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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_PAREB_06.16.2005Minutes of the Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board City of Georgetown, Texas Thursday, June 16, 2005 The Parks and Recreation Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Thursday , June 16, 2005. Members Present: Kay Cobb, Barbara Owens, Mark Ramsey, Mark Shepherd, Michael Simpson Members Absent: Lilya Crystal, Ron Doernbach, Russ Peterman, Van Chandler Staff Present: Randy Morrow, Kimberly Garrett, Jill Kellum Others present: Carol Parsonage and Dick Brown representing Habitat for Humanity Minutes Regular Meeting 1. Call to order Ramsey called the meeting to order at 7:18pm. 2. Roll call 3. Consideration and possible action on parkland dedication for Old Mill Village. Carol Parsonage & Dick Brown, Habitat for Humanity Carol Parsonage gave background information on Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity is a Christian based organization that builds homes for families making below 25 — 50% of median income. They select families based on their need for better housing, their ability to pay because when the home is sold to them they will have a mortgage payment. Also, their willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity, which largely means work with them in terms of sweat equity to make their down payment. Habitat builds affordable homes that are between 1100 and 1250 square feet. They also try to foster responsible citizenship in those families. So funds are raised and volunteer labor is used to keep the cost of these homes down. Critical tasks are performed by professionals; electricians, plumbers. Some contractors and commercial home builders offer their services for free or at a discount rate. In Georgetown, Habitat for Humanity has completed 14 homes. The appraised value of those homes is 1.2 million dollars. The home owners pay approximately $30,000 a year in property taxes from these 14 homes. The home owners make a small down payment at closing; they get a 20 year interest free mortgage. Habitat for Humanity does not make a profit on the homes; they sell the homes at cost. Homeowners are responsible for property taxes and they do between 350-500 hours of sweat equity to get the down payment for the home. Carol Parsonage briefly described the Old Mill Village and stated it was not quite 3 acres of land which is bound by 17th Street, Leander Road, 18th Street, and Candee Street near Stonehaven and not to far from the Caring Place and caddy corner to Kelly Park. There will be 20 single family homes in the Old Mill Village. The lots will be 45 feet wide which is the narrowest lot allowed by the Unified Development Code but the lots are fairly deep. There will be an alley way down the back with parking off of that, so there will not be drives into the street, and there are no garages. Construction is planned for this fall. They will construct about 6 homes a year and will be completed with Old Mill Village by 2009. When completed the estimated appraised value will be about $1.7 million. They expect to put 30 adults and 60 children in that area. The parkland dedication requirement for 20 lots would be a land dedication, which is very difficult for Habitat for Humanity on that small piece of property or a fee of $5000.00. Habitat for Humanity would like to propose rather than a fee that they do something to enhance Kelly Park using their volunteer labor force and providing materials for this. Simpson asked where the 14 homes, that are already built are located, and Carol Parsonage stated they are mostly south of University Avenue, but are scattered throughout the city. Ramsey asked who donated the land for this property, and Carol Parsonage stated the Wolf/ChapmanNenture families donated the property, but Habitat for Humanity cleared out the mill. Habitat for Humanity will be putting utilities on the property, because there is no adequate sewer line there and adequate water only on one side, so they will be putting in a water line. Dick Brown presented the proposal of putting a picnic pavillion in Kelly Park since there is a need for this at this park. The pavilion is big enough for 2 picnic tables. It has been designed to have more architectural value. It has over sized beams to give it some presence as well and has 14 posts. It is on a concrete, 10'X16' slab. The roof would be plywood and shingle with a fairly considerable overhang so that it is beyond the limits of the slab. Brown showed different elevation of the pavilion. It will be constructed from cedar and the way it is built should be very low maintenance. This pavilion was designed to be above grade which would give it one step. Owens asked if it the step would be within the ADA guidelines. Dick Brown states that they would build the pavilion however is needed to meet compliances. There is not electricity or water at the pavilion but there is a drinking fountain in the park. The location of the pavilion in the park would be up to that Parks staff. There was discussion about the usage of the park and who will use the area. The thought is that the people in the neighborhood would use the park and could walk to the area but there is some parking available also. The St. John's Methodist Church will provide the picnic tables and they will be wooden tables. Morrow asked if the tables can be made ADA. The roof was also discussed as whether to use shingle or metal roof, but due to cost the shingles will be used. Cobb asked about the cost of the pavilion. Brown stated the materials and labor would total about $5,000. Owens asked about the green space and Parsonage stated that there will not be more put on the property than what was there when the mill was there. There will not be any driveways and everything between the homes will be green. Garrett reiterated that Habitat for Humanity would be required to provide 0.3 acres for parkland dedication or they would pay the fee, but since Habitat for Humanity does not have the extra money to pay the $5,000.00 they are proposing to build the picnic pavilion. Simpson asks if this process has to go through the City Council. Morrow states this will have to go through the entire process, including city council. Simpson made a motion that the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board accept the proposal for the Kelly Park picnic pavilion in lieu of $5000.00 from Habitat for Humanity. The motion was seconded by Shepherd and the motion was passed by unanimous vote. 4. Discussion and possible action on developing a park in Berry Creek -Morrow There are 7 acres next to the racquetball club that the owner will lease to the city for the development of a park. The lease agreement will have to be worked on and brought before Council before approval of this is made. They want a tot playground and a basketball court. Ramsey states since we are getting more and more parkland the City will need more park employees. Morrow explained that the Council will add contract maintenance before they will add an employee because it is cheaper. Discussion followed about the homeowner fees and how they should be used partially to help fund the park if the Berry Creek residents want a higher level of maintenance than other city parks. Morrow stated if they say it is only for Berry Creek then that is a different issue. Ramsey stated the more parks we have in subdivisions, the City will have to give more money to keep up. Simpson brought up the West side park idea and a larger scale park. The city doesn't accept anything less than 1 acre but really prefer 3 acres or more. Morrow explained different subdivisions in the area and how the parks are maintained by different people, such as KB homes. Ramsey stated that the board will wait to hear more about the situation and then bring it up again. 5. Lake Georgetown Trail and Rivery Park update -Morrow The trail is about 80°/0 complete. The concrete trail is poured all the way to Chandler property and tomorrow they are pouring the river crossing. July 9th is the estimated time of completion for the trail. The pavilion at Rivery Park is metal with old looking rocks on the pillars. Simpson asked when parking access will be to the property. There is not parking at Rivery Park. Grants do not pay for the parking and restrooms, only the recreational aspects of the construction. There are some amenities that the city is putting in such as kiosks, mile markers, and recycled plastic benches. Shepherd describes where the hand rails are they are hard to see. Shepherd suggests reflectors or orange paint. Morrow will look into different possibilities for the hand rails. 6. Garey Park Master Plan update -Morrow Parks staff are meeting with HaII/Bargainer on a survey to go out with the utility bills for the citizens. The survey will also be available on the web. The Garey's are excited about being involved in the Master Plan. They would like an equestrian trail, hike and bike trail, and playscapes for the children. At the August meeting, the Garey's will meet with the parks board. The master plan has to be done by the 1st weeks in October. Morrow stated that the Garey's want the park to always be a 525 acre park and always be named Garey Park and the home be called Garey house. 7. Approve minutes from April 11, 2005 meeting Owens made a motion to approve the minutes. Cobb seconded the motion and it was passed by unanimous vote. 8. Future agenda items Garey Park Master Plan Grand Opening for the Hike and Bike Trail Heritage Garden for a "master" plan 9. Adjourn Shepherd made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:19pm. Approved; Attest: MarkRamsey,.0 air Parks and Recreation Board Van Chandler, Secretary Park-s& Recreation Boar