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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_PAREB_11.11.2004Minutes of the Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board City of Georgetown, Texas Thursday, November 11, 2004 The Parks and Recreation Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Thursday , November 11, 2004. Members Present: Kay Cobb, Lilya Crystal, Mark Ramsey, Mark Shepherd, Michael Simpson, Ron Doernbach, Russ Peterman, Van Chandler Members Absent: Mike Watson Staff Present: Randy Morrow, Kimberly Garrett, Jill Kellum Visitors Present: Clark Curry, City of Georgetown resident Minutes Regular Meeting 1. Roll Call 2. CaII to order Crystal called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm. 3. Update on November bond election. Morrow announced that the bonds for the library construction, recreation center renovation and expansion, and community center renovation passed. The process will now begin by getting the architects started. The library will be started first. There have been a lot of calls wanting to speed up the completion of the recreation center. Morrow spoke to finance, the city manager, and assistant city manager yesterday to see if there was a way to speed up the completion of the recreation center and not cause an added burden on the tax rate. They are looking at the possibility of this, stating the economy has a lot to due with this decision. The completion of the recreation center is slated for 2010 but Morrow would like to see it completed by 2008, which could be a possibility. The community center and the library will start first at the same time. The construction of the community center will begin January 2006 and will take 6 — 8 months. The community center will be gutted i.e. AC units taken out, and everything inside. The restrooms will be converted to handicap accessible restrooms and the ADA requires more restrooms, and a sound proof divider wall will be installed. Crystal asked if memberships for the recreation would stop. Morrow explained that the recreation center would stay open while the expansion and renovation were taking place. Morrow praised the high school students and youth board for contributing in getting the bonds passed. 4. Update on Hike/Bike Trail to Lake Georgetown -Morrow Morrow met with 12 general contractors and walked the trail to present information for the bid for the construction of the hike and bike trail. The sealed bids open at 2 PM tomorrow in purchasing. Morrow was happy to see so many contractors pick up the plans for the project, as in past there were only a few contractors who bid. 5. Discussion about Economic development and 1/4 cent sales tax for parks-Peterman Peterman met with Farley Snell who will introduce the Parks and Recreation Board at the December 14 council meeting. There is a %4 cent remaining in the maximum sales tax rate for Georgetown. Snell will present a resolution to form a 4A tax cooperation. Georgetown currently has a 4B tax cooperation for road improvements. Snell would like to introduce this as a 1/8 of a cent sales tax for the discretionary spending of 4A cooperation and will reduce property taxes. And then further would like to introduce some 4B project categories that would include parks and recreation, open space, and affordable housing. The 4A cooperation would have a board of directors of 5 people. They would have 1/8 of a cent of sales tax annually which currently would be about $500,000 and after Wolf Ranch opens could be as much as $800,000 a year and would be available to economic development, projects to parks and open space, and affordable housing. Those would be the 3 categories that the governing board could spend money on. This gives parks and recreation an avenue to get significant funding. Morrow asked if the governing board would decide if parks and recreation gets the funding or would the funds have to be requested. Peterman stated it would work like a 4B cooperation except this is a 4A cooperation. The board would consist of 3 council members and 2 at large members. Peterman said Snell is looking at this for funding the Garey Park matching fund. Peterman would like to see whole 1/8 cent to go to Parks and Recreation. 6. Garey Ranch Master Plan -Morrow Morrow met with the Gareys and they are excited about doing the master plan for their 525 acres. Morrow gave a list of the master plan, which showed what step would be taking place. The Board members will be able to tour the property to give their input on what they would want to see in the parkland. Morrow said the Garey's are very excited about the master plan and expressed that they knew the City of Georgetown would take care of the land. The next step is to go out for a Request for Qualification in December and see which landscape architects are out there and which one will be the best for a parcel that big and do a contract with them and get them started. Then do charrettes and have input from the board and then input from the public and then input from the Garey's to see what they would like to see in the park. Chandler asked how much it would cost for the landscape architect. Morrow said he would check with council to use money that was set aside for a park on the west -side of town since Garey Park has come along to help pay for a master plan. There are still concerns because the money is put in a trust because it is used for grants. When you put it in a trust the deed goes to the Texas Recreation and Parks Foundation. It goes in the foundation's name not the city's name and they still want to be reassured that it is still city parkland and not changed to something else. The master plan is another way of doing that too because it will be adopted by city ordinance and shows as one piece of property that is named Garey Park and we will do a contract with them also. Ramsey wanted clarification on the $5 million. Morrow stated the $5 million would have to be matched within 3 years of the Garey's death. Simpson asked if the park is outside of the city limits. Morrow said it is in Leander's ETJ. It will go to Leander's city council and Georgetown's city council to include it back into Georgetown's ETJ. The land cannot be used until after the Garey's death. The Garey's are getting the land appraised and deeding out 100-acre sections and putting it in a remainder interest trust. It will not be made into a park until after they are gone from the property. 7. Sports complex-Peterman Ramsey asked about the sports complex. Peterman said GISD has sent a letter of commitment to the county to purchase a subset of the county land and their intention is to build a stadium there provided the rest of the project happens. So the current issue is that $50,000 needs to be obtained to do an economic feasibility study for the county and the city would be part of that too for this large multi purpose events center. Ramsey asked if the parks would be responsible for the soccer fields and things like that. Peterman said the land that the county owns is about 100 acres and there is room to do the multi purpose events center and the football stadium and there is not much room to do anything else other than parking. There is land available adjacent to this property if the city wants to do anything with it they need to consider looking at the property. The county is willing to look at the land. Birkman is the new commissioner and she want more time to think about this issue. There would need to be a bond election. Simpson asked how the sheriffs posse fits into this plan. Morrow stated if football stadium and rodeo arena moves, we would need to do a new master plan for San Gabriel Park. 8. Discussion on December meeting Next scheduled meeting is Thursday Dec. 16th from 6:30 — 8:00pm. Holiday party for appreciation of the Parks and Recreation Board Members. Cafe of the Square was offered as a meeting place. The alternate date would be the 9th. 9. Approve Minutes from October 21, 2004 Motion was made by Ramsey to approve minutes. Doernbach seconded the motion and it passed by unanimous vote. 10. Future Agenda Items City council to meet with board in January or February to discuss use of parkland. Master plan for the Garey Ranch. Hike and Bike trail update. Sports complex venue update. Sales tax for parkland. 11. Adjourn Motion was made by Doernbach to adjourn at 7:35pm. Approved: Attest: LiIia Crystal, Chair Parks and Recreation Board Parks & Recreation Board Secretary Van Chandler