HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/09/2001 - Regular Minutes - Parks Board ***Minutes***
CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
PA S & RECREATION ADVISORY BOA' I
Regular Meeting
Tuesday,January 9, 2001
Parks Conference Room
1000 Krenek Tap Road
7:00 p.m.
Staff Present:Steve Beachy, Director of Parks and Recreation, Eric Ploeger, Assistant
Director; David Gerling, Recreation Superintendent; Lance Jackson,
Lincoln Center Supervisor; Kris Startzman, Board Secretary.
Board Members Present: Chris It arzilla, Chair; John Nichols; Bill Davis; Glenn
Schroeder; Glen Davis; Jon Turton; John Crompton,
Alternate; Laura Wood, Alternate.
Board Members Absent: George Dresser, Co-Chair.
Visitor: Larry Farnsworth, 4012 Hunter Creek, College Station, Texas 77840
1. Call to order: The meeting was called to order at 6:58 p.m.
2. Hear visitors: No visitors spoke during this time.
3. Pardon — Consider requests for absences of members from meeting: Glen
Davis made a motion to accept the absence of George Dresser as excused. Glenn
Schroeder seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion passed
unanimously.
4. Approval of minutes from Regular Meeting of November 14, 2000; Special
Meeting of December 5, 2000; and Regular Meeting of December 12, 2000:
Glen Davis made a motion to approve the minutes from the regular meeting of
November 14, 2000. Jon Turton seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the
motion passed unanimously.
Glen D. made a motion to approve the minutes from the special meeting of
December 5, 2000. Jon T. seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the
motion passed unanimously.
Glenn Schroeder made a motion to approve the minutes from the regular meeting
of December 12, 2000. Glen D. seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the
motion passed unanimously.
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Parks and Recreation Board
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5. Discussion, consideration, and possible action regarding the Parks and
Recreation Board Goals: Steve stated that this item is a follow-up to the
December 5, 2000 special meeting concerning the Parks and Recreation Board
goals. Glen D. asked the Board if they felt that their new goals coincided with the
strategic issues that the City Council had set forth for them in Vision Statement
#4. Steve stated that some of the goals did relate, but felt that some did not cover
all of the strategic issues. After some discussion, the board made a few changes,
and added the following bullets:
4, Review of the Parks and Recreation Depa ent Fee Policy.
• Develop programs and facilities for Senior Citizens.
(See updated Parks and Recreation Board goals).
Glen D. made a motion to approve the Parks and Recreation Board goals with the
changes. Bill Davis seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion
passed unanimously.
6. Report, discussion, and possible action regarding a roller hockey or
skateboard park: Steve pointed out that there would be a public hearing
concerning this item on January 30, 2001, and stated that the different user groups
would be invited to the meeting. He asked the Board for input on the direction
the Department should take before the public hearing. He asked if the Board was
in favor of a roller hockey rink or a skateboard park, and also asked where they
thought that it should be located. John Nichols stated that over the last six
months, the discussion had leaned toward skateboard parks. As for the location of
such a park, he suggested putting it in an athletic field where there are other
athletic recreational activities. Jon T. stated that the Board should dete ine how
the facility would be operated before they go much further into the project. Steve
stated that there would certainly be operational costs for either type of facility.
Eric Ploeger pointed out that there is always the opportunity through bond issues
to expand the project(for example add a skate park next to a roller hockey rink, or
vice versa). Steve pointed out some possible locations for a facility:
• Southwood Valley Athletic Park;
• Veterans Park and Athletic Complex;
• Central Park;
• Bee Creek Park; and
• Wolf Pen Creek
He stated that a positive aspect about building a facility at Southwood Valley
Athletic Complex is that the Teen Center is close by with staff and restrooms
already there. After some discussion, the Board appeared to be in consensus of
directing the public hearing toward a skateboard park. This was a discussion item
only, and no motion was made.
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Parks and Recreation Board
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Tuesday,January 9,2001
7. Report, discussion, and possible action regarding Veterans Park and Athletic
Complex: Steve stated that the Veterans Park and Athletic Complex (VPAC)
Subcommittee had met that morning. Eric updated the Board on Phase I of the
project. He said that the Department had met with the City's water, sewer, and
electric Departments because there are certain requirements pertaining to the size
of sewer and water lines at the park. They have also been working with drainage
issues. The consultants are currently gathering data, and are working with half of
the property to figure out how it will be drained. Eric went on to say that the
Planning and Zoning Co ission approved the preliminary plat, but before any
construction could be approved, they would need the final plat. He said that the
conceptual phase of the plan had been completed that morning, and that the
Department would be working with the engineer on more detailed drawings as
they relate to specifics of the project. The Department is also looking at the
budget and expects to have a good estimate by the end of the week.
Eric has also met with members of the College Station Soccer Club and reminded
the Board that the Youth Soccer Club is interested in building a facility on site.
Glen D. stated that when he met with the VPAC Subcommittee, he learned that
there would be four soccer fields constructed in Phase I, instead of the six that
were originally pla ed. Steve pointed out that the Department is looking to build
quality fields, rather than quantity. Glen D. also stated that topsoil would have to
be brought in for the fields.
Steve also reminded the Board that the Memorial for all Veterans of the Brazos
Valley, Inc. is currently accepting submissions from artists for the design of the
Veterans Memorial to be located in the park. He went on to say that three
finalists would be chosen from the submissions and their designs would be
displayed at Post Oak Mall for public feedback. A wi er would be chosen from
the three finalists to design the memorial.
This was an info ational item only, and no motion was made.
8. Discussion, consideration, and possible reappointment of members to the
Lincoln Center Advisory Committee:
• Carolyn Williams
• Cathy Watson
• Barbara Clemmons
• Joe Dan Franklin
Glenn Schroeder made a motion to reappoint Carolyn Williams, Cathy Watson,
Barbara Clemmons, and Joe Dan Franklin to the Lincoln Center Advisory
Committee. Bill D. seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion
passed unanimously.
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Parks and Recreation Board
Regular Meeting
Tuesday,January 9,2001
9. Discussion, consideration, and possible action regarding joint ventures with
other agencies: Steve stated that included in the Board packets was a list of
cooperative ventures with the Parks and Recreation Department and other
agencies. Steve stated that the Board had appointed two subcommittees to
• Investigate the feasibility of cooperative ventures with CSISD (Chris and
Glen D.);
• Investigate the feasibility of cooperative ventures with T U (George and
John N.).
Steve said that meetings had been set up that included himself, the City Manager,
Assistant City Manager, and the members of each subco ittee. He stated that
the T A, meeting would be postponed until George Dresser returned from a
out-of-town business trip. He went on to say that Chris and Glen D. did meet
regarding joint ventures with CSISD and asked Chris and Glen to discuss their
meeting.
John C. added that the partnership list is very impressive and asked if the
Department could incorporate it into their a ual calendar. Steve replied that the
actual list isn't in the calendar, but that the Department actively seeks input
regarding upcoming events from these agencies, and incorporates them into the
calendar. John C. asked if the list could be fo arded to the City Council. Steve
replied that it could.
Glen D. said that the meeting that he attended was pretty info ative. He went on
to say that the City Manager gave the subco ittee guidance on how to approach
the issue, and reco ended that they meet with the College Station Independent
School District Superintendent or Chai an of the School Board regarding any
joint projects. He said that the City Manager seemed very supportive. Steve
pointed out to the Board that there are currently two te is court projects that are
underway with the School District: one at the Willowbranch campus, and the
other at the A&M Consolidated High School campus. He reminded the Board
that future projects with the School District would need to be coordinated ahead
of future bond elections.
Steve briefly talked about a possible project between the Cities of Bryan and
College Station, and possibly the Brazos County, to connect greenways. John N.
suggested inviting the new City Greenways Coordinator to a meeting to make a
short presentation to the Board regarding what she is working on. John N. added
that more emphasis should be placed on public transportation to parks.
This was an informational item only, and no motion was made.
10. Discussion, consideration, and possible action concerning a special venue tax:
Chris stated that he had talked to the Comptroller's Office. The Comptroller
referred him to a local government code regarding the local hotel occupancy tax
(that was included in the Board packets). He referred the Board to Section
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Parks and Recreation Board
Regular Meeting
Tuesday,January 9,2001
334.1015 that states "This subchapter does not apply to the financing of a venue
project that is an area or facility that is part of a municipal parks and recreation
system." He was directed to talk to the Legislator to see if that portion of the code
could be amended. He also talked to the Attorney General's Office regarding the
City of Bedford that was going to build a softball park. He asked if there was an
Attorney General's opinion on that topic, and they could not find one. He stated
that unless the portion of the code could be amended, the topic may be "dead in
the water" for using the venue tax to help fund the softball fields at Veterans Park
and Athletic Complex. Chris went on to say that the venue tax could possibly be
used to fund other projects, for instance the upcoming Expo Center or the
Performing Arts Center. This was an informational item only and no motion was
made.
11. Discussion, consideration, and possible action regarding City Council Vision
Statement#4 (Cultural Arts and Recreational Opportunities):
• Strategy #1 (More Emphasis on Making Parks More Intergenerational):
Steve said that the Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Sciences Depa ent at
Texas A&M University is working on a schedule and will submit a report to
the Parks and Recreation Board regarding intergenerational parks and park
co ectivity issues.
• Strategy #2 (More Interaction Between Parks Advisory Board and
ganning and Zoning and Shared Vision with Council)® There was no
discussion under this item®
• Strategy #3 (Continue to Update Comprehensive Plan Regarding Parks
System): There was no discussion under this item.
• Strategy #4 (Connectivity Between Greenways and Parks): There was no
discussion under this item.
• Strategy #5 (Continued Emphasis on Parks Maintenance to Quality
Standards through the 'udget Process): Steve said that park maintenance
standards would be presented to the Board during the February meeting.
• Strategy #6 (Develop Programs and Facilities for Senior Citizens): Steve
said that the Department had submitted an application to the Eisenhower
Leadership Foundation Program to study the feasibility of a facility for senior
citizens, and had received some favorable comments back from the
foundation. He went on to say that the Department would know if they have
been picked for the program by the end of the week, and would report back to
the Board.
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Parks and Recreation Board
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12. Consent Items:
Capital Improvement Projects Report:
• John C. asked what the status of the community park acquisition was. Steve
responded that negotiations are active and would be discussed during the City
Council Executive Session, but that he is not at liberty to disclose what is
talked about during the session.
• Jon T. asked what the status of the future cemetery site was. Steve stated that
he did not know at this time, but that the topic was on the next School Board
agenda.
• Glen D. asked what the status of Madeley Park was. Steve said that he plans a
tour of the park.
Discussion of next meeting date and agenda: Steve said that there would be a
public hearing on January 30, 2001, at 700 p.m., at the City Hall Council
Chambers and that the regular meeting would be held on February 13, 2001.
• John C. would like to include on the agenda a discussion over a proposal for
the acquisition of land for neighborhood parks prior to development.
• John N. asked if the Department could give an inventory of the park land
dedication decisions that had been made by the Board over the last five years.
13. Adjourn: The meeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m.
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Parks and Recreation Board
Regular Meeting
Tuesday,January 9,2001