City Council Study Session Agenda and Packet 2013 02 12

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CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION AGENDA ITEM III SUBJECT: DISCUSSION – PARKS AND RECREATION ADVOCACY AND ADVISORY BOARDS DATE: FEBRUARY 12, 2013 PRESENTED BY: JOE STEVENS, PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR SUMMARY: The 2012 adopted Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Master Plan (PROST) identifies 29 parks totaling 306 acres within the City of Louisville. Some parks are fully developed while others have minimal enhancements. Most parks are within easy walking distance of adjacent neighborhoods and virtually all parks are accessible via a network of 38 miles of trails. In addition to parks, the City also has 1,758 acres of Open Space (698 solely owned by the City of Louisville with the balance jointly owned with Boulder County and Lafayette), and special use facilities such as the 154 acre Coal Creek Golf Course, Recreation and Senior Center Campus, Arboretum, Louisville Cemetery and Louisville Sports Complex. In a 2011 survey conducted by RRC Associates, 91% of Louisville residents say that parks are meeting the needs of their households. This and other survey data is included within the adopted PROST. One objective of the PROST is to identify priorities and to make recommendations that will help Louisville address operating, capital and program needs over the next ten years. With the exception of the south west portion of the City, Louisville is well served with regards to parks. Areas that merit additional attention according to the PROST include Recreation and Senior Center expansion, multi-use or additional sports fields for practices and games, new, updated aquatic facilities, trail connectivity and a more vigorous maintenance program to address new design and maintenance standards including but not limited to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as revised in 2010. This is not to suggest that the PROST is not a flexible document that can justify acquisition and expansion of parks when opportunities present themselves and/or as new development occurs (i.e. Cowboy and Steel Ranch Parks). The PROST does recommend that the City consider changes to the structure and operating procedures of appointed boards and commissions (consistent with Charter requirements) to provide consistency and to maximize efficiency. Presently, the Parks and Recreation Department staff provides assistance to six advisory boards. In addition, other boards and commissions are engaged in advocacy efforts that impact department resources (i.e. Sustainability Committee, Historic Preservation Commission). The department also works closely with area schools and sports advocates ranging from youth football, baseball, soccer, tennis and softball to skate park enthusiasts to swim clubs and dog obedience/training programs to running clubs to scout groups and remote control boat clubs. They all have direct access to staff and are engaged in influencing many facets of park operations. 4