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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-04-01 Park Board Minutes RIVERSIDE PARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES April 1, 2009 6:00 p.m. The Riverside Park Board held their regularly scheduled meeting at Riverside City Hall, 2950 NW Vivion Road, Riverside Missouri 64150, on Wednesday, April 1, 2009. Those in attendance were: Julie Rule, Deborah Leader, Jim Frakes, Ron Carlson, Alderman Mike Fuller, Mayor Kathy Rose, Mike Duffy, Director of Community Development, Meredith Hauck, Coordinator of Communication and External Affairs, and Sarah Wagner, Administrative Clerk. Member Absent: Norma Parrot. Approval of Jim Frakes made a motion to approve the minutes of March 4, 2009. minutes from March 4, 2009 Deborah Leader seconded and the motion passes. Summer Meredith Hauck, Coordinator of Communication and External Affairs showed the Park Board Events a list of events that will be taking place at the community center and the parks over the Calendar summer. Renner Mike Duffy, Director of Community Development explained that the Park Board received a Brenner series of letters in their packet from various organizations concerned about the historical value Playground of Renner Brenner Park and the impact moving the playground equipment may have on it. Update The City went through a process trying to avoid upsetting anyone over this. On several occasions staff and members of the Park Board met with Gary Brenner to discuss the impacts the new playground would have on the historical significance of the park. Gary Brenner indicated that the area on top of the hill would have the least impact. He also asked that whatever dirt was dug up for the post holes if that could be preserves so he could look through it. Julie Rule said that she had a conversation with Brenner later on and he indicated that he is working with the City on the project but does not think that it is a good idea. Mike Duffy said that the park equipment has already been ordered and the City intends to move forward with the project. The City Attorney said that there was nothing legally that would prevent the City from moving the playground equipment. The City does plan to hire an archaeologist to survey that park and give some insight on whether or not the city needs to preserve what is there of if they can go ahead with projects. The playground is not seen as a permanent structure, it is just capping the ground and what is there will remain. Alderman Mike Fuller asked about the parking lot extension. Mike Duffy replied that the parking lot will have to be changed no matter what because of the widening of Vivion Road. Jim Frakes commented that the letters refer to the area as already being disturbed. Mike Duffy replied that there is a lot of confusion as to what is significant and what is all included in the site. There is a lot under the house next to the park. The site was thought to include the some of the road improvements, the city hall complex and the bridge. There is no discussion in any past minutes of what the property was to be used for and conditions places on the property when the City purchased it in 1985. At that time Gary Brenner was still excavating some of the site. We need to remain sensitive to those concerned about the historical aspect of this property while still meeting the needs of the community. Jim Frakes asked if we owned that park then why we included Gary Brenner in all of these discussions. Mayor Kathy Rose replied that this is a very political issue and that Gary Brenner is very knowledgeable about this area. Mike Duffy commented that we included Gary Brenner so that we wouldn’t get this type of response from all the Native American groups. Our frustration is that Native American groups want to preserve this area, but they aren’t up there using it for anything. No one really uses the upper part of that park. Meredith Hauck commented that an archaeologist may be able to fill some of the history gaps for this area. Alderman Fuller commented that it sounds like it could be an expensive process. Mike Duffy replied that it is the right thing to do and the initial fees should be around $1,000 if no dig is needed. At this point the City is still moving forward with the project Budget Meredith Hauck announced that Jeff Rupp, Director of Public Works, has taken a new position Discussion in Spring Hill, Kansas. Mike Duffy explained that at this time the City is looking into evaluating and defining the role of Public Works which will also help with the role of the Park Board. The City is looking at hiring an outside consultant to help define: 1. What Public Works does will and what they need to work on. 2. Interview staff and board members to get a sense of what the role of Public Works should be. 3. Criteria for qualification and skills that the next Public Works Director should have. A big part of this is parks facility maintenance and who is responsible for what and whose budget it needs to come out of. It would be a good idea for the Park Board to hold off on finalizing the budget until after the consultant is here. Mayor Kathy Rose commented that it would not give the Park Board much time to work on their budget. Meredith Hauck said that a majority of the items on the Park Board’s budget are maintenance items. Almost $300,000 is maintenance. The other big ticket items are replacing the shelter house at Renner Brenner and conducting a citizen’s park survey. Mayor Kathy Rose commented that she would like to see the addition of a basketball court and maybe a tetherball area. Jim Frakes said that from the last meeting when they discussed how many water hydrants there were at E.H. Young he went out there and counted and there are four. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent.