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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks Authority June 23, 2025 PAKKS ECKEIN 1 N Parks Authority Board Meeting 06.23.2025 This meeting took place on Monday,June 23rd at 5 PM at the Jeffersonville City Hall in the Mayors Conference Room on the 3`d floor. Board Members present were: Elizabeth Carter,Johanna Anderson, Gus Luckert, Debbie Pait, Pamela Clark, Carmen Croudep, and City Attorney Les Merkley. Parks Staff Present: Paul Northam,Amber Ridings, Ricky Romans, Daniel Fluhr, Derrick Wiest, Amber Powell via Zoom, Olivia Mann, Sara Nord, and Tara Young via Zoom. Meeting was called to order at 5:00 PM EST. APPROVAL OF AGENDA- Member Clark made a MOTION to approve the agenda and Member Pait seconded.The motion passed 6-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Member Croudep made a MOTION to approve the meeting minutes for April 28, 2025.This was seconded by Member Luckert. The motion passed 6-0. OLD BUSINESS: NONE NEW BUSINESS: On the agenda was the contract for a Steamboat Night concert. Riverstage and Special Events Manager, Tara Young spoke briefly on the band, Bungalow Collect, and noted they are a disco r&b group with a large social media following. Young stated this was one of four contracts to come for this event in October. Member Pait made a MOTION to approve this contract, and Member Croudep seconded. The motion passed 6-0. MANAGER'S REPORT: Board members were given a sheet of updates from each manager throughout the department that tells what programs they are currently putting on,what's coming up, and any details about their venue they would like to update the board on if applicable.This month they had both reports from the month of May and June.The floor was open for questions regarding this run down report. Director Paul Northam noted that in Mays report, Greenspace Manager Derrick Wiest had noted that we had acquired Cassi properties as part of our mowing schedule, but that this acquisition had since been cancelled as they've sold the property so this will not be added to our teams schedule. No questions were posed at this time. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: Director Northam started by mentioning the completion of an Eagle Scout project done at Chapel Lake, wherein they built and put in a bridge that connects one side of our Disc Golf course to the other. Northam noted that the Scouts and all involved did a great job and encouraged members to stop by and check out their craftsmanship. Transcribed by Hillary Pacheco on 06.23.25 PAKKS KEC EAT N Parks Authority Board Meeting 06.23.2025 Secondly, Northam noted that we've set a meeting with Security Pros to audit all of our cameras and door access program for our review. Once we have that information we will be going through and seeing where and if we can make cuts to save funding in order to help with budget cuts that will be in full affect starting next year. As a department we're looking for opportunities to save and make cuts where needed. Next, Director Northam provided an update on Wathan Park as construction has begun there with the help of redevelopment funds. He noted that there is a tree being taken down there and several others being trimmed back around the park and pavilion areas. The pavilion in that area will be remodeled or reworked with a new roof,and then the fireplace and shelter would be next,followed by the playground and flooring. Member Luckert asked what the timetable was for the project. Northam answered that he was hopeful for late fall around October or November. Member Luckert asked if the tree being trimmed was going to stay like that. Northam replied no,that it would come down completely. Member Luckert asked what we were charged for that. Northam answered about$7,000. He noted that once we've put some money into the building out there due to the falling limbs from that dying tree and we'd had some neighbors concerned about the removal of the tree there but we did inform them that it was dying and that with the falling limbs it could eventually crush that shelter. Director Northam then moved on to the Summer Works Program noting that our first year working with them was last year and we'd decided to bring them back again this year. The program is designed to go into schools and get high school aged juniors and seniors to commit to the program. The program is self-maintained or grant funded and we do not provide any funding towards it. We work with these young adults and have them do things like weed eating, mulching, or planting and noted they had worked with our maintenance team as well. He asked if either manager would like to add anything. Greenspace Manager Derrick Wiest noted that it has been a bit of a learning curve with the kids, but that they've been doing very well and seem receptive to training. Next Northam discussed our current positions we're hiring for. He noted these three positions are in process and that interviews are set up;so we're hopeful that these will be filled by the end of July or sooner. Member Croudep asked what positions these were. Director Northam noted that these are General Laborer positions and expanded in explanation on why they are needed. Member Clark asked who had filled Calvin Cavanaugh's position at the Ken Ellis. Northam noted this has not been filled yet and turned it over to the Ken Ellis Manager Olivia Mann to discuss further. Mann noted that while it has not yet been filled, Ms. Mary who works at our EnVision Center has been helping out there in the meantime and we're getting ready to re-open the position in a few weeks. Member Clark noted that she may know some who are interested. Northam asked that she provide that information to Olivia so we can make sure we're aware. Next, Director Northam brought up the Lansden park Gazebo. He noted that we're seeing an increase in the issues over there with the homeless population and asked for the boards opinion on what should be done; if we should tear it down or allow this to continue. President Carter noted that this problem isn't a new one and she felt we have to be in a position of not being responsible for it, and the only way we can do that is to not have it there anymore. Member Clark stated that being from that community for so many years and with Casi being there for the past five years, she gets it. She noted that the shelter is nice for family picnics and the homeless do scatter when people come to use it, but when there's nothing going on, they use it. She thinks the neighbors are tired of it, but she feels we should have a conversation about what can go in that park?She stated if we're Transcribed by Hillary Pacheco on 06.23.25 PWKS KEC EAT 'N Parks Authority Board Meeting 06.23.2025 going to remove something from that community,that we need to replace it with something. Director Northam asked if she felt this would need to be replaced right away as his thoughts were to take it down for a few years and allow the homeless there to find new shelter,then put something back. Member Clark stated that regardless of that,they will be in that park and she's worried the community will have concerns about us forgetting to replace that in two years. Clark felt that they may prefer to have some communication in the form of a letter to let them know. Director Northam asked if we were to build something there in it's place, would the board have any suggestions? Member Clark asked to allow her to do some research and get some feedback from that community. Assistant Director, Amber Ridings asked if they have a neighborhood meeting within that community. Member Clark responded yes. Ridings stated if we could know when that is, perhaps we could get on the agenda and approach the community there for feedback. Ridings stated there has been a better police presence there this summer with camp being in the EnVision Center, but they've been told many of the homeless aren't from the Jeffersonville area. President Carter added that maybe there should be shelter there but not something we have to maintain and suggested a bare bones structure. Director Northam stated that we have a structure like this at Highland with a Gazebo that has a handrail,spindles, and skirting around it but they're ripping off ballisters and the skirting in the wintertime. Depot Manager,Amber Powell suggested perhaps a pergola would be a good idea as it does offer some shelter from shade and is a nice focal point. The board liked this suggestion and noted it would feel like an update. Director Northam opened it to other suggestions and noted that their next step would like be as Ridings said,to get on the communities neighborhood meeting agenda for feedback from them. REPORTS AND COMMENTS Member Croudep stated that she had attended the Juneteeth concert last Friday and she thought it was a great success and enjoyed herself. She noted she had some reservations about whether it would be a safe environment but once she got down there she found it to be safe and had a really good time. She thanked everyone involved in that. Member Clark asked who organized that event. Director Northam responded that our Rlverstage and Special Events Manager Tara Young was responsible. Member Clark tipped hats off to Tara. She noted she'd talked to police and they'd said it'd been really nice and quiet for them. Member Clark stated she loved the booths there as well. Manager Young thanked the board and noted that Melanire that had a booth there were great partners this year and were interested in continuing the relationship. Young stated they were great partners to have and we were excited about them continuing. She thanked the board for their support. Member Croudep suggested that next year we add in a Christian or Gospel concert night. Young stated she was looking at having a church choir come on stage and sing but she didn't have the connections and was open to help there. Member Clark stated that Mr. Morris would be one to talk to. Member Clark then moved on to Summer Camp and asked what fieldtrips did we cut and were we able to take as many as we did last year? Assistant Manager Amber Ridings stated that we've been able to make things work this year by utilizing Transcribed by Hillary Pacheco on 06.23.25 PAKKS KECREPal Lf,N Parks Authority Board Meeting 4.YrisVA■riii.k. 06.23.2025 parks, which are free, and then just paying for buses and not actually paying for kids to get in somewhere. It has helped this year to have some weeks where there are holidays, like the week of Juneteenth wherein we only had the four day week and so a fieldtrip wasn't needed that week. We've had two weeks wherein no fieldtrips were needed due to holidays, but otherwise we've cut some expenses by pulling back on those. Member Clark asked when the last day of camp was? Program and Facility manager Sara Nord answered that the last day will be July 25th. Ridings did note that we did end up taking in more kids this year per week, so the expenses do go up a bit there and that we have Farmer Steve coming to camp on Friday. Member Luckert then shifted to note that while overall our team does a great job with everything landscaping, but he's a little disappointed at the boat docks. He asked if the lack of clean up and dredging has to do with the Corps of Engineers and what we could do down there? Director Northam noted that while that's part of the issue, when he came on as Director in 2012,the river was being dredged every other year. The money to do this was sought through City Council, and then about six years later they decided to give that over to the engineering department. At that time engineering was responsible for dredging;this was due to the fact that they file the permits which go through the Corps of Engineers and you can't dredge without those permits. This went on for a few years, and then around Covid, 2020 or so we weren't able to get permitted. We've had issues getting permitted ever since.The other half of the issue is the fish in the area as you have to take into account their spawning season wherein you can't dredge.This season usually takes place from June 1st to July 31st. As such,you either have to dredge before June 1st, which is tough because the river fluctuates so much in that time, or you do it after which is also tough because once you do it in the fall,then winter comes and fast-forward to April, all the dredging done comes right back up to shore. In that case,you would've wasted about$60,000 now; which was the number given to us two years ago and has likely gone up. That being said, Northam noted he's in the process of getting estimates for 2026 but believes it will likely be in the$70,000 range, which brings us around to budget cuts and being unsure of where to obtain the money. Northam is hopeful to get the permits in place before May but is concerned about finding the funds. At this point we'd have to cancel the pool season to find that money and the board knows this isn't feasible. The board then discussed who would pay this and if it would need to become a fee that's charged to boaters. Depot Manager, Amber Powell asked if this was something we could get a DNR grant for? Director Northam stated he's not aware of any at this time. Member Pait noted that at a camp site her family uses,they do pay a fee every year to launch their boat and that may be something to look into. Manager Powell stated that with that area being public access, it would have to be policed. So there would have to be someone or something in place to monitor use similar to the dog parks. Member Luckert stated he understood the dilemma we were in. Member Luckert then asked how much do the estimate the city wide budget cuts to be for each department? Director Northam stated the city hadn't gone over that yet, however it will be different for each department as we all have different budgets, and will likely be a percentage amount. Transcribed by Hillary Pacheco on 06.23.25 PAKKS KECREAf 'N Parks Authority Board Meeting v. 06.23.2025 Parks Authority Attorney Report- None Public Comments: None Member Luckert made a MOTION to adjourn at 5:37PM. https://vimeo.com/cityofieff APPROVED: •�o_u_V Hilla acheco Elizabeth Ca er- Parks Authority o ity President Transcribed by Hillary Pacheco on 06.23.25