The Regular Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting was held on Tuesday, October 26, 2004, at the Branigan Library in the Don Dresp Room.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Joseph Parker, Mr. Bruce Bryant, Ms. Kathryn Melendez, Mr. Joe Lopez, Mr. Dwaine Nelson, and Mr. Gerald Saige.

MEMBERS ABSENT: Ms. Sally Kosnick.

OTHERS PRESENT: Brian Denmark, Facilities Director, Carlos Madrid, Central District Supervisor, Efrain Lara, Program Coordinator, Ronnie Navarrete, Las Cruces Police Department, Sean Kearney, Las Cruces Police Department, Kevin Renn, Las Cruces Police Department, and Norma Avalos, Recording Secretary.

Board Chair, Joseph Parker, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

INTRODUCTION OF PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

Advisory Board Members introduced themselves to the audience and noted the City Councillor they represent.

MINUTES:

August 24, 2004

Mr. Parker indicated that on Page 3, line 12 the word “said’ needs to be deleted.

Mr. Lopez made a motion to approve the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Minutes for August 24, 2004, with corrections. Mr. Saige seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.

Joseph Parker voted YES Kathryn Melendez voted YES

Bruce Bryant voted YES Gerald Saige voted YES

Joe Lopez voted YES Dwaine Nelson voted YES

NEW BUSINESS

NEIGHBORHOOD PARK CLOSING HOURS - ACTION

Mr. Saige indicated that this proposal sounds reasonable to him. Mr. Parker said that this subject was discussed at an earlier meeting. At this time, he asked if any Board members wanted to give their input. Mr. Bryant asked if the parks are inspected regularly. Officer Sean Kearney of the Las Cruces Police Department said that the parks are patrolled and the hours are enforced.

Mr. Saige motioned to approve the neighborhood park closing hour of 11:00 p.m. as proposed to the Board. Mr. Lopez seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.

Joseph Parker voted YES Kathryn Melendez voted YES

Bruce Bryant voted YES Gerald Saige voted YES

Joe Lopez voted YES Dwaine Nelson voted YES

SAGECREST PARK SWING SET - ACTION

Mr. Brian Denmark, Facilities Director, said that there is some playground equipment being replaced at Sagecrest Park. The existing playground equipment used to have four swings, a combination of infant swings and regular swings. The new playground equipment only has two swings, which is due to the new national safety standards, as well as the accessibility requirements. Because of this, we cannot mix and match infant swings with regular swings. Due to the spacing requirements, we can only get two swings to fit in that particular piece of apparatus. There are some neighbors in this particular area that are concerned with this. They would rather have the four swings that it used to have. These neighbors have been contacting Mr. Denmark, as well as Councillor Miyagishima and have asked that the City add two more swings to this equipment. Because the current area is not big enough to add the two infant swing sets, City staff would need to construct a new swing set at a separate location.

Councillor Miyagishima asked that this issue be brought before the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for recommendation. The recommendation, regardless of the decision, will be forwarded, along with the Minutes, to City Council for direction on how to proceed. The Staff requested a cost proposal from the contractor and the cost to add the swing set would be $15,000.00. This would be for the swing set, the wood chips, concrete, etc.

Mr. Bryant commented that this swing installation probably would not be the only one in the City once this one has been implemented. Mr. Denmark said that this was a concern of staff. Mr. Saige said that he would hate for two swings to be removed.

Mr. Parker made a motion not to fund this particular project at this time, but ways be looked into to accommodate the neighborhood in their need for additional swings. Mr. Bryant seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.

Joseph Parker voted YES Kathryn Melendez voted YES

Bruce Bryant voted YES Gerald Saige voted YES

Joe Lopez voted YES Dwaine Nelson voted YES

REPORTS

No questions or comments were made regarding the August and September Reports.

Mr. Efrain Lara, Program Coordinator, indicated that the City of Las Cruces Recreation Section received the $5,000.00 award from Sports Illustrated for the Sportstown Award. Also, staff attended the New Mexico Recreation and Park Association Annual Conference and the Parks and Recreation Sections received the “Enchantment Award”. He said that staff from both sections received a plaque.

Mr. Bryant asked where the Sportstown Award billboards were going to be placed. Mr. Lara said that there would be two billboards; one on Highway 70 by Oñate High School and the other will be on the interstate in Doña Ana as you come into Las Cruces.

Mr. Parker expressed his appreciation to the Parks and Recreation areas for a job well done.

OTHER

Office Kevin Renn indicated that he was asked to be present at this meeting. There are several proposed questions that are supposedly being added to the park permits. Mr. Parker said that this particular item was not on the Advisory Board agenda.

Officer Renn indicated that Mr. Ted Novack sent this information to Police Administration. Officer Renn said that these are questions that need to be answered so that the LCPD can enforce particular problems that arise with some events that take place at the various parks, such as an event that will go past 11:00 p.m.

Ms. Norma Avalos said that she is the individual who processes all of the parks permits for the City. She said that these particular questions that Mr. Ted Novack was referencing to the Officers have been implemented and are attached to the current park permit and various users are already answering them. This information is then reported back to the Parks Management office.

ADJOURNMENT

With no further business, Mr. Joseph Parker adjourned the October 26, 2004, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting at 7:30 p.m.

____________________________ __________________________

Norma Avalos Joseph Parker, CHAIR

Recording Secretary