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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-08-30 - Minutes• • • PRAB 2000 BUDGET PROPOSAL SPECIAL MEETING AUGUST 30, 1999 A special Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting was held at the Parks and Recreation Division located at 1455 Happy Hollow Road in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The purpose of the meeting was for staff to present the 2000 proposed budget and answer questions relating to the budget proposal. The lunch meeting began at 12:00 noon. Members Present: Ackerman, Alexander, Colwell, Luttrell, Shoulders, Thiel Staff Present: Media Present: Edmonston, Evans, Braswell, Hobbs, Gulley, Nelson, Schuldt, Wright, Budget Coordinator, Steve Davis, and Public Works Director, Charlie Venable Laura Kellams, Arkansas Democrat Gazette Matt Wagner, Northwest Arkansas Times Jill Rohrbach, Morning News Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Chairwoman Brenda Thiel introduced City of Fayetteville Public Works Director, Charlie Venable and Budget Coordinator, Steve Davis. Mr. Davis distributed an annual budget flow chart which illustrates the courses taken throughout preparation. The Annual Budget and Work Program is a fiscal plan which presents the services which will be provided to the community and the funds needed to perform these services. The proposed budget will be presented to the Mayor in November. The Mayor will then present the proposed budget to City Council for consideration. The target budget is established by removing capital expenditures and applying an inflator (five and one-half percent this year). Prior to establishing the inflator, Budget and Research examines revenue trends (four percent growth is fairly conservative). No inflator is applied to any other category than personnel services. Target overruns, new personnel requests, and capital items were briefly explained. Mr. Davis said the general fund is not growing as rapidly as other funds. There is more competition for the general fund from public safety entities such as police and fire. Turf and Facility Coordinator, Terry Gulley, presented new personnel requests. With the increase in operations and facilities, additional programming and maintenance must be addressed. The Gary Hampton Softball Complex has a significant impact on the 2000 budget. With the introduction of a new facility and more programming, additional personnel is required for operations. Parks and Recreation Development Coordinator, Eric Schuldt, presented a projected budget for athletics for 2000. The Hampton Complex will host additional programs, additional tournaments, and provide an overflow for adult games. A new set of working procedures and responsibilities for the Parks and Recreation Division and the Fayetteville Youth Center was presented. The Parks and Recreation August 30, 1999 / 1 • • • Division is committed to being an active player in the programs provided at facilities for which it is responsible. The goal is to define and improve the current working relationship to ensure more efficient operations. Program Coordinator, David Wright, presented an overview of twelve programs for 2000, eight of which will be new. Programs include youth softball, youth tennis lessons, adult softball, adult flag football, and youth/adult soccer. Parks and Recreation Superintendent, Connie Edmonston, presented the proposed 2000 operating budgets for the Administration, Swimming Pool, Athletic/Recreation Transfers, Lake Maintenance, Parks Maintenance, and Parks Development and Maintenance programs. Motor pool and equipment requests and prioritized target overruns were also discussed. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member, Bill Ackerman, suggested subtle advertising plans for the programs and events. Ms. Edmonston said program brochures for athletics and swimming pool were being budgeted for 2000. Ms. Thiel said it was crucial to provide funding for trees and landscaping for Greathouse Park. Ms. Edmonston said the Landscape Maintenance Specialist, Lisa Paschal, was developing a plan to determine the needs and costs for the park. Landscape Administrator, Kim Hesse, has indicated she will help fund trees. The group briefly discussed contract limitations regarding cell telephones and two-way radio capacity. Mr. Davis said request for qualifications had been let on the radio system, and the contract for cell phones would be re -bid in September. A SPECIAL PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD MEETING WAS SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8,1999 AT 5:15 P.M. to visit Gary Brandon Subdivision located east of Highway 265, north of Zion Road; Silverthorne Subdivision located south of Highway 16, west of Double Springs Road; and Butterfield Trail Village Expansion located west of Old Missouri Road, south of Joyce Street for the Park Land Ordinance recommendation. The meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m. •Q!` Minutes taken by John \lelson August 30, 1999 / 2 PRAB SPECIAL MEETING AUGUST 26, 1999 A special Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting was held at Greathouse Park located at 1710 S. Price Avenue in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Thiel at 12:00 noon. Members Present: Staff Present: Guests Present: Media Present: Colwell, Eads, Luttrell, Shoulders, Stockland, Thiel Edmonston, Gulley, Nelson, Rogers, Schuldt, Wright David Todd, CEI Engineering; Paul Libertini, City Engineering; Fran Alexander, Neighborwoods; Andrea Fournet, Friends For Fayetteville; Terry Eastin Julie Tribble, KIX 104 Jill Rohrbach, Morning News Laura Kellams, AR Democrat Gazette Don Michaels, NWA Times Phillip Walrod, NWA Times Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Chairwoman Brenda Thiel said there was a viable concern for the number of trees required to remove in order to meet Federal Emergency Management Agency requirements to install a 75 -foot prefabricated bridge. Major concerns associated with the needs for a bridge include providing a safe access, the loss of an easement on the property which was once Levi Strauss, and by widening the channel future flooding could be eased. It was a consensus of the group that closing the park was not a consideration. Parks and Recreation Superintendent Connie Edmonston said parks are for trees, and they provide many benefits. However, Greathouse Park is the only park in the immediate area, and the neighborhood deserved a park with a safe access to it. Furthermore, Ms. Edmonston said the City of Fayetteville must adhere to federal regulations. David Todd, an engineer with CEI Engineering, explained the scope of the project by walking those in attendance through the course of the channelization. Channelization is required to not raise the base flood level. City Engineer, Paul Libertini said during flooding water could get as much as eight feet above the park land. When asked whether an environmental impact study had been completed to see how the creek would be affected, Mr. Todd replied that only a hydraulic analysis required by FEMA had been completed to see the effects of flooding. The contractor will be required to take soil erosion precautions, and the banks will be sodded. Andrea Fournet, chairwoman of the group Friends for Fayetteville, said the project would change the entire ecosystem. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member Gail Eads said some of the existing trees would eventually be lost due to the natural flow of the creek current and cited other areas as examples. August 26, 1999 / 1 • • • The possibilities of alternatives were discussed including low-water bridges, higher versus lower bridges, and other entry points. Mr. Todd said the project is the most cost-effective way to meet the most objectives; the least number of trees will be removed while meeting federal guidelines including compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Opponents of the project suggested condemning property for an easement. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member Tom Stockland said condemning the Levi Straus property was not viable due to the fact that there is public access. Terry Gulley, Parks and Recreation Turf and Facility Coordinator, said condemnation was generally considered in cases involving 'land lock'. Opponents charged the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and City of Fayetteville of rushing into the project. Ms. Thiel said the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board had been looking at the project for two years Ms. Edmonston read the group a letter submitted by an 11 -year-old neighborhood child requesting the installation of a new bridge. Ms. Foumet said she doubted people realized the magnitude of the impact and probably envisioned a foot bridge. She suggested temporarily closing the park until other alternatives could be reached. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member Bob Shoulders said although tree removal was unsettling, he did not want to sacrifice a child because of unsafe access. MOTION: Mr. Stockland moved to approve the plan as proposed by staff and proceed with the Greathouse Bridge project. Mr. Shoulders seconded the motion. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member Wade Colwell asked if an exemption of FEMA guidelines had been applied. Kim Rogers, Parks and Recreation Operations Coordinator, said Tim Conklin, City Planner, had plead the case but a waiver of regulations cannot be obtained. Mr. Todd asked if FEMA had granted an exemption for a negative flood Impact would the City still want to go ahead with the project while negatively impacting the surrounding homes? City staff said no. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member 0 E Luttrell said this was a project which included a sacrifice no one liked. However, it was one sacifice to save a whole unit. The motion was approved 6-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 1:05 p.m. Minutes taken by JohnlNl elson August 26, 1999 / 2