BOARD OF PARK COMl\flSSIONERS February 21, 2019 CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the Cincinnati Board of Park Commissioners was held on this day at 950 Eden Park Drive. Commissioners present: President Brad Lindner, Vice President Jim Goetz, Commissioner Kevin Flynn, and Commissioner Linda Lee Thomas. President Lindner called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M. Public Comments There were no public comments. Approval of Minutes President Lindner motioned for approval of the January 17, 2019 minutes. Commissioner Thomas moved for approval. Commissioner Flynn seconded the motion. Motion passed by vote. STAFF RECOGNITION Cincinnati Parks' Natural Resource Manager/Interim Division Manager, Dave Gamstetter, was recognized for his 30 years of service at the Cincinnati Park Board and congratulated on his retirement. Director Walcutt presented a resolution recognizing Mr. Gamstetter and extending the Board of Park Commissioners' best wishes on the occasion of his retirement. A roll call vote was taken. The resolution passed unanimously. Mr. Gamstetter was presented with a rendering of "Gamstetter Grove," which will be created in celebration of his career and legacy at the Cincinnati Park Board, made possible by the Cincinnati Parks Foundation. President Lindner presented a Mayoral Proclamation highlighting Mr. Gamstetter's accomplishments and proclaiming February 21, 2019 "Dave Gamstetter Day" in the City of Cincinnati. STAFF APPOINTMENTS Director Walcutt recommended to appoint Craig Sherman, who was selected to serve as the Park Board's Chief Financial Officer. Vice President Goetz moved to appoint Mr. Sherman as the Park Board's CFO with a start date of Monday, February 25, 2019. President Lindner seconded. The motion passed by vote. OLD BUSINESS Bramble Park: Declaration of Restrictions Steve Schuckman explained the Clean Ohio Fund requires the land area grant funds are administered to be restricted as greenspace. He explained this restriction poses no issue for the Park Board or intentions with the land area. Commissioner Flynn asked if there were other areas nearby that a restroom or trails could be constructed. Mr. Schuckman clarified the area north of the restricted area is relatively flat and could accommodate future structural needs. President Lindner motioned to accept the Declaration of Restrictions as presented. Commissioner Flynn seconded. The motion passed by vote. Commissioner's Comments Vice President Goetz had comments regarding the proposed music venue at Riverfront Lots 23 & 28. Mr. Goetz asked has the Park Board, or does the Park Board intend to, contract with Sasaki and Dave Prather (KZF) for the development of the plans for the music venue site. Director Walcutt indicated the Park Board does not have funds to contract Sasaki. Additionally, the overall plan for the Banks is not yet a done deal between the City and County and the outcome of the music venue project is not certain. Mr. ·walcutt explained an update was provided to the Foundation's Executive Committee as well as their Board of Directors, who voted to enter into negotiations with Sasaki. Vice President Goetz asked why funding for the design of the Lot 23 park is being done through the Foundation rather than the Park Board. Director Walcutt answered the Park Board does not have funding budgeted for a contract with Sasaki and the Foundation raises money specifically for Smale Riverfront Park and has available funds, which the Foundation Board voted to commit to this project. Vice President Goetz expressed concern regarding this approach. Mr. Goetz requested if money is being spent and/or contracts are being made for a public park, it should go through the Park Board. Director Walcutt interpreted the MOU to allow the Park Board to work with the Foundation on design services as had been advised previously by the City Law Department on a similar project. Vice President Goetz asked if there was a contract with Dave Prather/KZF. Director Walcutt confirmed the Park Board manages a contract with Dave Prather/KZF, which needs to be reevaluated. Commissioner Thomas expressed she shared the same concern. She expressed her commitment to ensuring alignment with the MOU and felt this project was aligned. She said moving forward, projects should be evaluated to determine whether they fall inside or outside the boundaries of the MOU. Commissioner Flynn expressed understanding that, as a relatively small addition to the existing park, the project would not go out to bid. He said, with the assumption the current contract with Sasaki is through the Park Board, perhaps the Foundation could provide funding via a grant to the Park Board or the Sasaki contract could be amended to reflect the Foundation's involvement. Vice President Goetz proposed Parks staff look at the potential of bringing in a consultant to review the backlog of deferred maintenance and capital and maintenance requirements for the coming years, and asked that staff provide a proposal for this item. Commissioner Flynn suggested using the same consultant as the Cincinnati Recreation Commission. Mr. Flynn emphasized the credibility a third-party quantifier would offer the Park Board when presenting capital budget needs to City Council. Vice President Goetz made a motion to ask Parks staff to provide a proposal to the Park Board for a consultant to help review deferred maintenance and determine capital/maintenance requirements. Commissioner Flynn seconded. The motion passed by vote. NEW BUSINESS Hats Off Luncheon Update Jennifer Spieser, Executive Director of Cincinnati Parks Foundation, introduced Jennifer Buchholz and Carrie Carothers, Co-Chairs of the 13th Annual Hats Off Luncheon who provided an update on the 2019 event. Deer Management Jim Godby, Parks District Crew Leader, presented current deer management practices of the Park Board and a vision for future practices and improvements for the program. Mr. Godby explained the successes of the deer management program and environmental need for population control/reduction, as well as techniques used to quantify and reduce populations. He also described strategies that could increase harvest levels, while reducing and/or eliminating park closures and keep park users safe. Potential strategies for eliminating/reducing park closures were discussed, including allowing hunting to take place during regular park hours, which would not diminish safety or increase the Park Board's liability. Mr. Godby explained the proposed hunting schedule will still need to be presented to the Parks Director and be approved by the Park Board. Vice President Goetz requested if the Park Board can move toward reducing closures for deer management, it be included in the staff recommendation to the Board. Director Walcutt confirmed the reduction of closures in parks and emphasized the reduction in program costs because of the grant opportunities associated with the sharp shooting program. President Lindner asked if other parks systems allow use of the parks and bow-hunting simultaneously. Mr. Godby answered State parks and Hamilton County Parks allow this, but there are differences in the number of members of the public using those parks. Mr. Godby expressed he does not believe there is an increased safety threat by implementing this in Cincinnati's parks. Commissioner Flynn mentioned engaging butchers as partners to provide venison to food banks in the city. Mr. Godby explained Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry is paying processing fees for the sharp shooting program this year. Commissioner Thomas asked what measures the Park Board could take to ensure public awareness of hunting in the parks. Mr. Godby answered there are postings in parks and on the website. There have also been notices in print and news media, and notifications at the CPAC meetings. He explained getting the message out as early as possible is key. Rocky Merz explained use of social media for messaging, but there is room for improvement for communicating different hunting schedules for different parks. Mr. Merz also explained educating the public on the reasons for hunting and deer management in the parks would be useful. Natural Resources Management Plan Dave Gamstetter presented the most recent draft of the Cincinnati Park Board Natural Resource Management Plan, which calls for cost-benefit analysis of services derived from urban forests, parks, and greenspaces; nature-based solutions for communities' resilience; reduction of public health risks through street trees; social cohesion and reducing crime; and equitable distribution of tree canopy. Commissioner Flynn mentioned many of the communities in the management plan are tax increment financing (TIF) districts, where taxes are collected for public improvements within those neighborhoods. He emphasized regaining some control over determining what "public improvements" are and being able to utilize TIF funding for urban forestry in neighborhoods where it is available, rather than general funds. Mr. Flynn also mentioned a restricted fund for Gateways within the City's financial statement, and he asked if that money could be available for Parks use or public service. Commissioner Thomas emphasized the health impact of trees and how this angle could provide opportunities for future funding. Fee Increase: Krohn Conservatory Jenny Mobley provided an overview of Krohn Conservatory's events/shows and reputation as a well-recognized attraction within the City of Cincinnati. Mrs. Mobley presented the current fee structure of Krohn conservatory as well as market research, staff experience, and cost-benefit analysis data to support fee increases. She made a recommendation to increase General Admission, Premier Show Admission, and Membership Fees based off of this research and presented increase in revenue based on a $2.00 and $3.00 increase. She emphasized by increasing fees as presented, Krohn Conservatory would become self-sufficient, freeing $225,000 of the City's general fund budget. She explained the increased revenue could also fund capital improvements at Krohn and the fees have not been increased since implemented in 2012. President Lindner asked if there was a drop-off assumption for membership fees, to which Mrs.