HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-09-2025 Parks and Recreation Commission Agenda PacketIf 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 or ggotera@iowa-city.org.
Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
Public Comment for each item will be limited to 3 minutes for each person and a total for no more than 30
minutes per item. Written comments submitted to parksandrecreation@iowa-city.org, prior to 4 p.m. on
Monday, July 7, 2025, will be distributed to the Commission in advance of the meeting.
AGENDA
ITEM 1 CALL TO ORDER
ITEM 2 APPROVAL OF MAY 14, 2025, MINUTES
ITEM 3 PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
The Commission cannot engage in discussion or debate. However, once the
commenter has left the stand, the Commission may ask staff to respond to
a concern or question posed by the public, or to follow up with the speaker.
ITEM 4 2026 – 2031 Parks Capital Improvement Projects Update –
Director Juli Seydell Johnson
ITEM 5 REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF
a) Parks and Recreation Director – Juli Seydell Johnson
b) Recreation Superintendent – Brad Barker
c) Parks and Forestry Superintendent – Tyler Baird
ITEM 6 CHAIRS REPORT
ITEM 7 COMMISSION TIME/SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
ITEM 8 ADJOURN
Parks and Recreation Commission
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
5:00 p.m.
Robert A. Lee Recreation Center – Meeting Room B
220 S Gilbert Street, Iowa City, IA 52240
IOWA CITY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION PRELIMINARY
MINUTES OF MAY 14, 2025
ROBERT A. LEE RECREATION CENTER – MEETING ROOM B
Members Present: Connie Moore, Brian Morelli, Missie Forbes, Michael Gaunt, Rachel
McPherson, Alex Stanton
Members Absent: Virginia Hayes, Jeff Mallory, Caleb Recker
Staff Present: Tyler Baird, Gabe Gotera, Chris O’Brien
Others Present: John Morelli, Nancy Morelli, Mayor Bruce Teague, City Council Member
Oliver Weilein
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Moore called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL: (to become effective only after separate Council
action):
None
OTHER FORMAL ACTION:
Moved by Stanton, seconded by Gaunt, to approve the April 9, 2025, minutes. Motion
passed 5-0 (Hayes, McPherson, Mallory, and Recker absent).
PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA:
None
Commissioner McPherson arrives at 5:04 p.m.
COMMISSION TIME/SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
Commissioner McPherson asks for help from either the Commission or department staff with
collaborating ideas for how to make the interpretive sign at James Alan McPherson Park (JAM).
Supt. Baird gives context that the interpretive sign would be made for the park’s namesake,
essayist and author, James Alan McPherson. McPherson says that the goal is to make the sign
informational and engaging to the public while remaining within the sign’s word limit. Chair
Moore says that she would like to see it as a future agenda item. Moore is interested in signage at
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
May 14, 2025
Page 2 of 3
parks named after a person that would explain who they were and why there were chosen for the
park’s namesake. Vice Chair Morelli asks if there is a deadline for the JAM Park interpretive
sign. McPherson responds that ideally; the sign would’ve been complete two years prior.
Supt. Baird says that the City of Iowa City is updating the long-range Comprehensive Plan and
that the consultant group, Confluence, is wanting to include one member of the Parks and
Recreation Commission in a stakeholder interview. Baird asks if there is a commission member
that is interested in volunteering for this interview. Commissioner Gaunt volunteers to attend the
stakeholder interview.
PARK TOUR – Superintendent Tyler Baird
At 5:10 p.m. the Commission members along with City staff, Mayor Teague, Councilor Weilein,
and members of the public boarded the bus to go on the parks tour. The parks that were included
in the tour are the following:
• College Green Park – 600 E College Street
• Hickory Hill Park: East Entrance – 643 N 1st Avenue
• Calder Park – 2831 Hickory Trail
• North Market Square Park – 600 Fairchild Street
• Brookland Park – 550 Greenwood Drive
• Adelaide Joy Rogers Park – 1001 Shannon Drive
ADJOURNMENT:
Meeting/tour adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
May 14, 2025
Page 3 of 3
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
ATTENDANCE RECORD
KEY: X = Present O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused NM = No meeting
LQ = No meeting due to lack of quorum * = Not a member during this meeting
NAME
TERM
EXPIRES
06
/
1
2
/
2
0
2
4
07
/
1
0
/
2
0
2
4
08
/
1
4
/
2
0
2
4
09
/
1
1
/
2
0
2
4
10
/
0
9
/
2
0
2
4
11
/
1
3
/
2
0
2
4
12
/
1
1
/
2
0
2
4
01
/
0
8
/
2
0
2
5
02
/
1
2
/
2
0
2
5
03
/
1
2
/
2
0
2
5
04
/
0
9
/
2
0
2
5
05
/
1
4
/
2
0
2
5
12/31/25
12/31/28
12/31/27
12/31/28
12/31/26
12/31/25
12/31/25
12/31/26
12/31/27
Date 6-7a 7-8a 8-9a 9-10a 10-11a 11-12p 12-1p 1-2p 2-3p 3-4p 4-5p 5-6 p 6-7p 7-8p Daily Rec Totals
Sun, June 1 12 4 0 0
Mon, June 2 7 4 5 7 12 6 7 48
Tue, June 3 5 7 6 5 5 7 2 37
Wed, June 4 7 4 6 5 8 9 9 48
Thu, June 5 3 3 3 4 13 5 4 35
Fri, June 6 5 7 6 5 8 7 6 5 0 0 44
Sat, June 7 4 6 9 4 4 11 2 12 2 54
Sun, June 8 19 6 0 0
Mon, June 9 9 2 3 11 4 8 3 40
Tue, June 10 6 5 6 3 5 5 2 32
Wed, June 11 7 3 4 9 9 5 0 37
Thu, June 12 8 8 4 3 9 7 7 46
Fri, June 13 7 2 3 10 10 8 5 9 1 0 45
Sat, June 14 5 1 3 9 6 3 4 1 0 32
Sun, June 15 12 19 1 0
Mon, June 16 6 3 5 3 13 11 2 43
Tue, June 17 11 6 9 9 15 8 2 60
Wed, June 18 6 5 2 13 14 10 4 54
Thu, June 19 5 3 5 7 8 11 1 40
Fri, June 20 6 2 2 3 9 12 7 19 1 1 41
Sat, June 21 5 5 5 4 9 3 3 2 0 36
Sun, June 22 39 17 0 0
Mon, June 23 8 5 7 6 6 11 6 49
Tue, June 24 7 6 11 8 27 5 7 71
Wed, June 25 4 2 9 9 12 9 8 53
Thu, June 26 6 4 8 9 26 8 3 64
Fri, June 27 10 6 5 9 14 4 4 29 8 0 52
Sat, June 28 5 2 5 9 4 7 10 6 2 50
Sun, June 29 19 10 1 0
Mon, June 30 7 4 4 9 9 8 8 49
Total Scans:1079 1160
38.7
text
Averages:
Column Total:
Robert A Lee Recreation Center - Indoor Swimming Pool Totals - June 2025 (1 of 2)
$2 Swim. This quantity is not included in Daily Rec Totals :
Facility closed for events/maintenance/holiday:
Date Daily Rec Totals Water Fitness Swim Lessons Event # Count Event Name Row Totals
Sun, June 1 0 16 $2 Swim 16
Mon, June 2 48 21 69
Tue, June 3 37 37
Wed, June 4 48 21 69
Thu, June 5 35 35
Fri, June 6 44 5 $2 Swim 49
Sat, June 7 54 1 55
Sun, June 8 0 25 $2 Swim 25
Mon, June 9 40 24 64
Tue, June 10 32 32
Wed, June 11 37 23 60
Thu, June 12 46 46
Fri, June 13 45 26 10 $2 Swim 81
Sat, June 14 32 32
Sun, June 15 0 75 32 $2 Swim 107
Mon, June 16 43 20 73 136
Tue, June 17 60 75 135
Wed, June 18 54 24 73 151
Thu, June 19 40 63 103
Fri, June 20 41 25 21 $2 Swim 87
Sat, June 21 36 36
Sun, June 22 0 72 56 $2 Swim 128
Mon, June 23 49 30 73 152
Tue, June 24 71 71 142
Wed, June 25 53 24 71 148
Thu, June 26 64 58 122
Fri, June 27 52 24 37 $2 Swim 113
Sat, June 28 50 50
Sun, June 29 0 68 30 $2 Swim 98
Mon, June 30 49 20 69
Column Totals:1160 283 772 232 2447
Averages:38.7 9.4 25.7 7.7 81.6
Robert A Lee Recreation Center - Indoor Swimming Pool Totals - June 2025 (2 of 2)
$2 Swim. This quantity is not included in Daily Rec Totals :
Facility closed for events/maintenance/holiday:
Date 6-7a 7-8a 8-9a 9-10a 10-11a 11-12p 12-1p 1-2p 2-3p 3-4p 4-5p 5-6 p 6-7p 7-8p Daily Rec Totals
Sun, June 1 12 6 2 15 17 11 5 3 2 73
Mon, June 2 15 16 8 8 4 7 13 18 10 15 9 5 8 2 138
Tue, June 3 17 14 13 14 20 7 11 12 7 12 11 13 5 1 123
Wed, June 4 5 15 8 6 16 9 8 14 11 4 12 11 5 1 125
Thu, June 5 12 7 11 9 14 9 5 3 7 9 9 12 2 5 91
Fri, June 6 8 17 14 20 9 9 8 30 5 12 9 3 11 2 157
Sat, June 7 0
Sun, June 8 0
Mon, June 9 6 18 8 16 21 13 9 11 17 10 18 17 8 4 176
Tue, June 10 7 16 5 4 5 7 15 7 27 11 5 3 108
Wed, June 11 12 11 14 21 11 23 22 47 16 17 20 15 17 5 251
Thu, June 12 6 7 11 15 10 11 12 7 26 22 16 7 13 4 142
Fri, June 13 10 17 10 19 15 15 11 10 14 19 12 5 1 1 159
Sat, June 14 6 4 3 4 6 12 7 8 6 11 14 16 14 5 116
Sun, June 15 19 13 9 17 20 18 8 0 0 104
Mon, June 16 10 13 2 20 16 10 10 14 28 10 31 11 24 5 204
Tue, June 17 7 18 4 32 23 15 9 16 13 6 21 7 13 5 134
Wed, June 18 13 12 9 13 15 9 12 27 5 7 9 6 10 3 150
Thu, June 19 8 13 13 19 19 8 17 18 12 13 11 15 4 5 137
Fri, June 20 12 8 11 15 10 11 29 11 14 9 4 4 6 0 144
Sat, June 21 0 4 5 0 4 18 2 10 17 50 18 28 15 5 176
Sun, June 22 22 15 19 27 22 26 21 6 5 163
Mon, June 23 10 15 15 18 23 14 71 23 17 21 18 15 21 6 287
Tue, June 24 8 13 19 19 15 7 5 12 6 5 20 19 17 6 137
Wed, June 25 11 11 10 17 14 12 7 19 19 17 11 11 17 3 179
Thu, June 26 8 13 8 13 20 10 13 11 13 13 15 17 8 5 134
Fri, June 27 16 13 13 16 12 10 9 8 16 7 6 5 22 5 158
Sat, June 28 13 12 9 16 18 7 5 4 84
Sun, June 29 18 19 12 13 15 11 15 17 3 123
Mon, June 30 17 12 16 20 11 17 36 10 16 15 10 12 11 2 205
Total Scans:3252 4178
139.3
text
Mercer Park Aquatic Center - Indoor Swimming Pool Totals - June 2025 (1 of 2)
ICE = 92 (includes masters)
Facility closed for events/maintenance/holiday:
$2 Swim. This quantity is not included in Daily Rec Totals :
Column Total:
Averages:
Date Daily Rec Totals Water Fitness Swim Team Event # Count Event Name Row Totals
Sun, June 1 73 73
Mon, June 2 138 7 92 237
Tue, June 3 123 3 92 34 $2 Swim 252
Wed, June 4 125 92 217
Thu, June 5 91 4 92 23 $2 Swim 210
Fri, June 6 157 92 249
Sat, June 7 0 SWIM MEET 0
Sun, June 8 0 SWIM MEET 0
Mon, June 9 176 3 92 271
Tue, June 10 108 2 92 4 $2 Swim 206
Wed, June 11 251 92 343
Thu, June 12 142 4 92 25 $2 Swim 263
Fri, June 13 159 4 92 9 LGI Class 264
Sat, June 14 116 1 92 9 LGI Class 218
Sun, June 15 104 104
Mon, June 16 204 1 107 312
Tue, June 17 134 3 92 55 $2 Swim 284
Wed, June 18 150 107 257
Thu, June 19 137 5 102 38 $2 Swim 282
Fri, June 20 144 4 92 240
Sat, June 21 176 1 92 269
Sun, June 22 163 163
Mon, June 23 287 4 107 398
Tue, June 24 137 92 34 $2 Swim 263
Wed, June 25 179 107 286
Thu, June 26 134 102 33 $2 Swim 269
Fri, June 27 158 5 92 255
Sat, June 28 84 YOUTH TRI 84
Sun, June 29 123 123
Mon, June 30 205 5 107 317
Column Totals:4178 56 2211 264 6709
Averages:139.3 1.9 73.7 8.8 223.6
Mercer Park Aquatic Center - Indoor Swimming Pool Totals - June 2025 (2 of 2)
Facility closed for events/maintenance/holiday:
$2 Swim. This quantity is not included in Daily Rec Totals :
Ending Balance:$260,306.42
May 01, 2025 - May 31, 2025
Beginning Balance:$247,693.72
Total Fund Income:$12,673.42
Total Fund Expenses:$60.72
Community Foundation of Johnson County
City of Iowa City Parks and Recreation Accounts
Iowa City Parks and Rec Endowment Fund
Statement Activity
Iowa City Parks and Rec Charitable Giving Fund
May 01, 2025 - May 31, 2025
Beginning Balance:$46,615.14
Total Fund Income:$0.00
Total Fund Expenses:$1,627.19
Ending Balance:$44,987.95
Statement Activity
Iowa City Parks & Recreation Staff Report
July 2025
Upcoming Events
• Farmers Market – Saturdays, May – October; 7:30 am – Noon; Chauncey Swan Ramp
• Party in the Park series – Thursdays in June, July and August; 6:30-8 pm; various parks
• Play Daze series– Thursdays in June, July and August; 9:30-11:30 am; various parks
• Discovery Garden Parties – July 15, July 24, 2-3:30 pm; RAL
• Sensory Summer – July 12, 2-4 pm; Willow Creek Park
• Hydrant Party – July 17, 1-3 pm; Mercer Park
• Water Day of Play – July 19, 1-3 pm; Fairmeadows Park
• ADA Birthday Bash – July 26, 2-4 pm; Ned Ashton House
• Splash Pad Party – Aug 5, Wetherby Park, 6:30-8 pm
Notable from Parks & Recreation Staff
Parks:
• Staff had a good time hosting the Outdoor Youth Corps for a day in coordination with Johnson County
Conservation and the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County. The youth helped us with maintenance
at Sand Prairie Park, learned about our single track bike trail, and learned about careers in parks and
conservation.
• We did our second mow of Hwy1/6 before Independence Day which includes picking up trash along the
whole stretch. This is always a time when all parts of the parks and forestry division lend a hand to get
the job completed.
• Athletic complexes remain busy with many successful tournaments and will be hosting tournaments
most weekends for the remainder of the summer and into fall.
• The park improvement projects at Adelaide Joy Rogers, Brookland, Calder, and College Green are
progressing with College Green being the furthest along in construction. Parks staff will be installing the
playground structure at Adelaide Joy Rogers soon as that part of the project in being completed inhouse.
• There is a new interpretative panel with trail map at the entrance of Ryerson’s Woods adjacent to the
park shelter.
• Seasonal staff are all onboarded for the season and help keep our operations running during the busy
growing months.
• The poured in place playground safety surface has been replaced in the Ped Mall. It was under warranty
and replaced at no cost to the City.
• The trail and bridge replacement project on the Iowa River Corridor Trail near the Riverside Dr Dairy
Queen is underway and progressing.
Recreation:
• Recreation division staff have been assisting with STEAM/Arts/Nature program development and
implementation and summer camp planning while the Program Supervisor position remains vacant.
Staff are currently in the process of interviewing for this role and anticipate on having the selected
candidate begin in late August.
• Water-play events and various summer program series have been well-attended.
Facilities:
• Mercer-
o Pool roof
Bids are due July 1st.
Work will start fist week of August with substantial completion early September.
• Robert A Lee-
o Staff are starting to strip and wax floors in-between events and rentals.
o Lower-level lobby area is in the process of being repainted.
• Splashpads-
o Splash pads are up and running.
o Fairmeadows will have a closure for a day in July for repair on a feature.
• TTRA-
o Lodge and a H2O building will be undergoing a large staining project starting Mid July lasting
thru September. They will sand and clean the current surface and then reapply a new stain.
Cemetery:
• ADA work on the ramp/parking lot and the handrails on the ramp have been completed.
• ADA improvements on the upstairs bathroom will begin in July.
• Total Tree care have removed 3 large white oaks.
Top Staff Issues
Parks
• The heat has been a challenge. We were without air conditioning at our main shop during the worst of
the heat and are thankful we have new units keeping staff cool when they come in for lunch.
Recreation
• The recent heat wave along with its periodic severe weather has posed some challenges for outdoor
programming but only a minor number of cancellations have occurred.
Cemetery:
• Staff has been busy mowing and trimming.
• Watering trees and newly planted grass has also been a priority.
Oakland
Cemetery
Average Interments 5yr avg. from on Revenue total revenue