HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-10-07 - MinutesFAYETTEVILLE
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THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE
DATE: SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
TO: PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
FROM: DALE D. CLARK, PARKS & RECREATION DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: PRAB MEETING ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1996 AT 5:30 PM IN
ROOM 219 OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
I. Approval of PRAB Minutes - September 9, 1996 - Regular Meeting
II Arkansas Parks & Recreation Association Volunteer of the Year Award
Presentation to Susan Driver - Clark
Happy Hollow playground equipment request - Jackie Tighe
IV. Free Health Clinic requesting use of Walker Park land - Jessie Bryant
V. Botanical Garden Society presenting preliminary plan - Frank Burgraff
VI. Bambino Baseball - Roger Ferguson
VII. Lake Fayetteville trail update - Clark
VIII Gulley Park purchase progress report - Clark
IX. Appraisal progress on Rupple Road/Mt. Comfort Road - Clark
X. Tennis Tournament discussion - Clark
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Attachments
HMR Report
Greenspace Report
LF Trail Special Meeting
Happy Hollow Letter Requesting Playground Equipment
Revised Agenda 10/8/96
PRAB
REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 7, 1996
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Waite at 5:30 p.m.
in Room 219 of the City Administration Building.
Members Present: Waite, Driver, James, Richard, Ackerman,
Jones, Mackey, McCutcheon
Staff Present: Clark, Dugwyler, Nelson
Guests Present:
Sharon Pepple, Carolyn Crider, Lora Horne,
Jackie Tighe - Happy Hollow Elementary School;
Donna Porter, Frank Burgraff, Maryetta
Carroll, Jennifer McMahon, Jim Adams, Marty
Goff, Kris Johnson, Elizabeth Lamb, Kay Curry,
Missy Harris, Lisa Paschal, Steve Diver,
Katherine Barnhart - Botanical Garden Society
of the Ozarks; Fran Alexander - Friends for
Fayetteville; Dennis Kelly, Gary Atha -
Fayetteville Youth Baseball; Roger Ferguson -
Citizens for Youth Baseball
Media Present: Jennifer Pinkerton, Morning News
• Rusty Garrett, Northwest Arkansas Times
BUSINESS:
I. MOTION: DRIVER/JAMES
The Minutes from the September 9, 1996 PRAB regular meeting
were approved unanimously 7-0. (McCutcheon arrived at the
meeting later.)
II. ARKANSAS PARKS & RECREATION ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
AWARD PRESENTATION TO SUSAN DRIVER - CLARK
Clark: Each year the ARPA recognizes outstanding volunteers by
the presentation of an award. From time to time we submit
volunteer names for this award. Driver's effort during her two
terms as chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Advisory
Board, as chairperson of the Ad hoc Committee which promoted
the HMR tax which successfully passed, as well as the number
of appearances and presentations she made before the City
Council, the ARPA is pleased to present Susan Driver a plaque
as volunteer of the year for 1996.
Driver: I certainly do appreciate Dale's (Clark) willingness
to advance my name as a volunteer. My tenure as Chairperson of
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PRAB REGULAR MEETING
the PRAB would not have gone as far without the assistance of
Bill Waite and Dale Clark who have been with Arkansas
recreation for the last twenty-five years if not longer. I
would like to thank both of you and acknowledge that you are
a tremendous part of this award. Also, I had the wisdom as
Chairperson of the PRAB to ask Bill Waite to be chairman of
the Ad hoc Committee to pass the HMR tax.
III. HAPPY HOLLOW PLAYGROUND EOUIPMENT REOUEST - JACKIE TIGHE
Tighe: I sent a letter to the PRAB members a few weeks ago
describing the playground equipment at the east end of school.
We have been working with Diversified Recreation, and we have
decided on a structure we would like to purchase which would
be used primarily by the lower elementary grades but could
appropriately be used by all grades. The cost is $17,671, and
we were hoping to get an acceptance from the PRAB and the
school Board for a 50%/25%/25% agreement to buy the structure.
We began a fund raiser a week ago, and we have already raised
between $2300 - $2400 towards the structure. Also, last year
we set aside $1000 from our general fund to work towards some
sort of playground agreement. We are within $1000 of what we
need for our 25%, and we have another week of our fund raiser.
I am positive we will reach our goal. I have sent a letter to
the school district requesting their 25%; I have not yet heard
from them Fred Turrentine said there would not be a problem
with installation. We are asking the PRAB to commit $8835
toward a play structure for the east side of Happy Hollow
Elementary.
Waite: I think Dugwyler inspected the playground facilities.
Dugwyler: I would like Clark to explain the relationship
between the Parks Department and the schools as far as these
playgrounds are concerned.
Clark. The relationship is that the schools are open to the
public after school, evenings, and weekends. They are leased
from the school, and each playground is open to the general
public. We have participated in the past with a number of
schools in funding the playground equipment including some of
the amenities because they are open to the public and used by
children other than the school children.
Dugwyler: I visited Happy Hollow last Friday (October 4).
There is some less than desirable playground equipment in
place there. I recently went to a conference where we
discussed the imminent changes in playground safety. The State
of Arkansas will soon begin regulating playground safety in
parks, school playgrounds, church playgrounds, and child care
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PRAB REGULAR MEETING
playgrounds. The State will do this in conjunction with the
Health Department, and the Health Department will be set up to
do playground inspections. We do not know yet what extent they
will go to in enforcing this. The first thing they will be
looking at is whether the entity has a five year plan as to
how it plans to bring structures into compliance with Consumer
Products Safety Standards. I am beginning to gather
information so we can write a five year plan. I went to the
school and took some photographs. There are two things we need
to address with the public school system on this issue: #1)
maintenance - who is going to maintain playgrounds? Fall safe
material has to be raked and replenished on a continuous
basis. #2) make playgrounds handicap accessible. Jefferson
playground (new) equipment has been installed, but it is not
handicap accessible. Happy Hollow is not accessible either.
These are two things we are going to have to resolve.
Tighe: This particular structure can be modified for a
handicap child to use, but there are no plans at this time for
accessibility from the building to the structure.
Dugwyler: That is required by Federal law now through the
Americans With Disabilities Act. That is something we have to
make sure gets done.
Waite: We have to resolve that with the school since they are
doing the installation.
Tighe: I wanted to thank you for your help in our picnic
tables. We did purchase a handicap accessible table, and the
district is going to pour a ramp from the cafeteria and other
sidewalks to the picnic area.
Ackerman: Where are you in your negotiations with the school
system as far as a commitment on their 25%?
Tighe: I sent a request to them, and Mr. Turrentine is
agreeable. I assume they have to talk to the financial
officer. I haven't heard anything yet.
Ackerman: You don't anticipate any problem with their
participation?
Tighe: I don't from what Mr. Turrentine said.
Ackerman: My attitude at this point of time is that we, as the
PRAB and Mr. Clark as the Director, probably just simply need
to address the points that Dugwyler brought up as far as
compliances are concerned as a clarification point.
Clark: The funds would be available in our greenspace for that
quadrant.
Waite: We have roughly $38,000 unencumbered in that quadrant.
MOTION: ACKERMAN/MACKEY
The PRAB made the motion to support the request for this
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PRAB REGULAR MEETING
funding subject to Happy Hollow PTO raising 25% and getting
matching (25%) funds from the school system.
!MOTION AMENDED ON PAGE 67
McCutcheon: Do we want to make sure it is subject to
accessibility to the handicapped?
Dugwyler: Yes. Also, if we are putting in new equipment older
pieces which do not meet standards need to come out.
Tighe: We have already talked to them about that. The see -saw
is being removed as well as the slide. We have talked to them
about adjusting the fall zones. Is that the problem with the
swings too?
Dugwyler: Yes. You have trees which prevent extending the fall
zone to the proper length.
James: Is this to be worked out in the five year plan?
Dugwyler: What I am saying is that I do not believe we should
build new playgrounds and leave the old ones in place.
Driver: I agree. Is there some concern that it would be
improper to fund a new piece of equipment until there is a
comprehensive plan for the removal of the unsafe equipment?
Dugwyler: I don't know that we should stop funding these
playgrounds just because we do not have a five year plan, but
the very worst pieces need to come out as we fund these new
playgrounds.
Driver: Do you think that agreement needs to be made before we
vote to approve the funding for a new piece of equipment?
Dugwyler: I would like to see as we fund these new pieces of
equipment the schools bring all of their other pieces of
equipment into compliance.
Driver: Not only into compliance with safety but into handicap
compliance as well?
Dugwyler: Yes. Handicap only applies to new and renovated
structures.
Ackerman: I personally feel like we may be going outside of
our area of responsibility at this point of time. I don't
think it is the PRAB's position at this point nor the
responsibility of the PRAB to police the action of the school
system. If we are partners in the construction of new
facilities and/or new equipment coming onboard, I think as
long as teachers, mothers, and parents are doing their due
diligence in bringing their program up to speed and meeting
the codes and requirements that are mandated is appropriate.
I don't see personally any reason to delay the installation of
new, qualified, requirement -meeting equipment. I think it is
the school's responsibility to install and maintain the other
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PRAB REGULAR MEETING
equipment which is there. I see no reason why we should sit in
judgment over the balance of the equipment that is there
because the school is going to be responsible for bringing it
up to code.
Waite. What they are specifying being purchased no doubt meets
the code, but the installation must also meet standards.
Ackerman: Are you folks prepared to do that?
Tighe: That's our intention, but I'm not sure what all is
involved in doing that. We intend to remove the equipment that
does not meet the code. We do not have a plan as far as
meeting accessibility requirements. I understood that where a
school needed it, the district would put in ramps, etc.
Waite: Could we handle this by having another meeting with
school personnel to develop an overall plan between both
parties to ensure we are moving towards meeting code?
Dugwyler: There is really two separate issues here: meeting
standards and accessibility. These are considered City
parks/playgrounds.
Waite: I don't think we really need to tie this together with
the motion, but I do think we need to follow through and
coordinate with the school system since it is in both of our
interests.
Dugwyler: ...keep in mind, be prepared, and work towards these
requirements.
Ackerman: I don't have any problem with amending my motion by
simply stating that it is the school's and/or PTO's
responsibility to install equipment according to standards.
Driver: I would feel a lot more comfortable moving to
recommend the appropriation of this money if I were to see a
comprehensive plan for the overall playground. I'm a little
uncomfortable appropriating money for one new safe structure
without knowing that the entire playground has a plan or a
time line for coming into compliance with these mandates—
particularly the safety issue with that. I think at this time
I would like to see the concerns of Nancy Dugwyler as to the
safety regulations addressed at the same time we move on
this proposal.
Clark: There are several pieces of equipment there that would
be terribly expensive to replace all at once. It is going to
have to be a step by step process.
Driver: I'm not suggesting that it all be done at one time.
I'm requesting that a plan be developed that would do it in
phases.
Ackerman: At one point of time we will all have to be aware of
the phase in process, but I do not see any reason to delay
this particular project for a long-range plan.
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PRAB REGULAR MEETING
AMENDED MOTION: ACKERMAN/MACKEY
The PRAB made the motion to support the request for this
funding subject to Happy Hollow PTO raising 25% and getting
matching (25%) funds from the school system subject to
installation meets accessibility and safety standards.
Motion approved 7-1 with Driver casting a negative vote.
Driver: I would encourage you to pursue an overall plan. I am
particularly concerned with safety as it stands now. If you
would keep that on your docket I would appreciate it.
IV. FREE HEALTH CLINIC REQUESTING USE QF WALKER PARK LAND - JESSIE
BRYANT
Clark informed the group that Jessie Bryant from the Free
Health Clinic is looking for a new home for the clinic. They
wish to locate a permanent home for the facility, and
suggested perhaps Walker Park in conjunction with the Senior
Citizen Center. Waite suggested she coordinate with the Senior
Citizen Center to see if what she has in mind may be
integrated into their planned facility. Ackerman suggested she
choose some alternate locations in case Walker is not
available.
V. BOTANICAL GARDEN SOCIETY PRESENTING PRELIMINARY PLAN - FRANK
BURGRAFF
Porter: At the May PRAB meeting the Botanical Garden Society
of the Ozarks proposed an ordinance to this Board that would
serve to designate City property located on the south and east
shore of Lake Fayetteville to be used for the development of
a botanical garden. To our dismay, the Board did not approve
this proposal, but instead offered us helpful advice as to
what would be necessary for such an agreement to be made Your
recommendations included a visual plan of our proposed
botanical garden along with a plan as to how, over time, this
garden would be developed. With this advice we began searching
for a landscape architect, preferably with some botanical
garden experience, who could work with us over a very short
period of time to develop a conceptual master plan of this
garden. We found Frank Burgraff, a faculty member of the
University of Arkansas landscape architecture department, who
is experienced in botanical garden design. The results have
transpired into a unique, environmentally friendly, and
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PRAB REGULAR MEETING
contemporary public botanical garden of which we believe this
City will be proud.
Frank Burgraff presented the PRAB with a conceptual master
plan of the proposed botanical garden facilities. A
greenhouse, a conservatory, a Japanese garden, a wetlands
garden, a rose garden, a perennial garden, a picnic area, a
pavilion, a water garden, a rock garden, a gazebo, a
children's playhouse, a weird plants area, a maze, a spray
pool, a sculpture garden, a chapel, an amphitheater, an
auditorium, a library, a cafe, a Bible garden, a heritage
garden, a garden for the blind, educational programs, and
provisions for children were all presented as possible
integrations into the proposed facilities. The presentation
demonstrated numerous possibilities for a participatory
botanical garden.
Following Burgraff's presentation, Donna Porter described
three phases of the botanical garden:
Phase I (1-3 years)
• Trail maintenance
• Construct initial facilities:
• Roadway
• Parking
• Structures
• Plant Nursery
• Plant initial buffer screens, trees, and wildflower meadow
• Install signs
Phase II (3 - 7 years)
• Construct more trails, service roads, handicapped
accessible paths
• Build visitor education center
• Install major gardens
• Construct main entry way, parking, and bridge
Phase III (7-12 years)
• Construct conservatory, chapel, and amphitheater
• Complete water features and all other garden installations
PROPOSAL- 1) that the specified area. of Lake Fayetteville be
designated by the City to be utilized for the development and
operation of a Botanical Garden, under the supervision of the
7 / October 7, 1996
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PRAB REGULAR MEETING
organization, for a period of fifty years; 2) that the City
attorney draft an ordinance that will legally bind this
agreement; 3) that the City form a committee consisting of
Parks Board members, City Council members, and Botanical
Garden Board members that will work together to draft a land -
lease agreement that will specifically define the terms of
this relationship.
Porter told the PRAB that a clause could be added in the land -
lease agreement (regarding over 100 acres of City owned land)
that would require BGSO to acquire certain goals in specified
amounts of time. If BGSO falls short of expectations, they
could endanger the life of their lease. Driver questioned
whether funding would affect goals, and Porter said that the
amount of construction would rely on the amount of funding
they received.
DISCUSSION:
Richard: You would not restrict the Lake Fayetteville trail?
Porter: We would not restrict it, but we would hope its use
would be compatible with what we want to do. We'd like to see
the trail remain natural. There was talk of sharing the trail
with mountain bikers, hikers, cross country runners, and
pedestrians. Those four uses are not very compatible. There
were suggestions that certain activities be restricted to
certain areas of the trail.
Richard: I'd like to see a balance among competing groups
Clark: We have constantly been in communication with BGSO. The
use of the trail as it is now is only 3-4 feet wide, and it
lends itself to being a nature trail. I feel the best use of
the trail would be in the natural state as opposed to
surfacing on the south side of Lake Fayetteville.
Ackerman: We appreciate the amount of work you have done. From
my personal perspective I do not feel I have enough
information to make a recommendation to City Council to
designate a piece of property of this magnitude. We are now at
a point where we can perhaps start putting together the
overall concept of this type of facility complementing our
City and parks system. I would support anything you
illustrated here as long as it was in the best interest of the
community. I believe that it is. I think we, as a Board, needs
to access the information you presented and maybe put together
a subcommittee to ask questions of your group in preparing for
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PRAB REGULAR MEETING
any kind of recommendation we might make I think you are on
the right track.
An Ad hoc Committee consisting of Bill Ackerman, Brian
Richard, Susan Driver, three members of BGSO, and possibly
Cyrus Young of the City Council as well as Dale Clark was
formed to work on the land -lease agreement before any
recommendation can be made. The meeting was scheduled for
Monday, October 21 at 4:00 p.m. at the Fayetteville Youth
Center.
VI. BAMBINO BASEBALL - ROGER FERGUSON
Ferguson questioned the youth baseball program meetings not be
closed but be made available for public participation. James
suggested that a hearing be requested to the Bambino Board
regarding problems with baseball. Ferguson said he did not
understand the rules or his rights regarding Bambino baseball.
Dennis Kelly, President of Youth Baseball League, said any
persons wishing to attend meetings were welcome. Bambino does
not publicize meetings, but individuals may attend by making
the request to a Board member. Clark said that the City
provided the facilities, but Bambino ran their own league.
Kelly informed the PRAB that they paid their own utilities,
they hired the umpires, ran the concession stand, and
basically footed all of the bills. Waite stated that legally
the PRAB must inform the public of any meetings, but he was
unsure if Bambino fit under the same bylaws. Ackerman felt
the issue was a housekeeping problem internally, and issues
needed to be addressed by the Bambino Board of Directors
first. Driver said that the bylaws should be followed and that
being notified of meetings was a reasonable request.
VII. LAKE FAYETTEVILLE TRAIL UPDATE - CLARK
Clark reported that there were erosion problems and bridgework
needed on the Lake Fayetteville Trail. It is probably best if
used in its natural state without a great deal of construction
(removal of trees to widen it). There would be a conflict
between mountain bikes and hikers. It is a beautiful trail,
and we encourage people to use it. Driver suggested that
perhaps Nelson could investigate with the transportation
9 / October 7, 1996
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PRAB REGULAR MEETING
department of the state to see if bridges removed from county
roads, etc. and being replaced might be obtainable for use
across the spillway.
VIII. GULLEY PARK PURCHASE PROGRESS REPORT - CLARK
Clark told the group that the legal department had drawn up a
contract to acquire 2.5 acres from Mrs. Gulley. We are working
on this, and we will present it to the City Council. We hope
to move forward with this.
IX. APPRAISAL PROGRESS ON RUPPLE ROAD/MT. COMFORT ROAD - CLARK
Clark told the PRAB that we have received our appraisal on the
property, but he did not know if Mr. & Mrs. Hazen had received
their appraisal. This will be followed up.
X. TENNIS TOURNAMENT DISCUSSION - CLARK
Clark informed the PRAB that every year John Teas and the
Fayetteville Tennis Association has held a tournament. The
City does not have a policy regarding tournaments. We have
another individual who is requesting the use of four tennis
courts at Wilson Park for three days Clark was unsure how to
proceed. It was suggested that Clark meet with John Teas to
find out his view point on the matter.
McCutcheon had accolades for Susan Driver and congratulated
her on her award and for being such a driver!
Meeting adjourned at 7:55 pm.
MINUTES APPROVED:
MINUTES TAKEN BY:
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10 / October 7, 1996
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1996 REGULAR PRAB MEETING
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