Parks & Recreation Commission - Regular Meeting

Did we hear that? We didn't hear it say it. It's doing it. But let me check the sound. Turn my sound off. The owl is on. And let me stop the share and you guys can look so you know for sure that I'm doing it correctly. But do you see right here? Oh, you can't see that. So, you should see it on your screen.

I see it on my screen. Hang on. Let me try this again. Here. Right here. It says pause or stop recording because it is recording.

All right. It is 7 7:05. uh calling the meeting of August 20 uh 2025 uh park commission and we are at uh public I was called something else we got there uh so Beverly if you could call the role I appreciate okay so uh blue caulter Rich here. Hansen

present. Um I just forgot person. Carrie um Todd one, two, three, four, five. person present six and then Neil is absent and in attendance tonight as our teacher got it. Okay, thank you. Any written communications? Uh we have none

hearing from citizens. You want to double check? Let me double check. We have two participants. I'm I'm in case somebody joins and ask questions from one of them. Oh, thank you. And it does say we are reporting. Good. Thank you. Okay. [Laughter] Excellent.

The technology is so good. So, no one's on it. Okay. So, no hearing from citizens. four minutes. So, did everyone get a chance to take a look at the minutes? Any modifications of the June 18th regular meeting is written with a second. All in favor?

Any oppose? Item number five, five annual customer survey. [Music] So I Yeah. So I would like to introduce you, as you've heard, TJ BC, our parks and recreation supervisor, who's in charge of numerous things within our department. Um, and TJ's going to uh give you a report, a lot of information. Afterwards, you are welcome to ask questions to advance your slides for you. Yes. Okay. Tell me when you're ready.

I'm ready. I'm trying to let me if nobody else is on I can put them up.

All right. So, the overview of the five oaks on woren survey um it was open from um April 23rd to May 26th. Uh we used Survey Monkey. Uh we had 91 surveys completed. Uh and this was a user survey. So, it got sent out to um everybody in our system um whether they have come to Five Oaks or they were part of the old community center. Um but of those uh 91 surveys um were completed, 76 were by residents, 24 by non-residents, and then we had 61 members and then 30 general. ress and nonres.

Oh, I must have done a Yeah, for that residents and non-residents I'm my member in general. Yeah, the other the other one must have been a typo on on my part. Um,

so the overview, how we got the survey out, um, it was advertised in our weekly newsletter, um, printed material. So, there were QR codes and signs around the facility uh and then on social media. All respondents were entered into a chance to win a $50 credit to any of our programs or rentals um camps or personal training. And then the questions there was um like display logic or skip logic. So members got a certain set of questions about membership. Non-members got a certain set of questions um of like why why aren't you a member? So uh I'll go through the questions um that were asked uh and we can look at the results. Um so just kind of get an idea of like what people utilize at Five Oaks. Um the the biggest ones are the fitness area, the lobby, um special events, uh also the gymnasium is up there. Uh and then the other ones, those are the ones that were listed if they chose other and for that that we specify. And then how often. So we got a lot of our regulars to take this survey, which is good because they're the ones coming in a lot. Um, so a lot of um the weekly and then again on that far end the never this was sent out to all of our contacts. It was posted on social media so people could take the survey if they've never been here which they still it's still valuable information because why haven't you come? What are you looking for in a community center? And then um uh some of our sliding scale questions. Um so an average of eight for

how satisfied they are with their membership the benefits um like or I guess 80% that there should be a zero there 80% um 84% would recommend to a friend and then the average of 78 for the variety programs it's a scale of 1 to 10 1 to 10 so then what is 84 and 78 8. It's 8 8.4 and 7. She left the zero off the eight. I left the zero off the eight. It should have been 80. Average. No, but that worked. 8.0. 8.0. 8.0. The scale is

8. Yeah, this is how when I pulled the information from the report, how it was. But if you put that on a percentage scale, it's eight out of 10. It's or they add they add up all the either way an equals be the same. eight out of 10 or 80% still. It's how Survey Monkey it's how survey processes it and pulls it into the report. Yeah. Either way, we're good. Yeah.

All right. So, um I just pulled some of the quotes for what membership benefits would you like to see? Um at the end I'll talk about like some of uh what we have done with this feedback. Um but group classes free to members. Uh more chances for others to try um one time for free. So like a guest pass. Uh more exercise class options. More childc care hours or activities for kids while parents work out. Later evening hours, free silver sneakers membership, kids programs, arts, crafts, events, music, sports, etc. And then uh which type of programs are you most interested in? This is a good question. when we're working on our activity guide and developing programs um what people are interested in, what people will actually come and sign up for. Uh so again big uh with that fitness classes and then other high ones were the wellness classes, the art and craft workshops, educational programs like gardening and sustainability, familyfriendly activities and events 55 plus programs, cooking classes and special events.

Later on I'm going to have a question about the slide but I don't want to ask yet. Okay. Okay. We can come back to it. Yeah, I just

Okay. Uh and then the specific types of events or programs or services that they would like to see more often. Um so again, greater variety of um daytime group fitness classes. Uh discount packages for personal um assessment and training. And again, these are quotes. So if there's any spelling or grammar, they are quotes. Um and then instructional lessons for parents and kids to do. So that connection for um with the parents and kids, hands-on food classes, more wine tasting events, and then child care during fitness classes. And you can probably start to see kind of a theme um of some of the the big things that um we found in this survey. And then adult sport leagues. Um we have um been having feedback lately about having adult sport leagues. So, we were seeing what people are interested in and what they will like um you know sign up for and attend and are excited about. Um a lot of people aren't interested which is fine. Um but of course pickle ball uh that is high up there. Um and then um bad mitten volleyball and then all the all the others we are implementing um threeon-ree basketball um for the fall. Um that was in place before the survey results came out. Um

is that for adults as well? It's just for adults. It's just for adults. Only adults. Yeah. Because we have our kids basketball league um during the winter.

And then this is a good one because right we want people to know about our program. So how do they find out about the information? Um and the big one is the email newsletters um which is validating to continue our um weekly newsletter that we do on Mondays. Uh and then of course the other things are still important because everyone has different ways that they um find out their their information. Is there a question? that news. So we is all of that person Rex send out a specific

Oh no no I get that but what I'm wondering is do people get their information about five votes from from the one fish city I did not yeah specifically ask about like the city yeah I my assumption this is only my assumption my assumption would be people may not be able to differentiate between the two they may not know what they're looking Okay. Because they both come out they come out. They do. Yeah. I'm people check more than one.

Yes, they because again people get their information in a variety of ways. you know, I'll check my email then, but then I'll also see something on social media and um Yeah. Yeah. Because basic marketing is sometimes people have to see it multiple times in multiple avenues. They may remember one, but but by hitting them in multiple ways, they're more likely to retain. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Absolutely.

And then um so how they get their information and how they would like to get their information. Um and again email is that big one which again validates the our our weekly newsletter. Um but again the website, social media, printed materials, mailing chart signs are are important as well. No one wants phone calls. No one wants phone calls. No one. Absolutely no one wants a phone call. Yeah, they do. Unfortunately, we don't have the Yeah, unfortunately system doesn't have But maybe in future. Yeah. Oh, you had to use this photo. It's so good. That's such a good photo. It's a great photo.

All right, so now for the good. Right. So, what we learned um so what I did with um our results as I broke everything down into different themes and different areas um into a spreadsheet because I love spreadsheets. and I shared that with everyone on our team so that they could also see um the feedback and then make changes um according to that feedback. Um so for fitness there were more free yoga classes added um free fitness classes during our structured drop off play which is for um kind of that child care aspect um where parents and guardians can drop kids off in the playground with one of our fitness our playground attendants. Um we have the midweek evening classes between 5:30 and 6. uh discounted group personal training, um outdoor fitness, new dance and Zumba classes, 55 plus fitness classes, and new classes.

And what do we charge just for the few people? What do we charge for the drop off the short drop off? So, uh for a resident, for the kid, um it's $3. For non-resident, it's five. Um but if they're not a member, they'd have to purchase a date pass. Um, so we can have those lower rates in the playground because it's being supplement supplemented by that like you mentioned the day pass. I noticed as we were coming in were now requiring federal ID. What is what is behind that? So I think maybe we can discuss that. We'll do that under the update for the future. That no problem. It's a good question.

It's a good observation.

Yes. Um, and then general, uh, we completed the sidewalk or both sidewalks from the lower lot to the upper lot. Um, when we repaved down there, that sidewalk was taken out and then, um, there was mud with the rain, there was mud and everything, so we repaved that. That was some feedback that we got. Um, so we were excited to to get that paved. All right. So for our programs, uh we have added a variety of cooking classes. Uh we have gardening and sustainability classes and then caregiver and child classes. I'm really excited about these. Um, and with the K kids and tween programs, um, coming up in the fall, we have, um, a woman who is doing child caregiver cooking classes and then teen um, which will be really good. And then um, we've also added um, art classes as well. And then for that membership marketing for the month of July, for July's parks and wreck month for all of our members, we offered three free guest passes because again that was a common theme of members wanting guest passes to bring people in.

Do we know how many reuse? I have not um had time to run that report because I've been focused on the activity guide. But now that it's done um So So can we get that for? Yes. Yes, I can. Yeah, just numbers uh because I uh got a lot of good feedback just like talking to members um about it. Yeah. So, we'll we'll bring that in the next five Oaks report next month and then it could be that we do that periodically throughout the year. Yeah. Yeah. Depending on how successful. It' be interesting to see how many were used and how many were converted. Yes. Yeah.

Yeah. And then um one of feedback was uh like facility pictures online. Um so we've added like updated a lot of the pictures were when we first opened and we've have added a lot of stuff since then. Um so we updated some of our photos of the facility online. And then I always love to end uh with the positive um feedback. Um I only pulled uh a few, but the big theme here was our welcoming environment and our staff. I'm not going to read these word for word. Uh but just the the friendly welcoming environment um and that like smiling face staff person when they when they come in which is and the clean part which is something that we we really strive for here is to create that welcoming environment when they come in. They feel welcome

um and they want to keep coming back. And we have a phenomenal front desk staff who the regular members, they know their names and greet them by name, which is phenomenal. You can't that's something you can't even put a dollar amount on. It's so important. Um and that translates to welcome. Yeah. Yes. Absolutely. Absolutely. And our beautiful flowers out front that our volunteers planted. I mean, we're just just every season it's just it's taking off even faster than we thought. And that just that that you know that first impression when you come up is so special. So, yeah. All right. Oh, no. Ready for questions? Here we go. Bill,

can you go back slides? Sorry, I didn't went too far. Yeah, I knew that was the what? This one. Yes. So, wait a minute. Was it It was this one. Yes. Because I thought you were gonna ask about swing dance. I I Well, I was interested in swing dance and seeing who would show. I misread this. I apologize. I was I was thinking that people are not interested in Oh, because I was going to say, do we have a marketing concern with so few people? Well, I guess I guess it's still kind of true. Um

for like the teen programs and youth, uh you know, those numbers seem really low. you know, for people being interested there. Is that because we were skewed towards an older participation? Our audience participated assume. Um, I don't have any of the like demographics of who took it. Um, but it is probably the older demographic. Okay. Who is taking it? The teens definitely aren't taking it. Yeah, they're not taking it. Teens are going to do stuff at school.

Well, teens, there isn't a lot for them after school. There really isn't. there. It's it's a it is a tough age to program for. Communities struggle, but if you go by our basketball court right now, you'll see very engaged teens and the majority of them live in all of that. So, by the way, is that just pickup basketball? That is pickup basketball. And it is incredibly popular every day. Mostly high school. It's high school and college. And then it fluctuates depending on the time of year. So, summertime we get a lot of college kids in. Christmas time we get a lot of college kids and they don't want passes. They just want to buy them daily. Yeah. They It's just even though we've got a deal, you can buy more sense.

They are not interested in saving money. They're interested in just paying when they come up. I'm want to go play now. I'm going to go pay now. And then they pay with their credit cards in the vending machines and then they order Uber Eats. So they clearly have disposal income. Yeah. So we don't just roll. So we don't think we have a marketing concern it was more just the participants for the survey with those lower numbers for youth. Yeah. Only 91 participants, right? And I Yeah. Right. So, yeah. Like other activities for kids and twins. You've had you've had volume. What's our membership number right now? Uh

it's on a different It's on a different slide. Uh I can let me let me I can go to that slide. Over a thousand. Yeah, it's over. Can't remember what the It was. I remember it was 1066 like a couple months ago. We've I think Yeah. back to bills thing. Yeah. So 911 is a very low portion. Well, but a $50 buy in isn't going to like swarm people either. So, no, but what I was going to say is I mean, and I'm not saying you shouldn't, but you know, you did ask ages. So, how many 15 year olds still out with

Oh, none. I would say and I would say that too. So they're not gonna so they're it's going to be low because none of them are filled. Yeah. Their their parents talking%. So example you see right there youth sport leagues. So some people were interested but not a high number but we have 1100 people in soccer. So clearly the parents of those players did not take the survey but they received the survey and they chose not to take the survey. So you know we can't force them. sent multiple multiple emails. Everybody in our database got it and everybody that registered for sock got it. Can we offer the survey at like whatever we're calling at harvest festival?

We could do a different survey for sure. We can't we're not going to reopen this one, but we could do a different one. We seem to get I think more people doing it. If you have a QR code, just do it right there. Sometimes, especially partying in the park, the harvest festival, there's so many activities. But party in the park is an excellent one. But that done things like that. It seems like that gets your percentage and you get a wider cross, right? Because remember when we did the parks master plan, how many we did huge survey, then we had public meetings. I mean, it took a lot to get there,

but we got them. And so I think I think this is an excellent it's I think it's an excellent survey for for what it is. Um can we reach people in other ways? Absolutely. And we do have a suggestion box that's out there and we really get a lot of comments through that. Like what activity is that also like show will you see the pickle ball numbers? So you know they're mostly the title of the uh five oaks user survey. Okay. So if I if my kid was enrolled in soccer, I won't fill it out. It's like I don't go to five votes. I play soccer. Well, if you play basketball, you come to five votes. Yeah. Yeah. So that's why I'm saying this doesn't have to be the only

No, it doesn't. No. And we we send out we send out surveys after specific programs. So um our camp survey which we will present um I think it was November um sports fills or sends out their survey um so we send out surveys for the specific and Payton's working on a survey for for facility renters for the first time which we've never done before. So we're really excited about that because that's going to be great feedback. So I think you got good feedback because I'm guessing but I would think not only do people fill out surveys when they don't like something and they want but you got all looks like you got the majority is all

Oh there are complaints in there you know about the sidewalk and um what's another complaint? Well the big one is I the big one is no pool which I mean we just don't or like no sauna um which we we're not going to get a pool. We're not going to get no sana. Who is the sana? The J. Anybody else? People love it. People love it. Yeah, that's fair. That's And you know, no matter how many public meetings we had and we, you know, throughout the throughout the process of the bond, throughout the process of the park master plan, the bond, everything, we really

stressed financial responsibility and sustainability. and a pool does not fit any of that. We we could have built a pool or we could have built this community center and renovated all of our parks. And the pool we would have built would have been a summer only pool, not even an indoor facility for that for the same amount of money. So, people don't want to hear that no matter how many times we've shared it or explained it. We have some hardcore residents who can we know exactly who they are um because they're all over Facebook and everywhere else. They constantly hammer us about but I there's nothing we can do about it. Clayton Center.

Well, it's getting tougher. It is getting tougher. Everyone aquatics facilities nationwide are struggling. They can't get staff. So, right now when you go to Clayton, it's only open a couple days a week until they close. So, um, it is something we're looking for rep reciprocity with another city, but it they because they're so impacted, you know, Maryland Heights absolutely flat out no and they've really raised their non-resident rates because of that. Clayton is, you know, a potential. We're still chatting with them and we'll see that happens. But we we'd like to be able to offer that to people eventually. City has

they do they used to operate one inside the high school. I don't know if they still do that. So getting back to the servant, it strikes me that we may want to do particularly with with the younger group intercept servants to where because as as Bill pointed out, they're not going to answer questions anyway. So, if we can get some kind of non-intrusive or get them as they're here or talk about the ball games and stuff like that, if we could get them to um to get feedback from them through that.

That's a great idea. We can do that. That's a also a great project for the commission. Well, no. I mean, and and that's essentially what we're talking about in terms Yeah, absolutely. Term because we we do some of that work, but I think if we do more of the intercept kind of thing because you're going to get the users of the park. Yes, absolutely. So, yeah, that's the thought. Great idea. The record, this is why I held my question so that they didn't derail the rest of your app. We do appreciate any other question. Any other questions now? Wonderful. Well, thank you. Thank you very much. When did you say the next survey is going to be general survey or do we know yet?

Um, we don't know yet, but generally probably like twice a year. Okay. Um, yeah, people do get a lot of surveys. So, um, we try not to do survey fatigue. Um, but uh, yeah. So, like camp, the survey is still active for camp. um that's gone out then we do the soccer one basketball we do that after the sports leagues every time because that is a huge segment of the population and we could sneak some 50 questions kind of general questions related into those maybe I'm not asking I just yeah but you compare year-over-year twice year over year difference

now when we when we do classes um do we have surveys relating to very rarely, but but it's something we're considering. It's it's something we're really thinking about because um particularly with this new you'll hear about the guide later, but we have like 48 new programs in the guide. So, it'll be very interesting to see the feedback. And people tend to vote with their dollars, too. Well, and people would be motivated, I think, if they had a class. You can then look at faculty. Yes. Yes.

Yeah. I think they had a really great experience or like people who just liked it like Yeah. All right. All right. Thank you so much. Appreciate your time.

Item number six, annual commission reorganization. So you wanna I take it to talk about the rule. Uh yes. So we uh have this evening election for the chair and the vice chair. And this is what's up here right now is actually how to run a meeting and that is not is that the same thing? I guess it is the same thing. Oh, it is the same thing. Okay. So um this is this is an outline of the duties. So I think everybody with the exception of Daniel and Curtis have been to a lot of meetings and understand how it goes.

Um the there is no rule in the in the um in the norms for the commission of how you nominate, but in the past we've had chairpersons that have gone multiple periods because people were happy with the way it's going. It's up to you as commissioners who you want to nominate, what you want to do. I don't know. Have we done self-nominations? That I can't remember. Jim, do you remember the last time? Yeah, I think in the Ed Castner days. Well, Ed Castner said, "I don't want to do it anymore." It's a self-nomination.

So, Ed Castner was chair for what, eight years or something? I think in the very beginning. In the beginning, he that was before I was here. Yeah, he nominated himself in the meeting. Yeah. And as long as he wanted to keep doing it, everyone was really happy with it. Okay. Well, I'm gonna turn it over to you, Sue. You're the chair. So, you want to talk about your experience or what your thoughts are?

Yeah. So, um I've enjoyed the last year. I think things are going well. Um so, I'll open. Is there any questions about either of those two roles, the chair and the vice chair before we open up for nomination? Questions? All right. Well, open it for nomination. I I would nominate Sue Red because I told him one that was a good experience who don't want to be on too long. But I we need second. nomination to accept.

Well, it's too late. I'll accept that nomination. Um, any other nominations? I'll be interested in again. You nominate yourself. We nominate Kate. Uh, okay. She chose to go to a higher school. She got like he got voted off. All right. So So what is the procedure?

So well the procedure is if if there are any other nominations then you have a vote. If there are no other nominations then you still vote. Well you still vote. You need to vote. So we still take a vote. You need So are there any other nominations for chair? And can we do a general vote or do we have to do a call out? Uh, I I think we can do a general vote. Okay. Yeah, I I can't I think I think if there's multiple nominations. Um, all right. So, everybody in favor? I just Anybody opposed? You can absolutely vote. You're a vote. Okay. Okay. Anything.

All right. So, all right. Congratulations. So now we'll have the election. You can tell I like to do concise.

So nominations for vice chair. Well, do you want to talk to Bill? Is Bill interest you have words? What are your words or thoughts? Would you like to continue? I have been vice chair for almost a year. So, you were elected at the same time?

Yes, you and I were elected at the same time. Uh, it is my first time uh holding a position besides being on the the commission. Uh although to be fair as as vice chair, you know, I fill in when when Sue isn't available and Sue is done incredible and except for one meeting has been uh has attended and and facilitated not just this meeting uh but also whenever I go to just general events within the park, she's there as well. Uh for anybody that is interested in in vice chair, it it is a good position to kind of learn the ropes. uh one of the things that I pushed forward and we've unofficially added we we are trying to to have commissioners we'll talk about this more in a few minutes uh do walks through the parks uh and we've got a survey again we'll talk about that uh the the vice chair is the unofficial owner of the the survey keeping that going uh which is is easy enough to do uh but that is kind of an un undocumented responsibility

what would that we can document it we can have that yeah I think we because I think it's way as of today it's on. Yeah, but I've asked Bill to do that part. Keep track of that. So, and he's going to do a report on Are are you interested in staying? Okay. Okay. I accept. Any other nominations? All right, let's vote. All in favor? Any oppose? Okay. Excellent. Congratulations. So, I was the vice chair before. I don't have to order any name plates. So, that's cool.

Plus, it's Travis, not me. Travis, you're elected chair. What did that surprise? Oh my gosh. I see that it's happened in other. All right. Uh item number seven, the annual work plan progress updates from working groups. So the first one I have is well you have anything general about before we No, no. This is your work plan. So the first one is Dark Side International UNSP certification which I urban night sky place. Thank you. Um, so we'll do that one first. Yeah. And I've been negligent. So,

we're on vacation. That's okay. And the the you know the the thing to submit your pre-application. I could not figure out how to save it. So, Bill and I are going to get together. I'm gonna I'm gonna like write everything down and then he's gonna just cut paste and put it in. So then it goes. So So as a again just a really quick historical. So we currently have dark sky certification at Stacy PL. Yes. And you're currently applying for all the other other four. So that's where we're at. Yeah. So, we have one certified when the process of trying to get dark sky

on on the parks and rec website. You go to Stacy Park, there's a link in there and it tells you all about what the urban night sky is, how it operates, what it means. There's also a link to um uh an article in the New York Times that kind of celebrated it because Stacy Park was the fourth in the world. So, it's kind of a big deal. Um and then the program's really expanded. It's a lot easier now. We were one of the guinea pigs to get it was a very arduous process. It's much simpler now although extensive little little trip to the website but so I just want to do history.

So yeah it's great. So there is stargazing um every night at CC Park. You can go out there busy if you have some sort of equipment. So binoculars, telescope, uh starf finding app, whatever in the field, we just don't you can't sleep and you can't go in the woods. But um but we get people particularly during the lunar showers or other events out there. And then we do a um a lot of star parties out there where they we partner with the um St. Louis Astrological Astronomical Society. Gosh. Um this is one of the events up here. They bring out the big telescopes. having we're having a Dobson fest this September which is a big deal which is we'll talk about later. Yeah.

And can we get at a future meeting possibly from the summer the numbers? Do we have numbers? Well, most of them this summer actually rained out or overcast out. It was a very bad summer. Okay. But can we get a general It's zero. It's zero. Zero. We had none. We had none so far this summer. But we were consistent every time we did it. We were Yeah. And St. Louis is known for that, right? Yeah. Yeah. But we usually get no attendance. No. It's a lot of clouds. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. There's a lot of Okay. So, we didn't get any.

But we So, we added some more this fall. So, we have three coming up in the fall plus the Dobson bus. So, we have opportunities for more because we have Well, we also have to do at least two a year. Yeah. We have an article coming out in there's an article about turning off your lights during migration that's be out in the fall newsletter for the city and um we'll push out information through social media. So th those are all those are all things that coincide with the urban nights guide. All right. And one thing that I noticed that's linked was that was public radio having on the one in Kirkville Thousand Hills. Thousand hills pop.

Yes. And they when they said that was they just got it. Yeah. That that they were they're state of art and they they just got it. So it's really exciting. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We're working with all the state. Yeah. To get So but it's it's getting spread around. It is certainly important. Yeah. All right. Second one is outreach opportunity. Okay. Outreach opport. We have a lot coming up for outreach opportunities. I would like to personally thank Jim Person for buying a table for trivia night. Thank you. The council's buying a table. Um I've purchased a table. I'll be there with some friends. We still have tables available. So if the commission were to

I will be at a table with a friend. Okay, great. Question said no glass. I don't know why it said that. Why? That was the question. I am I will remind Hannah that we need people to bring I don't think that's what we say in the parks. So we'll take care of that. That's the first question about I saw that I was walking to let me let me write that down right now. Oh, she gave me that agenda. I didn't ask the question tonight. Yes. Yes. Numbers where the event will

Yes. We've covered the cost of the of the caller. Yes. Yes. Yes. And we have some nice um donations that have come in for the baskets. Being able to put parks foundation saying that we're benefiting the parks foundation has helped with the donations for sure. Some some more. Um we're running out of time,

but uh Domo has been very generous. Um they're also uh Domo is doing a promotion. If you have a child in our soccer league and wear their soccer uniform in, they get a buy one get one free deal. Okay. Which is fantastic. And they're going to be out at opening day and they will I think they're also coming to Turkey. My my main question wine merchant. Well, we're not approaching wine merchant because they're going donating for the turkey trot. So, we're really trying to be sensitive because we're t we're also doing turkey trout um donation drive at the same time.

So, the timing is a little wonky. Um and they were they also donated for the council event. So, we really want to not pick them up being respectful. Okay, we can do that. You can do that if you feel comfortable. If you feel comfortable that you know him and you want to do that as we felt we just did not want to do that because we really appreciate him donating because he donates the champagne for the mimosas at the turkey trial. Right. Yeah. Okay. Well, I'm I'm sitting just have a chitchat with him. Tell him it's happening. We we we don't want to wear out

because he could if he did one or two bottles because we have one basket that we will be putting wine bottles in. Um the night foundation is donating some things for that. So, um, what about Ray Hart? We're approaching them, but they they don't can. So, we are talking to them. We'll see if they'll give a coupon or they're going to go see them on Friday. Okay. Yeah. Okay. So, trivia night coming up. All of you, please get tables. It's going to be very fun. They're uh table decorating. They're doing the um 50/50 raffle. There's uh the baskets being auctioned off. It's very affordable. So, $200 for a table of eight. I mean, we met. So, um I'm coring some of my neighbors to come.

Unfortunately, I'm going to be at the city park with our two dogs. Oh. So, okay. Thank you. Um the next thing that's happening is September 12th, we're showing the Wild Robot out at Movie in the Park, which is exciting. Originally, we were showing a different movie and then Disney puts um blackout dates on them, so we couldn't show. So, this is a a different movie. We wanted to show me say it wrong. There's another movie coming out, too. when we were in show one and now we're showing that later. So anyway, the Wild Robot has phenomenal reviews. That's going to be pretty exciting. That is a great night if commissioners want to come out and just visit with people. There really isn't a program. We just show the movie and people come and bring their blankets and um

that's at Stacy. Yeah. And it's 7:15 to 9:15 because we time it with when when it's dark enough to light the screen up. Harvest Festival. So Harvest Festival this year is is much different than previous years. So I wanted to spend a little time on this. This is a fantastic opportunity for engagement. The big change we've done this year is we are charging kids to come. We have an early bird special. It's $10 per child and that includes everything. their meal and all the activities, their candy gift, um and then um the not so spooky trail, the tractor rides, everything. So, they'll get a bracelet. There is no charge for adults at all. Adults can purchase dinner or beer, wine, or soft drinks. The kids will receive hot dogs, chips, and a juice box. Yeah. So, it is a really good deal. We are doing an early bird special. So after 10:17, it's $15 per child. So we're pushing that information out. We learned a lot with Saints. We're pushing that out as much as we can. We've never charged well we we used to charge for Harvest Festival until about 2014 because then we really started we did a lot of outreach as we were doing the parks master plan. We moved away from that fee base, but now we are back to the feebase. So, we really need to um uh recoup back the costs of these events this year. This is also an awesome opportunity for the commissioners to engage with people. We have changed the costume contest. It is no longer a contest. It is now a costume parade and they will parade through the site and come through the building. There'll be a station where the fire department will give things away, the police will give things away. I would like the parks and rec commission to give some chachkis away. The council

will be giving something away. And I have a special request if Vice Chair Bill Hansen would please lead the parade. Does he have to put on a costume? He is the best. He's going to wig out. He is the best. He is the best. picture of you with your hat and light that because last year I missed the event and uh that picture is my favorite. You've got your hand your axe up. I mean, it's so good. Are you in town on the 23? I am. Then it's already in my calendar.

Awesome. Awesome. Thank you so much. Um we also have lots of volunteer opportunities during the day to help set up. The not so spooky tech trail is a big deal. Um, we have a 10-ft skeleton this year for the first time. It's very exciting. We got it off Facebook Marketplace because we can't afford the big ones. But it's it's um, you know, I'm not sure. I think it might have been a Home Depot one, but it was still in the box when we got it. Nice. For $150 instead of $800. Never been opened. Yes. And the family drove it to us from Ellisville. They were very happy to get it out of the garage. So, there you go. We were going to put it up down on the on down on the street to advertise, but we think it would be stolen. So, we're Yeah, we're not going to put it up. Let's not do that.

Yeah, we're not doing that. Maintenance. No, it's it's in my office actually. When you when you look in, you'll see a giant skeleton head. We can't put it up in the build. It could be in this room, but it can't be in the office. It's too tall. Yeah, it's amazing. So, very exciting. Awesome. All right. So, I will um send out a a meeting request for everybody for that date and please accept it if you're available. I will also send out a meeting request for the volunteer time and um I have strongly suggested that there is a list of things for people to do when they get here and they will be assigned to so high school. They are going to reach out to the honor society. Yeah.

Yeah. Are we going to sign up in advance like we did last year as a permission? Well, that's right. I am sending out the the meeting request for you to accept and then let you on. Okay. So, Harvest Fest is um you can see right there it's 5 to 8 and then the setup will be in the afternoon. Now, it's also the same day that we're doing the river to pair um stream cleaning trash bash. Yes. When's the day? It's in the morning. Saturday 25th. October 25th. Sorry. Saturday the 25th. That tells you nothing. It's October 25th. Yes.

Yeah. The river. We're the headarters of the river to pair. We almost called this building. Yeah. We almost called this building the headarters. That was one of the names that it starts there and then it flows all the way. It actually starts It actually starts in this whole vicinity. These are the headarters. But it's the first time you can see it. it's daylighted is right here because where the tiny tributaries are that's all storm drains now because it's all fluid.

Yeah. But this is the this is the um the actual source of the river to pair and there's that's one of the reasons there's so much water on this site. We have phenomenal water flow through this park. That's we have those giant bio retention basins and everything around here. It's phenomenal. And the water table is very close to the surface here in space. Is this the first in all that? What? The the No, they've done it previous years, but it's been a couple years. Bruce does it. Yeah, I always go I always go with city. Yeah, maybe we don't advertise it as well. So, we we've put it in our guide and it's going in the city newsletter as well.

You meant on here you listed the Keystone Gallery opening. When is that? The Keystone Gallery opening. Is that it is but but we don't always have a reception. So the next one is Friday September 5th from 6:00 to 8 and that is diasporic expression 2 ethoamerican art across generations. Perfect. Just a tidbit about we participate with city we have one. Yeah. Indian Medals. It's in Indian Medals Park. Yeah.

If you ever want to know how much rain there is and all that. Yeah. Yeah. It's It's phenomenal. And we have two artisal springs in Indian Meadows Park that flow year round. It's amazing. All right. So, any other You just wanted to get Yep. Those are those are the the big ones coming up. And then you have in your got in your um uh agenda there's a whole list of all the other things and I've started separating them by month because there are so many. So um if you have questions on any of them don't hesitate to ask me and they'll also be in the activity guide or

yes seventh Saturday of every of every month and we do a number of different Yeah. And that's in here as well. Starts in October. It starts in October. Yeah, we push we used to start in September, but we've pushed it to October. So, October 11th at Stacy Park. Yes, it will be hot. Um, so the next item is the green team. Green team. So they've been they've been working

we are but it takes more than we have to there's a lot of votes for them. We're gonna we're I we don't have a date yet but we're going to do it in Indian Meadows Park. It's in the budget. So we're going to do it this weekend. Um they're they're cheaper than hiring people, but they but it's it's like $1,500 just to get them to the site, but they will do a phenomen they the um Leoo used them in the spring for the Deer Creek Trail. Unbelievable job over there. Um I've used them at my house. It they they're crazy good. So, but doesn't the honey I mean

because when we have when we do the weed warriors, you know, we either pull it out or we dab it with Roundup. So, the goats just eat it. Does it comes back? It does. But what the goats So, the reason we're using them in Indian Meadows, it's too wet and there's a lot of brambles and a lot of poison ivy in there. And I don't want to put volunteers in there, but the goats will eat all of that. So, then we can go in. You'll still have to cut and treat, but then they the foliage is gone. And then when they eat the berries, when the berries pass through the four stomachs, they're not viable anymore. Yeah. Oh, and they eat the berries, too.

They eat the berries, too. So, I don't think Brian has a date yet. And it may it will be either this fall or the spring depending on where the herd is and when it's available. Are you ready? It would be like like put like a fence. They put up an electric fence. Absolutely. And it's a zapper and they put signs on it. Uh, and they come check on them every day. We have to have provide a water source and they put out a salt lake. It's fascinating. It depends on the space. Um, we do have them I think for five days. My house, they were there for two days. Yeah. Depends on any kind of public outreach that's happening for that. You didn't know it was just

when we have a date, we'll let them know, but it's going to be down towards Napoleon side, not towards the pavilion side. And it'll be it'll be um the houses probably won't even see it or probably won't even know they're there, but we will tell them that they're coming because I thought it was neat when did it deer, you know, they had they had the time when they invited Yeah. When Yeah. When they did it um when when Leoo did it, they did it on their uh Yeah. They did it on their Arbor Day celebration and it was part of the activities and so we will tell people people love it. Maybe those that bring the other bringing yoga goats, they can do like whole yogurt like Yeah, the yoga goats, they do not allow them to eat the whole suckle. Yeah, we get we get the meat goats.

Okay. So, on that, can we talk with our the city social media people and like try to make that I mean something like that either is like a huge hit or nobody cares. I mean, if we can get even a little publicity out of Absolutely. because it's important because people I mean it's for people that have big yards. It's a phenomenal way to have it done and it's um and it's not noisy. You know, you hate it when the chainsaw. Yeah, it's love it. Oh, that's okay. One last thing. Um obviously I'm a huge fan of all of the um and I have heard from residents in Indian Meadows who were impacted by the South War Greenway. Yeah. were not happy.

Correct. Because it destroyed the legislative buffer between Maryland and area. Right. So that's just kind of on my radar. The the woman that complained most fiferously about that has now called me and thanked me and said it is filling in. She said it's better. The lady that was right where the dumpster was. Do you remember what dumpster? Well, so I Yeah. So I heard from a couple people in in that neighborhood. It wasn't just Oh, okay. Yeah. I had Yeah. I thought they went I thought great rivers then went in after they get rid of all the honey stuff. I thought they went in

they did but it takes you know three years you know it takes a long time a year that's why I think the public education.

Yeah. And the where we're moving it, where we're moving it, the view they'll see is not the they'll see Napoleon and they'll see the part. So it's a little slightly different a little bit. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's an education thing because people just show and sadly most of those homes their back fence lines are all honeysuckle as well. So we can only do our side of the fence. So their side will still have a wall. So okay. Um the green team the green team is excited to report that they we had a successful grant. So we will be purchasing

this um recyclable container on the right hand side. We'll be purchasing those Stacy Park. And this will this is a pilot to see if it increases people's compliance with recycling aluminum cans and bottles. And and how many are we purchasing? I think two or three. Can't remember because it was very expensive. Will we do away with the the dual ones out? No, the dual ones are out on the out of the certain areas. We're not getting rid of those. We're only buying this for Stacy's because they're so expensive. The grant is under $10,000. So, we can we can only get a few. We're going to see how it works. Um,

we get the money that money for the aluminum gets picked up. No, we get nothing. Yeah. Do they attach? Actually, this looks like they just sit on the ground. They sit on the ground. We won't have the dog bone shape. We'll have only the holes. We won't because we don't want to collect paper because people just get too confused. And at Stacy, they shove all the um all their barbecue everything into. So, it is and Stacy is our biggest pavilion. So, this is why we're trying it there. Uh we'll have a lot of information. Cans and bottles only. And hopefully they will be empty, but usually they're full. Did we get any of them folding?

We will get folding ones, too, but we haven't ordered them. We haven't We We can't order anything yet. We got the grant notification, but there's a big warning and they're saying, "Do not expend funds yet. We have to wait till we have to And we've been doing a pretty good campaign on getting people to come up and give a flyer for recycle like it's recyclable. You see that?" Yeah. Yeah. Kiana's been doing that since trying to get people to be more aware of what they're might. Yeah. And it's probably time um uh once we get past Labor Day into the fall for green team to have another meeting. Yeah. Um park visits.

Park I don't know why that picture is there. I apologize. That is an old picture. That's kind of a sad part. That is a sad. No, that is um that is actually Warson Park from that when we had that little mini when the straight line wind came through. Yeah, Pat makes this for me because he can't come for meetings. So, sometimes he puts I think Easter eggs in here for me. Okay, so I'm gonna turn this over.

All right. Uh so I'm part of uh Travis who's unfortunately not here tonight but part of the group that is tracking uh uh park visits. Uh one thing that we we have and I'll share it I'll resend it to everybody. Uh we've got a link so you can go on your phone and literally while you're at the park it is like five questions uh for about your park visit. We've got each of them here. uh to give uh Sue the most credit, 60% of it. Uh she and I are the only two with the latest survey. Uh our former That's true. Uh Kate created the survey. We moved it to a general box so that Kate didn't have to keep updating it every time we had a change. So we've got a generic uh parks and wreck uh or not website uh email address and Google account.

Okay. Yeah, nobody's looking there anymore except for Kate going, "Why are people still bothering me?" Emphasize something, right? If you don't mind. So, we want people to fill out the survey when you're in the park. Yes. If you see something that is a hazard, broken, needs attention, we also want you to text Beverly with that information. So, I'd like it way sooner than the monthly report. So yeah,

so we're kind of asking, you know, it's an extra step, but if you can just copy whatever you wrote, stick it in. So for example, you get to know a part and you see something broken on the plate, right? Take the easiest thing in my opinion, take a picture, send her a text and mention what it is. You can give a location and what's going on, right? So I'll just stop. I just want to make sure we are clear about that. Yeah. And actually in the survey, although it's not in here, it actually has Beverly's phone number to text her so that if you do see something, you you don't even have to look up her number. You can Yeah. Go right there. Bill, I don't remember where I find it. I'll resend the link. Send it.

I I'll send it out to everybody after the meeting. Uh like I just keep it open on one of my windows and uh so that I can just It's easy enough to do. Do you want us to continue to go to a specific park? Yeah. You go to any any park anytime you visit a park. Okay. Just we're not going to go to the to So I would love for us to do that, but right now I'd like to start with us just actually going to parts and documenting before we Yeah. But let's start with baby steps. Yeah.

Great. Okay. So, and just so you guys understand what we tried this year is Kate was nice enough to make a calendar and assign each one of us a park five month. So, like this year I think I had Bill Park in July I had her side. My reality is I have a park in my neighborhood. So, I'm at every park throughout the month. So, I would just report whatever I see in whatever park I happen to be in. Um, so I think that's our concern is if you're at any of those locations that you report, you know, two people were there, six people were there, there was a dog running away.

I'll be very happy when more to the point when we have too many reports from a park if that is possible. Then we can then we can work on breaking it up. But yeah, go to a park. Uh, so then what park did you visit? Uh, as you can can tell from here, you most of us live by Villa Park. Uh I do a lot of the updates and that's where I walk my dogs at at least once a day. Uh so we we do need to break and I'm I'm guilty of this as well. Need to break it up to see other parks. We do include uh the the greenway which is one of our technically one of ours and the walkway between Dealman and Newcastle. Technically not a park but a lot of people use it a park and don't realize that it's not an oliveette park. So we want to get feedback on those as well.

Well's responsible for taking care of it. Yeah. So, yeah, I walk on the phone daily almost. Yeah, almost everyone knows right away. There's Yes, Stephanie texts me right away. Right. Uh, so I've never filled out a form. You need to change that. It's 30 seconds. Take your phone. It's probably text Beverly. Something's wrong. Nothing. I know everything. No. Oh, no. Because Stephanie famously had an altercation with the big motorcycle guys. It's Stacy and she didn't have her phone with her. Yeah. So, it happens.

So, so you don't have to be like me, but if I see a party going on, they rent the pavilion, I'll often walk by and ask, "How's it going? Do you have any feedback?" And it's almost always positive. Um, but if I get any negative again, people told me something's broken or whatever, you reply. So,

so, so you can, and Bill's good about doing that, too, right? So, if you see people in the park, again, this is sort of the unofficial survey, right? It's your opportunity to ask, especially kids. When I see teenagers running around, I stop them and after the shock that I even sloppy to them and they get all their electronic, whatever it is, then they're like, "Oh, you really want my opinion?" And I'm like, "Yeah." And they'll usually tell you stuff, right? So, if you don't ask, they won't tell you anything. But sometimes they tell me nothing. So, question.

Sometimes the lights are left on at the station like like You know, it'll be Sunday night at 10 o' they'll be out. There are no lights in the pavilion. They're only there after a special event. And I think you and I talked after that happened. Yeah. But no, they're left on. Yeah, you can tell me. Yeah. But you're right. Yes. Yeah. They're tempor they're temporary for events only, right? Yeah. Right. Unless the bathrooms get locked up at night, so if they don't get open or

Yeah. there be lot you agree or shoot down this idea if if any of us are in a park and have a question about something that we don't think if we're not sure if it's right or not just text Beverly and let her make the decision you don't need to decide should I shouldn't I yeah no just reach out to me question and Stacy P there were there's cars that sit in the parking lot with their lights out at night and even in the winter it'll be cold. It'll be freezing cold. It'll be seven. Just ignore them. Oh, ignore them. Yeah. Something in that park, too.

They do it here as well. Yeah. It's people probably teenagers. And the cops the cops check on them. I just say the cops make grounds, right? Yeah, they do. Yeah. So, we find all sorts of things happen in our parks. of which we can't talk about because we are recording and this is a family show. Yes. It's the nature of humans. It's happen something that looks like it shouldn't be happening.

Well, and what's weird is you know walk you know we'll walk down the trail. We'll walk by like every night, usually, you know, roughly in a half an hour time period, walk by and it's really bizarre that you'll see the same like it'll drive in and it'll you'll see the same. Yeah. Yeah. And a lot of people drive in here in the daytime and eat their lunch and at stage two and people eat lunch in their cars in the parking lot. That's why we have cans near the lots because they will just throw their food on the ground when they leave. And a lot of the uh lawn care companies, yeah, the lawn care companies, the bus drivers, they'll hold their trailer in the eat under a tree.

Yeah, I've noticed, which is really nice. They're very good. Very good. But they'll be there at lunch under the shade of a tree. Yeah. Stacy Park is a very important public restroom. That's where the bus drivers, Amazon drivers, UPS, they all go to the bathroom there. Now that we've opened here, we see them coming in here now, too. and we welcome them because that is a tough job and there are not a lot of public restrooms around. So this year we probably won't have next time. I just I sent everything uh Beverly just kind of like the months we've had the most visits uh reports of visits. So again just kind of helpful June's a winner. June's a winner. All right, our next slide.

Uh people observe the park. This is one of the questions uh that we have and I again this is mainly Sue and I but as I'm walking in the morning I can say I normally just see like one or two I see one or two people walking their dogs or in the morning walking uh I don't get a chance because of work most time during the day but I would you know and I know a lot of us work so you know but it'd be good to kind of get a better idea uh and again Villa Park is where most of our stats are from so obviously if we look at Stacy or probably just by is going to get a much different number. The Stacy walking in the morning is a much higher number.

Much and I don't typically get there to report it, but I have driven by occasion. It's a much higher people drive the Stacy Park. They do. It's a destination. It It acts like a regional park. Yeah. So, that's definitely a difference. Uh how do Again, this is a a drop down. Uh so, again, it makes it very easy. Uh but you know, what do we see people doing in the park? Um, you know, so again,

all right. So, I think we're good. I don't think there's any surprises here, although we apparently do need to add sitting in the car. That'll skew our results.

Uh, some of the com So, this is examples of some of the the comments we've seen. Now, one thing when you fill out the survey that I've been doing, and I didn't add it here, is like if there's nothing, I just put none, none or na just so that I don't leave something blank when I'm doing it. If you do the survey, you can you can either put leave it blank or put something. But these are some things that we saw at uh at Villa. And these are things that were all also reported to to Beverly. Uh so it doesn't have to necessarily well, I guess these are all things we'd see that are problems. Again, if you're not sure, let Beverly know. Those just reported here.

So can can I So today I went to Villa Park as one big kids. The rocks over the big dream were this big. We were bored of them. Yeah, I saw them yesterday. I don't even know where they came from. It's okay. It's okay. Kids play with rocks. It's really important for their development. I We don't mind. We move them back. The park moves them back. Don't worry. So, we're not gonna care that they're blocking the drains. Okay. No. No. It's okay. Yeah. And there's a lot less activity on it right now. The school's back in session. And the rocks that are now in the middle. Yeah. That's okay. We're going that put it back in the bag.

Yeah. But right now, we don't have time, you know. But if volunteer if we got volunteers, they have to go back in the right way. It's just just leave them. That's okay. It's good for kids to play with. I don't mind. I feel better if my childhood and no choice now is just rocks. So that was part of my development. Rocks are really important. They're they're really important for kids. They're very tactile. Kids love to carry rocks around. Yeah. Which it's fine. I was just curious if you wanted volunteers to No, if we if we do then we'll put out a call. But

yeah, I don't Brian cannot even put his brain on it right now. Too much else going on. Uh, as far as feedback, clearly this is from from Sue who was borderline costing people in the parks their feet and it worked out well. It's a little People really It's funny. People love Earth. Yeah, it's a beautiful people that are in it just love that. Well, the funny thing to me is that when I went through the archives for the 60th, I found pictures of her side when it was first built and there was something similar to the Baba Jaga back up then. And I had no idea. We had no idea that there were little what? That little hut, the Babaaga hut that we have in there. Yeah. There was a there was a little like little treehouse on stilts.

Yeah. In Villa Park back in the like 70s. In the like Yeah. in like 70. Something like that. Yeah. Who knew? Yeah. I had no idea because I'd never seen we found all those big old negatives. Feedback. I said it's retro. Yeah, it is. Yeah. Well, the thing is you can you can almost always skip that building where Stacy is booked all the time and it's not even it's not even groups. I'm just talking about walking through that park and having families there all the time. There's always families playing on those playgrounds cuz it's shaded much like it's nice and shaded back there. Yeah, it's shaded and every age can and

the new rain garden around the cavali's gorgeous. Looks really good. Yeah. Very nice. Okay. So, rocks again. Yep. Uh, sorry. So, any questions? Again, I'll send out the survey. You can do it on your phone. Uh, we'll we'll keep updates. Uh, if you if you don't do it, just when, you know, we do our monthly update, just say what you've seen. Um, but I think it it's huge that we have us in the park and and a couple. It's really helpful. Really appreciate it. Okay. Is that it? All right. Yep. Okay. Five books monthly update. So, here's our answer. 1806.

Wow. Yeah. Yeah. It's really exciting. 105 new memberships since last parking. So, that takes into account July Parks and Recreation Month and some of the promotions that were done during then as well. So, our survey was about five.

Yeah. Okay. So, as you can see, uh, monthly is still our number one. Renew active is very high. Um, youth resident monthly is picking up. So, it's it's a it's a nice mix. All right. Membership sold, new member. Oh, I'm not going to click the map because it's not updated. Darren's Darren's out of town. So um still you can see renew active is really hanging question on that what how removals

oh really well really well yeah that might be something to show in terms of percent renewals a lot of auto right yeah we we've we are now on auto renew the first year we were open we had to ask people to reup and now it's automatic so I'll say something here about if dropping out. Yeah. Okay, good idea. Now, um before we go to the next topic, I want to share with you the photo IDs.

Okay. I didn't want to put it in a written report. So, we had um we've had a huge increase in the number of people playing basketball. Um you can see a lot playing today. We've had our core group that are mostly high school students, college students, mostly residents. We get a lot of kids from Parkway CREF core. will do city uh and overland which is normal. The last uh couple of weeks we've suddenly had an influx of people from North County and from the city and they brought with them some behaviors that are not compatible with our facility primarily gambling

um shooting craps so uh rolling dice. So it's very common when you do pickup basketball games in the city it goes hand and fist handy glove. It's it's been going on forever, which is fine, but in a facility like this, it's not appropriate. Very large sums of them in there. So, we started kicking them out. And when we learned in that process that we did not have their real names, so the police department's working with us, we are having uh they're walking through a lot more frequently and we've gone to photo, you must show a photo ID in order to buy your day pass. and that has significantly improved the situation. We do not want to get a reputation for that. We don't want to drive away our regular customers. So, we've had a lot of um a lot of our regular basketball players have thanked us for that because it's very common in other places to do that.

Basketball game on the side. Have you ever Yeah. Yeah. any when you go to any pickup game, Forest Park, anywhere, it it's it's part of the culture, but we don't want it here because other things come with that large sum of money that we don't want. Yeah. So, you put up the That's why I keep track coming in. But you also put up the

Well, the velvet ropes go up every afternoon. Yeah. Because then when there's a huge crowd, we don't want anybody slipping past. Yeah. So, um, it's working really well. The staff were very concerned. We don't want to lose any of our staff. We're having a big meeting with them tomorrow because we want them to be able to share their experiences, gauge how it's going, but this department has been very responsive. Are they giving them a lot of bathtubs? Uh, no. Because we have the officers when we now when we kick someone else the police come and kick them and if we have we have not had to do this but now with the photo IDs we will charge them with trespassing if it becomes an issue but it hasn't been fantastic. So what grounds do you pick out is

there's no gambling allowed in the facility. Oh and that that's a rule that's a rule. Okay that was my question. This is just for the summertime like whatever people pick up game. So we have pickup games year round. It's very popular, but it just So we think that it was either tornado related because some of the centers closed and they could be a core group or kicked out of another center and they suddenly found us because we're not we haven't been open that long. Right. You're right. And these are older they were people like in their 22 23 24 facility issues or or sometimes you know just happens and then it goes away. Yeah. And so, you know, like I told you, you know, we had those cars driving in Park.

Yeah. And I haven't seen Well, the police crack down. They they started watching for them. Okay. The heat this summer's very hot. Yeah. So, whole whole host of factors, but having the since we put up the photo ID signs, big change. So, it worked. Absolutely. Yeah. Giving a heads up to the pickle ball people. They're next. Okay. Well, we're doing what we're doing is we're not targeting anybody. If you do not have a membership and you buy a date pass, you must show a photo ID. Makes sense. So, because we're not we're not right discriminating. No, it's across the board. Yes.

And we have had a couple young people, they've had to call their parents because, you know, and then if they if they're in school and they don't yet have their um their student body card, then we give them a grace period. But if they're old enough, there's we've done no grace period for anybody over the age of 16. And do all the kids have? They do. Yeah, they all do. But if they're older, somehow they got here. Yeah. A lot of them, you know, a lot of them Uber. A lot of them um they hitch friend rides with friends. It's very interesting because we do get people from all over a regular basis. You remember when you saw the chart of our members? Yeah. So, no, it's and we we like them coming in. They're welcome to just those behaviors allow.

Yeah. Okay. Um I apologize. It says Maxine Wild. Okay.

So So officially item number nine and the reports are given. Go ahead. um [Music] to a report except that um as it relates or specifically we did the last meeting pass the new um alternative motor vehicle ordinance which was great because the first first time around we had a bunch of questions uh for Beverly and uh Chief Andresy and they did a fabulous job of taking questions which are comments and going back great work in it and uh and that has been approved. So what what does it say?

Yes. So now I'm on the spot. Would you like me to say no motor vehicles in parks? Um they can be on uh on the pathways paved pathways. Paved pathways limit of 15 miles. That was my and that that is true throughout the city as well. They can be on class one and two and posted on the Facebook. So around Stacy Park and and material it's black but anything that's nature or natural

they can't be on and no bicycles either trail even no wheels. So you're saying it applies even to this like you know the sidewalks dip on these sidewalks. Yeah, exactly. The biggest one of the big things that the council uh questions that we had was was less about the parks. The parks pretty was pretty clear, but it was more about what do you do about the vehicles that are on the streets. Yes. So the main thing is promoting safe Yeah.

Um so 15 mph speed limit. They can be on the residential streets and sidewalks. They are not supposed to be on price or juris and olive and 170 and 170. Yes. Uh

they can be on bonum on the sidewalk. So, so the big differential is for the micro mobility devices, the MTDs. So, we're talking about the hoverboards, unicycles, all of that. Um, the ebikes, they they're bicycles. They can be in the street, but they have to follow the same codes and rules and they can't be like jumping off the curves and, you know, they're it's not 50 miles an hour on the street. on the street on the sidewalk by and bikes aren't supposed to, you know, bikes aren't supposed to go over to the posted speed limit. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. And that is that's in the state code as well as our vehicle code. So, and then so the ebikes because, you know, there's some parents that are very concerned because their kids use the bikes to commute to school and some of them ride from all that to the fifth grade center just far. Yeah. So they can still do that but they cannot they can't go they must yield to pedestrians they must follow follow the but the biggest problem is they're cut through they're cut through stac to whatever and they're doing the same thing in the park that they were doing on open roads right

and so it was great that you guys clarified that in the park they have to swim and the idea kids promoting safe behavior, right? Because we nobody wants to issue tickets to kids. Yeah. And the other thing is that the tickets will be issued to the parents. Correct. They're not being issued to kids. Okay. My hand is so um that's you know I think it's a I don't exactly know how the public education campaign is going to um so yeah, Beth and I are working on that. We're hoping Kiana will help us. Um I've the the graphic you've seen I'm I'm showing the group. Agree. Yeah. That'll be in our newsletter and the city newsletter, but um

I think a big campaign needs to push kids know that the helmet laws because all of that has a helmet law and Missouri doesn't. So it's important but most of the kids we see are on have helmets on. Yeah. interesting to whether it's you or chief or council something like that to see about attending PTO board meetings the parent teacher I think chief and would be yeah because I think the school's coming up with their they're having issues too and I think we have we have officers that work with the schools so I think there's already conversation happening there yeah yeah

so can these like I see the 14, 15, 16 year old kid was dipping on electric pipes on like acting like on the street. They're under 30 miles. They can do that. It is it is um it's very dangerous and there are a lot of accidents in other states that we we have not had the incident yet, but we're going to get there. Absolutely. you know, if if you notice that, oh, it's always at this time that they're, you know, you know, emergency number. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Cuz the, you know, the the cops are out on their bikes now. Um, and the and the officers are all looking for the kids because they really are trying to get to know them and and coach them. I will tell you, after they stopped those kids early in summer just outside Stacy, it cut down tremend the word got out. Yeah. Yeah. That the bike cops are out and they won't stop you. Yeah. Yeah. And there was a change in behavior. Yeah. And we're seeing the the bikes come in here quite a bit because they're on the greenway and they come and get and they're welcome to do it. They just have to be conscientious not to be either other people like themselves or themselves. Exactly. Safety is the primary

or my dogs.

True. True. Um so then the other piece that I think is also interesting for parks is that uh maybe we covered this at another meeting uh the parks foundation board is made um and the council members I think we are learning a lot um and there is a lot to be developed um in regards to the parks foundation. Um so we have started the conversations to kind of understand at a deeper level how the parks foundation function well um and supplement and assist in our communities needs. We did approve some emergency soccer goals which they uh and then we also approved the biometric scanner in bodies.

Inbody scanner that sounds cool. It's coming soon. It's very exciting. Where is that going? It's going to be here. And you if you're a member, you get two free scans a year. Yeah. So just you know those are I think the first big expenses

very exciting. Yeah, I think I I guess just from my personal perspective, this is not our perspective, personal perspective is that there's a lot of untapped potential parks foundation. Um, and I'm really hoping that we can as a board because the council serves as the parks foundation board. Um, do what we can to kind of grandfather foundation and it's brand new so it's exciting. Yeah. So in question about the foundation is kind of either um there are reason that it's the council as a whole or the citizens

how it was set up and I was not part of those. So they set it when they s set it up initially it was just to receive a donation from a developer in town which we've never received but it's sitting out there.

So it's sitting out there. Um, and then we received a substantial donation unsolicited, so we put it in the foundation. So, that's the that's the money we have in there. But having a nonprofit that's a 501c3, a lot of businesses are more willing to donate to and people to a 501c3 than they are to a city. So, when Hannah was soliciting donations for the trivia night, she said, "It's to benefit the parks." And so we've got the parks logo on it now, the parks foundation logo on it. Now people feel more comfortable. And I think that's where she got some of her good donations. And I understand all that. My question is around governance.

Well, I think it's they think they did it the easiest way so that it was structured because to start with Yeah. It doesn't have to remain that way, but that's the way they chartered it to get it to get the whole thing set up. It was the fastest I've ever seen. Yeah. It's the fastest I've ever seen a 501c3. I I created one um at a previous city. And we we had a non we had a board members from the community and everything and it was you know it was hard because then you got to get those board members to the meeting. Yeah. Yeah. So by doing a proposal they have a but I think I think the core but if you you get other people on it oh sure becomes more diverse

and then you get more hands working too because you know that's one of the discussions is we don't have a big staff but who's going to do the work but it's a good starting. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Thank you Kate.

Anything else? Good. All right 10. Okay, so big big news and go through very quickly is this activity guide. So we have another big guy 28 pages I think in here I say it's it's I think it's I counted all the new programs 42 new offerings. Okay so you'll see a lot of new things in here. Um youth soccer games are beginning the 6th and the 7th. We have 1100 kids playing. a lot of kids and we are not using the fifth grade center because of the construction going on over there. The field is open but the parking lot is a mess. So all the games are going to be at Warson and Stacy. We put 15minute buffers between each game but Saturday the games will go until 4:00. So we really um are going to do our best to promote car pooling and not coming an hour early for your game. Um

and then the uh the parts foundation gave us new soccer goals which we really need. Yeah. Especially not using the fifth grade center. However, nationwide shortage with some of the parts. So we we may not get them until the middle of September which is or maybe the end of September. Very sad. May do. Yeah. So we've got a a lot of new offerings going on. Um Great Day St. Louis came to came filmed here live. So, there's a link in here if you want to watch some snippets of it. They did an excellent job, didn't it? Yeah, it was so nice. Um, and we got calls immediately.

They really did. And then um our 60th anniversary um the um 80s movie choice, the clear winner was ET. So, we're showing ET here. Yeah. And we're going to sell drinks and snacks during that. It'll be free. It's inside. Yeah. Yeah, it's inside. Um then we've got um T. We talked about tables for the for the event. Okay. In the parks. Big news is will online and current. What activity? Oh, it's always always online and print. This is getting mailed to every household. Okay.

Yeah, I shouldn't say always, but yes, this is getting mailed to every household in all of that and some bordering communities. We don't have a lot of postage to send it too far out, but we're doing a little bit into creep tour where our members are coming from. And then um we have the flipping book online, so you can flip through, click through everything. It's really interactive and really nice. So that's available. This is at the printer, so it should be in homes very soon. So if you could let me know when you receive it, it's really important because you know we pay for it and if it doesn't come in a timely manner then you know we need I need to know. Yeah. So in the pars we have a lot of exciting things happening right now. The door the big door project on the restrooms at Villa and I is 90% complete. It's so great. Um the signs are up the no bike signs are up on all the hiking trails. Uh we're ordering the speed limit signs. So, those are going to be in hopefully by Thanksgiving. We had a major incident at Villa. This is huge. It took an Amaran subcontractor, public works, and the parks crew to clean this mess up. And Bill reported it before I got to work. I knew about it because they sent me a picture. Yeah, it was massive. This tree was actually a couple oak trees over here were slated for pruning in the fall. We can only prune oaks in the dormant season so that we don't spread the viruses. So, we couldn't normally prune this, but since it broke, I mean, it was massive. And the power was out to that street uh most of the day. It was a big mess. Um, then this is Cody's little baby.

Cody had a baby. Yeah. So, Cody is our um uh equipment operator one, and this is his first baby, and he is so excited. He'll be off until September 15th. So, expect him to be.

Oh, I know. Well, this is the only picture we have. You know, we really are we're not pushing him to give us pictures. Um, but lots of things are happening um in the parks. We've got all of it included garden tours. They were very successful. And Franklin the turtle came out at the very last tour at St. If you get to see him, it's pretty special because he's he's a very elusive turtle. But he's down in the pond. Um the fence, if you've been along Horson, if you've seen the fence, it's amazing what it looks like right there. We're not done, but what a difference. Oh my god, what a I cannot wait to take it down on all it, but that we got to slow our roll. We have to finish. There's a little bit more we're going to do over there. We have to recede and clean it up. And

what a difference. I Every time I drive past it, I'm just so happy. Yeah. Um what else? Uh sorry. Yes. Question. Go ahead and finish.

That's okay. Indian Meadows, we're going to we're going to uh inhouse we're going to be um repairing the path. There's an asphalt path that goes to the bathroom that's sunk over the years. We're going to pull that out and redo it. And then we're going to do a little bit more permanent path because where the greenway where people come in to use the restroom from the greenway, for some reason there is no connector. So, we're going to have to do some sort of connector because people, you know, like we don't want them trampling the plants. So, we're going to formalize that. We put a sign on the back side of the restroom so people know that's a restroom because otherwise it just looks like a random utility shed. Can't tell it's bathroom. So,

uh, two questions. Um, one maybe two meetings ago, we talked about, uh, the entrance at Olive and Warren where there was where we at with We're going to work on that probably in the winter. Okay. Yeah, probably in the winter. Yeah, they just um it has been a tough summer. Lot of watering.

A lot of watering. And with Cody out and our pavilions go in so heavily. The park crew, you know, they work all weekend and they rotate those weekends. So then we're short during the week because they've been working all weekend. So it's been um yeah, it's it's a it's we have a lot a lot to do backlog. And then so one other question uh what is the latest on and this may be for as well the uh box at the corner, north corner. Yes. So we we talking about random the traffic relay box on the corner of all of and old bottom. Okay. So I had nothing to report until two days ago. Okay.

So it missed missed this. So um they did the public input. We lobbied. They basically said, "Thank you for your presence." So, we're just going to let them put it where they're going to put it and then we will plan ours around it and probably move our stuff further east. But they had crews out there two days ago unannounced and they had the lights flashing first day of school. Right. Good point. So, if you got your emergency alert that was from that's what that was from. And then they said the first day of school, please avoid the area. Yeah. Yeah. I mean what are you gonna do the time that they're on the Yeah. So you know typical state problems. Yeah. Exactly.

But I think what what I am happy is that's promising. That means that it's getting closer and um they have paved all the way up to the bare entrance. Um so you know they are going to keep pushing that paving through but they have to do all the concrete first. So it's really exciting. It all of it's Yeah. So so a question with that. I think one of the issues that you had last time that they were looking at you lost power to that sign. Has there been any discussion by Bruce or any of the other folks as to making sure that stuff out for us?

Uh we 100% we would like that 100% it was not happening. We will be we are responsible. We have to do it ourselves. Yes, it is a very large agency, very difficult to employ. Do we work through our political posts? Um, uh, it does council working with because it seems to me that I realize that we don't have any power at state level agencies, but in probably our our legislation probably have little power as well, really. We're just trying to figure out if we play playing.

I mean, I I will be honest and say I feel because Yeah. I don't know. I would be hesitant to territory that I know nothing about. Okay. Yeah. No, in in the sense of like Bruce knows Bruce knows how to navigate it. But Bruce also has said that you know we just can't deal with it's true. I mean we had well well no but so I really have to say there is we struggle with the county and we struggle with the state

but um Bruce really goes to bat for us and he really really like that dealman crosswalk I can't even tell you what he had to go through to get that dealman crosswalk so awesome by Indian meadows they weren't going to do it but he really worked he worked and he worked and he got it okay so there's things. There's things that we can do and there's things we can't do. If you remember when they put the sidewalks in on Olive, they gave the city to 36-hour notice that the project was going to happen and the city paid for that message board. The state wasn't going to put a message board out. So, um you know, there are no I mean I may naive but

Well, the state's one thing, but the utilities is another layer of your Yeah. Yeah. They don't take feedback. They just But I have to say they did an excellent job on Lindberg and the signage on Lindberg was phenomenal and they had it in multiple places and I don't know if that was Leoo doing that or what, but when they when the bridge project was happening, it it was amazing. So hopefully that was a good contractor and I've been impressed by the concrete work they've done coming down Olive. They seem to have done a good job. So I I'm optimistic and you know I think I think it's going to be okay. You know it'll be okay. So for the reporting Yes.

When do we anticipate these splash pads closing machine? Well, you know, we advertise Labor Day, but if it's hot the way it's been, we're going to leave them on. Yeah. Probably closer to um probably closer to the beginning of October. Yeah. Last year we kept them on even later because it was so hot. Subject could change in somewhat. Yeah. So people are just happily surprised when they go there when they're on because I don't want to turn them off. But when it's So I just want if anyone's listening to this, they will remain on as long as the weather is on. Yeah.

Okay. So we have a lot coming up. Please look at your upcoming events because there's all kinds of fun things happening. Um and Quick. So, couple of questions. What's happening to the gates on dealing with the trail? That's what Bill was just asking about. Um, is that Yeah, we're going to work on them this this fall and winter. And are the ash trees gone or what's the ash trees start coming down Monday? The contractor was out today touring with Brian again just to make sure they had everything lined up. one.

Yes. And they think they think they're going to be here for about two days. It's going to change. I mean, it's going to look very different in Nerve Side. There's two really big Ashes coming down right in the middle of the grass. They're coming down. And is there any update on bailings? No, I mean they Pat and I had um took Pat and I took the uh grief corps parks and recck director out for lunch.

Oh, right. Um it's we didn't put it in here because it's still preliminary but I think we're going to go back to doing post sponsorships with them which we used to do before COVID and building towards hopefully doing a reciprocal agreement with the ice rink and the golf course. Good. So that they because there a lot of their residents are using here but we it's prelim it's early days but it was a very good meeting but it's having conversation. Yes. And eventually we'd like to have Harvest Fest be co-sponsored between both cities

because they are also a small city has small staff. They don't put on those big events. Um and it's a model that Clayton, Richmond Heights and Brentwood do. So they have to do the big Halloween event in Shaw Park and that's a combination of those three cities. So we talked to them about that. It's too soon for this year but we may we're seeing if they have the staff we invite them to have a a booth here. Great. Yeah. Well, so I think that can only benefit us. Yeah. Great. Anything else? I will entertain someone. I give I give it to Dan.

Hey, hang on. I got to write it down. Who moves? [Music] Oh my gosh. Okay. All in favor? Perfect. Okay. Five. We have um Did Curtis have to leave? Yeah. Oh, poor guy. Like both make it easier. Hopefully it will. I mean the first meeting for the uh Yeah, he's voting for chair. He's like first meeting I can do. I think I could do it.

That's why Kate left the for city council.