6. PRCSR 05-09-2012Item: 6
MEMORANDUM
.Kiver
TO: Parks and Recreation Commission
FROM: Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Director
DATE: May 4, 2012
SUBJECT: Director's Report
This report is a highlight of our Department's activities to inform the Commission on items related
to strategic planning, staff development, park operations and collaborations during the past month.
Bailey Point
The acquisition of Baily Point will be coming up at a May City Council meeting. We have set a
tentative timeline fox closing on Bailey Point fox mid June.
Houlton Property
This is on the agenda for a May 7, 2012 Ciry Council work session.
Pinewood Golf Course
April continues to be good for the golf course, especially compared to last year. We have a net of
$20,000 YT'D fox the end of April. If this trend continues through this spring, we hope to see
positive results fox this season. The Senior League has 50-registrations for this year's program. Paul
has been working on repairs for the aging ixrigarion system.
Hillside Park
GRE has agreed to make a monetary donation of $8,350 to the City for equipment and
improvements to Hillside Paxk. This is basically the equivalent to the cost of a plan to install prairie
grasses and maintenance fox three years to the transmission line easement. A request fox action to
accept the donation is in the Coxruxrission agenda on May 9.
Staff Leadership Development
We completed the leadership training workshops fox staff on Apri126. This was a three-month
process that received positive feedback from most of the staff who participated.
Parks Maintenance Position Vacancy
This City has received over 150-applications fox the Park Maintenance vacancy. The list has been
narrowed down to 75 applicants that meet the minimum qualifications. We hope to narrow the list
further in the following week fox interviews latex this month.
Senior Center
The Guardian Angels has officially announced in their May newsletter that the Senior Center at 350
Evans will be converted to a Senior Wellness Center. It will be equipped with exercise equipment
specifically for seniors. Funding fox the equipment was generated by the Guazdian Angels 10"'
Annual Gala fundraiser. While they have announced that this is a partnership effort with the staff at
the Senior Centex, we see our City role diminished as the site becomes converted into a Senior
Wellness Centex for Guardian Angels. The city-owned equipment such as the pool table is being
sold as surplus (publicsuprplus.com).
Sue Kostanshek Retirement
Sue has made hex retirement of 27-years official, effective June 7, 2012. Staff is planning a
retirement celebration fox Sue during hex fmal week at the Ciry in June. City Council will be able to
recognize her at the June 18 meeting -when hex son comes to visit from Mongolia.
Staff has been working on a transition plan. It is recommended that we proceed with a temporary
plan upon Sue's retirement that will continue to provide quality services for the seniors. We axe
proposing that the two part time employees who axe currently working with Sue work additional
hours on a temporary basis until a permanent organizational plan comes into place.
Playground Design Tour
Four staff and three Commission members were able
to participate in a tour and workshop of the
Landscape Structures Inc playground manufacturing
headquarters on May 2. We were pleasantly educated
on the design and production capabilities to
manufacture a playground. We will plan a design
workshop in the future to assist in the design fox a
future destination playground at Orono Paxk.
Branding, Core Values and Mission
The new Department mission statement and tagline branding will be unveiled at the May 9 meeting.