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Aspen Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes:
February 1, 2022
Call to order: 2:35 pm Sue Smedstad
In Attendance:
Sue Smedstad, AYC Committee Vice Chair
Karen Dillon, Committee Member
Steven Buettow Committee Member
Candace Cross, Committee Member
Jay Scharer, Committee Member
Harlan Pratt Committee Member
Cory VanderVeen, Recreation Director
Austin Weiss Parks, Arts, Culture and Recreation Director
Erin Hutchings, Recreation Operations Manager and Committee liaison
Desiree Whitehead Recreation Operations Manger
Dominic Lanese Golf/Ice Operations Manager
Absent:
Scott Writer Committee Chair
Public Comments: None
Staff Comments: Gay Ski Week Closing Party went well, fully vaccinated event with half the
attendance.
Agenda Approval: Approved
nd
Meeting Minute Approval: Karen Dillon motioned, Candace Cross 2 and all were in favor.
Discussion items:
Max Marolt Scholarship: The Max Marolt scholarship program is for athletes 15 years or older
for high-level competition costs. The athletes can receive up to 1000 dollars. The goal of the
scholarship is to represent Aspen positively.
The scholarship went out quarterly, and a small citizens committee selected the recipients via an
application process. A significant portion of funding went towards advertising, and in 2019 and
we worked on moving this to our digital platform. The scholarship was paused in 2020 and 2021,
and in 2022 there are 5000 dollars of funding—staff asking for Advisory Committee support in
awarding this funding to ensure a straightforward process. Committee Recommendation is to
invite key members from the approval process when awarding scholarships occurs.
Sailing Program Sunset: The sailing program teaches youth to sail and finishes with a regrade
across the lake. After his passing, Don Sheeley started this program; the program has not had the
same attendance. The staff has done an extensive cost analysis and vitality review. The program
is slated to be 100% cost recovery, and in the last five years, the program has only hit 35 to 40%
cost recovery. Therefore, the sailing program is going to sunset, with the anticipation of the
Aspen Yacht Club picking the program up. The boats are in the process of being donated to
Aspen Yacht Club.
Resident Drop-In Fee: The resident fee will only be available for citizens that live in 81611 and
81612. The staff has been working through offering options for local workers. The price is in line
with the regional area. The goal is to move more people to a membership model. An article
appeared in the
Staff Introductions: All full-time positions are filled. Travis Buckner is our new athletic
coordinator, Lyndsey Jackson is our new Day Camp Coordinator, and Alysse Jarzyniecki is our
new Fitness and Wellness Coordinator. Thomas Fellin is working with Ice and Aquatics.
Facility Closures and Staffing: While the full-time team is hired, the part-time squad needs at
least two more rink operators, several lifeguards and guest service staff, and camp counselors.
Learn to Skate Progress: Staff recently met internally to discuss options for the learn to skate
program and private skating instruction. Staff supports working with our user groups to offer to
learn to skate quarterly as a stipulation of Grant. Private instruction will continue with some
contractual modifications. The committee recommended meeting with the organizations and not
ruling out the request for proposal process (RFP)
Action Items:
None
Next Regular Meeting:
March 1, 2022 at 2:30pm