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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024_09_11 Recreation Commission Minutes TOWN OF MAMARONECK RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES September 11 , 2024 PRESENT: James Druker, Chairman Joyce Callahan Graham Gutter Darren Moss William Paonessa Susan Sigel Brian Welsh ALSO PRESENT: Jill Fisher, Superintendent of Recreation Vicky Laoutaris, Assistant Superintendent of Recreation Eileen Puleo, Commission Secretary Jaine Elkind Eney, Town Supervisor Meredith Robson, Town Administrator Jeffery King, Town Board Liaison Sabrina Fiddelman, Town Councilwoman Anant Nambiar, Town Councilman Robin Nichinsky, Town Councilwoman Allison May, Town Clerk Robert P. Wasp, Town Engineer CALL TO ORDER: The meeting held at the Senior Center; 1288 Boston Post Road was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Chairman Druker. ACCEPTANCE OF MEETING MINUTES: On a motion by Chairman Druker, seconded by Commissioner Paonessa, the Meeting Minutes of August 6, 2024, were unanimously approved as amended. JOINT MEETING WITH THE TOWN BOARD TO DISCUSS THE HOMMOCKS OUTDOOR POOL COMPLEX, MEMORIAL PARK PLAYGROUND SHADE, AND CARPINO-STEFFENS FIELDS: Town Administrator, Meredith Robson reviewed the purpose of tonight's follow up joint meeting which was to provide an update and to seek further guidance and direction on how the Town Board and Recreation Commission would like the staff to proceed. HOMMOCKS OUTDOOR POOL COMPLEX: Rob Wasp, Town Engineer reminded everyone that the pool renovation was being looked at as a large-scale master plan project. As requested, the consulting firm of Ballard and King Associates, was contacted to provide an estimate to provide a Market Needs Study of the complex. The estimate for this study ranges between $30,000 - $45,000. Mr. Wasp shared the updated estimate and plans for replacing the current mushroom pool with a splashpad. The estimated equipment cost is $370,000. This does not include site and ground assessments, engineering costs, design costs. The total estimate for the splashpad project is estimated between $800,000 to $1 ,000,000. The Town has received grant money for the pool updates. There are (2) separate NY State Dormitory grants in the amount of $250,000. One is earmarked for design only and the other for construction only. The Town has also set aside $1,000,000 in the General Fund towards this project. Administrator Robson raised the question if we should do the splash pad now with the funds we have and deal with outdoor training pool later. By delaying the renovation of Town of Mamaroneck Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes September 11, 2024 - Page 2 THE TOWN BOARD JOINED THE RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING TO DISCUSS THE HOMMOCKS OUTDOOR POOL COMPLEX, MEMORIAL PARK PLAYGROUND, AND CARPINO-STEFFENS FIELD CONTINUED: the training pool a bit it would allow time to apply for additional grants or establish a plan for funding for this project. Board Member, Nambiar suggested that fundraising be considered to help fund this project. Chairman Druker expressed that installing a new splashpad would provide an immediate impact to the community and is money well spent and something the community, camps and users of all ages can enjoy. Commissioner Moss expressed concern that Phase 2 would not happen before the splash pad is outdated. After further discussion, the Recreation Commission voted and passed a Resolution that the Town Board appropriate the funds to go forward with the Splash Pad and to table the larger pool project for now with the expectation that additional market research and fundraising will be done during this time. Commissioner Gutter opposed the vote, of only focusing on the splash pad. Supervisor Eney announced that she was informed by the school district that they are looking to renovate the locker rooms at the pool pending state approval. This would add a positive impact to the facility. CARPINO-STEFFENS FIELDS: Supervisor Eney provided a brief review of the timeline and initial request by Fields for Kids to turf the Hommocks Fields. A study was conducted on the sub surface conditions and the ability to accommodate a turf field. The results were insufficient in determining if a turf field would be suitable, therefore a second study is being performed. The new study would consist of an independent geotechnical engineer to provide a third-party review of the current ground conditions report. A meeting is being scheduled with Field for Kids regarding this new study and its funding. Jill Fisher, Recreation Superintendent and Engineer Robert Wasp met with Landtek to discuss the rehabilitation of the current grass fields as another option for consideration regarding improvements to the fields. In order to rehabilitate the grass fields, Landtek would need to take off at least the top 2 inches of the grass, level the soil base and either re-seed or re-sod the area. The fields would be closed for 6 — 8 months and is estimated at $700,000 - $1,000,000. Board Member King, inquired about the potential revenue opportunities the Town can capture with the renting out of a turf field. It was suggested that an analysis be conducted including expenses, revenue and hours of usage for both artificial turf and natural grass fields. After further discussions regarding the need to move forward with improvements to the fields, the Commission unanimously passed a Resolution for the Town Board to appropriate the necessary funds for the study of one turf field and one natural grass field at the Carpino-Steffens Fields and to seek the assistance of Fields for Kids. MEMORIAL PARK PLAYGROUND: Robert P. Wasp, Town Engineer and Jill Fisher, Superintendent of Recreation presented a variety of options for shading in response to concerns: • A picnic area with a shade structure at the far end of the park. This would provide shade for 2 — 3 picnic tables. The estimated cost for this would be approximately $30,000. • Individual picnic tables with built in canopies at a cost of approximately $9,000 per table. • Benches with a shade structure attached. Town of Mamaroneck Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes September 11, 2024 - Page 3 • Installing shade sails over part of the playground. Administrator Robson suggested that instead of piecing things together, the Town Board discussed hiring a landscape architect to look holistically at the park. The consensus is that the equipment itself is too hot and unusable during the summer and this area needs to be considered. After further discussion, the Recreation Commission unanimously approved the recommendation of hiring a landscape architect for a proposal. Chairman Druker expressed his concern that this project needs to be completed before next summer. A RFP will be put out for this project. The new landscape plantings along the tennis courts will be put on hold until this study is completed. REVIEW PROPOSED 2025 CAPITAL PLAN AND PROJECTS REQUESTS: Enclosed for review was the Proposed 5-year Capital Plan for the Recreation Department. • A generator for the Senior Center. The Town will be applying for a CDBG grant to fund this project. • A 20-passenger bus for the Senior Center. • Vehicle Replacements for both the Senior Center and Recreation Department. • A new Zamboni at the ice rink to replace the 2010 Zamboni. • Additional cameras and new access controls points for the exterior ice rink doors. • Outdoor pool complex expansion and reconstruction • A building management system for the ice rink to alert employees of critical changes in the mechanical or HVAC system. • New rubber flooring with the ice rink facility. • Rehabilitation of 2 natural grass fields at Carpino Steffens Fields. • Purchase and installation of shade structures at Memorial Park. • Rehabilitation of the Memorial Park Tennis Courts. SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE: Ms. Fisher reported the following: 1. The fall facility requests for use of the Carpino-Steffens Fields by Ms. Bari Suman and Mr. Simon McCarthy were approved as submitted. 2. An email from resident, Janine Bevilacqua was enclosed complimenting the new Adult Learn to Swim program. 3. Registration for most fall programs began on August 20th. The Recreation brochure is available online, and newsletters will be sent out monthly. 4. Registration for Session 1 of Skating School will take place on September 17th 5. The ice rink is scheduled to host a Try Hockey for Free and a Learn to Skate Open House on Sunday, September 15th 6. The Sunday, Freestyle Skating Program began on September 8th with an enrollment of 5. The Wednesday afternoon session currently only has 1 enrolled. These numbers are expected to increase. 7. A copy of the October Public Session rink calendar is enclosed for your information. Daily public skating sessions will begin on Tuesday, October 1st 8. The Learn to Play Hockey Clinic begins on September 7th. Currently, we have 73 enrolled in this session. 9. Fall tennis programs began the week of September 9th 10.On September 6th, we held our last outdoor Movie in the Park this season with a showing of "The Spy Next Door". 11.Our Annual Fall Food Truck Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 5th 12.The annual maintenance to the fields was completed on August 12th by Landtek, and the fields reopened for play on September 3rd Town of Mamaroneck Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes September 11, 2024 - Page 4 13.Two of the shade structures at the pool were damaged during a strong storm on August 9th. Both shade structures will be replaced during the off season. 14.Negotiations for a contract extension with the ice rink concessionaire, John DeMairo have begun. The current contract expires on February 1 , 2025. 15.The current balance in the Hommocks Park Ice Rink Trust fund is $82,527. 16.The parking lot improvements at the Senior Center have been completed. Photos were enclosed. 17.We picked up several unplanned ice rentals at the end of the summer due to a delayed construction project at the Ice Hutch Skating Rink. These additional rentals brought in $7,350 in unplanned revenue. 18.David Andrews and Eileen Puleo are back to work full-time. Matt Angst, Ice Rink Manager will be taking some extended time off due to the birth of his baby. Ethan Samuel left our employment after four weeks to accept a job offer with the Westchester County Board of Legislators. BRIAN WELSH, RECREATION COMMISSIONER: Commissioner Welsh was contacted by Ben Foster, Mamaroneck/Larchmont Football Club to inquire about using the Hommocks Fields for his soccer program on Wednesdays. Apparently, this program took place on Mondays on the Flint Park fields and Mr. Foster would like to move his program to Wednesdays but there is no field available. After further discussion, Chairman Druker made a motion to open the fields on Wednesdays for children ages 6 and under. The motion did not pass on a count of 5 against and 2 in favor. REVIEW OF 2024 SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS: Vicky Laoutaris, Assistant Superintendent presented to the Commission an overview of the 2024 camp season. Both the Hommocks Camp and Camp Rockingstone had a successful summer season. Both camps enjoyed many activities, special events and visits by multiple entertainers. The Hommocks Camp was under the direction of a new Director, Lynise Blake who provided a great experience for the campers and staff. We had a total of 291 in Hommocks Camp and 59 in Camp Rockinstone. The Teen Travel Camp was fully enrolled with 45 kids in each session. RENOVATIONS OF HOMMOCKS POOL LOCKER ROOMS: As a follow up to Supervisor Eney's announcement regarding the School District's intent on renovating the Hommocks Pool Locker Rooms. We are being advised that if approved, the project would require the closing of the Hommocks Pool for approximately 5-6 months beginning January 1 , 2025. This lengthy closure will have a large impact to those who utilize the pool. We will need to provide refunds to those with current pool permits and cancel all winter and spring aquatic programs. Updates will be provided. JEFFERY KING, TOWN BOARD LIAISON UPDATE: Mr. King had no new updates for the Commission. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Commission, on a motion by Chairman Druker, seconded by Commissioner Sigel, the meeting adjourned at 9:05 P.M.