HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-12-05 Park Board MinutesRIVERSIDE PARK BOARD MEETING
MINUTES
December 5, 2007
6:00 p.m.
The Riverside Park Board held their regularly scheduled meeting at the Platte County Community
Center South, 8875 Clark Ave. Parkville, Missouri 64152, on Wednesday, December 5, 2007.
Those in attendance were: Julie Rule, Ron Carlson, Norma Parrot, Jim Frakes, Lori Rardeen, Cathy
Mousel, Mayor Kathy Rose, Jeff Rupp, Director of Public Works and Sarah Wagner,
Administrative Clerk. Not in attendance were: Sara Thatcher and Jerry Hackenberg.
Cathy Mousel made a motion to approve the minutes form October 2, 2007 and November 7, 2007.
Julie Rule seconded and the motion passed.
Rule gave a brief overview of the vandalism at Renner Brenner Park. She explained that she met
with Public Safety Chief Greg Mills about this issue. As a result, Chief Mills has increased patrol
of the parks. They are also working with Jeff Rupp, Director of Public Works to install remote late
openers for the entrance to the park. Right now, officers have to get out of their cars to unlock the
gate after hours, and that gives anyone in the park time to flee before the officer can get in. The
option to move or add a camera on top of City Hall will not work because there would not be a l;ood
line of site.
Public Safety Captain Gary McMullin was invited to the meeting to explain the steps that are being
taken to solve the vandalism problem in the parks. He said that this is not a new problem for the
parks. He has been with the City for over 14 years. Patrol has been increased at Renner Brenner.
An officer will patrol the park at least every hour. There is a good view of Renner Brenner Parl<:
from NW Gateway and NW Vivion Road. Captain McMullin explained that the City of Blue
Springs has encountered the same problem that Riverside is having and they have closed their
skateboard park. Officers have spoken to some of the kids at the skate park trying to gather
information on who is causing the destruction. Officers are following up on those leads. As of
January 1, 2007, there have only been four reports of destruction of property at Renner Brenner.
They were in March, July, October and November. Public Safety did not know about the trash
incidents until recently, but need to be informed as soon as possible in the future.
Jim Frakes asked who made the reports.
Captain McMullin replied that citizens and some of the Public Works employees have made thf;
police reports in the past.
Mayor Kathy Rose commented that she thinks the police are on the right track by talking to the kids
that use the park all the time.
Captain McMullin went on to explain that Public Safety is looking into a camera system in the
future but it is very expensive. In the meantime, officers will continue to patrol the parks.
Next, Rupp explained that the Park Board's meeting was held at the Platte County Community
Center South in order to look at the flooring they have in their facility. He explained that the
number of classes being held at the Community Center in Riverside is increasing and the flooring is
not the best. It is all concrete and has no impact absorption and is hard on people's joints. So ±_ar,
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two seniors have been injured in exercise classes. This new type of flooring will help reduce
liability and maintenance of the Community Center. The cost is around $80,000, but the City
spends about $10,000 a year on maintenance alone for the floor. Several other cities use this type of
flooring as well as the Olympics.
Steve Frailey with Specialty Floors at 6836 NW Monticello Ct., Kansas City, Missouri 64152
addressed the Board. He explained that the floor is very durable for a multipurpose area such as the
Community Center. Any indentions made from the bleachers or chairs and tables will go away.
Norma Parrot asked if the existing floor would be left.
Frailey replied that the new floor could be glued over the existing floor after the wax is stripped off
as long as there are no water leaks. A test will be conducted every 2,000 feet to check for that.
Mayor Rose asked what the expected life of the floor would be.
Frailey replied that it is around 15 years, but it depends on how well it is cleaned. There are son-e
places in Europe that have had the floor in for over 30 years.
Parrot asked if the floor was repairable.
Frailey replied that the floor can be repaired easily.
Rule commented that the City had done a study on the Community Center and did not think
anything was going to be done until there was a need for it in the City.
Mayor Rose replied that this would be a good solution until more is done. Programs are being
added to the Community Center and there needs to be protection against injuries. This is something
that will not be torn out even if the Community Center is added on to in the future.
Rule asked if the funding for the floor would come out of the Park Board's budget.
Mayor Rose explained that the Park Board would need to be prepared if the Board of Aldermen did
approve the flooring and designated it to come out of the Park Board's budget.
Rule commented that she would like the Park Board to be able to look at their priority list again. and
see where that would fall and what could be pushed back in order to do so.
The Park Board agreed to support and recommend the new floor to the Board of Aldermen.
Next, Rupp explained to the Board that they need to make a decision on the pool additions in order
to get them constructed in time for the pool to open this summer. There had been some questions at
the last meeting about the water features on some of the slides. The pool does not have the pro»er
construction or filtration to have any type of water feature.
Rardeen suggested that the extra money be used to purchase new chairs for the deck. They would
cost about $20 each.
The Board agreed to the seat in the pool, the shade in the pool, the shade on the deck and to
purchase new chairs.
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Next, Rupp passed out the schedule for the Missouri Riverfront trail bids.
Mayor Rose told the Board that 80% of the design for the streetscape Welcome Plaza is completE;.
She asked the Board to consider options for next year to tie into the streetscape as Christmas
decorations. Several citizens have commented that the City had no decorations on the light pole;.
Rupp explained that KCP&L has a new policy that does not allow anything on the light poles.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. by unanimous consent.
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Sarah Wagner istrative erk
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