No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-02-02 - MinutesPARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD Meeting Minutes February 2, 2004 Opening: The regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board was called to order at 5:34 p.m. on February 2, 2004 in Room 326 of the City Administration Building located at 113 West Mountain Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas by Chairman Colwell. Present: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board members Colwell, Eads, Hill, Shoulders, Mauritson, Pawlik Holmes; City staff Coles, Ohman, Wright, Weber, Hatfield, Edmonston; and Audience. 1. Approval of January 5, 2004 Minutes Eads requested the minutes be amended to read Eads, Hill, and Mauritson as present on January 5, 2004. MOTION: Hill moved to approve the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board January 5, 2004 meeting minutes as corrected. Eads seconded the motion. The motion was approved 5-0-0 with Colwell, Eads, Hill, Marley, and Shoulders voting `yes' with Bailey and Pawlik Holmes absent for the vote. 2. Approval of January 22, 2004 Minutes MOTION: Hill moved to approve the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board January 22, 2004 special meeting minutes as distributed. Eads seconded the motion. The motion was approved 5-0-0 with Colwell, Eads, Hill, Marley, and Shoulders voting `yes' with Bailey, and Pawlik Holmes absent for the vote. February 2, 2004 / 1 3. Community Park Update Mayor Dan Coody presented a conceptual plan for the acquisition/development of the Community Park proposed on the Cummings property. Mayor Coody presented the theory of a public private partnership for the project in conjunction with a solid mixed use plan for the entire Cummings property. Mayor Coody spoke of a conceptual concept on how to make the community park funded without city sales tax increases. This plan would include selling parcels of the land for schools, residential use, and private business use. The plan involves a 30 acre purchase from Fayetteville Public Schools to build a school. Because property value neighboring new schools increase, the district could use 20 acres for the new school and sell unused land to obtain the land for little expense. About 200 to 250 acres could be used for Community Park allowing other acreage for mixed use such as single-family and multi- family residential housing from developers. Mayor Coody said he has spoke with three developers that are interested in buying the extra land for development. Buddy Coleman, a developer with Rousch Coleman and ERC properties said his companies commonly use public-private partnerships. He reviewed the benefits of this type of development including tax exempt bonds and federal funding. Coody concluded the city can not afford to buy and develop the land however, with the range of uses for the property it is possible. Colwell said this is a great idea. Shoulders asked if there are models available of other cities that have taken this funding avenue. Coody responded that Wilson Springs Business Park is the closest to a model but not as extensive as this concept. Mauritson asked what the plan does for future expansion capabilities. Ohman replied that the plan provides for current recreational needs including 130 acres for active sports recreation. The high impact park land does not change very much from the original plan of purchase to the proposed conceptual plan. February 2, 2004 / 2 Edmonston added that Park Land Dedication Funds would be collected from development of the residential use land. This will be used for trails and park land development. Hill gave a summary of the funding committee special meeting including the committee's request for a cost estimate and simple overlay from park staff. He concluded that Mayor Coody's new concept will allow the development to be funded and completed much more quickly than any other previous options. Hill addressed the next item on the agenda, where to allocate the funds previously used for the Lights of the Ozarks project. Edmonston explained that $73,000 was originally budgeted for Lights of the Ozarks. The city administration has moved the financial responsibility to another city department. This leaves $73,000 unbudgeted in the Parks and Recreation Capital Account. The board needs to decide where to allocate these funds. MOTION: Hill moved to transfer $73,000 originally allocated for the Lights of the Ozarks project to the Community Park project due to the Lights of the Ozarks project being reallocated from Economic Development Fund. Pawlik Holmes seconded the motion. Upon roll call, the motion was approved 7-0-0 with Colwell, Eads, Marley, Shoulders, Hill, Mauritson, and Pawlik Holmes voting `yes' with Bailey absent for the vote.. 4. White River Baseball Association Presentation: Mike Graen and Brad Scott Mike Graen, board member of White River Baseball, briefly explained the background on the league, future direction, what's working, and opportunities for the league. He reviewed participation numbers, budget, investment, and programming. The league sponsors two tournaments each season. The new umpire program has improved the quality of the games. Parks and Recreation staff assists the league by maintaining the fields throughout the season. The vision for the future includes new lights for the fields, concession stand improvements, and Community Park. Graen explains February 2, 2004 / 3 the importance of a Community Park to allow parents to attend multiple sports events for multiple children in the family. Edmonston, Parks staff, and Parks board thanked the association for all its hard work and efforts. S. Disc Golf: Heath Whitley Mr. Heath Whitley reviewed a proposal submitted August 6, 2001 to Parks board by Jeff Ash. This proposal consisted of an 18 -hole disc golf course to be developed at Hobby Use Park. Currently the only course in Northwest Arkansas exists in Gulley Park. The sport has outgrown its location and needs to find another facility. A map was viewed illustrating course design at Hobby Use Park. Mr. Whitley explained the growth of the sport in the region and the need for more growth locally. Mr. Whitely addressed the parking issue inquiring about Mud Creek Trail chipped pavement parking lot and Coombs grass parking lot. He stated the amenities would not be a problem as well because the event takes limited time to complete. Support for a request for a waiver of use to allow the association to set up a temporary parking space at Hobby Use Park was requested. Mauritson explained the rules make it difficult to pass a waiver for selected groups and not for others. It is also difficult to provide funding for all the requests from each group to meet everyone's needs. Colwell asked if the parking is the problems restricting the new course developed. Mauritson explained the problem has been the parking and the physical access resulting from failed efforts with United Way for assistance. Colwell stated the board needs to help this organization to move forward with the process to develop this course. February 2, 2004 / 4 Whitley asked if Friends for Lake Fayetteville will support the new course development. He stated the association would need access to some of the tree line to develop the course. Whitley explained that the organization is willing to donate labor for this project. He discussed other alternative to develop other courses. Whitley stated he is unsure if Gulley Park course is going to remain or be moved. Edmonston stated that the immediate plan is to move disc golf course from Gulley Park to North Shores Park to resolve the current safety and spacing issues. Hill clarified staff is recommending disc golf be moved to North Shores at Lake Fayetteville and future access to Hobby Use Park. The concern remained that Hobby Use may be a land valued for trade in the future. The new disc golf course is still planned for Community Park. Colwell states his recommendation is to move to North Shores and allow future use of other Park Land. The concern is that the disc golf association will soon have a new course implemented in the development of Community Park. Hill requested a cost analysis for a new disc golf course at North Shores including concrete t -pads and landscaped t -areas. Eads moved to table the subject until the March Board meeting to allow more information to be gathered and submitted. Mauritson seconded the motion. Upon roll call, the motion was approved 5-0-0 with Eads, Marley, Shoulders, Hill, Mauritson, and Pawlik Holmes voting `yes' with Colwell and Bailey absent for the vote.. 7. Adjournment Meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m. Minutes submitted by: Rachel Weber Approved: February 2, 2004 / 5 February 2, 2004 / 6