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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-12-01 - MinutesFAYETTEVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD Minutes December 1, 2008 Opening: The regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board was called to order by Chairman Wade Colwell at 5:36 p.m. on December 1, 2008 in room 111 of the City Administration Building located at 113 West Mountain Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Present: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board members Colwell, Biendara, Waite, Hatfield, and Meldrum were present. P. Jones and Benson were absent. Parks and Recreation Staff members Edmonston, Humphry, Jumper, C. Jones, Martin, Thomas, Gipson, and the audience were present. Edmonston introduced Parks and Recreation's new Recreation Superintendent, Chase Gipson, who is replacing David Wright. Gipson has been the Fayetteville Recreation Program Manager for the past four years. . 1. Approval of November 3rd, 2008 PRAB Meeting Minutes PRAB Motion: Hatfield motioned to accept the minutes as written, and Waite seconded it. Motion passed 6-0-0 by voice vote. 2. Botanical Garden Monthly Report: Walt Eilers, Board of Directors Eilers discussed the report. He said Phase IA was complete. Colwell commented that the parking lot will need more than twelve spaces. Eilers said that was a very early design. Colwell said that when another parking lot was built, the gate could be closed for security. Eilers said they would look into that. 3. Naming of Fairlane Park Land: Carole Jones, Park Planner The following suggestions were submitted to the Parks and Recreation Division as possible names for the park land: Jaguar Park (former Jefferson Elementary School mascot); Jefferson Park; Heritage Park, and Flyover Park. According to the Facility Naming Policy, the item was tabled from last month's PRAB meeting in order to allow for public input. At the October PRAB meeting, PRAB requested that additional names be submitted during the one month input period. Staff requested for the Historical Society to review this area for any historical information about the area; however, no significant information was found. Walt Eilers suggested naming the park "Doc Mashburn Park" after Dr. James Mashburn, a booster of Jefferson Elementary throughout his life. This recommendation was presented at the November 3, 2008, PRAB meeting and tabled for one additional month for public input per the City's Facility Naming Policy. Staff Recommendation: The Parks and Recreation Staff recommend naming the park Doc Mashburn Park. C. Jones discussed the naming of the park land on Fairlane. She said that Eilers suggested naming the park Doc Mashburn Park. Jonathan Storey was present to speak on behalf of Doc. He knew Doc Mashburn for many years, and related several stories about him. He said if it weren't for the Mashburn Foundation, he would not have had the opportunity to play piano for the Clintons at the White House. He witnessed Doc speaking to President Clinton in the same respectful way that he would speak to his gardener. Doc was well thought of by everyone. Edmonston wanted to add that Storey is an awesome pianist and organist. C. Jones said that naming the park Doc Mashburn Park would be good, because Doc is from Fayetteville, and contributed so much to this area. Mauritson said that Doc's descendants could play in this park. PRAB Motion: Colwell motioned to name the park Doc Mashburn Park. Waite seconded it. Motion passed 6-0-0 by voice vote. 4. Park Land Dedication: Development Name: Engineer: Owner: Location: Park Quadrant: Units: Total Acres: Land Dedication Requirement: Money in Lieu Requirement Alison Jumper, Park Planner Coves Addition Rausch Coleman Homes Rausch Coleman Homes West of I-540, north of Hwy. 16 West SW 38 Single Family 10 Acres 0.91 Acres $36,480 * Final fees to be determined at Planning Commission approval* Existing Parks: Developer's Request: Holland Park (5 acres) Money in Lieu Staff Recommendation: Money in Lieu and multi -use trail easement for trail connection on area labeled CP3. Estimated Annual Maintenance: $0 Justification: Holland Park is located within a half mile and is accessible via the trail located along Alberta. Jumper discussed Cove's Addition, and then said that Andy Feinstein from Rausch Coleman was there if anyone had questions. Colwell asked if an area on the map was a traffic circle. Feinstein said that there would be landscaping around the road in that area. The new sewer plant is just to the north. The trail will be on the gas easement. Colwell wanted to know if the trail will be from Alberta North. Jumper said that it would cut diagonally through the property to the gas easement that will be utilized for the trail. Feinstein said that they are working out the issues with Centerpoint Energy. PRAB Motion: Mauritson motioned to accept the Staff recommendation of accepting money in lieu and the multiuse trail easement connection on the area labeled CP3. Biendara seconded it. Motion passed 6-0-0 by voice vote. 5. Leave No Trace Proposal: Jennifer Hazelrigs, U of A Outdoor Connection The Sidewalk and Trails Task Force endorsed the initiation of Leave No Trace into Fayetteville Parks and Recreation. Jennifer Hazelrigs gave a presentation of the benefits for the City to endorse this program. Staff Recommendation: To endorse the Leave No Trace program. Hazelrigs discussed the Leave No Trace program. It would cost $200 per year for Parks and Recreation. She feels that everyone, including the City, needs to be proactive in educating the public. The seven ethics for Leave No Trace -Front Country are: know before you go; stick to trails and camp overnight right; trash your trash and pick up poop; leave it as you find it; be careful with fire; keep wildlife wild; and share our trails and manage your pet. Edmonston said all seven points are very important. It's important that our city remains clean and green. The $200 is a good investment. Mauritson said this program is a great idea. We need to keep our area cleaned up There's no need to reinvent the wheel. Biendara asked if the $200 was an annual fee Hazelrigs said yes, it was. Edmonston said PRAB will revisit it each year to see if there is anything that can be improved. PRAB Motion: Mauritson motioned to endorse the program and find the $200 annual fee. Hatfield seconded it. Motion passed 6-0-0 by voice vote. 6. Regional Park Update: Connie Edmonston, Parks & Recreation Director Edmonston said that Southpass has been annexed and rezoned into Fayetteville City limits. It has been submitted to the Street Committee, and then will go to Council. The share cost is being discussed. Jumper added that the boundaries are being worked out and being put on paper. It will then be staked in the field. 7. Monday, December 08, 2008 Other Business: Colwell reported on Matt Owens's Eagle Scout project building the Lake Sequoyah Trail. The volunteers helping him have donated approximately 300 hours. While working, they have seen several hunters in the area, which is prohibited, but this has been addressed. They have completed another half mile of the trail. Colwell also said that the cedar trees have grown up at Gulley Park, and are affecting the timing of the lights going off and on. Humphry said because of the time crunch for Lights of the Ozarks, the maintenance staff hasn't had a chance to address the light problem. When it is addressed, bucket trucks may be needed to trim the trees. Colwell asked if the rubble piles have been removed. Humphry said no, not yet. Edmonston said all the crews were working on the Lights of the Ozarks. Now they can get back to working on the park areas. Biendara asked if the branches from the newly planted trees on College were hitting cars. Jumper said it has been a problem, but when the trees grow, the situation will improve. 13 Edmonston said she would like to thank Colwell and his crew for their work on the Lake Sequoyah trail. Colwell said he appreciated that. He wants to build the trail all the way around. A slideshow of Parks and Recreation 2008 events was shown to the Board. Waite asked what the timeline was for the Wilson Park Bridge. C. Jones said she could answer that. The bridge is completed and she is waiting for the abutments. The bridge is 6 feet wide and 50 feet long. The area will have three new planting areas for our horticultural staff to maintain. Colwell asked if people still will be able to drive through to Louise. C. Jones said yes. 8. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 6:36. Minutes taken by Melanie Thomas.