STATE PARKS COMMITTEE MINUTES. The Chancellor Hotel, 70 N East Avenue, Fayetteville, AR May 16, 2018

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1 STATE PARKS COMMITTEE MINUTES The Chancellor Hotel, 70 N East Avenue, Fayetteville, AR May 16, 2018 Committee Members Present Eric Jackson, Chair Jim Shamburger John Gill Ron Gossage Cindy Smith Ness Sechrest Committee Members Absent Bill Barnes Kaleen Griffith Danny Ford Staff Present Kane Webb Grady Spann Randy Roberson Joe Jacobs Mike Wilson LaJeana Carroll Kris Richardson Angela Allen Jeff King Committee Chair Eric Jackson called the meeting to order at 1:30 pm. Kane Webb reported the department had received a letter from Commissioner David Bazzel resigning from the State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission due to conflicts with his work schedule. Discussion ensued. Webb announced Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council (ANCRC) Fiscal Year 19 Grant meeting was recently held and few grants requests were received and more funds were available. Arkansas State Parks (ASP) received one-third of the funds, this year receiving an additional $1 million. One of the projects the ANCRC Grant hopes to fund is the Rock Creek 1

2 Bridge a Civilian Conservation Corps bridge at Devil s Den State Park. Outdoor Grants receives 10 percent before the grant funds are ever divided among the state agencies. Webb stated Governor Asa Hutchison has created Transformation Advisory Board to present a transformation plan to the 2019 General Assembly to reduce the number of state agencies reporting directly to the governor. Currently, there are 45 agencies that report directly to the governor and the goal is to streamline agencies and reduce that number of agencies that report directly to the governor. Webb announced a press release will be held on Thursday, May 17, 2018, revealing an announcement regarding War Memorial Stadium. Webb stated ADPT will be using General Revenue to fund the marketing for the stadium. Discussion ensued. PEW Charitable Trusts Foundation Grady Spann announced he had been asked to speak to the PEW Charitable Trust Foundation in Washington D.C. on how to help the National Park System to help the deferred maintenance backlog of about 11.4 billion dollars. The issue is how to effectively manage the funding available to produce great projects. Other state park systems are interested in the ASP dashboard and how it can be used to track projects. NASPD Board of directors and Board of Regents Spann reported on his recent meeting with the Board of Regents for National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD). The Board of Regents is responsible for the Leadership School that had 157 students in The Board of Regents met to review the curriculum and the focus is to not teach what to think but to teach them how to think for themselves. Grady Spann will be the chairman of the Board of Regents in Department of Interior Spann announced the Department of the Interior has requested each state provide a liaison for the outdoor recreation office and Spann was selected by Governor Asa Hutchison. The goal is to bring each of the states liaisons together. Discussion ensued. NASPD 2019 Spann remarked the National Associations of State Park Directors (NASPD) annual conference will be held in Rogers, Arkansas in September of ASP will be sending a team to Sedona 2

3 for the 2018 NASPD Conference to work with Arizona s team who is hosting the conference this year. NHC and AG&F Spann announced ASP is working in cooperation with Natural Heritage Commission and the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission; ASP has selected 6 parks utilizing a holistic approach to handle natural resources. Village Creek State Park, Hobbs State Park Conservation Area, Cossatot State Park Natural Area, Lake Catherine State Park, Bull Sholas-White River State Park, and Petit Jean State Park. ASP handles facilities and people but needs help with the natural resources. An example is Rattlesnake Ridge. ASP is partnering to assist with managing this location. The goal is establishing pre European contact native species. Discussion ensued. US Forrest Service Creating Trails at MMSP Spann disclosed US Forest Service is evaluating the establishment of trails at Mount Magazine State Park (MMSP) through working with the Parks Foundation. Scott Simon and the Nature Conservancy helped in setting up the meeting. ASP will be having bi-monthly meetings with the US Forestry Service for improved collaboration and communication. The goal is to make MMSP a Mountain Bike Resort. Discussion followed. Galieo at Crate of Diamonds State Park Spann announced ASP was contacted by South and Browse a television production Company in Germany requesting approval to film at Crater of Diamonds State Park for the German television show Galileo, a consumer science/infotainment show. ASP Foundation Spann reported the Hobbs State Park Conservation Area mountain bike trail extension project is underway. Met with the Highway Department and the road crossings project is now at Department of Building Authority for approval. Seasonal Rangers Spann noted ASP has hired nine seasonal rangers and they are currently working in parks around the start. Interpretive Annual Training 3

4 Spann revealed ASP just completed the second of two training workshops for the park interpreters, a total of 40 new hires, full time and seasonal interpreters, have completed the training in preparation for the summer upcoming season. DeRoche Ridge Campground Update Spann announced the biggest negative to report is the continued closure of DeRoche Ridge Campground at DeGray Lake Resort State Park, which will be handled by the Attorney General s Office. ASP has started the process to call the bond on this project. Discussion ensued. Car Break-Ins Lake Dardanelle State Park and Woolly Hollow State Park reported several cars were broken into over the past weekend at the trailheads. ASP is investigating and working with local police. High Level P&L Snapshot, Top 10 Revenue Parks Joe Jacobs reported in April 2018, occupancy was down due to the rain and colder than average temperatures. Camping continues to show an increase in revenue due to advance registrations. ASP lodge occupancy is down half of the cabins are closed for renovations at Ozark Folk Center. Jacobs stated most guests are making reservations online or calling the park, only 11 percent use the call center. Aspria has the system in place for guests to charge items to their rooms. And Group Sales functions are fundamentally in place. ASP is attempting to pay on the contact, but they changed the company name and did not change the name on the contract. ASP has renegotiated the booking fee to a lower rate. Jacobs noted he is working with Mike Wilson to provide a realistic profit and loss statement using revenues and expenses. Jacobs reported total revenue in April was $2 million and this was the 3 rd best April recorded in spite of the cold and wet month and low occupancy. During the month of April 2018, ASP total revenue was $2,173,000. The gift shops and restaurants reported an increase for the month of April Camping and lodges revenue was up to $6.7 million for future reservations. Discussion ensued. Significant Personnel Developments Grady Spann reported the following promotions/transfers/departures: Rickey Stokes, Assistant Superintendent Mount Nebo State Park promotion DHTSP 4

5 Lee Woodard, Superintendent, Mount Magazine State Park - promoted Lodge Manager Josh McMasters, Assistant Superintendent Jacksonport State Park promotion LPSP Jennifer Menge, Interpreter, Lake Ouachita State Park from Texas SP Kellie Nichols, Interpreter, Pinnacle Mountain State Park promoted to full time Nick Lowe, Ranger, Lake Catherine State Park transferred from PMSP Gretchen Sacotnik retiring June 2018 Connie Adkins retiring June 2018 ASP Dashboard Jeff King provided an update of the ASP Dashboard, showing the current project completion and funds expended. Utilizing the data from the Capital Improvement Projects quarterly report. Park staff will update the information on a monthly basis. Discussion ensued. Significant Repair and Maintenance Items Grady Spann reported Village Creek State Park cabins have been closed and will all have restoration done to provide adequate ventilation. Moisture build-up caused by poor ventilation have caused unsafe air quality requiring the cabins to be closed until renovations are complete. Interpretive/education programs Spann reported in June Kelly Farrell will provide a synopsis of spring school visits. The sign shop has completed 40 signs; trailhead and exhibit signs for ten parks. Jacksonport SP and Hampson SP exhibits are currently at 95% complete. Petit Jean SP Visitor Center exhibit design is 50% complete. Property Developments Jeff King stated ASP has received the final appraisal for the Hampson Museum building and land was valued at $3.6 million. The original deed included a reversion clause that the land and building of the existing museum would revert back to Wilson Company if it was no longer used as a museum. ASP will not be able to use the current locations in exchange for the new building and land. Discussion ensued. King reported Petit Jean State Park Sound Craft Property that includes a warehouse facility that connects to the Shaw property; this is an 8-acre inholding to the Shaw Property that ASP will receive in the future as a donation. When Hardison Hall is torn down ASP will need a building for storage. ASP evaluating needs to decide which items of furniture, fixture, and equipment to purchase. 5

6 ASP staff is working with Big Rock Quail Forever and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on the Shaw property to establish a native quail habitat. Discussion ensued. Jeff King stated ASP has finalized the Cedar Glen Exchange of fee title for the conservation easement to include the condition, TNC will acquire $1.2 million worth of land identified by State Parks staff for additions to Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Discussion ensued. King reported ASP is closing on a house for employee housing at Mammoth Spring State Park and closing on a donation at Arkansas City for DHTSP Assistant Superintendent housing. Emergency Services Grady Spann remarked feral hogs have become an issue at several parks, recent sighting at Hobbs State Park Conservation Area. Village Creek State Park trapped 107 feral hogs in 30 days and disposed of them. ASP is purchasing traps to use in other park locations. Governor s task force recommending traps as the best option. Discussion ensued. Spann reported 149 emergency services incidents were reported in the month of April which included 35 agency assists, 30 arrests, 119 citations, 11 ejections for the park, 51 miscellaneous, 20 employee personal injuries, 23 visors personal injuries, 9 possessions of controlled substance, 17 property damages, 8 thefts, 13 visitor vehicle accidents, and 11 employee vehicle accidents. ASP emergency services are very busy and will become busier closer to Memorial Day and the start of summer. Questions about guest carrying firearms - Spann stated the new Concealed Carry law will allow guest with the expanded Concealed Carry license to carry in government buildings. ASP has ordered new signs to include the expanded concealed carry exception. Queen Wilhelmina State Park train concessionaire Grady Spann reported on the Queen Wilhelmina State Park- Concession/Train Operation that has been in operations since the mid-1950 and the privately owned business has been sold many times over to different concessionaires. The current contract expired in December of 2017; ASP staff began to evaluate the park and if the concessionaire was the best use for ASP guests. ASP suggested a plan to renovate the area as a mini rails to trails project and include playscape and areas for interpretation. In addition, the 2,700 square foot building if acquired could be renovated as an event center, park store, and camping registration. Discussion ensued. Ness Sechress moved for the Parks Committee to support the staff s recommendation to not renew the contract to Mountain Glory Station and staff s suggestions for additional uses for the building and track. Cindy Smith seconded, 6

7 John Gill abstained as he had not read the park s recommendation and the motion carried. The Parks Committee meeting was adjourned at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, May 16,