HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-16-2019 Joint CalledAPRIL 16, 2019
At a Joint Called Meeting of the Paducah Board of Commissioners and McCracken County
Fiscal Court, held on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at 5:30 p.m., in the Commission Chambers of
City Hall located at 300 South 5th Street, Judge Clymer and Mayor Harless presided. Upon call
of the roll by the City Clerk, the following answered to their names: Commissioners Abraham,
McElroy, Watkins, Wilson and Mayor Harless (5). Upon call of the roll, by the County Clerk,
the following McCracken County Fiscal Court members answered to their names:
Commissioners Bartleman, Jones, Parker and Judge Executive Clymer (4).
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Harless led the pledge.
INVOCATION
Commissioner Bartleman gave the invocation.
DISCUSSION OF FUTURE PARKS AND RECREATION PLANS
The City Commission and Fiscal Court entered into a conversation about the potential of a future
recreation center in Paducah -McCracken County. The following is an excerpt from meeting
highlights by Public Information Officer Pam Spencer:
The Paducah Board of Commissioners and the McCracken County Fiscal Court held a
joint meeting to discuss the future ofparks and recreation in Paducah and McCracken
County. The elected bodies discussed the Parks & Recreation Master Plan process that
is underway. In October 2018, the City approved moving forward with a professional
services agreement for the development of the Master Plan. Since that time, a variety of
public engagement initiatives have occurred including
• Online surveys and surveys distributed in person at various events;
• A statistically valid mailed survey (results are not available yet);
• A public open house in January with approximately 180 Paducah and McCracken
County residents in attendance;
• Meetings with a citizens steering committee; and
• Meetings with more than dozen stakeholder groups interested in parks and
recreation.
City of Paducah Parks & Recreation Director Mark Thompson provided an overview of
preliminary results of the online survey and the surveys distributed in person at
events. So far, 1408 surveys have been completed with 46 percent of the respondents
living within the Paducah city limits. Nearly half of the respondents said that they visited
parks at least 20 times in the past year. Regarding the condition of the parks, 51 percent
said that they give the parks a "good" rating.
A section of the survey asks folks to provide input on what types offacilities would be
used at a new recreation center. The top answers are walking track, gym, family activity
pool, and lap pool. When asked what upgrades should be completed at existing parks,
the top answers are new/improved restrooms, walking/hiking trails, and security cameras
and lighting. Another question asks what should be developed or expanded with indoor
swimming pools, walking and hiking trails, soccer fields, and baseball/softball diamonds
as the top answers.
After hearing the preliminary survey results, the two elected bodies spent more than an
hour discussing parks and facilities. Items of discussion included
• Funding mechanisms and challenges including the inabilityfor Paducah to
impose a restaurant tax due to State law;
• Amount of land needed for soccer fields in addition to baseball and softball fields;
• Previous studies and master plans;
• Existing Paducah Regional Sports Plex facility on U.S. Highway 60;
• Friends of the Park organization development and endowment creation;
• A review of existing facilities, parks, and land parcels;
• Public-private partnership options;
• Recreational programming options such as canoeing, kayaking, pickleball, and
lacrosse; and
• Facility locations to best serve the population.
Commissioner Abraham left at approximately 6:18 p.m.
APRIL 16, 2019
The City Commission and Fiscal Court decided on meeting every other month on the third
Tuesday of the month. The next joint meeting will be on June 18a` at 5:30 p.m. in the
Commission Chambers at City Hall.
ADJOURN
Mayor Harless offered motion, seconded by Commissioner Wilson, to adjourn the meeting of the
Paducah Board of Commissioners. All in favor.
Judge Clymer offered motion, seconded by Commissioner Parker, to adjourn the meeting of the
Fiscal Court. All in favor.
Meeting ended at approximately 7:09 p.m.
ADOPTED: April 23, 2019
-� i A Pte.
City Cle
Mayor