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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-11-04 - Parks and Rec Advisory Council Meeting Minutes MINUTES OF THE VILLAGE OF RYE BROOK PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COUNCIL 938 KING STREET RYE BROOK,New York 10573 November 4,2014 Convene Meeting: Parks and Recreation Advisory Council Chairman Jamie Schutzer called the meeting to order at 7:05pm. The following Members of the Parks &Recreation Advisory Council were present: Advisory Council Members: Chairman Jamie Schutzer, Adam Berman, Frank Carbone, Traci Erenfryd, Brian Funtleyder, Scott Tillison,Adam Zahl Absent Parks&Recreation Advisory Council Members: Christopher Dutra,Steve Ketchabaw Recreation Department Members: Robert Bertolacci,Parks and Recreation Superintendent Paul Rosenberg,Rye Brook Mayor Christopher Bradbury,Village Administrator Jeff Rednick,Village Trustee and Liaison to Parks and Recreation Playground Vendors: Kompan,Gametime,Miracle I. Playground Presentation: Andrew Kimball,Kompan Playgrounds 7:00pm Andrew distributed pamphlets with option 1 and option 2 and catalogues of equipment for Kompan. The Kompan Company started out in 1970, and is the largest manufacture of playground equipment. Our playground equipment was installed at Ridge Street and Blind Brook approximately ten years ago. If you have a particular vision in mind,option 1 and option 2 can be thrown in the trash and we can start from scratch. These drawings are just recommendations. Option# 1 would cost approximately $110,000 and Option# 2 $125,000. There is not a sales rep like myself, it's not paid consultants like other companies, these are childhood physiologists, childhood experts, children and parents and we have all these test sights all throughout Europe where before we are allowed to even show a design, we have kids play on our structures for six months. We think like adults but we think on behalf of the children. We want the kids to be challenged when we plan a playground. We want to design a program to help the kids to be healthy and bum calories. Some kids just want to go to a playground and hang out. So, you have to include that in your design for a really good playground for today's kids. We can't forget 1168377.1 15 and 16 year olds who need a public place to go and hang out. There is an opportunity and plenty of equipment to design a playground for these older kids. If you build a playground that is attractive and different it will bring more people to that area. The best area to see exercise equipment that we did is the Dobbs Ferry River front project. All the playground and exercise equipment is Kompan. Andrew showed parts of the equipment used and is 100% recyclable at end of life which is 20 to 30 years if not more. Superintendent said the equipment at Pine Ridge now is about 18 years old. Andrew said the majority of materials we use have a lifetime warranty. Anything that is on the market that spins, our competition would use a brass bushing, we use an electric motor quality, lifetime lubricated, fully sealed bearing. That means if I put a spinning element on your playground it is going to spin in 10 years like I just installed it the first day I installed it. Climbing is the number one rated activity and the number one asked for by kids for playground in the world. We own a company called Corecore. Andrew showed some samples of the materials they use. We hold a patent on the way we produce this rope. It's not nylon,its polypropolene polyester blend rope that has 6 steel ribbons. Mayor Rosenberg asked what the time frame would be if we were to build this playground with Kompan. Andrew said it would take about 9 weeks. Kompan products are designed to fulfill the relevant safety standards/guidelines. Kompan is a member of the IPEMA organization in order to achieve certified ASTM approval of the products marketed in North America. All products must go through a static load test in order to achieve ASTM certification. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak about Kompan. If you have any questions,you can contact me. Game time,John Graziano: Our company was formed in 1929 and was based in Alabama. We were on the state contract but now we are on US Community which is a national purchasing program that we are starting to use in New York. Every piece of equipment is tested out by a mean and angry robot that goes at it for 2 years before we go for certification. We have a power lock that is used in our equipment which you don't see because it is invisible and replaces the unsightly collars that are used in other companies. We use a 3/8" bolt that goes all the way through the equipment. Showing a picture of one option shows equipment that uses all upper body strength and there is a stretch loop ladder and a triangle climber which forces to use all of their muscles. Our designers, artists and engineers create innovative play spaces that set the standard for beauty and play value. Hopefully,all the components used are certified by the ASTM and CPSC. The ASTM is an independent and world renowned developer of technical standards utilized in testing a multitude of products. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is an independent agency within the United States Federal Government with the authority to inform the public of current product safety performance information. We use 6" high sidewalls on our slides and that's what gives you that tube certification. GameTime has ISO green certification. Whatever you want in the playground, we can build it. We use all stainless steel hardware because it doesn't rust. You don't have to worry about head entrapment with GameTime; we have engineered it out of the equation. We don't paint our equipment;the color is baked on to the pipe. John showed some designs for ages 2 to 5 years old and some equipment for older kids. None of our equipment goes any higher 1168377.1 than 6'. John thanked Superintendent Bertolacci for giving him the time to present his playground illustrations. Miracle,Robert Pettinelli: Robert handed out 4 options for a playground and distributed the samples to the council for review. I started working Miracle when I was about 12 years old helping my dad build things. I also do my own installs just like my dad. The playground at the site now was done by Miracle and it's not the best design. The playground is in great shape,it just doesn't have the best design. There wasn't a ton of components. We just finished 7 playgrounds at the West Point Base for the Child Development Center. We are currently working on a playground for the city of Newburgh. I am on the job setting footings, mixing concrete etc. Robert went to the site and took the measurements of the current playground area and his new designs for that playground would fit exactly in the footprint that is already there. We would be leaving the current wood fiber carpet, also the current drainage, ripping out all the old equipment and installing the new equipment. We are leaving the current swing set there. All prices shown are ripping out the old equipment,getting rid of it and building the new playground. From the time the equipment is ordered to installation would be approximately 4 weeks. One of the options shown has a 2' deck,an 8' deck and a 14' deck. The 14' deck is completely caged in so no kid can climb out to the roof. There are 8 climbing structures on option 942 and 2 slides. Every component has its own warranty. If something is wrong with a component we will take delivery of the new component, install it at your convenience completely free. Superintendent Bertolacci asked about looking at the Mega Tower,how many ways can a child get down from it. Robert said if you climb up you can either go down one of the two slides or go down the stairs. This playground is for ages 5 years to 12 years old. All of the samples brought here are also in the catalogue. The components could be changed for ages 2 to 12 and fit in the footprint. Robert showed a pole structure and how the equipment is made from recycled plastic. Wood Fiber is best for the bang for the dollar. If you have the money to do a rubber surface, the maintenance and aesthetic look of it is the best. The warranty on that flooring is about 5 years. If there is a problem with the floor and there is a hole, we can come out and cut that piece out and replace it. Mayor Rosenberg asked Robert in his opinion, what equipment on a playground is used the most. Robert said the equipment used the most are the swings. The second after that are the tallest and fastest slide and then a rock wall to climb. After that, are climbers where they would just sit and talk? After that is a slide with a turn in it. Mayor Rosenberg asked if we have enough swings. Robert said it depends on how many kids in the park at that given time. You would have to make the footprint bigger in order to add more swings. Superintendent Bertolacci asked if Robert had a purchasing contract. Robert said NJPA is the National Joint Purchasing Alliance, a government agency based out of Minnesota. It's a government agency and they are not out to make money. The State of New York is actually bringing back the State Contract and they are taking our NJPA contract number and making that a New York State Contract. Robert thanked the council for giving him the opportunity to present his company Miracle. 1168377.1 I1. Minutes: a. Chairman Schutzer asked for a motion to accept the October 7, 2014 Minutes. Committee Member Berman made the motion to accept the October 7, 2014 Minutes and Committee Member Carbone seconded the motion. The October 7, 2014 Minutes were approved and accepted. 111. Public View Points: There were no Public View Points. IV. Superintendent Report: a. Halloween in the Park Recap: Halloween in the Park went very well this year. We got a lot of positive feedback. There were a lot of volunteers from Manhattanville and SUNY Purchase and some High School kids. The High School kids had a great time. There were about 300 people each day and the revenue was about$1600. Looking forward we are thinking about a corn maze on the basketball court and possibly a bounce house and a couple of food trucks. These are just some ideas for next year. We spent a lot of money on the animatronics,everyone enjoyed them. We try to get different ones each year. We had more animatronics,this year than other years. The clowns were really scary because you couldn't tell if they were real or fake. b. Basketball Referees: Superintendent Bertolacci said we have new referees for the basketball season. Superintendent Bertolacci passed around the proposal for basketball officiating services. We are looking for them to control the gyms and be consistent with their calls. These are all Patch guys. Superintendent Bertolacci said the rules will go out to all the refs that are assigned to us. He assured us that his refs will control the games. This price is $15 a game less than we paid last year. Committee Member Tillison asked if we ever tried Non- Patch volunteer refs for the 2"d, P grade. Superintendent Bertolacci said we tried numerous times and didn't work out. They didn't know the rules. One of the members of the rec council is getting some basketball players from Manhattanville College to help out at the practices. c. Holiday Lighting Superintendent Bertolacci said the Holiday Lighting is Friday,December 5 th at 6:00pm. Santa Claus will be coming into Pine Ridge Park on the back of the fire truck. The Blind Brook High School and Middle School choir will sing some holiday songs. We will light the tree and light the Menorah. V. Baseball Sub-Committee Report—Scott Tillison Committee Member Tillison said he has been talking to the Port Chester guys about playing Major and Minor games together. There are other options to play other teams out there but scheduling would be more difficult. Port Chester is right here and they have plenty teams we can play. VI. Basketball Sub-Committee Report—Brian Funtleyder 1168377.1 Committee Member Funtleyder said some kids are walking around shooting 3 pointers and some of them are doing a good job and some of them are not. Committee Member Funtleyder said there has to be some instruction and some standardized development skills. Superintendent Bertolacci said there will be a half hour practice but the first 10 minutes would be dedicated to a specific skill. This would be for 2nd and 3rd grade practices. Committee Member Tillison said there are videos on line that you can look at for specific drills and we could decide what drill you do this week and a different one next week etc. The season starts December e. Committee Member Tillison said some kids will miss two or three games. He would be willing to give up a practice that night and schedule a game. Committee Member Berman asked how many kids are signed up for the 9th and 10th grade basketball. Superintendent Bertolacci said there are 42 kids registered right now. Chairman Schutzer said we talk about have 100% of County Center teams made up by Kyle. Committee Member Berman said he thinks that the first 5 kids in most grades are unanimity. Some people from the public have come to me and asked why they can't vote for their own child or kids on the team you coach. Other comments from parents is to eliminate parent coaching for County Center, either have rec staff or high school basketball players coach the County Center teams.Committee Member Funtleyder asked if we can schedule a mandatory coaches' meeting. V11. Grievance Sub-Committee Report—Adam Zahl: Committee Member Zahl said the grievance committee had a conference call and we tightened up rules to reflect the zero tolerance rule that we took from Committee Member Ketchabaw's ice hockey rule. Committee Member Zahl has a copy for the council. Also, the Code of Conduct not only applies to sporting events but technically if kids are acting out at any recreational event,it is subject to a possible grievance. It doesn't need to be a sports event,but any event sponsored by the Parks and Rec Department. We also clarified that we are using the zero tolerance policy when it comes to a grievable offense. If something is filed as a grievance,the threshold is whether it is grievable or not,and if there is something to address. Committee Member Berman disagreed with making all ree events subject to the Code of Conduct. Superintendent Bertolacci said any change from the grievance sub-committee is only a recommendation. Chairman Schutzer said our recommendation was to have this applied to any sponsored program. Committee Member Zahl said there was a problem with a pairing coach last year and he is coaching this year. Superintendent Bertolacci said that coach was sternly spoken to by me and we will not be tolerating anything and if I have to speak to him one more time,he is done coaching. There was an abundance of coaches for this coaches' grade and then quite a few coaches stepped down. Committee Member Funtleyder asked who can file a grievance. Superintendent Bertolacci said anyone can file a grievance and they would have to automatically meet with me or the grievance committee. Committee Member Erenfryd said it was discussed at the last meeting that there would be 2 coaches on the bench. There is a situation where there are 3 coaches. Superintendent Bertolacci said there is one team with 3 coaches for the 6-7 grade girls. Superintendent Bertolacci said there will be 2 coaches on the bench per game. 1168377.1 Committee Member Zahl said a suggestion was made that before the first game we send a flyer saying to read the Parents and Coaches Code of Conduct. A copy should also be in the gym along with the basketball rules. Superintendent Bertolacci said if there is a problem at a game,the ref will have the authority to stop a game if necessary. Superintendent Bertolacci said there will be zero tolerance at the games. VIII. Old Business: There is no Old Business. IX New Business: There is no New Business X Adjournment: Chairman Schutzer asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Committee Member Berman made the motion to adjourn the meeting and Committee Member Tillison seconded the motion. All approved and the meeting adjourned at 10:OOpm. The next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Council will be held on December 1, 2014 at 8:00pm. Minutes Prepared by: Carmella Swick Parks and Recreation Superintendent 1168377.1