HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-08-02 - MinutesPRAB
REGULAR MEETING
AUGUST 2, 1993
The meeting was called to order by Bill Waite at
326 of the City Administration Building.
Members Present:
Members Absent:
Staff Present:
Guests Present:
Media Present:
BUSINESS:
Anderson, Kimbrough, Palmer,
Wright
Driver, McConnell
Clark, Cox, Edmonston
5:30 pm in room
Savage, Waite,
Baseball -Dennis Kelly, Horseshoe Addition -
Richard Bundrick
Rusty Garrett, Ron Wood
I. MOTION:ANDERSON/WRIGHT
The minutes from the July 12, 1993 PRAB meeting were
approved unanimously 6-0.
II. GREEN SPACE
Glenbrook Phase II
Owner/Developer: Gordon Wilkins and Danny Villines
Location: W. of Hwy 265, S of Hwy 45
Park District: SE
Acres:
Single Family Units:
Land Dedication:
Money in Lieu:
10
32 units
.8 acres
$7,200
MOTION:KIMBROUGH/SAVAGE
The PRAB recommends to the Planning Commission to accept
money in lieu, $7,200, for the green space requirement
for Glenbrook Phase II.
MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY 6-0
III. HORSESHOE ADDITION -GREEN SPACE PROPOSAL (See attached
letter)
Richard Bundrick would like to plant trees in every
corner lot to make a better place for kids to play and
give the parks department a small parcel of land. The
land consist of around .4 acres plus an easement which
equals .6 acres.
Anderson: Would other kids be able to get to this area
without going around?
Bundrick: No
PRAB Page 2
Kimbrough: Asbell is close.
Waite: What is the acreage required for this park area?
Edmonston: 1.4 acres
Bundrick: I would spend the remaining money over the
acreage.
Clark: I recommend that it be a sub -neighborhood park.
With the easement, the park would be .6 acres.
Anderson: This is less land that the ordinance requires.
Edmonston: Lot 53 would be more ideal with this land for
public access.
Palmer: What about the master plan?
Edmonston: We need land in the northwest, but this is
too close to Asbell
Bundrick: If you go to Megan Drive right now, thirteen
to eighteen kids are playing in the streets. I don't
mind giving the money, but I want to make this area
better for the kids.
Edmonston: How was this park land going to be accessed?
Bundrick: We were originally going to give this land to
lifestyles. By giving this land to the Parks Department,
Lifestyles will still have access to it.
Kimbrough: How short of the requirements is this
property?
Edmonston: About one-half.
Palmer: Does the staff feel comfortable with this
proposal?
Edmonston: Bundrick's spending the money himself will
have to go through the City Attorney.
Clark: He can spend the money within the park, but not
for trees on lots. Maybe he could buy a tot playground.
Bundrick: If I can't get the trees, I would be better
off giving the property to Lifestyles and giving the
Parks Department money.
Edmonston: You could possibly give .6 acres and the rest
in money. I would need to check with the City Attorney.
Bundrick: The tax deduction of giving the land to
Lifestyles would pay the parks fees.
Kimbrough: We have certain guidelines we have to meet.
Bundrick: We need to talk to the City Attorney. Mayor
Hanna was in favor of this.
MOTION: PALMER/KIMBROUGH
The PRAB recommends to table this issue until a ruling by
the City Attorney is made.
MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY 5-0
Clark: Everyone needs to look at the
Anderson: We have to think of access
if people drive to the park.
neighborhood.
for others. What
•
PRAB Page 3
IV. YOUTH BASEBALL: DENNIS KELLY, PRESIDENT
Kelly: Thank you for the extra field at Walker Park. I
know there has been controversy over Walker Park, but we
still need the City's help. Please keep this on your
mind as you make your options. We have 67 teams, age 12
and under. This is five more teams than last year, and
the teams are loaded to the maximum. Next year, we will
need eight to ten more teams to keep from turning kids
away. We will have to reduce the number of games next
year. We can make it through one more year, but not a
second year with the present facilities and amount of
kids. This activity helps keep kids off of the streets.
Waite: We are not trying to ignore you.
Kelly: We realize that. Babe Ruth is probably in worse
shape than we are.
Wright: Have you ever thought of delaying the season?
Kelly: We are sanctioned with Babe Ruth. We have to
complete our season by a certain date.
Waite: How is the parking situation?
Kelly: Much improved.
Clark: We need a couple of new baseball fields on line
for next year.
Waite: Next year will be tough, maybe for 1995.
Kelly: That is why I am speaking up now.
Clark: We are budgeted to start on the restrooms this
year.
Kelly: Is there anything we can do to help?
Clark: I always hear that we do so much for Adult
softball, and not youth baseball. We do support youth
baseball.
Kelly: We do try to self support ourself, but you put in
the new fields, etc. If door to door candy sales are
stopped, we will have to raise each child's entry fees to
$65.
Wright: What happens to kids who can't pay?
Kelly: We have scholarships.
Clark: How did advertising go?
Kelly: We got started too late. We have a meeting
coming up. We raised fees $5 this year, and candy sales
were down. We made enough to buy a little of equipment.
Waite: Your need for fields is still there. We will try
to get them on line for 1995. We will keep you posted.
V. LAKE FAYETTEVILLE SOUTH PROPOSAL: DONNA PORTER
Donna Porter has a B.S. in Urban Horticulture and
Landscape Design specializing in botanical gardens and
arboretums. She has worked for the Parks Department and
is familiar with the City Parks.
PRAB Page 4
Porter: The problem at Lake Fayetteville South is not
getting any better. Dale said the Parks Department is
applying for a grant to close the drive, build a larger
pavilion, and improve trails. I do not think this will
solve the problem. A botanical garden is both
recreational and educational. A botanical garden is for
Adults, children, etc. (See attached proposal) The
garden would bring tourists into Fayetteville, and would
help area merchants. It would be maintained by
volunteers, not parks maintenance. I had some ideas of
maybe shuttling visitors from the NWA Mall. I know the
problem is not better. I have been to the park eight
times in the last couple of months, and all I have seen
is men. I would not ask for funding from the City.
Funding would come from Corporate Foundation Grants,
Government grants, membership, private donations,
admission prices, gift shop income, and a Board of
Directors. This garden would be beneficial to the City,
but not burden them in any way. Butterfield Trail might
be interested in helping with the garden. This would be
the first non-profit botanical garden in Arkansas. It is
going to take a drastic change to change the image of
Lake Fayetteville South.
Wright: How many acres will it take?
Porter: It can take 2 to 200. It just depends on how
you make the garden. This botanical garden is my
passion. I would like to direct this project. Please
look at the proposal and let me come to the next meeting.
I will prove I can find funding. I have talked to
people, and they think this is a great idea.
Wright: You did a great job with the proposal.
Porter: The volleyball pits would have to go
Edmonston: Would you control access to the park.
Porter: Yes, this would be a year round program. It
could be a conservatory. Is this area fenced?
Edmonston: Most of it is. Some areas in the east are
not fenced.
Porter: We could fence it, and keep vandalism down.
Wright: This would benefit Fayetteville economically.
We would have something that no one else has around here.
Porter: We would not hire personnel outside this area.
We could use the University students to help with design.
Edmonston: In your vision, what is the time period?
Porter: After approval and funding, it would be three
years to be open to the public.
Waite: I am sorry part of the Board had to go. We will
get a copy of the proposal to them. This is an
interesting proposal. You are welcome to come back.
Porter: I can have documented support.
PRAB Page 5
Wright: Eliminating the volleyball courts might be a
problem.
Porter: That is a minor obstacle. I played for years.
That should not stand in the way of something like this.
Lake Fayetteville South is the prime place. It has
plenty of water, and is easily accessible from Highway
71.
Wright: Could the garden be expanded farther into the
woods?
Porter: We will take up only so much parking. We would
have to talk to the mall about additional parking.
OTHER BUSINESS:
MOTION:WRIGHT/SAVAGE
The PRAB recommends to approve the Fayetteville
Recreation plan as drafted by Northwest Regional Planning
Office.
MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY 6-0.
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 pm.
Minutes Approved:
Secretary
#13/PRAB893