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DRAFT Health & Rec Meeting Miuntes - 3.11.25HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2025 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM Page 1 of 4 1. ROLL CALL Present- Committee Members: Committee Chair Nancy Tashman and Committee Vice Chair Lisa Post, Amy Phillips, Derek George, Pat Nolan, Courtnery Walters Rawson Staff: Recreation Director Michael Labagh, Aquatics Superintendent Kacy Carmichael, Recreation Services Superintendent Jerrica Miller, General Government Fellow Arnell Wade, Aquatics Supervisor Zak Kornhauser, Facilities Manager Luis Tapia, Recreation Supervisor of Recreation Services Mike Atencio Town Council: Councilor Kevin Hyatt Absent- Committee Members: Sonia Martinez, Kathy Ryan Town Council: Ruth Stanley Committee Chair Nancy Tashman opened the meeting at 12:00 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Committee chair Nancy Tashman made a request for a motion to approve the agenda, Amy Phillips moved to approved agenda. Lisa Post second the motion to approve the agenda. Committee Chair Nancy Tashman declared the agenda approved. 3. APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY 21ST MEETING MINUTES Committee Chair Nancy Tashman made a request for a motion to approve the minutes of the January 21st, 2025, meeting. Amy Phillips moved to approve the meeting minutes, Lisa Post seconded the motion and Committee Chair Nancy Tashman declared the minutes approved. 4. PUBLIC COMMENTS No public comments were made in person or online via (zoom) 5. BUSINESS ITEMS 5.1 Recreation Department Update Recreation Director Michael Labagh provided an update on the ongoing operations at the recreation center. He highlighted the strong participation in the adult sports league, noting the elevated level of competitiveness among players. The InBody Scale Fitness Challenge continues to progress successfully, while group swim lessons remain fully booked and active. Daily visits to the center have increased, and revenue levels remain steady. The department welcomed Kami Viken as the new Programs Coordinator. She is undergoing comprehensive onboarding to ensure a smooth transition and preparation for the busy summer season. Summer programs are nearly ready for launch, including an exciting new "Kids Nerf Night Out" activity. An upcoming babysitter certification class is expected to draw significant participation with effective marketing efforts. Additionally, the spring all-staff training is scheduled for early May, coinciding with some facility closures during that time. HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2025 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM Page 2 of 4 During the meeting, Pat Nolan inquired about the possibility of removing the hump in the lazy river. Michael explained that this is a potential future project to be explored further. Michael also discussed the recreation center survey, reminding the committee that it remains open until April 20, 2025. He encouraged members to spread the word and complete the survey if they had not already done so. In response to committee inquiries, Derek George proposed the idea of a "Kids vs. Parents Nerf Gun Battle." Michael agreed to consult Avon’s Recreation Program Supervisor, Luke Herron, to explore the feasibility of adding this program to the spring or summer schedule. 5.2 Work Session: Recreation Center Refurbishment & Expansion Recreation Director Michael Labagh delivered a PowerPoint presentation outlining the vision for the refurbishment and expansion of the recreation center. General Background: The presentation highlighted key points, including the center's inaugural construction, financial history, facility usage statistics, levy ballot initiatives, completed and ongoing capital improvement projects, daily visits since 2019, and the development of a comprehensive maximum plan. Committee member Amy Phillips inquired about operational closures for hot tub repairs. Michael clarified that the focus should be on reconstructing the pool deck rather than fixing the hot tub alone. Vice Chair Lisa Post asked whether the HVAC systems would be affected by the pool deck construction, to which Michael introduced Facilities Manager Luis Tapia to answer that question and then provide a detailed facility condition assessment. Facility Condition Assessment: Facilities Manager Luis Tapia presented an overview of the assessment, which covered: • Building Inventory and Condition: A summary of the facility's assets, immediate work items, and a financial planning outline. • Facility Condition Index (FCI): This metric evaluates the current state of all buildings, considering capital renewal, deferred maintenance, and replacement values. The recreation center scored poorly, with an FCI of approximately 0.15. • Inventory Assessment: Details of trades components, asset specifics, service life, and replacement costs. • Financial Planning: A 10-year plan with $2 million allocated for replacements and maintenance in years 1-5. Key takeaways included priority repairs, budget planning, risk management, staff training, and department procedures, with the goal of achieving an FCI score below 5%. Committee Chair Nancy Tashman asked whether the $9 million cost of full demolition included real estate. Luis clarified that it covered only building assets components. Amy Phillips inquired about the presentation of the full report to the council, which Luis confirmed would occur later in 2025. Minimum Refurbishments: Recreation Director Michael Labagh outlined essential refurbishment needs, including: - Roof repair HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2025 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM Page 3 of 4 - Water slide improvements - Hot tub repair - Pool deck concrete and drainage - Pool HVAC, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems - Pool pumps and filtration systems Amy Phillips questioned the accuracy of cost estimations, which Michael affirmed with confidence that these estimates are accurate, while Luis noted a range of repair estimates rather than receiving certified figures. Vice Chair Lisa Post asked about part sourcing from Mexico and Canada, to which Recreation Director Michael Labagh gave a tentative "maybe." Aquatics Upgrades Options: Recreation Director Michael Labagh also proposed optional aquatics upgrades, with an estimated cost of $2.5 -$3 million, which include: - Pool retrofits - Adding a sixth lap lane with gutters - Leisure pool additions - Redesigning the waterslide path - Hot tub reconstruction Aquatics Superintendent Kacy Carmichael emphasized the benefits of adding gutters to the pools while reviewing the proposed aquatic upgrades. Recreation Center Expansion - Aquatics: - Enclosing the existing patio ($500k) - Creating a new patio area with garage doors ($260k) - New hot tub ($2.3 million) - Eight-lane multi-use competition pool ($20 million) Amy Phillips asked about exploring private funding for these projects. Councilor Kevin Hyatt expressed concerns about losing square footage in the recreation room, a popular space. Fitness Area Expansion: - Expanding the weight room, cardio, and functional areas - Repurposing multi-use spaces - No impact on parking - Estimated cost: $7.7 million Parking Structure: - 170 above-ground parking spots - Multi-level structure across Mikaela Way - Estimated cost: $15-$20 million HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2025 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM Page 4 of 4 Committee Chair Nancy Tashman supported the parking expansion, while Amy Phillips asked about the current parking capacity, which Recreation Director Michael Labagh estimated as having over two hundred spots in the area. Financial Considerations: Slides addressed operational impacts, phased approaches, financing options, and potential grant opportunities. Next Steps: Recreation Director Michael Labagh outlined the project timeline: - Avon Town Council Work Session: March 11, 2025 - Health and Rec Committee Work Sessions: March 11, 2025 and May 20, 2025 - Finance Committee Work Session: May 5, 2025 - Avon Town Council Work Session: June 10, 2025 - Proposed Budget and CIP Plan: Fall 2025 Recreation Director Michael Labagh envisioned this as a 3-to-5-year plan, prioritizing one development area per year. Committee Chair Nancy Tashman asked about future maximum capacity levels and finances. Recreation Director Michael Labagh explained potential adjustments, including expanded operational hours, limited population acceptance, and updated admission policies by fall 2025 will be needed to combat these inevitable issues during construction. Amy Phillips suggested an off-peak pass for flexible schedules. Derek George asked about budgeted mandatory upgrades, Recreation Director Michael Labagh noted that those items will need to be added back to the 5-year CIP plan due to a withdrawal from the 2025 CIP Budget. Final Remarks: The committee unanimously agreed on the urgency of mandatory updates and refurbishments. Amy Phillips emphasized leveraging financial tools such as RETTs, levies, bonds, cash reserves, and other mechanisms for funding, with decisions left to the Council. Michael requested additional feedback and support, which the committee enthusiastically provided. 6. Other Business and Committee Member Comments N/A 7. ADJOURNMENT Committee Chair Nancy Tashman asked if there was a motion to adjourn the meeting. Vice Committee Chair Lisa Post moved to adjourn the meeting. Committee member Pat Nolan second the motion. The meeting adjourned at 1:33pm on March 11, 2025 Respectfully submitted by, Arnell Wade General Government Fellow