HomeMy Public PortalAboutParks Dept. Rpt. April 2019Memo /
To: City Council
From: Kurt Wolf, Parks and Recreation Director
CC: Anette Spickard, City Manager
Date: 4/30/2019
Re: Monthly Department Report –April 2019
Spring Rec Programs & Registrations:
Elementary Volleyball was a success, with 32 youth participants, 4 parent coaches and 3 high school assistants. Surveys collected at the end of the short season showed parents and kids
really enjoy the program and wish it was a longer season with smaller teams.
The Recreation Supervisor, Tara Woods, had a successful time with the Cooking with Toddlers program. With only 4 participants and parents, surveys showed parents loved the variety of
recipes, easy and yummy food options, but wished more people would have signed up. Recipes included veggie spring rolls, fruit parfaits, Bento boxes, fresh squeezed juices and smoothies.
Staff will re-assess and determine if better marketing will promote higher enrollment.
The indoor soccer community has been requesting gym space for play. Staff was able to secure the gym for Friday afternoon’s from 5:30-7:30pm for 4-weeks; however, no one showed up the
first 2 Fridays. Because the gym reservation is for adult use, the school district charges a fee. The recreation department did offer indoor soccer earlier in the winter, which was
well attended. The spring indoor soccer program ended up costing the department over $300 in reservation fees. Program cost will be offset with other revenue generating programs.
The summer guide is now public. Program registrations open Wednesday, May 1st. The guide advertises 11 youth programs, 4 adult programs and a variety of community special events and
camps.
Similar to the plant night the department hosted last spring, a spring floral bouquet class is scheduled for May 8th. Staff has partnered with a local florist and South Fork Floral to
get locally sourced flowers for the event. Apothospa will also be present to share sample items to include for a well-rounded gift for Mother’s Day or someone special.
Youth Baseball and Softball registrations have been going strong since mid-April. There is a cap on teams this year, and a waitlist will start if a team fills up. If there are enough
kids on the waitlist by May 5th, staff will add another team to the schedule. This year includes two girls whose parents have registered them
for baseball teams. Staff has reached out to both Boise Parks and Recreation and Nampa Parks and Recreation, who have allowed girls to play on boy’s baseball teams. Parents have knowingly
signed their children up for the teams as well as signed participation waivers. New Meadows and Cascade have had trouble filling their teams in the past with all girls or all boys and
have allowed a mix of kids playing on baseball teams. Our program this summer will be the same.
Trainings:
The 2019 Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation Annual Conference was well attended with representation from communities across the state. Department staff came away with great information
and have teamed up with Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) on a state-wide survey and study on recreation to aid in updating the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation
Plan.
Special Events:
The showing of the film “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants- Preserving Public Lands in Montana” on Wednesday, April 24th at the McCall Community Center was well attended, and the panel
discussion was well received. The panel consisted of representatives from the Idaho Land Trust, Payette Land Trust and West Central Mountains Economic Development Council.
The Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) has planned to present their Recycling Report during the Library’s Doing Democracy event on April 30th. EAC chair Julie Thrower and members
of the committee will present their report at the meeting and hold discussions with the group. The event begins at 6:30pm.
The 3rd Annual Arbor Day event with Franz Witte, on Saturday, April 27th was once again well attended despite cooler temperatures and high winds. The event ran from 12:00-3:00pm and
both staff and Franz Witte where pleased once again and look forward to the same format next year.
Parks Overview and Staffing:
Both Parks and Recreation are working hard to secure summer seasonal help and have already begun the recruiting process. We have brought on four returning seasonal employees and have
commitments from two new employees that are hoping to start during the first full week in May.
Spring cleanups are well under way and staff has been assessing damages caused by snow. There is significant tree work and cleanup due to the snow from this last winter and has had a
significant impact on the maintenance schedule as it relates to spring cleanups.
New implements purchased through the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) process have significantly reduced the amount of man hours associated with spring cleanups and raking. The new
Landscape Truck is scheduled to be delivered in May.
Snow Damage Concerns: Tables and monument at Centennial Plaza, fence at Gold Glove Park, trees and shrubs in general, Bear Basin Pathway washouts, and signage in general are areas that
have been identified in need of repair.
Waterways Committee – Valley County Waterways Ordinance Update:
Parks & Recreation Director Kurt Wolf prepared a summarization of the City Council’s discussion on the waterways ordinance and read during the County Commissioners public hearing in
McCall on April
23rd. The hearing was well attended by the community and the Commissioners heard many comments regarding the proposed ordinance. Eddie Heider, Parks Superintendent will fill in for the
Director during the County Waterways Committee meeting in May.
Capital Projects & Maintenance:
Wooley Boardwalk: The project remains on schedule and the contractor has begun framing. Beams and joists are roughly 60% complete and the contractor is still pushing to complete the
contract portion of the project by the end of May.
Riverfront Park Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) 319 Work: The efforts to stabilize and reduce bank erosion at Riverfront Park are proving very successful. The bank barbs that
were installed last winter are preforming as designed. Staff is currently working with the contractor on a plan to re-contour the upper bank and re-vegetate this spring. Additional
DEQ funds may be available to help with re-vegetation and other stream bank locations downstream.
Tree Planting Project at Riverfront Park: The remainder of the trees from the Rotary tree planting project arrived on April 30th and staff should have everything planted during the first
full week in May. A community service event in collaboration with the Rotary Club will be schedule sometime in May or early June to put the finishing touches on the planting project
(composting, tree wells, and staking).
Gold Glove Park Improvements: The contractor is scheduled to complete the ADA improvements around the restroom at Gold Glove Park during the first week of May. This work is tied to a
CIP project that was cut short due to weather last fall/early winter.