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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/22/2004 CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE June 22, 2004 Minutes of the June 22, 2004 Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. PRESENT: Chair Russ DeFauw; Committee Members Loren Hegland, Charlie Maus, Lee Strom, Erica Robinson, Jim Sheldon, and Tina Rankintan;ved at 6:55rm;;Parks and Recreation Director Randy Johnson; City Council Members Tom Goodwin and John Bergman; Recreation Superintendent Scott Breuer; VAA President Brad Arthur; EVAA President Rob Gensch; LaCrosse program representatives Kevin O'Rourke and Lisa Pasiuk; Apple Valley High School Athletic Director Scott Larson; ten members of the public. ABSENT: None ITEM#1. Chair Russ DeFauw called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. ITEM#2. Approval of Agenda. MOTION: by Jim Sheldon, seconded by Lee Strom to approve the agenda as presented. VOTE: Yes—6, No—0 ITEM#3. Approval of the May 2004 Meeting Minutes MOTION: by Charlie Maus, seconded by Erica Robinson to approve the May 2004 Meeting minutes as presented. VOTE: Yes—6, No—0 ITEM 4.A. LaCrosse Fields/Youth Athletics Mr. Johnson reported that staff has been working on this issue and trying to coordinate playing venues for LaCrosse the last several months. They've had some meetings with the local youth athletic associations and received support from Independent School District#196 athletic directors. The current Parks and Recreation facility usage priority policy was reviewed. There are over 100 athletic fields in Apple Valley. To make the usage program work, there must be some order to the facility allocation. LaCrosse is not recognized by the High School Sports authorities or the youth athletic associations, so they are number four on the usage priority - 1 - CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE June 22,2004 list. Once staff gets through the facility requests from the users in the first two priority categories, there aren't a lot of fields available for others. Staff suggested there are a couple of ways to make it work: 1. If Lacrosse is able to end their practices and games before 6:00 p.m. on weekdays. 2. If Lacrosse becomes part of Valley Athletic Association or Eastview Athletic Association they would move up to priority#2 and would have the same access to fields as all other youth sports in those organizations. The field use would be worked out between Lacrosse coaches and the respective youth athletic field coordinators. This is staffs recommended solution. 3. If Lacrosse becomes a High School sport, they would work through ISD #196. Mr. O'Rourke explained that the Lacrosse program started about five years ago. It was not sanctioned as a high school sport and the teams were boys and girls combined. Three out of four years they received fields from Eastview High School. Three years ago, they were part of Eastview Athletic Association and used Delaney Park fields. This past year, Bruce Miller of Eastview High School allocated the Eastview boys team and the RAVE girls team two fields,but the Apple Valley team was left out of the field allocation. Game times are varsity at 5:30 p.m. and jr. varsity at 4:30 p.m. These are guidelines of the sanctioned officials and aren't adjustable. If the sport is sanctioned by the school district, the times may change. This year's teams consisted of 44 boys and 39 girls, 42 of which are residents of Apple Valley and 41 non-residents. Mr. O'Rourke envisions an increase in participant numbers next year. The youth athletic associations require a sport specific participant fee of approximately$12 - $15 per person. Mr. O'Rourke disagrees with the necessity of the fee for the Lacrosse program since they are already insured through U.S. Lacrosse. He doesn't believe it's a good use of registration dollars. He stated that he does believe that while they were affiliated with Eastview Athletic Association they received a fair deal with the field allocations. The Lacrosse game schedules are set in January and Mr. O'Rourke stated that he is hopeful that Eastview High School will allow them some field usage next year. With the schedule being set early in the year, he's hopeful that they can work around the other sports schedules to find field space. Cost of player equipment was discussed; helmet, sticks, gloves, chest protector, elbow pads, etc. totaling a couple hundred dollars. Ms. Pasiuk stated that the RAVE girls team played all of their regular season games away. They worked with ISD #196 Community Ed to schedule their practice and playoff games locally. They also worked with A.V. Parks and Recreation to use the indoor and outdoor - 2 - CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE June 22,2004 hockey rinks. The Lacrosse season runs from mid-April to June. Practices are held indoors two to three times a week March to mid-April. There are five teams within the State that are sanctioned by the High School League as a girls' varsity sport. Boys' teams have not yet been recognized as a varsity sport. Mr. Larson outlined the School District's policy as to when they add or drop a sport from their varsity line-up: 1. Is it sanctioned by the High School League, 2. Is it a Lake Conference sport, 3. Is there an opportunity for competition, 4. Are there facilities available, 5. Is there funding available? He anticipates that Lacrosse will come up for discussion by the High School League representative body again in November 2004. Mr. Larson supports the idea of sanctioning the sport. If it does obtain that recognition, a minimum of six schools will need to offer it as a competitive sport. Then is will be up to the ISD #196 Administration as to whether it's offered in the district high schools. Mr. Gensch stated that he, as well as the rest of Eastview Athletic Association, applaud Lacrosse as a recognized sport. He hopes that it will one day be a high school sport. Eastview Athletic Association has worked with the Lacrosse program until about a year ago, when they left the organization voluntarily. He mentioned that there have been some field usage conflicts between Lacrosse and EVAA sports this year. He invited them back to EVAA if they don't obtain the High School League recognition. Mr. Arthur stated that he echoed Mr. Gensch's feelings. He added that it's good to add participants in the sports program, to get kids aware of the opportunities they have in the community. VAA's $12 participant fee is used to provide behind the scenes work for the entire organization, to cover administrative fees, advertising, web site registrations, etc. He stated that they have a lot of people working to coordinate field usage,lots of participants, and they manage to find space for them all. Mr. DeFauw stated that the City is reluctant to break the working relationship with EVAA and VAA. These volunteers do a job that would cost the tax-payers a pretty penny. He sees a group of committed Lacrosse parents spending money on equipment and travel,but he doesn't believe the avoidance of the $12 - $15 participation fee is enough to break the affiliation with EVAA or VAA considering the benefits. Mr. Hegland stated that the participant fees seemed to be reasonable, and if it can solve the problem,joining EVAA or VAA looks like a good way to go. Mr. Maus questioned how many kids are in the youth athletic organization sports and was told that EVAA has 5,000 in 19 different sports, VAA has 4,500. If Lacrosse joins EVAA or - 3 - CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE June 22,2004 VAA, they'll be absorbed into the field allocation according to the specific sports numbers. They'll get no less priority than the other sports. Mr. Strom predicted that once Lacrosse becomes a high school sport and kids become aware of it, its participant numbers will take off. Mr. Sheldon stated the he can't see why Lacrosse wouldn't want to become part of the larger groups of VAA or EVAA. He suggested keeping the current facility usage policy. Ms. Robinson stated that as a student, she doesn't see the VAA or EVAA sports participant fees to be exorbitant. She agreed that joining those organizations would be a practical solution until Lacrosse becomes a high school sport. Mr. DeFauw applauded Lacrosse's committed parents, their building the program from scratch, and making it work. MOTION: by Russ DeFauw, seconded by Charlie Maus supporting the current parks and recreation facilities usage policy and not establishing a policy of deviating from it. Also,recommending Lacrosse affiliate with Eastview Athletic Association or Valley Athletic Association to work within their programs. DISCUSSION: A clarification of the priority ranking for the Booster Clubs vs. Lacrosse was discussed. The booster clubs are feeder programs to the high school sanctioned sports programs. They interface with the local high schools and work with Community Education and the Parks and Recreation Department to set up facility usage. VOTE: Yes—7, No—0 ITEM 4.11. Playground Equipment Selection Proposals were received from three vendors: Webber Recreational Design, Earl F. Andersen, and Little Tykes for playground equipment and installation at Johnny Cake Ridge West, Newell, and Summerfield parks. Staff reported that all three product vendors were comparable in supply, installation, warrantee, etc. and selection should be determined by what gives the most play for the money. A majority of the playground equipment currently located in the City parks has been ordered and installed by Little Tykes. After review of the various proposals, a vote was taken. Vote went to Little Tykes for Johnny Cake Ridge Park West at $65,000; Landscape Structures for Summerfield Park at$35,000; and Miracle for Newell Park at$35,000. ITEM 5. Other - 4 - CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE June 22, 2004 No items for discussion. ITEM 6. Adjourn There being no further business, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting was adjourned. MOTION: by Lee Strom, seconded by Jim Sheldon to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 p.m. VOTE: Yes—7, No—0 - 5 -