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Home My WebLink About10/19/2011 - Regular Minutes - Lick Creek Park Nature Center Advisory Committee LICK CREEK NATURE CENTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE PUBLIC HEARING & REGULAR MEETING DESIGN CHARRETTE MINUTES Wednesday, October 19, 2011, 7PM College Station Conference Center, Room 127 1300 George Bush Drive ~ College Station, TX 77840 ______________________________________________________________________________ MEMBERS PRESENT: Blanche Brick, Becky Burghardt, Jan Felchelm, Susan Fox, Ronald Kaiser, Mike Manson, Susan Scott, Scott Shafer, Jim Ross STAFF PRESENT: David Schmitz, Parks and Recreation Director; Chuck Gilman, Public Works Director; Bob Cowell, Director of Planning and Development Services; Amy Atkins, Parks and Recreation Assistant Director; Danielle Charbonnet, Project Manager; Peter Vanecek, Senior Park Planner; Helen Banks, Staff Assistant; Andrea Lauer, Secretary MEMBERS ABSENT: Robert Bruce, Sherry Ellison VISITORS PRESENT: , Ray + Hollington ArchitectsMila Manson, Duncan Mackenzie, Lauren Griffith, Andrew Dwight, Jim Anding, Dwight Bohlmeyer Call to order 1. : The meeting was called to order with a quorum present at 7:05PM. Introduction of City Staff and design team members: 2. David Schmitz, Director, presented this item and introductions were made by city staff and design team members. Discussion and possible action to select chairman for Lick Creek Park Nature Center 3. Advisory Committee: Discussion followed. Ron Kaiser was nominated as the Chairman for the committee. Mr. Kaiser accepted the nomination and with a unanimous vote was appointed committee chair. Outline background/history of Nature Center: 4. A presentation was given by Rick Hollington summarizing the background of the nature center. The presentation showed many of the natural undisturbed areas in the park, endangered species, and concepts, ideas and amenities from other nature centers. Discussion followed. This was an informational item only, and no action was required. Delineate objectives of the meeting: 5. Objectives of the meeting were discussed. Discussion followed. This was an informational item only, and no action was required. Explain process and procedure for the meeting: 6. Staff reported on this item, explaining the goal of these meetings is to provide input to the design team to assist with the development of the facility master plan. Staff also explained the process and procedure for the meeting. Discussion followed. This was an informational item only, and no action was required. Examine examples of other nature centers, programs and components: 7. Examples of nature centers, programs, and facilities were displayed in the presentation that was shown. Discussion followed. This was an informational item only, and no action was required. Small group discussions: 8. The committee members, design team, citizens and staff members divided into groups to brainstorm ideas for the Nature Center. Discussions followed. This was an informational item only, and no action was necessary. Report and summarize group comments: 9. Ideas and concepts from each of the small groups is summarized below: Group Comments Environment  Natural, fits into surrounding, pretty-natural materials, curves, porches  Bioswales, Rain garden, Native plant garden  Live animals  No mammals  Snakes, fish-inside  Turtles-outside  Glass-outside comes in, viewing tilted out to butterfly garden, stream, hummingbird feeders  “Living laboratory”  Disappearing stream, (fenced) pond, native aquatic plants  Xeriscaping  Maintain a prairie  Maintain natural setting 2 October 19, 2011 Lick Creek Nature Center Committee Design Charrette Minutes Amenities / Accomodations  Restrooms  Accommodate multiple groups of 15-20 indoors or out  Outdoor classroom  Children and adults  Meeting rooms for scouts, community groups, day camps  Birthday party facilities  Lab space-sinks, tables, benches (for large groups)  Need computers with internet  Connectivity for cable  Emergency vehicle access  Queuing lane for entry  Connect to creek, different ecosystems during field trip time frames  Space (rooms and tables) for large groups  Laboratories  Sinks and counter tops (not necessarily indoors  Better trails  Parking (already need 20-30)/Bus Parking  Boardwalks-view points  Kitchen facility  Wedding venue, symposium, event space  125-150 people seated at tables  Observation tower-wildlife viewing  Community garden  Outdoor rooms / spaces around building 3 October 19, 2011 Lick Creek Nature Center Committee Design Charrette Minutes User Groups  Current user groups  Students  Researchers  Wildlife  Bird watchers  Photographers  Runners  Cyclists  Horse riders  Desired user groups:  School groups  Physical facilities  Multiple rooms  Indoor/outdoor  Dog-trot  Buildings to complement surroundings  Indoor overlook / outlook onto nature  Pond Marketing/Revenue  Donation program  Donor recognition  Engrave bricks  Lick creek app/website  For digital tours  Info  Rental/ revenue  Get as much “bang for the buck as possible” Educational Needs  Eliminate invasive species 4 October 19, 2011 Lick Creek Nature Center Committee Design Charrette Minutes  Manage to maintain and increase native diversity  Rainwater, storm water reclamation demonstrations, water harvesting  LEED certified  Whole design to be educational  Green buildings  Materials  Energy-efficient forms  Recycling gray water  Etc…  Exhibit space  Rotating  Permanent-possibly video  Possibly movable so space is flexible  Allow Primary and Secondary students to interact with college students  Incorporate University and ISD  Natural  Cultural  Educational  Nature center  Interactive  Hands-on  Learning by doing  Educational experiences  Cultural heritage reflected in structure  Improved signage  Alternative Energy  Education for public  Solar panels  Wind mills  Citizens, tourist-discovery 5 October 19, 2011 Lick Creek Nature Center Committee Design Charrette Minutes  Ecologist  Centralized nature center or “demonstration areas”  Brazos Valley Natural History Museum  Deborah Kaufman (resource)  Archaeological  Austin Toms (resource TAMU)  Children learning about crops  Research facility (wet lab)  Separate Education functions, Education (public) / Education (private)  Tourism/education General  Park hours (Gates locked)  Security  Public awareness  Full-time staff (can’t count on volunteers)  Citizen participation  Features that involve other city departments  Security  Amplify presence at street/gate to control access Questions and comment period: 10. Hearing none, this item was closed. Conclusion: 11. The meeting concluded at 8:25PM. 6 October 19, 2011 Lick Creek Nature Center Committee Design Charrette Minutes