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HomeMy Public PortalAboutP&RAC Minutes 1993 10/29PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 29, 1993 L ROLL CALL AND CALL TO ORDER Chair Grote called the meeting to order at 4:30pm. Committee members Killen, Coyle, and Martens answered the roll call. Chair declared a quorum present. Also attending was Director Baker, and possible park board members Ron White, Jim Ware, and Ralph Hass. H. MINUTES - OCTOBER 15,1993 After a brief review Killen moved to accept the October 15, 1993 minutes as written, seconded by Coyle and the motion carried. In INTERVIEWS OF POSSIBLE PARK BOARD MEMBERS. 1. Ron White. Chair Grote and the committee thanked Mr. White for his interest in the park board. Chair Grote asked Mr. White Why he would like to be part of the park board. Mr. White informed the committee that he believes he can contribute to the board due to having been involved with sports programs in Santa Fernandes, Long Beach, and McCall as well as being a regular user of city parks for public events and private use. Mr. White felt he knows what kids require and can make the right decisions as to park uses and requirements. Chair asked Mr. White if there are any personal goals he would like to see accomplished. Mr. White informed the committee of the following goals; * Bike path completion. * Expansion of the ball fields, specifically a larger ball field for older kids. * Expansion of the hard ball program through high school graduation. * A larger soccer facility and expansion of the program through high school graduation. * The building of a teen center. In addition to his person goals, Mr. White informed the committee that he is not in favor of selling Fairway Park. Further, Mr. White believes the city will be seeing expanded and increasing use of Mill Park and Legacy park for large functions and the use should be managed properly. Coyle asked Mr. White if he has been involved with school districts in other places. Mr. White informed the committee that he was involved with the school district in Long Beach which worked hand and globe with the city. Chair asked Mr. White if he has ever served on la public board before. Mr. White informed committee that he sat on the board of directors for little league and youth football programs, but had never been in involved with park administration. Chair asked Mr. White how he would go about increasing funding for facilities and programs. Mr. White believes there is a lot of public and private grant opportunities for ball fields and bike paths out there. In fact, Mr. White informed the committee that his sister Leslie Brown came very close to getting $50,000 to build a bigger ball fields from Mr. Simplot and avenues like this should be fully explored. Mr. White went on to say that he just wants to see more facilities for the youth of McCall to stem the rising tide of violence. Chair and committee thanked Mr. White for his interest and let him know they would be making a recommendation to the Mayor at their next meeting and will keep him informed. 2. Ralph Hass Chair and committee welcomed Mr. Hass and thanked him for his interest in the park board. Chair asked Mr. Hass why he would like to be on the committee, if he has any personal goals he would like to see accomplished and if he has any general observations concerning parks and recreation in McCa11. Mr. Hass told the committee that he sees parks and recreation as a big asset and that planning for growth is a must for parks and recreation facilities and programs. Mr. Hass told the committee that he played adult softball in Santa Barbara which has dozens of fields, but would still end up on junior high school fields that were in poor shape. Mr. Hass believes sports contribute to good growth and development of working together skills. He believes the Recreation Program should put youth programs ahead of adult programs, but McCall needs proper facilities to do so. He believes bike paths are good for the community, but doesn't know how far they will go. He feels the Recreation Department doesn't have enough man power. Chair asked Mr. Hass if he has ever worked as a volunteer for a recreation department. Mr. Hass informed the committee that he has never been the person with the phone ringing off the hook, but has coached youth sports teams. Chair asked Mr. Hass what his roll is at the City's Golf Course. Mr. Hass explained he worked in the restaurant, but now works for Si Bueno restaurant as a bartender. Chair asked Mr. Hass how familiar he is with McCa11's park system. Mr. Hass explained he is familiar with Ponderosa State Park, but knows that is a different system. Mr. Hass stated that he has had a few picnics in parks, but is not that familiar with all the parks in McCall. Coyle explained that most of the park board meeting are in the evenings and asked Mr. Hass if he would be able to make it to the meetings or if his career would not allow it. Mr. Hass explained that as long as he knew well in advance of meeting dates, there would be no problem attending. Martens asked Mr. Hass if he has any ideas for the Riverfront Park area. Mr. Hass asked how big the area is. Chair told him it was big, but they would not know how big, until the city completes its aerial photos and develop them into topos sometime in the near future. Mr. Hass said he believes the city should go all out including as much as possible, dog running areas, tennis courts, baseball fields, soccer fields, and outdoor basketball courts, all lighted, maybe even a gym if room is available. Chair asked how he would generate funds for parks and recreation facilities and programs. Mr. Hass said he feels it is hard to charge kids, but adult teams should be charged a high fee. Advertising fees for the home run fences could also generate added income. In addition, there are some high rollers in McCall that should be approached. 3. Jim Ware. Killen introduced Mr. Ware and asked him to inform the committee of his back ground in recreation. Mr. Ware informed the committee that he has a degree in physical education and recreation and has been involved with camps in Oregon and Idaho for the past 10 years, currently he is with the Conservative Baptists Day Star Camp. Mr. Ware informed committee that at one time he oversaw all the camps in the Northwest and was involved with the hiring and management of 65 volunteer college kids and adults. Now he just runs Day Star Camp. In addition, he has been involved with using ball fields and playing softball in Tacoma and other areas as well as McCall. Chair asked Mr. Ware what he though the major issues facing parks and recreation in McCa11 are. Mr. Ware told the committee that he feels the riverfront park area and the completion of bike paths are two major projects McCall needs to complete. With what McCall has to offer, there is a lot to do here and these things that are natural to the area like skiing and biking need to be expanded on. Chair asked Mr. Ware if he had any experience dealing with city government or volunteer committees. Mr. Ware informed committee that he had dealt with the B.L.M. and the Forest Service through his career, but has never dealt with city government or volunteer boards and committees. Chair informed Mr. Ware that the park board goes way beyond park inspection, it's really at tool to gain citizen input as to parks and recreation, basically the committee does a lot of grunt work trying to provide the McCall citizens, what they want. Killen informed Mr. Ware that the McCall parks board is the only committee with a comprehensive plan and that the committee will be adopting a master plan for the next five years in the near future. Grote said that the committee is now managing the baseball program explosion and found that there are a lot of people in the community with deep thoughts. Coyle said that it is one of the park boards goals to make the council see the Recreation Program as a very important and integral park of the city, people live in McCall because of the recreational opportunities. Mr. Ware asked the committee if quality control and input management is the committees basic job. Killen said she believes the park board has gained a lot of accreditation with the council over the last few years and has been mostly park oriented, but now with the completion of Legacy Park and the Master Plan, the board will be doing lots more with recreation issues. Mr. Ware said that through his camp management experience he has spent a lot of time just dealing with people giving input, every one has an opinion. Committee discussed with Mr. Ware other responsibilities of the committee including budgeting, park reservations, meeting times, and the city's relations with Ponderosa State Park, the Little Ski Hill and the School District. In addition, committee discussed the fact that since funding for more professional personnel is lacking the key to increasing programs and improving programs will lie with the use of volunteers. Finally the committee discussed the creation of two park board sub committees, one concentrating on park funding and the other dealing with the Recreation Program. Committee thanked Mr. Ware for his time and interest in serving on the park board. After Mr. Ware left Chair with consent of committee asked staff to place nominations on the November agenda. Chair informed committee she is looking for someone with a good mind. IV. OTHER BUSINESS. 1. Parks and Recreation Sub Committees Committee discussed the creation of two sub committees suggested in the Master Plan one dealing with Parks Fund Raisers and one dealing with Recreation Programs. Chair with consent of committee asked staff to place sub committees on the November agenda. V. NEXT MEETING Next Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting set for November 22, 1993 - 7:OOpm in the Council Chamber.