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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_PAREB_09.12.2002CITY OF GEORGETOWN Parks & Recreation Board Minutes September 12, 2002 I. CALL TO ORDER John Philpott, chair, called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. II. WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBER Mark Ramsey was introduced as a new parks board member replacing Mary Lee Dobi. Members gave background information on themselves. M. ROLL CALL Members Present: Mr. John Philpott, Chair Ms. Jean Houck Mr. Phil Davis Ms. Amy Vick Mr. Ron Doernbach Ms. Dawn Hitt-Wilken Mr. Mark Ramsey Members Absent: Mr. Douglas Blackard Ms. Brenna Nedbalek Others Present: Don Bizzell, Stegar & Bizzell Amy Basey, Williamson County Health and Human Services Marge Tripp, Williamson County Health and Human Services Ken Knowles, Train Proprietor Holly Knowles, Train Proprietor Will Moore, Citizen Patti Moore, Citizen Staff Present: Randy Morrow, Director of Parks and Recreation Kimberly Garrett, Manager of Administration IV. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON CONCEPT PLAN FOR BERRY CREEK SECTION 5 PARKLAND DEDICATION Don Bizzell, engineer for Berry Creek Section 5, gave some history on the Berry Creek Subdivision. In the past, Berry Creek has always paid fees in lieu of dedicating land. The Parks and Recreation Board Minutes September 12, 2002 Page 1 of 5 park proposed is 3.01 acres and is located close to the Berry Creek Sewer Plant. There were some concerns with the location. Mr. Bizzell said the City has talked about taking that sewer plant off line and tying into the new plant. Houses should be on the market early next year. There is also some commercial property proposed for the section. Phil asked about swapping the proposed parkland for some of the commercial land. John suggested that the parkland be more centrally located in the subdivision. Mr. Bizzell said he would take the idea back to the owner for his consideration. The idea is to get the park closer to the people. Mr. Bizzell said that the adjacent Bishop Tract might be developed soon. Phil asked about the water quality pond and what it would look like, Don said 99% of the time it would be dry. It will not hold water except on rain occasions. Phil suggested taking the plat back to the owner to consider a new parkland location that is either in the commercial area or an area more centrally located to the subdivision. Randy said the sewer plant is noisy and he wants to make sure that Berry Creek gets a park. Mark asked if a fence was going to be installed? Don said he did not know that it would depend on what is developed on the other side. Phil made a motion that Mr. Bizzell take the plat back to the owner to consider a new parkland location that is either in the commercial area or an area more centrally located to the subdivision and bring that new plat back to the board for consideration. Ron seconded the motion and it passed by unanimous vote. V. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON TRAIN IN SAN GABRIEL PARK Ken Knowles spoke to the board regarding a proposal to put a train in San Gabriel Park. He showed a presentation to the board discussing the positive impacts the train would bring to the City of Georgetown and San Gabriel Park. He also showed a video of what the train would like. Will Moore asked what the City process of approval was for the train. John explained that the City Council has the final say. The Parks and Recreation Board is advisory and can only make recommendations to Council. The train idea was presented at the last Main Street Advisory Board meeting, but no action was taken. The train would produce revenue for the City. The City currently has both flat rate and % of gross revenue as the concession fee. The details of this particular concession would be worked out in an agreement Pattie Moore asked where tickets would be sold, Ken said from the train itself. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes September 12, 2002 Page 2 of 5 Pattie Moore said San Gabriel Park is congested right now. She has some real concerns with a train in the park. San Gabriel Park is an oasis and encouraged the board not to allow the train in the park. She said only really young children would enjoy the train. Ron said he sees the venture incompatible with the current ambiance and setting of San Gabriel Park. He agrees with Patti and does not see it as a mode of transportation. Phil said several times a year there is mechanized equipment in the park for festivals. He says that trains are quiet. He believes the storage unit can be disguised. Phil does not see the train as a negative impact on the park. He said there is an explosion of young children in the area and thinks it is a good idea. Ron said that minorities would not be able to afford the fee. Mark asked about the length of contract? John said maybe three years. Jean asked about hours of operation? Ken said weekends for sure and maybe expand in the summer to include weekdays. Amy is concerned about the lease and the legal issues regarding concessions and leasing public land for private use. John asked if what we are doing with the concession stand at McMaster is different than a train concession. It is in that we own the building that the concession is run out of. Jean likes the train idea. Randy said the park gets overused now and a train would only bring more people. Dawn can see pros and cons too. Tranquility is an issue. Holly Knowles mentioned the sound is loud enough not to cause an accident. John asked about a process for getting public input. Ron said the survey that was sent out last summer did not indicate the need for a train. The survey did not include a question about a train or similar concession. Ken said there are 360 other cities in the United States that have trains in parks. Phil asked if we could find out about the other cities that have trains and there track record. Ken said he could give some leads. Mark asked if Ken had any trains in operation right now and he does not. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes September 12, 2002 Page 3 of 5 John asked about the process and where Ken would go next. Randy said that council said they would not address the issue until they had a policy on commercial development in the park Ken envisions the parks board setting up a workshop with council. Randy stressed that a council policy needs to be in place before any action can be taken. Phil asked about contacting the council regarding the schedule for the policy. There was a consensus from the board that a letter be addressed to council regarding the process, policy, and procedures to take for this project. VI. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON COMMUNITY GARDEN ON OLD PHELAN PROPERTY The Williamson County Health District approached the Parks and Recreation Department about using some City land for a community garden. Randy suggested the 18 acres known as the Phelan Property that was purchased last September. The property is located off of Hutto Road adjacent to Annie Purl Soccer Fields and is currently undeveloped parkland. The WDHD understands that the City may develop this parkland and that the community garden at this site may not be permanent. Marge Tripp with the WCHD said the biggest concern for Williamson County was cardiovascular disease and that people needed to eat more fruits and vegetables and exercise. Since nutrition was a concern, this is how the community garden idea was born. The community garden would promote exercise and good nutrition Amy Basey with the WCHD explained the layout of the community garden. The raised beds would be 4' x 9' and made out of cement blocks that are easy to assemble and disassemble. The idea is to have community groups adopt plots. There will be no charge to adopt a plot. An education center will also be available to teach people how to garden. Ron asked about a water supply. Ms. Basey said there is a well on the property and they are looking into a windmill to pump the water out. Mark asked about the parking. They would not disturb the area and parking would be along the road next to where the house stood. Phil asked about fertilizer? Ms. Basey said it would be mostly organic. Jean and Amy both said it was a great idea. Mark Ramsey made a motion to accept the proposal from the Williamson County Health District to have a community garden at the park on Hutto Road. Jean Houck seconded Parks and Recreation Board Minutes September 12, 2002 Page 4 of 5 the motion and it passed by unanimous vote. Ms. Basey said there are 10 community garden sites in the County and five of them are in Georgetown. Each community garden site should allow for 32 families to have plots. VII. APPROVE MINUTES FROM AUGUST 17, 2002 A motion was made by Ron Doernbach to approve the amended minutes from the August 17, 2002, meeting. Phil Davis seconded the motion and it passed by unanimous vote. VIII. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Amy Vick will do a presentation for October regarding the Healthy America Program. • Update on Rivery Park II, disc golf course and trees. IX. ADJOURN Phil Davis made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes September 12, 2002 Page 5 of 5