HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-03-03 - MinutesFAYETTEVI LLE • • • THE CITY OF FAYETTEVIIIE. ARKANSAS DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE TO: FROM: DATE: PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD DALE D CLARK, PARKS & RECREATION DIRECTOR FEBRUARY 24, 1997 SUBJECT: PRAB MEETING ON MONDAY, MARCH 3, 1997 AT 5:30 PM IN ROOM 219 OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING I. Approval of PRAB Minutes - February 3, 1997 - Regular Meeting II. Discussion on the winterization of Claudia Rutherford III. GREENSPACE Development: Engineer: Owner: Location: the park restroomss - e6n.>4 Afej Sang Street Apartments Crafton, Tull & Associates Lindsey Partnership N of Stone, W of Sang, across Stone from Ramey Jr. High Park District: Southwest Priority: None Total Acres: 13.27 acres Units: 120 multi family Land Dedication Requirement: 2.4 acres Money in Lieu: $28,800 1990 Needs: 54.5 - 109 2010 Needs: 57 - 114 Existing: 38 acres Proposed Trail Plans: Staff Recommendation: acres acres units None Recommend Facility Committee meet On-site to view the property Recommend requiring land if it meets criteria Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Page 2 March 5, 1997 IV. Parks Board orientation report - Dugwyler V. Selection of Committee Members - Clark VI. Gulley Park purchase progress report - Clark VII. Update on Lake Fayetteville Trail - Dugwyler VIII.Update on the Parks' Department projects - Clark IX. OTHER BUSINESS Program/PR Committee Meeting immediately following the P.R.A.B. meeting tonight Attachments: Green Space Report HMR Report • • • PRAB REGULAR MEETING MARCH 3, 1997 The meeting was called to order by Chairman Ackerman at 5:30 p.m. in Room 219 of the City Administration Building. Members Present: Staff Present: Guests Present: Ackerman, Bleidt, James, King, McCutcheon, Staggs, Thiel, Waite Clark, Dugwyler, Orzek, Nelson Jared McCauley, John Niewinski, Mike Smallwood, Kirsten Stanfire, Tom Halbmaien, Kimberly Polite, Kim Bodey - U of A students; Peggy Smith - Chamber -Community Development Committee; Tom Hopper - Lindsey Management/Crafton, Tull & Associates Media Present: Don Michael, Northwest Arkansas Times BUSINESS: I. MOTION: McCUTCHEON/BLEIDT The Minutes from the February 3, 1997, PRAB regular meeting were approved unanimously 8-0. II. Discussion on the winterization of the park restrooms Claudia Rutherford Ms. Rutherford was not present at the meeting. Staff will contact her this week to inquire about possibly rescheduling. III. GREENSPACE Development: Engineer: Owner: Location: Sang Street Apartments Crafton, Tull & Associates Lindsey Partnership N of Stone, W of Sang, across Stone from Ramay Jr. High School 40"1 visit 1 / March 3, 1997 • • • Park District: Priority: Total Acres: Units: Land Dedication Requirement: Money in Lieu: 1990 Needs: 2010 Needs: Existing: Proposed Trail Southwest None 13.27 acres 120 multi -family units 2.4 acres $28,800 54.5 - 109 acres 57 - 114 acres 38 acres Plans: None Staff Recommendation: Recommend Facility Committee meet on-site to view the property. Recommend requiring land if it meets criteria. Hopper: I am a principal to Crafton, Tull & Associates. I am here to answer questions you might have on the proposed development of this 120 -unit apartment complex at the intersection of Stone and Sang. This project has been designed on a hillside and designed to help minimize any erosion. We hope to preserve as many trees as possible. Our preference would be to give money instead of land, but if this board so desires we would give land as required. This property, with its slope and trees, will be a challenge to develop. When it is finished, I am not sure how useful it would be as a park. If you should desire to take land at this meeting, you might want to wait to see the property after it is developed. If you that it might not be satisfactory might determine that you want agree with our for a park, assessment at that time money instead of land. Ackerman. By ordinance property for development, we you would be required to evaluate the land in lieu of money. With the magnitude of your acreages and units described, would necessitate us to at least take a good look at the land in lieu of money. Hopper: We are aware that anything over 100 units requires that. Ackerman. What we might suggest is that you develop your developmental plan. You confer with us, and we would evaluate it as to what land you would be willing to transfer as a park. We could see if we could work out the details as you progress. Hopper: Units four through ten would be developed on the north side of the parking lot. The area outside of the slopes is the 2 / March 3, 1997 • • • green area that would remain. Northwest of unit four and northwest of unit two are the areas that would be undisturbed and available for park land if you so choose. James: I did not have time to visit the site. I would like to suggest meeting one day this week in the afternoon to survey this land and see if it is feasible for park land. Hopper: I think we could give you a much better perspective once we get the land cleared and sloped. Once we go through the Planning Commission and begin the construction process, I think you would better see what I am describing to you. If there is the ability to wait until that time to make your decision in regards to land or money in lieu... Waite: This is not a decision we can make. A development this large will be determined by City Council. All we can do is make a recommendation. If we do not take land it has to go before the City Council. James: But do we not have the option as to which piece of land? Waite: Yes. We still need to review it. Ackerman. His point is well taken. I have incidently went out and reviewed this tract. The land is heavily timbered at this time, and it would be very difficult to make a determination. I think we need to review what you have proposed; it is not going to affect our decision today. We want to take land in lieu of money unless it is not appropriate to do so and the City Council would approve otherwise. I think this board will want to examine the site. Hopper: Going through the planning process though, are we okay with the understanding that the area I described left in green would be available? Dugwyler: No. This cannot go any further into the City planning process until the parks board has voted and made a decision. Hopper: That was the reason I was asking for your concurrence. Thiel: A couple of buildings you show along Stone Street would be more accessible to the school. I think that area might be more level and convenient for the school. Waite: What is the possibility of simply developing some of the additional Ramay land as park facilities across the street? Hopper: I'm sure this developer would be willing to give money to do that if that land is available. Waite: If I was going to develop something as a park, I'd 3 / March 3, 1997 • • • rather do it across the street on Ramay property shared with the school. That would be my first inclination. What do you think Clark? Clark: I hesitate to answer that question because that is an option that has not been explored. Ackerman: The area needs park space. It can be justified that there is a major need of park land in that area. I think we need to work out something agreeable to both the developer as well as ourselves. I do not think that what you have proposed thus far is satisfactory to the Parks Board. I don't think it would be a practical solution to a park need. What we would prefer you do is to go back to your drawing board with your engineer and developer and propose a tract of land that would be satisfactory for use by the public as well as satisfactory to you as a developer. James: I'd still like to visit the property. Ackerman. We are not in the position at this time to make a decision at this very moment on a specific tract of your property. We are going to need time to evaluate it and base our decision on sound reasoning. Hopper: Is there any way to do that without waiting a month for that process? Dugwyler: We can decision. We have Ackerman: I can't first inspection, notify the press, meet on-site, and make a done that before. guarantee you that we can make a decision on but I think we can move this along timely. Facilities Committee arranged to meet on-site Tuesday, March 4, 1997, at 5:15 p.m. to evaluate the property. IV. Parks Board Orientation report - Dugwyler Dugwyler: We met at the FYC on February 21, 1997. We invited the PRAB to an orientation. We covered general budget, budgeting process, CIP program budget, the green space ordinance, HMR tax, and we worked through a green space exercise. We hope to make this an annual event. We also hope to follow up with a few park tours. Ackerman: I think the subject matter discussed was very informative. We appreciate the staff's hard work in putting this program together. 4 / March 3, 1997 • • • V. Selection of Committee Members - Clark * * * CONFIRMING NOTE * * * Facilities Committee: McCutcheon, Bill Waite, Staggs, Bruce King Johnny James (Chairman), John Aaron Bleidt, Brenda Thiel, Rodney Budget Committee: Bill Waite (Chairman), Bruce King, Bill Ackerman Program/PR Committee: John McCutcheon (Chairman), Johnny James, Aaron Bleidt, Brenda Thiel, Rodney Staggs, Bruce King VI. Gulley Park purchase progress report - Clark Clark will arrange a meeting with Mrs. Gulley this week to begin this process again. VII. Update on Lake Fayetteville Trail - Dugwyler Dugwyler: The Purchasing Manager and myself sent out requests for qualifications to seven firms who are familiar with projects such as the one we are planning at Lake Fayetteville. We are working on a five -mile trail which encircles the lake. We received three statements of qualifications from the contacted firms. City Selection Committee met and selected a firm from Tulsa, Oklahoma. We will be negotiating with them in the near future on a fee for their services in design and preliminary plans for the trail at Lake Fayetteville. Ackerman: Does this design include foot bridges? Dugwyler: The design does include the main bridge which will cross the spillway and bridges on the Clear Creek coming into the lake. Ackerman. Do you have a time frame? Dugwyler: Hopefully within the next two or three months. It will have to go through City Council before we can get this firm onboard and public meetings to get feedback from various interested groups. They should have a design completed by the end of summer. Waite: Were you satisfied with the capabilities of the three responders? Dugwyler: I was very satisfied. Between the three firms, I 5 / March 3, 1997 • would say they have completed thirty nice trails involving bridges and different designs. VIII. Update on the Parks' Department projects - Clark Clark: Davis Park and Gulley Park improvements have been bid. Davis, Gulley, and Lake Fayetteville have all received $50,000 matching funds from the State Department of Tourism, an outdoors grant program, on each of these projects. We have completed the one at Lake Fayetteville, so we are anxious to move ahead with the others. Playground equipment and a basketball and volleyball court will be added to Davis Park. I have been in conference with Mike Langford, a timber framer, and we discussed the possibility of constructing a gazebo type building or similar structure. I think Davis Park will materialize over a period of time. This is the first phase, and I think it will continue to develop over a period of time. Regarding the Walker Park parking lot, we are still struggling to alleviate some of the problems with baseball in regards to parking. We are organizing the parking lot at Gulley to accommodate 32 spaces and paving it. We are experiencing some problems at the Wilson Park Aquatic Facility in regards to the masonite finish on the bottom and sides of the pool. Over a period of time it cracks and begins to peel; it has to be removed and recoated. In 1984 we renovated the pool; it is terribly expensive. I am not real happy with this bid because it came in at $109,000. We need to replace the filter tanks in the near future. Dugwyler: The Health Department requires that your pool surface be smooth because bacteria gathers in cracks and crevices. They will not allow us to open this year until this problem is corrected. Clark: The gyms at Holcomb and Vandergriff have worked out very well for us. We have purchased scoreboards, floor machines, and bleachers. We are getting good usage out of the facilities. As you recall, the Board recommended funding through April to keep the gyms open extended hours. In the near future we will be back before you with a recommendation. Park land acquisition is in our budget. We are working on the Gulley acquisition as well as a couple of others in the northwest quadrant. The Walker Park Senior Complex should be taking bids very soon. They have completed their design work. 6 / March 3, 1997 • • They have been on a fund raising drive to come up with the extra money required to complete the project. They are making good progress. We have finished the first phase of the girls' softball complex. We have selected engineers for the second phase. That work should be completed in July, August, or September. Hopefully we will have some fields ready for fall play (without lights). We have met with City Administration on several occasions in regards to a larger maintenance facility for our parks' employees. We have been operating out of Wilson Park, but we are at a point where we need a larger facility. There are several options available to us at this point. There are several acres across from the old City shop, the old pump station area in the industrial park is a possibility, or maybe even down at the water plant on Cato Springs Road. Those are possibilities we have explored. We need two to three acres of land for storage of equipment and materials, indoor shop space, and personnel space. We have outgrown the current facility at Wilson Park. We have selected engineers for the Lewis Soccer Complex addition of fields five and six. I am currently working on scopes for engineers and then it goes before City Council. We hope these fields will be ready for play by the fall. We will probably have to do large scale development along Mt. Comfort Rd. Dugwyler is working with a firm on the park entrance and signs. We hope to have a design from which we can copy for parks in the future. We would like to be fairly consistent. We are also looking at some alternatives for the chlorination of the Wilson Pool primarily for safety purposes. Costs will be much greater, but we would like to eliminate the chlorine gas and move to a material without as much risk. IX. OTHER BUSINESS Meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m. MINUTES APPROVED: 9-7-97 MINUTES TAKEN BY: qe4 (77 John L. Nelson 7 / March 3, 1997 • • • PROGRAM/PR COMMITTEE SPECIAL MEETING MARCH 3, 1997 A meeting of the Program/PR Committee was held at 6:10 p.m., March 3, 1997, in Room 219 of the City Administration Building. Attending were John McCutcheon (chair), Johnny James, Aaron Bleidt, Brenda Thiel, Rodney Staggs, Bruce King, Bill Ackerman, Bill Waite, staff members Dale Clark, Nancy Dugwyler, Kim Orzek, and John Nelson. Don Michaels, reporter for The Northwest Arkansas Times, was also present. The Committee addressed communicating to the public what programs and facilities Parks and Recreation has to offer in a fashion that would be easier for the public to see. McCutcheon said it isn't productive to establish a large list of things to do because realistically a large list would not be accomplished due to time constraints. By focusing on the areas having the greatest impact and determining how the Committee will achieve them will be more successful. He suggested utilizing the cable to produce and broadcast programming as a visual avenue as well as a column in a local newspaper to expand on the cable. The focus would be to feature parks, programs, CIP projects, where HMR revenue is going, and Adopt -A -Park and other volunteer groups. The Committee felt these two avenues would be wonderful opportunities to educate and inform. The possibility of locating freelance journalists to write columns and finding interested parties to produce video programs were options discussed and to be researched. Thiel suggested doing this on a monthly basis. McCutcheon stressed that this should be carried through and the idea not be abandoned due to lack of time or commitment. Clark pointed out that video production is time consuming, but cable staff were always willing to get involved. Bleit expressed interest in participating in this project. Dugwyler stated that the previous park brochure was funded by the A&P Commission. The Committee agreed a proposal to A&P Commission should be given asking for funding to print an updated brochure. Research into these aspects are ongoing. Bleidt will visit with the newspaper on the possibility of a column, and McCutcheon will visit with cable staff. Meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. John Nelson, Parks & Recreation ClerkJr t MONDAY, MARCH 3, 1997 REGULAR PRAB MEETING NAME (Please Print) GROUP REPRESENTING I ,WCak/ey / �! �% it �r IV otun 2wI21J//l/ Doo)(4- di 4;6 Snavvicep ef/f9 th.V1- 7 ' J Di' A K l // (;A Zlexil.j---1.6-�� w �lei I) r` V rJeNa k N u° ►'t2 -ft n