REGULAR MEETING OF JUNE 5, 2012
MIDLAND CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
1) Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Chairperson Frank Altimore
2)
Roll Call:
a. MEMBERS PRESENT: Altimore, Carlson, Carney, Jurado, Kelley, Metevia, Rice, Steidemann
b. MEMBERS ABSENT: Bovid
c. OTHERS PRESENT:
3)
Minutes of May 1, 2012: Jurado
motioned, Metevia seconded to receive minutes of the meeting of May 1, 2012. Motion passed 8-0.
4)
Call to Audience:
Karen Holmes, 2912 Novak,
addressed the commission on behalf of the Midland Horseshoe Club. The club requested a sign be placed at the
horseshoe pits at Emerson Park that would name it “the Doug Hand Horseshoe
Park” in memory of Mr. Hand who was the long-standing president of the
club. The club has $200 to donate
toward the sign if the Parks staff could assist with production and
installation of the sign. Steidemann
motioned to name the park in memory of Mr. Hand, accept the donation, and have
parks staff assist with placement of the sign.
Kelley seconded the motion, and the motion passed 8-0.
5)
Neighborhood park playground review and public input: Murphy gave an overview of the
neighborhood park review process to date, and indicated that 21 parks have been
identified by staff as having equipment that should be removed. The purpose of the review is to determine
which parks warrant replacement equipment based on public input and staff
recommendations, as well as to determine a priority for replacing equipment and
establishing fall protection zones. Once
staff has this recommendation in hand, a 3-5 year replacement schedule will be
developed for those impacted parks to be implemented as funding allows. Approximately 550 property owners living
adjacent to the identified parks have or will receive a letter outlining the
process and requesting their input. Half
of these residents were invited to give input at the May meeting and the other
half were invited to the June meeting.
Five residents offered input at the meeting as follows: Two residents spoke in support of keeping equipment in Griese Park; one resident spoke in support of keeping equipment in Wyllys Park; one resident spoke in support of retaining equipment in Kent Park; and one resident spoke in support of retaining equipment in Burlington Park.
Murphy also reported receiving 15 responses from residents via telephone and email communication prior to the meeting as follows: One resident in support of Briarwood park including adding equipment for all ages; five residents in support of keeping equipment in Griese Park; two residents in support of replacing equipment at Hillgrove Park; three residents in support of replacing equipment in Kaufman Park; one resident in support of removing equipment at Parkdale Park; one resident in support of replacing equipment Parkwood Park; and two support of keeping equipment at Wyllys Park.
6)
Playground funding update: Murphy outlined three current funding sources
that will be used to start addressing the neighborhood park playground
needs. The first is the annual
playground replacement budget of $36,000 that City Council approved in the FY
2012/13 Parks Capital Outlay budget.
The second funding source is the Hintz Park fund held at the Midland Area Community Foundation for the upkeep and development of the park. The First United Methodist Church and the Maple Grove Community have adopted this park, and have held two work days to date to clean up and further develop the park. Projects to date include removal of trash/debris, improving the trail system by adding wood chips to existing paths, cleaning up underbrush, and adding additional fall protection material under the existing swing set. Staff is working with the group on a plan to add additional compliant play equipment to the park to augment the work that has already been done.
The third funding source comes from a
Community Development Block grant that staff applied for to improve six parks
that qualify based on demographics and location. $37,700 will be available in FY 2012/13 to
implement staff recommendations to replace old equipment, add new fall zones
and refresh existing fall zones at Kent, Parkwood, Theis, Virginia, Maryland,
and Crane Parks.
7)
Project Report:
Murphy announced dedication events for the band shell and the accessible
canoe/kayak launch. A dedication event
for the accessible canoe/kayak project completed by the Access to Recreation
group will be held Friday, June 8 at 3:00 p.m. at the launch located near the
Farmers Market/Tridge. An inaugural
concert and re-dedication event will be held at the Nicholson-Guenther Community
band shell on Wednesday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Murphy also shared that Plymouth Pool is ready to open on Saturday, June 9. Season passes for the pool are available for purchase at the pool as well. City staff has implemented a new recreation software to manage swim lesson registrations. Registration for swim lessons is now being offered on-line, and residents can contact the Parks & Recreation office for more information.
8)
Old Business :
None
9)
New Business:
Murphy indicated that there is still a vacancy on the Beautification
Advisory Committee. Interested
individuals should contact the Parks & Recreation office for more
information.
Altimore recognized Paula Jurado for her dedication and service on the Parks Commission. Jurado has decided to step down from the Commission after seven years of service. Altimore thanked her for her time on the commission.
10) Adjourn: Motioned by Jurado, seconded by Steidemann to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed 8–0. Meeting adjourned at 8:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Murphy
Director of Public Services