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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/10/2009 - Regular Minutes - Parks Board (3) (*,4441 PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES T►�►�r;�nrrulZ P4 CITY OF COLLEGE STATION VyRcernitlao REGULAR MEETING 7:00 PM, Tuesday, March 10, 2009 The Green Room at Wolf Pen Creek - 1015 Colgate College Station, TX, 77840 STAFF PRESENT: Marco A. Cisneros, Director of Parks and Recreation; David Schmitz, Assistant Director — Operations; Chuck Gilman, Marci Rodgers, Senior Services Coordinator; Peter Lamont, Recreation Superintendent; Amanda Putz, Board Secretary; Helen Banks, Staff Assistant; Ross Albrecht, Forestry & Urban Landscape Manager; Pete Vanecek, Senior Park Planner; David Gerling, Special Facilities Superintendent BOARD PRESENT: Gary Erwin, Chair; George Jessup, Shawn Rhodes, David Scott, Wayne Williams, Glenn Schroeder, Billy Hart BOARD ABSENT: Jody Ford, J. Riley Bryan VISITORS: Ron Silvia, 4601 Shoal Creek Dr., CS Joanna Yeager, 100 Mortier#1004, CS Tom Woodfin, Resident close to Jack and Dorothy Miller Park Steve Arden and Norinda Arden, 311 Cecilia Loop, CS Harold Dorsey and Pam Dorsey, 305 Cecilia Loop, CS William C. Meacham (Bill) and Jackie Meacham, 315 Cecilia Loop, CS Phil Wade, 305 Regensburg, CS Barbara McGuirk and Jim McGuirk, 302 Cecilia Loop, CS Thomas Mather, 945 Dove Landing, CS Juan D. Lopez Jr., 3241 Innsbruck Circle, CS 1. Call to order: Gary Erwin, Chair, called the meeting to order with a quorum present at 7:00 p.m. 2. Pardon and possible action concerning requests for absences of members: Jody Ford had sent in a request for absence. David Scott made a motion to approve the absence request submitted, and Wayne Williams seconded the motion. The vote was called. All were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously. 3. Hear visitors: Hearing none, this item was closed. 4. Consideration, possible approval, and discussion of minutes from the meeting of February 10, 2009: Glenn Schroeder noted that he was at the February meeting, and asked for that change to be made to the February 10, 2009 minutes as an amendment. Billy Hart made a motion to accept the minutes including the amendment, and Glenn Schroeder seconded the motion. The vote was called. All were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously. 5. Update and discussion regarding the interim Senior Center: Ron Silvia, Chair of the Senior Advisory Committee, briefly discussed the Senior Advisory Committee's intentions for the interim Senior Center, and the importance of the Center. The Senior Advisory Committee had researched costs of rental space for a possible Senior Center. Marco A. Cisneros explained that at the beginning of April (April 9th?) staff would be presenting this item to City Council. The Board wanted more information regarding all of the costs associated with this project before presenting it to City Council. David Scott made a motion that the Parks and Recreation Department develop the idea of a interim Senior Center including all costs, and Wayne Williams seconded the motion. The vote was called. All were in favor, and the motion carried unanimously. Discussion followed. 7:07PM George Jessup arrived. 6. Update on Capital Projects Department Operations: Chuck Gilman made a presentation on the Capital Projects Department Operations. Discussion followed. This was an informational item only, and no action was required. 7. Presentation. possible action, and discussion concerning the CSISD/City Fencing Projects at Jack and Dorothy Miller and Pebble Creek Parks: Marco A. Cisneros explained that at Jack and Dorothy Miller and Pebble Creek Parks, that there were no fences installed around the play areas. A five year old had left the school at Jack and Dorothy Miller, which raised the issue of the area not being fenced. He further explained that the City believed that a wrought iron fence design rather than a chain link fence, would be a better choice. The gates on the fences would be locked during school hours and reopened after school hours. Gaining access to Jack and Dorothy Miller Park would be granted to the citizen through the school front office during school hours. Then during non- school hours the gates would be unlocked for use. The Pebble Creek Park fence would be installed to keep children out of the drainage ditch and away from the parking lot. The property being fenced is school property, which the city leases for park use. The gates would be secured during school hours, and then unlocked during non-school hours. Gary Erwin said that he would not like to see this be a school playground as opposed to a public playground. He hopes that the park is as accessible to outside citizens as it is to the school children. Discussion followed. 2 March 10, 2009 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting Minutes Visitor Comments: Steve Arden, 311 Cecilia Loop, CS - On the Edelweiss side of Jack and Dorothy Miller he believes that there needs to be more access to the park because of the amount of families that enter from that side. He said that approving this item as proposed would make the park a school park. In his opinion, a possible solution would be to make the gates only where the adults can open them. He said that citizens will not go into the school to access the park, being that they are in their walking shorts, etc. The door on the north side of the school is how children from the school access the park, and that the gate issue may need to be rethought. William (Bill) Meacham, 315 Cecilia Loop, CS - He has the undeveloped lot that backs up to Jack and Dorothy Miller Park. He said that he and his grandchildren always go to the park and he had installed a wrought iron fence so that he could look out into the park. He moved into his house in September 2008. His main concern was that he wants to be able to walk out his back yard and access the park, rather than going into the front office to gain access. Mr. Meacham said that he thinks that locking the park down will waste the park, because citizens will not want to gain access to the park through the front office. Juan D Lopez Jr., 3241 Innsbruck Circle, CS - It seems to him that there is a higher standard held at Jack and Dorothy Miller Park than other schools regarding the enclosed fence area. He thinks that this might be an issue for, because the customers would have to go through the front office to gain access. Another concern of Mr. Lopez's was the limited access with the amount of gates. William (Bill) Meacham, 315 Cecilia Loop, CS - Another concern of his is the Lightning Thorguard System, when it alarms, will everyone have to go through the school? Marco A. Cisneros - Yes. The Thorguard System alerts you 10 miles away - so that it gives people a chance to take action. Marco A. Cisneros - The fencing and gate issue is not only a safety standard, but also also a security standard. There was discussion that this was a hinderance by having to gain access through the front office. Jackie Meacham, 315 Cecilia Loop, CS - She said it seemed to her that the city park is being turned into a school park. The school recess time is only for 2 1/2 hours, and the rest of the day the school children are not in the park. That time is for the public and it is hard for customers to have to gain access through the front office. She said that the one incident of the child leaving the school 3 March 10, 2009 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting Minutes was abusing the rights of everyone else. She wanted us to keep in mind that the student did not leave from the playground area, but left from inside of the school. Thomas Mather, 945 Dove Landing, CS - Mr. Mather explained that he used to be the President for Edelweiss Estates, and that he walks his dogs in the park all the time. He asked, "What happens when I walk my dog into the school, and the dog gets spooked with a child?" "Can there be automatic locks on a timer to open the gates at certain times of the day?" He was not sure that depending on a person to make sure that the gates are open at specific times was a good idea. Mr. Mather requested that maps of the fencing and the gates at the schools be on public access for viewing. He also explained that there needed to be visable signage at the park and school to inform citizens that they needed to check-in at the school's front office. Norinda Arden, 311 Cecilia Loop, CS - She explained that they pay dues to keep streetscaping up to shape, and the Jack and Dorothy Miller Park has been a wonderful amenity to their neighborhood. She explained that fencing is great, and she wants the children to be safe. However, common sense use of the park is what is needed. She left email comments from some of the neighbors in Edelweiss with City Staff. George Jessup - Is there a way to do a swipe card to have access into the park? Tom Woodfin, resident close to Jack and Dorothy Miller Park - He asked what the intention of the board was regarding this issue. Jim McGuirk, 302 Cecilia Loop, CS - His concern was that the gates would not be unlocked, when they needed to be. Mr. McGuirk's recommendation was to make unfriendly latches on the gates, so that children could not open them. Another concern was for the dog owners that use the park. He explained that gaining access to the park if you have a dog is going to be an issue, because the dog owner would have to bring their dog into the school, which may not be allowed. Tom Woodfin, resident close to Jack and Dorothy Miller Park - He can see the safety issue for the fencing. He said that the Edelweiss Gartens residents have a greater investment in the park than the school district does. He recommends that the residents keep using the park as they always have. He also said that the access for joint use needs to be clearly spelled out in documentation for everyone. Billy Hart made a motion that staff encompass the concerns of the area residents and to use common sense, while giving better access to the area residents. 4 March 10, 2009 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting Minutes David Scott seconded the motion. Wayne Williams explained that there needs to be another way of gaining access into Jack and Dorothy Miller Park without having to check into the school's front office. The vote was called. All were in favor, and the motion carried unanimously. 8. Presentation, possible action and discussion concerning Field Redevelopment Fee Fund Analysis: Peter Lamont, Recreation Superintendent, gave a presentation regarding this item. Discussion followed. David Scott made a motion to accept the fees structure as submitted in the presentation, and George Jessup seconded the motion. The vote was called. All were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously, 9. Presentation, possible action, and discussion concerning City-wide Grounds Maintenance Operations of Public Property: David Schmitz, Assistant Director - Operations, gave a presentation regarding this item. Discussion followed. (See item #10 for motion) 10. Presentation, possible action, and discussion concerning Park Maintenance Operations and Standards: David Schmitz, Assistant Director - Operations, gave a presentation regarding this item. Discussion followed. Wayne Williams made a motion to accept both of the presentations as submitted by David Schmitz (Item #9 and #10), and David Scott seconded the motion. The vote was called. All were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously. 11. Discussion and possible action concerning the possibilities for development of a Joint PARD Board / Greenways Technical Task Force Sub-committee: Marco A. Cisneros explained that David Scott was a member of the Greenways Technical Task Force and David Wood was also a member. He explained that staff's recommendation was to not create another sub-committee at this time. Marco A. Cisneros explained that Venessa Garza will not be able to meet quarterly as recommended in the last meeting. She may be able to come back every six months for an update. This was an informational item only, and no action was required. 12. Presentation, possible action, and discussion concerning Draft of Chapter 5, Parks, Greenways, and the Arts of the Comprehensive Plan: Marco A. Cisneros explained this item and its current status. He also explained that Mr. Tom Woodfin was a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission and asked Mr. Woodfin for his feedback. Discussion followed. Wayne Williams made a motion to accept the Draft of Chapter 5, Parks, Greenways, and the Arts of the Comprehensive Plan, and Billy Hart seconded the motion. The vote was called. All were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously. 13. Discussion and possible action concerning Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Goals: David Scott made a motion to accept the Board Goals 5 March 10, 2009 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting Minutes as submitted, and Shawn Rhodes seconded the motion. The vote was called. All were in favor, and the motion passed unanimously. 14. Presentation, possible action, and discussion concerning the current Capital Improvement Program: Pete Vanecek, Senior Park Planner, reported on the Capital Improvement and Park Land Dedication Project lists. This was an informational item only, and no action was required. 15. Presentation, possible action, and discussion on future agenda items: A Board Member may inquire about a subject for which notice has not been given. A statement of specific factual information or the recitation of existing policy may be given. Any deliberation shall be limited to a proposal to place the subject on an agenda for a subsequent meeting: • Next Regular Meeting — April 14, 2009, 7:00PM, College Station Conference Center • Park Maintenance Standards 16. Adjourn: Billy Hart made a motion to adjourn the meeting, and Shawn Rhodes seconded the motion. The vote was called. All were in favor, and the meeting adjourned at 10:12 p.m. 6 March 10, 2009 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting Minutes