City of Columbia, Missouri

Meeting Minutes

Parks and Recreation Commission

ARC Meeting Room

1701 W Ash

Thursday, April 18, 2024

7:00 PM

Regular

I. CALL TO ORDER

Chair Dan Devine called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.

5 - Daniel Devine, Ted Farnen, Chad Henry, Paul Morrison and Jason Patrie

2 - Sue Davis and Brendon Steenbergen

Present:

Excused:

II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Agenda was approved on a motion by Farnen, seconded by Morrison. Motion

passed 5-0.

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes were approved on a motion by Patrie, seconded by Henry. Motion

passed 5-0.

IV. APPROVAL OF MONTHLY REPORT

Director Gabe Huffington shared recreation highlights: increases from the

first six months of FY’24 as compared to FY’23 in total participations, total

sessions, total court and field usage, total ARC visits and total golf. Park

Services Manager Zach Nikin shared these highlights: maintenance spent

229 hours on shelter and restroom cleanup, and 417 hours on sanitation

and recycling, Fleet spent 20 hours repairing golf cards and 16 hours

repairing mowers, Golf turf staff spent 50 hours on top dressing greens at

Lake of the Woods, and about 20 hours were spent painting fields with the

new GPS painter.

Monthly report was approved on a motion by Morrison, seconded by Henry.

Motion passed 5-0.

V. STAFF PRESENTATION

Recreation Services Manager Erika Coffman introduced Recreation

Specialist Isaac Hylton, who has been on the aquatics staff since January

2023. He shared information about his education and background which

includes an internship with Parks and Recreation in the summer of 2022.

Hylton shared information about the pools including number of staff needed

at each facility. He also talked about the concessions staff, swim lessons,

private lessons, water fitness instructors, lifeguard certification classes and

a swim lesson workshop he has developed to help instructors learn from

each other.

Farnen asked about the difference in duties between guards and

managers?

Hylton said that managers typically are not on stand and handle the daily

operations and other things that come up.

Patrie asked if full-time staff floated across facilities?

Hyton said yes, that they were based at the ARC but moved around the

outdoor pools, checking inventory and making sure staff had what they

needed.

Patrie asked what the most rewarding part of his job is?

Hylton said it was seeing patrons/community happy with the services and

faciltiies they are provided.

The Commission discussed camps at pools and water fitness classes with

Hylton.

VI. PUBLIC HEARING

Lake of the Woods Pool

Devine asked for the staff presentation.

Nikin shared the history of Lake of the Woods Pool, which was last

renovated in 2000. More than $1 million from Park Sales Tax funding is

budgeted for pool renovations that include: expanded pool with new ADA

accessible zero depth entry; new and expanded pool deck with shade

canopies; interactive play features and padded surfacing on south end of

pool; new double water slide; new pool liner; concessions stand and pump

house renovations; and mechanical, electrical and plumbing upgrades.

Nikin shared photos of the existing pool and proposed plans for upgrades.

Farnen asked about the timeline for the project?

Nikin said it is aggressive; staff plans to bid the project as soon as

possible with work starting after the pool closes this summer. The project

would be scheduled for completion by summer 2025.

Farnen asked about the zero depth entry and if a separate kiddie pool

would ever be planned?

Huffington said there is limited space on the pool deck for a separate

facility, and it would also be out of budget.

Coffman added that a separate kiddie ppol would have to be guarded and

also have a separate mechanical system.

Devine asked about attendance numbers at Lake of the Woods Pool?

Coffman said it hasn’t been open since 2019, pre-pandemic. Since then,

there has been a lot of housing development in that area so staff

anticipates increased attendance.

Devine opened the public hearing.

Evelyn Alley, student, complimented the process and said that she had

friends at Battle High School that would be interested in lifeguarding. She

provided her contact information to staff.

Huffington commented that there have been a few comments on

BeHeard.CoMo but that there had not been any made at the public input

meeting.

With no other public comment, Devine closed the public hearing.

Morrison made a motion, seconded by Henry to recommend approval of Lake of

the Woods Pool improvements to City Council. Motion passed 5-0.

VII. NEW BUSINESS

Rezoning near Magnolia Falls Park

Nikin said that the request is off of Old Mill Creek Road would rezone from

single family residential to annex into the City limits as open space. The

plans rea to potentially created sports fields with supported parking. Nikin

suggested that a potential negative aspect is that the Magnolia Falls lot

may be used as overflow parking, although this may lead to road

improvements that are needed in that area.

Huffington added that not a lot of detail is known about these plans;

development could take several years, if approved.

Devine commented that this would definitely change traffic patterns on the

road and could affect park users crossing the road to get to the fields.

Patrie asked if it is appropriate to discuss use at this point of the

development?

Huffington answered that the Commission could point out problems of

pedestrian traffic and lack of sidewalks.

Henry commented that Public Works would do a traffic study as part of the

rezoning, and that would trigger concerns related to the road and

accessibility.

Patrie made a motion, seconded by Farnen, that the Commission has

concerns related to overflow parking and the volume of traffic on the road.

Motion passed 5-0.

June Park Tour

The June 20 meeting will include the annual park tour. Some potential sites

are: Parks Management Center, Cosmo Bike Park and RC Track, MU

Health Care Pavilion, Fairview Park - Beginner 9-Hole Disc Golf Course,

Columbia Sports Fieldhouse Phase II, Philips Tennis/Pickleball Courts,

Gans Creek Recreation Area race headquarters, North Village Park

Property, Albert-Oakland Park, Norma Sutherland Smith Park Dock and

Northeast Regional Park.

Huffington said the list may be modified, depening on time. He asked the

Commission to consider the list and bring any suggestions to the May

meeting.

Patrie made a motion, seconded by Farnen, that the Commission has concerns

related to overflow parking and the volume of traffic on the road. Motion passed

5-0.

VIII. REPORTS

Council Items

Huffington shared these recent City Council actions:

Community Welcome Center

Blind Boone Home exterior improvements

Rockhill Road land purchase, 2.6 acre wooded tract adjacent to

Clyde Wilson Park, owned by Harry-Phyllis Wulff trust. The purchase

price is $40,000 and is offset by a $25,000 donation from the East

Campus Neighborhood Association. The tract will be incorporated

into the park and preserved as a natural area.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission Report

The Commission met April 17 and discussed the Missouri Department of

Transportation’s (MoDOT) Improve I-70/63 project’s lack of sidewalks. The

Commission voted unanimously to present City Council with a list of

sidewalk construction projects needed to fill gaps. Huffington said that

MoDOT is aware of the extension of the Hinkson Trail.

Capital Project Report

Nikin shared these updates and photos:

Gans Creek Recreation Area race headquarters, Cosmo football fields 5

and 6, Rainbow, ARC foundation, Smith Park foundation, Albert-Oakland

Park improvements, Fairview Park beginner disc golf course (dedication

June 4), Perche Creek Trail and the Columbia Sports Fieldhouse

expansion.

Recreation Services Report

Coffman shared these updates and event photos:

CARE, internship update, life enrichment classes and special events,

rentals, ARC, Splat participation numbers, adapted recreation and sports,

aquatics, community recreation, Golf and Sports.

IX. STAFF COMMENTS

Huffington reminded Commissioners Devine, Patrie and Farnen their terms

will expire May 31; deadline to reapply is May 3 at 5 p.m. The annual tree

giveaway will be at the Farmers Market April 20 and the Plant Sale will be

May 5.

X. COMMISSION COMMENTS

Henry asked if the 7 p.m. start time of meetings is something that has ever

been discussed. He asked other Commissioners’ thoughts on potentially

moving up the start time.

Huffington added that moving the time would have to be acceptable to all

seven commissioners.

Devine asked everyone to think about it and asked staff to put it on the

agenda for discussion at the May meeting.

XI. PUBLIC COMMENTS

None.

XII. NEXT MEETING DATE

May 16, 2024, 7 p.m. at the ARC

XIII. ADJOURNMENT

Meeting adjourned at 8:39 p.m. on a motion by Farnen, seconded by

Henry.

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