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Home My WebLink About2009-10-05 - MinutesFAYETTEVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD Minutes for October 5, 2009 Opening: The regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board was called to order by Chairman Wade Colwell at 5:34 p.m. on October 5, 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, Waite, P. Jones, Meldrum, Mauritson, and Watson were present. Hatfield and Meinecke were absent. Parks and Recreation Staff members Edmonston, Humphry, C. Jones, Gipson, and the audience were present. 1. Approval of September 14, 2009 PRAB Meeting Minutes PRAB Motion: Colwell motioned to approve the minutes as written, and P. Jones seconded it. Motion passed 7-0-0 by voice vote. 2. Walker Park Senior Adult Center Request: Sherri Napier, Director The Senior Adult Center located at Walker Park is requesting a name change of the center to be called "Fayetteville Senior Activity and Wellness Center". Many of their activities, including their "Meals on Wheels" and exercise programs to name a few, involve a wellness component. This will assist the center to obtain a Wellness Certification from the State of Arkansas that would be beneficial in obtaining future funding. Sherri Napier was not able to attend the meeting, so Edmonston spoke on her behalf. Edmonston said that the Adult Center is requesting to change their name from the Walker Park Senior Adult Center to the Fayetteville Senior Activity and Wellness Center. Edmonston said that if you look at their programs, you will see that many of them are wellness programs. She said that the Parks Staff is recommending the name change, because it is a good proposal. Colwell said that one of the main programs, Meals on Wheels, is very important. It serves many seniors. Edmonston said she is excited about the programs. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends renaming the Senior Adult Center to Fayetteville Senior Activity and Wellness Center. According to the Park Naming Policy, names for park facilities are to be tabled for one month in order to allow for public input. PRAB Motion: Mauritson motioned to accept the Staff recommendation to table the renaming of the Senior Adult Center located at Walker Park to the November 2, 2009 PRAB meeting according to the Park Naming Policy. Watson seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0-0 by voice vote. 3. Lake Fayetteville Recreation Ordinance Amendment Proposal: Leif Olson, Strategic Planning & Internal Consultant Department Leif Olson has assisted Parks and Recreation on researching swimming in city lakes, as well as developing a special event form and ordinance amendment. Edmonston said that there have been several requests for swimming in the lake. One'of the concerns is that septic tanks drain into the lake. She has talked to David Jurgens, the Utilities Department Director, who said that he is considering buying an e -coli tester for testing the water. This way, the City could test once a week. Olsen said that Parks and Recreation would tell them where swimming would be allowed in the lake. Edmonston introduced Bruce Dunn, who is interested in promoting the triathlons. She said there have been two events requested. Olsen said Lake Fayetteville was a good area for triathlons. He said his request has been reviewed by the City Attorney. Edmonston said that any requests would depend on the event and exactly what it would incur. Right now there is no great place for a large amount of people to gather at Lake Fayetteville. Humphry said that while Parks was working on the Lake Fayetteville Environmental Center, the water looked as thick as gumbo. Colwell said that a great example of a swimming beach is at Lake Wedington. He also said a couple of years ago, he saw a beach in Minnesota that was similar to the layout of Lake Fayetteville. He has been thinking about Lake Fayetteville. He says east of the boat dock there is a field on the north side of the lake. There are a lot of trees there for shade for parking. A bank can be sculpted in that area with a sand bottom for a swim beach and be roped off. It's one way to take some pressure off Wilson Pool and provide more recreational activities. Edmonston said that she has talked to David Jurgens. He told her that sand couldn't just be put out there. Some type of container would have to hold the sand in place. Colwell suggested that maybe gravel could be put there first. Humphry said that sand and gravel could be pretty costly. Colwell said it would be less expensive than maintaining a swimming pool. He then asked Olsen if the swimming areas around Fayetteville tested their water. 2 Olsen said he thought they did, but he wasn't sure about West Fork. One item that would be required for a swim beach would be full fledged restrooms. Colwell asked who does the water testing. Olsen said that the City would have to pay for the state to test it. The summer months without rain are the critical months. Colwell asked if there was any way the City could do the testing. Olsen said the state is a real stickler for the test. Watson asked if e -coli was the only thing they tested for, or is there more extensive testing. Olsen said they would primarily do e -coli and bacterial testing, and sometimes other tests. Edmonston said that the Health Department tested the Lake Fayetteville water one time, and it came back fine. Colwell asked Dunn about City liability for any events. Dunn said there are many triathlons in this country. They are sanctioned. The insurance and liability would protect the City. The race promoter is required to get the water test results before the race. Any sanctioned triathlon requires safety boats and lifeguards. The protocol is in place for safety. Lake Fayetteville is a great natural area, but it's not ready for prime time events. Events like mountain biking need to be promoted first, then when the swim area is ready, expand the program. Lots of people will want to come for events. Edmonston said maybe the first events can be fundraisers to help improve the area. Dunn said he would like to aim for an event next year. Edmonston said that one of the concerns is that a scuba diver might be required to look for debris such as old Christmas trees that are put in Lake Fayetteville every year. Dunn said that there was a protocol for lakes with issues. One way that has been used to clear a area in a lake is to take two boats with log chains to sweep the area. Watson asked how many events Dunn foresaw for the future. Dunn said that he would like off road events that can involve families for the first two to three years. He would like to start with one event for Lake Fayetteville next year. Edmonston said that this request would have to go through the Ordinance Review Committee, and then to the City Council. Staff Recommendation: To request City Council approval of the amendment to the Lake Recreation Ordinance that would allow Parks and Recreation to grant Special Use for Events at Lake Fayetteville to include a swimming component as proposed. PRAB Motion: P. Jones motioned to accept the staff recommendation, and Mauritson seconded. Motion passed 7-0-0 by voice vote. 4. Botanical Garden Monthly Report: Walt Eilers Eilers was not able to attend the meeting. Edmonston said they were still looking for an executive director. Two new board members have been elected. The Reading Railroad opened October 3. The Farmer's Market that is held on Sunday has a lot of customers. 5, Other Business: C. Jones said that the 36" water line is being installed across Gulley Park. It starts at Hwy 265. It will come up Township on the north side of the street. It turns on the east side of the church, and then goes across the park. The contractor bored under the creek to install encasement for the water line. There is orange fencing all around the construction area. Biendara said that there are geocaches all over Northwest Arkansas. Edmonston said that she appreciates her putting caches in and also checking them. Meldrum said he's notice there's not a lot of water in the Wilson Castle pond. Humphry told him it was being cleaned and repaired. 6, Adjournment Mauritson motioned to adjourn the meeting at 6:27 p.m. Meldrum seconded it. Motion passed 7-0-0 by voice vote. 0