HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-10-2025 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, September 8, 2025, will be distributed to the Commission in advance of the meeting.
AGENDA
ITEM 1 CALL TO ORDER
ITEM 2 APPROVAL OF AUGUST 13, 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 LOCAL OPTION SALES AND SERVICE TAX (LOSST)– Kirk Lehmann;
City Manager’s Office
ITEM 5 REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF
a) Parks and Recreation Director – Juli Seydell Johnson
b) Recreation Superintendent – Brad Barker
ITEM 6 CHAIRS REPORT
ITEM 7 COMMISSION TIME/SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
ITEM 8 ADJOURN
Parks and Recreation Commission
Wednesday, September 10, 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 AUGUST 13, 2025
ROBERT A. LEE RECREATION CENTER – MEETING ROOM B
Members Present: Connie Moore, Brian Morelli, Michael Gaunt, Virginia Hayes, Rachel
McPherson
Members Absent: Missie Forbes, Jeff Mallory, Caleb Recker, Alex Stanton
Staff Present: Juli Seydell Johnson, Tyler Baird, Gabe Gotera
Others Present: Anne Jensen, Eric Hornig
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Moore called the meeting to order at 5:37 p.m.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL: (to become effective only after separate Council
action):
None
OTHER FORMAL ACTION:
Moved by Gaunt, seconded by Hayes, to approve the July 9, 2025, minutes. Motion passed
5-0 (Forbes, Mallory, Recker, and Stanton absent).
PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA:
None
CITY PARK SHELTER RENOVATION PROJECT –
Consultant Eric Hornig; Hitchcock Design
Dir. Seydell Johnson introduces Eric Hornig of Hitchcock Design. The project is a refresh to the
shelters and restrooms of both Upper and Lower City Park. The project was getting moved
around the CIP budget for a few years, but it is moving forward as shelter locations were being
discussed during the City Park Pool project. The project construction is expected to begin
Summer 2026.
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
August 13, 2025
Page 2 of 6
Hornig presents the attached map of the proposed shelter and restroom locations, indicating the
size and type of shelter. Hornig explains that some shelter locations have been shifted closer to
walkway connections, allowing more accessibility.
Dir. Seydell Johnson reminds the commission that the new pool building will include an indoor
community room. The community room will have a max capacity of 45 people, be open year-
round, and include restrooms accessible to the outdoor park. This functionally will replace one of
the shelters and the outdoor restrooms in Upper City Park.
Hornig explains that the eastern restroom in Lower City Park will be replaced with a new single-
user restroom, while the western restroom near the playground will be renovated. All the
restrooms will be new, clean, and ADA compliant. Supt. Baird clarifies that the western
restroom, which currently has a men’s and women’s side, would be renovated into four single-
user restrooms.
Hornig explains that all the new shelters in City Park will be replaced by either a square 24’ x 24’
shelter or a rectangular 18’ x 36’ shelter. Dir. Seydell Johnson says that these shelters maybe
familiar as they are the modern style used through the park system. Some of the parks using the
square shelter include Cardigan Park, Frauenholtz-Miller Park, Villa Park, Glendale Park. Some
of the parks using the rectangular shelter include Willow Creek Park, Wetherby Park, and Court
Hill Park.
Hornig says that the project is nearing the end of the schematic design phase and is expected to
move into design development and construction documentation. Hornig expects a winter bid
with a construction target of Spring/Summer 2026.
Dir. Seydell Johnson says that budget is still being worked on and it currently just over budget.
As the budget is refined, staff have determined the project priorities. Ideally, all the shelters and
restrooms will be included in the project, but if part of the project needs to be cut, it would likely
be the replacement of either one of the shelters or the eastern restroom in Lower City Park. Both
the restroom and shelter would still have an opportunity for replacement but at a later date.
Vice Chair Morelli asks if there will be anything to make the shelters/restrooms resilient from
flooding. Hornig responds that the eastern restroom would have flood proofing applied and that
the shelters should already be flood resilient but adds that a sealant could be applied periodically.
Commissioner McPherson asks, in the event of the project being overbudget, what are the factors
for deciding that the restroom would be cut. Dir. Seydell Johnson says that it chosen due to it’s
proximity to the river, it’s low use, and the high cost associated with it.
Moved by Morelli, seconded by Gaunt, to recommend moving forward with the City Park
Shelter Renovation project as presented. Motion passed 5-0 (Forbes, Mallory, Recker, and
Stanton absent).
REPORTS ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
August 13, 2025
Page 3 of 6
Parks and Recreation Director – Juli Seydell Johnson
Project Updates: Dir. Seydell Johnson says that building City Park Pool has been difficult in the
recent rainfall. Cement has been poured for the footings of the bathhouse and most of the lap
pool. The road around Upper City Park has been closed. The road was planned to remain open
during the project, but after too many close calls between construction and personal vehicles, the
decision to close the road was made. The road will be closed for the remainder of the project
except for the end of October. Seydell Johnson explains that there will be an art installation from
Public Space One located at the cabins. The road will be open for two weeks, allowing the public
to see the art installation.
Dir. Seydell Johnson announces that the grant for the skate park project near Terrell Mill Park
has been released. The department has a signed grant agreement with the National Park Service
through the Iowa DNR, allowing staff to reopen the bid process and move forward.
Commissioner McPherson asks if there have been any hiccups regarding the City Park Pool
project. Dir. Seydell Johnson says that there have not been any problems except for very minor
issues. The project is moving forward on schedule.
Parks and Forestry Superintendent – Tyler Baird
Park Projects: Supt. Baird says that the final completion date is fast approaching for the projects
at Calder Park, College Green Park, Brookland Park, and Adelaide Joy Rogers Park. Baird
explains that the contractors are behind schedule and won’t make the final completion date that
was contracted, but that the contractors will continue to make progress until then. Recent project
updates include the following:
• The basketball court at College Green Park has been painted, including the Caitlyn Clark
22-circle marking that shows how far Clark’s shot was.
• The mulched surfacing has been getting installed at Brookland Park, with contractors
touching up the grass along the edge.
• Concrete has been poured, and footings have been located at Adelaide Joy Rogers Park.
There will be more surrounding site work, and a park shelter installed later. Staff are
planning to place the playground themselves.
• The ground at Calder Park has been graded and nearly all the trail has been poured with
about twelve feet remaining. This trail will include a border around the playground,
making maintenance easier for staff.
Supt. Baird says that the trail behind Dairy Queen is on hold due to the river level. Currently,
parts of the construction are under water. Contractors will have to wait for the river to lower
before work can continue, but a decent amount has already been completed.
Supt. Baird refers to Mercer Park Athletic Field project, explaining that it is in partnership with
the Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD). A lot of the project is work on the district’s
fields, so the project is mostly funded from ICCSD. City funding will be used on the common
spaces. Baird says that progress is made each day. The ground is all torn up and is expected to be
ready for next year’s baseball and softball season.
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
August 13, 2025
Page 4 of 6
REAP Grant: Supt. Baird announces that the department will be submitted an application for a
$200,000 Resource Enhancement And Protection (REAP) Grant. The grant will be submitted for
a section of Hickory Hill Park including the following improvements:
• Enhancing the woodland.
• Replacing a hay field with a planted prairie.
• Installing trail head amenities.
o A small parking area.
o An enclosure for a portable restroom.
o A small park shelter
Commissioner Gaunt, regarding the ongoing park projects, asks if there are any opportunity for
liquidated damages, or would it be an act-of-God due to the large amount of rain. Seydell
Johnson responds that it is included in the contract that the city could charge liquidated damages,
but adds that in last ten years, she has not seen a successful attempt due to rain.
Vice Chair Morelli asks if there are any reasons for the project delays. Dir. Seydell Johnson
responds that there seems to be something between the main contractor and their subcontractor.
Seydell Johnson asks the commissioner to bear in mind that the four park projects had to be bid
as a group because the individual projects were too small for many contractors to take interest.
The contactors were also given a longer time frame in the hope for a lower price. This resulted in
the projects being the fill-in for the contractor, in-between larger projects somewhere else in the
city. Work was completed intermittently and stretches out. Seydell Johnson explains that if the
project was bid with a much shorter timeline and higher expectations, the price would be higher
to the point that the department would not be able to afford the project.
CHAIRS REPORT
None
COMMISSION TIME/SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
Commissioner McPherson asks about the progress on installing flashing lights at the crosswalk
near James Alan McPherson Park, making it safer for pedestrians to cross the road. Dir. Seydell
Johnson says that design work has undergone but that due to delays, there is no new current
information.
Vice Chair Morelli, regarding the recent rainfall, says that the court hill park basketball court has
been getting flooded for several days at a time. Morelli notes that he has seen crews clearing
blockage by hand. Morelli asks what the current plans for the easily flooded basketball courts
are, recalling that the project had been delayed. Dir. Seydell Johnson explains that the
department put in a request for a capital project the previous year. The work had to be entered as
a capital project because it would cost more than $10,000 to fix the drainage. Staff will continue
to request for funding on the project, until approved. Morelli recalls that there was court
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
August 13, 2025
Page 5 of 6
maintenance a few years back and asks what was exactly done. Seydell Johnson says that the
court was only resurfaced and that the drains were not touched. Supt. Baird adds that soon a
contractor will be installing a concrete pad in Court Hill Park for a future park shelter that
department staff will install later in the year
ADJOURNMENT:
Chairman Moore adjourns the meeting at 6:00 p.m.
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
August 13, 2025
Page 6 of 6
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
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
06
/
1
1
/
2
0
2
5
07
/
0
9
/
2
0
2
5
08
/
1
3
/
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
Fri, August 1 3 6 3 5 10 15 5 12 1 4 47
Sat, August 2 3 1 4 6 3 2 5 4 4 32
Sun, August 3 9 0 4 0
Mon, August 4 13 10 12 13 6 9 7 5 12 0 87
Tue, August 5 8 6 10 8 54 9 11 5 3 4 118
Wed, August 6 14 9 6 13 7 13 16 5 4 2 89
Thu, August 7 8 5 5 8 11 10 10 5 13 1 76
Fri, August 8 11 2 5 10 9 8 8 6 7 6 11 2 2 72
Sat, August 9 5 6 6 6 6 2 4 15 2 3 55
Sun, August 10 14 2 8 2 0 30 5 0 26
Mon, August 11 10 8 6 14 10 13 2 15 5 3 86
Tue, August 12 2 5 12 8 29 11 6 6 1 8 88
Wed, August 13 8 3 9 10 5 14 8 3 35 8 103
Thu, August 14 7 9 13 7 19 10 3 7 3 4 82
Fri, August 15 14 9 10 14 9 9 5 11 8 4 14 4 0 93
Sat, August 16 7 5 5 6 4 10 5 9 3 6 60
Sun, August 17 13 4 5 6 7 23 14 5 35
Mon, August 18 12 12 10 8 12 17 7 7 9 1 95
Tue, August 19 8 7 11 10 8 5 3 1 5 5 63
Wed, August 20 13 16 8 14 7 6 7 12 6 2 91
Thu, August 21 6 6 11 5 4 7 7 3 10 1 60
Fri, August 22 11 4 10 6 5 10 6 7 3 1 13 9 8 63
Sat, August 23 5 5 9 6 12 4 4 4 6 3 58
Sun, August 24 12 5 3 3 0 15 3 3 23
Mon, August 25 13 3 9 21 10 4 7 4 10 3 84
Tue, August 26 7 5 7 12 12 7 5 5 4 3 67
Wed, August 27 16 6 12 10 6 6 4 12 3 2 77
Thu, August 28 10 4 14 9 7 6 3 3 5 2 63
Fri, August 29 9 6 11 7 9 10 11 6 6 5 9 4 1 80
Sat, August 30 4 6 3 2 7 3 7 7 1 4 44
Sun, August 31 5 4 6 8 5 11 8 5 28
Total Scans:1840 2045
66.0
text
Averages:
Column Total:
Robert A Lee Recreation Center - Indoor Swimming Pool Totals - August 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
Fri, August 1 47 8 17 $2 Swim 72
Sat, August 2 32 32
Sun, August 3 0 13 $2 Swim 13
Mon, August 4 87 17 25 129
Tue, August 5 118 25 143
Wed, August 6 89 15 25 129
Thu, August 7 76 25 101
Fri, August 8 72 25 25 15 $2 Swim 137
Sat, August 9 55 25 80
Sun, August 10 26 35 $2 Swim 61
Mon, August 11 86 24 25 135
Tue, August 12 88 25 113
Wed, August 13 103 19 25 147
Thu, August 14 82 25 107
Fri, August 15 93 18 25 18 $2 Swim 154
Sat, August 16 60 1 25 86
Sun, August 17 35 42 $2 Swim 77
Mon, August 18 95 19 25 139
Tue, August 19 63 25 88
Wed, August 20 91 21 25 137
Thu, August 21 60 25 85
Fri, August 22 63 28 25 30 $2 Swim / LG Class 146
Sat, August 23 58 6 25 10 LG Class 99
Sun, August 24 23 21 $2 Swim / LG Class 44
Mon, August 25 84 27 75 186
Tue, August 26 67 75 142
Wed, August 27 77 18 75 170
Thu, August 28 63 75 138
Fri, August 29 80 7 75 14 $2 Swim 176
Sat, August 30 44 4 75 123
Sun, August 31 28 24 $2 Swim 52
Column Totals:2045 257 900 239 3441
Averages:66.0 8.3 29.0 7.7 111.0
text
Robert A Lee Recreation Center - Indoor Swimming Pool Totals - August 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
Fri, August 1 11 11 8 14 20 14 3 12 13 16 14 12 8 3 159
Sat, August 2 2 5 3 8 6 4 13 21 17 38 10 16 8 3 154
Sun, August 3 41 5 18 20 13 20 6 7 0 130
Mon, August 4 0
Tue, August 5 0
Wed, August 6 0
Thu, August 7 0
Fri, August 8 0
Sat, August 9 0
Sun, August 10 0
Mon, August 11 0
Tue, August 12 0
Wed, August 13 0
Thu, August 14 0
Fri, August 15 0
Sat, August 16 0
Sun, August 17 0
Mon, August 18 0
Tue, August 19 0
Wed, August 20 0
Thu, August 21 0
Fri, August 22 0
Sat, August 23 0
Sun, August 24 0
Mon, August 25 0
Tue, August 26 0
Wed, August 27 0
Thu, August 28 0
Fri, August 29 0
Sat, August 30 0
Sun, August 31 0
Total Scans:301 443
14.3
Mercer Park Aquatic Center - Indoor Swimming Pool Totals - August 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
Fri, August 1 159 159
Sat, August 2 154 154
Sun, August 3 130 130
Mon, August 4
Tue, August 5
Wed, August 6
Thu, August 7
Fri, August 8
Sat, August 9
Sun, August 10
Mon, August 11
Tue, August 12
Wed, August 13
Thu, August 14
Fri, August 15
Sat, August 16
Sun, August 17
Mon, August 18
Tue, August 19
Wed, August 20
Thu, August 21
Fri, August 22
Sat, August 23
Sun, August 24
Mon, August 25
Tue, August 26
Wed, August 27
Thu, August 28
Fri, August 29
Sat, August 30
Sun, August 31
Column Totals:443 0 0 0 443
Averages:14.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 14.3
Mercer Park Aquatic Center - Indoor Swimming Pool Totals - Aug 2025 (2 of 2)
ICE = 92 (includes masters)
Facility closed for events/maintenance/holiday:
$2 Swim. This quantity is not included in Daily Rec Totals :
Ending Balance:$271,697.92
July 01, 2025 - July 31, 2025
Beginning Balance:$270,230.26
Total Fund Income:$2,347.20
Total Fund Expenses:$879.54
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
July 01, 2025 - July 31, 2025
Beginning Balance:$44,987.95
Total Fund Income:$0.00
Total Fund Expenses:$0.00
Ending Balance:$44,987.95
Statement Activity
Iowa City Parks & Recreation Staff Report
September 2025
Upcoming Events
• Farmers Market – Saturdays, May – October; 7:30 am – Noon; Chauncey Swan Ramp
• 2025 Deeded Body Program – Friday, September 26, 1:30 pm; Oakland Cemetery
• Things That Fly – Sunday, September 21, 2 - 4 pm; RAL
• Get Outside! An Outdoor Rec Fest – Sunday, September 28, 10 am - 2 pm; City Park
• Indigenous Peoples Day – Sunday, October 12, 2-5:30 pm; TTRA
Notable from Parks & Recreation Staff
Parks:
• Parks and Forestry staff responded to the aftermath of the storm on August 15, 2025, clearing around a
dozen trees blocking streets around town on that Friday evening until after midnight.
• Athletic complexes are busy again with fall tournaments, flag football, and cross-country.
• The park improvement projects at Adelaide Joy Rogers, Brookland, Calder, and College Green are mostly
complete. Parks staff are currently installing the playground structure at Adelaide Joy Rogers and the
last part of the project with be installation of the shelter by the contractor once the shelter is delivered.
• Horticulture staff have become our bridge experts lending their expertise to fix multiple bridge decks
this year including a recent replacement in Scott Park.
• Forestry is back up to full staff with our recent hire of Charles Gile to fill the vacant Maintenance Worker
I position. We are happy to be back to full strength and able to run 2 crews simultaneously again.
• Parks staff reinstalled the playground that was moved from upper City Park to make room for the pool
project in its new home in lower City Park to the west of the baseball fields.
• We have been busy working on plans and designs for projects that will be constructed in the next couple
of years.
• We have been working on budgeting for future Capital Improvement Projects and our operating budget
work will begin soon.
• Joe Green and Carsyn Grage increased their forestry credentials with the International Society of
Arboriculture this last month. Joe successfully completed the test for the top certification of Board
Certified Master Arborist and Carsyn successfully passed the Certified Urban Forest Professional exam.
In total, we have 10 staff who are Certified Arborists at a minimum, with multiple staff holding higher
certifications or additional qualifications.
Recreation:
• Staff have been preparing several larger events this fall, including several Halloween events for October
and the third year of the Get Outside! Rec Fest on Sunday, September 28. Get Outside! will take place at
lower City Park, featuring a variety of recreation opportunities where visitors can experience hands-on
learning. There will be live music and food trucks.
• Fall programs are underway and registration numbers are good so far.
Facilities:
• Mercer-
o Pool roof
Roof is finished and waiting to complete the punch list
Pool is on schedule to reopen next week.
• Robert A Lee-
o Staff are continuing to strip and wax floors in-between events and rentals.
• Splashpads-
o Fairmeadows, Weatherby, Tower Court have closed for the season.
o Weatherdance (Downtown) will remain open thru the end of September
o Staff will start the process of winterizing the other splash pads immediately.
• TTRA-
o Lodge and a H2O building are undergoing a large staining project lasting thru September.
o Project is coming along well
o H2O is done
o They are now staining the main lodge
Cemetery:
• The 2025 Deeded Body Program will be held at Oakland Cemetery September 26th at 1:30pm.
• ADA improvements on the upstairs bathroom will begin in September.
Top Staff Issues
Parks
• Mowing and trimming were a constant this year with all the rain and growth and took priority over
smaller improvement/repair projects that staff usually have a chance to work on in July/August.
Recreation
• Program Supervisor staff are replacing a number of hourly staff that have moved on after graduation
and hiring new staff for fall programming.
Cemetery:
• Staff continues to stay busy with mowing and trimming, but it has started to slow.
• Staff will continue repairing monuments that have been tipped over or in need of repair.
• Staff will put up fencing on all young trees to protect from deer this fall.
Oakland
Cemetery
Average Interments 5yr avg. from on Revenue total