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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-04-06 - MinutesFAYETTEVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD Minutes for April 6, 2009 Opening: The regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board was called to order by Chairman Wade Colwell at 5:32 p.m. on April 6, 2009 in Room 326 of the City Administration Building located at 113 West Mountain Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Present: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board members Colwell, Biendara, Hatfield, Waite, Mauritson, Meldrum, and Meinecke were present. P. Jones and Benson were absent. Parks and Recreation Staff members Edmonston, Humphry, C. Jones, Jumper, Thomas, and the audience were present. 1. Approval of March 2, 2009 PRAB Meeting Minutes PRAB Motion: Mauritson motioned to accept the minutes as written, and Meinecke seconded it. Motion passed 7-0-0 by voice vote. 2. Botanical Gardens Monthly Report: Walt Eilers, Board of Directors Education is the Garden's primary focus. First, it is a demonstration garden of what will grow in Northwest Arkansas. Second, its role is to educate all age groups about plants and our relationship with nature and sustainability. In 2008, 5,000 students and teachers from across Northwest Arkansas attended BGO environmental/educational programs. Colwell said they are doing a great job. When he drives by, the parking lot is often full. 3. Community Garden Presentation: Lisa Netherland Netherland introduced the Master Gardeners that won the Volunteer of the Year award. Wade Colwell presented them with their plaque. Edmonston said she was excited about the community garden. Netherland said that she has been with Fayetteville Parks and Recreation for about fifteen years. She and her crew work a lot at Wilson Park. People often come up to her there and ask if it would be possible to have a community garden. As a result, an excellent group of people got together and formed the Fayetteville Community Garden Coalition. This is a very important and valuable program for Fayetteville. She wants the community involved to do the gardens, because it will enable people to learn. Colwell said that it is a nice framework for gardens. It's a way to meet neighbors. Hatfield said that Fayetteville has had a community garden before. He said that the current plan is a great plan. Edmonston said that Netherland has a love for gardening and healthy food. She has enthusiasm. Netherland said that something will be done on site soon, but she wants to be organized. Meinecke said he is already thinking about the best garden spot for his neighborhood. 4. Lake Fayetteville Outdoor Festival: Chase Gipson Parks and Recreation, Lewis & Clark, and the University of Arkansas Intramural Recreational Sports are sponsoring an outdoor festival at Lake Fayetteville on Saturday, April 25th. Gipson was unable to attend the meeting, so Edmonston spoke in his absence. There have been weekly meetings with Lewis and Clark and the University of Arkansas Intramural program. The festival will be on April 25, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be many activities, such as camp cooking, bike tours, inflatables, games, canoes and kayaks, etc. The Bass Club will be giving a demo. Everything is free. She hopes to make this an annual event. Colwell said that this will be a big event. 5. Dog Park Rules: Alison Jumper, Park Planner Jumper said that a draft of the dog park rules was in everyone's packet. The rules need to get established. Hatfield asked if they are basically self enforced. Jumper said yes, they will be. Hatfield asked if the rules had been run through Animal Services or Code Enforcement. Jumper said no, but that was a good idea. Hatfield also commented that the rules need to say that the animals need to be spayed or neutered to use the park. Biendara said that maybe the rules need to say "recommended to be spayed or neutered". Hatfield asked about the minimum four month old age requirement for the dogs. Jumper said that that most dogs have their vaccinations by then. Biendara said that dogs shouldn't be allowed to have spiked collars. Meldrum asked if she meant pinch collars. Biendara also said that no food should be allowed except for small training treats. She also said it might be a good idea to limit the number of dogs in the park. Jumper said maybe a maximum of two dogs per person. Edmonston said to check with other cities to see what their maximum number is. Jumper said one dog park is being planned for Bryce Davis Park. Meinecke asked if it was possible to not allow pit bulls in the park. Hatfield said it wasn't a good idea to be specific about a breed. Jumper asked if there were any thoughts on what the minimum age for children should be to allow them in the park. Mauritson said that was a hard call to make. C. Jones suggested that ages be posted, similar to those used at gyms. Hatfield said maybe a height requirement could be used. Biendara said maybe the park could be divided into two sections -one for small children and one section for larger children. Edmonston said child rules are a good guideline. Maybe no children under eight need to be allowed. Hatfield asked what would happen if a parent has two children, and one is an age not allowed. Edmonston said she got a phone call once from someone that got bitten by a dog in a park. She told them that the dog's owner has got to be responsible for any injuries it inflicts. Jumper said that she can send the rules through Animal Services. She wants to keep them short and sweet. 6. Regional Park Update: Connie Edmonston, Park & Recreation Director The surveyors are out on site. Everything is moving slowly. 7. Other Business: Hatfield said there has been a huge influx of dogs at the shelter, due to a rescue from a farm. There were 361 dog, 20 plus horses, and some reptiles and birds. From another farm, nineteen very malnourished large breed dogs were rescued. The shelter is in need of canned food, blankets, and any other type of donation. "Note Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting will travel by van to visit the Amberwood Place development to review a proposed park land dedication. PRAB will vote and make their recommendation on site. We will meet on Dot Tipton Rd., east of Double Springs Road. See location map in the attachments. 8. Park Land Dedication Development Name: Engineer: Owner: Location: Park Quadrant Units: Total Acres: Land Dedication Requirement: Money in Lieu Requirement Alison Jumper, Park Planner Amberwood Place Jorgensen and Associates Charles Sloan East of Double Springs Rd, south of Dot Tipton SW 124 Single Family units, 24 Multi -family units 40 3.38 acres $135,360 *Final fees to be determined at Planning Commission approval* Existing Parks: Developer's Request: Staff Recommendation: Estimated Annual Maintenance: Justification: None Dedicate approximately 2.14 acres for a neighborhood park within the development and dedicate approximately 1.25 acres of off site land located along Owl Creek Dedicate approximately 2.14 acres for a neighborhood park within the development and dedicate approximately 1.25 acres of off site land located along Owl Creek $4,308 for 2.14 acres developed neighborhood park, $260 for 1.25 acres undeveloped land No parks exist in the service area of this development. The 2.14 acre park will serve the needs of the residents. Additionally, the developer is providing green space that will be owned and maintained by the P.O.A. Land along Owl Creek was identified by PRAB in January of 2007 as desirable land for trail corridor. Charlie Sloan was the representative for Amberwood Place. He said that this future subdivision will consist of 124 single family units, and 24 multi -family units. The acreage is located just south of Dot Tipton Road. Hatfield asked if the total acreage is green space. Jumper said yes. Colwell said that PRAB has looked at this before n Sloan said that the subdivision was originally designed a different way. They decided to put in a neighborhood park, and then changed it to a public park. The approval for the zoning should happen tomorrow night. Colwell asked if Parks would have to maintain the park. Jumper replied yes. Sloan said that bioswales will be used for drainage. There are several options for the street design, but the goal is to keep a rural feeling. Hatfield asked if there would be houses on both sides of the park. Sloan replied yes. Residents will be able to sit on their front porch and look at the park. Hatfield asked if bioswales and rain gardens were a goal. Sloan said that they plan to do bioswales, but the rain garden is just an idea. They have to maintain 46% greenspace. Hatfield asked that if this land is approved, will there be a requirement to store water. Sloan said the plans call for a detention pond. They are in a learning curve in this with the City. Some things will have to be adjusted in the plan. Colwell said that this development will be very close to the edge of town. It will add a lot to the community. He liked the estimated maintenance schedule. He feels this plan is moving in the right direction. Edmonston said that she appreciates working with Charlie. The meeting then traveled to the future site of Amberwood Place. PRAD Motion: Mauritson motioned to accept the Staff recommendation, and Meldrum seconded it. Motion passed 7-0-0 by voice vote. 9. Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 7:17 p.m. Minutes taken by Melanie Thomas.