HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-11-2012 i
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JEFFERSONVILLE PARKS AUTHORITY
June 11, 2012
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s The Jeffersonville Parks Authority met in regular session in the Mayor's Conference Room, City Hall,
Jeffersonville, IN on June 11, 2012 at 6:00 PM. President Matthew Owen called the meeting to order at
6:00 PM. Members present: Lisa Gill, Ed Zastawny, Connie Sellers, Bryan Glover, Matthew Owen,
Zachary Payne, Dennis Julius, Mike Smith and Nathan Samuel. Absent: None. Also present: Mayor
t Mike Moore, Parks Director Paul Northam, attorney Tom Lowe and Parks Office Manager Hona
McBride. All stood for Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Member Samuel moved to approve the agenda as presented, second by Member Glover and carried
unanimously.
1 The May 14, 2012 minutes were presented for approval. Changes had been made to the previously
distributed minutes and those changes were pointed out to the Board. The changes concerned the
Fieldhouse roof and funds available for Vissing Park. Member Samuel read the
portion of the minutes he
t suggested as it pertains to Palmer Roofing, as follows: "Mayor Moore stated the county had many
I problems and issues with Palmer Roofing and suggested contacting the county about them." Member
Smith stated if that were in the form of a motion
he would second. Member Samuel stated he felt like
there needed to be some clarity in the minutes. Member Julius stated he listened to the tape along with
Member Smith and found the following statement: "The Mayor stated he would recommend a
conversation with the County. Palmer did their roof, the court house roof, and over the last three years I ?
was there we made many attempts to contact them and couldn't get them back." The Mayor asked why
we are bickering over sentences when Palmer Roofing was $20,000 more than Commonwealth. The
second to the above motion is withdrawn. Member Smith moved to accept the minutes of May 14 when
they are edited to reflect the addition of Member Julius' statement. Second by Member Sellers, and
motion carried. President Owen abstained as he was absent from the May 14 meeting.
The claims list was presented for consideration. Member Samuel questioned the claim for a photographer
for Smokin on the River. It was reported that this is a normal expense for this event. Member Samuel
moved to approve the claims list, second by Member Zastawny. Motion carried.
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Public Comment: None
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Director's Report:
1 Director Northam introduced Matt Gullo who gave a Vissing Park update. Mr. Gullo reported that p p at a
preconstruction meeting has been held with AML, and the contractor is set up on Kovert Hawkins website
to access information and submit shop drawings. Shop drawings are being reviewed at the present time
so that the contractor can purchase materials. The contractor has mobilized on site with trailer and
equipment. Mr. Gullo and Director Northam will meet to decide on playground equipment and locations.
Director Northam stated he felt that playground equipment for younger children should be in the vicinity
of the softball fields, with playground equipment in the north end of the park for older kids. Dan Cristiani
Excavating Co. has been hired for site grading. Member Samuel asked if the RFP that went out was
based on how the property sits today. Member Samuel stated he learned that AML is expecting the City
to complete a list of items (about two weeks of work) and wanted to know if that was part of the bid when
AML was approved for the contract. Member Samuel wants to know if we are doing work they bid on
and if we should charge them. Mr. Gullo stated the city was expected to get the work to a point where I
AML could take over and that the contract should say the site as is Member Gill stated she attended a
meeting at Vissing Park today consisting of Andy Crouch, Deb Ashack, Clark County Soil & Water,
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Drainage Board representative and AML project manager. They walked the site and AML came back
with two additional weeks of work that they want the city to complete, which consists of five items. Mr.
Crouch was called away from the meeting and so Member Gill has left him a voice mail to put out an
email to the Board detailing the five items. Member Sellers asked Mr. Gullo to email the Board with
what he finds out on this matter.
Director Northam stated the Fieldhouse roof is 70% complete and should be finished by Friday of this
week. Water has leaked on the basketball court and the floor is raised a little bit. Once the roof job is
complete we will have someone look at the floor.
Director Northam reported there have been several comments made about smoking in the area of the
RiverStage. There is a designated smoking area on the Overlook but smokers also use the Terrace Lawn.
The smoking ordinance dates to 2005 and does not address outdoor smoking. Member Samuel stated he
would be receptive to making sure there is a place for smokers to go. Member Smith stated there should
definitely be no smoking on the RiverStage barge and perhaps a sign on the ramp as you first enter the
area The Mayor suggested a sign in the restroom area rather than the ramp area Member Smith stated
the barge is not a sprinkled facility, smoke alarms are not in place, it is not monitored, it has a plywood
deck and flammable objects on board. It was pointed out that smoking is not permitted in indoor park
property and that would include the barge. Member Glover stated that maybe an announcement could be
made on movie night that this is a family night and that smoking is allowed only in the designated area
Attorney Lowe suggested that this might be the right way to address the issue, to ask those attending to be
aware of who is around you and maybe the crowd will be receptive if it were handled in this manner.
Mike Czapp stated that City Pride has used the barge for its Wine Tasting event and they set up a separate
smoking area right off the boat.
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Director Northam reminded the Board that Smokin' on the River is June 15 and 16 and there will be tents
1 for city workers, Park Authority Board members and Park employees. The Board is asked to reply to
Sara's email as to when you will be attending. On Friday night the competitive barbeque teams can be
taste tested. There is also wine tasting on Friday night.
Director Northam advised that some old RiverStage sound equipment has been sold to Phoenix Sound
and Lighting for $23,000.00. The ordinance states that the money must go back to where it came from,
and in this case it came from EDIT. The funds were put back into EDIT. As a reminder, Parks put a lot
of money into the storage of the new RiverStage and the Director is requesting that some of this $23,000
be put into the RiverStage budget to help offset some of that expense. Director Zastawny moved to put
the entire $23,000.00 into the RiverStage budget, second by Member Gill, and motion carried.
President Owen asked if we had the ability to put people on a wireless microphone for plays on
RiverStage. It was reported we had hand -held microphones and the Mayor stated the instructors ctors for the
Anchors A -Weigh program had the head -sets.
Member Zastawny stated he attended the Louisville Crashers concert, the lighting was fantastic, and
sound was good if you were right in front of the stage but the sound didn't extend down river. Director
Northam stated that Sara Schutz met with representatives from Mom's Music and they agreed that
something was needed at the west end of the barge to help the sound. The Mayor stated he is having
Mom's Music give him a quote on speakers on the rear side of RiverStage to encourage boaters to enjoy
the music. There is still money from Tourism for that The Mayor is also looking into putting a large
screen on the backside for movie night, with the movie facing both the crowd and the boaters. Member
Smith stated it has been talked about moving the barge 50 feet west of its present location. The Mayor
stated that the city had a permit for that but it has expired. The City Engineer Andy Crouch advised we
are in the early stages of that process and it will take approximately one year The Mayor stated we
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exceeded 5,000 people for the Crashers concert.
President Owen called on Sandy Knott for her report from the Advisory Board. Ms. Knott advised that
the Advisory Board did not meet before this meeting but would meet on Thursday of this week. The
Facilities Board met, discussed a few problems and Parks Maintenance is working on that Plans for Old
Jeff High Days in conjunction with the fieldhouse anniversary are coming along slowly. People are
excited about it but it is hard to get any help. Sandy asked if Parks employees could help in the planning
as the Fieldhouse is a parks facility. She would also like the city's help in promoting the event.
Old Business: None
New Business: None
Members Comments:
Member Zastawny reported that on Yahoo.com they list the Top 10 River Cities. Jeffersonville is better
than a couple of the cities listed. He would like information sent to the Yahoo.com Travel Editor
regarding Jeffersonville. Director Northam will ask Leah Farris to look into this matter. Member
Zastawny stated that a lot of things are going good, RiverStage, the Aquatic Center, but one goof he
x would like to bring up and that is the bikini boot camp. This consists of water exercises at the Aquatic
Center. The lady who was supposed to teach the boot camp was not there, the lady stated no one had
registered so she assumed there would be no class. Public information put out about the camp did not say
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I anything about pre- registering so it is important that the instructor show up for class.
Member Smith stated that when you build a substation you hold back a certain amount of money to make
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sure terms of the contract are performed properly. Is there anything we can do to hold a company
accountable such as holding back a certain percentage of the money to make sure we are satisfied with the
j service or product. Attorney Lowe stated it would have to be part of the contract. Member Smith stated
we needed to have some type of leverage over the contractor or company. Member Julius stated we
found out with the fieldhouse roof that the contract is only as good as the company. Member Smith stated
he is looking for some type of leverage when we bid these thins and money is leverage. g y g Member Smith
further reminded the board of the two large earth movers purchased to use in Vissing Park and asked if
we need to keep or sell them. Member Gill stated she spoke with Andy Crouch about that and one is
being used as parts for the other. Right now they are trying to find places to store them to get them off
site Member Smith thinks we should consider selling them as is Director Northam stated he talked with
Bubby Vissing about them and he mentioned perhaps listing them on Craig's List. Member Smith thinks
r we should get rid of them as we have no place to store them. Member Smith moved to sell both earth
movers and let Director Northam and the attorney handle the transaction, second
s by Member Samuel.
President Owen stated there have been discussions of another major project in the next year or so.
Attorney Lowe asked if anyone has talked with Andy Crouch about whether they are worth keeping. I
Member Gill stated her conversation with Andy consisted of where to store them. Member Zastawny
asked that the Board wait one month and ask Andy about using them. Member Smith withdraws his
motion. Member Zastawny stated if we are not going to use them then definitely we should get rid of
them. Attorney Lowe stated that Andy would be the one to say whether they are kept or sold. When
asked the value of the earth movers, Director Northam stated we spent $15,000 for each one Member t,
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Sellers moved to get rid of them if Andy does not want them, second by Member Zastawny. Motion
carried.
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Member Samuel asked Director Northern about seasonal hires for mowing and if they had started.
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Director Northam stated that two new hires are working, one starts tomorrow, two hires fell through so
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we have one yet to hire. We are hiring high school/college age people. Two hires were high school
teachers who got a better paying job. Our seasonal jobs pay $7.25 per hr. The Mayor stated that anytime
you are dealing with minimum wage jobs you will have the problem of people not showing up for work.
The Mayor asked if this Board had ever considered hiring companies to maintain properties the city owns.
Member Zastawny stated the Board had talked about it in the past, and decided it would be more
expensive to do it that way. The Mayor stated once we get Vissing Park, Allison Lane Park, new police
station property and other high visible areas around the city, including entrances into the city, we need to
make sure they are nicely done. Member Samuel asked President Owen to appoint a committee to study
the grasscutting issue. Member Zastawny asked the Director how he would like to handle grasscutting,
and manage the situation. The Director stated we have been busy the last couple of weeks and a little bit
behind because of the opening of the Aquatic Center and RiverStage. Mike Reynolds and Donnie Poole
advised today that grasscutting is caught up. Member Zastawny stated that as long as the grass is getting
cut that we let Director Northam handle it, either contractor or employee. Director Northam would like to
give it a try with the four seasonal hires we have The Director would like to put off the decision for a
month or two and see what things look like the end of July. Member Smith stated you also have to
consider the vehicle and gasoline, equipment, equipment repair, damaging of equipment, destroying of
equipment, and in house, that is a large expense. There is more to it than just the hourly rate. Also, there
is the liability issue. Member Smith stated he is in favor of letting Director Northam work it out but at
some point it may be necessary to bid it out
Member Samuel stated that the dog park at the end of Spruce Drive looks great, and the playground
equipment looks great. Member Samuel asked the Director if he had heard any comments from the
neighborhood. The Director stated the neighbors are excited about what has been done and excited about
the security system installed in the park.
Member Gill stated she was at Vissing Park today and her goal is to see that we are in compliance with
State and Federal rules.
Attorney Lowe reminded the Board that the Pacesetter Aquatic Team based at Jeff High School are
having a home swim meet at the Aquatic Center this week -end. This might be the last opportunity to see
Zach Blankenbeker swim before he goes to the Olympic Trials.
Motion to adjourn by Member Zastawny, second by Member Gill. Meeting adjourned at 7:00 PM.
3. 111 Of
M . hew Owen, Pr ° ent
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