MINUTES
| PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MONDAY AUGUST 18, 2025 |
HYBRID MEETING FLAGSTAFF AQUAPLEX AND MICROSOFT TEAMS 1702 N. FOURTH STREET 4:00 P.M. |
1.
Call to Order
Chair Stephen Parsons called the meeting to order at 4:00 PM.
2.
Roll Call
Staff Present: Rebecca Sayers, Amy Hagin, Tyrone Johnson (Virtual), Lori Reynolds
| NOTE: One or more Commissioners may be in attendance through other technological means. |
| Chair Stephen Parsons: Present Vice Chair Austin Kerr: Present Commissioner Neil Frazier: Present Commissioner Camile Diab: Present |
Commissioner Lisa Lamberson: Present Commissioner Jill Christensen: Absent Commissioner Josh Stackhouse: Present Councilmember Rep. Anthony Garcia: Absent |
Staff Present: Rebecca Sayers, Amy Hagin, Tyrone Johnson (Virtual), Lori Reynolds
3.
Land Acknowledgement
The Flagstaff Parks and Recreation Commission humbly acknowledges the ancestral homelands of this area’s Indigenous nations and original stewards. These lands, still inhabited by Native descendants, border mountains sacred to Indigenous peoples. We honor them, their legacies, their traditions, and their continued contributions. We celebrate their past, present, and future generations who will forever know this place as home.
The Flagstaff Parks and Recreation Commission humbly acknowledges the ancestral homelands of this area’s Indigenous nations and original stewards. These lands, still inhabited by Native descendants, border mountains sacred to Indigenous peoples. We honor them, their legacies, their traditions, and their continued contributions. We celebrate their past, present, and future generations who will forever know this place as home.
4.
5.
Open Call for Public Comment
This portion of the meeting is for items that are NOT on the agenda. The Commission cannot act on items presented during the public participation of the agenda. The Commission is prohibited by the open meeting law from discussing or considering the item until the item is officially placed on an agenda. Please limit comments to five minutes.
This portion of the meeting is for items that are NOT on the agenda. The Commission cannot act on items presented during the public participation of the agenda. The Commission is prohibited by the open meeting law from discussing or considering the item until the item is officially placed on an agenda. Please limit comments to five minutes.
Chair Parsons called for public comment on any items not on the agenda. There were no comments or requests.
6.
Discussion Items
A.
Update on Sport Courts at Bushmaster Park Capital Project
Amy Hagin presented to the Commission an update on Bushmaster Park's new sports courts which began construction on May 7, 2025. Playing on a monitor in the room was drone footage of the sports courts taken during the first week of construction and again on July 24, 2025. Commissioners were interested in which court was which and if there were different elevations of the courts. Amy explained that there would be two tennis courts, two basketball courts, and eight pickleball courts, and that the elevation of each had been adjusted for better accessibility. She also shared additional information regarding the design of the sports courts, in which special consideration was taken for the placement of the courts so that they would not be disturbed by existing tree root systems. All 21 trees that were removed would each be replaced, but with a different species. Commissioners expressed additional concerns about lighting in Bushmaster Park and a desire to include stands at the sports courts for viewers. Concluding the update on the sports courts, Amy added that noise mitigation remains an ongoing point of discussion for City Council during and after completion of the sports courts.
B.
Review of 5-Year Capital Plan
Amy Hagin shared with the committee a PowerPoint presentation on Parks and Recreation's 5-year capital plan. She explained that the Commission performed a strategic planning session in 2022 and that the plan focused on a prioritization of projects determined in that year. The parks portion of the plan included the development of new neighborhood parks and upgrading aging playground equipment was paramount for best practices. While for recreation, the focus was on adding a HVAC in Hal Jensen Recreation Center's gym and replacing the siding of the Aquaplex building. One of the capital plan items that stood out most to Commissioners was the remodel of the public bathrooms in Heritage Square. Commissioners and PROSE staff engaged in a back-and-forth conversation over concerns about that particular project.
Commissioners then discussed their thoughts on the capital plan. They agreed that they would like to reanalyze the capital plan since there were several new members of the Commission, but that they were also still supportive of keeping the current capital plan from 2022 intact. Moving forward, they would like to examine any new parks and recreation projects that are not currently a part of the existing plan to add to a revised 5-year capital plan.
Commissioners then discussed their thoughts on the capital plan. They agreed that they would like to reanalyze the capital plan since there were several new members of the Commission, but that they were also still supportive of keeping the current capital plan from 2022 intact. Moving forward, they would like to examine any new parks and recreation projects that are not currently a part of the existing plan to add to a revised 5-year capital plan.
7.
Reports and Updates
A.
Council Representative Report, Council Representative Anthony Garcia
Councilmember Garcia was not present to provide a report.
B.
There were no comments on the July newsletter.
8.
Informational items to and from Commissioners and Staff
Co-Chair Austin Kerr provided feedback to PROSE staff regarding gym equipment at the Aquaplex and wanted to know who those comments can be directed to. Amy replied that he could reach out to the Aquaplex supervisor as a patron of the facility.
With both of the two new Parks and Recreation Commissioners present at this meeting, they did a brief round-robin of introductions.
With both of the two new Parks and Recreation Commissioners present at this meeting, they did a brief round-robin of introductions.
9.
Agenda Items for next meeting
September's Parks and Recreation Commission meeting will be held jointly with the Open Spaces Commission on Monday, September 22, 2025. Amy will be working with Robert Wallace to develop agenda items for that meeting, including topics on the capital plan, FUTS (Flagstaff Urban Trail System) and operating capital for Parks and Recreation.
10.
Adjournment
Chair Parsons motioned to end the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 5:52 PM.