AUBURN PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION APRIL 7, 2003 MEETING MINUTES

Commissioners Present: Joe Leogrande, Barb Spicer, Mary Ellen Perry, Connie Laxton, Cody Laxton, Mark Locastro, David McCarthy, Zinc LaDouce, Michael Speck, John Donovan, Bill Jacobs, and Charles Savage.

Excused: Barbara Speck

City Representative: Michael Talbot

Mark Locastro, seconded by Charles Savage approved the meeting agenda on a motion. Barb Spicer, seconded by Charles Savage accepted the minutes of the last meeting on a motion.

Joe Leogrande suggested that this committee be involved in the annual Youth Fair next year.

The city will sponsor a fishing contest with Bass Pro in 2004.

Mike Talbot report:

1. $50,000 is available for Pomeroy Park. The green house owned by the city there might be demolished/moved. Equipment there is frequently vandalized.
2. Downtown Partnership signs (they want to erect 12) come with a $1,200 price tag.
3. The St. Francis playground is scheduled to have its basketball court repaired. The building will be removed. The softball field is good.
4. At present only limited new playground equipment is anticipated for Melone Village. Perhaps a slide will be placed.
5. $16,000 was spent last year on the parks concert series. There may be fewer concerts at Hoopes Park this summer.
6. The Downtown Partnership wishes not to be involved in outdoor movies at City Hall citing funding problems. They would prefer that the city undertake the project.
7. The summer program booklet has not been completed as of this date.
8. A proposal to hold concert and movie events at the same venue on the same night was discussed. Some commission members questioned whether these events would be too long.
9. The daily parks inspection has not yet been implemented. When the weather improves the program is expected to begin.
10. No city involvement with the tree-planting program has been initiated. Walt Aikmen has taken a full-time teaching job at CCCC and may not be immediately available.

The City Council has deferred action on skateboard regulations until the commission subcommittee formalized its recommendations.

Future events, which will involve the commission, will include the Auburn Celebration (August 2) and Tomatofest (September 5-6).

Centro may change its bus routes to enhance ridership. A Casey-Falcon Park stop is being considered.

Connie Laxton made a motion that the parks and recreation department investigate the possibility of using the internet more extensively to provide parks information on a daily basis if possible. The motion was seconded by M. Speck and was unanimously approved.

The soapbox derby car sponsored by the city parks department is available. Discussion about the possible essay contest to choose the driver was inconclusive. It remains unclear whether the city car will be entered this year.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 PM. Next meeting Monday May 5, 2003, at St. Francis playground at 4:30 PM.