HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/09/2004 - Regular Minutes - Parks Board (2)Non Casares - Novem 2004 M inutes.doc Page 1
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, November 9, 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 Park Planner; Kristan Clann, Greenways
Program Manager - Public Works; Pamela Springfield, Staff Assistant.
Board Members Present Don Allison; Gary Erwin; Glenn Schroeder; Larry Farnsworth; Jeannie
McCandless; Gary Thomas
Board Members Absent Jodi Warner, Chair; Kathleen Ireland; Carol Blaschke
Guests & Visitors Kevin Kuddles, Texas Paralyzed Veterans; Beau Davis, TAMU RPTS 402
1. Call to order In Jodi Warner's absence, Don Allison, called the meeting to order at
7:00 p.m.
2. Pardon and possible action concerning reauests for absences of members Requests
for absence had been submitted by Jodi Warner, Carol Blaschke, and Kathleen Ireland. A
motion was made by Glenn Schroeder to approve the requests for absence that had been
submitted. Gary Erwin seconded. The vote was called, and carried unanimously.
3. Hear Visitors Kevin Kuddles with Texas Paralyzed Veterans had some concerns. He stated
that about a year ago the bicycle path from Edelweiss had been extended from Schaffer Road
down to the Senior League ball fields at Southwood Athletic Park and dead - ending at the
parking lot. He wondered if that path could be extended down the senior fields and along the
soccer fields out to the main entrance to connect with Rio Grande. Steve Beachy stated that
this would have to be looked at, explaining that no action could be taken at the present time.
He said the item could be placed on a future agenda with maps showing what routes might be
possible. He added that a funding source would have to be identified.
Hearing no further discussion this item was closed.
4. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of minutes from the Regular
meeting of October 12, 2004 Larry F. moved to accept the minutes as presented. The
motion was seconded by Gary Thomas, and hearing no opposition or discussion, the vote was
called. The motion carried unanimously.
S. Discussion, consideration, and possible action regarding requests for park land
dedications
• Terrace Pines N Park Zone 3:
This was a 100 apartment units at the corner of Krenek Tap Road and Dartmouth Drive.
The park land dedication would be slightly under an acre, therefore staff was
recommending acceptance of the cash dedication in lieu of land. Glenn S. moved to
accept the cash dedication ($45,200) and Gary E. seconded. The vote was called, and the
motion carried unanimously.
6. Report discussion and possible action regarding the Hike and Bike Trail Plan N
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Kristan Clann Kristan Clann was present to update the Board on what the Bike and Hike
Task Force had been working on. Representatives from all areas of the city made up the task
force which was working on trails that foster connectivity. The focus was on connecting
neighborhoods, schools, parks, retail center, etc., with trails that were recreational oriented.
The group had looked at nineteen different trail projects, categorizing them into high, medium
and low priorities. (See Bike and Hike Task Force Proposed Trail Projects, November
2004 attached). The high priority projects had then been looked at in depth, and further
ranked with the Brison Park Trail project ranked as number one. The high priority trail
projects were:
■ #1 - Brison Park Trail: $25,000 cost for this trail that will connect south College Station
with Texas A &M and University Drive; plans include signage, beautification, and some
pavement improvements.
• #2 - Bee Creek Trail Southwest: $600,000 cost for this trail extension of 1.5 miles which
will make a nice enhancement to Steeplechase Park when it is designed in 2005; it will
serve patrons of the public library, A &M Consolidated High School students, and will
run through Georgie K. Fitch Park and over to Southwood.
■ #3 - Lick Creek Trail West. $550,000 cost to do this 1.35 mile trail that will run through
Edelweiss Gartens Park, through a greenway in Westfield Park, running through
Alexandria and Cypress Meadows subdivisions.
• #4 -Bee Creek Bridge: $125,000 - $150,000 to build a bridge across Bee Creek to
replace the old bridge that is no longer in service, which will allow connectivity to Bee
Creek Park, the Arboretum, Adamson Lagoon, and the new bike loop; this will be done
in conjunction with the Longmire and 2818 interchange improvements.
■ #5 - Gulf States Utilities Trail. Cost of $4 million; the eight mile trail would connect a
multitude of parks and neighborhoods - Lick Creek Park, Pebble Creek, Emerald Forest
Park and subdivision, Raintree subdivision and park, Windwood, Veterans Park, and to
the City of Bryan. The city of Bryan is trying to work on their part of the trail. Most of
the trail projects run east /west and are planned to run into this trail.
• #6 -Bee Creek Trail Northwest. Cost of $660,000; 1.83 miles of new trail that would
run from Tarrow Park, through some greenway area, through the future Southwest
Park, behind A &M Consolidated's football field, and up to Bee Creek. TxDot has
granted conditional approval to work in their right -of -way to get this trail done.
Funding for a lot of the high priority projects could possibly come through the Federal
Transportation fund. Kristan briefly went over the medium priority trails. She finished by
explaining that the Task Force would be presenting its recommendations to Council on
November 23r d . She asked that anyone with ideas for trail projects give her a call. Steve
stated when parks were being planned it would be important to make sure that the Bike and
Hike plans were taken into consideration. The Board will receive another update in the spring.
There being no further discussion and no motion of support made, this item was closed.
7. Report, discussion, and possible action _ re aardina Parks and Recreation Advisory
Board By -laws Steve explained that the City Council had increased the number of members
on the Board earlier that year. A subcommittee had been created to go through the Board's
By -laws and update them. With the Board's approval the updated By -laws would be
submitted to the City Council for ratification.
Discussion followed:
A question was raised regarding term limits. Steve stated that members usually serve two
terms and then rotate off the board.
Gary T. stated that Paragraph 1 of Exhibit A read differently than Article 1, Section 1,
Paragraph 1 of the By -laws. The board felt that the wording should be consistent between
the two documents.
Concern was expressed over the ordinance wording, regarding the fact that it would be a
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misdemeanor if any of the provisions were not followed.
■ The new requirements meant that five members would have to be present in order to form a
quorum.
Glenn S. made a motion that the Board adopt the revised By -laws and recommend their
adoption by ordinance by the City Council, with the change as noted. Larry F. seconded the
motion. Hearing no further discussion the vote was called and passed unanimously.
S. Report, discussion, and possible action concerning the Capital Improvement
Program (CIP Brief updates were given on the status of the projects that were in
progress.
• The Lincoln Center expansion and basketball pavilion — the project was going smoothly. Ric
gave a brief presentation showing photos taken of the expansion.
• Jack & Dorothy Miller Trail Lighting project — waiting on the delivery of the light poles; the
entire basketball court there would be covered.
• Soccer lights for Central and Veterans Park — would be bid as one project shortly.
• Crompton Park — 50% through the design phase.
This was an informational item only and no action was required.
9. Review, discussion, and possible action concerning Board and Department Goals and
Objectives, and City Council Strategic Plan Steve B. stated that although it was still
early in the year, some of the goals were being worked through. There would be a lot of
activity in the coming months. One of the members asked about the timeframe on the
Steeplechase public hearings. Steve stated that they would most likely be held in the spring.
The Program and Facility Needs Assessment process would begin later in the week, with a
meeting of the two graduate students who would be conducting the assessment. Steve
explained that the assessment would lay the groundwork for updates that would later be done
to the Recreation, Park, and Open Space Master Plan, as well as for future CIP projects, and
the programs offered in the future.
This was an informational item only and no action was required.
10. Discussion of calendar, future meeting dates, and possible agenda items
• The Veterans Day Ceremony would be held on November 11t at 5:30 p.m.
• The next regular meeting would be held on December 14, 2004
• All the board members were invited to the City Hall Open House on December 8t from
3:00 — 5:00 p.m.
• The Christmas in the Park lighting ceremony would be held on Friday, December 6
beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Items for the next /future meetings:
• Gary T. stated that the officers of the Brazos Valley Radio Control Club were interested in
introducing an offer of support and assistance for the potential of a model airplane park. A
short video would be shown. Gary T. would be in touch.
• A Program and Facility Needs Assessment update would be given.
• A Park Naming Subcommittee meeting would be held sometime after the first of the year.
11. Adiourn. A motion was made to adjourn and seconded. Hearing no opposition, the meeting
adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
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