Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_PAREB_08.17.2006Minutes of the Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board City of Georgetown, Texas Thursday, August 17, 2006 The Parks and Recreation Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Thursday , August 17, 2006. Members Present: Barbara Owens, Bob Mathis, Kay Cobb, Kent Buikema, Mike Simpson, Ron Doernbach, William Mateja Members Absent: Mark Ramsey, Mark Shepherd Staff Present: Randy Morrow, Kimberly Garrett, Jill Kellum Minutes Regular Meeting 1. Call to order The meeting was called to order by Barbara Owens at 7:07pm. 2. Roll Call 3. Citizen Input on New Regional Transfer Station - Mark Ramsey Joe Savage representing Waste Management stated he wanted to make the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board aware of what is proposed to be changed within the park area. The current solid waste carrying company is proposing a regional transfer station to be located immediately behind this building within the existing location, which according to their numbers will increase their truck count through the park area to 140 truck trips per week. His concern is that it is an inappropriately placed location for a regional transfer station in that it is going to be routed through the park. Another concern is the continued degradation of the bridge. His suggestion and recommendation to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is that they adopt a resolution to suggest that only Georgetown trash be carried to that transfer station and that it might not be regional in concept, but be limited to Georgetown only. Leo Wood, former city manager and former mayor of Georgetown, states that the transfer station is not appropriate for a city park. He stated it was very dangerous. He also stated there is a landfill that is 11 miles from here that is owned and operated by Williamson County and Waste Management and stated that is where garbage needs to go. He stated that he supported what Joe Savage said. He said they would appreciate the Board to consider a resolution opposing the transfer station in the park mainly from a public safety standpoint. 4. Discussion and Possible Action on Parkland Dedication for Sonterra — Garrett Garrett introduced Charles Celauro with PBS&J. She stated Charles Celauro has been meeting with staff for several weeks to identify and locate parkland that meet all the requirements in the parkland dedication ordinance. Charles Celauro stated the subdivision is located south of Inner Loop between Maple Street and FM 1460. This area is in the Transit Oriented District or T.O.D. The new name of the subdivision is La Conterra, because there is already a Sonterra in Williamson County. The map shows a 10.5 acre linear park located on the eastern boundary of the subdivision. There is also an HOA park that is differentiated in blue on the map. There is an area on the map, south of Inner Loop, which shows a green area, to note there would be a facility around the train station. They submitted a land plan with the City of Georgetown and how their project would transition to that. The City of Georgetown will move forward with that in the form of a RFP to get land planners to plan this area. The La Conterra area has 509 lots. The general size of the lot is 52 feet wide X 122 feet deep. They are all in excess of 6,000 sq. ft. There are 3 detention ponds for drainage. There is an entrance off of FM 1460 which will be a residential collector and the north/south street will also be a residential collector. Maple Street has a designation for a rail line. The future Austin/SanAntonio corridor, also known as the intermunicipal rail corridor, is a rail line that goes from San Antonio to Georgetown. The T.O.D. shown on the map is being planned as the end stop and the next southern stop is in Round Rock. There is more speculation that it would bypass Georgetown and continue north. They are designating about 300 parking spaces in conjunction with the rail line. The Austin/San Antonio Rail Corridor Council have come up with some land planning ideas such as a public/private venture for a civic center, or to be used as office buildings. Garrett stated that the City of Georgetown wants this area to be developed heavily with houses and they have designated it as a T.O.D. So the idea is to bring a lot of people in this area so they could access the rail line to Austin and San Antonio. Garrett stated that Charles Celauro is proposing 10.5 acres to satisfy the requirement for 509 units, which the requirement is actually 10.2 acres. Doernbach asked what type of barrier would be used to separate the railroad and the park. Morrow stated that is something that can be put in the motion for this parkland dedication and that they could put in some type of cyclone fence or some barrier from the park to the rail track so the children can not get on the track and should be at least the length of the park. Mathis asked what the logic was at putting the park along the railroad other than it being a buffer between the housing and the railroad track because of the questions associated with parks next to railroad tracks. Charles Celauro stated it helped the subdivision on the developer's side and how to funnel people down to the T.O.D., because they wanted people to be able to walk to the T.O.D. Garrett stated that this could possibly tie all the proposed and future parks together for a trail system. Mathis asked other than a trail system what could be used in this area. Charles Celauro stated the park on the other end is 300 feet wide and they could put in a soccer field, or softball field. Garrett stated playgrounds and park benches. Charles Celauro stated they were planning it to be more like the Pease Park in Austin. Owens asked what public parking would be available. Charles Celauro stated that there is parking on one end of the park and also a parking area directly off of FM 1460 that would have approximately 40 parking spaces. It was asked what the speed would be on this road. Charles Celauro stated since it would be considered a major roadway it would be 35 mph. Doernbach asked if this would be a light rail. Charles Celauro stated that the rail would be built for heavy rail, but the rail system on it would be a light rail. Doernbach stated the fence would have to be above the rail bed instead of following the terrain. Garrett asked what the time line was for the rail. Charles Celauro stated the information that he had, suggested a start date of 2008 but federal money was not obtained so he thinks it will be longer than 2008. Charles Celauro clarified that this railway was not the Cap Metro one coming out of Austin which goes to Leander. He also stated that the City of Georgetown is planning that the Grand Vista Boulevard would be the only street crossing over the railroad from Inner Loop to Westinghouse. Doernbach made a motion that they accept proposed parkland dedication provided that a barrier be provided that covers concerns of safety, noise, as well as visual ability to see the rail from the park. A 6 foot high cyclone fence with landscaping in front of it to hid the fence and railroad. Buikema seconded the motion. Simpson abstained from the vote. Mathis opposed the motion and 5 members were for motion. 5. Discussion and Possible Action on Parkland Dedication for Cimarron Hills — Garrett Kimberly Garrett introduced Philip Wanke with BWM Group. Philip Wanke showed the Cimarron Hills neighborhood. Philip Wanke stated that currently there is a park located centrally and it has a parking lot, sport courts, and some trails. There are trails that are wrapping around and continuing to be developed throughout Cimarron Hills through the open spaces and connecting the lots. Cimarron Hills is in the process of planning and adding an addition which is about 150 acres and they are proposing 200 additional lots which will be both large lots a little over 0.5 acres and smaller town home lots in a smaller cluster. Philip Wanke stated they are looking at providing park facilities in this location. Philip Wanke stated they are proposing to pay the fee in lieu of parkland dedication. The reason for paying the fee in lieu of parkland dedication is there are greenways that the developer is trying to keep open and make amenities for lots so compiling parkland in this area is tough to get a large area available, so the developer is proposing to provide facilities such as basketball, volleyball, picnic area, large playscape, play field, restroom, and parking for the residents. The other reason that the developer wants to provide this in this manner is that they can build these facilities now for the residents and they will maintain them as well. The area is approximately 2 acres and it goes to approximately 4 acres with the green spaces. Garrett stated the fees collected would be $50,000 to use in this zone or an adjacent zone and the developer would also build a park. Garrett clarified that the developer would be required to give 4 acres of parkland or pay the fee. Garrett stated they would need the board's approval to give fees and also to develop the park and stated that the park would not be a public park. Morrow stated that the park would not be fenced and if citizens wanted to use the park no one would stop them. There is also a public park in Cimarron Hills that was built and maintained by the Cimarron Hill Association. Morrow asked what the amenity center is. Philip Wanke explained that this is area is open space. Cobb asked if the $50,000 was a one time fee. Garrett stated that it was. Mateja asked where this money was held. Garrett stated this would go in the parkland dedication fund that has been established since 1990 that can be used to develop parks in the zone where the money is dedicated. Garrett explained that with the parkland dedication the developer can satisfy the dedication by giving land or paying a fee for the dedication. The money does not have to be spent on that certain project it can be used in an adjacent zone or a secondary zone. Simpson asked about Cimarron Hills being a gated community. Morrow explained that the City of Georgetown does not allow gated communities and that this is not a gated community, but there is a guard house. Mateja asked how the parkland dedication fee is determined. Garrett stated that it is $250 per unit. Doernbach stated that the land value is worth a lot more than $50,000. Morrow asked Philip Wanke how much the facilities were worth. Wanke stated the proposed amenities were worth around $400,000. Morrow stated that you cannot negotiate the parkland dedication fee. Owens clarified that the decision is to accept the $50,000 in lieu of parkland and Morrow added they are proposing to actually build the park. Morrow stated that the developer would have to come back to Parks and Recreation with the playground to make sure it meets the standards. Morrow stated that they have gone to City Council twice to try and raise parkland dedication fees and it has been declined but they are continuing to try and get the fee equal to the land value. Mateja asked how much was in the parkland dedication fund. Garrett stated that there is approximately $150,000 in the unallocated zone and allocated zone funds combined. Buikema made a motion to accept the parkland dedication fees of $50,000 and the proposed amenities with approval from the Parks and Recreation staff. Mathis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. 6. Update of Heritage Gardens — Simpson Marge Tripp introduced herself and she is the Director of Community Health Promotion with the Williamson County and Cities Health District. There is an agreement with the Health District and Parks and Recreation to develop and nurture a community garden at Heritage Community Garden. There was an email that was distributed to the Parks Board members that provided an update to the Heritage Garden. Marge Tripp elaborated on some projects associated with Heritage Garden. She explained the Expert Gardener's class which is 9 weeks and they do 3 hours a week to become expert gardeners. The program requires that the expert gardeners give back 60 hours of volunteer work. Out of 2 classes they have had 49 graduates. There is a fall class that is offered and has 30 students signed up and this class starts in late September. Marge Tripp stated there are 44 memorial fruit trees on the high side of the garden. A memorial plaque is placed on a limestone rock for the honoree. The 3 Rotary Clubs in Georgetown; Sun City, Morning Club, and Noon Club, joined together for their 100th anniversary last year and raised $10,000 to build the trail. The trail goes out Smith Branch Road and follows the easement over to the soccer fields and into the back gate at Annie Purl Elementary. There were 756 children that visited Heritage Garden in the spring and use the trail. The Head Start programs, Rabbit Hill School, the Montessori School, and Camp Goodwater all bring children and adults to the Garden. Marge Tripp explained that they field trips have different educational stations for the children to explore. They are given information about the garden to take home to parents. The Weekend Gardener on KLRU featured the Community Garden on TV. Simpson stated this is a wonderful coalition with the City of Georgetown and Williamson County Health District and is excellent in making available public service opportunities with the youth programs and large companies, such as Dell. Tripp stated that the Williamson County Juvenile Center is cleaning an area to make a bird sanctuary. The native plant society is working with them to get this started and the Juvenile Center is doing the physical labor. She said the bird sanctuary should be ready by late spring and they will be looking for partners in building some benches. 7. Update on the Games of Texas — Garrett Garrett stated the GOT was the last weekend in July and there were approximately 7,400 athletes participate. There were close to 4,000 in track and field, swimming had close to 2,000, and here in Georgetown there were 3 sites for Tennis and it was the largest tennis tournament in the GOT history. There were 320 registrations for Tennis. Georgetown hosted Archery and there were 8 participants. Georgetown hosted Badminton and there were 50-60 participants which were at the Recreation Center. Garrett stated they could use more volunteers and they will be able to better identify where the volunteers will be needed for next year's event. Morrow stated that all the hotels were filled. Garrett stated the revenue looked good in terms of the expenses. It looked like most events covered their expenses and made a little money. Garrett stated that after next year they are looking to get their "seed" money back that was put in to host the event. Morrow states that the event helps the sales tax which is how Parks and Recreation is funded. Garrett stated next year's event will be the last weekend in July. Morrow stated that the opening ceremony is something to see and next year it will be at the Dell Diamond. 8. Update of Eagle Scout Projects — Morrow Morrow stated that Mitchell Mossett is putting up Purple Martin houses for his Eagle Scout project. He will do the labor and Parks and Recreation helps with the supplies. Mateja asked how many projects we do a year and Garrett stated approximately 5 — 7 a year. Morrow stated that the Mutt Mitt project will also be an Eagle Scout project. 9. Update on Budget Items — Morrow Morrow explained that the City Council and Mayor are in the process of reviewing the City Manager's budget. Some of the City Council priorities for Parks and Recreation were: • Developing a plan for the Garey Park project; talking with Finance on how to get money together for the match and how the operations and maintenance would be funded. • Design and development of the expansion of the Recreation Center. • Purchase land on the west side; there is $125,000 a year that is rolled over so we will have $375,000 to put a park on the west side of town in the 06/07 budget. • Update Parks and Recreation Open Space Master Plan and to also include a Master Plan for San Gabriel Park where the football stadium currently is and to see different ideas on that area and add the Garey Park Master Plan to the overall plan. • Expand IOOF cemetery and do a master plan on that property. • Develop the dog park. There is $85,000 to develop a dog park. • Expand and revitalize existing urban parks to include River Ridge and Berry Creek Park; that is with a playground at River Ridge and develop a park in Berry Creek and also to add a pavilion in Katy Crossing Park. 10. Approve minutes from June 15, 2006 meeting There is a correction in the above date of minutes that were approved. The minutes that were approved were from the July 13th, 2006 meeting. Buikema made a motion to approve the minutes. Mateja seconded the motion. Mathis abstained and all others approved. 11. Future agenda items 12. Adjourn Doernbach made a motion to adjourn. Buikema seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 8:27 pm. Approved: Attest: Mark Ramsey, hair Pa , d Recreation Board Kay Cobb, Secretaiy Ijarks & Recreation Board