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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_PAREB_03.03.2005Minutes of the Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board City of Georgetown, Texas Thursday, March 3, 2005 The Parks and Recreation Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Thursday , March 3, 2005. Members Present: Mark Ramsey, Mike Simpson, Ron Doernbach, Kay Cobb, Mark Shepherd, Van Chandler, Barbara Owens Members Absent: Lilya Crystal, Russ Peterman Staff Present: Randy Morrow, Kimberly Garrett, Jill Kellum, Micki Rundell, Laurie Brewer, Judy Fabry, Keith Hutchinson Others present: Philip Paris Minutes Regular Meeting 1. Call to Order- Mark Ramsey called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm 2. Roll call 3. Elect Vice -Chair and Secretary for the 2005/2006 Parks Board Van Chandler made a motion to nominate Ron Doernbach for Vice Chair of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Motion was seconded by Kay Cobb and the motion passed by unanimous vote. Doernbach accepted the nomination. Van Chandler offered to extend his term of Secretary of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Park. The offered was accepted and passed by unanimous vote. 4. Discussion and possible action to provide City Council with input on the 2005/06 budget — Finance Micki Rundell and Laurie Brewer Micki Rundell, the City of Georgetown's Finance Director, and Laurie Brewer the City of Georgetown's Controller, were present to gather input and various feedback to the City Council, concerning the Parks and Recreation Board, in the upcoming budget process. The information they would like to gather is from a community wide aspect and also from a board specific aspect. Rundell stated that the budget process is currently under way. Brewer stated they would like a consensus from the Board on the board specific suggestions. Finance would like information by the end of the month. Chandler asked how Georgetown's funding for Parks and Recreation compared to other cities our size and growth rate. Rundell stated we do not have enough, but we do have more than some. She also mentioned the City election on May 7th for the 4A and 4B sales tax and spoke about the options for various departments. The Board will prioritize their input to present to the Council and submit it to the Finance Department. 5. Discussion and action for proposed Arts and Culture Board - Keith Hutchinson, PIO and Judy Fabry Judy Fabry with the Georgetown Public Library, presented information on forming an Arts and Culture Board in the City. The committee would like to present to the City Council on April 11th the idea of forming an Arts and Culture Board. Initially the board would coordinate culture and art events in the City. This committee has contacted the fine arts director at GISD and the Dean of Fine Arts at Southwestern, and they have both agreed to serve on the Board. The committee has not found a city in Texas, our size, which has this kind of board. Hutchinson added they are investigating other cities concerning the funding of this type of programming. Hutchinson stated the committee would like to present this idea to the City Council to see if there is interest in this type of service and if there is funding available. Ramsey asked if there were grants available? Hutchinson stated Texas Commission of the Arts does offer match grants. Ramsey asked if they were looking at this idea being in a facility? Hutchinson stated at this point there is not a proposal for a new facility. Hutchison stated there are other places in the City where different arts events could occur such as the library and park. Simpson asked if this would be a part of the downtown master plan? Hutchinson stated this had been discussed in the master plan and there were different options on where to place the arts. Cobb asked how the Parks and Recreation Board and Arts and Culture Board would work with each other in the approval process of what art would be displayed? Hutchinson stated this would be worked out and they would find people with specialties in the area of art. Fabry added there would have to be an ordinance to establish the board and different committees to choose the art. Doernbach asked how the Palace Theater would get involved with this? Fabry said they have a meeting set up with them in the near future. This Board would not decide what is going to happen in the City, they would be a clearinghouse for people to get together, where getting grants would be more appealing to many groups and could work together to get a better grant. Doernbach asked about possibilities of censorship? Hutchinson stated that art is subjective and can be controversial. Simpson asked about this project being educational and tying in with youth programs? Fabry stated the Arts and Culture Board would have a Southwestern student on the board. This would give the Board an excellent opportunity to see different views: from a young artist and the older citizens in the community. Simpson asked what the committee needed from the Parks and Recreation Board? Fabry stated they would like a letter of support for the idea. Simpson made a motion that we send a letter of endorsement to propose an Arts and Culture Board. Doernbach seconded the motion and it passed by unanimous vote. 6. Introduce new Parks Advisory Board member, Barbara Owens Ramsey introduced and welcomed Barbara Owens. Owens gave a brief history on herself and why she was interested in the Parks and Recreation Board. 7. Discussion and possible action for cemetery property for the City of Georgetown Ramsey relinquished his duties as chair to Doernbach due to possible conflict of interest. Doernbach accepted the position as chair for this discussion. Morrow explained the cemetery will soon be full. Morrow stated the Parks and Recreation Board needs to present this topic to the City Council and they need to decide if they want to be involved with selling cemetery plots after this cemetery is full. Garrett stated the cemetery would be full in Tess than 5 years. Morrow stated the State of Texas has set standards on where you can put a cemetery such as it has to be 2 miles out of the city limits and it can not be over the Edwards Aquifer. In discussion, it was asked if there was property available and if Southwestern would be interested in selling some of their land? Morrow stated that Southwestern has a Master Plan that takes up all of their property. Doernbach asked why larger cemetery agencies did not come into the area? Ramsey stated that they want it to be visible but land on 35 is too expensive. Chandler asked if the City wanted to continue selling cemetery plots and if it would be self supportive? Garrett stated that the cemetery is not self-sufficient. Morrow stated that the money it brings in pays for maintenance and each year that amount changes. Morrow also stated that once the cemetery is full the expense of the maintenance would fall on the taxpayers. Doernbach asked what lots this size in other areas costs? Ramsey stated that in a perpetual care cemetery the lots are about $2500. Morrow stated that the cemetery in Georgetown is not a perpetual care cemetery. Garrett stated that the county has an indigent fund for people who do not have any funds for burial. Ramsey said the county pays $300 and the city donates the plot. Simpson stated since the county is involved with the indigent program with the City we should have the County involved in this decision making process of continuing with a cemetery in Georgetown. Simpson made a motion to bring up this topic to the City Council to the point of recommending a study for the cemetery services required for the City of Georgetown and general community and recommend they fund a study. Owens seconded the motion and it was passed by unanimous vote. Doernbach then relinquished the chair back to Ramsey. 8. Discussion and possible action on possible dog park Phillip Paris requested to speak to the Board concerning an idea for a dog park in the City. Paris is a Georgetown Police Officer and also trains dogs on his own time. He would like for the board to present to the Council an idea for a dog park. The idea is to have a place where dogs can learn to interact with other humans and other dogs off their leash. The dog park can be elaborate or simple. The minimum requirements for a dog park would be a fenced area, with waste receptacles, water, and benches. Paris stated that other items could be added later such as obstacles. Morrow stated this is an interest of the board and was presented by Simpson in the past. Simpson stated that he has done research and states it is a good idea to present the idea for a good quality park up front to get a good public perception. Simpson stated there would need to be an authority controlling the area to prevent chaos. Morrow asked if the Animal Shelter was a supporter? Simpson stated he had spoke to the animal shelter and they are supportive. Simpson added that statistically for every 100 households, 43% of them have a canine and each one has 1.43% in their home. Paris was informed of the April 11th City Council workshop and Simpson requested to speak to Paris individually on this topic. 9. Discussion on possible skate park Morrow stated there is $8,000 in this year's budget for the skate park. The idea is to get some ramps and put the skate park at McMaster's at the in -line hockey area. Then once the indoor pool is built and the San Gabriel pool is closed, it will be renovated into a skate park. Morrow spoke to the director at Hobbs, New Mexico which has a large skate park, and his recommendation was not have an expert skater design the skate park because they build them to extreme and the kids will not use them. He suggested going with the more moderate ramps. Morrow stated the San Gabriel pool would be ideal for the skate park because it is fenced, has restrooms and it is shaped like a bowl and can be redesigned. Morrow spoke to the insurance and it does increase your premiums and you do need a staff person at the front gate to have the skaters wear pads and helmets. Cobb asked if there would be a fee for the skate park? Morrow stated there might be grants available, but there might be a fee involved to help cover the cost of the staff person. 10. Morrow briefly discussed the future priority list, explaining to the board members each item, in preparation for the Council workshop scheduled on April 11, 2005 at 4:OOpm. 11. Approve minutes from February 10, 2005 meeting Barbara Owens stated her name was missed spelled. The correction has been noted. Chandler made a motion to approve the minutes. Doernbach seconded and it passed by unanimous vote. 12. Future agenda items Heritage Garden report -Simpson 13. Adjourn Doernbach made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:50pm. Appr .vex. Attest: Ramsey, Chair Pa and Recreation Board Van Chandle , 'ecre a arks & Recri r.LBoard