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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_PAREB_02.10.2011Minutes of the Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board City of Georgetown, Texas Thursday, February 10, 2011 The Parks and Recreation Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Thursday , February 10, 2011 Members Present: Bill Mateja, Daniel Dance, Kent Buikema, Robert Laemel, Shane Morris, Simone Pollard Members Absent: Jean Houck Staff Present: Kimberly Garrett, Jill Kellum Minutes Regular Meeting 1. Call to order The meeting was called to order by Kent Buikema at 7:01 pm. 2. Roll Call 3. Presentation by the Exceptional Georgetown Alliance — Dawn Jennings and Stephanie Blanck Stephanie Blanck and Dawn Jennings are representing the Exceptional Georgetown Alliance (EGA). Stephanie Blanck explained how the school district offered programs for recreation and leisure for children with severe exceptionalities but is no longer able to fund this program. The parents of these children decided to form a non-profit to apply for grants to continue to fund these programs. Dawn Jennings explained the EGA has been in existence for approximately 3 years. The mission of EGA is to provide educational, recreational, social and vocational programs to children and young adults with cognitive and developmental disabilities. EGA is looking for cooperation with the City of Georgetown Parks and Recreation Department to manage the camps and EGA would provide the money. Dawn Jennings explained the added costs of the exceptional camps are due to the adult to participant ratios. The ratios are sometimes 1 adult to 2 children or 1 adult to 3 children and this not only applies to camps but also other programs such as bowling, basketball and soccer. Their largest fundraiser is the Boo Run that is held in October and in addition to the fundraisers they receive grants. Their largest grant is from the City of Georgetown which is $10,000.00 a year. Dawn Jennings explained that if the camp was at full capacity it would cost approximately $43,000.00 to run the camp and the participants would have to pay $125 -$165 a week. Other money that they collect is used toward equipment and uniforms and other programming. They are looking to provide resources and activities to children and young adults who would not have that opportunity through normal ways most cities run. Kimberly Garrett stated EGA first presented to the Recreation Center in 2009 about providing programming. She stated there has been some collaboration in swimming and the challenge course. She said that staff had this listed as a budget goal but given the budget shortfalls was not given the opportunity to present new programs to the City Council. Kimberly Garrett stated the city would like to be able to offer the camp and programs but it would require the expense to be incorporated in the budget. It would require the proper number of staff and training for the staff and would require hiring a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Assistant. Kimberly Garrett stated she has attended classes related to inclusion and a conference held by National Recreation and Parks Association to obtain more information and get information from other cities and how they handle their programs associated with inclusion. This opportunity will be presented to City Council again this year for funding programs. Dawn Jennings stated EGA knows the quality and level of expertise that is required to provide this service. EGA would come with staff and monies knowing they would continue to collaborate with the City of Georgetown. Kimberly Garrett stated she recognizes the need and will present to City Council how this service needs to be addressed since the City's population is close to 50,000. 4. Discussion and possible action on HOA's maintaining neighborhood parks — Mateja William Mateja stated Gabe Sansing requested this item be brought to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to begin discussion of whether or not HOA's should behave assessed a fee for the maintenance of any parks put in their subdivision. Kimberly Garrett explained that not all the parks were put in by the developer; they were put in by the city. The developer was required to give the city the land and the city was required by the parkland dedication ordinance to develop the park. These parks are public parks, not HOA parks. If you require the HOA's to pay a maintenance fee then they might want exclusive rights to the park, but they cannot since it is public parkland. Simone Pollard stated the subdivisions might want to regulate them by wanting certain amenities and maintained at a high standard. Kent Buikema added that he did not know why the Parks and Recreation Department would want to loose control of the parks that are public parks. Daniel Dance stated there is a tangible value to having neighborhood parks. Garrett reiterated that there is proof that parks increase your property value. Shane Morris stated that if the HOA's pay a certain amount a month they will expect that amount of improvements to the park but the park would look exactly the same it will not improve it. The tax would be used to maintain the park not increase the amenities. It was discussed the tax would not be applied fairly as some subdivisions do not have HOA's but have parks. The advisory board discussed the issue and felt it would be too difficult to implement across the city. 5. Update on the status of the Request for Qualifications for the Special Event/Festival Area Kimberly Garrett stated on January 20h and 2e staff went to Houston to tour amphitheaters and talk to the staff that manages the facilities. Miller Outdoor Theater is run by the City of Houston. She stated everything is free and it is funded by donors and a non-profit operates it. Harris County Park near Pearland was more along the lines of budget and scale for the amphitheater proposed for the City of Georgetown. The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in the Woodlands was also toured. This was a large scale facility but the proposed facility here would be approximately 1/5 of the size but would like to base Georgetown's special event/festival area on this facility. Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion has sponsors that pay for the events. They also rent to local schools for graduations. Recommendations from the facilities managers were to build the facility for growth; build the infrastructure for expansion. Kimberly Garrett stated the RFQ process will be presented to the City Council on March 8" She also explained that the City has the money to design the amphitheater but has not yet allocated the money to build the facility. 6. Discussion on community service appointees as their assignments related to parks and recreation — Daniel Dance Daniel Dance asked about community service workers and how they are being allowed at the family centered Recreation Center. Kimberly Garrett stated that we have asked to be taken off the Community Service and Restitution list. Daniel Dance asked if community service workers are used in the parks. Kimberly Garrett explained that community service workers are used to help the parks maintenance workers. Bob Laemel understood the agenda item to reflect community service appointees as being the Parks and Recreation Advisory board appointees and asked about the process of appointment. Bob Laemel would like to know about the process of appointing the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and how the applicants are notified if the City of Georgetown received their applications and whether or not they are appointed. He wanted to know if staff was privy to the applications and if input was given. Kimberly Garrett stated that staff is given the information but does not give much input. Simone Pollard requests that interviews be performed before the Mayor appoints people to the boards and commissions. Kimberly Garrett explained that the Boards and Commissions are processed through the City Secretary's office. 7. Discussion on July 2011 Plans for National Parks and Recreation Month, events, invitations to city council, etc. — Bob Laemel Bob Laemel stated that July 2011 is National Parks and Recreation Month. He would like to see an activity once a week for the month of July happen for the event for the department and invite City Council. Kimberly Garrett stated last year we had a Splash Day and Free Movie night. Bill Mateja stated he would like to see City Council, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and staff come together for an event to celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month. Discussion will continue next month. 8. Consideration and possible action on requesting a resolution from City Council calling on congress and the administration to recognize local parks as critical to addressing national issues, such as fighting childhood obesity, reducing juvenile delinquency, improving the environment, creating jobs, and stimulating the local economy. — Bob Laemel Bob Laemel asked that the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board request from City Council a resolution indicating calling on Congress and the Administration to recognize local parks as critical to addressing national issues, such as fighting childhood obesity, reducing juvenile delinquency, improving the environment, creating jobs, and stimulating the local economy. Bob Laemel made a motion that a letter from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board indicating the importance of city council understanding that the parks are paramount to addressing national issues, such as fighting childhood obesity, reducing juvenile delinquency, improving the environment, creating jobs, and stimulating the local economy and the motion was seconded by Simone Pollard and the motion passed by unanimous vote. 9. Update from Friends of Georgetown Parks and Recreation — Jean Houck Bob Laemel gave an update on the Friends of Georgetown Parks and Recreation. 10. Discussion of Parks and Recreation Monthly Review for January There was discussion of the monthly review. 11. Approve minutes from January 13`h meeting Bob Laemel made a motion to approve the minutes and the motion was seconded by Bill Mateja and it passed by unanimous vote. 12. Future agenda items Discussion on inclusion and what the budget involvement would be for the programs for 2012. Discussion on the Parks Bucks program Advisory Boards to get input for the 2011/12 Budget Finance Committee timetable Discussion on July 2011 Plans for National Parks and Recreation Month Elect vice chair and secretary in the next meeting 13. Recognition and thanks to outgoing board members Kent Buikema thanked Jill Kellum for her cooperation with the board and Kimberly Garrett for her leadership and always being ready with the information and also stated the same for Randy Morrow. Bill Mateja stated it was a true delight to be on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Bill Mateja stated he enjoyed watching Kimberly Garrett grow as the Parks and Recreation Director and she is a great leader. Bob Laemel presented Simone Pollard, Kent Buikema, and Bill Mateja with appreciation plaques for their service. 14. Adjourn Bill Mateja made a motion to adjourn the meeting and the meeting as adjourned a ::j pm. Daniel Dance, Chair Parks and Recreation Board , Secretary Par s . d Recreation Board