City Council and Parks Commission Joint Meeting Minutes September 1, 2011

Minutes
North Liberty City Council
North Liberty Parks and Recreation Committee
September 1, 2011
Special Session

Call to order.  At _ p.m., Mayor Salm called the Special Session of the North Liberty Council to order.  Council members present: Chipman, Donahue, Hoffman, Kuhl, Wayson.

Parks and Recreation Committee members present: Behrens, Fitzpatrick, Haas, Noska, Maxson, Skemp; absent – Kerschen.

Others present: Ryan Heiar, Dean Wheatley, Tracey Mulcahey, Shelly Simpson, Brian Motley, Guy Goldsmith, Erika Harper and other interested parties.

Approval of the Agenda.  Chipman moved, Hoffman seconded to approve the Council Agenda.  After discussion, the vote was: ayes – Donahue, Hoffman, Kuhl, Wayson, Chipman; nays – none. Motion carried.

Mayor Salm announced that staff participated in Corridor Goes Casual for Kids today. Each staff person contributed $5 that go to a children’s charity in exchange for dressing casual today.

Mayor Salm thanked the Park Board for meeting with Council tonight to discuss the Park Plan.

Comprehensive Parks Plan.  Heiar presented background information regarding why the work session is being held. Two areas to be discussed are the Comprehensive Parks Plan and the proposed baseball field at Penn Meadows Park. City Planner Wheatley presented a summary of all the city’s parks as to what exists at the parks and what is proposed in the plan.  After Wheatley’s presentation, the group discussed the proposal for the new 40 acre park on the west side.   It was proposed that REAP be accessed to fund the development of the west side park.

The group discussed the addition of a baseball diamond to Penn Meadows Park. Concerns were raised regarding parking, taking land from Fun Days, and other sports space – flag football and soccer.  The group discussed the partnership with Coralville for flag football and other activities. The new field will be differentiated from others as this will be for baseball not necessarily for softball or tee ball.

The concerns that will be addressed by staff include:
•    If an additional field is added, do we have enough parking?
•    Chalk out where the proposed field would go so that Council and Board can see the space taken with the field.
•    With regards to park funding the CIP, what has been spent on parks and what remains in the future CIP.
•    The formal plan for growth and financials from NLYBS was requested.
•    Where will the dog park be located?

The group will plan a future meeting when these items have been addressed to review the proposed plan for a ball field.

Adjournment. At 7:40 p.m., Kuhl moved, Hoffman seconded to adjourn the City Council meeting. All ayes. Meeting adjourned.