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RPT - DRAFT Health & Rec Meeting Minutes - 05.20.25 - FINALHEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MAY 20, 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, Amy Phillips, Derek George, Kathy Ryan and Courtney Walters Rawson (virtual). Staff: Recreation Director Michael Labagh, Aquatics Superintendent Kacy Carmichael, Recreation Services Superintendent Jerrica Miller, Aquatics Coordinator Andres Sassi, General Government Fellow Arnell Wade, Town Manager Eric Heil Town Council: Councilor Ruth Stanley Absent- Committee Members: Sonia Martinez, Pat Nolan, Vice Chair Lisa Post Town Council: Kevin Hyatt Committee Chair Nancy Tashman opened the meeting at 12:01 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Committee Chair Nancy Tashman made a request for a motion to approve the agenda. Kathy Ryan moved to approve the agenda and Amy Phillips seconded the motion to approve the agenda. Committee Chair Nancy Tashman declared the agenda approved. 3. APPROVAL OF THE MARCH 11, 2025 MEETING MINUTES Committee Chair Nancy Tashman made a request for a motion to approve the minutes of the March 11, 2025, meeting. Amy Phillips moved to approve the meeting minutes, Derek George 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 a brief update regarding the status of the recreation center. Recreation Services Superintendent Jerrica Miller presented a recap of the winter and spring programs, commending the attendance levels and highlighting the joy and enthusiasm evident on the children's faces. Committee members inquired about various logistical aspects of the programs, including age groups, schedules, event nature, and attendance figures. Recreation Director Michael Labagh proceeded to discuss the babysitter training program, after which Aquatics Superintendent Kacy Carmichael elaborated on the upcoming opportunity for this program, scheduled for June. Additionally, Aquatics Superintendent Kacy Carmichael shared current recreation center statistics and commented on the strong participation and attendance observed during the recent all-staff spring training. During the month of May, the recreation center underwent its first closure of the year to accommodate repairs and renovations. These updates include enhancements to the break room, lobby area, aquatics area, and the multi-use studio space. HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2025 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM Page 2 of 4 Following this, Recreation Director Michael Labagh introduced Andres Sassi Avon’s new Aquatics Coordinator to the committee. Andres provided an overview of his background and professional experiences and expressed his enthusiasm for joining the Avon community and contributing to its development. Committee Member Kathy Ryan raised an inquiry regarding the absence of a lap lane at the swimming area in Nottingham Lake. Aquatics Superintendent Kacy Carmichael explained that the addition of such a feature was currently unfeasible due to water depth constraints and other immediate operational needs. Committee Member Kathy Ryan subsequently expressed concern regarding this issue. Recreation Director Michael Labagh outlined upcoming summer programs and encouraged community members to participate. Aquatics Coordinator Andres Sassi shared his intention to leverage his expertise to further integrate swimming into the recreational offerings in Avon. Additionally, Recreation Services Superintendent Jerrica Miller provided insights regarding future adult day trip opportunities planned for the summer and fall across various locations in Colorado. Committee Member Kathy Ryan and Councilor Ruth Stanley inquired about the registration process, marketing strategies, and fees associated with these adult day trips. Both Recreation Services Superintendent Jerrica Miller and Recreation Director Michael Labagh addressed these inquiries accordingly. Recreation Director Michael Labagh proceeded to outline recent park updates, which included sand restoration, the installation of shade covers for pickleball courts, refreshed pedal boats, and considerations regarding new signage and slow zones along recreational pathways. Committee Member Kathy Ryan expressed significant concern regarding young children operating e-bikes recklessly, citing the absence of permanent barriers despite commitments made by the committee in the previous year. Town Manager Eric Heil emphasized the importance of promoting path safety and education through appropriate signage. Committee Chair Nancy Tashman inquired whether these children were under supervision, to which Committee Member Kathy Ryan responded no. Committee Member Derek George expressed appreciation for the new safety approach and shared his personal experiences related to dismount zones. Recreation Director Michael Labagh reviewed the results of the recreation center survey, expressing gratitude for the increased participation compared to previous years. Committee Member Amy Phillips noted her surprise that most responses originated from individuals aged 60 to 69. Committee Member Kathy Ryan raised concerns regarding the balance between meeting the needs of park visitors and recreation center patrons. 5.2 Work Session: Recreation Center Refurbishment & Expansion Recreation Director Michael Labagh informed the committee that the town is collaborating with contractors, A.D. Miller and Barker Rinker Seacat Architects for project management and logistical planning related to the recreation center refurbishments and expansions. The Avon Finance Committee has expressed support for these initiatives and provided interesting perspective on how to approach funding a major building renovation. HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2025 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM Page 3 of 4 Town Manager Eric Heil emphasized a strategic approach to capital improvements, suggesting that priority must be given to essential tasks before expansion is pursued, which would likely require debt financing. Town Manager Heil reaffirmed the necessity of the recreation center, citing its positive impact on the community. Committee Member Derek George inquired about the assessment process for determining necessary improvements. Town Manager Eric Heil and Recreation Director Labagh clarified that assessments are conducted based on code compliance, parts availability, life expectancy, and financial feasibility, ensuring that implementation can occur in the near future. Recreation Director Michael Labagh invited further questions from the committee regarding refurbishment and expansion plans and advised members to monitor the upcoming July Town Council meetings for additional updates. Committee Members submitted the following inquiries: - Vice Chair Nancy Tashman: Availability of waterslide parts - Committee Member Kathy Ryan: Compliance with safety regulations - Committee Member Derek George: Strategies for marketing and public communication Town staff addressed each of these concerns accordingly. 5.3 2024 Recreation Department Annual Report Recreation Director Michael Labagh presented the annual report for the Recreation Department, first expressing his appreciation for the hard work and dedication demonstrated by his staff. Recreation Director Labagh provided an overview of the annual report highlighting membership, service, and program data while identifying potential areas for adjustments. Recreation Director Michael Labagh presented several community testimonials to illustrate the recreation center's impact on residents, visitors, and guests. Committee Member Kathy Ryan expressed appreciation for the department’s efforts and commended Recreation Director Michael Labagh and his team. Committee Chair Nancy Tashman advocated for the continuation of the report as an annual practice. Committee Member Derek George inquired about the financial expenditure associated with maintaining the pool, acknowledging it as the most significant expense. Aquatics Superintendent Kacy Carmichael explained that costs are driven by maintenance requirements, chemical supplies, parts shortages, code compliance, and staffing requirements. Additional Committee Discussions Committee Member Amy Phillips suggested exploring improved methods for tracking visitor movement within the recreation center to optimize financial impact assessments. Committee Member Derek George proposed conducting comparative analyses of cost recovery trends and identifying new opportunities for annual growth. Committee Member Kathy Ryan questioned whether the parks budget and revenue were separate from the recreation center, asserting that parks may require a dedicated committee. HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2025 HYBRID FORMAT IN PERSON AT AVON TOWN HALL AND VIA ZOOM Page 4 of 4 6. OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS Committee members engaged in productive discussions regarding improvements to Eaglebend Park and potential developments for an indoor ice skating rink. Committee Member Amy Phillips asked about the village of Avon park planning and when it’s coming to this committee? Director Labagh confirmed that this topic would be in front of the Committee in their meeting in July. 7. ADJOURNMENT Committee Chair Nancy Tashman asked if there was a motion to adjourn the meeting. Kathy Ryan moved to adjourn the meeting and Derek George seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 1:32 p.m. on May 20, 2025 Respectfully submitted by, Arnell Wade General Government Fellow