STATE PARKS COMMITTEE MINUTES Temple Live Event Center, 200 N 11th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas June 20, 2018

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1 STATE PARKS COMMITTEE MINUTES Temple Live Event Center, 200 N 11th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas June 20, 2018 Committee Members Present Eric Jackson Jim Shamburger John Gill Ron Gossage Kalene Griffith Cindy Smith Committee Members Absent Ness Sechrest Advertising Committee Members Present Austin Albers Bill Barnes ADPT Staff Present Kane Webb Grady Spann Shea Lewis Randy Roberson Joe Jacobs Marcel Hanzlik Jeff King LaJeana Carroll Kris Richardson Angela Allen CJRW Jennifer Morgan Miles Media Susie Kardas Theresa Overby Committee Chair Eric Jackson called the meeting to order at 1:30 pm. General high level overview Queen Wilhelmina State Park Mountain Glory Station and miniature train Grady Spann reported Queen Wilhelmina State Park concessionaire, Ronnie Waggoner, has agreed to sign the contract to operate the Mountain Glory Station and miniature train. 1

2 DeGray Lake Resort State Park DeRoche Ridge Campground Spann reported Arkansas State Parks (ASP) has received a letter from the lawyer for the bonding company stating they have started the investigations on the construction of the DeRoche Ridge Campground. The Parks Director s office has received a phone call from Senator Alan Clarke requesting information on why the campground has not been opened. Withrow Springs State Park Swimming Pool Spann remarked the failure of the pool wall has triggered ASP to examine the day use area. ASP staff is working on a project design that will incorporate park mission for the area around the pool. Providing an opportunity to make the entire park better. Clarendon Bridge Spann noted staff has looked at the bridge and is exploring ideas for how ASP could partner with other agencies to save the bridge. Discussion ensued. Spann remarked the past month that ASP has learned they need to better communicate park decisions and why decisions are made. John Gill suggested the parks post a notice stating closed for construction. Bill Barnes suggested signs stating further improvements are in progress. High level P&L snapshot, top 11 revenue parks Spann advised Cynthia Dunlap s report will show May was down about 2.2% but Joe Jacobs report shows ASP is up by $10,000. Jacobs report only counts manageable revenue. ASP is comparing to some of the best years in park history. Joe Jacobs listed the top eleven earning parks for CY 17. The report will show manageable revenue by facility and operating expenses. Spann noted the mission of the parks is not to make money but the focus is to enhance the state and visitation impacts on the local economy. Jacobs reported total revenue in May was $3,009,069 making this the best May recorded. During the month of May 2018, the gift shops, marinas, camping, and restaurants reported an increase. Camping revenue was down and lodges were down compared to last May, but still had their second best month ever recorded. Discussion ensued. Significant personnel developments Shea Lewis mentioned the following promotions/transfers: Brandy Oliver hired as Mount Magazine State Park Lodge Mgr, transferred from Lake Chicot Asst. Supt Matthew Marks hired as Ranger Pinnacle Mountain State Park, transferred from seasonal park ranger Robert Giles hired as Asst. Supt. Woolly Hollow State Park, transferred from White Oak Lake State Park Donnie Moody hired as War Memorial Stadium Maint, transferred from Operations Task Force Billy Nations hired as Asst. Supt Historic Washington State Park, transferred from park interpreter 2

3 Honors/Recognition Lewis announced Susan Adkins and Adam Leslie graduated with basic law enforcement training commissions. Operation Updates Lewis reported Operations Task Force (OTF) will be restructuring from 4 small teams to two larger teams. OTF crews have unique skill sets such as plumbing, electrical and construction; the crews work on Capital Improvement and Major Maintenance projects within the state park system. Mike Wilson is analyzing and working to make the parks operate more efficiently. ASP Dashboard Jeff King presented the ASP Dashboard, which will provide a high level overview of the ongoing projects. The dashboard utilizes the existing geographic information system (GIS) system, created by Darin Mitchell and Randy Puckett, and adds a layer to track capital improvement projects (CIP), high level financial overviews, and highlighted projects with issues or concerns. This tool will help to track and better manage the current 146 ongoing projects in parks. Discussion ensued. CIP Top Ten Jeff King listed the top ten current Capital Improvement/Method of finance projects: Delta Heritage Trail State Park a big project additional funds added to continue the project Jacksonport State Park delayed due to contractor unable to obtain glass for the exhibit cases and for the balconies Hampson Archeological Museum State Park awaiting final appraisal for purchase Ozark Folk Center State Park cabin renovations 2 phases Historic Washington State Park Brunson House final walkthrough will be next week Logoly State Park remaining funding will be used for walkways and gutters Bull Shoals-White River State Park renovating Campground D DeGray Lake Resort State Park DeRoche Ridge Campground DeGray Lake Resort State Park laundry facilities Discussion ensued regarding the Visitor Center project for Petit Jean State Park and the selection of the Contract Manager. King responded the proposal closed on Wednesday, June 18, The scoring committee will meet on July 9, 2018, to select a contract manager based on qualifications. The contract manager will then select a contractor based on qualifications. The exhibit firm has been hired. King stated he anticipates construction may begin in February. Interpretive/education programs Kelly Farrell presented what ASP is trying to accomplish with interpretations; what interpreters do, how they do it, and why they do it. Not just focusing on the numbers, but focusing on quality programming. Helping people have an experience in the park, it goes beyond using the park 3

4 facilities to include the nature and the history and cultural stories of the area, and recreation that is focused on the resource. The goal is to have our guest leave a park with their hearts and minds connected to the place. For people to leave a park having had fun, a good hospitality experience, understanding what a place means and how the resources in that park fit together and ultimately why they matter for Arkansas and for that guest. Farrell stated there are three main audiences for programming: schools with interpretive programming aligned with educational standards and public programs; outreach for the local communities (ie Boys and Girls Clubs, libraries, clubs and organizations); and speaking engagements. Farrell explained an equally important type of interpretation is the behind the scenes look at the preparation work of interpretation, from the education/program side to the media side/nonpersonnel. The goal is to help the guest understand the sense of place and why the park exists and why the park is in that specific location. Eric Jackson stated the focus for the parks committee report should include the following: 1. Stress the education component 2. Census of the main source of interpretive programs 3. Going forward upcoming/future programs (Event Calendar) John Gill remarked he has been impressed with the wealth of knowledge of the interpreters; he requested a list of the broad expanse of the subjects for which the interpreters provide education from eagle watches, night sky watching, flora and fauna, to animal signs and scat. Grady Spann commented the reason the interpreters and other park professionals are the way they are is that they live what they do. The uniqueness of the state park system is that we have people who really love what they do. Farrell revealed the interpretive skill set for our staff is to teach others the skills of when and how to find information; knowing when to teach the skill and when to just provide the information. Property developments Randy Roberson reported ASP has acquired several properties for an employee residence at Mammoth Spring State Park and an employee residence at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park, ASP is ready to launch the next installment of the Randy West property utilizing ANCRC funds. Will be closing on 27.8 acres at Woolly Hollow State Park that will provide an opportunity to move staff out of a house located below the dam that was compromised by flooding. Emergency Services Grady Spann reported 396 emergency services incidents were reported in the month of May and 790 year-to-date total incidents. The report also tracks the number of incidents reported at each park. May s ASP incidents included a suicide at Mount Magazine State Park (MMSP) in a public area. The ASP critical debriefing team who is trained to help staff following critical incidents 4

5 was sent to the MMSP to help staff process this event and deal with what is going on in a safe environment. Reservations Joe Jacobs reported on reservations from June 1, 2018, thru June 1, 2020, for $6,774,986.01, the guests have booked reservations with a one-night deposit only. Jacobs noticed in January the revenue was high, investigated and found future reservations had shown an increase, park staff has attributed this to the fact that guests who are familiar with Reserve America typically make reservations in January when other reservation systems opened up for that year. Discussion ensued. Marketing Expenditures/Planning Grady Spann announced he and Joe Jacobs are working to extend the existing Aspira contract through July 21, Office of State Purchasing has required ASP to put the reservation system contract out to bid. Discussion followed. Jacobs remarked the website is not ready to go live and it is not a good time to launch just before a holiday weekend. Discussion ensued. Withrow Springs State Park Pool Jeff King reported ASP hired an engineering firm to evaluate the pool structure during the summer of 2017, the report stated the walls were damaged and needed to be repaired. Planning and Development Staff has developed a proposed plan to repair damaged sections and also to renovate the exhibiting area near the pool that includes a pond and a dam in three phases. The first phase would include replacing the damaged decking, replacing the pool liner and replacing one of the pumps. Phase two would renovate an unused apartment into a rental pavilion and add some resourced based recreational areas. The final phase would include adding resource based natural playscapes and a small amphitheater. Discussion followed. War Memorial Stadium Jeff King reported the War Memorial Stadium (WMS) upgrades required by the new University of Arkansas contract by the November 2019 game, which includes upgrading the locker room facilities for visiting teams and referees to be in compliance with SEC requirements and a new broadband requirement. Spann noted the new contract includes $75,000 will be paid to WMS and the parking and concessions revenue will also go to WMS. These updates will also make the facility more attractive to other users. Discussion followed. King supplied a synopsis of the timeline for renovations for the building requirements required by state procurement. Queen Wilhelmina State Park concessionaire Grady Spann reported he had received a response from Ronnie Waggoner agreeing to the changes of the contract with some of the language cleared up for the term of the concession. The term of this agreement term will begin on the date the agreement is executed and end on, 12/31/2018, with an option for a one year extension, unless sooner terminated under the 5

6 provisions specified. An additional two year term may be granted and end on 12/31/2019 if Concessionaire complies with all rules, regulations, and terms of this agreement. The director of state parks may at his or her option renegotiate and renew this agreement upon the expiration of this agreement for a term of one year subject to the approval of the SPRTC. Spann noted another addition to the agreement was that no one shall be allowed, other than employees of the concessionaire, to push, move, drive, or otherwise assist the train to move; for safety reasons this was necessary. Discussion ensued. The Parks Committee meeting was adjourned at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, June 18,