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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/09/1999 - Regular Minutes - Parks Board College Station Parks & Recreation Board Regular Meeting Parks Conference Room February 9, 1999 000,n. Staff Present: Stephen Beachy, Director, College Station Parks & Recreation; Eric Ploeger, Assistant Director; Kris Startzman, Board Secretary; Peter Vanecek, Senior Park Planner; Pam Einkauf, Sr. Secretary. Board Members: Chris Barzilla, Chairman; George Dresser, Vice Chairman, Glen Davis, John Nichols, Susan Allen. Handouts: Preparation Suggestions for Local Park, Recreation & Open Space Master Plans Texas Recreation & Parks Account Local Park Grant Program and The Parks Master Plan. 1. Approval of Minutes N December 8, 1998. John Nichols motioned for approval. Glen Davis seconded the motion. The minutes were approved as written. 2. Discussion of Board Goals and Priorities: The Board looked over the Parks & Recreation Board Goals. John Nichols said that items #1-3 are either done or on-going. Glen Davis and Steve Beachy mentioned the importance of focusing on a limited number of items that can actually be completed. Steve Beachy stressed the high priority of the Parks Master Plan. He suggested eliminating some items from this years effort. Susan Allen and Chris Barzilla talked of the Feasibility of Cooperative Ventures with CSISD. Chris Barzilla said that the Board should start on this — the City of Bryan just got another grant because they worked with the School District. Glen Davis said that the Parks Master Plan should be do-able this year, but the Capital Improvement Plan is on-going and should take up to five years or more. 'Susan Allen said that the Wolf Pen Master Plan is on-going. Chris Barzilla said that the implementation of the Greenway Master Plan is on-going as well. As to the Public Art Program, John Nichols said that he is 'happy to be the Board's representative. Steve Beachy said that the art would be on loan for the year. He went on to say that last year, there was some money to buy at least one of the pieces. He thinks that the City will to try to do that again this year. He suggested that we include an item by which we aquire art through our own resources. George Dresser suggested eliminating items #12-16 for this year and reviewing them at a later date, concentrating on items #1-11. John would like to debate some of the items between #3 and #11, but agrees with Chris opinion that #11 ought to be on the agenda. Steve thinks that an opportunity will arise when they build the next elementary school. He suggested talking to School Board members to see where they stand without forcing them to take an official position, until there is a dialog. He noted that though we have several on-going programs with the schools right now, he feels that we can do more. John asked if anyone on the School Board is showing a unique interest in this. Steve said that he told Larry Johnson with the School Board, that he would like to have some of the School Board members and the school representatives get together with the Parks Board and some of our representatives to go over what Bryan has done, particularly at Neal Elementary School and the Neal Recreation Center. Chris cautioned that even though we make some items our top priority, that other things that are going on could upset our plans. The Wolf Pen Creek Master Plan was discussed next. Steve said that after the City Council revised and approved the Master Plan, they directed us to come back with an implementation plan. We were asked to form an oversight committee to keep herd on all of this. The committee would be made up of the Chairman or a designee from the Planning & Zoning, Parks & Recreation, The Wolf Pen Creek Design Review Board, The Wolf Pen Creek TIF Board and a City Council Representative. Glen Davis asked who has primary responsibility? Steve replied that it would be the Oversight Committee. George asked if someone from Public Relations comes to the meetings. Steve (, ) said that the Public Relations and Marketing Manager, Kelley Chapman, does, along with Public Works, Engineering, Development Services/Planning, Parks and Finance Department Representatives. Glen asked what we could do to enhance public perception on a monthly basis. George said that we will have to work hard to get the public behind us. He went on to say that the Public Relations Department could help us with this. Chris said that the Arboretum and Garden Park are good issues to start with to enhance our present and future parks. He said that we need to investigate the commercial property fee or we will miss the big boom that could bring in money other than tax dollars to City and Parks. He warned that there is only a small window of time - seven or eight years - as growth in College Station will taper off. He suggested that this be a top priority. John suggested that items #1-3 be platinum level priorities, #4-8 be high priorities, #9-11 be medium priorities and the rest be low priorities. Glen made a motion to approve the priorities. George Dresser seconded the motion. The committee voted in favor. 3. Discussion of the Parks Master Plan Project: Steve passed out the revised early draft of the Preparation Suggestions for Local Park, Recreation and Open Space Master Plans Texas Recreation and Parks Account Grant Program. He explained that we are working with Joni Baker (from the TAMURecreation of Parks & Tourism Department). He said that Joni is working on the major part of this project and trying to incorporate information from Development Services. Discussion followed on how to apply for a grant - how to organize the items and what to include. Steve said that we can apply for one grant each six (6) months, up to two (2) a year. John asked if Parks and Recreation activities are cross-referenced. Steve replied that we do have an almanac that lists all facilities, but also lists the programs by groupings (for example: Athletics, Special Programs, etc.). Steve said that the National Recreation and Parks Association has published j guidelines that include a list of strict standards for parks programs. We were lacking Senior Programs this year, and now we have started some. John inquired about the hearing process on this. Steve replied that once we feel it is complete, and we have a good draft, we will have to have hearings from this Board's standpoint. John suggested an executive summary, pointing out the major issues. Steve said that we will take it to the Planning & Zoning Commission for their input and then to the City Council. The process will include at least one public hearing before it goes to the Planning & Zoning Commission. Steve proposed meeting on February 19th with the subcommittee for the Parks Master Plan. He would like to bring it back in March and have some completion by that point. John suggested that the specific goals and objectives for 1999 should match the priorities that we are looking for. Steve stressed the need to make sure that our Master Plan is in continuity with the City's Comprehensive Plan. George pointed out that the time line for these projects will be constrained by our financial resources. Steve said that our bond issue has already been allocated for specific years for specific projects. George asked if we were on a five (5) year cycle for bond issues. Steve replied that we are. He went on to say that we do not need to take action right now, but we need to start being aware of these issues. 4. Discussion and Consideration of Revised By-Laws dor the College Station Conference Center Advisory Committee: Steve suggested that the Board refer to the underlined section in Article 3, Section 5 ("Ex Officio Members") that was added to the by-laws. It was decided to change "Ex Officio" to "Alternate". There was discussion on whether an alternate could vote. Chris asked if this would help the Board to be able to vote more and to have a quorum more often. Steve replied that it would. It was decided that two alternate members would be chosen who would be authorized to vote on items presented during that meeting only if there is no quorum. George suggested to move to amend Article 2, Section 5 (Quorums) and Article 3, Section 5 (Ex Officio Members). 5. Hear Visitors: There were no visitors. 6. Consent Agenda: Capital Improvement Program Report: The Wayne Smith Baseball Complex was discussed. It now has a certificate of occupancy and is ready for use. The dedication date is Tuesday, April 6th at 4:00 PM. Dedication for 1 Tarrow Park is Saturday, April 3rd at 2:00 PM. Steve said that invitations will be sent out. Committee Reports: George said that there has been quite a bit of discussion regarding the initial work on the sidewalk that goes over a portion of the creek that is under Highway 30 and feeds into Wolf Pen Creek. Steve mentioned that this is the property directly across from Oaks Park. That part will be developed and eventually tie in with the McClure Engineering work that is in progress to develop concepts. This will tie into the rest of the parks and walkways. George asked if we are going to build this project with City funds. Steve replied that it would be paid with some of the Parkland Dedication funds that we have in that zone. George mentioned that the McCLure contract is not quite in place yet, but should be underway soon. He went on to say that overall, things are moving along well, but it is going to take a while for everything to come together. 7. Board Concerns/Other Business: Appointment of Fees Subcommittee: Chris Barzilla, Susan Allen and John Crompton will be on the Fees Subcommittee. Set Date for Tour of Bryan's Neal Recreation Center: This date was set for Wednesday, February 17th at 4:00 PM. Steve mentioned that Wednesday, February 24th is the groundbreaking for the College Station Teen Center. 8. The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 PM. i i