HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Recreation and Parks Committee - 09/15/2014RECREATION LEISURE ARTS COMMITTEE
SEPTEMBER 15, 2014
Members Present: Glenn Sproul, Liz Robitaille, Edie Robenstein, Linda Janes, Laura DeMaroney,
Also Present: Todd Goodwin, Recreation Director, Paul Conner, Director of Planning and Zoning
1. Glenn called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m.
2. (a) Jennifer, consultants, Linda, Glenn, Ilona Blanchard, attended last Wednesday, September 10,
meeting to discuss the planning of City Center, specifically Market Street and Garden Way. The
consultants recognized our concern for the need of green space.
(b) Edie asked if meetings have been held of the Underwood Property Task Force. Interviews for the
Task Force are scheduled for tonight.
3. No public attended to add or comment on the agenda.
4. Minutes of the July 21, 2014 meeting were approved as written.
5. We delayed the election of officers until the October meeting because there will be new members.
Glenn is asking for reappointment, Laura isn’t returning, and Susan Ducharme’s term still has one year.
Interviews are being done this evening.
6. The next meeting is rescheduled to October 6.
7. We reviewed Todd’s Director’s Report. He explained that he’s in the process of hiring a full time
Program Coordinator to replace the two part-time people. He noted that the Autumn Fest is this
Saturday, September 20th 4-7 p.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Park. New park signs are in place at all parks,
except Farrell. Todd’s investigating a possible playground structure for either Veteran’s Park or Jaycee
Park. The committee restructuring, originally proposed by Kevin Dorn, is on hold, per City Council.
Todd expressed his wish that all Recreation-Associated Committees meet as one committee after all
new members are appointed.
Paul Conner, Director of Planning and Zoning, was asked to speak at our meeting to explain Impact Fees.
This follows the Mike Smith Report of the City Center Public Building. The Impact Fee Ordinance requires
each new development to pay its fair share of additional capital needs of the city. The cost is divided per
household or business. Impact Fees are used for roads, parks, recreation paths and sidewalks, fire
equipment and the Police station.
Recreation impact fees, are based on a 7 ½ acre park per 1000 households. Businesses only pay impact
fees for roads, fire equipment and the Police Station. Households pay for these, plus the Recreation
components (Parks, Recreation paths and sidewalks). The ordinance needs to be updated, with the
suggestion that capital improvement plans be decided each year and tied to the Impact Fee. This should
help to avoid collecting fees that don’t meet the costs of projects. It’s recognized that 3 unknowns exist
when impact fees are used to complete a project. 1) more or less money collected 2) more or less new
development, and 3) possible other funding (i.e. grants).
In terms of City Center, the Dumont Park already falls under an existing ordinance for funding. The rest
needs to be determined. When asked for what residents currently pay, Paul mentioned that currently
residents pay 1cent/$100 of assessed value for the purchase of conservation areas, purchasing active
recreation areas, and up to 5% of the maintenance of conservation areas.
Todd explained Department items in the current Capital budget are 1) Underwood Property 2) Signage
and Way-Finding at Wheeler and Red Rocks 3) South Village soccer field, and 4) Maintenance of
Recreation Facilities. We’ll discuss these at a later meeting.
8. The Recreation & Leisure Arts Committee adjourned at 6:05 p.m. and continued as a joint meeting
with the Red Rocks Park Committee and Red Rocks Park Management Team.
Respectfully submitted
Laura DeMaroney