City of Lawrence

Parks & Recreation Advisory Board                            

September 13th, 2005

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Chair Sharon Spratt, Tom Bracciano, Chris Schumm and Kelly Barth

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Vice Chair, Bill Penny

 

STAFF PRESENT:

Fred DeVictor, Mark Hecker, Roger Steinbrock and marketing intern Meredith Hauck

 

          Meeting at 947 New Hampshire Street was called to order by Chair Spratt.  Meredith Hauck, marketing intern, was introduced.  She is a KU senior marketing major and working with Roger Steinbrock part-time.

 

          Minutes of the June 14th meeting were approved on a motion by Bracciano, 2nd by Barth.  A tour of several park sites was held July 12th.  No meeting in August.

 

          DeVictor reported the Sesquicentennial Commission was giving a report to the Lawrence City Commission tonight and they have raised about $200,000 toward Sesquicentennial Point.

 

          Staff discussed the property located west of Mary’s Lake and Prairie Park.  The planning commission recommended denial of a preliminary plat due to length of a street ending into a cul-de-sac.  The City Commission previously had approved purchasing six of fifteen acres to preserve a heavily wooded area as a buffer zone adjacent to the lake, on which a park trail is located.  The owners, Mary’s Lake Properties, LLC requested a “de novo” hearing before the City Commission to consider this preliminary plat and that will be heard tonight.  Staff did not know how the City Commission would react to the request since the Planning Commission denied the plat.

 

          DeVictor reported on the progress of Chapter 9, Parks and Recreation Chapter in Horizon 2020.  The Planning Commission suggested some changes and the committee has adjusted accordingly.  The revision will be sent to Board members and this item will be back on the Planning Commission agenda for September 28th.

 

          DeVictor reviewed the recreation division revenue report through August.  The hot summer months has brought more swimmers and revenue to pools.  Program participation is up and staff predicts exceeding revenue goals of $1,363,310 for the year.

 

          Hecker reviewed a variety of projects including indoor pool annual maintenance work, moving gymnastics equipment to East Lawrence Recreation Center, Holcom Park Recreation Center exterior work and continuing to maintain Memorial Park Cemetery.  He indicated the pilot pesticide free project at Watson Park was going well, with quite a few volunteers assisting.

 

          Staff reported completion of a good summer with many new programs and fall enrollment was progressing well.  The recent Pooch Plunge had almost 300 dogs at the outdoor pool.

 

          Steinbrock indicated he was working on the winter program brochures and handed out enrollment comparison report with charts comparing the last three years, 37% of fall enrollment so far was completed on line.

 

          Staff told the Board that the annual Kansas Recreation and Park Association golf tournament would be held at Eagle Bend on September 16th and they expect about 120 golfers.

 

          Meeting adjourned at 1:10P.M.  Next meeting October 11th.