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5.17.22 HR Meeting Minutes-FINALHEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES, MAY 17, 2022 PAGE 1 | 3 1. ROLL CALL Present- Committee Members: Committee Chair Tom Kiddoo and Committee Members Nancy Tashman, Lisa Post, Kevin Hyatt, Pam Warren and Jose Chavez. Staff: Recreation Director of Recreation Michael Labagh, Recreation Services Superintendent Jerrica Miller, Aquatics Superintendent Kacy Carmichael, Swim Program Supervisor Meghan Hershey, Town Manager Eric Heil and General Government Intern Emily Myler (virtual). Town Council: Councilor Scott Prince Absent- Committee Members: Committee Member Kathy Ryan and Committee Vice Chair Pat Nolan Town Council: Councilor Lindsay Hardy and Mayor Sarah Smith Hymes. Committee Chair Tom Kiddoo opened the meeting at 10:05 a.m. 2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Committee Chair Tom Kiddoo made a motion to approve the agenda for the May 17, 2022 meeting and declared the agenda approved. 3. APPROVAL OF THE MAY 2022 MEETING MINUTES Committee Chair Tom Kiddoo made a motion to approve the minutes from the March 15, 2022 meeting and declared the minutes approved. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT No public comments were made. 5. BUSINESS ITEMS 5.1 Health and Recreation Committee Update Recreation Director Labagh welcomed the Committee and thanked the members for joining the meeting, especially the new members. He also stated the Committee’s purpose and current initiatives. He said the Recreation Department works closely with the culture, arts and special events team and the parks team and has different duties from either of these teams. 5.2 Recreation Department Update Recreation Director Labagh showed the Committee the visit data from the Recreation Center in February, March and April 2022. He said the Center had record visits before COVID-19, but numbers are approaching that level again post- pandemic. Over the last few months, the Center had low staff and cut a few services, but as of this month there will be enough staff to reinstate birthday parties, potentially expand pool hours and increase the offerings of group swim lessons. However, the Center is still looking to hire more lifeguards and after school counselors. He went over summer programming including summer camp, indoor drop-in sports, a beach volleyball league, park amenity rentals like sports equipment and outdoor tennis/pickleball/basketball court reconstruction. Aquatics programming will include the dunk-n- dash race series, the open water swim series and meet, the recreati on swim meet as well as increased swim lessons and training for instructors and lifeguards. HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES, MAY 17, 2022 PAGE 2 | 3 The Committee commented/inquired: A. What are some other income sources for the Recreation Center? B. Is there a program to waive or discount fees for summer camp based on need? C. It would be useful to have 30-minute workout routines for patrons that describes how to use different machines and tools to workout effectively and safely. Recreation Director Labagh said there are several types of income besides membership and pass sales including facility rentals, towel rentals, lifeguard training etc. Recreation Superintendent Miller said there is a state-based program which can help families in need to pay for summer camp. She is working on building staff so more children can attend. May is National Water Safety Month, and Recreation Director Labagh said swim lessons are vital to prevent drowning deaths. He spoke about the Community Swim Program at Avon Recreation Center. The program offers many different opportunities for all levels of swimmers to safely learn, compete or just have fun. 5.3 Recreation Center Survey Preliminary Results Recreation Director Labagh said the Survey closed on May 14. He directed the Committee towards the results in the meeting materials (available at Avon.org). He said Town Council will discuss the results in their June 28 meeting. He was pleased that many respondents rated the Center as good or excellent, but he appreciated feedback from patrons who made suggestions to improve. Most people wanted more of everything including hours, services, equipment and space, so he will be analyzing possible expansions that match community needs as well as staff, budget and space constraints. The Committee commented/inquired: A. It would be nice to organize the data to be more understandable, for example arranging answers by most selected to least rather than random order or adding more intuitive colors and labels. B. It would be helpful to ask what times respondents are coming to the Center since many are responding that it is too crowded. C. Does the Department contract with outside companies to do maintenance on the machines and equipment? Recreation Director Labagh said he was also concerned about the responses that the Center is too busy and is looking at solutions. He works with other Recreation Centers to make sure that visitors have all the options they need available nearby and at convenient times. He plans to hire new guest services attendants who can keep different spaces clean, organized and comfortable. There used to be a contract with one of the companies that supplied the fitness equipment to maintain it quarterly, but it was cut during COVID-19 and moved in-house. Staff is researching best practices in the industry during the budgeting process for 2023. Results to question 15 regarding moving the fitness court location were mixed, and Recreation Director Labagh asked the Committee what they thought. The Committee commented/inquired: A. There could be a pickleball court in that location. B. I haven’t used it much or at all. HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES, MAY 17, 2022 PAGE 3 | 3 C. It could be used to hold a class D. The location is hidden E. It could be great for teenagers looking to workout, there should be more outreach 5.4 Recreation Center/351 Benchmark Rd. /Main Street Mall Design Update Town Manager Heil introduced the project to transform the center of Avon, including the Main Street Mall, the Recreation Center and the old fire station at 351 Benchmark Rd into a cohesive core that draws in residents and visitors and promotes civic engagement. He said the main issue is there are so many great ideas that have alread y been proposed. Recreation Director Labagh said he has been involved in the process to choose a design firm for the project. He would like to use the Committee as a venue for community engagement on the process. The Committee commented/inquired: A. This is a huge project; it should be broken down into more easily digestible chunks for better decision -making B. Where are the design firms based? Recreation Director Labagh said the firms that the Town is interviewing have branches located nearby but are based in the Front Range and Texas. All of them have experience with recreation centers and have designed some cutting-edge buildings. 5 CLOSING COMMENTS Several Committee members had feedback for staff, including that the recreation path needs maintenance, the new fence at the outdoor courts is higher and works well to keep balls from flying out of the court, and that there is a problem with dog waste in the park but there isn’t enough signage. 6 ADJOURNMENT Committee Chair Kiddoo motioned to adjourn the meeting and Committee Member Lisa Post seconded the motion. Committee Chair Tom Kiddoo declared the meeting adjourned at 11:56 a.m. Respectfully Submitted by Emily Myler General Government Intern