City of Lawrence

Parks & Recreation Advisory Board                            

October 11th, 2005

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Chair Sharon Spratt, Vice Chair, Bill Penny, Chris Schumm and Kelly Barth

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Tom Bracciano

 

STAFF PRESENT:

Fred DeVictor, Mark Hecker, Ernie Shaw, Roger Steinbrock and intern Ross Schraeder

GUESTS

RoxAnne Miller, Kansas Land Trust

 

         

Meeting called to order by Chair Spratt.  Ross Schraeder, recreation intern was introduced.  He is a KU student and has worked part time for Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department for about three years.

 

          Minutes of the September 13th meeting were approved on a motion by Barth, 2nd by Schumm.  Barth asked about scorecards for the disc golf course in Centennial Park.  Staff indicated scorecards should be in the rack at the start of the course and at Bucky’s Drive-In, which is next to the park.

 

          DeVictor reported the Sesquicentennial Commission will meet with us and the City Manager staff to discuss the next steps in this project.  Over $200,000 should be given to the City later this fall from the fund raising efforts.

 

          DeVictor reported the City Commission voted 4-1 to support the preliminary plat from the Mary’s Lake LLC developers for the site west of Mary’s Lake.  He also indicated the Planning Commission approved Chapter 9 update on parks and recreation for the Horizon 2020 plan.  There was an amendment approved to add “future or existing neighborhoods that are highly walkable residential situations would be considered as candidates for mini-parks.”  The City Commission will consider this updated chapter on October 18th.

 

          RoxAnne Miller, Executive Director of the Kansas Land Trust and Chair Person of the ECO2 committee was introduced.  She presented a proposal from the Lawrence/Douglas County Economic Development Board regarding industrial parks and future open space projects in Lawrence and Douglas County.  Of particular interest to the Board was the “Two Rivers Trail”, since the City has had the Burroughs Creek Rail Trail project on their capital improvement list for some time.  DeVictor indicated he was in the process of putting together a $1.3-$1.5 million application for a TE grant from Hobbs Park north along the BNSF rail corridor to connect to the Haskell Rail Trail and on to Prairie Park.

 

          Board member inquired about funding ideas for the ECO2 projects and urged different funding than the one cent sales tax they were utilizing to meet current parks and recreation needs.  Miller hoped for a unified vision and staff indicated there could be cooperative efforts where the Parks and Recreation comprehensive plan fit with this proposal.  Chair Spratt thanked RoxAnne Miller for her presentation.

 

          Hecker reported some adjustments in park districts and that Kerry Golden, Golf Course Superintendent, will take on more responsibilities as park district supervisor of district #1, where playing fields are one of the main responsibilities.  He will replace Gary Hines, who resigned to take another position in Iowa.  This shift may require some boundary adjustments to the three park districts.

 

          Shaw gave a revenue report that predicted we would exceed our budget revenue projections of $1,363,310 for the year.  His staff has offered many new programs and the aquatics division has had a good year.

 

          Steinbrock reported that a committee is working on events to celebrate our 60th year of organized recreation in 2006 and he was working on the winter-spring program brochure.

 

          Meeting adjourned at 1:30P.M.