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Administrative Brief COMMISSION INFORMATION MEMORANDUM VOL. 32 NO. 09 March 22, 2010 ADMINISTRATIVE BRIEF FROM STEVE SNYDER Smoky Hill River Cleanup On Saturday, March 13, the Friends of the River, the Volunteer Connection, and the City of Salina co-sponsored a river clean up along the Smoky Hill River. The selected areas included the section up stream from the old mill dam to behind the YMCA along with the section from North Ohio to the Lakewood Bridge. The volunteers concentrated only on removing trash this year, not clearing and removing vegetation. Although it was a cold, muddy day, the 150 volunteers participating did an excellent job, collecting approximately 400 bags of trash, weighing three tons. Their efforts made a tremendous difference in the appearance of the river banks. Lakewood fishing benefits with KS Department of Wildlife and Parks Community Fisheries Assistance Program (CFAP). The CFAP program agreement with KDWP has been in place since 2005 and prior to that date went by the Community Lakes Assistance Pr ogram. Basically the program encourages communities to provide public access to city owned bodies of water for fishing. Salina Parks & Recreation, through the nature programs offered at Lakewood Park Lake and Lakewood Discovery Center, have benefited from this partnership by reimbursement for improvements and maintenance completed at the park. This Kansas Wildlife & Parks funded program has brought many benefits to the fishing experience to our city park lake. The CFAP program was originated in cooperation with several city/towns around the state and target s urban fishing opportunities. As these opportunities are very important to Kansas Wildlife & Parks, they have continued to be a great partner in providing fishing benefits. The opportunity for additional KWDP payments to the City of Salina increases with the amount of improvements and documented maintenance the city provides. Wildlife and Parks provides fish (catfish/trout) each month throughout the year to stock the lake, which equals approximately 1,500 lbs. per month. KDWP al so extends their expertise of fisheries management and the guidance of the regional fisheries biologist to help evaluate and sustain the fisheries quality. With this contribution, we in turn, agree to allow fishing with state regulations and creel limits set as determined by the state. We also agree to allow fishing in the designated parks with no additional fees required. The City of Salina agreement provides a set amount (currently $1,030 annually) based on a wide range of maintenance and services that directly impact the fishing experience. These can be trash pick-ups, trail access, fish food feeder s, fishing docks, fishing clinics, etc. As these documented services increase, the amount of dollars awarded to us under the contract also increases. The City of Salina was awarded approx. $8,800 last year. This amount was the second highest contract amount awarded in the state behind the City of Wichita. CIM Page 2 High School, College, and Soccer Club Baseball/Softball/Soccer The Parks and Recreation Department provides fields including maintenance and set-up of these fields for the local high schools, colleges, and the Salina Soccer Club for their respective spring sports schedules. Baseball games are played at James Matson Field and Dean Evans Stadium for Kansas Wesleyan University, Brown Mackie College, and South, Central, Sacred Heart, and Ell-Saline high schools. 103 games are scheduled to be played this spring by these 6 schools. The colleges and high schools play fewer games on city facilities as several schools play their home games on other fields in the city. But, Kansas Wesleyan, Central and Sacred Heart still play a combined 36 games on fields at Bill Burke Park. The high schools and colleges play their socce r games at Salina Stadium, but the Salina Soccer Club requires a significant amount of fields for their spring leagues. The Parks and Recreation middle school leagues consist of 24 games, but the SSC has 432 games scheduled, all at the soccer complex on Magnolia. Each game scheduled, whether baseball, softball or soccer, requires a significant amount of time to prepare for each game. This work includes dragging fields, watering infields, painting or chalking lines, setting bases and corner flags, and of course, following an intense mowing schedule. Each team and each game, based on an established rate schedule, pays a fee for the specific set-up required. These number s represent games only and do not take into account the number of practices each location experiences. As expected, the amount of time required to provide these services is substantial, but showcases the quality facilities ofthe City of Salina. MONDAY'S MEETING Enclosed are other items on the agenda.If any Commissioner has questions or cannot attend the meeting, please contact me. Jason A. Gage City Manager