Lake Havasu City

Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

Lake Havasu Community Center

Room 153/154

100 Park Avenue

Lake Havasu City, Arizona 86403

January 25, 2010

Summary Minutes

Call to Order: Chairperson Luzzi called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

Roll Call: Present: Jenny Anderson, Scott Bernhart, Dan Herron, Jennifer Luzzi, Tony Pomilia, Cynthia Salscheider, Sandra Schreiner, Council Liaison Lee Barnes and Parks and Recreation Interim Director, Bart Wagner

Excused: Joe Casey

Minutes: Approval of the minutes of meeting November 2009: Member Jenny Anderson moved to approve the minutes as written; seconded by member Tony Pomilia and unanimously carried by the Board.

Directors Update:

Interim Director Bart Wagner updated the Board on events that have taken place since our last meeting. A Triple Crown Tournament which 70 teams participated in, Pop Warner River Bowl, Children’s Christmas Party, and a Firearms Show. Upcoming events include Spring Frenzy, Delbert Days, Winter Fest, Winter Blast, ASA Girls Softball League, Little League, Stingray Swim Meet, Tattoo Convention and Winterblast.

Staff has reviewed reports from our second quarter. Parks division is at 43%, recreation division is at 46%, and the aquatic division is at 39%. In the parks division for the first six months they have reduced maintenance hours by 33% or 200 man hours. Further reduction of man hours include park improvements by 3500 man hours, and turf and landscape maintenance man hours of 6500. The aquatic division programs have reduced 500 hours in the first six months of this fiscal year. Of those hours 270 are from open swim, 89 hours from swim team, 70 hours of learn to swim programs and 80 hours of exercise and lap swim. Staff has also cut Sunday open swim’s for the month of January.

Staff is continuing to work on Grand Island Park which includes restroom and playground bids from the money that was allocated from a grant. Matching part of the grant is expected not to continue.

City staff has been in talks with the Arizona State Parks Board regarding Windsor Beach. State Parks Board and staff are keeping Windsor open as long as they can. City staff wants to be prepared to take it over if the State can no longer run it.

FY 11 Budget Process:

Mr. Wagner reported last week staff began the budget process with a council retreat. The City shows a short fall of 6.5million from this year’s budget; with an estimated savings this year of 3.9million the City will need to reduce the general fund by 12% from the estimated expenditures.

The Finance Director reported some interesting facts at the council retreat. Unemployment will peak in Arizona by the mid year of 2010, the only other state financially worse off than Arizona is California, they are predicting it will be 2014 until unemployment will reach 6%, commercial real estate is still in a downward cycle, sales tax was decreased by 29% from last year and that is still 15% below that, urban revenue sharing is down 25%, and state sales tax is down 10%.

Mr. Wagner reported staff is looking at reducing 15% in the parks division which calculates to $366,233, the recreation division by 13% which is $221,841, and 16% out of administration which is $60,809. The aquatic division is looking to save 18% this year and that will hopefully allow for no additional cuts to that division.

Lake Vendors Update:

Mr. Wagner updated the Board with the status of the Lake Vendors. The City Council will revisit the issue tomorrow evening at their regular scheduled meeting. The City will be asking the council to authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the local BLM office regulating vending along the City parks shoreline. Should the City enter into the agreement they would have to determine the fee, method of payment, and the location of where vendors would be placed?

Site Six Mooring:

A discussion took place regarding overnight mooring at Site Six. Mr. Wagner reported that the Arizona Game and Fish is the agency in control of that area. He has made contact with that agency in regards to removing those boats. Member Salscheider asked if those boats could be towed out of there. Member Dan Herron asked if the City could gain jurisdiction of the Thompson Bay and Channel area if they could annex in the Site Six Cove area that way the police department could monitor and control that cove. Member Herron also stated he has done research on some of the boats down there and has found that some of the boats belong to residents living in the Beachcomber Park. Member Herron would like to see the City continue there efforts working with the Arizona Game and Fish to get those boats removed.

Flugtag Event Discussion:

Member Dan Herron shared with the Board what a Flugtag Event is. He explained it is a human powered land craft that fly’s off a ramp and lands in the water. Herron stated he has spoke to Jennifer at the Chamber of Commerce and they felt it would be a good event to hold here in Lake Havasu. Research on these events shows they draw a large amount of participants as well as spectators. Member Scott Bernhart suggested we hold the event during Spring Break. Member Herron will follow up and continue to work on bringing this type of event to the City.

Adult Fitness:

Member Sandra Schreiner will continue research on different types of Adult Fitness stations in parks. Mr. Wagner stated Grand Island Park would be a great area to put this type of equipment. Member Jenny Anderson suggested this would be a good Eagle Scout Project. Mr. Wagner will bring back additional information to the next Board meeting.

Update on City Sectors:

Member Scott Bernhart has been working on the Update of the City Sectors. Mr. Wagner stated staff should get a current list of all vacant lots in those sectors and then determine if those could be used for parks sites or not. During the discussion it was noted there are several potential school sites. Mr. Wagner stated we should look at sites that the school district may never use and possibly negotiate with the school district to get those for future park sites. Bernhart stated all sectors need to be updated and noted that a lot of information will change when the US Census comes out.

Future Agenda Items:

Dog Park Rules, Fee’s for use of Dog Parks, and Adult Fitness

Call to Public: Mr. Borgeson is concerned with people taking their dogs to London Bridge Beach and not utilizing the dog park area. He has stated he will volunteer at our parks to inform people that are breaking the rules. Staff will get a volunteer packet to Mr. Borgeson.

Member Tony Pomilia shared with the Board information on a Junior Shooter program Arizona Scholastic Clay Target Program offered by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. He stated it was a great program and if anyone is interested in the program they can contact Andy Wachtel.

Adjournment:

There being no further business, member Jenny Anderson moved for adjournment at 7:05p.m., seconded by member Sandra Schreiner and unanimously carried by the Board.