HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/09/2003 - Regular Minutes - Parks Board Minutes
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Tuesday, December 9, 2003, at 7:00 p.m.
The EXIT Teen Center
1520 Rock Prairie Road
College Station, Texas
Staff Present: Steve Beachy, Director of Parks and Recreation;
Eric Ploeger, Assistant Director; Peter Vanecek, Senior Park Planner;
Kristin Lehde, Staff Assistant.
Board Members Present: Glen Davis; Larry Farnsworth;
Ken Livingston; Don Allison; Glenn Schroeder; Jodi Warner;
Gary Erwin, Alternate.
Board Member Absent: John Nichols, Chairman.
Guests:
Spencer Thompson, Graduate Civil Engineer, Development Services
College Station City Councilman John Happ
Visitors:
Frank Thurmound, 1700 Barak, Bryan, Texas
Mickey Posey, P.O. Box 1040, College Station, Texas
Jane Marsh, 2835 Brandywine Circle, Bryan, Texas
1. Call to order: The Board was in consensus on appointing
Glen Davis as Acting Chairman. Glen D. called the meeting to order
at 6:53 p.m.
2. Pardon possible action concerning requests for absences
of members from meeting: Glenn Schroeder made a motion to
accept the absence of John Nichols as excused. Jodi Warner
seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion passed
unanimo Li sly.
3. Hear visitors: Hearing none, this item was closed.
4. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of minutes
from the Joint Meeting between the Planning and Zoning
Commission and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on
October 30, 2003, and from the Regular Meeting of the
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Board on November 4, 2003: Larry Farnsworth made a motion to
approve the minutes from the Joint Meeting between the Planning
and Zoning Commission and the Parks and Recreation Advisory
Board on October 30, 2003, and the minutes from the Regular
Meeting on November 4, 2003. Glenn S. seconded the motion. All
were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously.
5. Discussion, reconsideration, and possible action regarding a
park land dedication request for the Randall's University
Park Subdivision (Park Zone 2): This item was reviewed by the
Board during the September 9, 2003, meeting, in which the Board
passed a motion to accept the cash dedication in lieu of land for the
Randall's University Park development upon the condition that the
Development Services Department would be awarded a public
access easement from College Station to Madeley Park.
Eric Ploeger referred to an aerial photograph of Madeley Park and
the surrounding areas. He stated that there is currently no access
to Madeley Park from College Station because there are two (2)
private pieces of property (the LA Ford and Marcelino Diaz Barrera
properties) between public roads and the park. During the
September 9th meeting, the Board had requested public access both
from the Cooner Street area and from Chimney Hill Drive, This item
was brought to the Planning and Zoning Commission; however, it
was only presented with the access easement from Chimney Hill
Drive. (The owner of the Barrera property had concerns with the
access easement from Cooner Street.) The Planning and Zoning
Commission denied the request, and sent it back to the Parks and
Recreation Advisory Board for reconsideration. Since then, the
owner of that property has agreed to provide the requested access
easement.
After some discussion, Glenn S. made a motion to 1) accept the
proposal to have the access easement on the replat coming from
the end of the Chimney Hill Cul-de-sac to the property line behind
Albertsons, then back down to Madeley Park (along the Cooner
Subdivision); 2) accept the cash dedication to meet the park land
dedication requirements for the Randall's University Park
development; and 3) recommend that the City pursue the
acquisition of the lot owned by Marcelino Diaz Barrera as a park
land addition to Madeley Park. Don Allison seconded the motion. All
were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously.
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Regular Muting
foi2sday, Derem Per 9, 2003
Page 2 of 7
6. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of a
resolution in support of a potential regional park site in
Grimes County (Board Goal #9): During the Regular Meeting
on November 4, 2003, the Board received a report concerning
the potential for a regional park in Grimes County. During that
meeting, the Board was in consensus on endorsing a resolution
that would be presented to the College Station City Council in
support of the initiative to acquire land owned by the Texas
Municipal Power Agency for a regional park.
Glenn S. made a motion to approve the resolution. Don A.
seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion passed
unanimously.
7. Present,Ition, discussion, and possible action concerning a
conceptual design for a neighborhood park in Park Zone
(Southwest Pxk) ( roard Goal #4): During the Regular
Meeting on November 4, 2003, the Board was in consensus on
the following:
• Supporting the development of the Southwest Park site,
and making it the highest priority project in Park Zone 6;
• Responding favorably to a good development proposal;
• Reserving judgment on the exact dollar amount to be
contributed to the project;
• Reviewing a conceptual plan for the park; and
• Leaving the other Park Zone 6 projects prioritized as they
are.
Eric P. stated that there is currently approximately 590,000 in
Park Zone 6. There will be approximately 5120,000 once the
park land dedication money comes in from the Campus Crossing
development.
Pete Vanecek discussed the conceptual plans for the park, and
distributed a proposed budget (see attachment). He stated that
preliminary estimates show that the entire park development
would cost approximately 5266,800; however the development
could occur in phases.
During the November 451 meeting, there was discussion
concerning the developer's interest in donating money as a gift
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over-and-above the dedication amount if more infrastructure is
put into the park. The question was asked as to whether this was
still a possibility. Eric stated that it is a possibility; however,
there is no firm commitment from the developer.
After some discussion, Glenn S. made a motion to accept and
approve the conceptual plan for Southwest Park. Gary Erwin
seconded the motion.
Jodi W. made a second motion to dedicate park land dedication
funds, not to exceed the amount of $90,000, for the
development of Southwest Park. Larry F. seconded the motion.
All were in favor of the two motions, and they passed
unanimously.
8. Discussion, consideration, nd Rissible action concerning
a request frol: the Woodland Hills Homeowner's
Association (Park ZI ;' e 9): Steve Beachy stated that the
property that was dedicated for the Woodland Hills Subdivision
several years ago encompasses approximately fourteen (14)
acres of land, and includes some drainage, detention, and
greenbelt areas. At the time the land was dedicated, there was
belief that there would also be residential development occurring
on the northwestern side of the property; however, that area is
now the site that the City will use for a business park, so there
won't be any more residential development in that area. Steve
added that the property was dedicated prior to the revision of
the Park Land Dedication Ordinance that enacted the
development fee requirement, so there were no funds dedicated
to Park Zone 9. (Currently Park Zone 9 has a balance of SO.)
There are currently houses under construction in Woodland Hills,
and the subsequent phase of development to the northeast
(Spring Meadows).
Steve introduced Frank Thurmound, who is the President of the
Woodland Hills Homeowner's Association. The Association is
trying to get a park developed in that area. He added that he
had sent out a questionnaire to residents of Woodland Hills
soliciting feedback on the amenities that they would like to see
for a park (refer to request and tally sheet).
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The Board discussed three (3) funding options: the bond
program, park land dedication funds, and the annual budget
process. Steve stated that the Department would need to review
the request from a planning standpoint, working with the
Homeowner's Association, figuring out what would be feasible,
and coming up with a conceptual plan for a park. He added that
it would need to be made clear that there is no funding for a
park at this point. Spencer Thompson stated that the park land
has been dedicated for the Spring Meadows development;
however, there is still a development fee requirement in order to
file the plat. It was estimated that the development fee would
generate approximately $27,000.
Mr. Thurmand asked if the Board would consider development of
a minimal park facility in its budget planning process. After some
discussion, the Board was in consensus on considering the
request as part of their Fiscal Year 2004 Goals and Objectives
(Board Goal #4).
No official action was taken on this item.
9. Report, discussion, and p,•ssible action concerning
conceptual plans for the Lincoln Center expansion and
W.A. Tarrow park addition project (Board Goal #8): Eric P.
stated that earlier in the year, Parks staff and the Board worked
closely to revise the W.A. Tarrow Park Corridor Master Plan. The
revised plan was approved by the City Council, and they also
approved significant funding from Community Development
Block Grant funds for additions to the Lincoln Recreation Center
during the Fiscal Year 2004 budget process. Eric discussed the
approved additions:
• Approximately 3,700 square feet will be added to the
game room, which will almost double the size of the
Center.
• A corner office will be constructed, surrounded by glass so
that the entire addition can be monitored from that office.
O Additional restrooms, dressing rooms, a small laundry
area, and a fitness room will be constructed.
Eric stated that part of the approved Master Plan included the
construction of a multi-purpose pa .' ion as well as additional
parking. Staff' Is proposing to const-act a new parking lot that
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will be accessed from Eleonor Street so that there will be two (2)
entrances to the main parking lot. Also, existing paving will be
re-striped to add additional parking spaces.
This item was a report only, and no official action was taken.
10. Report, discussion, and possible action concerning the
Capital Improvement Program:
Park Land Dedication Project List Eric P. stated that
an initial concept for Woodway Park would be presented to
the Board in January 2004. Steve B. stated that the lights
at Bee Creek Park have been removed and placed in
storage. The contractor has until February 1, 2004, to
install the new lights.
Current Capital Improvent Project List There was
no discussion on this topic.
Noverber 2003 Bond Election Projects Steve B.
stated that the City Council is trying to determine an
implementation schedule for the new Capital Improvement
projects. The Council will be reviewing three (3) alternates
during their meeting on December 18, 2003, and will be
trying to allocate the approved funds over a six-year
period, not to exceed $8 million in any one of those years
to stay within the existing tax rate.
The Board discussed scheduling of the development of the
second phase of Veterans Park and Athletic Complex. After
some discussion, Glenn S. made a motion that the Board
recommend to the City Council that the 1) [Veterans Park
and Athletic Complex, Phase II development] project be
done sooner than later; 2) development be bid as a single
project with the thought process that the bonds could be
allocated and dedicated over a multiple year period; and 3)
design begin in 2005, and construction begin in 2006 and
2007. Larry F. seconded the motion. All were in favor, and
the motion passed unanimously.
11. Review, discussion, and possible action concerning Board
and Departmental Goals and Objectives, and City Council
Strategic Plan: Glen D. asked what the Board could do to help
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facilitate some of their goals. Steve B. responded that he is in
the process of assigning some of the goals to Park staff as their
personal goals for Fiscal Year 2004.
Councilman John Happ thanked the Board and Park staff for the
tremendous job that they do. Councilman Happ informed the
Board that the Council and City Manager have met with the
College Station Independent School District (CSISD) and are
looking into ways to benefit the school system and the parks
(i.e. allowing citizens to use school playgrounds during the
weekends, and allowing students to use the parks and pavilions
during school days).
This was a report only, and no official action was taken on this
item.
12. Discussig, 1 f calendar, next meeting dates, and possi:le
agend items:
Calendar and next fieeting dates:
• Regular Meeting — The next Regular Meeting of the Board
will be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2003, at 7:00 p.m.,
at the P. David Romei Arts Center (2275 Dartmouth in
College Station).
• Park Naming Subcommittee — The next meeting of the
Subcommittee will be held on Friday, January 9, 2003, at
noon, at the Central Park Conference Room.
Possible agenda items:
• Soccer Field Use Policy
• Update on Board Goals and Objectives
• Park Naming Subcommittee report
▪ Discussion of the new Elementary School site
13. Adjourn: Glenn S. made a motion to adjourn. Jodi W. seconded
the motion. All were in favor, and the meeting adjourned at
8: 59 p.m.
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