OF THE MORE EXCITING THINGS THAT THE PARK COMMISSION IS WORKING ON AND COMMISSIONERS HAVE YOU IMPORTANT YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB SO FAR.
>> YOU'RE NICE TO KICK IT OFF IN SPRING WHEN THINGS ARE STARTING TO GROW.
ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT THE BROCHURE IN FEBRUARY?
>> WE'D LIKE TO DEVELOP IT STILL THIS WINTER.
THEN AS WE GATHER FOR OUR JANUARY WORK SESSION, THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REFINE THAT PROGRAM AND THEN START ROLLING THAT OUT FOR IT IN JANUARY.
[00:10:02]
>> NOW LET'S FIT IN THE NEWSLETTER THAT GOES OUT.
>> IT WILL. ANY PUBLICATION THAT WE'LL SEND OUT, WE'LL MAKE SURE TO TO HIGHLIGHT THIS.
[NOISE] THERE'S NO MOTION ON THIS.
THIS IS JUST AN UPDATE TO THE COMMISSION, SO WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THIS.
THEN YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE SOME DOCUMENTS THAT ARE CLEANED UP AND READY TO BE PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC AT A LATER DATE.
>> IN YOUR LIST OF GARDENS, TRAILS, AND SO FORTH, WHAT ABOUT BEACHES?
>> BEACHES WOULD BE INCORPORATED.
>> AGAIN, WE WANT IT TO BE FLEXIBLE.
WE DON'T WANT TO TURN PEOPLE AWAY FROM VOLUNTEERING, WHATEVER THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO.
LYDIAN BEACHES IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT WHERE YOU CAN SPLIT THAT IN TWO.
YOU HAVE THE FLOWER BED RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF IT, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE BEACH.
WE WOULDN'T EXPECT SOMEONE TO MAINTAIN THAT WHOLE SITE.
THEY MIGHT HAVE MORE INTEREST IN JUST CLEANING UP ON THE BEACH EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, OR IT COULD BE JUST THE FLOWER BEDS.
WE'RE PRETTY FLEXIBLE AND WE WOULDN'T WANT TO TURN ANYONE AWAY.
WE WILL GET THAT ON THERE. YES.
>> ON JANUARY WE'LL LOOK AT THE LIST OF ALL THE PARKS TO BE ADOPTED OR AREAS OF THE PARKS TO BE ADOPTED.
>> THEN WE'LL REVIEW SOME OF THE MATERIALS AND DETAILS ABOUT THE PROGRAM. IS THAT?
WORK ON THIS. ANY COMMENTS ON THIS?
>> ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE FORWARD. NEXT ITEM.
>> OKAY. THIS IS ANOTHER UPDATE TO THE PARK COMMISSION, SO RECENTLY WE HAD AN OPEN HOUSE ON THE SUBJECT, SO PICKLE BALL AT THE DONATION GARDEN SITE, WE HAD AN OPEN HOUSE FOR FOUR DIFFERENT CONCEPT LAYOUTS.
BELIEVE WE HAD OVER 60 SIGN-IN AND WE HAD QUITE A FEW COMMENT CARDS AS WELL.
SO WE'RE STILL GOING THROUGH THAT DATA, BUT VERY HAPPY TO HAVE HAD THAT MEETING.
WE THOUGHT IT WAS VERY PRODUCTIVE.
WE HAD A GOOD TURNOUT FROM BOTH CITY COUNCIL AND PARK COMMISSIONERS AS WELL.
SO AGAIN, TONIGHT WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR A RECOMMENDATION FOR MANY OF YOU.
THIS IS KIND OF YOUR FIRST INTRODUCTION TO THESE CONCEPT LAYOUTS.
THEY'VE WORKED VERY HARD ON PUTTING TOGETHER A LIST OF NEEDS FOR THE SITE.
AS A PARK COMMISSION TOO, WE WANTED TO LOOK AT THIS SITE WITH TWO GOALS IN MIND.
ONE, CAN WE INTRODUCE PICKLE BALL? AND CAN IT BE DONE WITHOUT DISRUPTING THE DONATION GARDEN OR MOVING IT COMPLETELY? WE DID GET ONE SURPRISE ADDITION TO OUR REQUESTS THROUGH BOLDEN AND MINK.
THEY PROVIDED A THIRD LAYOUT AND WE'LL GET TO THAT.
OUR FIRST LAYOUT, IT REALLY CAPTURES THE BARE MINIMUM OF WHAT THE PARK COMMISSION HAS REQUESTED OR LOOKING AT SIX COURTS, ENOUGH PARKING, 35 STALLS TO ACCOMMODATE A SMALL PAVILION AND A PAVILION.
RIGHT NOW, THESE ARE SMALL DETAILS THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT.
A PAVILION COULD BE A SUNSHADE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED IN PARK, COULD BE MAYBE SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE PERMANENT.
WE HAVE THE DONATION GARDEN WOULD REMAIN IN PLACE AND YOU SEE THAT THERE'S SOME, THEY PROPOSE SOME TREES TO BE PLANTED AROUND IT.
THERE'S THE ADDITION OF A COMMUNITY GARDEN WOULD BE INSTALLED.
AND I WILL SAY THAT THE DONATION GARDEN AND COMMUNITY GARDEN ARE VASTLY DIFFERENT.
A COMMUNITY GARDEN WOULD BE ANOTHER AMENITY TO RESIDENTS WHERE THEY COULD RESERVE A STALL.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS NECESSARILY REQUESTED.
IT WAS JUST THROWN IN AS AN IDEA.
THEN A PATH GOING TOWARDS HOLBROOKE AS WELL.
THIS IS KIND OF THE BARE-BONES VERSION OF WHAT THE PARK COMMISSION IS LOOKING FOR.
OKAY. THIS WAS OUR SURPRISE EDITION, AND I DID SPEAK WITH THE DESIGNER, AND HE SAID, THIS DESIGN, FROM A DESIGN PERSPECTIVE, IS THE MOST IDEAL, ONLY BECAUSE IT MAXIMIZES THAT WHOLE PROPERTY, THE USAGE OF THAT PROPERTY.
BUT IT WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE AND COST AS WELL TO THE CITY, AND DONATIONS TOO.
[00:15:01]
THE GARDEN WOULD BE MOVED HERE COMPLETELY AND THEY'D BE THE ADDITION OF 12 PICKLE BALL COURTS, A MUCH LARGER PARKING LOT FOR 60 CARS, AND THE PAVILION, COMMUNITY GARDEN, STORM-WATER PONDS, SIDEWALK, THEY ALL SHOW UP IN THIS PLAN AS WELL.IT WAS A SURPRISING ADDITION, BUT IN GLAD THEY ILLUSTRATED IT, HOW WE CAN MAXIMIZE THAT AREA.
AGAIN, NOT QUITE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WHAT THE PARK COMMISSION IS LOOKING FOR.
CONCEPT C, WE SEE THE ADDITION OF NINE COURTS.
WE DO SEE A PORTION OF THE DONATION GARDEN REMAINING AND THEN A MUCH EXPANDED.
THE ONE NICE THING ABOUT THAT IS THAT IT'S SQUARED OFF.
THERE ARE SOME DIFFICULTIES ADDING.
IT'S SQUARED, BUT THAT WOULD BE QUITE THE DISRUPTION TO THE GARDEN. IT'S ON A TIMER.
THERE'LL BE A MUCH LARGER PAVILION AREA AND PARKING LOT TO ACCOMMODATE THE NIGHT INSTALLS.
AND THEN LAY OUT D WE HAVE NINE PICKLE BALL COURTS, A LITTLE SMALLER OF A PARKING LOT, AND THEN THE DONATION GARDEN WOULD REMAIN, AS IS SOME OF THE COMMENTS WE HAD FROM THE OPEN HOUSE WHERE IT MIGHT BE GETTING A LITTLE CLOSE TO THE GARDEN.
THE BONE THEN MAKE WHEN THEY DESIGN THIS.
THIS IS JUST A SKETCH AND WE CAN OUT IN THE FIELD THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
IT'S A DRAWING AT THIS MOMENT.
BUT THE REALITY IS THERE'LL BE NO IMPACT TO THE GARDEN BY THE WAY THIS IS SET UP.
WE HAVE THE FOUR DIFFERENT CONCEPTS RIGHT NOW.
OR SUBCOMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS.
THEY HAD THE OPEN HOUSE THOUGH, GATHER THAT FEEDBACK, AND THEN IT'S NOT THAT WE WILL SAY WE RECOMMEND CONCEPT D AS IS.
WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE, IS THERE MIGHT BE PORTIONS OF A THAT WILL BE MORE ATTRACTIVE THAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE IN D. SO IT TURNS INTO FAR MORE OF A HYBRID THAN A, B, C, D. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON.
BUT WE WANTED TO GIVE THE PARK COMMISSION TONIGHT A CHANCE TO REVIEW WHAT'S BEEN DONE TO DATE AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, NOW'S THE TIME.
MOVING FORWARD, OUR TIMELINE IS IN JANUARY.
WE WILL HAVE PROPOSED WORK SESSION FOR PARK COMMISSION, AND THAT'LL BE A GOOD TIME FOR US TO DISCUSS THE PROJECT AT THAT POINT.
THEN IN FEBRUARY, WE WILL BE LOOKING TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AS A PART OF COMMISSION.
THEN FOLLOWING THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, WE WILL HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> TALK ABOUT THE PARKING-TO-COURT RATIO.
IT SEEMS HIGH, BUT IT MAY NOT.
JUST CURIOUS, THAT'S KIND OF AN INDUSTRY STANDARD OR BASED ON OTHER PARKS.
>> I THINK WE HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR WORST-CASE SCENARIO.
EACH PERSON DRIVING THEIR OWN, DRIVING THEMSELVES.
WE ALSO HAVE THE DONATION GARDEN TO CONSIDER AS WELL, AND YOU HAD MENTIONED UP TO 12 VEHICLES ON BUSY DAYS.
>> YEAH. I MEAN, WE WANT TO KEEP THAT IN CONSIDERATION AS WELL.
>> THE OTHER THING TO THINK ABOUT RICK IS YOU KNOW YOU HAVE IN THIS SCENARIO, NINE COURTS, FOUR TIMES NINE IS 36 PLAYERS.
YOU TYPICALLY WILL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL TWO PLAYERS PER COURT SITTING ON THE SIDE.
THIS ACTUALLY ACCOMMODATES A LOT MORE THAN 36 PLAYERS.
>> IS MY ONLY OTHER QUESTION IS THE ARROW REPRESENTING A MORE FORMAL CONNECTION TO THE PARK WITH THAT, JUST WHAT'S THERE? WHAT'S THE IDEA?
>> CURRENTLY THERE'S NOTHING THERE.
THAT WOULD BE MAYBE A GOOD PROJECT TO WORK WITH LONG LAKE ON IF WE WANTED TO HAVE THOSE TWO CONNECTED AT SOME POINT, BUT CERTAINLY, WE COULD CREATE A PATH GOING OUT THAT WAY.
>> AGAIN, WE'RE STILL GOING THROUGH THE DATA FROM THE OPEN HOUSE, BUT WE SAW A GOOD MIX OF REACTIONS TO THE DIFFERENT CONCEPTS.
WE SEE WITH THE 12TH COURTS AND IT'S KIND OF ONE OF THOSE SCENARIOS WHERE A LOT OF PICKLEBALL ENTHUSIASTS WOULD SAY THAT'S IDEAL FOR US.
I WOULD SAY A MAJORITY OF THE PRO PICKLEBALL COMMUNITY SAID WE WOULD LIKE AS MANY COURTS AS POSSIBLE, BUT ALSO UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF MOVING A GARDEN.
WE HAD THAT FEEDBACK AND THEN WE HAD THE FEEDBACK OF KEEP IT AS IS.
WE HAD A GOOD RANGE OF COMMENTS AND THAT'S ALL GREAT THINGS TO CONSIDER.
[00:20:09]
>> I GUESS I'VE GOT A QUESTION.
IS THERE ANY KIND OF ANALYTICS THAT GOES ALONG WITH CHOOSING HOW MANY COURTS SHOULD BE THERE? IS THERE A WAY TO GET THERE, ANALYTICALLY AND NOT SUBJECTIVELY? I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THAT BECAUSE, TWO THINGS HAVE COME UP IS, THE PICKLEBALL PLAYERS THEMSELVES AND WHETHER 36 SHOW UP BECAUSE THERE'S NINE COURTS? OR 36 SHOWN UP WISHING THERE WERE NINE COURTS.
ALSO, THE SECOND PIECE OF CRITERIA THAT YOU'VE COME UP, THAT'S STILL A LITTLE BIT OF A MYSTERY TO ME AS WELL IS HOW MUCH IT COSTS? MAYBE IT'S GOING TO COST TOO MUCH MONEY, BUT 60 WOULD BE OKAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT COMES FROM EITHER, THAT SEEMS LIKE THAT'D BE A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF WORKS, BUT IF THAT'S NECESSARY AND GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE IN THOSE OTHER WAYS.
I'M RELATIVELY NEW TO THIS COMMITTEE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM.
BUT GIVEN THAT AS A POINT OF REFERENCE, HOW DO YOU PICK HOW MANY COURTS SHOULD BE THERE?
FOR THESE COURTS, ONE THING THAT WE'VE SAID IS THAT, IF WE ARE TO PUT IN X AMOUNT OF COURTS WE WOULD LOOK TO DONATIONS TO HELP FUND THAT.
THE CITY WOULD CERTAINLY MAINTAIN HER PROJECTS SUCH AS THE STORMWATER POND THAT WOULDN'T COME THROUGH DONATION.
BUT WE ARE, I GUESS SOMEWHAT RESTRICTED IN HOW MANY WE PUT IN BASED OFF OF WHAT TYPES OF DONATIONS COME IN.
>> AS FAR AS THE DEMAND MIKE, WHEN YOU WHEN YOU LOOK AT, LET'S SAY DATA, THE OTHER FACILITIES, AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, THERE'S ALWAYS MORE DEMAND THAN THERE ARE COURTS.
WE KNOW THAT ONE OF THE PICKLEBALL PLAYERS STARTED A PETITION TO SAY, I SUPPORT OUTDOOR PICKLEBALL IN ORONO AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT.
I THINK WITHIN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS THEY HAD 215 SIGNATURES.
THAT GIVES YOU SOME IDEA OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PLAYING AT THAT SITE.
I KNOW THAT AT LONE LAKE THEY HAVE, I THINK EIGHT.
DID WE DECIDE EIGHT? THEY WILL HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE WAITING TO PLAY AS ARE PLAYING.
GOLDEN VALLEY HAS A SIMILAR SITUATION.
THEY BUILT FOUR AT DELANO, WITH THE INTENTION OF ADDING FOUR MORE BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE FUNDS FOR THE ADDITIONAL FOUR OR THE MOTIVATION FOR THE ADDITIONAL FOUR AND THEY'RE REALLY STRUGGLING BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULD GO THERE AND THEN THEY HAVE TO LEAVE BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH AVAILABILITY.
IT CONTINUES TO GROW. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY ACTIVELY INVOLVED, THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT, DON'T UNDERBUILD BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT DEMAND.
THE KIDS ARE JUST STARTING TO ORGANIZE AROUND IT.
BUT I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOU DROVE THROUGH THE DIFFERENT COURTS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT, NONE OF THEM ARE UNDERUTILIZED, RIGHT? THE DEMAND IS THERE. I THINK JOSH IS RIGHT, IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO THE FUNDING.
>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF COURTS AT THE OAK, NUMBER OF COURTS THAT THE WACC AND HOW OFTEN THEY'RE USED, AND,
>> SURE. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
HE'S TALKING ABOUT INDOOR PICKLEBALL BY THE WAY.
AT WESTONKA, WHICH IS WHERE I PLAY, THERE ARE ON ANY DAY OF THE WEEK, BETWEEN 7:00 IN THE MORNING AND IN THE AFTERNOON, THERE'S SOME PLAYERS OUT HERE.
THEY'LL TYPICALLY HAVE EIGHT COURTS, ALL OCCUPIED WITH ANYWHERE 10-30 PEOPLE WAITING.
AT OAK IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT, THEY'RE MORE RESTRICTED IN THEIR HOURS AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE LESS PRONE TO PLAY THERE JUST BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE LOGISTICAL ISSUES WITH THOSE COURTS.
I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK AS MUCH TO THOSE INDOOR.
OUTDOOR I THINK IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THOUGH.
>> ANYTHING ELSE SANDY OR CAMERON?
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, I GOT A LOT OF SIMILAR QUESTIONS AT THE LISTENING SESSIONS.
I THOUGHT I'D JUST BRING IT INTO THE LIGHTS, EVERYBODY LISTENED.
THE FIRE STATION, WE CANNOT USE THAT PARKING.
WE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
WE HAVE TO BUILD OUR OWN PARKING.
THEN I TALKED TO A LOT OF THE DONATION GARDENS ABOUT THE TREES,
[00:25:01]
YOU SEE HERE WE PROPOSE TREES LIKE THAT'S JUST A DRAWING.I HAVE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT SHADE AND THE GARDENS DON'T WANT THE SHADE.
I THINK THAT'S ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'D WANT TO WORK WITH THE DONATION GARDEN AND WE WOULDN'T WANT TO HINDER THE GROWING ABILITY.
THOSE ARE TWO MOST COMMON THINGS I HEARD.
>> OUR MAIN GOAL FROM THIS EXERCISE WAS ONE, TO DETERMINE IF WE COULD ADD PICKLEBALL IF IT'S FEASIBLE, AND TWO, IF WE COULD DO IT WITHOUT MUCH IF ANY DISRUPTION TO THE DONATION GARDEN.
I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT WE'RE FAIRLY CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.
>> YEAH, AND AS FAR AS PROCESS GOES, THESE WERE FOUR CONCEPTS THAT WE USED TO CREATE SOME CONVERSATION AND NOW IT'S THE SUB-COMMITTEES WE'LL ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS TAKE CERTAIN ELEMENTS FROM ALL OF THESE CONCEPTS.
THE FEEDBACK THAT WE HEARD, THE FEEDBACK FROM THE PICKLEBALL GROUP, FURTHER FEEDBACK FROM JANIE AND DONATION GARDEN, FURTHER FEEDBACK FROM THE CITY ABOUT COST AND AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND GRANT MONEY, AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.
TRY AND GET ALL OF THAT NEW INFORMATION TOGETHER, TO HONE IN ON WHAT A PROPOSED DESIGN MIGHT LOOK LIKE AND WE WILL BRING THAT TO THE WORK SESSION IN JANUARY.
>> AT THAT TIME, I ASSUME WE'LL ALSO HAVE THE ENGINEERING DRAWINGS SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE A COST ESTIMATE AS WELL AS THE DETAILED DESIGNS, RIGHT?
>> ONE OTHER THING I WOULD MENTION ABOUT COSTS SINCE MIKE BROUGHT THAT UP.
THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT ARTICLES OUT THERE ON THE WEB THAT YOU CAN GET.
YOUR RANGE OF COSTS CAN VARY PRETTY DRAMATICALLY LIKE BY A FACTOR OF THREE OR FOUR DEPENDING ON HOW YOU APPROACH YOUR DEVELOPMENT.
WHETHER YOU HAVE LIGHTS OR NOT, WHAT KIND OF FENCING YOU HAVE? THE SURFACE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ENGAGE THE EXPERIENCED PEOPLE WITHIN THE PICKLEBALL COMMUNITY, THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AMENITIES, IT'S NOT JUST THE THREE OF US ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE, BUT THAT WE ENGAGE SOME OF THE PICKLEBALL PLAYERS.
WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM FOLKS IS, KEEP IT SIMPLE.
WE DON'T WANT A LOT OF AMENITIES, WE DON'T NEED FANCY SHELTERS OR A LOT OF THE THINGS LIKE LIGHTS, FOR EXAMPLE, WILL ADD DRAMATICALLY TO THE COST.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO HAVE IT DESIGNED SO THAT YOU COULD ADD LIGHTS IN THE FUTURE.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN IT COMES TO COST, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN DO TO LIMIT THE COST AND WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE PICKLEBALL PLAYERS IS, MORE COURTS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN AMENITIES.
WE JUST NEED A PLACE TO PLAY IS WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
LET'S JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND AND LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE INVOLVED IN SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS COLOR CHOICE.
THAT WOULD SEEM LIKE AN ODDBALL THING, BUT THE COLOR OF A PICKLEBALL COURT MATTERS, RIGHT? LET'S JUST DO IT RIGHT I THINK IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.
THERE'S LOTS OF PEOPLE PREPARED TO STEP FORWARD AND PROVIDE THAT HELP.
>> I HAVE ONE MORE THING TO ADD, WHICH IS, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA JUST PERSONALLY, I THINK THERE'S PLENTY OF SPACE HERE AND IT'S NICE, IT FURTHER ACTIVATES THE SITE AND SEEMS COMPATIBLE, SUFFICIENT PARKING FOR BOTH SIDES.
SO FAR WITH THESE FOUR OPTIONS, I LIKE THE PAIRING, BUT I DO THINK WE SHOULD THINK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DESIGN CRITERIA MOVING FORWARD FOR BOTH PICKLEBALL AND THE DONATION GARDEN, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE DONATION GARDEN WITH NO INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND IT, IF SOMEBODY NEEDS TO MOVE A CAR AND A WAGON, OR I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS.
BUT WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF THAT DONATION GARDEN AND LET'S MAKE SURE THOSE GET INCORPORATED INTO THE THINKING IF THERE NEEDS TO BE ACCESS FOR A CERTAIN TYPE OF VEHICLE BECAUSE SOME OF THESE HAVE MAYBE A CAB AND A PAVILION AND TREES PLANTED AND SO THAT MIGHT JUST BE SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
>> YEAH, SO WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT PICKLEBALL.
THIS IS ALSO ABOUT THE DONATION GARDEN AND IT'S ABOUT, THE CITY HAS BEEN VESTED IN THE GARDEN SINCE IT WAS FIRST PLANTED.
I WOULD JUST HAVE TO SAY IT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK WE ALL AGREE UP HERE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY AND OUT OF
[00:30:01]
THIS COULD COME SOME GOOD BENEFITS FOR THE GARDEN AS WELL.ANY OTHER COMMENTS HERE? I CAN OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT AS WELL AT THIS POINT.
>> JANIE DELANEY, 1315 WOODHILL AVENUE.
I'VE BEEN DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH.
I THINK IT'S GOOD COMBO, THE GARDEN AND THE COURTS.
ONE CONCERN I HAVE IS ALL THE HARD COVER AROUND THE GARDEN, AND WHAT DO WE DO WITH THAT WATER, THAT RUNOFF IT COULD IMPACT THE GARDENS.
THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
CAN WE RECOVER THAT WATER? ARE WE GOING TO MAYBE THINK ABOUT DOING SOME ENVIRONMENTAL THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE IN PARKS BEFORE AND IN RESTORING THAT? I'VE BEEN RUNNING AROUND AND LOOKING AT ALL THESE JUST TO EDUCATE MYSELF.
I WENT OUT TO VICTORIA AND SAW THEIR EIGHT COURTS WHEN PEOPLE WERE PLAYING.
THEY'RE CLOSED NOW FOR THE SEASON UNTIL SPRING.
I THINK MOST CITIES SHUT THOSE DOWN.
I DON'T KNOW, SANDY, YOU SAID YOU'D PLAYED TILL DECEMBER, MAYBE THAT'S ON A TENNIS COURT OR SOMETHING.
WE SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THAT THEY'RE NOT YEAR ROUND OR NINE MONTHS, THAT IT COULD BE THAT THEY'RE JUST USED FOR SIX MONTHS.
THEN LIKE MEDINA, THEY HAD TO PUT UP WIND FENCING, IT'S LIKE A WIFFLE BALL THAT YOU PLAY WITH, AND THAT'S REALLY WINDY, THAT PROPERTY.
WHEN YOU'RE CONSIDERING COSTS, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO WANT TO CONSIDER HIGHER FENCES WITH WIND FENCING OR YOU'RE GOING TO NOT LIKE PLAYING THERE FOR SURE.
I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WATER ISSUE IS A GOOD ONE AND THAT WE START DOING SOMETHING IN OUR PARKS.
THAT'S REALLY ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND AND BECAUSE IT'S A WET PROPERTY, THAT PROPERTY TO THE SIDE OF THE PARKING THAT WOULD BE THE SOUTH SIDE, SUPER WET.
WOULD YOU FILL ALL THAT OR HOW WOULD THAT WORK, JOSH? [NOISE]
>> AGAIN, IT'S REALLY EARLY DAYS IN THIS PROCESS.
THIS BLOB IS PROBABLY NOT THE BEST INDICATION OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE.
AS BOLTON AND MENK WAS OUT ON THE SITE, THEY FELT THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO CREATE ENOUGH OF A STORMWATER POND, RETENTION POND TO HOLD ANY RUNOFF FROM THE HARD SURFACES.
BUT IF THERE SOME COST SAVINGS TO THE CITY OR EVEN JUST SOME GREEN INITIATIVES THAT WE COULD LOOK INTO, CERTAINLY WE COULD DO THAT DURING THIS PROCESS.
>> AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REALLY CURIOUS ABOUT THE FUNDRAISING FOR THIS.
WHO'S GOING TO BE IN CHARGE OF THAT? IS THAT YOU, SANDY?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SOME OF THE PICKLEBALL PEOPLE HAVE INITIATED IS A WESTLAKE'S PICKLEBALL CLUB, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SHARING INFORMATION, RESEARCHING, FUNDS.
ONE OF THE MEMBERS THAT I TALKED TO IS ASSOCIATED WITH A GENTLEMAN WHO DID THE FUNDRAISING FOR THE PLATFORM PICKLEBALL IN WAYZATA.
ANOTHER, ACTUALLY A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, SUGGESTED THAT SHE HAD A LOT OF CONNECTIONS INTO THE LAWN LAKE BUSINESSES.
I'VE DONE A LITTLE EARLY RESEARCH INTO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, WHETHER IT BE AARP, FALL THINGS, AARP, UNITEDHEALTHCARE, A LOT OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS SIMILARLY DO FUNDING OF THESE KINDS OF PROJECTS.
MY THOUGHT HAD BEEN THAT WITHIN THAT GROUP, WE HAVE A LARGER SUBGROUP, THAT'S NOT THE OFFICIAL SUBGROUP, BUT THEY'RE MORE A GROUP OF PICKLEBALL PLAYERS WHO HAVE COME TO SUPPORT THIS BETWEEN NOW AND FEBRUARY TO ORGANIZE WHAT THOSE RESOURCES ARE AND FIGURING OUT WHAT THE STRATEGY IS TO GET THOSE PLEDGES.
I THINK YOU WOULD START WITH A PLEDGING PROCESS FIRST, SO YOU'D KNOW THAT YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE COMMITTED AND WHEN YOU'VE GOT ENOUGH FUNDS, THEN YOU BEGIN THE NEXT STEPS.
>> THAT WON'T START TILL FEBRUARY THEN?
>> WE WOULD HAVE TO GET THE COST ESTIMATES.
>> WHEN DO THOSE COME? JANUARY?
>> YEAH. AGAIN, WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THAT FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT AND WE CAN KEEP WORKING, BOLTON AND MENK. ON THAT.
ANOTHER THING IS WE WERE JUST MADE AWARE OF A DNR GRANT TODAY FOR PICKLEBALL.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE ANY TYPE OF GRANTS OR RESOURCES FOR THIS.
[00:35:01]
THEY'RE NOW CONTEMPLATING WITH THE NEW PICKLEBALL COURTS CHARGING TO PLAY THERE.THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF PUSHBACK FROM THE PICKLEBALL COMMUNITY, BUT I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T THINK YOU'LL EVER BUILD ENOUGH OF ANYTHING WHEN THE SPORT IS SPEAKING.
LONELY BECAUSE IN MINNETONKA, THEY HAVE EIGHT COURTS AND I'VE BEEN THERE AND OBSERVED THE ROTATION AND EVERYTHING THERE.
ONE SECOND, I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT.
THEY HAVE SIX TIMES THE POPULATION AS ORONO HAS AND THEY'VE GOT EIGHT COURTS.
I DON'T KNOW. I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THE 12 COURT.
THE REASON I ASK ABOUT THE FUNDRAISING IS, IF YOU WERE ONLY ABLE TO DO THE SIX NOW, WHICH IS FOR THE GARDENS EXISTENCE, WHICH IS MY PREFERENCE, THOSE THREE IN FRONT, FOR THE TIME BEING, COULD BE COMMUNITY GARDENS.
THAT SPACE WHERE THOSE THREE, WHICH WOULD MAKE NINE.
JUST A THOUGHT, BECAUSE I THINK THE MONEY IS GOING TO DICTATE THIS AT SOUNDING LIKE THAT.
>> YOU GUYS HAVE SOME QUESTION?
>> YEAH. YOU RUN UP COMMUNITY GARDENS.
THAT IS ONE THING I DIDN'T HEAR IN ALL OF OUR PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE, BUT IT WAS SPECIFIC TO PICKLEBALL AND DONATION GARDEN.
IF YOU HEAR PEOPLE INTERESTED, I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM THEM JUST BECAUSE NOT A SINGLE PERSON BROUGHT UP THE IDEA OF THE COMMUNITY GARDENS DURING THE OPEN HOUSE.
IF THERE'S PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THAT, I LOVE FOR THEM TO COME FORWARD AND START IDEATING THAT.
>> YOU MEAN THE COMMUNITY GARDEN?
>> WE ACTUALLY BEEN ASKING THE CITY SINCE 2000, WELL, WHEN THAT PROPERTY THAT'S TRIPLE PROPERTY THAT ORONO PURCHASED.
I THINK IT WAS 2019 WHEN THAT PROPERTY RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR PICKLEBALL AND THE DONATION GARDEN, WAS ALL OF A SUDDEN ON THE AGENDA FOR SALE.
THAT WAS WHEN WE STARTED PUSHING FOR MAYBE WE CAN DO SOMETHING MORE WITH THIS PROPERTY AND BUY THAT STRIP, BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I THINK THIS THE ONLY ONE THAT DIDN'T SHOW THAT PLANS.
I THINK ALL THE OTHER THREE DID.
NOT A SINGLE PERSON WHO WAS THERE BROUGHT THAT UP AS AN INTERESTS, SO I'M NOT SURE WE WANT TO INVEST IN THAT UNLESS THERE'S A NEED FOR IT.
>> WELL, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S REACHED OUT.
I THINK AS WE'VE GOTTEN A FLOOD AND ALL FROM THE CITY WHERE ALL OTHER CITIES HAVE COMMUNITY GARDENS, ALL OUR SURROUNDING CITIES. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
>> THANKS, JANIE. ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS TOPIC? YEAH. [NOISE]
>> JACK REILLY, 2130 SHADYWOOD ROAD.
I THINK THERE'S PLUSES AND MINUSES TO EACH OF THESE.
IT WOULD BE NICE TO MY STANDPOINT, CONVALESCENCE AROUND A DESIGN WITH NINE, I THINK IT'S A GOOD STARTING POINT AT 12 IS A BRIDGE TOO FAR.
BUT I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE PIECES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DRAW FROM EACH OF THESE TO COME UP WITH YOUR FINAL DESIGN.
BUT I DO THINK TIMING IS IMPORTANT SO I ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS, THE SUBCOMMITTEE STAFF, WHOEVER THAT I NOTICED ON YOUR CALENDAR, YOU'VE GOT TO THINK IT'S JANUARY WORK THAT MEETING.
I THINK GIVEN THAT WE'VE BEEN AT THIS SEVERAL YEARS NOW, IT'S INCUMBENT TO COME OUT OF THAT WITH THE PROPOSAL IN THE SENSE OF OKAY, THIS IS OUR PROPOSAL THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN FRONT OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
THIS IS THE COST TO ESTIMATE BECAUSE THEN YES, YOU THROW THAT BACK ON US AS THE PICKLEBALL COMMUNITY.
NOW, HERE'S HOW MUCH MONEY WE THINK YOU'VE GOT TO COME UP WITH AND WE'VE GOT TO ORGANIZE TO DO THAT.
HOPEFULLY, EVERYONE SAW THE ARTICLE IN TODAY'S STAR TRIBUNE ABOUT RED WING.
THERE ARE ABOUT TWICE THE SIZE I THINK OF OR NO AND POPULATION-WISE, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY GOOD ARTICLE AND I DON'T KNOW ANY DETAILS BEYOND THE ARTICLE ABOUT THE UNITY TO PICKLEBALL COMMUNITY AND THE CITY COMING TOGETHER.
YES, THEY APPLIED FOR A GRANT.
WHY DID THEY GET TURNED DOWN? LET'S FIND OUT.
LET'S FIND OUT WHAT OTHER SOURCES.
WAS IT A TECHNICAL ISSUE? WHAT HAVE YOU? AND SO THEN THE PICKLEBALL COMMUNITY WENT BACK AND CAME UP WITH MORE MONEY THE CITY THROUGH IN A LITTLE MORE MONEY, BUT THEY FOUND A WAY TO DO IT.
YOU NEED TO GET TO A POINT THAT YOU CAN THROW IT TO US SO THAT WE CAN ORGANIZE IT.
NO, I WILL NOT BE THE PRESIDENT, [LAUGHTER] BUT I WILL CERTAINLY PARTICIPATE.
WE'VE GOT TO PROVE THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH IT.
MY SECOND THING WOULD BE WITH REGARDS TO THE DONATION GARDEN AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A COMMUNITY GARDEN,
[00:40:05]
I THINK THOSE ARE ALL POSITIVES FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE GOT TO FIND A WAY THAT THEY ARE NOT IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSAL BECAUSE IT'LL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO RAISE MONEY FROM THIRD-PARTY ORGANIZATIONS IF THERE'S RESISTANCE PROPOSAL WITHIN THE CITY.BE SURE TO LISTEN TO THESE PEOPLE AND TAKE THEIR NEEDS INTO ACCOUNT.
AS AN ENGINEER, I WOULD TURN IT [LAUGHTER] BUT I LIKE 90 DEGREES [LAUGHTER] AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DON'T WANT IMPACTS.
IF WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO WORK AROUND IT IN ORDER TO NOT HAVE OPPOSITION AND THEN WE CAN PROCEED EXPEDITIOUSLY TO REALLY HAVING A PROPOSAL THAT WE CAN PUT IT IN FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY, THEN NEED TO DO THAT.
YEAH. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WE'LL CLOSE. PUBLIC COMMENT HERE.
PICKLEBALL SUBCOMMITTEE FOR THE HARD WORK.
IS THERE SOMETHING YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE TO THE CITY COUNCIL IN FROM THIS? NO. THIS IS JUST PURELY INFORMATIVE FOR THE PARK COMMISSION AND FOR THE RESIDENTS.
PROBABLY UNTIL AFTER FEBRUARY, PROBABLY.
CORRECT. SO AGAIN, OUR NEXT STEPS WE WILL HAVE A WORK SESSION IN JANUARY.
IN WORK SESSIONS, WE DON'T MAKE ANY TYPES OF RECOMMENDATIONS ON THAT.
THE SUBCOMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND NARROW DOWN TO THE PREFERRED CONCEPT AND THEY WILL PRESENT THAT TO YOU AND THEN WE'LL WORK ON THAT TOGETHER AND THEN IN FEBRUARY, THE FIRST PARK COMMISSION MEETING, WE WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AS A BODY AND THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK THAT WILL GO TO CITY COUNCIL.
DID I HEAR THAT IN JANUARY WE'LL SEE SOME COST ESTIMATE [OVERLAPPING]? ANY CHANCE YOU HAVE A CALENDAR AVAILABLE TO THAT 24 CALENDAR AVAILABLE? YES. GREAT SEGUE.
[LAUGHTER] OUR PARK COMMISSION CALENDAR IS SOMETHING THAT HAS GONE THROUGH A BIT OF CHANGE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
I GUESS FOR THIS YEAR WE REDUCED THE NUMBER OF MEETINGS.
WE KEPT ALL OF OUR REGULAR MEETINGS BUT REMOVED THE WORK SESSIONS.
I'VE HAD A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM COMMISSIONERS AND I DO SEE THE VALUE IN TWEAKING THIS A LITTLE BIT.
WE WILL STILL STICK WITH OUR QUARTERLY REGULAR MEETINGS.
FEBRUARY, MAY, AUGUST, AND NOVEMBER.
BUT WE WILL HAVE THE ADDITION OF TWO WORK SESSIONS.
YOU WILL HAVE JANUARY AND JUNE ON THE CALENDAR.
JANUARY IS VERY IMPORTANT TIME FOR US TO REALLY GET TOGETHER AS A PARK COMMISSION AND TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR GOALS ARE FOR THE YEAR.
OUR GOALS THAT WE SET IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR ARE REALLY WHAT HELPS DRIVE THE CIP LATER IN THE FALL.
AGAIN, IT'S GOOD FOR US TO HAVE OBJECTIVES TO WORK TOWARDS AS A GROUP.
THEN THE JUNE MEETING IS REALLY JUST A NICE TRANSITION FOR US TO SEE WHERE WE'RE AT HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR AND CAN HELP US BUCKLE DOWN TO MEET THOSE OBJECTIVES.
THIS WILL BE GOING TO, I BELIEVE, CITY COUNCIL EITHER NEXT WEEK OR THE END OF THE MONTH.
ALL DEPARTMENTS ARE UPDATING THEIR MEETINGS' CALENDARS RIGHT NOW, SO THIS IS JUST A DRAFT CALENDAR.
WE TALKED ABOUT OUR JANUARY MEETING.
IT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED YET, BUT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THIS APPROVED.
YEAH. SO JUST TO POINT OUT, THE JANUARY MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, NOT ON MONDAY BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAY SO IF THAT POSES PROBLEMS FOR COMMISSIONERS, I'M SURE THAT JOSH WOULD CONSIDER THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER NEXT MONTH.
NO. THAT'S THE CASE FOR ALL COMMITTEES SO PLANNING AND PARKS, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MEETINGS IN DECEMBER.
I BELIEVE THERE'S ONLY ONE CITY COUNCIL MEETING IN DECEMBER AND THAT'S HEAVILY FOCUSED ON BUDGET.
THIS IS A DRAFT THAT WOULD GO TO THE CITY COUNCIL THEY'LL APPROVE IT.
THERE ARE CONDITIONS THOUGH WHERE IF SOMETHING COMES UP THAT WE NEED TO ADJUST THE CALENDAR, IT'S NOT IDEAL, BUT WE CAN DO THAT AS WE GO THROUGH IF SOMETHING COMES UP THAT WE NEED TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON.
FOR INSTANCE, AND WHEN WE WANT TO CONVERT A WORKSHOP INTO A FORMAL MEETING THAT WE HAVE.
[OVERLAPPING] WHAT WE SHOULD DO NOW, I'M OPEN TO ANY DISCUSSION, BUT WE SHOULD HAVE THIS FINALIZED BEFORE IT GOES TO COUNCIL.
[00:45:03]
IT'S PRETTY DISRUPTIVE TO STAFF AND ALSO THE PUBLIC.IF THEIR MEETING CHANGES, WHERE IF SOMETHING'S POSTED AS A WORK SESSION OR AS NOTHING, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S A REGULAR MEETING WHERE DECISIONS ARE NOT NECESSARILY MADE, BUT RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE, THAT CAN BE A LITTLE DISRUPTIVE, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY CHANGES SHOULD OCCUR NOW.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO ADD ITEMS LIKE OPEN HOUSES.
JUST LIKE WHAT WE DID FOR LAST WEEK, I BELIEVE THAT WENT TO COUNCIL IN SEPTEMBER FOR APPROVAL, SO WE CAN DO THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT FOR THE OFFICIAL MEETINGS CALENDAR, WE SHOULD REALLY KEEP IT THE WAY IT'S APPROVED.
JOSH, DO YOU THINK WE'LL HAVE ENOUGH INSIGHT IN JUNE TO WORK THROUGH CIP AND FUTURE YOUR GOALS? I THINK IT'S MY ONLY THING IS LIKE NOVEMBER WE TYPICALLY TALK ABOUT CIPS IN OUR WORK SESSION IN JUNE IS THE LAST WORK SESSION OF THE YEAR.
IT'S PROBABLY FINE. I WOULD LOVE TO TRY IT, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO KEEP US OPEN THAT IF WE NEEDED TO ADD A WORK SESSION IN OCTOBER OR SOMETHING, WE COULD DO IT.
YEAH. THE WAY IT'S LAID OUT NOW, ATTENDANCE FOR SOME OF THOSE SUMMER MONTHS, IT IS PRETTY DIFFICULT TO GET OUR GROUP TOGETHER.
JUNE THROUGH SEPTEMBER ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE EVERYONE TOGETHER.
IF WE WERE TO ADD ANOTHER WORK SESSION, I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF OCTOBER IF THAT'S WHAT THE PARK COMMISSION WOULD LIKE.
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND US HAVING ONE AND TAKING IT OFF OR SEEING IF WE NEED ONE AND ADDING IT? WHAT WOULD BE EASIER? I CAN MAKE THAT REQUEST.
WE CAN HAVE IT REMOVED AND YOU AS THE PARK CHAIR CAN CANCEL A MEETING.
I WOULD PREFER THAT IF WE HAVE THIS ON OUR CALENDAR, WE WOULD KEEP THOSE MEETINGS.
IT'S EASIER TO ADD ONE IF WE'RE NOT SURE WE NEED IT NOW.
YEAH. [OVERLAPPING] I THINK WE COMMIT TO HOSTING THOSE MEETINGS.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.
I AGREE AND I GUESS ESPECIALLY THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST BECAUSE IT IS REALLY TOUGH.
I THINK OCTOBER 1 IS PURELY FOCUSED ON CAP, IN MY OPINION.
WHAT ARE OUR FINANCIAL CHALLENGES FOR THE NEXT YEAR? DO YOU NEED A MOTION FOR THAT? NO. IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT STAFF CAN RUN WITH.
DO YOU NEED US TO APPROVE THIS? SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ADDING OCTOBER 7TH, I BELIEVE, AS A WORKSHOP.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE OUR DRAFT 2024 PARKS CIP.
SO AGAIN, A LOT OF OUR CIP IS DRIVEN BY GOALS THAT WE SET FOR OURSELVES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
SEVERAL OF THESE ITEMS WE HAVE HAD WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS.
SO THEY'VE BEEN IN THE PIPELINE.
FIRST STEP IS THE HACKBERRY PARK MASTER PLAN.
SOME OF THE TEXTS GOT A LITTLE BLURRY UP THERE, BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE MASTER PLAN APPROVED.
WE'RE STILL PLAYING WITH SOME OF THE LAYOUT OR CONFIGURATION OF THAT DESIGN.
BUT WE ARE FOR 2024 MOVING INTO THE DESIGN PHASE.
SO WE'VE HAD SEVERAL OPEN HOUSES ON THE PROJECT.
WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH BOLTON AND MINK ON BEST CONFIGURATIONS AND CAPACITY FOR THIS SITE.
AND THIS WE ALSO HAVE A YOUTH SPORTS GRANTS HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO HENNEPIN COUNTY.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WORK ON OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
AGAIN, IN 2024, THE FOCUS IS ON THE DESIGN PHASE, AND ONCE WE MOVE PAST THAT, THEN WE WILL LOOK AT THAT CONSTRUCTION PHASE, CONSTRUCTION AND FINALIZATION.
SO THAT CONSTRUCTION PHASE, WE HAVE SLATED FOR 25-26.
SO THAT'S OUTSIDE OF OUR SCOPE OF THE 24 CIP.
SO REALLY THE FOCUS, AGAIN FOR THIS YEAR IS THE DESIGN PHASE.
IF WE ARE AWARDED THE GRANT, THAT COULD POTENTIALLY MOVE THAT TIMELINE UP SLIGHTLY.
BUT IT'S A THREE-YEAR WINDOW THAT WE HAVE TO USE THAT GRANT.
SO MOST LIKELY WE WOULD STILL STICK WITHIN THAT 25-26 RANGE.
>> JOSHUA, WHEN WE LAST LOOKED AT THE CIP,
[00:50:02]
I THINK THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WAS MORE IN THE $300-$500,000 RANGE.CAN YOU ADDRESS WHAT DROVE THE COSTS SO MUCH HIGHER? HOW IS IT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE THOUGHT?
>> SO A COUPLE OF ELEMENTS OF IT ARE THE SITE FOR THE MULTI-USE FIELD.
WE MOVED IT, INITIALLY WE HAD A DIFFERENT LAYOUT.
I THINK THAT INCREASED COSTS SLIGHTLY ON ONE OF THE DESIGNS AND THEN THE DRAINAGE PROJECT AS WELL AND PARKING.
WITH THIS PROJECT, WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE FOR PARKING ISSUES, DRAINAGE, AND JUST SAFER USAGE OF THE PARK.
IRRIGATION ISN'T ONE THAT DROVE THAT UP, IRRIGATION WAS A BIG PRICE TAG AS IU COULD SAY.
IF WE WERE TO BUILD IT IRRIGATION IS KEY.
ANY SPORTS FIELD THAT HAS SUFFICIENT DRAINAGE SHOULD ALSO HAVE SUFFICIENT IRRIGATION.
I'M HOPING NEXT YEAR WE ARE NOT IN ANOTHER DROUGHT, BUT WE SHOULD PLAN FOR ONE.
>> NOT THAT I'M SPEAKING FOR THE GOLFERS, BUT THEY ALWAYS WANT MORE IRRIGATION.
>> AND WE HAVE OTHER PARKS AS WELL.
SO WHY IRRIGATION AT THIS PARK?
>> SO THE T BALL FIELDS WOULD BE RENOVATED COMPLETELY AGAIN WITH DRAINAGE GOING IN.
IF THAT DISTURBANCE IS GOING ON, IT'S A NICE TIME TO GET THE IRRIGATION PROJECT DONE ALSO.
IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE ANY TYPE OF UPGRADES TO OUR PLAYING SURFACES, WE SHOULD CONSIDER IRRIGATION, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE RATE PROFILE, SOIL PROFILE THAT WOULD GO INTO THESE SURFACES.
IRRIGATION IS A LOT OF THEM NOW AND INCORPORATE DIFFERENT, IT'S NOT JUST DIRT, SAND AND PIT AND LOAM.
SO YOU WANT DIFFERENT SOIL MIXES THAT ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR USE.
SO RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A BIG PUSH IN YOUTH SPORTS WHERE THE PLAYING SURFACE, THE SOIL PROFILE IS WHAT'S HELPING KIDS.
IT'S REDUCING CONCUSSIONS OR ACLS THAT YOU AREN'T SAFE CONDITIONS AS POSSIBLE.
>> SO DEPENDENT ON FUNDRAISING LIKE ALL OF THESE PROJECTS ARE WE DON'T GET THE FUNDS.
IS THAT AN OPTIONAL ELEMENT OF THIS THAT WE WOULD GO? IN OTHER WORDS, DO WE HAVE A FALLBACK OPTION ON THIS OR IS IT WE DON'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL WE GET THE 1.1 MILLION.
>> SO WITH THIS, AGAIN, WE APPLIED FOR A GRANT.
WE MAY NOT GET THAT GRANT OR MAYBE WE GET IT, BUT ONLY A PORTION OF IT.
SO DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF FUNDING COMES IN, IT COULD IMPACT THE TIMING OF THIS PROJECT OR THE SCOPE OF IT.
FOR DONATIONS, WHEN WE SPEAK TO THE SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS, WE WOULD HOPE FOR THE ARNOLD BASEBALL ASSOCIATION ON THAT, MAYBE THEY WOULD WEIGH IN ON, DO THEY PREFER BENCHES OR DUGOUTS? AND IF THERE'S A DIFFERENCE, COULD YOU HELP DONATE TO GET THEIR FACILITY THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION NEEDS FOR SOCCER,FOR LACROSSE? COULD THEY WORK WITH THE CITY OR INDIVIDUALLY? SEPARATELY COULD THEY APPLY FOR GRANTS FOR THE TYPE OF NETS THAT THEY WANT? SO WE HAVE THIS PROJECT AS A WHOLE RIGHT NOW, BUT DONATIONS COULD BE BROKEN OUT.
AGAIN, THE DUGOUTS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.
DO WE NEED DUGOUTS DAY 1? MAYBE, BUT WE WOULD WANT TO WORK WITH THE BASEBALL ASSOCIATION ON THAT.
AND THEN ALSO FOR THE FUNDING, IF THE MONEY IS NOT THERE, THIS IS A MASTER PLAN THAT WE HAVE APPROVED AND THAT IS A PRIORITY TO US.
AND WHEN FUNDING DOES BECOME AVAILABLE, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT.
SO MAYBE WE HAVE TO WAIT A YEAR OR TWO.
>> SO LAST QUESTION. SO YOU HAVE THE PARKS FUND ON THERE.
SO IF IT'S A 2025, IS IT 2025 PARKS FUND OR ARE YOU LOOKING AT PARKS FUND MONEYS FROM 2024? SO HOW DO YOU DECIDE HOW MUCH PARKS FUND MONEY GOES TO A PROJECT AND WHAT YEAR IT COMES FROM.
>> AGAIN, THAT'S WORKING WITH OUR COMMISSION, DETERMINING WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE, AND THEN STAFF.
>> BECAUSE WHAT ABOUT 200 A YEAR?
>> WE GET ABOUT 200 A YEAR TO ALLOCATE?
>> YEAH. I BELIEVE THAT EITHER WILL INCREASE INTO 200 OR 250, I FORGET.
>> PER YEAR. YES. WHAT WE'RE SHOWING HERE, WE HAVE THE 10,000 THAT WE USED FOR OUR CONCEPT WITH BOLTON MINK.
[00:55:02]
WE HAVE ANOTHER 50,000 SET ASIDE FOR THE DESIGN PHASE.SO ESSENTIALLY, YES, THAT 60,000 HAS GONE IN 25, THAT'S 60 WILL NOT BE THERE.
SO THE COST OF THIS PROJECT GOES DOWN TO $60,000 IT'S SPENT.
>> SO DO WE DO THAT AS A PART OF THE CIP THIS FALL WHERE WE LOOKED AT THE 200 AND DIVIDE IT UP? NO. I JUST DON'T REMEMBER DOING THAT BEFORE.
>> SO THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN SHOWN TO CITY COUNCIL.
>> NO, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
I WAS JUST ASKING IN GENERAL WHEN DOES THAT PART OF THE PROCESS HAPPEN?
>> BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WHEN WE DETERMINED WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE.
>> ANY QUESTIONS ON HACK BERRY? PICKLEBALL. NOW, THE FUNDING SOURCE THAT WE SHOW ON THIS RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THE PLANNING PHASE WHICH WE'RE IN AND THEN WE'VE ALREADY SPENT THAT MOVING INTO THE DESIGN PHASE.
AND NOW WE SEE THERE'S SOME VARIABLES HERE AS WELL FOR FUNDING.
AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST ROUGH ESTIMATES THAT STAFF PUT HIM.
SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO REFINE THOSE AS WE GET THOSE FROM BOLTON LINK.
SO WE DO EXPECT TO SEE THIS CHANGE.
AND THEN IT'LL BE BROKEN OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE WHERE A STORMWATER POND, THE FUNDING FOR THAT WILL COME THROUGH OUR STORMWATER FUND.
SO YOU'LL SEE OUR FUNDING SOURCES INCREASE IN WHERE THOSE FUNDS ARE BEING PULLED FROM AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE HAVE SOME VERY CLEAR GOALS FOR DONATIONS AS WELL.
WE DON'T NEED TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON PICKLEBALL WE JUST SHOWED THE LAYOUTS.
BUT ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS PROJECT?
>> I ASSUME THIS IS A SMALLER SIZE VERSION PROBABLY THAT YOU'RE ESTIMATING OR JUST A PLUG NUMBER AND REALLY WAITING UNTIL SO YOU.
>> THIS WILL BE ON THE SMALLER STUFF.
>> JUST TO GIVE YOU ONE QUICK BENCHMARK.
VICTORIA, THEY SPENT 500,000 THAT INCLUDED LIGHTS.
>> THAT WAS IT. SO I THINK 500 IS LIKE ONE OF THOSE TOP NUMBERS.
>> WITH PARKING AND [INAUDIBLE].
>> I CAN'T COMMENT ON THE PARKING THERE, I THINK THEY ALREADY HAD PARKING.
>> GOT YOU. THAT SOUNDS RIGHT. THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF PARK COMMISSION INITIATIVE WHERE IT WASN'T NECESSARILY AN OBJECTIVE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, BUT IT IS A NEED THAT WE BECAME AWARE OF THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WAS A NEED TO EXPAND LURTON PARKING LOT.
IT IS A VERY SMALL PARKING LOT AND IT'S ALWAYS FULL.
WE HAVE BEGUN TO WORK WITH BOLTZMANN MINK ON EVALUATING IF WE CAN EXPAND OUR PARKING LOT A LITTLE FARTHER INTO THE PARK.
REALLY, THAT'S THE ONLY VIABLE AREA TO EXPAND INTO.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH THEM RIGHT NOW.
STAFF IS DOING SOME WORK WHERE WE ARE GOING OUT WITH A GPS UNIT AND SHOOTING GRADE TO SEE WHAT'S REALISTIC FOR THAT AREA.
WE'RE HOPING TO GAIN AROUND 10-15 PARKING STALLS AT LURTON.
>> LURTON ALSO HAS A SEPARATE FUNDING SOURCE.
THERE WAS, I BELIEVE IN ENDOWMENT MADE TO THAT WHEN IT WAS ACCEPTED BY THE CITY.
WE SELL PARKING PASSES FOR LURTON.
THOSE PARKING PASSES JUST GO INTO FINDING THE MAINTENANCE OF IT OR ANY TYPES OF PROJECTS.
OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE ADDED IN MORE TRAILS WITH THE CRUSHED LIMESTONE.
NOW THIS PARKING LOT WOULD COME THROUGH SOME OF THAT FUNDING AS WELL.
>> WE'RE JUST MENTIONING THIS IS WHERE THE WELL IS, CORRECT? AT THAT LOCATION?
>> THERE'S A WATER SOURCE THERE?
>> THE DESIGN WE WOULD ACCOMMODATE FOR THAT.
THERE WOULD BE A LITTLE BUMP OUT THROUGH HERE.
>> WORKING SPOT WOULD BE DEDICATED TO LOTS?
>> YEAH. WE STILL THINK WE CAN ACHIEVE THAT 10-15 STALLS FOR THIS SITE.
>> AGAIN, THE REASONS FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS SAFETY IS A REAL ISSUE.
[01:00:05]
WE HAVE A LOT OF VEHICLES PARKING ALONG WAYS THAT A BOULEVARD.WE WANT TO GET AS MANY VEHICLES OFF THE SHOULDER AS POSSIBLE AND JUST MAKE THAT IMPROVEMENT WHILE WE CAN.
IT'S FULL ALL THE TIME AND WE'D LIKE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.
PEOPLE ARE BEING TURNED AWAY AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PARKING.
>> ARE THEY NO LONGER PARKING IN THE STREET?
>> THEY ARE STILL PARKING ON THE STREET.
IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE DAY AND THE TIME.
>> THAT IS QUITE A HILL THERE.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WOULD BE A RETAINED EDGE OR?
>> LIKE WOULD PUSHES YOU WALK UP THE HILL TO THAT PAVILION.
>> THAT'S WHAT STAFF IS WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.
IT WILL PROBABLY COME ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN AND START SHOOTING ELEVATIONS AS WE GO UP TO SEE WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR US TO DO.
WE MAY NEED TO BUILD SOME TYPE OF WALL, I HOPE NOT.
>> IT WOULD INCREASE THE COST, IT IS NEEDED, I MEAN IT'S UNSAFE.
>> ANY QUESTIONS ON LURTON PARKING LOT? IT'S MY FAVORITE SLIDE.
[LAUGHTER] THIS IS THE FIRST-YEAR FUNDING SOURCE.
THE GOLF COURSE HAS BECOME AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
I WILL GIVE A LITTLE UPDATE ON THE GOLF COURSE LATER ON.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A RIDING MOWER ON GREEN.
GREENS ARE VERY SMALL AND A LARGE UNIT LIKE THAT.
THERE'S ONLY SO MANY DIRECTIONS IT CAN GO AND YOU START WEARING PATTERNS INTO THE GREEN.
WE'RE LOOKING AT PURCHASING TWO WALK MOWERS.
THAT WILL GIVE US A MUCH TIGHTER CUT ON GREENS AS WELL AS WE'LL SEE FAR LESS AWARE ON THE GREENS.
I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A REALLY BIG UPGRADE FOR US THIS NEXT YEAR.
IT IS ADDITIONAL MANUAL LABOR, BUT I'M EXTREMELY FAST AND LONG GREENS.
>> WHICH OF THESE TWO GREEN DEGREE?
>> THE PEGS HAVE WHEELS THAT YOU CAN STICK ON.
YOU CAN TAKE THE WHEELS ON AND OFF IF YOU WANT TO.
>> MUCH SHARPER APPEARANCE AND PERFORMANCE-WISE, IT'S A BIG BENEFIT TO WALK MORE GREENS.
>> THOSE GREENS BEING CABINET BUT IT'S HARD TO DRIVE.
>> JOSH, NOW THAT THEY HAVE THE TERM YOU USE, THE ENTERPRISE FUND, IS THERE ANY CRITERIA THAT OUR CFO FOR THE CITY HAS APPLIED TO DETERMINING WHAT PORTION OF ANY OPERATING PROFITS GOES TO A RESERVE FOR FUTURE NEEDS, IF YOU HAD A DOWN YEAR VERSUS THE CAPITAL PROJECTS.
HOW HOW HOW DOES THAT 20 FIT WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF BEING THE FIRST YEAR OPERATING PROFIT AND THE POTENTIAL FOR BUILDING A RESERVE OVER TIME FOR THE GOLF COURSE?
>>THAT'S REALLY DOWN TO STAFF AND THEN CITY COUNCIL, HOW THOSE FUNDS ARE SPENT.
ANY TYPE OF REQUEST LIKE THIS, I WOULD NEED TO TAKE THE CITY COUNCIL AND THEY WOULD HAVE INSIGHT INTO WHAT THAT FUND BALANCE IS. THE ENTERPRISE FUND.
>> THAT'D BE ZERO NOW BECAUSE WE'RE JUST STARTING IT?
>> ISN'T IT ZERO NOW BECAUSE IT'S JUST STARTING?
>> NO, WE HAD A VERY GOOD YEAR.
>> THIS YEAR'S PROFITS, APPROXIMATELY?
>> I NEEDED TO TALK TO A FINANCE DIRECTOR.
IT WILL BE ABLE TO COVER THEM ALL ALWAYS.
>>THERE WILL BE SOME RESERVES.
ONE THING THAT I'M DOING FOR FUTURE CIP, FOR THE GOLF COURSE IS BUDGETING FOR A NEW PUMP HOUSE FOR OUR IRRIGATION SYSTEM.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M TRYING TO FORECAST OUT WHAT THAT BALANCE LOOKS LIKE.
NEXT YEAR WE'RE PURCHASING WALK MOWERS.
THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WE MIGHT NEED TO SCALE BACK AND HOLD TIGHT FOR A YEAR OR TWO.
WE WANT TO START SETTING ASIDE SOME OF THOSE PROJECTED NUMBERS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT PROJECT.
THAT'S REALLY BETWEEN STAFF AND COUNCIL, HOW THOSE FUNDS ARE SPENT, WHEN THEY'RE SPENT.
THIS IS ALL PRESENTED TO THEM DURING THE DRAFT CIP PROCESS. THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
[01:05:03]
BUT I JUST CALL THE CFO TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE FUNDS ARE.I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I STRUGGLE WITH WHAT THE PARK'S COMMISSION IS BECAUSE WE DON'T SEE THE OVERALL FUNDING MECHANISMS OF THE CITY.
IT'S HARD TO KNOW IF WE'RE BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. I'M STILL NEW AT THIS.
WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT WHAT THEY DID AT VICTORIA, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HADN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT BEFORE IS MONEY THAT COMES INTO THE PARK'S FUNDS WHEN THERE'S DEVELOPERS WHO THEN MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS.
WE'VE NEVER TALKED ABOUT FUNDS THAT ARE BECOMING AVAILABLE TO THE PARK'S FUNDS BECAUSE OF DEVELOPERS OR WHAT VISIBILITY WE HAVE INTO THAT AS A COMMUNITY.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE MISSING HALF OF THE EQUATION AND WITH SETTING UP THIS SEPARATE ENTERPRISE FUND WITH THE GOLF COURSE.
EITHER WAY, I'M AN ACCOUNTANT BY BACKGROUNDS, SO THAT'S MY FINANCES TOP OF MIND FOR ME.
I THINK ABOUT THINGS LIKE THE GOLF COURSE DIDN'T ALWAYS HAVE A PROFIT.
IT HAS A DOWN YEAR IS THEY'RE NOT IN AN ENTERPRISE FUND THAT YEAR, BUT THE CITY FUNDS IT SO BUILDING A RESERVE IS IMPORTANT TO ME WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, GOSH, NOW WE GOTTEN MONEY BECAUSE WE MADE MONEY THIS YEAR, LET'S SPEND IT.
I FEEL LIKE I'M WORKING IN A VACUUM WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT ARE THE SOURCES OF FUNDS BESIDES THE 200,000, AND DO WE HAVE VISIBILITY INTO THAT? BECAUSE WE DON'T REALLY GET UPDATES HERE FROM THE CFO.
MAYBE THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING TO DO WHEN WE HAVE OUR PLANNING, OUR MEETING COMING UP IN JANUARY IS TO INVITE SOMEBODY FROM FINANCE TO COME TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT COULD THERE BE VISIBILITY INTO AND HOW DOES SOME OF THESE THINGS WORK? BECAUSE I JUST REALLY FEEL LIKE THAT'S A MISSING LINK.
>> OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR DOES GIVE INPUT AND FOR FREE.
>> COUNCIL MEETING AS WELL. THESE FUNDS ARE NOT HIDDEN TO ANYONE. THEY ARE PRESENTED.
>> OH, NO, I DIDN'T MEAN TO IMPLY THAT.
I JUST MEANT THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT A CIP PLAN AND WE SAY, HEY, THESE WOULD BE GOOD THINGS TO DO.
IT'D BE HELPFUL TO HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF WHAT THE ECONOMICS ARE WITHIN THE CITY AND IT'S JUST NOT ROLL VISIBLE IN A WAY THAT I UNDERSTAND IT.
I WAS NOT QUESTIONING WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE SPENDING MONEY WE DON'T HAVE.
>> NEXT TOPIC IS OUR PARKS'S DEPARTMENT UPDATE.
IT'S A GREAT TIME OF YEAR FOR THE PARK'S DEPARTMENT.
GOLF COURSE IS OFFICIALLY CLOSED.
WE MAY OPEN. SOME NICE WEATHER COMING UP HERE IN THE NEXT WEEK. IT MAY OPEN AGAIN.
BUT THIS YEAR WE DID OVER 16,000 ROUNDS OF GOLF SO THAT IS INCREASE OF OVER 1,000 FROM LAST YEAR.
THEN FROM 2019 IT'S ALMOST 8,000 HIGHER IN ROUNDS.
WE'VE BEEN TRENDING UP SINCE COVID.
THERE WAS SOME CONCERN THAT IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE OF COVID THAT GOLF COURSES ARE SEEING A RESURGENCE.
DESPITE ALL OF THAT, OF COURSE HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS ONE OF OUR LARGEST INCREASES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
[NOISE] DO YOU AND YOUR ROUNDS? BEFORE I BELIEVE IT WAS A GROUP THAT WAS REALLY NOT PRIORITIZED.
OUR CLUBHOUSE MANAGER AND GOLF STAFF, THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB REALLY WORKING WITH JUNIOR ROUNDS TO INCREASE THOSE.
THEY'RE CHARGED SO MUCH LESSER RATE.
BUT I THINK WHEN I LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF THE GAME, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING ELEMENTS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AT OUR GOLF COURSE IS KIDS ARE PLAYING AND THEY'RE LOVING IT.
IT'S A LOT OF FUN IN THE SUMMER AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO COME OUT AT SOME POINT.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL JUNIOR PGA EVENTS, WHICH IS A LOT OF FUN.
WE'VE BROUGHT FOOD TRUCKS OUT FOR THE KIDS DURING THOSE EVENTS SO IT'S REALLY EXCITING TIME.
ANOTHER THING THAT WE'RE SEEING IS OUR LEAGUES PREDOMINANTLY.
IT'S BEEN TWO SEPARATE MEN'S LEAGUES AT THE GOLF COURSE.
WE VALUE THEM, WE RESPECT THEM, WE LOVED THAT THEY'RE WANTING TO RETURN.
WE HAVE A MIXED LEAGUE ON MONDAY EVENINGS AND THAT IS MAXED OUT.
NOW WE HAVE 60 OR WE HAD 60 IN THAT LEAGUE THIS YEAR SO THAT'S COULD BE SPOUSES, IT COULD BE A GROUP OF FRIENDS, MEN, WOMEN,
[01:10:01]
IT'S BEEN A LOT OF FUN SO THAT'S REALLY FILL THE GAP FOR PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT'S BEEN LOOKING FOR A LEAGUE.WE HAVE OUR MIXED LEAGUE AND WE HAVE TWO SEPARATE WOMEN'S LEAGUES AS WELL AND THOSE HAVE INCREASED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING, WE'RE SEEING THOSE INCREASES IN ROUNDS.
WE'RE SEEING THE INCREASES IN REVENUE.
THEN I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY IS THE TYPE OF ROUNDS THAT WE'RE SEEING.
WE'RE SEEING A MUCH MORE DIVERSE CROWD COMING INTO THE GOLF COURSE AND REALLY THRILLED ABOUT IT.
WITH THE GOLF COURSE, WE CONTINUE TO TRY DIFFERENT THINGS EITHER WITH STAFF OR IN THE CLUBHOUSE WE WANT TO PROMOTE.
OUR FOOD OPTIONS ARE STILL VERY LIMITED, BUT WE'VE DONE THE BEST WE CAN TO AT LEAST DO MEAT AND CHEESE STICKS OR SOMETHING, NUTS AND FRUITS.
BUT I'M JUST REALLY TRYING TO HEAR FROM THE CUSTOMER ABOUT WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THERE AND WE'VE SEEN THAT PAY OFF OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
LASTLY, STAFF, JUST LIKE EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, WE CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE TO FIND STAFF.
THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE ARE EXCELLENT.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RETAIN THEM, WHICH IS GREAT.
WE TRY AND DEVELOP A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM TO WORK IN.
BUT IT IS HARD TO GET NEW EMPLOYEES IN THE DOOR SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE WORKING ON OVER THE WINTER IS DEVELOPING THE BEST TEAM THAT WE CAN.
ALREADY WORKING ON THE LIST OF LEAGUES FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT HUGE POSITIVES FOR THE GOLF COURSE THIS YEAR.
OUR PARKS'S, AGAIN, THAT DROUGHT WAS TOUGH, BUT THANKFULLY WE'RE STARTING TO CATCH UP WITH A LOT OF MOISTURE THAT WE'RE GETTING.
I BELIEVE IN OCTOBER, WE HAD OVER WHAT OF RAIN IN A MONTH SO IT WAS QUITE A BIT.
FOR THE MOST PART WE HAVE STARTED PLANTING MORE DROUGHT TOLERANT GRASSES AND PARKS WHEN WE CAN SO WE JUST SLIPPED SEED THAT INTO EXISTING TURF.
THAT GRASS DENSITY HELPS KEEP WEEDS DOWN SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL KEEP WORKING ON AS WE DON'T HAVE IRRIGATION IN MOST OF OUR PARKS.
OUR STAFF, JACK AND RANK HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THE PARKS THIS YEAR.
THEY'LL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD OVER WINTER AND WE HAVE TWO INTERNS ALREADY SIGNED UP FOR NEXT SUMMER, LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVE THEM.
LASTLY, WE HAVE OUR TREE LIGHTING EVENT ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2ND.
THAT'S FROM 05:00 TO 07:00 PM.
I WILL BE REACHING OUT TO PARK COMMISSIONERS INDIVIDUALLY AND ASKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP OUT.
ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITIES, WELCOME TO JOIN OR A VOLUNTEER, YOUR TIME TOO, AND WE'LL BE REACHING OUT TO OTHERS.
THIS IS OUR FOURTH ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING EVENT.
IT'S BEEN GROWING AND GROWING SINCE THE BEGINNING.
>> ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE, FROM THE COMMISSION?
>> YES. I THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM THAT YOU'VE PUT IN PLACE THIS YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY GOT A COPY OF THAT SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM? EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU SHOULD GET A COPY IF POSSIBLE.
WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING OUT AND TRYING TO FIND SPONSORSHIPS FOR THE TREE LIGHTING AND OTHER EVENTS AS THEY COME ON BOARD.
I THINK THAT IT'S PRETTY CONCISE.
ONCE YOU READ IT, LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
YOU GOT ANY CRITIQUE OR IDEAS THAT WE MAY HAVE NOT THOUGHT OF.
BUT KIM AND JOSH, YOU ARE THE TWO THAT WORK DONE THAT SO YOU SHOULD GET [OVERLAPPING] THOSE.
>> YEAH. I WILL SEND THAT OUT.
COMES WITH FREE GOLF AT A COST.
>> [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S AWESOME.
>> NO. BUT BUT IT'S GOING TO BE EASIER TO TALK TO PEOPLE WE WANT TO SPONSOR.
SO NOT ONLY THAT ALL OF YOU COULD TALK TO PEOPLE, IF YOU LIKE.
>> AND THE GOAL WITH THIS IS WE'RE PROMOTING THE PROGRAM, NOT SPECIFICALLY ASKING FOR DOLLAR AMOUNTS, WE'RE PROMOTING THE PROGRAM.
>> WE'RE HOPING THAT THERE'LL BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND
[01:15:01]
THAT WE'VE BEGUN CLOSER SENSE OF [INAUDIBLE] AS THE COMMUNITY.>> SO JOSH, IN THAT CONTEXT, IF WE GO OUT TO FIND DONORS FOR CAPITAL PROJECT AS OPPOSED TO AN EVENT, IS THERE SIMILARLY A NEED TO HAVE A FORMAL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM OR HOW DO WE, I WAS CONNECTING THE DOTS BACK AND THINKING, THAT'S EVENTS DOESN'T REALLY AUTOMATICALLY APPLY BUT THEN I WONDERED IF WE NEEDED SOMETHING.
>> SO AGAIN, WE HAVE THE CITY, BUT THERE IS THE 501C3, THE ORIENTAL PARK'S LEGACY AND THAT TRULY WOULD BE MORE PROJECT-BASED.
WHEREAS THE EVENTS, EVENT SPONSORSHIP THAT COULD BE APPLIED TO PARKS IF WE WANT TO DO AN EVENT WITH LEARNING DOG DAYS, THE TREE LIGHTING EVENTS, POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, IF THEY'D LIKE TO RUN FUTURE EVENTS, THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WOULD COME THROUGH THE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM.
>> TOTALLY UNDERSTAND. I GUESS I WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IF SOMEBODY PLEDGES MONEY, A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT FOR A CAPITAL PROJECT, WHAT APPROVALS DO WE GO THROUGH TO SAY YOU CAN PUT YOUR NAME ON IT? OR YOU CAN BE ON, SO IT MADE ME REALIZE THAT MAYBE THERE'S A POLICY THERE THAT APPLIES EVEN THOUGH THE MONEY IS GOING TO THE 501C3 AND THEREFORE IT'S TAX-DEDUCTIBLE IS STILL DOESN'T ADDRESS THESE OTHER THINGS LIKE NAMING.
>> WELL, I GUESS THE FOR THE BIG ISLAND LEGACY.
WE HAVE THE SITTING STONES OUT THERE WHERE DONATIONS WERE MADE TO THE 501C3, BUT THERE WERE STILL SOME RECOGNITION OF THAT DONATION BY THE CITY.
SO IT WAS MAYBE A PLAQUE ON A SITTING STONE.
[NOISE] ALL DONATIONS WOULD HAVE TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE COUNCIL.
SO AT THAT TIME, THERE IS RECOGNITION AT THAT LEVEL, AND THEN MAYBE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE 501C3 AND PARK STAFF WOULD WORK ON DEVELOPING A CRITERIA IF YOU DONATE THIS AMOUNT.
WE HAVE A DONATION PROGRAM FOR BENCHES.
IF YOU ADOPT A BENCH, YOU MAKE THAT DONATION FOR A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT AND THERE'S A PLAQUE WITH YOUR NAME ON IT.
>> WELL, I WAS JUST THINKING BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT TO GET PLEDGES, WE WOULD WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT PROGRAM IS BEFORE YOU GO OUT TO GET THE PLEDGES AND AFTERWARDS SAYING, THANKS FOR THE PLEDGE, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A PLAQUE.
SO I JUST WAS THINKING ABOUT THE ORDER OF THOSE EVENTS.
>> I THINK THAT SOUNDS LIKE A FOLLOW-UP ITEM AND DEFINITELY, ESPECIALLY I THINK THE FIRST THING THAT MIGHT BE IN THE PIPELINE IS PICKLEBALL PLEDGING.
>> WELL, YOU COULD HAVE IT WITH THE HACKBERRY PARK AS WELL IN THEORY.
>> I THINK THERE'S JUST A NUMBER OF THINGS TO DISCUSS BECAUSE SINCE THERE MIGHT BE MULTIPLE PROJECTS AND THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE PROBABLY DONOR RESTRICTIONS ON THOSE FUNDS, THIS IS FOR THAT AND THAT IS FOR THAT.
>> AND SO I THINK COMING UP WITH SOME POLICIES ABOUT RECOGNITION OR OTHER THINGS, AND THAT MIGHT BE ON THE CITY'S SIDE AS WELL.
LIKE YOU SAID, THOSE DONATIONS WOULD HAVE TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE CITY AND ACKNOWLEDGED.
>> THE ONE THAT'S DONE NOW IS REALLY JUST FOR EVENTS.
YOU'D HAVE TO GO INTO AND EVALUATE THIS AND CHANGE HOW YOU WOULD DO THAT.
IT WOULDN'T BE CONSIDERED A SPONSORSHIP-TYPE THING.
>> SO IT'D BE A RECOGNITION. TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
>> I TALKED TO JOSH TO SEE IF, IT'S PART OF THE PLANNING FOR PICKLEBALL, IS THERE A WAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE WHO DID DONATE? DOCUMENT WITH BRICKS TO BENCHES.
I THINK THAT'D BE SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT.
ESPECIALLY, MORE AND MORE PROJECTS WE'RE GOING TO NEED SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
>> JOSH I JUST WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION. WE'VE GOT NINE GREENS.
>> AND YOU NEED TO HIRE PEOPLE THAT RUN THE MOWERS FOR THE GREENS.
WHY DO YOU NEED TWO FOR THE 10,000 METERS?
>> WELL, CURRENTLY WE HAVE MORE THAN TWO STAFF, SO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOW.
>> I KNOW, BUT YOU ONLY HAVE NINE GREENS AND A GREEN ISN'T THAT BIG ANYMORE.
>> SO GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE IS VERY TIME-SENSITIVE.
WE GET PEOPLE OUT THERE, THEY ARE OUT THERE BEFORE THE GOLF COURSE IS OPEN.
SO WE NEED TO BE AS FAST AND EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE WITH THEIR TIME.
SO TWO GUYS MOWING GREENS, THEY SHOULD BE DONE WITHIN AN HOUR AND A HALF.
[01:20:02]
THAT'S NOT MUCH DIFFERENT FROM SENDING ONE GUY OUT ON A RIDING MOWER AND THERE'S FAR LESS IMPACT TO THE GREENS.>> NO BUT IT'S $10,000 AND IT'S AN ASSET THAT'S DECREASING WHY NOT JUST FACE OFF FIVE YEARS, GET ANOTHER ONE BECAUSE THEN YOU CAN PLAN ON BUDGET. I MEAN I'M JUST.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO DECREASE AT THE SAME RATE AND THEN YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE ANOTHER 20 WHY NOT STAGE IT FIVE YEARS.
>> I'M NOT SURE IT'S REALISTIC THAT WE WOULD AGAIN, OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE THE GOLF COURSE AS POPULAR AS WE CAN.
TO HAVE AS MUCH PLAY TO INCREASE OUR ROUNDS AS POSSIBLE.
AND FOR US TO SEND OUT A ONE-WALK MOWER WOULD BE UNREALISTIC.
WE MIGHT SEND OUT ONE WALK MOWER.
>> I'M TALKING ABOUT JUST THE GREENS. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE TWO, $10,000 GREEN MOWERS.
YOU'RE SPENDING 20,000 ON TWO MOWERS AND ONE GUY CAN DO IT EARLY IN THE MORNING AND THEN THE NEXT, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO ONE GREEN? IT DOESN'T TAKE THAT LONG.
I'VE BEEN GOLFING MY WHOLE LIFE AND SO IT'S LIKE I'VE SEEN THE MAINTENANCE OF IT, AND ALL I'M SAYING IS RATHER THAN DOING 20,000 AND THEN HAVING THEM DEPRECIATE AT THE SAME RATE AND THEN HAVING 20, WHY NOT STAGE IT.
WHAT IS SHOWN ON THIS PICTURE IS TWO BRAND-NEW MOWERS.
MAYBE WHAT WE'LL LOOK AT IS ONE, BRAND NEW ONE AND ONE USED ONE, AND MAYBE WE'LL REPLACE THAT USED ONE AT AN EARLIER DATE.
THAT WAY WE'RE STAGGERED, BUT RIGHT NOW, HAVING ONE PERSON GO OUT TO WALK MORE GREENS IS UNREALISTIC.
AND THE GOLF ETIQUETTE IS PRETTY LOW AT OUR GOLF COURSE, WHERE WE DO HAVE GOLFERS HITTING INTO MAINTENANCE.
SO OUR GOAL IS TO GET OFF OF THE GREENS AS SOON AS WE CAN.
SO IF WE CAN DO THAT WITH TWO, WE'LL DO IT.
>> CAN I JUST ASK? I THINK IT'S GOOD TO HAVE REDUNDANCY TOO, BECAUSE SOMETHING MIGHT BREAK.
>> WHILE YOU'RE ALL HERE I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE THING.
YOU KNOW HOW IT'S, CAN YOU WORK THIS?
>> JOSH, DO YOU KNOW HOW FAR THE SOUTH AND NORTH CORNER ARE AUTO WHACK HOW MANY FEET THAT IS? BECAUSE WE COULD KEEP THE BEDS AND STRAIGHTEN THE FENCE.
>> CAN YOU GO TO ONE OR THE OTHER LIKE THE CONCEPT PLANS EARLIER?
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA FROM THE NORTH CORNER TO THE SOUTH CORNER HOW FAR THAT NORTH CORNER IS TO THE LEFT FEET?
>> TWENTY FEET? WELL, WE SHOULD FIGURE THAT OUT BECAUSE IT IS A LITTLE ODD.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? LET'S FIGURE THAT HOW FAR OUT THAT IS FROM THE WEST LINE BECAUSE MAYBE WE CAN JUST ADJUST THAT WITHOUT MOVING THE BEDS. THAT'S ALL.
>> WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO THE NEXT TOPIC, CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING AT THE GOLF COURSE, PRESENTED BY RICK.
[SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS.]
>> PUT IT UNDER THE HEADING OF TRAILS COMMITTEE, SO JACK WHO WORKS FOR JOSH AND GORDY, AND BROWN, AND A GENTLEMAN WHO IS THE COACH OF THE ORIENTAL SKI TEAM, AND I MET AT THE GOLF COURSE AND WE RAN THE CARTS AROUND LOOKING AT THE WAY THE COURSE HAS BEEN LAID OUT.
WE'VE HAD A COURSE LAID OUT OFF AND ON OVER THE YEARS.
AND WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO IS DOUBLE DOWN AND MAKE IT SOMETHING THAT'S USEFUL ON A REGULAR BASIS TO THE TEAMS AND THAT CAN BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND I THINK WE HAD SOME REALLY GOOD FEEDBACK AND I'M CONVINCED IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BETWEEN TEAM HAVING ACCESS TO EQUIPMENT AND THE ABILITY OF THE STAFF TO HELP AND MAYBE RELYING ON SOME VOLUNTEERS THAT THE GOAL IS TO GET A COURSE STAKED OUT BEFORE WE GET A TON OF SNOW, GET IT ROLLED AND GROOMED, GET THE TEAM USING IT, AND THEN START PROMOTING IT TO THE PUBLIC SO THAT PEOPLE OUT THERE, THE TEAM WILL ONLY BE USING IT MAYBE ONE OR TWO EVENINGS AFTER SCHOOL AND WE COULD HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE IN THE EVENINGS OR ON THE WEEKENDS.
I HAVE TO ADMIT I HAVEN'T GOLFED THERE, BUT IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE TERRAIN FOR CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING SO IT'S NOT IF YOU THINK ABOUT GOING TO A GOLF COURSE AND HAVING RELATIVELY FLAT SCHEME, THAT MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO OUT THERE, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT TRAIL, SO ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
[01:25:02]
>> WHEN WE DID THE GOLF COURSE OPEN HOUSE, THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT WHEN CAN WE GET THAT BACK SO IT'S EXCITING.
>> I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL GET SOMETHING GOING THIS YEAR THAT WILL MAKE IT STICK.
>> IS THAT GOING BE FIRST-COME FIRST-SERVED OR WOULD YOU SCHEDULE TIME, HOW WILL IT?
>> IT WILL BE FIRST-COME FIRST-SERVED.
I SKI A LOT AT THEATER WORTH AND THEY CAN HAVE HIGH SCHOOL RACES AND IT'S STILL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SO THE WAY THE COACH DESCRIBED THE WAY THIS PRACTICE, I WOULDN'T BE CONCERNED ABOUT GOING OUT THERE AT THE SAME TIME.
PARKING, MAYBE PUMP UP AGAINST IT AT TIMES, BUT PROBABLY NOT MOST OF THE KIDS WILL PROBABLY GET DROPPED OFF.
>> WE DO KEEP BOTH LOTS OPEN IN THE WINTER, SO I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE FINE.
>> STILL AN ITEM THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
WE'RE STILL WORKING OUT THE DETAILS OF THOSE MAINTENANCE STANDARDS, BUT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME WINTER ACTIVITIES AND HOPE FOR SNOW.
>> DURING THE TREE LIGHTING, THAT MIGHT BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS TO THAT SO IF THERE'S SOME WAY TO MAKE THAT PHYSICAL.
>> SOME TEAM MEMBERS THERE OR SOMETHING, IT'S A GOOD IDEA I'LL WORK ON THAT.
[CHAIR’S REPORT.]
CHAIRED UPDATE, I DON'T, WE'VE COVERED A LOT TONIGHT.I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR WORKING ON THIS, THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU'VE PUT IN.
IT'S FUN TO SEE THINGS COME TO FRUITION HERE SO JOSH, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO WORKING WITH YOU GUYS IN SUBCOMMITTEES AND WE'LL MEET AGAIN IN JANUARY AND HAVE SOME GOOD STUFF TO SHARE.
HOPEFULLY BY THEN, WE'LL HAVE A GOOD SUCCESSFUL TREE LIGHTING, WE'LL HAVE SKIERS OUT ON THE GOLF COURSE.
WE'LL HAVE SOME GOOD IDEAS FOR PICKUP BALL AND SO FORTH.
[COMMISSIONERS REPORT.]
>> I'LL JUST ADD ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SUMMER AND BIG ISLAND PARK.
THANKS. THE DOCKS SEEMED TO BE USED APPROPRIATELY FOR THE MOST PART, THE BATHROOMS GET USED A LOT AND ARE PRETTY CLEAN, AND THE PAVILION IS, I WOULD SAY STILL UNDERUSED.
I'D LIKE TO THINK ABOUT THINGS WE COULD DO, MAYBE AN EVENT OR SOMETHING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE THE SHELTER A LITTLE BIT MORE BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE, TRY AND GET OUT THERE NEXT YEAR OR IN THE WINTER, IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO CROSS-COUNTRY SKI IF YOU WANT TO VENTURE OUT THERE, SO THANK YOU.
>> I WANTED TO SAY LUXURY PROBLEMS AT LUTON PARK, LUTON PARK IS WONDERFUL.
IT'S BEEN SUCH A WONDERFUL SUMMER AT LUTON PARK AND SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE ENJOYING IT, AND DESPITE ALL OF THE STRESSORS OF THE PARKING AND CHALLENGES EVERY TIME I ENCOUNTERED STAFF OUT THERE, THEY WERE DELIGHTFUL AND SO KIND, AND IT'S ALWAYS JUST A GREAT CONGRATULATE YOU ON THAT.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT MY DAUGHTER AND I, WE WERE BIKE RIDING, WE ENDED UP AT CRYSTAL BAY PARK.
I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DID JOSH WITH THE TREES THERE, AND I THINK THE GRASS IS COMING IN REALLY NICELY, SO WE'RE ALL LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
>> I THINK, COREY COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT HE'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH SOME OF THE STUFF.
HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY OTHER UPDATES TONIGHT.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH MY TWIN NEPHEWS AND THEIR BOY SCOUT GROUP, AND THEY ASKED ME TO TALK ABOUT DUTY AND OBLIGATION TO OUR COMMUNITY AND I THOUGHT THERE WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SIT BACK AND TO REALLY THINK ABOUT US AND AMERICA, AND WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN THESE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, LIKE WE DO, IN THESE CITY AND THEIR GOVERNMENT, SO FORTH, SO THAT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR ME AND THE OTHER THING I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH IS, WE ALSO HAVE A DUTY TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS WHICH ARE GOING ON TOMORROW, NOT NECESSARILY IN ORONO, BUT THERE ARE SOME NEIGHBORING SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OTHERWISE THAT ARE GOING ON, SO I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THAT THOUGHT.
[01:30:06]
>> CASCO CIRCLE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, TO THE LIST.
CAN I HAVE SOMEONE PROPOSE THAT WE MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN?
[NOISE] THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.