HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 10/15/1998 - Parks and Recreation Committee � PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
MINUTES
October 15, 1998
Parks Committee Members : Chairman Alderman Baird, Alderman Glab
Others Present : Mayor Cuda, City Administrator Lobaito, City
Clerk Althoff, Director of Parks and Recreation Merkel, Athletic
Supervisor Mike Pearson
Parks and Recreation Chairman Alderman Baird called the meeting
to order at 7 : 05 p.m.
MCHENRY MARLINS SWIM TEAM REQUEST
Parks and Recreation Director Merkel informed the committee the
Marlins Swim team via a letter from Beth Eschner are requesting
the City pay a prorata share of equipment costs incurred by the
Marlins this year. A laptop computer, software and printer were
purchased for a total of $3081 . 00 . In years past the City has
contributed a third of the cost for these types of swim team
� expenditures . The Marlins parent organization and McHenry High
School District #156 have each contributed a third of the cost
also. Some discussion followed as to the timing of this request .
In past years, however, the parent organization has requested
funding assistance prior to incurring the expenditure allowing
city staff the opportunity to discuss these expenditures with the
finance c�mmittee during budget discussions . Staff noted monies
were not budgeted this fiscal year for this expenditure .
Director Merkel noting the Marlins parent organization has
recently installed all new officers opined the disregard for
prior approval was, in all likelihood, an oversight or
misunderstanding. A lengthy discussion ensued.
Motion by Baird, seconded by Glab to recommend to full council
the non-payment this fiscal year of the City of McHenry' s prorata
share of computer equipment and software purchased by the McHenry
Marlins Swim Team in the amount of $1027 . 00 and to direct the
McHenry Marlins Swim Team to request this expenditure be included
in the City of McHenry' s 1999-2000 budget for payment .
Voting Aye : Baird, Glab
Voting Nay: None
Absent : Murgatroyd
Motion carried.
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Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes
� October 15, 1998
Page Two
MCHENRY PIGTAIL LEAGUE RE4UEST
Director Merkel reported the Parks and Recreation Department was
in receipt of a letter from McHenry Pigtail League President
Leesa Nuff expressing the League' s interest in contributing to an
additional softball field for the league' s use . Ms . Nuff noted
the league had been able to accumulate excess funds this past
season an3 would like to donate these funds toward the additional
field. The League also offered to provide labor, from area
businesses, to offset the remaining cost . Some discussion
followed �ith staff noting preliminary cost estimates for field
lighting was approximately $25-$30, 000 . Cost estimates for
fencing were not yet provided.
City Administrator Lobaito stated additional participation in the
league has further aggravated field scheduling problems .
Preliminary discussions with pigtail league representatives
regarding readjustment of the softball season' s dates met with
strong resistance. Some discussion followed regarding the
potential for additional parks maintenance help. It was the
consensus of the committee to reconsider the McHenry Pigtail
League' s offer during budget discussions when further cost
�. analysis for lights, field construction and maintenance will be
provided.
RECREATION CENTER DISCUSSION
Director Merkel distributed the statistical data compiled by
staff on non-resident/resident/school district registrations for
all City of McHenry parks and recreation programs . The expense
portion of the analysis contained costs only for supplies,
materials, salaries, rental fees, etc . Janitorial services were
not included.
A lengthy discussion followed regarding the proposed City of
McHenry Recreation Center Basic Facility Priority I
building inclusions . Consulting architectural firm, Sente &
Rubel provided a Basic Facility List of suggested inclusions
along with square footage cost projections .
General discussion focused on the desirability of charging non-
resident fees to all residents outside the City of McHenry' s
corporate limits, even those residents within the McHenry school
district boundaries . Alderman Glab recommended the committee
prioritize the recreational facility space needs according to
current recreational program usage. The committee noted the need
to provide services to different age groups including pre-school,
,� teenagers and seniors . Providing an area for babysitting
services was also considered. Director Merkel noted all pre-
Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes
� October 15, 1998
Page Three
school cl�sses might be centralized at the Lakeland Park
Community Center building.
It was the consensus of the committee to include the following
amenities :
-Administrative Offices
-Gymnasium with 3 Cross Courts
-Suspended Track
-Fitness Center
-Locker Rooms including family changing rooms
-Community Room or large multipurpose room with dividers
including kitchen facilities
-2 Dance/Aerobic Rooms
-2 Arts and Crafts Rooms
-3 Pre-School rooms that could also be used as Classrooms
-Equipment Storage Rooms
-Public Washrooms
-Janitor/Maintenance area
-2 Racquetball Courts
-Stairs
-Elevators
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Further discussion occurred regarding a gymnastics program.
Staff noted these programs could take place in the multipurpose
room. Director Merkel also noted if a gymnastics program became
successful, a room, specified for only this use, might be
required due to the large equipment required for this program.
Further discussion followed regarding the feasibility of
designated the Lakeland Park Community Center for City of McHenry
Senior Citizen use and moving the pre-school programs to the
proposed new facility.
It was determined a specified room for only teen usage was not
desirable. Video and arcade game features can be included in a
centralized common area.
Chairman Alderman Baird suggested the committee consider an
outside roller blade/skateboard park. After a lengthy discussion
staff was directed to investigate the inclusion of this feature
more thoroughly.
It was the consensus of the committee to prepare and plan for a
Phase II Aquatic facility with an indoor and outdoor pool . This
amenity might be included as part of the fitness center. The
location of this proposed recreational facility will be addressed
� at the next Parks and Recreation Committee meeting. Staff was
Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting
Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes
� October 1�, 1998
Page Four
directed �=o present two or three site recommendations for
committee consideration providing the positive and negative
considerat=ions for each site.
Some discussion followed regarding the recreational center' s
competition. The Committee noted a recreational facility of this
nature will provide services for all ages . The facility' s use
must be affordable however and maintained impeccably. The
committee noted the facility would not, in all likelihood make
money, however operational costs should be recovered through
services provided. Other city funds should not significantly
subsidize the operation of a recreational facility, particularly
after the first few start-up years .
Staff was directed to present preliminary operational cost
figures iricluding janitorial and maintenance services . Staff
noted comparable operational costs of other area recreational
facilities would be difficult to obtain as these specific items
are usually not broken out from other municipal expenses .
Further discussion included the possibility of inerchandising via
private entities, i .e . snack shops, clothing, etc . Staff noted
�. the installation of vending machines would be more cost effective
altho the addition of food services might be desirable with
aquatic facilities .
Architectural consulting firm Sente and Rubel have expressed
their wish to have a site location determined before proceeding
with their orientation plans and facility layout design. Sente
and Rubel have also offered to review the potential site
locations and provide an analysis for each site.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Director Merkel reported cost estimates were being prepared to
return the property maintenance program to the Parks Department .
He noted the greatest expense will be the equipment .
Director Merkel also noted the 1998-99 budget reflects
expenditures for turf management, playground improvements and
forestry items . All these items will be expensed in the Spring
of 1999 . Staff is also drafting the RFP for architectural
services to expand the maintenance building at Petersen Park and
for Petersen Park Beach front improvements .
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Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes
� October 15, 1998
Page Five
Motion by Glab, seconded by Baird to adjourn the meeting at 9 : 25
p.m.
Voting Aye : Baird, Glab
Voting Nay: None
Absent : Murgatroyd
Motion carried.
The meeting was ad�ed at 9 :25 p.m.
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Wi liam <�ird, Chairman
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