PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING

MINUTES

May 20, 2008

Commission Present:  Ewing, Allen, Nolfi, Hartnett and Hanson

Staff Present:  Gross, Leugers, Whalen, Young and Putzier

The meeting was convened at 5:09pm by Commission Chair Ewing.

I.  Approval of Agenda

Motion to approve the agenda with the following changes; add item #VD. Request for Farmer's Market to Operate at Ethan Allen Park and renumber item #VIII.  Executive Session to Discuss Personnel Matters to item #IIA. Hanson/Hartnett.  Motion carried.

II.  Approval of Minutes

Motion to approve the April 15, 2008 Commission meeting minutes.  Nolfi/Hanson.  Motion carried.

VIII. renumbered as IIA.  Executive Session to Discuss Personnel Matters

Motion to go into executive session at 5:10pm to discuss personnel matters.  Allen/Hartnett.  Motion carried.

Motion to go out of executive session at 6:07pm.  Hartnett/Allen.  Motion carried.

Leugers introduced two interns that will be working in the Recreation Division this summer, Wendy from UVM and Chelsea from Colby Sawyer and they explained briefly to the Commission what they would be working on this summer and what there major is in school.

IIIA.  Update on Armory Redevelopment

Ewing explained that Peter Welch would be taking a tour of the Armory on Friday as well as the City Council, Mayor and the Chief Administrative Officer.  The hope is to try and get additional interest in providing funding for the project.  Gross added that the request for a conditional use permit and site plan are also in progress and Whalen showed the Commission the proposed plans for renovations and for parking.  The permits should be issued in June with construction starting in July and operations could start in November.

Ewing added that after the plans had been finalized that Mr. Miller would review and do an estimate on the cost of the project.

IIIB.  Update on Moran Plant Redevelopment

Gross explained that the Sailing Center had moved out of the building for the season and that no Act 250 permit from the State would be needed.  Friday is the deadline for the RFQ's from architects, 8 proposals had been received and the hope is to narrow down to two proposals within the next couple of weeks.

Nolfi asked if a local Act 250 permit would be required and Gross said that the project would be subject to the City's major impact review process.

IV.  Public Forum:  5:30PM Time Certain

Nobody came forward to speak from the public.

IIIC.  Report from Commissioners on Feedback Regarding Dedicated Tax for Parks

Allen explained that at the last meeting the Commission had decided to do some outreach work with the City Council to seek support of the concept of a dedicated tax for Parks and said that he had received positive feedback from Councilors Keogh, Adrian and Shannon. 

Hanson said that Karen Paul was in favor of the proposal and suggested talking to the Parks Arts and Culture Committee and that she had not gotten in touch with Andy Montroll yet.

Ewing suggested the proposal be presented to the Parks Arts and Culture Committee.

Hanson said that she supports the tax but wants to have the City Administration on board to make sure that other monies don't get cut from the budget.  Gross and Hanson then discussed the delegation of Capital funding and ultimately Gross suggested having this conversation Thursday at the Budget Hearing with the Board of Finance.

Allen said that he would like to be able to go to the Mayor and City Council and say that the Commission is fully supporting this proposal.

Nolfi said that she is on board and agrees with concept and will talk with Tim Ashe for support and it was also noted that David Hartnett would be in charge of contacting Councilor Decelles for input.

Allen said that he would talk with the Mayor and asked staff to get a presentation together for him.

IIID.  Review of FY08 Budget Report

Gross explained that the Department was currently 83% of the way through the fiscal 2008 budget year and had received  85% of revenues and had used 83% of expenses, that overall the budget was doing very well.  He stated that Recreation was the only division was having significant problems.

VA.  Proposal for Battery Park Band shell usage Fee

Motion to approve the fee of $175 for a full day and $125 for a half day to rent the Battery Park Band shell.  Hanson/Allen.  Motion carried.

VB.  Discussion of Proposed Ordinance Change Related to Skateboarding in Battery Park

Whalen explained that there had been some concern that when the project at Battery Extension is completed there will likely be problems with skateboarders being attracted to the new site and thus suggested that Battery Park be added to the list of areas where  skateboarding is prohibited.

Hanson questioned the rationale of prohibiting skateboarding at the Battery Park extension when it is not yet a problem.

Whalen explained the design features and said it has been a concern and they could take the wait and see attitude but hoped to alleviate the problem from the start and Gross added that a skateboard shop is located at the top of Battery Street and it is very likely that skateboarding will happen in this park.

Motion to approve the addition of Battery Park to the Ordinance prohibiting skateboarding.  Allen.  Motion failed due to the lack of a second.

VC.  Consideration of Request for Commercial Sailing Operation

Whalen explained that we have a proposal from Zebulon Sailing to have a commercial sailing operation at a mooring near Perkins Pier.  Whalen indicated this was a low impact business that he felt we should try for one year.

Allen asked what the difference in the rate would be and Whalen said it was a 20% increase.

Motion to grant commercial use of a mooring at Perkins Pier for Zebulon Sailing  to operate sailing cruises.  Hanson/Nolfi.  Motion carried.

VD.  Request for Renewal of Farmer's Market Operation at Ethan Allen Park

Motion to approve the request to operate the Ethan Allen Park Farmer's Market from June 26 through October 30, 2008 for the fee of $250.  Nolfi/Hanson.  Motion carried.

VI.  Director's Item

Gross gave an update to the Commission; received an inquiry to pursue a disc golf course at Leddy, had a meeting with the Police Department regarding the Police and Beach Patrol coverage, will be conducting an off leash dog enforcement at Oakledge Park this weekend to remind owners of the leash law, Commission should visit the newly cleared vista area at Battery Park prior to the next Commission meeting, the Moonlight Lady is looking at a mooring at Malletts Bay but would still use the Spirit of Ethan Allen dock to load and unload, the Boathouse is open for the season and Splash will open tomorrow, the Calahan baseball project should be completed in the next two weeks and the Battery extension project should be done in June,  flower planting should be complete by the end of the week, 10 new moorings have been added to the system, Perkins Pier new dock system is all in, the water level has been down and a lot of driftwood needs to be removed, the Arena is in shutdown mode and had a great end of the year ice show.

Leugers added that Kids Day went very well and commended Martha Gile for getting the Parade together and thanked the Commissioners for collecting the admissions and suggested charging an additional $1 in the future.  She also stated that the Play mobile had its grand debut at Kids Day to show all of the great activities that will be offered this summer in Burlington neighborhoods.

VII.  Commissioners' Items

Ewing said that he had attended the Myrtle Street meeting to purchase open space and said that he felt the meeting was not very productive, it was discovered that the owner of the house has the first option to buy the land, then it was said that the land could not be sub-divided, Bushor decided to table the matter.

Allen read a few articles of interest to the Commission; one was from a South Burlington resident who wanted a dog park in South Burlington so they didn't have to drive so far, the citizens in San Francisco suggested raising the Parks and Recreation fees to balance its budget and the town of Plattsburg, New York banned all use of tobacco in parks and beaches.

Gross asked the Commission if they would like to discuss the summer schedule and they said they would take it up at the June meeting.

IX.  Adjournment

Motion to adjourn at 7:09 p.m.  Hanson/Nolfi.  Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Joanne M. Putzier

Administrative Assistant