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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_PAREB_08.23.2001CITY OF GEORGETOWN Parks & Recreation Board August 23, 2001 I. CALL TO ORDER John Philpott, chair, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Members Present: Mr. John Philpott, Chair Ms. Tracy Dubcak, Vice Chair Ms. Brenna Nedbalek Ms. Jean Houck Mr. Douglas Blackard Mr. Wesley Kidd Members Absent: Ms. Liz Mealy Mr. David Rinn Visitors Speaking: Barbara Austin, Richardson Verdoorn Steve Kretzing, Richardson Verdoorn Dayle Aldrich, Indoor Pool Jim Cummins, Steger and Bizzell Staff Present: Randy Morrow, Director of Parks and Recreation Kimberly Garrett, Administrative Manager Andy Hesser, Parks Manager Kimberly Wilkinson, Aquatic Coordinator Robert Staton, Tennis Center Supervisor PUBLIC FORUM III. DISCUSSION ON THE SURVEY RESULTS FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN — RICHARDSON VERDOORN John Philpott, Chair, told the public that a few months ago the City Council granted funding for a Parks Master Plan. Richardson Verdoorn was chosen as the consultant to prepare a Parks and Recreation Master Plan for the City. The master plan should be complete in October. Page 1 of 5 Initial steps in the Master Plan process were to inventory all existing parks and do a citizen survey to find out the needs of Georgetown. Barbara Austin with Richardson Verdoorn showed the public a map of all the existing parks, developed and undeveloped and joint school/parks in Georgetown and the ETJ. The City's parkland has grown from 115 acres to 450 acres in a ten-year period. In early July a parks and recreation questionnaire was sent out to all residents on City utilities. There was a 13% response rate on the survey. The information was summarized. The type of new park most desired was a linear park along creeks and rivers. The type of new facility most desired was hike and bike trails, then restrooms and drinking fountains, nature trails, an indoor swimming pool, playground equipment, picnic tables, amphitheater, covered picnic pavilions, and a nature center. The five least desired new facilities were softball fields, dog park, equestrian trails, RV sites, and disc golf course. Recreational opportunities most desired were summer crafts for kids. The type of existing parks most desired were to add/improve restrooms, add drinking fountains, add security lighting, add/expand picnic facilities and add playground equipment. There was also a space for people to write in comments. Most comments that were written were the same thing they wanted in the list. The comments were lots of exclamation points behind their item, an indoor pool, clean up the restrooms and other items like that. Most people ranked items about the same way across different categories. Some of the categories were East or West of HI 35 and over or under age 55. In regards to the questions about supporting a tax increase or an increase in fees, those answers were slightly to the no. From here, the inventory will be finalized. Some comparisons to other cities will be made regarding parkland, and Georgetown will also be compared to the standards for parks and recreation facilities with the National Parks and Recreation Association. The survey and any input that is received at the public meeting will be used also. All the information will then be compiled into a master plan, which will make specific recommendations and outline a plan to develop the parks and facilities. An implementation program about how the projects will be funded and what order they should be developed will be included. The period will probably cover 10 years. The draft master plan will be presented at the next Parks and Recreation Board meeting on September 20, 2001, at the Georgetown Recreation Center. The plan will still be in draft form and comments will be welcomed. In October the plan should be finalized and presented to City Council and from then the implementation process will start. Barbara Austin opened the floor for comments. John Philpott commented that the things that have been discussed in the past, like linear parks, bike paths and maintaining what we have is basics and that is what the citizens Page 2 of 5 want. Randy asked how the indoor swimming pool ranked across groups. Barbara said that it was in all the groups' top 5 except for west of IH and over 55 years old. A question was asked about renovating the community center and how that ranked. The only question asked on the survey was if a new community center was needed and that come in 16th on the survey. Randy said there was a request in the budget to renovate the community center, but it did not get funded. There was also some discussion about going for a bond to renovate the community center with the library bond. A question was asked about developing the Rivery property. Randy stated that the first 35 acres has been developed with a ropes course, disc golf, a hike/bike trail, and picnic areas. The area is mostly natural. The other 26 acres has not been developed yet. The Parks and Recreation Department is going to work on a grant to help develop that area, the land is currently in a trust to use as a match for grant funds. Access to the Rivery property is going to be by trail under IH 35 with parking also under IH35. A question was asked if the trail was going to connect to the Country Club. Randy said when you get to Country Club Drive, most people own to the center of the river and it makes it difficult to purchase that property. One option is to go up Starview and then try to connect to the river and then onto Lake Georgetown. One citizen commented that they were glad to see some natural area in the area because they are disappearing so fast. A question was asked about the Ropes Course and if the City's Ropes Course was the same as the one located by the hospital. Randy said the City's ropes course is located in the Rivery area. The ropes course located on Scenic Drive by the hospital is owned by the hospital. REGULAR MEETING IV. DISCUSSION ON CONSTRUCTION OF ON INDOOR POOL During the budget hearings, Council recommended to build an indoor swimming facility adjacent to the recreation center and leave the Williams Drive Pool open until the new indoor swimming pool was in operation. John said the Parks Board would help the staff to fast track that operation to go for RFQ's on design, possibly design and build and get the money available to proceed as fast as possible. Dayle Aldrich volunteered to a assist in being on a committee to help make this happen. She has made phone calls to other organizations to see how they operated and was wanting to bring that knowledge to the table. She is afraid the City will loose three pools in the process. She asked about heaters at Williams Drive. Randy said they were taken out years ago because of the expense of heating such a large pool with no cover. Page 3 of 5 John said at the next meeting the Parks Board would look at assigning a sub -committee to help in constructing an indoor pool. V. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON CRYSTAL KNOLL TERRACE UNIT FOUR PARKLAND DEDICATION Jim Cummins representing Westover Enterprises for Crystal Knoll Terrace Unit Four told the board that the parkland dedication requirements for this development are $18,000 in fees or a minimum of 1.44 acres of parkland. The developer proposes to give the City the same amount of acreage meeting the City standards or pay a cash sum of $30,000 which is $12,000 more than is required by the City. If the board chooses acreage it would be in that same parkland dedication zone. There are no other parks in that subdivision. In past developments, fee in lieu of has always been paid. Wesley said the money sounds good, but people need parks. Doug said that there are other parks in the area like Cooper Elementary and the new County Park. The board is not in favor of accepting the $30,000. Jim said the developer is too far along with the process to redesign the subdivision. Jim believes that the land option would be solved relatively quickly and not stretched out due to the recording processes that have to be met. The developer would like to continue with the City's process. Jean asked about the possibility of setting aside some land until the 1.44 acres could be found. There was discussion on which lots should be set aside in escrow until the 1.44 acres could be dedicated. The board said they would take less acreage in the center of the subdivision. John suggested that the developer come back to the next meeting in September with some options on the land. Wesley made a motion recommending the option of parkland for Crystal Knoll Terrace Unit Four to be one of the following in order to continue with the City process: lots 7-14, Block F, lotsl-9, Block H, 1.44 acres or parkland to be provided by the developer, fees to purchase the same amount of land or lots 8-13, Block F and fees to develop the property. Brenna seconded the motion and it passed 5-0. The developer would be back at the September meeting with some options on the 1.44 acres or land in the subdivision. VI. APPROVE MINUTES FROM JUNE 14, 2001 A motion was made by Brenna Nedbalek to approve the minutes from the June 14, 2001, meeting. Jean Houck seconded the motion and it passed by unanimous vote. VII. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON PROPOSAL TO PURCHASE SAN GABRIEL BATTING CAGES INC San Gabriel Batting Cages Inc. offered to sell it's batting cages to the City. The City Page 4 of 5 Council is not interested in purchasing the batting cages at the present time. The San Gabriel Batting Cages, Inc. must comply with the lease when selling the business. The City Council will have to approve the buyer of the batting cages. VIII. COUNTY PARK UPDATE Doug contacted Sebesta and Associates about when the next meeting would be. They told Doug they did not think there would be another meeting. Tracy said the Chamberlain tract has been purchased. IX. UPDATE ON BUDGET PROCESS John said all departments have presented their budget requests. Very few items have been approved. The indoor swimming pool is a pleasant surprise and there is also $35,000 in the budget for renovations for San Jose Park. The remaining schedule for the budget process is as follows: the first reading of the budget will be on September 11t and the second reading is on September 25t. The new budget goes into effect on October 1St Wesley asked about the status of the tennis center. Randy said the tennis center is expected to bring in an additional $50,000 next year. X. DISCUSSION ON THE BOARD ATTENDANCE POLICY John Philpott attended a meeting on August 13, 2001, with other board and commission chairs. The attendance policy was discussed. It was stated that attendance is very important and is a factor that is considered when you are up for reappointment and also looked at semi annually by the Mayor and Council. John said attendance is very important and it not only means not being here but not being here on time. John asked the board members to please contact Kimberly if they are not going to be able to attend the meeting or going to be late and let her know if you feel you should be excused. XI. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS In -Door Pool subcommittee Crystal Knoll Terrace Unit Four Richardson Verdoorn Master Plan Update on park development in zone 16 Update on Budget process Ken Knowles — commercial train — October meeting for discussion XII. REMINDER ON CHANGE OF NEXT MEETING — SEPTEMBER 20 The next meeting will be on September 20, 2001, at the Recreation Center. XIII. ADJOURN Brenna Nedbalek made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Page 5of5