Lawrence Parks and Recreation

Advisory Board Meeting Minutes

June 5, 2012

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  

Joe Caldwell, Chair; Andy Clayton, Vice Chair; Jana Dawson, Kevin Loos, and Kelly Barth

 

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:  

 

 

 

STAFF PRESENT: 

Ernie Shaw, Mark Hecker and Roger Steinbrock

GUESTS:

Cynthia Wagner, Seth Huninghake, Jessica Danon, Rachel McSwain, Julie Allen, Chad Lawhorn

 

 

I.             Meeting called to order by Chair Caldwell

 

II.           Approval of the May 8 minutes-- Motion to approve May 2012 minutes by Loos and seconded by Dawson.  Motion approved. 

 

III.         Concerns of Board – None at this time.

 

IV.         McSwain Park naming request - McSwain family has requested to rename the park located at 19th and Haskell next to the fire training center in remembrance of Jim McSwain who had served as the city’s fire chief from 1978 to 2005.  The board will make a recommendation to the Lawrence City Commission, which will decide whether the park should be renamed.

 

V.           June 6th 6:30pm-- Public meeting for Activity Center – Dawson presented a Power Point presentation reflecting the past, present and future of what we have accomplished with the current recreation centers and what would be beneficial  and meet the needs of the community in the future.  The board reviewed the information that will be presented during the public meeting.      

 

VI.         NRPA Serving Communities Grant – Steinbrock reported the funding for the grant has been received. The grant will help park and recreation agencies increase the number of children receiving healthy meals and nutritional education during out-of-school times.  Jessica Danon has been hired as our Nutrition Education Assistant.          

 

VII.       Deerfield Park and Skate Park – Skate Park is about 70% complete.  The basketball court at Deerfield Park has just been installed.  Both projects should be completed within the next couple of weeks.

 

 

VIII.     Staff reports

                                         i.Recreation/Golf Revenue/Expense Report – Shaw reported no revenue reports are available at this time due to meeting time being moved forward a week in advance and will be presented at the July meeting.

 

                                        ii.    Parks/Projects Report – Hecker reported opening day (Memorial Day weekend) at the Outdoor Aquatic Center had a few things arise – air conditioning and slides were not working.  A few new spray features will be added to the aquatic center in the next few weeks. Batting cages at the sports complex are aging and are becoming unreliable.  Recently coin accepters were replaced, but has continued to not accept coins.    

 

                                   iii.    Marketing Report – Steinbrock announced that a grant was received from the KaBoom! Foundation’s Let’s Play sponsored by Dr. Pepper/Snapple in the amount of $20,000 which will be used for play equipment at John Taylor Park.  Bill Self Golf Classic, supporting the Wee Folks Scholarship Fund is fast approaching.  Hole sponsors and teams are still needed.  We currently have Seth Huninghake interning with the department and Andrew Ruszczyk joined the marketing division.

 

Meeting adjourned.  Next Advisory Board meeting scheduled for noon, Tuesday, July 10th, 2012, Parks and Recreation Conference Room located at South Park Administration Office.