#2 Minutes 1-11-11
LEISURE SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
TH
JANUARY 11, 2011
7:00 PM
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
ST
1 FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM
Members Present: Kevin Reilly, Betty Schwarz, Steve Ellis, Sandra Hendricks
and Lorie Markus
Staff Present: Shelley Slapak, Janet McLean and Bill Scherer
The meeting was called to order at 7:01 PM in the First Floor Conference Room of the Municipal
Building by Chairperson Kevin Reilly.
TH
APPROVAL OF THE NOVEMBER 9, 2010 MEETING MINUTES
A motion was made by Lori Markus and seconded by Sandra Hendricks to approve the meeting
minutes. Please note, five members cannot formally do business; therefore, the November 2010
minutes will be placed on the March 2011 agenda for approval.
RECREATION DEPARTMENT UPDATE
Shelley Slapak, Acting Recreation Director, introduced Bill Scherer, the Ice Center Manager and
Janet McLean, the Senior Center Manager to the Committee.
Shelley gave a brief update on the status of the skateboard park. The City Council has chosen
the Jackson Street site (Batting Cages) for the proposed site of the park. Currently nothing has
been happening other than continuous fundraising on the part of the Skateboard Park
Committee.
ADULT WINTER SPORTS
Shelley distributed a table containing adult winter sport league participation numbers from 2003
to present. She gave a brief overview on the history of adult sports and program fees,
information on the school facility use and the utilization of the website “Team Sideline” for
standings information.
SENIOR CENTER NEWS
Janet McLean distributed the current Senior Center Newsletter to the Committee members.
She discussed the monthly calendar including the daily programs. Janet discussed the addition
st
of the mandatory $25 membership fee effective January 1, 2011 and informed the Committee
that to date there have been 348 memberships sold. Further discussion took place regarding
what the membership fees include and that specialty classes require extra fees. Kevin Reilly
asked whether there was a scholarship fund to assist individuals that are unable to pay the
membership fee. Janet reported that an anonymous donor was willing to give up to $200 for
membership fees. Currently only three people have inquired about the scholarship money.
Betty Schwarz asked if the membership fee is pro-rated and was informed that it is not. Sandra
Hendricks stated that $25 for membership to the Senior Center is a deal. Janet also discussed
the daily and extended trips sponsored by the Senior Center and that new mid-length timeframe
trips have been added. Kevin Reilly stated that his aunt attends and participates in programs at
the Senior Center and loves it. Janet also informed the Committee about monthly special
events, board elections and tax preparation available to the seniors. She stated that between
800 to 900 people take advantage of the tax preparation program and half the donations are
given to the Senior Center Board and half to the Senior Center. Other classes such as
ceramics, art and zumba were also discussed. Sandra Hendricks asked how many hours were
spent creating the monthly brochure. Janet stated that the brochure is done in-house but that
they are looking to work with a company to create the brochure and sell advertising, which in
turn should pay for itself. Lori Markus asked how many members were anticipated to join the
Senior Center. Janet stated that 700 members had been budgeted for and that the average age
of members is 68 years old. Kevin Reilly thinks that there is a stigma with calling it the
Janesville Senior Center. Janet agreed and stated that they are working on getting the name
changed to Senior Activity Center.
ICE CENTER UPDATE
Bill Scherer shared with the Committee the recent maintenance issues at the Ice Center such as
the bleacher heater and the scoreboard not working. Bill also gave a history on the user
groups of the Ice Center.
Janesville Jets Junior National Team is in its second year of existence and averages 500
to 700 in attendance.
Youth Hockey has grown from 12 teams to 16 teams. They lease the concession stand
to help pay for rental of the Ice Center.
Figure Skating Club has approximately 15 to 35 people year round. Their biggest use of
the Ice Center is during the summer.
High School Hockey teams include both Varsity and Junior Varsity Bluebirds and the
addition, two years ago of the High School Girls Hockey program, the Fury.
Polar Express Learn to Skate Program was previously run by contract and averages
approximately 70 kids per session.
Adult Hockey Leagues (A and B). Hockey A is a rental group and Hockey B is in-house.
Public Skating has suffered a decline due to 58 public skating sessions being lost
because of the Jets usage. However Holiday public skate which took place the week of
th
December 27, 2010 was a huge success with daily numbers of 102, 138, 197, 157 and
100.
Bill discussed the mechanical problems at the Ice Center and stated that he is in the process of
fixing fire code violations and working on the aged refrigeration system.
MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Sandra Hendricks asked about the land rink at Traxler Park and what the attendance numbers
have been. She suggested that Jeff Keena attend the March meeting and give a report.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM on a motion by Betty
Schwarz and a second by Lorie Markus. The next Leisure Services Advisory Committee
th
meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, 2011.
Submitted by:
Shelley Slapak, Acting Recreation Director