HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/20/2004 - Regular Minutes - Parks Board (2) Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, July 20, 2004, 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 Parks Planner; Curtis Bingham, Parks
Operations Superintendent; Peter Lamont, Recreation Superintendent; Marci Rodgers, Senior
Services Coordinator; Geri Marsh, Recreation Supervisor; Jane Kee, City Planner and Trey Fletcher,
Senior Planner - Development Services; Pamela Springfield, Staff Assistant.
Board Members Present: Jodi Warner, Chair; Glenn Schroeder; Don Allison; Larry Farnsworth;
Gary Erwin; Jeannie McCandless; Carol Blaschke; Gary Thomas.
Board Members Absent: Kathleen Ireland.
Guests: John Nichols, Planning & Zoning; Mike Hester, Hester Engineering; Alton Ofczarzak;
Joe Gattis, Gattis Engineering
Visitors: Sonny McLennon, Open Loop SPTS Training; Greg Huchingson, The Press; Stephanie
Miller, BVSUA; Patrick and Ann Marie Hazlett
1. Call to order. Jodi Warner, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Pardon N Possible action concerning requests for absences of members. Kathleen
Ireland had submitted a request for absence. A motion was made by Larry Farnsworth to
accept the request and seconded by Gary Erwin. The motion was voted on and carried
unanimously.
3. Hear Visitors. Hearing none this item was closed.
4. Presentation of plaque to outgoing Board member. Steve Beachy presented John
Nichols with a plaque to recognize his leadership and hard work while serving on the Board.
John will remain as an ex-officio member of the Veterans Park and Athletic Complex
subcommittee because of his interest in the project.
5. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of minutes from the regular
meeting of June 8, 2004 and the Joint meeting with City Council on June 10, 2004.
Don Allison stated that in the minutes of the regular meeting on June 8, 2004, under item
#12, 'Possible July Agenda Items', he had requested a discussion on the status of girl's
fastpitch softball tournaments, instead of adult softball. A motion was made to accept the
minutes from both meetings with the change mentioned. The motion was seconded and
hearing no opposition, carried unanimously.
6. Discussion, consideration, and possible action regarding requests for park land
dedications.
• Horse Haven Estates N Review (Park Zone 4): After discussion regarding
thoroughfare issues, Glenn S. moved to table this dedication issue pending the outcome of
the Thoroughfare Plan that would be going before the Planning & Zoning Commission and
City Council. The motion was seconded by Larry F. Hearing no further discussion the
motion was voted on and carried unanimously.
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• Trails at Neelley Ranch N Review (Park Zone 10): In January 2003 the Board
accepted a cash donation with the intention of building a park in conjunction with a
proposed elementary school. The development was now moving forward as "Dove
Crossing" and staff was still staying with the recommendation of a cash donation. Staff
will hold discussions with the school district about the possibility of using some of their
land for a neighborhood park, and will keep the Board apprised. This was an informational
item only.
• Stonebrook Subdivision N (Park Zone 9): Because the land requirement for this
development's proposed 93 lots would be less than one acre, staff was recommending
acceptance of the $51,708 in park development fees. A motion was made by Don A. to
accept the staff recommendation of acceptance of the fees in lieu of land, and was
seconded by Glenn S. The motion was voted on and carried unanimously.
7. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding growth trends for College
Station. Development Services Department Senior Planner, Trey Fletcher, gave a Growth
Trends presentation to the Board showing past and projected future growth. The growth
trends for the county were based on information received from the Texas State Data Center,
which reveal rapid growth within Brazos County. The estimates for College Station were
based on the 2000 census and Certificates of Occupancy. With limited exception, every part
of the community was experiencing residential as well as commercial development and this
trend was expected to continue. (See attached presentation.) This was an informational item
only.
8. Discussion, consideration, and possible action regarding appointment of new
members to the Senior Advisory Committee. Marci Rodgers, Senior Services
Coordinator was present on behalf of the Senior Advisory Committee to recommend the re-
appointment of Laura Holmes, Haskell Monroe, and Neal Nutall, and the new appointment of
Patricia Boughton and Joe LeCour to the Committee for a term of three years, with Robert
Meyer serving as Chairman and Neal Nutall serving as Vice Chairman. Glenn S. moved
approval of all five recommendations. Gary E. seconded. The motion was voted on and
carried unanimously.
9. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding status of softball
tournaments and affiliation. Peter Lamont gave a report on the evaluation done by staff of
softball tournament possibilities and league affiliation with A.S.A. District 30 and other
organizations. This was based on a request that had been made at the June Board meeting.
(See attached report.) Staff was not recommending changing affiliations at the current time.
Discussion took place regarding:
The city re-evaluating its affiliation on a regular basis in order to determine whether that
affiliation was in the best interest of the city;
The department making it known that its' fields were open to tournaments under other
affiliations, not just A.S.A.;
The costs involved, and availability of officials under other affiliations;
Reviewing the affiliation with A.S.A. in September or October after a new District 30
Commissioner has been appointed, to see if certain issues have been resolved.
Glenn S. moved that the Board accept the position statement as presented in the report and
to make it adequately known that the city's complexes are open to other affiliations for
tournament play. The motion was seconded by Don A. After further discussion the vote was
called and carried 6-1.
10. Report on status of signage at the Arboretum. Curtis Bingham gave a report on the type
of sign being considered for use at the Arboretum. The aluminum signs which were being
used in Richard Carter Park consisted of a 5" x 7" plate and stood about one foot tall when
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Regular Meeting of July 20, 2004
installed. The cost would run approximately $40 per sign and as many as 47 signs could be
ordered.
A local group of Girl Scouts will be re-establishing some of the trails and noting which markers
are still in place and which trees are associated with them. This was an informational item
only and no action was required.
11. Discussion and possible action regarding appointment of Board members to a By
Laws Subcommittee. Jodi explained that a subcommittee made up of two to three
volunteers was needed to update and edit the Board's By Laws. Jeannie M. and Glenn S.
volunteered and were appointed to serve on the subcommittee.
12. Report, discussion, and possible action concerning the Capital Improvement
Program (CIP). Eric P. gave an update on the status of ongoing Capital Improvement and
Park Land Dedication projects. Items of particular interest:
• $200,000 out of the Community Development budget would be used to help fund the
development of Steeplechase Park;
• The small pond in Central Park would be renovated with curbing, sidewalks, and public art;
• A design for thirteen lights around the Jack & Dorothy Miller "Road Runner" track had been
done. The project would be bid out and should be complete in the fall;
• O'Malley Engineers had been chosen to do the design work for the second phase of Veterans
Park and Athletic Complex. Staff is aiming for design approval by October;
• The Lincoln Center expansion project was underway.
13. Review, discussion, and possible action concerning Board and Department Goals
and Objectives, and City Council Strategic Plan. Steve explained that Council would
have a mid-year retreat to come up with issues important to them and the issues that
concerned Parks would affect the department's work load and goals. The Board will begin
working to develop their goals in September, some of which would also be tied to those
Council issues.
14. Discussion of calendar, future meeting dates, and possible agenda items.
• The next regular meeting of the Board would be held on August 10, 2004;
• Possible August Agenda items:
Review Subcommittee list and any appointments that need to be made;
Discussion of a goals workshop prior to the regular meeting in September;
Staff will come back with a softball update/report in September;
Jodi asked for an update on the status of the small piece of property next to the new
Fire Station #3. Steve stated that he did not believe the city purchased the property,
but he could get an answer to that information out by e-mail to the Board.
15. Adiourn. A motion was made to adjourn and seconded. Hearing no opposition, the meeting
adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
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Regular Meeting of July 20, 2004