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1.17.23- HR Meeting Minutes-FINALHEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES, JANUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 1 | 15 1. ROLL CALL Present- Committee Members: Committee Chair Kevin Hyatt and Committee Members, Lisa Post (virtual), Nancy Tashman and Pam Warren Staff: Recreation Director Michael Labagh, Planning Director Matt Pielsticker, Aquatics Superintendent Kacy Carmichael, Recreation Services Superintendent Jerrica Miller, Recreation Services Supervisor Mike Atencio and Town Manager Eric Heil Town Council: Councilor Ruth Stanley (virtual) Norris Design: Senior Associate Lindsay Newman and Principal Megan Testin BRS: Facility Performance Advisor John Barnholt Absent- Committee Members: Kathy Ryan and Pat Nolan Town Council: Councilor RJ Andrade Committee Chair Kevin Hyatt opened the meeting at 10:01a.m. 2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Recreation Director Michael Labagh proposed an additional agenda item 5.1 Health & Recreation Committee Update. Committee Member Pam Warren motioned to approve the agenda for the January 17, 2023, meeting with the update and Committee Chair Kevin Hyatt seconded the motion to approve the agenda. Recreation Director Michael Labagh declared the agenda approved. 3. APPROVAL OF THE NOVEMBER 2023 MEETING MINUTES Committee Member Pam Warren made a motion to approve the minutes from the November 15, 2023, meeting, Committee Member Nancy Tashman seconded the motion and Recreation Director Labagh declared the minutes approved. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT No public comments were made. 5. BUSINESS ITEMS 5.1 Health & Rec Committee Update Recreation Director Labagh informed the committee that Committee Member Jose Chavez has resigned from his position from the Health & Recreation Committee. He is now employed by the Town of Avon as a Drop-In Sports Attendant. 5.2 Recreation Department Update Recreation Director Michael Labagh stated the Recreation Department finished 2022 strong, with record levels of admission revenue and attendance. Two successful membership and punch card sales. Not the highest sale year ever, but solid sales compared to recent years. The Avon Recreation Center has been a “Best of Vail” finalist 3 out of the last 4 years for ‘Best Workout Spot’, Harry A. Nottingham Park was named a finalist for ‘Best Family Entertainment.’ HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES, JANUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 2 | 15 Labagh informed the committee that ice skating on Nottingham Lake opened Jan 3rd. Operations have been weather dependent and staffing dependent, but Staff hope to operate the rink through the end of February. He let the committee know that ice rink updates and status can be found at avon.org, social media channels or by calling the recreation center front desk. The Committee and Attendees commented/inquired: A. Committee Member Pam Warren asked if ice skating is a profit center? In terms of liability, does it affect insurance costs? a. Recreation Director Michael Labagh explained that the goal is to break even but providing ice skating on the lake has been identified as an important and justified service for the Town. Our current insurance covers ice skating as it is not above and beyond the risks already covered. Participants are required to sign a liability waiver prior to using the ice rink. B. Committee Member Nancy Tashman– Is there an update on treadmills and equipment? C. Committee Member Pam Warren inquired how many pieces of equipment are down per month, as it seems it’s been high lately. Is it supply chain, maintenance, or parts? How is it communicated, do the users understand? It’s not a criticism of you, but do they understand? a. Recreation Director Michael Labagh replied that the status of the equipment is communicated on the “out of order” sign, and he has found that patrons understand supply chain issues because of their own experiences with delays purchasing everyday items. One of the treadmill companies have gone out of business so it’s been difficult to process warranty claims and obtain parts. Anyone who asks is provided with in depth details, but we can look for ways to better communicate these challenges. D. Committee Member Nancy Tashman stated that some users choose not to understand the reason behind their inconvenience. E. Committee Member Pam Warren inquired about the water pressure at the Avon Recreation Center. She has heard concerns from male colleagues and would like to know more about the issue. a. Recreation Director Michael Labagh explained that the building water pressure is working as it should. Shower heads were upgraded to a lower gallons per minute (GPM) rating to meet Town climate action goals, but there are still some malfunctioning shower handles. The Building Technician Team have been made aware of the issue with the handles. 5.3 La Zona Planning Project Presentation Recreation Director Michael Labagh announced the potential Recreation Center expansion, and connection of the pedestrian mall is exciting to share with the Health & Recreation Committee. He then introduced Planning Director Matt Pielsticker who gave a recap of the preparation for La Zona conducted so far. A site walk was conducted in July with staff from Public Works, Recreation, Planning and Designers. In the Fall discussion was paused and started back up in December. The Health & Recreation Committee is the first group to hear this information, a packet went out on Friday 1/13/23. Matt Pielsticker has been the Planning Director since 2002 and enthusiastically provided a high-level background and scope of this project. The grand launch will be next month at Town Council and encouraged Committee Members to provide feedback. Tract G includes the Library, old Fire Station, and Recreation Center. Anything that developed on the 40 acres of Tract G is intended to meet the needs of the whole HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES, JANUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 3 | 15 town. Housing was considered as a replacement for the Fire Station, but it has been determined that idea does not serve the highest amount of people. He continued to explain, there are lots of great ideas for the Fire Station, but not everything needs to fit into La Zona, the Town also has land development opportunities in the Village at Avon and land plot P3. The Recreation Center expansion has been envisioned since it was originally built. A ballot measure was attempted in 2014 and was narrowly defeated, but this time around there will be a more serious plan. He continued to inform the group that the old Town Hall site will be re-bid out to external contractors. La Zona is a buzzword and includes anything east of Lake St in Tract G, the zone between Lake Street, the Fire Station, and Recreation Center. La Zona is the “heart of the heart” or some ventricle of the heart. It’s the transition zone to Nottingham Park. The goals of the project are to determine the redevelopment of 351 Benchmark Rd, Recreation Center expansion, and the Main Street Mall extension. The next steps include community meetings, surveys, planning commission & Town Council Review, Consensus and Design process. In 2014 the Recreation Center expansion did not include expanding aquatics but did include expanding to include a gymnasium. Recreation Director Michael Labagh added that Recreation Staff conducted a patron survey last year and used the results from the 2021 Town of Avon Community Survey. Extensive staff interviews were also conducted. Lindsay Newman and Megan Testin of Norris Design introduced themselves and stated they were involved with the planning project for the playground helping them become familiar with this area of Avon. The Committee and Attendees commented/inquired: F. Committee Member Pam Warren asked for clarification of the white boxes in the image represent. a. Planning Director Matt Pielsticker explained those are platted property, and the white area on the map is not part of Tract G. G. Committee Member Pam Warren asked the Norris Design representatives if they have designed other facilities? What are some of the key takeaways beyond the design that we can communicate to the taxpayers? Design is fun, but the important challenge is how to prioritize and sell it to the constituents. a. John Barnholt from BRS responded praising the Committee Member for a great question about experience. BRS designed Mountain Recreation facilities, Montrose Recreation Center, and other recreation centers along the front range. The designs in the packet will be referred to asOptions as the details are presented. The Recreation Center is almost 28 years old and some areas have a high demand driving this planning process. Since all people who are present are all familiar with the existing center, we will move to discussing Option 1. At the northeast corner of building, we could create a two-story addition focused on fitness. Right now, the weight room is on the second floor right over the locker rooms so causing some stress on the locker room below and is not large enough. It would be moved to the ground level in the new area. H. Committee Member Pam Warren inquired about the change in square footage and how it compares to current square footage? HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES, JANUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 4 | 15 a. John Barnholt from BRS replied stating the new space would be 2,700 sq. ft approximately. The current space is about 1,800 sq. ft, so space for fitness would increase. John Barnholt from BRS continued in his explanation of Option 1 including the redesign of the west studio to become child watch, important to note it will not be childcare space. He provided an example that hours could be 8:00 a.m.- noon, Monday through Saturday, or 4-7pm Monday through Thursday leaving lots of extra time to use that space for other purposes, like meetings or classes. When looking at the second floor of the northeast corner, this space would be a functional and circuit weight area. This could include TRX, battle ropes, steps, and other things people like to use. The current functional space could turn into an aerobics and dance studio. The cardio space would not change, but the weight room space would become a multi-use room. The Committee and Attendees commented/inquired: I. Committee Member Pam Warren added that the aerobics/dance studio was valuable space lost. It would be great to get that back. She then inquired if the entrance to the building would change? a. John Barnholt from BRS replied that, no, the entrance would stay the same. When thinking of child watch you think of a fun space, but the idea is that it would function for other types of programming . John Barnholt then shared photos of other facilities designed by BRS. J. Committee Member Nancy Tashman reminded the group that all that natural light is great for kids. John Barnholt from BRS continued his presentation stating that lots of things can be done with fixtures and finishes, even wood floor so it serves as a martial arts or a dance studio, etc. The dedicated weight area construction cost range of $7.5 million plus soft costs of $2.3 million, a total of $9.8 million. The Committee and Attendees commented/inquired: K. Committee Member Nancy Tashman asked Recreation Director Michael Labagh how will this be funded? a. Recreation Director Michael Labagh responded saying the Town is hoping to complete some of these projects with Capital Improvements Funding or government financing. A general obligation bond would be put to the public and at the earliest would be voted on Fall 2024. It would be put to a vote by Avon Residents. b. Planning Director Matt Pielsticker expressed confidence that the first few options can be financed, but Town of Avon will need to go to the voters for aquatics upgrades. L. Committee Member Pam Warren inquired if those are current pricing numbers and if there a plan for price escalation? a. John Barnholt from BRS responded prices would need to be adjusted. John explained further that Recreation Director Michael Labagh has stressed that staff space is limited, people working elbow to elbow. Adding more programming and child watch means more space needed for staff. If dedicated administrative space can be expanded from 2500 sq. ft. to house most of staff workstations, open work space can be shared. The Committee and Attendees commented/inquired: HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES, JANUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 5 | 15 M. Committee Member Nancy Tashman asked if that is a second-floor addition? a. John Barnholt from BRS confirmed that is correct. Old staff space can become support space for admissions or storage. The cost would be $1.8 million, plus approximate soft cost $2 million. b. Recreation Director Michael Labagh explained that staff are already crowded, sharing desk space. N. Committee Member Nancy Tashman agreed that administrative staff space keeps the building functioning. John Barnholt from BRS presented Option 3, where the lobby would extend to the west. They would relocate the front desk and climb wall to the west as well. The vision is to install a 40ft. climbing wall with about four routes and a bouldering section. The Committee and Attendees commented/inquired: O. Committee Member Pam Warren asked if that would take away windows for the kids’ space? a. John Barnholt from BRS replied stating that moving the front desk puts eyes on the climb wall and child watch or lounge area. Staff can keep an eye on kids as they wait for a ride, or folks can relax after lifting weights. b. Recreation Director Michael Labagh told the committee Avon Recreation Center is already transforming into a community center. He observes people playing chess, reading books, or conducting remote work using the Wi-Fi while their kids swim or use the rock wall. c. John Barnholt from BRS confirmed Recreation Centers BRS builds are trending toward a focus on lobby space. P. Committee Member Nancy Tashman inquired if the climb wall would be two stories tall? a. John Barnholt replied that yes, and there are lots of opportunities with that design including space for passive purposes. Cost would be $2.7-2.9 million plus soft cost $3.5-3.8 million because it will require some site work, adding 5%. Q. Committee Member Nancy Tashman inquired if the climb wall could be used competitively? a. John Barnholt replied stating climbing walls can be as competitive as you make them. R. Committee Member Pam Warren inquired about where are the climbing gyms in the county? She is aware of Gypsum, Edwards, Eagle, but what about Vail? a. Recreation Director Michael Labagh mentioned Eagle Climbing and fitness, Avon Recreation Center has a small bouldering wall, Gypsum Recreation Center Climb wall and bouldering section, and Edwards climb wall and bouldering. S. Committee Member Pam Warren inquired if climbing is really a priority? We can only spend so much money and we need childcare, a pool, etc. a. Recreation Director Michael Labagh agreed with her point, stating we could make it differentiated to attract people to use it. All these ideas are on the table, it could create opportunities for birthday parties, attracting tourists, or even outsourcing programming using community partners, etc. T. Committee Member Pam Warren inquired if there is data to help understand what level priority the climb wall is. We want people to understand the options, including the phases. HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES, JANUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 6 | 15 a. Planning Director Matt Pielsticker stated the phasing is intentional. b. Lindsay Newman from Norris Design added that she appreciates data and will need to collect community outreach to get real data driven info about what the community is looking for. This presentation is just the start. U. Committee Member Pam Warren confirmed she understands and wants to discuss how to sell it to the population, asking who are we really serving here? a. Lindsay Newman from Norris Design replied the voters are the target audience, ultimately. b. John Barnholt from BRS explained as Planning Director Matt Pielsticker pointed out, we can break down the priorities. c. Megan Testin from Norris Design explained how they would ask people to allocate $10 to a list of different ideas to see how they would prioritize spending . d. Planning Director Matt Pielsticker pointed out that a vocal minority can also dominate surveys, st ating they could hear from just pickle-ball players. e. Lindsay Newman from Norris Design stated that even after collecting data they may not get every answer needed, so some decisions will have to be made. John Barnholt from BRS continued the presentation moving on to Option 4, including a new spa, and removing the existing spa. The spa would be two tiered with an elevated level, so there is a family spa and an adult -only spa. The space for the existing spa could become more deck space, staging for school groups, or a birthday party, a great area to utilize. The cost would be $2.8-3.8 million. The Committee and Attendees commented/inquired: V. Committee Chair Kevin Hyatt stated he would personally enjoy the spa, not the climbing wall. W. Committee Member Pam Warren jokingly asked where is the wine bar? X. Committee Member Pam Warren inquired if there is any way to build an upper-level walking track around the interior of the existing pool area? I know an indoor walking track has been a demand from community members, but maybe too expensive. a. John Barnholt from BRS stated an indoor walking track around the upper level of the pool area would not be a healthy place to exercise because of humidity and chemicals. Y. Committee Member Pam Warren agreed it probably does not make sense to add a walking track to the upper level of the pool area, but there is still a demand for indoor walking space. a. Recreation Director Michael Labagh replied stating that adding a walking and running track might be cost prohibitive. In the pool area does not make sense because the pool area is on its own HVAC for a good reason. Z. Committee Member Pam Warren inquired about a parking garage, and if it is possible to put pickle ball courts on top or soccer fields. She added that is a longer-term idea. a. Recreation Director Michael Labagh confirmed that was included in conceptual designs years and years ago, but very expensive so the Town has steered clear of acting on that idea. AA. Committee Member Pam Warren stated it may be an easier sell because the demand is so high, like Vail’s parking center with the kids play area and skate park. HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES, JANUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 7 | 15 a. Planning Director Matt Pielsticker agreed it is sort of related to this discussion, a parking structure makes sense for events and other needs. The walking track is proving difficult to implement. b. John Barnholt added that the building is not structurally made for a walking track and the retrofitting is not practical. John Barnholt continued his presentation starting with a new waterslide that could go partially out of the building and back into building. Recreation Director Michael Labagh added the detail that the slide is original, now 27 years old. The manufacturer said yes, we can keep using it, but they recommend replacing it for safety. It has been refurbished 3 to 4 times with structural additions. The slide flume was refurbished this Fall. The slide stairs need renovation. He has observed if the slide can go outside the building it could remove blind spots for lifeguards and add space for more spray features. The waterfall is not currently working, and a slide extending outside the building can add curb appeal. The Committee and Attendees commented/inquired: BB. Committee Member Pam Warren inquired if you could see people as they ride from outside? a. Recreation Director Michael Labagh stated the new slide could be rainbow colors and translucent, showing the shadow of the rider go by from outside the building. John Barnholt from BRS continued, stating the trend is to not have the slide drop into the pool, but instead end at a runout. The Committee and Attendees commented/inquired: CC. Committee Member Pam Warren inquired if the slide would dead end and not go into the pool at all? a. John Barnholt from BRS responded that yes, and less staffing would be required as well. DD. Committee Member Nancy Tashman inquired what is the life expectancy of the recent refurbishment? a. Recreation Director Michael Labagh responded 5-10 years depending on wear and tear. EE. Committee Member Nancy Tashman inquired how would they keep the slide warm if it goes outside, is it insulated? a. John Barnholt from BRS responded stating the water will be constantly running and warm. John Barnholt from BRS continued to present the multi-purpose pool that can be used for competition, adding drop slides and slack lines or other attractive features for teens. The expansion of the lobby would be important for th e addition of a new pool. Avon Recreation Center would need new, smaller locker rooms for competitions. This area would include pool support and a new lifeguard office to have eyes on the recreational water, competitive swim lanes and spa area. Glass could be expensive since it would be added to a support wall. The Committee and Attendees commented/inquired: FF. Committee Chair Kevin Hyatt stated he is a fan of all this, but we need to look at what generates money, like birthday parties at Gypsum Recreation Center with their gymnastics area foam pit, bounce castles, etc. If we promote that we have birthday parties, money will waterfall in. HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES, JANUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 8 | 15 GG. Committee Member Pam Warren stated that we need look at how we can generate revenue. Where are the competition pools around here? a. Recreation Director Michael Labagh replied stating the closest pool is Glenwood Springs Community Center for swim competitions. Silverthorne Recreation Center is the other next closest lap pool, but they have only recreational swimming, like what is offered at Avon Recreation Center. Swim meets bring in hotel guest, restaurant dining, etc. We don’t have exact data on that yet. When we make a survey, we will ask about this interest. HH. Committee Member Pam Warren inquired what about staffing? Housing is a huge concern. If we build it, who will staff it? It’s another piece of the equation people need to consider. II. Committee Chair Kevin Hyatt agreed, where are they going to live and shower? a. Recreation Director Michael Labagh stated we understand staffing is an issue, we have had to adjust hours of operations but have returned to mostly normal operations. JJ. Committee Member Pam Warren reminded the Committee there will be an increased need for cleaning as well. John Barnholt from BRS brought up the Options list with pricing to the presentation screen. With Option 6 there is the option of adding the big pool for $20.4-$20.8 million. The Committee and Attendees commented/inquired: KK. Committee Member Pam Warren stated her question about the big pool, could it be an indoor/outdoor pool with a bubble over it? a. Recreation Director Michael Labagh responded stating a retractable roof is an option, with a large price tag, another $1-2 million. LL. Committee Member Pam Warren commented she thinks it would be great to swim outdoors in the summer or hold a swim meet outdoors. a. Recreation Director Michael Labagh replied to Committee Member Pam Warren it can be considered in Option 6 as a supplement. MM. Committee Member Pam Warren inquired if there are any options like that in Colorado? a. John Barnholt from BRS responded that bubbles are an interesting concept, but a maintenance nightmare. Castle Rock is exploring it as an option, but no other examples in Colorado he is aware of. b. Recreation Director Michael Labagh added that would be an Option 7 instead of Option 6 with a new pool. NN. Committee Member Pam Warren stated she thinks that is a great idea to present, people will want an indoor walking track, basketball courts, gymnasium, pickleball, and a meeting center. She stated she is not sure which will generate more revenue or interest. OO. Committee Chair Kevin Hyatt inquired about a third floor pool? With a see-through floor! a. Planning Director Matt Pielsticker requested a pause to ask for any more feedback from those online . Committee Member Lisa Post said no, and Committee Member Ruth Stanley cannot speak because she is ill. b. Recreation Director Michael Labagh responded to Committee Member Pam Warren’s comments stating that it sounds like we should include the gymnasium as an option. HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES, JANUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 9 | 15 Break – 5 min Megan Testin from Norris Design started by returning to the topic of data and selling these ideas to the public. Health & Recreation Committee members will be “in the know” and can help with communication. We will also create pillars of clear and clean messaging. That is important to take to the public. We here understand all the details, but the public outreach plan will have talking points, and really a brand of its own. We are telling the story and it needs to be clear and supported by data. We must have a reason, and the data makes it authentic. To us this is fun, Avon has so much to offer. How can we connect the gondola, the highway, and the recreational area. The pedestrian mall is the transition. Lindsay Newman from Norris Design mentioned the in-depth walk through in July helped identify the concept view. There is great sidewalk connectivity, but the blue sections on the map could use improvements. They are looking at how to activate the mall more, bring in shaded seating, and deal with the sections that are private property. On the East side by Benchmark Rd, they are looking at how to create gateways and space for play. The Committee and Attendees commented/inquired: PP. Committee Member Pam Warren inquired where is the mall on the map? a. Lindsay Newman from Norris Design showed map on large screen with potential facility expansions. b. Megan Testin from Norris Design mentioned the area outside the Recreation Center as being playful with visual vernacular; the Recreation Center is colorful and playful. These styles clash with the style of the statues in the roundabouts. Once people know about the park, it’s great, but with gateways it doesn’t have to be “discovered”. QQ. Committee Member Pam Warren agreed there is no visual direction for newcomers, they have to stumble upon it. a. Lindsay Newman from Norris Design agreed they want people to see that they can walk to the park from the gondola. RR. Committee Member Pam Warren inquired about parking for access to these gateways? a. Megan Testin from Norris Design agreed gateways are needed to show how to get to the park, where to park vehicles, and then how to walk to the park? SS. Committee Member Nancy Tashman stated she never thought of it that way, with the pedestrian mall. a. Megan Testin from Norris Design stated the crosswalk just dead ends into a tree. The mural and the waterslide could be the landmarks that help direct people to the park. Lindsay Newman from Norris Design continued the presentation with 9 options on the list for the old Fire Station. Flexible space for community and events like hosting a wedding, office s for Recreation Center employees, host an art show, etc. This spot has amazing views and is anchored on a corner. The idea is to serve the whole community. The Committee and Attendees commented/inquired: HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES, JANUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 10 | 15 TT. Committee Member Pam Warren inquired if the old Fire Station must be torn down? Donovan was a great idea and beautiful for weddings. The revenue is important. a. Lindsay Newman from Norris Design answered in the affirmative to her question about tearing down the Fire Station. UU. Committee Member Nancy Tashman added that would require more parking. a. Megan Testin from Norris Design stated that it is comfortable to be in Avon without a car because people can walk anywhere. VV. Committee Member Pam Warren stated there should be a place to drink on the roof. WW. Committee Chair Kevin Hyatt explained he runs a horse drawn carriage business and has hosted weddings in all kinds of places. a. Recreation Director Michael Labagh reminded the Committee there is also the terrace that can be rented out, including for weddings, but with no rain plan. Lindsay Newman from Norris Design stated they have the top three ideas. Th next option is a skate park. It would be a draw to the area. The Committee and Attendees commented/inquired: XX. Committee Member Pam Warren stated a skate park is not a revenue generator. She apologized but wanted to state that she is putting her opinion out there. a. Lindsay Newman from Norris Design mentioned there are not a lot of skate parks nearby. b. Megan Testin from Norris Design stated that a skatepark is not Lindsay and her personal idea, but teens who are using transit or walking can get there and it is safe being close by the Recreation Center. We understand it is not a revenue generator. YY. Committee Chair Kevin Hyatt stated there are skate parks in Edwards and Vail. He also stated that kids cannot drive. Town Manager Eric Heil arrives, 12:01pm Megan Testin from Norris Design presented the third idea to add pickleball courts. She stated this is not a great fit because pickleball is loud and it would be right next to the library typically at 70 decibels. Lindsay Newman from Norris Design stated they looked at other types of buildings including a daycare, ice rink, but it would be less than half of a competition sheet of ice, and a half-sized skate park with parking. A parking lot alone would be 50 spaces. She stated it is a beautiful connection there now from the pedestrian mall to the park, do we want to ruin it with a parking lot? She asked the Committee to be cognitive of the gateway/door/artery. Recreation Director Michael Labagh requested feedback from the Committee about their thoughts on the options presented. The Committee and Attendees commented/inquired: ZZ. Committee Member Pam Warren stated she would re-iterate her opinion for Town Manager Eric Heil to hear. She feels these are great options, and the Fire Station is prime real estate. Thinking about how to best use prime real estate that also generates revenue; brings people to town. Donovan generates a lot of revenue. A beautiful center that could also serve as a community space, then we provide the data to support it. A skatepark could be put HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES, JANUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 11 | 15 anywhere. She would argue against it. Also, we already have pickleball. If we are going to expand the Rec reation Center, add a gym for pickleball and walking track instead of a pool. I want to thank the designers for doing a great job presenting the big picture, then all the options with their corresponding price tags. This has been very worthwhile, lots of great information. We do not want to hear, “It’s going to be $60 million and you’re going to like it”. a. Town Manager Eric Heil explained to the Committee he had a nail in his tire, and apologized he was not present for the beginning of the meeting. He addressed Committee Member Pam Warren , stating she has made these same comments before, so her feedback will be included. There has been a lot of discussion of comparing daycare, parking, housing, event center, and a skate park. We are favoring Recreation. Town of Avon could sell the property, but we can’t create more public space. Lincoln center at Central Park, which is three stories high, is a nice venue. A skate park fits nicely with the Recreation Center. If we look at building an event center, we must look at cost to build, staff, operate, and maintain. He is not convinced it would be revenue generating. But we don’t have an indoor event center that can be used year-round, and it also adds to parking needs. The skate park is b. less expensive and may not require more parking. More analysis could still be done. The stage was built with a “field of dreams” approach, which is a sore spot. An event center plan would need to be fully vetted. AAA. Committee Member Lisa Post said she is leaning toward a parking lot as a 5–10-year short term solution while we figure out what else to do with that space. BBB. Committee Member Nancy Tashman agreed a temporary parking lot is a good idea. CCC. Committee Member Lisa Post added she does not think a skate rink, or pickle ball court is a good idea. a. Recreation Director Michael Labagh added to the conversation stating Walker can help with determining feasibility for parking structure. He also thanked the Committee Members for their comments. DDD. Committee Member Nancy Tashman inquired if there was any option for parking underground? a. Town Manager Eric Heil replied no, not yet, but it’s come up and it might be beneficial. Walker parking is well respected, it might be worth it for their conceptual design. Underground means we need to think of air flow, plan for potential leaking issues. The recent structures in Vail were around $100 million. EEE. Committee Member Pam Warren inquired about space above the parking garage, such as for housing? a. Town Manager Eric Heil responded we will look at it, and it was included in plans before. We could probably build a second floor, and a future for a third floor. In Silverthorne there is a new parking structure, we will get information on it. Putting things on top means need for even more parking, and makes the structure more complicated. b. Recreation Director Michael Labagh asked the Committee for any other comments and the Committee Members attending virtually requested the meeting be completed before taking a break for lunch. Megan Testin from Norris Design continued the presentation directing the Committee to view Mikaela Way on the screen. She stated it is a fizzle spot, it needs “place-making” and “activation”. A pedestrian should know to cross the street and cars should be aware of the crosswalk. The idea is to have a spot to linger with small kids, and then continue to the park. A long walk is tiring, but if there is something fun, they will be energized. Lindsay Newman from Norris Design added that this could be a place to see the waterslide. Megan Testin from Norris Design HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES, JANUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 12 | 15 pointed out that the play area of the childcare blocks the viewpoint, along with their fruit tree. Lindsay Newman from Norris Design stated we want to use patterns seen throughout town to cue drivers there is a crosswalk. Megan Testing from Norris design pointed out the triangle shape outside town hall could become a “node”. It could have shade structures, tiered seating, informal community gathering, adult play features like adult swings to sit and talk on the phone. Potentially a monument with a water feature. Interestingly people don’t use formal seating as much as they use informal seating. The Committee and Attendees commented/inquired: FFF. Committee Member Pam Warren commented that in Vail they have tiered seating with a fountain and it’s true, there’s congregation and kids playing in the water. Megan Testin from Norris Design continued with her presentation explaining that camp kids could take a field trip to this space and play with sidewalk chalk. GGG. Committee Member Pam Warren commented that Vail has puzzles in the sidewalk to get kids to think about symbols and how to solve the puzzle. It’s relatively inexpensive, maybe. It’s a cool way to direct them through. I have seen steps that make sounds too. There could be signs that teach about animals to engage families, t hat could be inexpensive too. Walking Mountains might be able to come up with educational components. It could be fun and engage kids in learning. Megan Testin continued saying that is exactly what we want so it could be a neat way to walk. We can help motivate people to take stairs too. Lindsay Newman explained we can utilize lighting and temporary features like art installations to engage the local art community. Megan Testin added that Lettuce Shed Lane plays off the history of the area. There is evidence that kids are losing their understanding of natural resources. Recreation Director Michael Labagh replied to Committee Member Pam Warren stating it’s a great component, referring to art installations for education. He mentioned storm drain art will come back after winter. The Committee and Attendees commented/inquired: HHH. Committee Member Nancy Tashman commented saying Beaver Creek has a five senses trail. III. Committee Member Pam Warren commented saying not everyone will get engaged, but the hotels concierge could provide a trail booklet with free hot chocolate if you complete it. There are ways to measure your success. JJJ. Committee Member Nancy Tashman inquired where are you envisioning drawing people from? The pedestrian mall doesn’t connect to parking or the transit center. c. Megan Testin from Norris Design replied that yes, this is important, so people understand where the gateway to the pedestrian mall is. People coming from the gondola could be using this pedestrian mall. d. Lindsay Newman from Norris Design added that alerting people they can use this mall for walking to connect to where they are going. It’s a crossroads. e. Town Manager Eric Heil added that we have two lots up for development. The space next to Bob’s and the grassy area by the Sheraton, will be developed for housing, zoned for condos. HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES, JANUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 13 | 15 Lindsay Newman from Norris Design continued the presentation stating the pedestrian mall entrance could be a farmers market, a concert, or an art show. The statue could be moved, creating a space to enter the main street mall and bring them to the park excited. Lighting can help draw people in. We want to make it stand out and draw people in. The transition is like an ombre, in concept form. KKK. Planning Director Matt Pielsticker commented saying the statue was supposed to be a cue to draw people in, but maybe it is an impediment. Megan Testin from Norris Design continued saying lighting makes people feel safe and comfortable. We are essentially bringing them into an alley. Lindsay Newman from Norris Design showed the committee the next slide of the presentation with the schedule. They will meet with the library next. Then return Thursday to talk to the CASE committee. March will be the time to analyze data collected. Town Manager Eric Heil stated we have a loose design, but it’s important to understand an event center is more expensive than a skate park. When we bring up a ballot question, it has a diffe rent set of politics. We try to look at all the things we’ve heard over the years. If there is consensus on building a parking lot, we could get that done quickly. More expensive means more community engagement and a longer planning process. The Committee and Attendees commented/inquired: MMM. Committee Member Pam Warren stated it’s certainly a process and won’t be easy, but the team has done a great job getting us to this point. a. Town Manager Eric Heil reminded the Committee that the better people understand their options, the easier it is to get to the consensus. NNN. Committee Member Nancy Tashman inquired what would we do with an event center when not in use? a. Town Manager Eric Heil responded saying that is a great question, we would want to use it as much as possible. b. Megan Testin from Norris Design added that they could build in partitions that could be moved to separate internal space. OOO. Committee Member Pam Warren inquired if we can really make it work with childcare and an event ce nter? f. Town Manager Eric Heil referenced the Salida Steam Plant, an indoor/outdoor wedding center, and Bluebird could be an example. We can look at size, how it could serve a s a wedding venue, conference space extended to the Seasons across the way. If we get another hotel, we might have more need. g. Recreation Director Michael Labagh added that the Recreation Center staff would host programs as much as possible. Healthy Aging would use it, Mountain Youth, Youth Power 365 would also want to expand their youth programming. PPP. Committee Member Nancy Tashman inquired about parking north of I-70, is there a plan for that? HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES, JANUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 14 | 15 h. Town Manager Eric Heil replied saying he could not think of any locations where that would work. QQQ. Committee Member Nancy Tashman inquired if we build a multi-level parking structure, how many spaces would it provide and would it even be enough? i. Town Manager Eric Heil stated hotels will need to build their own parking. Moving forward with the public transit approval could lead to less cars. RRR. Committee Member Lisa Post inquired is there any reduction in parking with that design? j. Megan Testin from Norris Design replied to her saying no. k. Planning Director Matt Pielsticker added that this will not be the last chance to talk about this. l. Town Manager Eric Heil stated we are ready to move forward with Lettuce Shed Lane design. m. Planning Director Matt Pielsticker stated that just to demolish the Fire Station is going to cost seven figures. It’s an interesting idea to do temporary parking. n. Lindsay Newman from Norris Design inquired if we could burn it down and let the fire fighters practice putting it out? o. Planning Director Matt Pielsticker replied saying we cannot do that if there’s asbestos. p. Town Manager Eric Heil added that we have not found evidence of asbestos, but we are not in the clear. q. Lindsay Newman from Norris Design commented that an unintended consequence is taking the parking away later. r. Town Manager Eric Heil replied saying we could find a way to communicate it so people can look forward to what comes next. RRR. Committee Member Pam Warren commented saying the open houses will be challenging to go through all the details. s. Megan Testin from Norris Design replied saying we won’t go into this level of detail. SSS. Committee Member Pam Warren commented saying, you know people don’t read. Figure out where you want to focus and provide lots of open houses. The pool, families with children who need daycare, etc. There is a diversity of opinions in the town. t. Lindsay Newman from Norris Design added that a pop up information booth at the Recreation Center would be helpful. u. Town Manager Eric Heil stated an open house at the Recreation Center that is Recreation focused would be a good idea. TTT. Committee Member Pam Warren commented saying the Recreation Center could be good for other topics too since people are already there. v. Megan Testin from Norris Deisgn stated the online survey produces different results than in person surveys at the Recreation Center. The pickleball club got a hold of the online survey and dominated the responses. UUU. Committee Member Pam Warren commented saying one group should not become the local voice. We can’t make everyone happy, but it should be data driven. Are we hearing from everyone? w. Planning Director Matt Pielsticker inquired of Committee Member Pam Warren if that why she is leaning toward the event center? HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES, JANUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 15 | 15 VVV. Committee Member Pam Warren replied saying we need to prove the multi-use piece. It might not be the right answer, but we need to sell it to the community. Your ideas are all really solid, and surveys will help. WWW. Committee Member Nancy Tashman inquired about a childcare center, is there any progress for one off Post Rd? x. Town Manager Eric Heil stated Vail Valley Charitable Foundation has a promising plan. FFF. Committee Member Nancy Tashman stated if that is a large facility, will that take some pressure off building a childcare? a. Town Manager Eric Heil replied saying what complicates it is childcare is a different level of requirement than child watch. Working with Recreation Director Michael Labagh we narrowed down to what we really need, more cardio space, more multi-use space. That part is not complicated and it’s what we need to do to keep the Recreation Center current. Not every community need has to fit into these two spaces. Avon’s early childhood education needs are for (x) amount of spaces. 6. ADJOURNMENT Committee Member Nancy Tashman motioned to adjourn, and Committee Member Pam Warren seconded the motion. Committee Chair Kevin Hyatt declared the meeting adjourned at 12.58 p.m. Respectfully Submitted by Kacy Carmichael Aquatics Superintendent