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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/02/2009 CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE April 2, 2009 Minutes of the April 2, 2009 Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. PRESENT: Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Chair Russ DeFauw, Committee Members Cindy Hart, Tina Rankin, Darrell Retka, Patrick Sullivan, and Lee Strom, Parks and Recreation Director Randy Johnson; Recreation Supervisor Senior Coordinator Susan Muelken; Senior Organization President Carol Geiger; Senior Organization Vice President Marty Griesbach; and eight members of the public. ABSENT: None ITEM #1. Committee Chair DeFauw called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. ITEM #2. Approval of Agenda MOTION: by Lee Strom, seconded by Tina Rankin to approve the agenda as presented. VOTE: Yes – 6, No – 0 ITEM #3. Agenda Items – New Building Name Director Johnson gave brief background information and thanked the members of the senior organization for attending the meeting. The construction of the new building in Hayes Park has been titled Apple Valley Senior Center. City Council members have decided the City should expand the options and generate revenue by rentals during off-senior business hours. Staff has done extensive research into the naming of senior center facilities. What a senior facility is named is a National debate. Reports show there are no right or wrong answers. Naming the facility was a topic at the City’s Goal Setting meeting in early March. Three members of the Council said they would agree to “Hayes Community Senior Center.” March 13, 2009, Council Member LaComb and Council Member Grendahl met with Apple Valley Seniors President Carol Geiger and Parks and Recreation Director Randy Johnson to discuss the facility naming. Director Johnson has also met with the Senior Executive Committee regarding the topic. Comments: Committee Member Darrell Retka observed that it has always been thought to be a senior center and it should have a name with that (in the title). He said it makes good logic to add “Hayes Senior Center” - 1 - CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE April 2, 2009 to the directional sign at the park’s entrance, along with the facility other names: Hayes Park, Hayes Park Arena, etc. Committee Member Lee Strom suggested “Senior Event Center.” Committee Member Tina Rankin recognized the assistance the senior organization has given to the successful bond referendum for these projects. She would be fine with “Senior Center” or “Senior Event Center.” Apple Valley Seniors President Carol Geiger noted that the organization’s legal name is “Apple Valley Seniors.” They’ve been proud to be seniors, and more to the point, Apple Valley seniors. They are a viable group. She believes there are two different population considerations; 1) single one- time events, and 2) ongoing relationship. The Apple Valley Seniors want to be a welcoming group. The Apple Valley Seniors Executive Board recommends “Apple Valley Senior Center” as their first choice. As a compromise, they offer “Hayes Community Senior Center” as acceptable. Maggie Arnold agreed that “Hayes Community Senior Center” would work and noted that they’ve been talking about this for a long time. Dick Geiger stated that the Apple Valley Seniors have raised funds for items to be donated to the City facility and they should have some say in the naming (of the facility). “The City can own the facility, but they shouldn’t own us.” Chair Russ DeFauw said he thinks the name of the building should be “Apple Valley Senior Center.” The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee went to the public and promoted the project. “This concern is a management issue, how to balance multiple users.” The Committee’s task is to submit three names for recommendation. “Apple Valley Senior Center” is number one with the strongest recommendation. Other suggestions are “Hayes Community Senior Center” and “The Center.” Presentation will be given to City Council at the April 9, 2009 meeting. Committee member Cindy Hart stated that “The Center” is non-descript. Vice President Marty Griesbach noted that the bond referendum was to help raise money for the Apple Valley Senior Center. She believes many of the people that passed the bond will believe it is “Apple Valley Senior Center.” “When you look in the phone book, you look for “Apple Valley Senior Center.” Chair Russ DeFauw noted that, from the professional survey report done prior to the 2007 bond referendum, the number one priority of a referendum is the addition/improvement of parks, because it has the widest inclusion of the population. It’s also good policy. Number two was the senior center. It was a key part of the successful bond referendum. Committee member Darrell Retka asked the Seniors how they felt about having outside events in the facility. President Carol Geiger responded that the group is Apple Valley citizens and they think it is fair and right. The group has no issue with that. Helen Rix noted that the City has Apple Valley Sports Arena and then Hayes Park Arena. She told of the school weather-related closing posted on the television screens. There have been issues with - 2 - CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE April 2, 2009 school closings when the school name doesn’t identify the city location. She believes that without the “Apple Valley” notation, it leaves out the identification. MOTION: by Lee Strom, seconded by Russ DeFauw, recommending “Apple Valley Senior Center”, “Apple Valley Senior & Event Center”, and “Apple Valley Event & Senior Center.” DISCUSSION: Committee member Retka questioned the consideration of “Hayes” in the title. Committee member Strom said people that live in Apple Valley identify with “Hayes”, but those from outside don’t know where it’s at. Director Johnson noted that Hayes Park was one of the first parks in Apple Valley. It’s identified with the farm family that owned the property. Chair DeFauw noted that one of the biggest problems with suburbs is the collection of housing developments. Big city suburbs are hard to get people to think like a community. He would like to see “Apple Valley” in the name. AMENDMENT: by Darrell Retka, seconded by Cindy Hart, recommending “Hayes Senior Center” as the third name option. AMENDMENT VOTE: Yes – 6, No – 0 MOTION: by Lee Strom, seconded by Russ DeFauw recommending “Apple Valley Senior Center”, “Apple Valley Senior & Event Center”, “Hayes Senior Center.” VOTE: Yes – 7, No – 0 Senior President Carol Geiger thanked the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee for taking the time to work on this topic and for their support. ITEM 6. Adjourn There being no further business, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting was adjourned. MOTION: by Darrell Retka, seconded by Tina Rankinto adjourn the meeting at 7:05 p.m. VOTE: Yes – 6, No – 0 - 3 -