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03-05-2007 PRCEMMINUTES Parks, Recreation & Community Education Advisory Board March 5, 2007 Members present were: Bill Arndt, Keith Kamrath, Mike Retterath, Mike Cannon, Beth Hepola, Deane Dietel and Lora Muilenburg. Also present were Dolf Moon, September Jacobsen, Sharon Armstrong, Marv Haugen and Karen McKay. The meeting was called to order at 5:15 pm. A motion was made by Bill Arndt and seconded by Mike Retterath to approve the minutes dated February 5, 2007. The board unanimously agreed. OLD BUSINESS Result Statement From Focus Groups – Dolf distributed a copy of the Result Statement From Focus Groups as determined by the City Council. The City is working with Vivid Image to develop a web site where participants can spend an imaginary $100 on the seven programs that are most important to them such as police, fire, park and recreation and library services. NEW BUSINESS September Jacobsen, Event Center Coordinator presented the Board with the accomplishments and goals of the Event Center, Senior Programming and the Adaptive Recreation Program. Kathy Hemmah supervises the Senior Programming and Adaptive Recreation Program. The construction and completion of the new canopy over the entrance of the Event Center took place in 2006. The project was funded in part by funds received from room naming rights. The comments have been very positive. Room remodeling – two activity rooms were combined to form one large room. Senior activity fundraising provided the funded for the project. There were 350 business meetings held at the Event Center in ’07 versus 160 in ‘06. 21 trips were offered in ’07 with 880 participants attending. There are approximately 500 to 600 senior activity newsletters mailed monthly. The Adaptive Recreation Program is the only one of its kind in the seven county area. Typical activities include craft projects, dinner/dances and playing bingo. The United Way helps fund this unique program. September will explore the feasibility of the Event Center hosting events and speakers. A rotating maintenance schedule will be developed as the building ages. She will also solicit sponsorship of a dishwasher to allow for renting out china, flatware and glassware. Sharon Armstrong, Community Education Programmer reported that 239 programs and activities were offered in 2006 and 173 were held (70%). Student Drivers Education, 55 Alive Defensive Driving and swimming lessons are some of the programs held consistently. MINUTES PRCE Advisory Board March 5, 2007 Page Two One of the services included in Community Education is taking reservations for the school facilities for example the gyms, swimming pools, auditoriums, cafeterias and classrooms. Community Education also includes Adult Basic Education or ABE, which offers adults an opportunity to learn English as a second language or test for General Education Development or GED. Classes are held at Ridgewater College Monday through Thursdays 9:00 am-3:00 pm and 5:00-8:00 pm year round. Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is also part of Community Education. The program offers parents of children age birth to kindergarten an opportunity to meet other new parents and discuss the challenges of parenting. Accomplishments in 2006 include an updated American Red Cross swim lesson program, new youth athletic camps, an extension of the summer lap swim program and a new, improved Community Education web page. Looking ahead in 2007 Community Education will continue to collect All Day Every Day Kindergarten tuition fees, implement the improved rental rates for school facilities, coordinate the Middle School Pool use and offer a program held in Litchfield named DWP or Developing Winning Personalities. A DWP van picks up and returns Hutchinson youth to participate in healthy, fun and educational activities. Also in 2007 a community wide “Arts Midwest Music Ensembles” will be presented in the classroom for two weeks over two years with music and cultural benefits for students, a concert will be held at the conclusion of each event. Marv Haugen, Facilities and Operations Manager of the Recreation Center and the Burich Arena told the Board of the Burich family’s commitment to the arena. A new ice resurfacer will be needed in 2009. The last one cost $50,000 the new one might be electric to help with emissions. A new electronic sign has been installed, sponsored by Citizens Bank, the cost is in the range of $30,000-$40,000 the excavation and landscaping was done by volunteers. Summer ice will be take place if three weeks of ice are sold. There has been a decline in the past three years, 277 hours in ’04, 218 in ’05 and 175 in ’06. Culver’s Restaurant is a new corporate sponsor. There are also eight advertising signs on the dasher boards in the east arena. The outdoor pool was opened in the summer of 1986; built with revenue collected by a referendum. At that time, the yearly attendance was 30,000; that number has dropped to 12,000- 13,000. The pool needs upgrades to stay competitive. People are going elsewhere for swimming fun. A proposal was drafted in 2001 for a 1.6 million dollar pool upgrade that would include a zero depth area, shallow play, and lap swimming areas, drop slides, water features and a sand volleyball court. The mechanical room, restrooms and shower area would also need to be upgraded. MINUTES PRCE Advisory Board March 5, 2007 Page Three If the half-cent sales tax were implemented, the pool upgrades could be one of the proposed projects to benefit from the raised revenue along with a proposed ballfield complex to be built in northeast Hutchinson near North High Drive and Bluff Street. It would include four new adult size softball and four soccer fields. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:25 pm by a motion made by Deane Dietel, seconded by Lora Muilenburg. The board unanimously agreed. klm