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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_PAREB_01.13.2005Minutes of the Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board City of Georgetown, Texas Thursday, January 13, 2005 The Parks and Recreation Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Thursday , January 13, 2005. Members Present: Kay Cobb, Lilya Crystal, Mark Shepherd, Michael Simpson, Ron Doernbach, Russ Peterman, Van Chandler Members Absent: Mark Ramsey, Mike Watson Staff Present: Randy Morrow, Kimberly Garrett, Jill Kellum Others Present: Mark Silverstone, representing 84 Lumber, David Starr, representing, himself (Madison Oaks) Minutes Regular Meeting 1. Call to order Crystal called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM 2. Roll Cali 3. Consideration and possible action on parkland for Madison Oaks (84 Lumber Park) - David Starr/Mark Silverstone Morrow gave a brief history on the parkland at Madison Oaks. David Starr owns the property and planned to build a residential subdivision. 84 Lumber approached Mr. Starr to buy the property as commercial use. Morrow stated when you purchase land for a residential development, in Phase 1 you have to give parkland. Even though the property changed to commercial use, Mr. Starr had already deeded the parkland to the City. 84 Lumber wants to build their commercial facility across the street from the six -acre park. 84 Lumber wants to put in a railroad spur to access their facility, where they will conduct both retail and wholesale trade. Morrow spoke to Mr. Starr previously and if Mr. Starr could get the money to develop the park we could probably give some type of easement for the railroad spur through the park. Mr. Starr is willing to donate $50,000 to design, build, and landscape the park. Mr. Starr presented a conceptual drawing of the park and stated that he might be able to give 84 Lumber an easement through the park. Mr. Starr stated that 84 Lumber needs to get across the park because Georgetown Railroad's spur is on the north side of the property. Mr. Starr explained that 84 Lumber is a huge operation and relies on railroad to bring in timber. Mr. Starr is willing to donate $50,000 for a park: picnic tables, park benches, gazebo, and trash receptacles. Morrow reiterated that commercial property does not have to give parkland, but since it was first zoned residential Mr. Starr had to dedicate parkland in the Phase 1 process. Doernbach asked where closest residential area is and Mr. Starr stated that Pleasant Valley would be the closest. The whole area where Madison Oaks is will be used as an industrial area. Doernbach asked the usefulness of the park in this locality if it is industrial. Chandler stated it would be for the people that work in that area and there are park areas in Austin that are set up around industrial areas also. Morrow asked how many people would be employed by 84 lumber and Mr. Starr stated 99 employees. Morrow stated that he sees it as another green space in town. When people see this industrial area it makes it more attractive because you are going to have a green space in the middle of it instead of just asphalt. Chandler asked how the park would be set up since it would be used mostly for lunches. Morrow stated it would be set up more like the passive areas with gazebo and picnic areas but it would depend on if there had to be an easement put in due to the rail spur which will possibly cut the parkland area in the middle. Mr. Starr reiterated that the parkland in the industrial area is not a bad thing, it gives people in factories an opportunity to take a break. Morrow spoke about liability issues with partitions from the railroad. Chandler asked about city ordinances about blocking off the area to railroad. Georgetown Railroad needs 100-foot easement for the railroad. Morrow would like to see the rail spur put on the back end of the lot to get more parkland. Morrow stated the area could be used for practice baseball fields also. Mark Silverstone, attorney, representing 84 lumber describes the Madison Oaks Phase Two area. He stated that one area for the rail spur would be on the back end of the property, which is in a flood plain. This area would require FEMA authorization, which would take a longer time to construct. It would take 6 months to get approval and 3-6 months to get it built. The other 2 alternatives would bring the track directly through the property, which would not require FEMA approval and could get started and completed more quickly. The second alternative would only take about 90 days for the rail spur approval. Simpson asked if the rail spur could be curved back around to take in the back end of the property. Mr. Silverstone will take any suggestions back to the appropriate people. Mr. Starr stated they have maximum turning points. Morrow asked if 84 lumber would pay for fencing around the railroad area. Morrow does not want any of the $50,000 to be used for the railroad area. Mr. Starr felt in the agreement with 84 Lumber that they were responsible for anything to do with the rail spur. Doernbach asked where the 84 Lumber would be positioning the plant and if a different lot could be used for the park. Morrow and Mr. Silverstone stated the lots are already deeded. Mr. Starr is not concerned whether the park is divided in two or if it is one large park. Chandler suggested we make a motion to let 84 Lumber find the most suitable routing of the rail spur, in exchange for $50,000 and we will deal with how to use the money. It is being asked of the board to make a recommendation to the City Council to give an 100 foot easement through the park and that for the 100 foot easement Mr. Starr would give $50,000 to develop the park, and that the most suitable easement through the park would be used. Simpson made a motion that we recommend to City Council to accept 3 possible easement alternatives as determined by 84 Lumber, should the contract go through, to accept the $50,000 for this park or other park enhancement as needed and 84 lumber be responsible for the cost of the appropriate buffering of the easement for public safety. Chandler seconded the motion and was passed by unanimous vote. 4. Discussion about Economic Development and 0.25 cent sales tax for parks-Peterman This is moving forward onto the second reading for the City Council, which would then go onto the voters. It was also stated that Parks took the back burner to recycling in the different options for the quarter cent sales tax. 5. Discussion on future workshop with City Council to discuss parkland issues — Morrow The city council would like to meet with the Parks board in the next 4 — 5 months to discuss parks issues for future development related to budget process. There are no dates yet but will be put in later in the year. The meeting will be about 30 minutes. Simpson suggested that we get an outline together now for this meeting. Cobb suggested getting our goals together. Morrow will get guidelines together for the Parks board. Morrow will present the City's strategic plan to the board. The strategic plan is a 5 year plan to be used to prioritize budget items for each department, trying to plan ahead with a 5 year projection so that finance has an idea of what each department's needs and requests are in a dollar figure, as Garrett explained. Chandler asked about population and revenue spikes and about annexation plans and where we will be going since annexation directly affects this board. Finance will be attending the March meeting. 6. Sports Complex Venue update-Peterman Peterman states the complex is in a hold mode due to the City of Cedar Park has a bond election on February 5th, 2005. The bond is to build an arena that would house the Ice Bats as well as many other events. If this bond should pass it would affect this project. There have been several organizations that have approached the committee for the sports complex, that if the City of Cedar Park does not pass the bond, they in turn would come here. 7. Update on Lake Georgetown Trail and Rivery Park project — Morrow Morrow stated the contracts have been signed and construction starts January 20, 2005. Crystal asked when the trail would be completed and Morrow stated they have until June 19, 2005. Simpson asked were the trail comes out on Chandler's property. Chandler stated the trail comes out on Spring Valley Road, which is a danger for bikes going down the curve. Chandler got bids from RVI to design it to run through Chandler Park all the way and it would cost $100,000 to do it. It would cross the creek 3 times. Chandler has offered to split the cost with the City of Georgetown. Chandler would want the Parks board to recommend to the City Council that the City split the cost with him. Shepherd asked about the Lake Georgetown dam flow and how it would affect building the trail. Morrow stated the contractors were concerned about that and asked if Morrow would call the Corp. Morrow stated the Parks board would be a part of the ground breaking with the City Council. Morrow will meet with the contractors every Friday while the construction is going on. 8. Approve Minutes from November 11, 2004 Chandler made a motion to approve the minutes from November 11, 2004 meeting. Simpson seconded the motion and it passed by unanimous vote. 9. Future Agenda Items •Set up a subcommittee for the City Council meeting to discuss budget and strategies -Morrow •Sports Complex Venue update-Peterman •Ground breaking for the Hike and Bike Trail -Morrow *Update and discussion of a west side park -Morrow •Master plan for the Garey Park •Requests for qualifications on the Garey Park for the architects in the Master plan. •March meeting will be on March 8, 2005 •Updates on Recreational Special Events 10. Adjourn Motion was made to adjourn by Doernbach. .7 Approved:, Attest: Lilya Crys : , ' hair Parks and Recreation Board Van Chandler, Secretary �afks &Recreation hoard