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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_PAREB_02.14.2013Minutes of the Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board City of Georgetown, Texas Thursday, February 14, 2013 The Parks and Recreation Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Thursday , February 14, 2013 Members Present: Daniel Dance, Jean Houck, John Hesser - Chair, Katherine Kainer, Keith Fruge, Robert Johnson, Syed Warisi Members Absent: Staff Present: Kimberly Garrett, Laurie Brewer, Eric Nuner, Jill Kellum Minutes Regular Meeting 1. Ca11 to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by John Hesser. 2. Roll Ca11 John Hesser, Syed Warisi, Katherine Kainer, Keith Fruge, Daniel Dance, Jean Houck Laurie Brewer, Kimberly Garrett, Eric Nuner, Jill Kellum Bob Johnson arrived at 7:34 pm. Motion made by Jean Houck, second by Keith Fruge to adjourn the meeting and go into executive session. Approved 6-0 3. Executive session Tex. Gov. Code Sec. 551.072 - Real Property Update and discussion concerning the West Side Park Daniel Dance abstained from the Executive Session due to a conflict of interest. The Conflict of Interest Affidavit is on file with the agenda and minutes. Motion made by Katherine Kainer, second by Syed Warisi to recommend the purchase of land for the West Side Park on the terms discussed in Executive Session. Approved 5-1. Daniel Dance abstained. 4. Thank you and appreciation to outgoing Parks and Recreation Board members Kimberly Garrett recognized and extended appreciation to Jean Houck and Syed Warisi for their service to the Parks and Recreation Board. Syed Warisi left the meeting at 7:15 pm. 5. Appoint board members to aquatics review subcommittee and set initial meeting date and time. Motion made by Daniel Dance, second by Keith Fruge to appoint Robert Johnson, Katherine Kainer and Jean Houck to the aquatics subcommittee. Approved 6 - 0 Meeting date and time will be set outside this meeting. 6. Discussion and possible action on San Gabriel Park and the widening of FM 971 Kimberly Garrett introduced Bill Dryden, Transportation Engineer with the City of Georgetown, and Ricardo Zamarripa and Zach Ryan with Klotz Associates. Bill Dryden stated there has been an emphasis to get a bridge that extends Northwest Boulevard to the east side of IH 35 connecting into Austin Avenue and a more direct connection to Georgetown High School and out to SH 130. Klotz Associates has been working on this project in two parts. One is from Fontana, which was Washam, across IH 35 to Austin Avenue to Gann Street. In doing that, it is incumbent to get FM 971 realigned. The City of Georgetown has asked Klotz to come up with an alternative analysis of the FM 971 part. There is money in the 2008 road bond program to finish the design and get that part built. Bill Dryden stated this provides a better intersection, it will have the elevated approach, and there will be a pedestrian tunnel that will match up with another project along Austin Avenue for sidewalks that connect from the Recreation Center to the Georgetown High School. Part of the analysis was to present 4 different alternatives and come up with pros and cons for each. Ricardo Zamarripa presented 4 alternatives to reconstruct FM 971. One alternative is a no build scenario; no improvements everything stays the same. The first alternative is widening FM 971 to the north towards the nursing home away from the park. The second alternative is to widen FM 971 equally towards the nursing home and the park. The third alternative is a realignment that goes through some of the park and ties into the extension of Northwest Boulevard the proposed bridge structure that the City of Georgetown has planned. John Hesser asked if there is traffic numbers expected and if that is what is calling for this change. Bill Dryden stated they do not have the volume numbers, but it is a high priority project from the City Manager and City Council. Bill Dryden stated that with the results of citizen surveys, transportation is the number one concern and the number one project is the improvements of FM 971. Bill Dryden stated there is money in the 2008 bond program to do this construction. Ricardo Zamarripa continued going through pros and cons for each alternative. Alternative 1 will be to expand to the north side and the biggest impact here is to the nursing home where one building will have to be taken, relocate an existing water quality pond and this is zero impact to heritage trees. Alternative 2 is where the road is widened on both sides where there is still impact to the nursing home where a water quality pond must be relocated and some parking areas and driveways have to be rebuilt and some parkland and trees will be taken. Alternative 3 is a completely new alignment that ties into the future Northwest Boulevard bridge structure that crosses IH 35 and ties into Austin Avenue. Alternative 3 ties in best to the planned improvements for the Northwest Boulevard bridge. Keith Fruge asked if the Northwest Boulevard bridge is going to happen. Bill Dryden stated the City of Georgetown is actively seeking funding to do that and the plans are 90% completed. Bill Dryden explained other roadway improvements that are in the planning stages that will affect the west side of the highway in conjunction with Northwest Boulevard. Ricardo Zamarripa stated TXDOT has expressed their extreme interest in this bridge structure and connectivity and they have prioritized those elements. There was continued discussion with Alternative 3. The pedestrian tunnel can only be done with this alternative. There will be an increase in safety and mobility with the sidewalk additions, bicycle lanes and divided roadway while handling increased traffic. The cons with Alternatives 1 and 2 are there will be offset intersections from FM 971 and Northwest Boulevard and significant impacts to the nursing home. Keith Fruge asked about the hike and bike trail in San Gabriel Park. Bill Dryden stated it would be relocated. There are concepts on relocating the trail which maintains the length of the trail. With Alternative 3 there are several park improvements to accommodate this design. Keith Fruge asked about the parkland and it being city property. Bill Dryden explained that it is dedicated parkland and in order to reduce and expedite the project the City of Georgetown takes bond money and buys that land from the Parks and Recreation Department and the Parks and Recreation Department then buys land where it is value for value. There is just less than 4 acres of parkland being affected. Bill Dryden said that a larger piece of land could be purchased for parkland. He also explained with doing this the City of Georgetown does not have to go through the permit process with Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) and the Federal agencies. Kimberly Garrett stated TPWD has a code that protects parkland so that it cannot be taken for another purpose other than what it was intended for; parkland is protected by State statute. There is options to this and TPWD realizes that some of this parkland was dedicated years ago and as growth and building happens and you need to reduce congestion that there are ways to swap the land. They appraise the land to obtain the value and the city buys land with the same value. It won't necessarily be the same acreage but the same value. There is a process in place for this and TPWD has seen the plan for this specific project. Kimberly Garrett stated they will lose some parkland in San Gabriel Park but Alternative 3 will improve traffic. The amenities in the park were built with grant funding and a contract was signed that the City of Georgetown would always maintain those amenities that were provided with TPWD funding. Example: The trail always has to be 1.6 miles, but it can be reconfigured. Ricardo Zamarippa explained that the No Build alternative has no financial cost, Alternative 1 is just under $12,000,000, Alternative 2 is just over $5,000,000 and Alternative 3 is $3,500,000 and about $900,000 is for park property. John Hesser asked if the cost of Alternative 1 includes the estimated impact of business at the nursing home. Bill Dryden stated that the loss of income and cost of improvements is included in that figure. Klotz Associates recommends Alternative 3, which is the realignment. Primarily it has the greatest mobility over Alternative 1 and 2 because we are connecting to the future Northwest Boulevard bridge facility and creating that east/west connectivity and not having that offset intersection. It has the least impact to the adjacent residents and public. It just happens to be the least costly alternative as well. John Hesser asked about the curve in the alignment. Bill Dryden stated the initial goal was to have a 90 degree intersection at Austin Avenue. That would have taken out both the pecan trees as well as the one by the trail. The curve in the road saved the heritage trees. The roadway is designed at a 45 mph speed which sets the curvature. The area north of FM 971 will no longer be parkland but will remain a greenbelt. Alternative 3 includes relocating all the park amenities that are there, relocating the trail and improving the facilities and providing the funds for new parkland to replace this section of equal value, while maintaining the 1.6 miles of trail. Bill Dryden stated the City of Georgetown likes Alternative 3 due to the smooth transition from SH 130 to Serenada Drive. It will be a good route to take a lot of traffic off Williams Drive and the Williams Drive/Austin Avenue intersection. FM 971 will still be a TXDOT road. TXDOT will receive the bids and do the construction. The next steps are: The City of Georgetown will complete the land appraisal and land transfer and Klotz Associates will complete the plans and the bond funds will fund the construction. Laurie Brewer asked about the relocation of the trail. Bill Dryden stated they will put in the documents that the trail would be relocated first. Ricardo Zamarripa stated TXDOT is ok with doing everything with one contract; the park construction and the roadway construction will happen at the same time. Motion made by Jean Houck, second by Keith Fruge for the board to approve the adoption of Alternative 3 preserving the park amenities that will be replaced due to the FM 971 alignment. Approved 6 - 0 7. Discussion and possible direction on the City of Excellence and Creating a Signature Destination. In the Fall of 2012, the City Council held a visioning session to determine goals and strategies of the City for the next five years. Five main categories where defined and they include Public Safety, Transportation, Economic Development, Utilities and Signature Destination. Parks and Recreation lies in the Signature Destination category due to all we have to offer both residents and visitors and the opportunities that we have on the horizon. One of the ways we can help make Georgetown a Signature Destination is to start looking at issuing some of the 2008 Bonds. Potential future projects include the West Side Park, Garey Park Design, Preserving the River Corridor, Amphitheater and Festival Event site. Also look at improvements to San Gabriel Park that compliment what is there and can accommodate youth and family events. Other potential areas for Parks and Recreation to make an impact are expanding our park areas to the downtown where festivals occur. th Laurie Brewer and Kimberly Garrett presented to City Council on February 12 , asking them to issue $5.5 million in bonds and issue $1.5 million for design of Garey Park. They met with Mr. Garey and he would like to start the design phase of the park. It could take 18 months - 2 years to design that park. They also asked for $1.5 million for the land for Westside Park. They asked for $1 million for River Corridor preservation and another $1 million for San Gabriel Park improvements which includes bank stabilization and start some of the design on park elements that would tie into the Signature Destination. The Downtown and Community Services Division encompasses Parks and Recreation, CVB, Library, and Arts and Culture boards. The other boards have been taking plans to their boards to vet out some ideas to make Georgetown a Signature Destination. Kimberly Garrett stated one of the big items in the bond was the amphitheater. Staff has been working on how they could make the amphitheater work in the park. In meetings with other departments and city council members, there is a desire to bring that same type of venue downtown, which could be a festival/special event area and/or a music venue. There is an overall plan to have a civic center downtown which was in a downtown master plan that was done in 2003. This would tie into the parks and trails. There are challenges with parking downtown and there are talks of a parking garage downtown and this will help alleviate the parking during the day and offer parking opportunities for this type of venue. The park does not offer this type of parking. Katherine Kainer asked where this land would be. Laurie Brewer stated there is city owned land downtown; the current police station, the old library and the old WCAD building. She stated also there have been talks with Williamson County about purchasing the buildings across from the library. This would give an opportunity to take up the existing lots and revert it to parkland and possibly closing some streets which would open up to allowing events. Kimberly Garrett stated there is still a need for a music venue in the park. Kimberly Garrett and Eric Nuner have been working on an area in the park and have identified the Gazebo area as an amphitheater area. This area would be more suited for this venue since it is a little off of Austin Avenue away from the Recreation Center and the Chamber of Commerce. Kimberly Garrett explained that with the City of Excellence and Creating a Signature Destination and really wanting to revitalize the downtown and bring events there; it makes more sense than trying to congest the park with all those different high use areas and bringing in another high use area. Kimberly Garrett stated the master plan is a guiding element and not set in stone. It is meant to change if there is a better opportunity. She stated we don't want to make a large capital investment in something that can be better utilised in a location that allows for more people to use it. Robert Johnson stated he doesn't know if we can jam anything else into San Gabriel Park. It has a distinct beauty to it now and if we jam too much more into it loses what we are trying to get; it becomes another shopping mall because there is so much going on. He stated a large amphitheater would work in Garey Park for major events. John Hesser asked about revisiting the master plan and Kimberly Garrett stated she feels it is too early. Items in the master plan have not been addressed due to the economy and everything is flat. Kimberly Garrett stated a supplemental survey could be done. John Hesser asked if there was a beginning and ending date to the City of Excellence program. Laurie Brewer stated City Council went into their visioning session with a 5 year thought. Laurie Brewer stated it may be appropriate to recommend a 5 and a 10 year CIP from the Parks Board and where all of these projects are prioritized. Laurie Brewer suggested that between now and the next meeting to go through the master plan and list what is still appropriate and no longer appropriate and what is prioritized. Then come back together as a group and decide if it is time for an update or do we need to prioritize. Laurie Brewer stated there could be a group workshop with the Parks and Recreation Board, CVB Board and Library Board. John Hesser asked about the financial cost. Laurie Brewer explained that Finance stated that money is an historical low and now would be the time to issue debt. Laurie Brewer stated the voters requested that we raised their taxes to do these improvements. Laurie Brewer explained the tax implications and the growth of the community and how it offsets the tax impact for taxpayers. We will work with Finance to come up with something that is a reasonable idea for City Council to consider. Robert Johnson stated there are some things in the master plan that can be taken off the list. Robert Johnson said he would not like to see an amphitheater in San Gabriel Park. Robert Johnson stated he feels we need to minimize the list especially with all the new items presented such as Garey Park and the possibility of a west side park. Keith Fruge stated money could be spent for San Gabriel Park improvements such as the smaller amphitheater and make significant improvements to the quality of the park. He stated the downtown amphitheater sounds great but will take several years to implement and Garey Park and Westside Park the same, Eric Nuner stated San Gabriel Park needs to be updated; restrooms, picnic tables, playscapes, basketball courts, lighting and improved roads. Kimberly Garrett reiterated that San Gabriel Park is one of the Signature Destinations. Kimberly Garrett stated the master plan could be compared to the Signature Destination items and they match up closely. Eric Nuner stated that once the bank stabilization is done it allows boardwalks, sidewalks and railing and that will give a vision of what the park will look like. Eric Nuner explained that the amphitheater was such a major component of the original plan for the San Gabriel Park improvements that they didn't want to do anything else because everything had to match it. Now that the amphitheater is being reconsidered that allows us to start thinking about some of the San Gabriel Park improvements such as picnic tables, playscapes, road improvements, etc. Kimberly Garrett stated for next time they can take the master plan and match up some of the items from the City of Excellence and the Signature Destination and show how there are some tie ins to the master plan that talk about a festival area and urban park. Laurie Brewer stated the board will continue having these conversations until the budget process. There was no direction taken at this time. 8. Update from the Friends of Georgetown Parks and Recreation Jean Houck reported the Friends of Georgetown Parks and Recreation have been working on their strategic planning. Georgetown Swims is going strong and they have some volunteers working with them. They are looking ahead to 2014 and partnering with Lone Star Circle of Care and a program at the Recreation Center that they use to have called Exercise is Medicine. It is a program that lost United Way funding. Being a 501c3 the Friends could be the conduit for grant money from the Community Healthcare Foundation. It is a program where doctors have to refer people to this program with certain medical conditions. It is a very effective, well established program. A new liaison will be selected from the Parks and Recreation Board to the Friends of Georgetown Parks and Recreation at the March Parks and Recreation Board meeting. 9. Approve minutes from the January 10, 2013 meeting Motion made by Robert Johnson, second by Keith Fruge to approve the January 10, 2013 minutes. Approved 6- 0 10. Adjourn Keith Fruge made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 9:04 ,,pan. n Hesser Jill Kellum oard Chair Board Liasion G6iAji kinLY-