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Aspen Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes:
June 3, 2025
Call to order: 12:11 pm by Erin
In Attendance:
Harlan Pratt Committee Member
Tony Greene, Committee Member
Karen Dillon Committee Member Vice Chair
Ryan Doremus Committee Member Chair
Steve Buettow Committee Members
Candace Cross Committee Member
Austin Weiss Director of Parks, Recreation, Arts and Culture
Erin Hutchings, Recreation Operations Manager and Committee liaison
Desiree Whitehead Recreation Manger
Jay Slater Recreation Operations Manager
Absent:
Public Comments: None
Committee Comments: Registration Questions
Staff Comments: Youth Sports Registration
Agenda Approval: Approved
Meeting Minute Approval: From December: Karen moved to approved, Ryan 2nd and all were in
favor
Discussion items:
Committee Discussion: Candace Cross is leaving the committee. The committee thanks Candace for
her service and insight over the past terms. Tony Greene is seeking another term, and Dan Michaels
has applied for the vacant position. Council will confirm appointments to the open positions soon.
Aspen Youth Center has appointed a new Executive Director, and this individual will join the
board after becoming established in their role.
Pickleball: The Pickleball grand opening is scheduled for Saturday, June 7th from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.
Lauren Anderson will be overseeing the court systems. The courts offer a combination of free open
play and drop-in sessions, as well as clinics and court reservations. An information board will be
available on-site to help the public understand how to use the courts. Additional court work and
repairs are planned, depending on temperature conditions later in the year.
Ice Updates: A strong candidate is being considered for the Ice Supervisor role after two rounds of
applications. The team hopes to have this position in place soon it has been vacant for 8 months.
Major repairs to concrete and pipes in the Zamboni room at AIG and an emergency cooling tower fix
at Lewis were completed successfully by engineering staff.
The D-league and beginner adult hockey program ran smoothly as a new program, and summer
ice sheet bookings are high, so public skate times may vary. Bob Johnson sold out, and the Art
Show is scheduled for late July.
Roller skating at the Ice Garden has had a slow start and may require more advertising.
Aquatics: Aquatics is hiring a full-time position the team has a strong internal candidate. Aquatics is
trying to bring back some programming like adult swim and glide fit. Eight staff members graduated
high school, and several new hires are joining the team for the summer.
An RFP has been issued to replace the original aquatic lockers, providing a needed facility
upgrade.
ARC General. The Rotary Pavilion will still host small gatherings like birthday parties, but space
and parking limit larger events. Batting cages are open for softball nights and the baseball coaching
staff. Fitness equipment is showing wear; the ellipticals and treadmills from 2016 will be replaced in
2026.
Programs, Day Camp, and Red Brick: Climbing classes and related activities have continued
following Jeremy Graham's departure. There are currently two open coordinator positions: adult
sports/climbing and youth sports/fitness classes. Ben Pilger has accepted the role overseeing adult
sports and climbing, bringing experience in sports, climbing, and ropes. The second position is open
for applications, and the team is evaluating potential candidates.
Summer Day Camp starts next week; attendance numbers are lower than previous years, and the
team is working on strategies to increase participation.
Financial: The team currently has a 47% cost recovery rate. This figure may fluctuate depending on
payment schedules. The department's financial position remains unchanged.
Action Items:
Next Regular Meeting:
October 7th, 2025 12:00 pm-2:00 pm