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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-27-2023 Parks & Recreation Commission Work SessionIowa City Parks and Recreation Commission Work Session Friday, October 27, 2023 11:00 a.m. Parks &.�" Recreation Mercer Park Aquatic Center & Scanlon Gym — Proctor & Gamble Room 2701 Bradford Drive, Iowa City, IA 52240 This is a work session for the City Park Pool Project. Regular agenda items will be held until the November 8, 2023, Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting. There will be no public comment at this work session. Written comments submitted to parksondrecreation@iowa-city.org prior to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, will be distributed to the Commission in advance of the meeting. AGENDA ITEM 1 CALL TO ORDER ITEM 2 CITY PARK POOL PROJECT FOCUS GROUP — City Park Pool Consulting Group ITEM 3 ADJOURN If you will need disability -related accommodations to participate in this program/event please contact Gabe Gotera, Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department at 319-356-5210 orggotero@iowo-city.org. 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Lee Recreation Center • Mental Health Celebration — October 14, 2-30-5:30 pm; Robert A. Lee Recreation Center • Halloween Events o Teen Tree House of Horrors Halloween Dance —October 20, 5:30-7.30 pm; Scanlon Gym o Haunted Nature Walk —October 20, 7.30-9pm, North Hickory Hill o Floating Pumpkin Patch —October 21, 10-11 am; Robert A. Lee Recreation Center o Roller Skating Costume Party —October 21, 3-7.30 pm, Robert A. Lee Recreation Center o Campfire Creep Out —October 21,8-10pm;Ned Ashton House o Halloween Carnival —October 27, 5:30-7:30 pm; Robert A. Lee Recreation Center o Halloween at the Market —October 28, 9 am —Noon; Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp o Tot Monster Mash —October 31, 9-30-11:30 am; Mercer Park Aquatic Center Notable from Parks & Recreation Staff Parks: • Fall tree planting is mostly complete. We had a successful volunteer planting event with help from the Kiwanis Club and affiliates planting at Hunter's Run Park and the contracted right-of-way plantings are well underway. • Staff have been busy watering newly planted trees and all trees planted in the last 1-2 years. • Construction on the Happy Hollow and Kiwanis Park improvement projects continues. Construction at North Hickory Hill for the new restroom and shelter is also underway. • Tree removal and pruning has occurred at the Ashton House to remove trees and limbs that were in decline. Project Green was consulted on this project. • Staff is busy with fall grass seeding and aeration projects. • Fall athletic field events have been going well including cross-country meets at Kicker's Soccer Complex. • The budgeting process is underway as we prepare for FY25. Iowa City Parks and Recreation Commission Packet I City of Iowa City Recreation: • Staff have been busy putting together a number of larger events this fall, including several Halloween events, Kids Market at the Iowa City Farmers Market, Get Outside! Rec Fest event, and Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration. • Staff have been working on preparation of the FY25 budget and next season's activity guide. Facilities: • With the addition of our new Robert A. Lee employee Debra Rundlett and Jeff Davis moving over to the Senior Center this past month, our Facilities division is now fully staffed. • Facilities are in the process of going through yearly checks for fire alarms and RPZs this month. • The Mercer Front Entry and Lighting project is almost complete with some smaller close out items left to do on the punch list. Cemetery: • Staff is working on trimming up some of the shrubs and bushes around the cemetery. Top Staff Issues Parks • Drought continues to be the biggest issue. Recreation • Staff illnesses have impacted program routines. Facilities • Aquatics Maintenance staff continues to work on winterizing of the outdoor pool areas. The Ped Mall Fountain will be closing later this month. • HVAC maintenance is preparing systems to be changed over to fall mode. In preparation for this, boilers will be prepped, and filters and belts will be changed. Cemetery: • Mowing and trimming is slowing due to dry conditions. • Staff has been busy with watering sod, flowers and trees due to the dry conditions. Iowa City Parks and Recreation Commission Packet I City of Iowa City Oakland Cemetery FY 24 Revenue Report ** shaded areas represent previous Syr average Revenue from Lot Sales Lot Sale Syr Average # of Interments Interments Syr avg. Revenue from Interments 5-year Avg. on Interments Total Revenue Syr Avg. on total revenue July $6,750.00 $4,550.00 3 6.6 $2,642.50 $3,504.00 $9,392.50 $8,054.00 August $7,875.00 $7,039.00 7 7.0 $2,672.50 $4,321.50 $10,547.50 $11,360.50 Sept $7,860.00 $7,624.25 7 7.8 1 $3,085.00 $4,741.25 $10,945.001 $12,365.50 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March April May June Totals 1 $22,485.00 1 $19,213.25 17 21.4 $8,400.00 $12,566.75 $30,885.00 $31,780.00 Iowa City Parks and Recreation Commission Packet I City of Iowa City Public Comments Mitzi Read, Iowa City October 27, 2023 Parks and Rec Commission Meeting Dear Commissioners, I submit these comments for the October 27, 2023, Iowa City Parks & Rec Commission meeting and have asked that they be included in your agenda packet. I would again like to thank you for your efforts to ensure the community is fairly represented in decisions affecting our parks and recreation opportunities. I would also like to specifically thank you for your time and consideration regarding the future of aquatics facilities and services because they have a significant impact on access to our community's resources for long-term health and wellbeing. As some of you know, my family recently invested our entire future in the promise of Iowa City as a place of fairness and compassion, where truth is not only treasured, but expected. It is understandable that there may be some fatigue from the level of effort required to review and reflect upon the aquatics -related information presented. I too, wish it was not necessary. The year -long efforts to advocate for accurate reporting of pool use are made even more disheartening knowing that none of it would be necessary if the Parks & Rec (Department) was providing accurate information, or at the very least, correcting it after being made aware of its flaws. I am deeply saddened that the implicit trust I once had has been irreparably damaged by this experience in a community where it was least expected. A reflection of the foundation of this broken trust can be seen in several statements made by Parks & Rec Director Juli Seydell Johnson during the September 13, 2023, Parks and Rec Commission meeting. In response to a public comment asking the Commission to insist the Department provide accurate pool use data and correct past errors and omissions, the Director pointed out that in a recent memo regarding Fall pool hours, both the Department's numbers and those provided by the community were included, saying "you had both numbers side -by -side." This statement appears to imply that somehow the Department is absolved of its responsibilities by providing their incomplete and inaccurate accounting of pool use alongside a partial list of their omissions and errors, discovered by and at the expense of the community members it serves. • When asked to explain the history and reasons for tracking pool use, the Director described that a "group of residents are counting every day and reporting their numbers." She went on to say that among the many reasons the numbers are different is because, "Some of it is what they're counting; we don't count staff in the water." The first statement is a continuing, gross mischaracterization by the Department, as they are well - aware community members do not possess or report comprehensive pool use. Volunteers record intermittent in -person observations to count people entering the pool, as one of several methods used to identify omissions in reported pool data, and these observations are only referenced in monthly pool data analyses in specific instances where pool use is proven to be underreported. The second description, implying that community members are overrepresenting pool use by counting staff members, is offered despite written community comments and analyses clearly stating that identified omissions do not include on -duty staff and that formal staff training events are included as essential pool use that would require pool space elsewhere if RAL was not available. Public Comments, Mitzi Read, Iowa City October 27, 2023, Parks and Rec Commission Meeting • The Director then declared, "We don't dispute their numbers." I find this statement most interesting, since the Department makes no effort to even acknowledge community -identified omissions and errors, let alone correct them. I can only speculate that by abstaining from a "dispute," the Department is attempting to rationalize ignoring the community's findings entirely, including obvious miscalculations due to math and formula errors as well as hidden data and input mistakes. • Asa final synopsis, the Director explained, "We just say they're counting differently than we're counting." This statement exemplifies the dismissive and evasive responses that perpetuate community concerns and drive individuals like me to continue speaking out despite significant personal costs. To illustrate how community -led monthly pool data analysis is conducted, I refer to the many pictorial examples provided to the Commission, like the one presented at the September 13th Commission meeting, where 63 community members are shown, whose pool use during the 3-hour $2 Swim on July 16, 2023, was confirmed via security video footage. The Department reported only 40 pool admissions for the event. Since no valid justification is provided for omitting 23 community members who used the pool during the three-hour period, it seems the only meaningful interpretation of the Director's statement is that the Department's method of counting attempts to represent pool use by recording pool admissions via pass scans, fee payments, and registrations; while community members use the tools available to them to confirm the actual number of individuals who use the pool. While the Department's chosen method to account for pool use forces the public to use indirect methods to verify reported data, it does not explain orjustify ignoring the thousands of proven omissions and errors documented in the monthly pool count reports over the last year. Nor does the Department's failure to take responsibility for these omissions and errors diminish their duty to the citizens of Iowa City who deserve accuracy, reliability, and transparency from its public agencies. The Department's continued mischaracterization and outright dismissal of public input creates an atmosphere of distrust that is a true disservice to us all. The persistent attempts to justify the recommendation to close the RAL pool due to insufficient attendance demand the accurate representation of all pool use at RAL. Only when decisions are based on reliable data and verifiable facts will they serve the true needs and wishes of this community. As someone who spent a career in the government sector, dedicated to the principles of public service, I can emphatically say that performing your duties with competence and accuracy is never too much trouble nor too time consuming; being accountable to those you serve by correcting mistakes that occur and preventing reoccurrence of those mistakes is essential to establishing and maintaining public trust; and conducting yourself with integrity and transparency is always the right choice. Please help our community regain its trust in this process by joining me in excepting nothing less. Public Comments, Mitzi Read, Iowa City October 27, 2023, Parks and Rec Commission Meeting 2 Comments to Parks & Rec Commission Evaluation Summary of Parks & Rec Indoor Swimming Pool Reports for August and September 2023 The following feedback completes a full year of community -led analysis regarding Iowa City aquatics. Since there are many new commission members, a description is provided of how reported pool use is verified, as well as evaluations of the August and September 2023 Parks & Rec (Department) pool count reports. This input continues to be provided with the hope that the Department will improve their data collection methods and correct omissions and errors in past and ongoing monthly pool count reports. Understanding Reported Pool Use and How Omissions are Identified: The Department's chosen method to represent pool use is to report pool admissions. Both pool -pass scans and daily admissions are recorded at the reception desk for open swim and certain recurrent events like $2 Swims. Additional pool admissions are tracked through class and training rosters, and registration for swim lessons, intermittent events, swim team practices and meets. Unfortunately, the Department's recorded pool admissions frequently underrepresent the actual number of individual pool users. Common reasons for this include instances when a customer forgets to scan their pass, when a pass is scanned before or after the RAL pool's open hours but while the rec center is still open (these are intentionally omitted by the Department), when family/household passes are scanned once to admit multiple individuals, and when scanning equipment malfunctions, etc. Since the public cannot directly access Department systems to verify the accuracy of reported pool admissions, community members must compare the provided data to information independently obtained/purchased through public records requests such as security video footage, pass usage reports, class/training rosters, and in -person observations. Using these resources, citizens spot check reported pool data to identify omissions and errors in monthly pool count reports. Omissions are noted when reported admissions are proven to under -count the actual number of individuals who enter the pool. Identified omissions do not include on -duty staff or non -pool users. The two examples provided on page 3 illustrate the validation process. Reported admissions for a specific time segment, like a $2 Swim event, are compared to security video footage documenting individuals who enter the pool. If the number of reported admissions is valid, the pool users verified by video will match. RAL Pool Counts: In August and September 2023 RAL pool count reports, community volunteers documented 144 omissions that represent unreported pool use during the evaluated portions of the pool's open hours (see pages 2-5 for detailed analysis and examples). Mercer Pool Counts: Page 5 illustrates a recurring error where formulas used to calculate the August 2023 "Total using Robert A. Lee Pool Open Hours" and "Average using Robert A. Lee Pool Open Hours" values include 12 hours of Mercer admissions recorded during hours RAL was closed. These errors overcalculate Mercer's 'total using RAL hours' by 85 admissions and 'average using RAL hours' by 2 admissions per day. Spot checks of RAL and Mercer pool count reports from October 2022 through September 2023 have revealed at least: • 1,025 uncorrected omissions of verified RAL pool use. 2,554 uncorrected under -representations of RAL pool use due to math, input, or formula errors. 413 uncorrected over -representations of Mercer pool use due to math, input, or formula errors. Community members expect and deserve decisions regarding the future of municipal aquatics in Iowa City to be grounded in facts, which will only become possible when the Department begins to provide accurate, comprehensive, and transparent information and when all previous data have been corrected to provide a reliable accounting of past pool use. Thank you for your time and effort to support this shared goal. COMMUNITY EVALUATION OF PARKS & REC REPORTED DATA —AUGUST 2023 A minimum of 41 omissions were identified in the Robert A. Lee monthly pool report. Identified omissions represent only a fraction of unreported pool use. Data verification occurs for a portion ofdays/hours and is limited by volunteer availability to conduct direct observations and ability to obtain/afford relevant data through public information requests (e.g., security video, pass scan reports, attendance/training rosters). Robert A Lee Recreation Center - Indoor Swimming Pool Totals August 2023 our Oat. 6-1a )-Ha 89a 9-10• 10-lla Il-I2p 12-Ip 1 2-3p 30p I 11p I SIP 6-7p 72p Dailylk•T ,Is Water Fitness Swimleasons EvM#CW,t Event Name T^a" VIDEO Verlfled = 29 from IIa-Ip (+B) Pug I 1 1 r4 4 29 Iz ;.Aug 6 3 I6 6 33 g rs 52 swim )-Aug 5 7 3 2z 3 00 I60 Citizen Count =22 from 11-11:59a (+3) '12-1p"stuns do not accomtjor noted omission27 11Aug 5r 4 9 VIDEO Verified = 21 from 5-8p ($2 Swim) (+10) 13-Aug t27 t] $2 SWIM ncmy ISPug 16 2 1$ VIDEO Verified=30 from 5-8p($2 Swim)(+10) 19-Aug 5 2 3 a 3 5 0 1 a s 1 swim 21-Aug 9 5 3 21 I 40 16 z4Pu8 6 1 20 2 39 z5-Aug 6 S 17 37 AU. ug $z Swim n Aug 3o Aug r 6 0 1z a Citizen Count=15 at 11:30a(+3) 33 13 31 Aug J 3 3 20 5 3e Pass Usage Report Total=850 (+9) 0 63 antl Tahl 6 1124 yem" KEY: BREAKDOWN OF IDENTIFIED OMISSIONS: Q Pool use omission verified by citizen count or Pool -Pass Scans "Daily Rec Totals' "Event R Count information obtained via public records request. • Underreported by9 scans Underreported by minimum of 12 participants Underreported bya minimum of20 participants Q Pool -pass scan omission verified in Pass Usage S2 Swim = 20) Report (includes auto-debR "punch" passes). Identified omissions represent individuals confirmed to have entered the pool and do not include on -duty staff or non -pool users. 2 0 Pool was closed. Reported zeros are misleading. Staff training events are included as essential pool use that would require pool space elsewhere if RAL was not avai lable. Examples of Video -Confirmed Omissions in Reported Pool Attendance at RAL-August 2023 Analysis of the 3-hour $2 Swim event at RAIL from 5-8pm on Sunday, 08/13/2023, showed: 21 confirmed pool users. Parks & Rec reports 11. 10 of these verified pool users (nearly half of the total) were not reported for the 3-hour event. �6 8 9 ************************************************** Analysis of the 3-hour $2 Swim event at RAIL from 5-8pm on Sunday, 08/20/2023, showed: 30 confirmed pool users. Parks & Rec reports 20. 10 of these verified pool users (one third of the total) were not reported for the 3-hour event. Images from RAL security video of unique individuals confirmed to have entered the pool; obscured to respect privacy. Identified omissions do not include on -duty staff or non -pool users. COMMUNITY EVALUATION OF PARKS & REC REPORTED DATA —SEPTEMBER 2023 A minimum of 103 omissions were identified in the Robert A. Lee monthly pool report. Identified omissions represent only a fraction of unreported pool use. Data verification occurs for a portion of days/hours and is limited by volunteer availability to conduct direct observations and ability to obtain/afford relevant data through public information requests (e.g., security video, pass scan reports, attendance/training rosters). Robert A Lee Recreation Center - Indoor Swimming Pool Totals September 2023 Oay 6-Ta )Ba b9a 9-lpa ]0-]Ia 1 3-]p 1-xp Edp 3<p 4-$p Shp 6-Jp )Bp nailV Ne<TMals Wate<fitness Swim lessons EveMpCouM EwM Name ] Sep 6 $1 d- 2dep 22 4 6 s 1 4 a 40 4 VIDEOVerified=40from5-8p($2Swim)(+2) 3e $2 Swlm 3-Sep 0 44 VIDEO Verified = 73 from 6a-lp (44) Lessons Training (+6) - VIDEO Verified = 69 from 6a-lp (B) 57 14 VIDEO Verified =11 from 5-8p ($2 Swim) (+1) - wlm :Wormy nul p.rtr 37 wim -S•P Lessons Training (+2) - fia ss Lessons Training (+9) Lessons Training (+]) we......y is-seP so J ss e s zz z VIDEO Verified=]3 from 6a-lp(A) No[ including water fitness class. Lifeguard Training (n3) ss-xp 13 2 In J u a 4 ss ss Sensory Swim t+Unknown/ ° $x swlm Sv$2 VIDEOVerified =9froni IJ-sep O 66 4n swlmm ($25w1m)(+2) 19-Sep 33 J9 Citizen Count = ]pool entries from 8-8:30a (+5) 9-8a""scans do not accountfor notedurraccons. Lifeguard Training (+35) VIDEO VerlRed = 4 from 5-8p az 6 3 $x swim ae a s ae za az 21 4�P7 da 6o $z swims Usage Report Total =120g; Pass scans omitted (+24) ns Included u this report =1,1g4 (no[ 999)derrepresented by 195 due to input and formula errors) I Note: park Anoatic Canerodullryw s nosed sepE z �K•E�Y:: BREAKDOWN OF IDENTIFIED OMISSIONS: y Pool use omission verified by citizen court or Pool -Pass Scam "Daily Rec Totals" "Event g Count information obtained via public records request. • Underreportedby24ecans Underreported by minimum of 19 participants a Underreported bya minimum offi0 participants Q Pool -pass scan omission verified in Pass Usage (52 Swim = 10 1 Training = 50) CMReport (includes auto -debit "punch" passes). Identified omissions represent individuals confirmed to have entered the pool and do not include on -duty staff or non -pool users. 4 Pool was closed. Reported zeros are misleading. Staff training events are Included as essential pool use that would require pool space elsewhere if PAL was not aval lable. COMMUNITY EVALUATION OF PARKS & REC REPORTED DATA -AUGUST 2023 Mercer admissions calculated in the "Total using Robert A. Lee Pool Open Hours" and "Average using Robert A. Lee Pool Open Hours" were overreported by at least 85 because they incorrectly include 12 hours of Mercer admissions recorded during hours the Robert A. Lee (RAL) pool was closed. Errors were identified through review of documents obtained via public information requests (e.g., Excel spreadsheets of monthly pool reports, pass scan reports, etc.). Mercer Park Aquatic Center - Indoor lool Totals August 2023 $as— un 0 9 1S 21— m $1 Swim ]] 22-n 0 9 13 20 9 1 ) $ 13 I 6 1t0 100 sa $1 swim 23-<ug 0 4 16 n 6 ]4 vu 1. `W­ 25 19 4 119 _ Calculations of totals and averages 'using RAL pool open hours incorrectly include 12 hours of Mercer admissions when RAL was closed. Total Using RAL Pool Open Hours: 52 swim Overreported by at least 85 (adjusts to 1,1_15) Average Using RAL Pool Open Hours: ease cogs aomna u�9oomaec eoe.: Oyerreportel by at least 2/day(adjusts to 35.9) KEY: DATA REVIEW NOTES: OHours when RAL was closed, yet Mercer admissions recorded during these times were Identified repeat instances of inflated admissions at Mercer are further evidence of Incorrectly included in calculations of total and average using RAL pool open hours. Mercer admissions correctly included in calculations described above. pervasive and continuing pattern of significant errors in pool count reporting that remain uncorrected. 5 The following documents were handed out during the meeting.