HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-04-07 - MinutesFAYETTEVI LLE
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THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
DALE D. CLARK, PARKS & RECREATION DIRECTOR
MARCH 28, 1997
SUBJECT: PRAB MEETING ON MONDAY, APRIL 7, 1997 AT 5:30 PM IN ROOM
219 OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
I. Approval of PRAB Minutes - March 3, 1997 - Regular Meeting
II.
Discussion on the winterization of the park restrooms -
Claudia Rutherford
III. GREENSPACE
Development:
Engineer:
Owner:
Location:
Park District:
Meadow Brook Apts.(was Sang Street Apartments)
Crafton, Tull & Associates
Lindsey Partnership
N of Stone, W of Sang, across Stone from
Ramay Jr. High
Southwest
Priority: None
Total Acres: 13.27 acres
Units: 96 multi family units
Land Dedication
Requirement:
Money in Lieu:
1990 Needs:
2010 Needs:
Existing:
Proposed Trail
1.92 acres
$23,040
54.5 - 109 acres
57 - 114 acres
38 acres
Plans: None
IV. Schedule on-site visit to natural area a3oining Hillborn
Heritage Foundation Farm (Zoological Society).
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Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Page 2
March 31, 1997
V. Chuck Yarbrough - U.S.S.S.A.
VI. OTHER BUSINESS
Attachments:
Green Space Report
HMR Report
Program/PR Committee Minutes from 3/3/97
Facilities Committee Minutes from 3/4/97 concerning Green Space
recommendations on Meadow Brook Apartments (formerly Sang
Street Apartments) beside Ramay Jr. High School
Facilities Committee Minutes from 3/7/97 on further discussion of
the Meadow Brook Apartments (formerly Sang Street Apartments
by Ramay Jr. High School
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PRAB
REGULAR MEETING
APRIL 7, 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:
Members Absent:
Staff Present:
Guests Present:
Ackerman, Bleidt, James, King, Staggs, Thiel,
Waite
McCutcheon - Out of Town
Clark, Dugwyler, Orzek, Nelson
Claudia Rutherford
Tom Hopper, Jim Lindsey
Chuck Yarbrough, Paula Belt, Brian Choate
U.S.S.S.A.
Media Present: Rusty Garrett, Northwest Arkansas Times
Charlie Alison, Morning News
BUSINESS:
I. MOTION: WAITE/BLEIDT
The Minutes from the March 3, 1997, PRAB regular meeting were
approved unanimously 7-0.
II. Discussion on the winterization of the park restrooms
Claudia Rutherford
Rutherford: My name is Claudia Rutherford. What started as a
problem for myself and my grandchildren last December when we
had a warm, sunny day, was we went to a park and one of the
small children had to go to the bathroom. Children do not want
to wait when they have to go to the bathroom. I'm sure I'm not
the first parent or first grandparent to take a child behind
a tree because there was no other alternative. I think with a
progressive city like we have we should be able to figure
something out that is a little more environmentally safe,
health concerns, or even the teaching of our children. Maybe
April 7, 1997 / 1
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even if we have to winterize the restrooms we could at least
have portable toilets like construction sites. If portable
toilets could not be furnished at all the parks, they should
certainly be made available at the parks that are used the
most.
Ackerman. I might ask Clark what our policy has been in recent
years regarding the winterization of restroom facilities at
our various parks.
Clark: We are usually forced to begin the winterization
procedures in November usually before Thanksgiving. All of our
restrooms have been designed in such a way that ventilation of
the restrooms is aided by being open to the outside air a
great deal. The other factor to consider is the cost when we
construct these facilities such as the ongoing usage of
utilities and the decline of public usage in the winter
months. We have to close the facilities during the months of
November, December, January, February, and into mid March due
to freezing temperatures. The problem has been that if the
facilities freeze it is very expensive to fix them. We base
that upon usage and the cost associated with operating them.
Ackerman. Has there been any other request by any segment of
our society or population in the community regarding having
facilities open in the winter?
Clark: We get a request on a regular basis. For example,
soccer plays into December. They wanted the restrooms open the
first of March this year. There are other sporting events
where they would like the restrooms. In some cases we have
rented portable toilets to make events possible. On warm days
people use the parks and think the restrooms should be open.
It's rather expensive to shut the restrooms down, drain the
valves, and add antifreeze. I would say that it costs us
roughly $300 per building to winterize the facilities, so you
don't jump out there every day and turn them on.
Thiel: It would be a matter of rebuilding these facilities to
make them so they could be kept open less expensively in the
winter isn't this correct?
Clark: They would all require remodeling. It would also
require gas or electric heating.
Ackerman. I might suggest with the board's consensus that we
look at the feasibility of this and what it might entail, the
cost structure, and the usage and evaluate the request and get
back with Ms. Rutherford.
April 7, 1997 / 2
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Clark: We can research what the utilities cost and the
construction costs to make present
the winter months.
Thiel: I would suggest that just be
facilities most utilized and not at all
Waite: Our basic design like at Wilson,
Finger, and Lewis are common design.
facilities usable during
looked into at the
of them
Gulley, Walker,
The winterization of the restroom facilities begins in
November and usually takes about two weeks to complete. This
applies to the spring opening as well. Staff will research
this matter and contact Ms. Rutherford with their findings.
III. GREENSPACE
Development: Meadow Brook Apts. (was Sang Street Apartments)
Engineer: Crafton, Tull & Associates
Owner: Lindsey Partnership
Location: N of Stone, W of Sang, across Stone from Ramay
Junior High School
Park District: Southwest
Priority: None
Total Acres: 13.27 acres
Units: 96 multi family units
Land Dedication
Requirement: 1.92 acres
Money in Lieu: $23,040
1990 Needs: 54.5 - 109
2010 Needs: 57 - 114 acres
Existing: 38 acres
Proposed
Trail Plans: None
Based on previous meetings and the general consensus of the
PRAB, the developer downsized the project to 96 multi family
units. Hopper asked that the PRAB approve either the 96 units
or the 120 units and the appropriate amount of money be
required in lieu of land dedication. Mr. Lindsey's preference
is to build 120 units based on the feasibility, but he is
willing to downsize to 96 units if needed to satisfy
requirements Ackerman's concern was that Mr. Lindsey include
usable green space for the tenants. Lindsey said they would
provide picnic tables and other recreational items and leave
as much green space intact as possible Waite felt like
April 7, 1997 / 3
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putting a park across the street from the junior high was
unappealing. He would rather use the money to further develop
Ramay or to acquire land elsewhere in the quadrant. Parking
was a concern of Thiel's if the area was developed as a park
since the street is located at the bus exit of the school.
Also a concern was the surrounding wooded area. Ackerman
requested a plan from Lindsey regarding green space
development for his tenants.
MOTION: WAITE/STAGGS
The motion was made to rescind the prior motion [3-4-97] to
take land in lieu of money and restate motion to take money,
in lieu of land and request a variance from City Council
regarding Meadow Brook Apartments (previously named Sang
Street Apartments).
The motion was approved unanimously 7-0.
IV. Schedule on-site visit to natural area adjoining Hillborn
Heritage Foundation Farm (Zoological Society)
A meeting has been scheduled for April 15, 1997, at 5:30 p.m.
to meet on-site at Hillborn Heritage Foundation Farm.
V. Chuck Yarbrough - U.S.S.S.A.
Mr. Yarbrough informed the PRAB that he has brought numerous
state softball tournaments to the city of Fayetteville for a
number of years. Lake Fayetteville fields are not legal size
for men to play on, and Yarbrough said he has brought this to
the board's attention before. He hopes to have the opportunity
to use the new 300 ft. Fields being constructed to continue
bringing teams in from various states and generate revenues
for the city. His concerns are: 1) the bidding process to
secure fields for tournaments; 2) his request from two years
ago to attend softball board meetings as an ad hoc advisor on
rule changes, recommendations, etc.; 3) the possibility of
softball being treated the same as soccer and youth baseball
in which a non-profit association could be formed which would
be incorporated with board of directors, insurance, and
policies and procedures; and 4) teams at Lake Fayetteville pay
a U.S.S.S.A. registration fee of $20.
April 7, 1997 / 4
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Thiel asked where funding for the program came, and Clark said
it came from the entry fees paid by the teams. Clark said the
option to offer A.S.A. and U.S.S.S.A. does not hurt the
program
Yarbrough said that two years earlier he was promised bylaws,
and other materials regarding the Fayetteville Softball
Association which were never delivered.
Ackerman requested that Yarbrough address the board in a
formal written statement as to his concerns and the questions
he would like answered and let the Facilities Committee review
the questions and concerns and develop a formal statement of
position.
VI. OTHER BUSINESS
Thiel reported that McCutcheon and herself went to Government
Access channel and discussed producing programs on a regular
basis with monthly updates. Bleidt has been writing a bi-
weekly column in the Northwest Arkansas Times on parks. Staggs
suggested Bleidt visit with the Morning News about running the
same column in their newspaper as well.
Meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
MINUTES APPROVED: 5-5-97
MINUTES TAKEN BY: /fin `7)
Jo n L. Nklson
April 7, 1997 / 5
