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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/08/2005 - Regular Minutes - Parks Board Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 8, 2005, 6:00 p.m. The EXIT Teen Center 1520 Rock Prairie Road College Station, Texas Staff Present: Steve Beachy, Director; Peter Vanecek, Senior Park Planner; Peter Lamont, Recreation Superintendent; Ross Albrecht, Forestry Superintendent; Dana Albrecht, Recreation Supervisor - Instruction; Lance Jackson, Recreation Supervisor - Lincoln Center; Pamela Springfield, Staff Assistant Board Members Present: Jodi Warner, Chair; Don Allison; Gary Erwin; Glenn Schroeder; Kathleen Ireland; Carol Blaschke; Jeannie McCandless; Larry Farnsworth; Gary Thomas (Gary E. and Gary T. arrived late; Glenn S. and Don A. left early) Board Members Absent: All members were present Guests & Visitors: Jamie Rae Walker and Bill Boswell - TAMU Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences (RPTS); Michelle Bynum - TAMU RPTS 402 1. Call to order. Jodi Warner, Chair called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. 2. Pardon and possible action concerning requests for absences of members. No requests for absence had been submitted. 3. Hear Visitors. Hearing none, this item was closed. 4. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of minutes from the Regular meeting of February 8, 2005 and the Joint Meeting with the Design Review Board on February 11, 2005. Kathy Ireland moved to accept the minutes of the February 8, 2005 regular meeting as presented. The motion was seconded by Glenn S., and hearing no opposition or discussion, the vote was called. The February minutes were unanimously approved. Larry Farnsworth moved to accept the minutes of the Joint Meeting with the Design Review Board that was held on February 11, 2005. The motion was seconded by Don Allison, and hearing no opposition or discussion, the vote was called. The minutes of the joint meeting were unanimously approved. 5. Review, discussion, and possible action regarding potential Park Land Dedication requests for: • River Ridge Townhomes - Park Zone 2: This dedication was for 87 single-family, non- gated, townhomes that would generate a land dedication of less than one acre. University Park site, which is in the same zone, is within one-quarter of a mile walking distance from this site and would be fully developed in 2006. Staff was recommending acceptance of the cash dedication of $48,372, which would go into Park Zone 2 funds. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Page 1 of 3 Regular Meeting of March 8, 2005 Glenn S. moved to accept the staff recommendation and Kathy I. seconded. Hearing no discussion, the vote was called. All were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously to accept the cash dedication in lieu of land. 6. Discussion, consideration, and possible action regarding appointments to the Lincoln Center Advisory Committee. Lance Jackson, Recreation Supervisor for the Lincoln Center and liaison for the advisory committee introduced himself and stated that there were five positions currently open on the committee. He explained that he was trying to renew the committee and give it more vigor with members who were anxious to serve. Terresa Katt, Chanda Elbert, Kristiana Ford, and Jason Fikes had turned in applications to serve on the committee, and a fifth application was expected within the next month or so. After Lance gave brief explanations about each member, Don A. made a motion to endorse the slate of applicants suggested. Jeannie McCandless seconded. Hearing no further discussion the vote was called and passed unanimously. Lance invited the members to come by Lincoln Center to see the new renovations. Steve B. suggested that the regular May Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting be held at the center. 7. Report, discussion, and possible action concerning the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Current lists had been included in the members' packets. Further updates were given on the status of some of the projects. ■ The Lincoln Center project was complete and had come in approximately $85,000 under budget. Ric P. stated that he had been working with Community Development in order to get permission to spend the money on additional improvements at the center. ■ The Central Park light poles for the soccer fields had arrived and the installation should begin shortly. ■ The Crompton Park bid opening for the development of the first half of the park would be held on Thursday, March 10, 2005 and would be going to Council soon after for approval. A map was displayed of the park site showing the acreage currently owned by the city and the adjacent 5.25 acres being purchased by the city. Once the bids were opened on Thursday, staff would know how much money would be left to further develop the site. The additional funds can be included in the upcoming budget process for use in FY 2005-06. ■ Tarrow Spray Park will go out to bid soon. ■ The plans for the cover over basketball court at Jack and Dorothy Miller Park are complete. ■ The Steeplechase Park public hearing had been held and Parks Planning had a conceptual plan completed. They were currently in the process of assigning values to the possible amenities and would have those cost estimates at the next hearing. ■ The Department had received $700,000 for a project at Wolf Pen Creek (WPC). The WPC TIF Board and Council had approved funding to build a multi-purpose building at the amphitheater that would include rest rooms, concessions, and a plaza. The building would provide a place for the amphitheater workers to go and relax when they are working the concerts. A contract with a local architect is in the works for the design and the the project should be completed by next year's 2006 concert season. ■ Ric P. stated that he had recently been placed on a team to work on building restrooms at Northgate. He now has 36 projects in the works. ■ Staff along with the VPAC, Phase II subcommittee had met with the design team to look at the conceptual drawings for Phase II. A lot of input was received and the design team is continuing to work on the conceptual stage. This was an informational item only and no action was required. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Page 2 of 3 Regular Meeting of March 8, 2005 8. Review, discussion, and possible action concerning Board and Department Goals and Objectives, and City Council Strategic Plan. The Board and Departmental Goals had been included in the packets. There were no additional updates. There were several things in progress and moving forward. Kathy I. asked if there was a maintenance plan built in for older parks in order to, for example, paint the playgrounds. It was explained that there were certified playground inspectors who went out on a regular basis to check bolts and those type things, and to correct them. There is also a schedule set up that forecasts out which playgrounds need to be changed out. Generally playgrounds are replaced at the rate of about one or two per year and need replacing probably about every 15-20 years. Budget wise we cannot do that right now. The Department has tried to remove all of the wooden playgrounds and have eliminated all old units that were over eight feet in height. The new standard is about five feet. With our maintenance standards, we know approximately four or five years out which units will be replaced, however, occasionally that has to be rearranged. Kathy asked where Woodcreek was on the schedule. Steve B. said he did not know and would have to check and get back to her on that. Bee Creek was scheduled to be replaced in 2006 and it would take about $50,000. Glenn S. asked if the playground at Bee Creek could be moved to where it was more visible from the ballfields so that parents could see their children. Ric stated that there had been discussion about putting a small playground in at ballfield that would basically be a cage due to foul ball hazards. He stated that Curtis Bingham could come discuss that with the board. The new Lincoln Center playground would be covered. This was an informational item only and no action was required. 9. Discussion of calendar, future meeting dates, and possible agenda items. • The next regular meeting would be held on April 12, 2005. • The second public hearing for Steeplechase Park was set for Tuesday, March 29, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. Advertising would be done as it was for the first hearing and the public library would be reserved. • Girls' Softball opening ceremonies would be held on March 21, 2005. The members were asked to notify Pam Springfield if they planned to attend. 10. Program and Facility Needs Assessment Process Focus Group. This portion of the meeting was not recorded. Representatives Jaime Rae Walker and Bill Boswell from Texas A&M University's Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences were present to conduct a focus group for members of the board and staff that were present. The results of all of the focus group meetings would be combined and brought back to the board at a later date in the form of a report. 11. Adiourn. The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:00 p.m. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Page 3 of 3 Regular Meeting of March 8, 2005