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Meeting - 12/17/2009Minutes:Six citizens concerned with Barker Field and the state of the Friends of Barker Field organization met at the Round House at Byrd Park Thursday Evening, December 17th at 6:00. They pursued the agenda as follows: State of the OrganizationThe encumbent President, Gerry Saunders, related that all other prior Officers of Friends of Barker Field wish the organization and our dog park well, and wish for others to take their offices as they have drifted away from Barker Field. FOBF is the organization recognized by the city to care for Barker Field, and to raise funds where the care requires $$, and organize volunteers where it requires effort. The convenant between Richmond and R-DOG at the founding of Barker Field was, basically, "if you put it in the ground you've got to care for it". This was passed along to FOBF. FOBF was organized as a Partner of the Richmond Recreation and Parks Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation that, among other good works, facilitates the relationship of 'friends groups' who care for 'special areas' in our city's parks with the city employees who are responsible for the parks. The RRPF holds treasury, and their '501c3 Umbrella' allows gifts to FOBF to be fully tax-deductable. Over about a two-year period from 2006 thru 2007 the FOBF held several meetings where the following 'Articles of Organization' were approved. Also, for these few seasons, they considered opinions of regulars at Barker Field, and the rules of dozens of other dog parks, and drafted The Rules for Barker Field, on the link below. These rules are on file with the city and will be enforced by Animal Control or Police if they are called. The FOBF treasury holds about $2,900 raised thru these years mostly thru sales of hotdogs, baked goods, and dog goodies. The officers and board expected that the largest expenditures would be to improve the entrance to Barker Field and to make a permanent solution for the drain at the watering area. They believed that at least $1,000 should be kept for emergency repairs. After approving the founding documents and rules and filing them with the Rec & Parks Foundation and city, the FOBF Officers and Board have not met as a group, since mid-2008. Hearing all this, the group meeting this evening is agreeable to appearing on a slate of officers and board and moving the group ahead, as it is currently organized, and accepting the Rules as they are now. Articles of OrganizationThese pages were quickly reviewed at the meeting and copies provided. The 'bullet points' at the beginning are what the Officers and Board have agreed are important points for FOBF. The rest of the document is the 'boilerplate' provided by the Rec & Parks Foundation for their Partners. Slate of OfficersNominations for the slate of officers were made and accepted:
This slate is published for discussion as in our articles of organization, and will be voted at our next meeting. Officers for FOBF are elected in the winter of even years for a two-year term. Drainage UpdateThe Drainfield under the watering area is clogged and has resisted attempts to clear it with ordinary homeowner's tools and techniques. When not clogged, the sink and drain is capable of carrying off the overflow from watering dogs and has operated successfully for several seasons. When the drain is running freely, its capacity is somewhat challenged by dogs paddling in big bowls of water and other 'abuses' of the watering station. Since R-DOG brought the water to the park and FOBF put the drainfield in the ground this is clearly the responsibility of FOBF under our convenant with the city. Rocky Edwards and Dan, park supervisor & deputy, have suggested a remedy for clearing the drainfield that requires digging at the end of the existing drainfield so that it can be flushed. Ms Mitchum, Area Supervisor, has suggested that a contractor may be found who will clear the drainfield and agree to keep the sump clear, which is required for the drain's operation. It is estimated at $2,500 to $3,000 to make a permanent drain in concrete to carry away the water spilled, chips, and dirt the dogs bring to the watering area. This problem is clearly for FOBF to solve, with one option being to discontinue providing water thru a spigot. Although it's a desirable feature, there are lots of dog parks without water... Clearing the drainfield is a task that can be done by FOBF volunteers, or by a contractor, it only requires digging in the drainfield. Action: Megan and Christine will investigate the situation, find a 'contractor' who can clear the drainfield, or/and make recommendations. Signage & The RulesThe city, thru Ms Mitchum, recently offered to make new signs for Barker Field, in the same style as at other parks, using their equipment. All FOBF needs to do for this is get together an optional logo for Barker Field to be placed on a new 'big sign' at our improved main entrance; and, to put The Rules, which have been approved by the city for some time, in the the best order for posting on an Official City of Richmond signboard. The group quickly assented that these are 'The Rules' and suggested they be re-sequenced as they are now posted in the link above. Action: The original 'where a dog can be a dog' logo may be in the hands of one of the mid-day regulars. Gerry will check into this. We expect to have copy together for the signage just after the new year as suggested by Ms Mitchum. New Main EntranceThis sketch for mods to fence and new gates was presented to, Hurricane Fence and they bid $2900 to do it: 
Discussion of the sketch was that: it would be better to not have the 'sally area' so large and including the wooden kiosk; the kiosk would better be placed inside the perimeter of the dog park since people coming & leaving thru the entrance ought to be focused on their dogs and the gates and not looking at notices &c until dogs are in the park. Action: The sketch was rejected, Marcus and Gerry will work together to make a sketch incorporating the discussion and get it posted for more discussion. Marcus will seek bids from other contractors, which we expect will be acceptable. Volunteer Tasks:Digging, Drainfield Maintenance, 'Maintenance Event'Lots of digging is needed, and Rocky/Dan have sorta-kinda offered digging equipment and a crew to do some of it and are more than likely to help set a date that would be convenient with them. If the field is dry, they can get a backhoe in there and complete the removal of the fence-posts toward the bottom of the field, and get the dirt and chips away at the very bottom where the effective height of the fence is now only a few feet. In the past they had one or more half-day events where city crew and equipment were there working with several R-DOG Volunteers to build fence, dig, and haul out stuff. Summer-before-last, JR Pope, our Parks Director, directed a group of students needing community service hours to work with two or three city crews to build the shade structures. FOBF needs to organize Volunteers and coordinate with Mary-Lois Mitchum, Rocky Edwards, and Dan to carry off another event like this. Action: Christine & Megan will set to organizing an event, or events, to get digging and removal done. Improvements to the 'Bag Hutches'Discussion about these was that they are not convenient, they are dark holes where it's not pleasant to poke around looking for a bag, that they can be improved, and that improvement would be a visible sign we're caring for Barker Field. Suggestions included refitting the existing ones somehow or replacing them with a new design, maybe with a lid, that puts the bags at a convenient height that doesn't involve stooping way over to select a bag, or drop off a bag of bags. Using the same materials and color scheme as the new signage so they fit in with the City Parks Dept's new 'brand' is an option. Action: Megan volunteered to come up with a design for either the improvement of the existing hutches, or their replacement, and get it done. She and Christine will be checking with schools and other community service coordinators for time and talent. The city's 'community service coordinator' was at a recent Rec & Parks Foundation meeting and Gerry will get that name along to them. Improvements to the KioskThis is clearly a FOBF responsibility. It needs sprucing up and it would be desirable to have some way for people to post appropriate notices on 8 1/2 X 11 or smaller cards _without_ using push pins, which fall out and make a hazard. Should the plexiglass be replaced? Maybe not, because anything that can be vandalized will likely be. We all agree that it needs to be cleaned out, presents its jumbled side to the parking lot, and can put to better use, and that this 'sprucing up' will be helpful as we set out to do fund raising. Action: This needs more discussion. Megan and Christine will identify improvement options and get them posted for consideration. FOBF Identity & Fund RaisingAction: The group will keep fresh materials about FOBF visible for people to pick up and learn about FOBF, and how to donate. The secretary will print cards and get them to FOBF officers and board to hand out at the dog park. The past several fund-raising events were sales of hotdogs & dog goodies, which is the whole of the treasury. We need to organize a Winter Fundraiser of some kind. Several ideas from raffle tickets with cash rewards thru 'just asking for money' were suggested. Asking for money while giving out cards with links to website and on-line donation & pre-addressed envelopes for those who want to mail in a check is a tactic that has worked in the past. This can be pushed as a year-end issue since gifts are tax-deductable. Action: The Secretary will get the website updated, and get samples of prior handouts updated and posted for FOBF consideration. FOBF will discuss Fund Raising and set to a campaign at its next meeting. AdjournedThere being no other business the meeting was adjourned at about 7:15. Minutes Approved:OK'd by Christine Hanlon, 12/29 Please let me know any inaccuracies or ommissions you may see... |