HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-09-10 - MinutesFAYETTEVILLE
PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
Meeting Minutes September 10, 2007
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 September 10, 2007 in Room 326 of the City
Administration Building located at 113 West Mountain Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Present:
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board members Colwell, Davidson, Burke, Davis,
Biendara, Hatfield and Mauritson present; Park staff Jumper, Jones, Wright, Edmonston,
Coles, Thomas and audience were in attendance.
1. Approval of August 6, 2007 Meeting Minutes
PRAB Motion: Burke moved to approve the minutes as written. Biendara
seconded it. Motion was passed 8-0-0 by voice vote.
2. Scout Project Policy Review: Connie Edmonston, Parks & Recreation Director
PRAB Motion: Davis moved to table this until the October PRAB session.
Biendara seconded it. Motion passed 8-0-0 by voice vote.
3. Eagle Scout Project: Tommy Crosby — Lake Sequoyah Signage.
Tommy Crosby wants to create a series of thirty or forty signs at Lake Sequoyah. He will
be doing research in the next month. He would like to establish guidelines for trail signs
for the City of Fayetteville.
Mauritson asked what type of sign mounting would be used.
Crosby stated that he was thinking of metal posts and preprinted signs possibly made of
sheet aluminum.
Colwell stated that he felt like this project was too easy, and could be done in one
afternoon. He said he was opposed to the use of metal signs, and would rather see
something like cedar posts with metal or plastic markers. He said that would blend in
better with the trees. He stated that forty signs were too many.
Crosby said he understood.
Mauritson said he liked the idea of 4 x 4 or 6 x 6 wooden posts. The markers could be
carved and highlighted into the posts. The Parks Department has an electric auger that
could possibly be borrowed. He said he agreed with Wade that wooden posts should be
used.
Crosby said he understood. He stated that he came to the meeting with some ideas, but
was also looking for suggestions.
Biendara said that she agreed with Wade about the wooden posts and less signage. Some
of the trails need more signs, but only in the problem areas where a person can get easily
confused which way to go.
Colwell then passed Crosby his business card, and told him to call him on Sunday.
Colwell could then show Crosby what he was talking about.
Crosby said he would.
Colwell then asked when this project needed to be done.
Crosby said by December 30, 2007, which is right before his eighteenth birthday.
4. Eagle Scout Project: Michael Brown — Lake Sequoyah Trail Footbridge
Michael Brown with Boy Scout Troop 116 would like to build a bridge at Lake
Sequoyah. He described the bridge diagram, which was projected on the screen so
everyone could see it. He will put a 4 x 4 timber side rail. The poles are to be donated.
The lumber is not at this point, but Brown is going to make some phone calls.
Davis said that the wider the bridge could be made, the better.
Brown said he hadn't settled on a definite width for the bridge at this time.
Coles said it was planned for a great location.
Bitler was concerned about erosion issues.
Coles said that problem had been taken into consideration.
Colwell made the comment that the upstream may be dammed. If it were ever to be
undammed, it may cause problems for the bridge.
PRAB Motion: Davis moved to accept the building of the bridge. Biendara
seconded it. Motion passed 8-0-0 by voice vote.
5. Park Land Dedication
Development Name:
Engineer:
Owner:
Location:
Park District:
Units:
Alison Jumper, Park Planner
The Summit
Total Acres:
Land Dedication Requirement:
Money in Lieu Requirement
Existing Parks:
Developer's Request:
Staff Recommendation:
Developer's Comments:
Justification:
Appian Center for Design
Nock -Broyles Land Development
South of 6`" street, east of Razorback Rd.
SW
13 single family units, 282 multi -family
units
19.18 acres
5.1 acres
$204,240
Aspen Ridge park land, Tsa-La-Gi trail
Money in lieu
Money in lieu
Site constraints such as the large power line
easement and topography restrict the
possibility for public park land. The
developer is providing approximately 5
acres of P.O.A. green space as well as trails
and a pool area.
Colwell said he was willing to go with Staff recommendation.
Mauritson stated that it would be a nice donation to the SW quadrant.
PRAB Motion: Mauritson motioned to accept the money in lieu. Biendara
seconded it. Motion passed 8-0-0 by voice vote.
6. Park Land Dedication Alison Jumper, Park Planner
Development Name: Leverett Commons II
Engineer: H2 Engineering
Owner: Hometown Development
Location: East of Leverett, north of North St.
Park District: NW
Units:
Total Acres:
Land Dedication Requirement:
Money in Lieu Requirement
Existing Parks:
Developer's Request:
Staff Recommendation:
Developer's Comments:
Justification:
7 multi -family units
0.51 acres
0.12 acres
$4,760
Scull Creek trail
0.14 acres
Money in lieu
This project is adjacent to Scull Creek Trail
and will be a continuation of the trail. The
trail corridor will be included in the tree
preservation area for the project.
Hatfield asked if it could be done without taking out trees.
Hearne said he wasn't sure exactly where the trail would be located.
Hatfield then asked if Mihalevich, the trails coordinator, was happy with the plan.
Jumper said yes.
Bitler asked if it had recreation, would it be deeded?
Jumper said it wouldn't be deeded, but the area would have public access.
Mauritson said that looking at the map, it looked like that it had eight sections.
Hearne replied that it had eight individual units.
PRAB Motion: Mauritson motioned that the eight family units and money in lieu
be accepted. Colwell seconded it. Motion passed 8-0-0 by voice vote.
7. Park Land Dedication
Development Name:
Engineer:
Owner:
Location:
Carole Jones, Park Planner
Midtown Cottages
H2 Engineering, Inc.
Park District:
Units:
Total Acres:
Land Dedication Requirement:
Money in Lieu Requirement
Existing Parks:
Mathias Shopping Centers, Inc.
North of Mission Blvd., west of Box
Avenue
NE
5 single family units
1.46 acres
0.12 acres
$4,800
Braden Park, Rocky Branch Park, Gulley
Park
Developer's Request: Money in lieu
Staff Recommendation: Money in lieu
Developer's Comments:
Justification: The relatively small size and proximity to
other parks are the two primary reasons for
the request of money in lieu of land.
PRAB Motion: Burke motioned that the money in lieu be accepted. Biendara
seconded it. Motioned passed 8-0-0 by voice vote.
8. Red Oak Park Update: Carole Jones, Park Planner
A public meeting was held on Tuesday, August 14`h at 5:30 P.M. at the Red Oak
Park pavilion on New Bridge Road in the Bridgeport Subdivision to update the
surrounding neighborhoods on the Red Oak Park Streambank Improvement
Project. Approximately 31 citizens attended.
The proposed design by Mr. Dave Evans of the Arkansas Game and Fish
Commission Stream Team was presented to the City Council for approval on
Thursday, August 23. The council tabled the item until a revised design that
involved less tree removal could be considered.
Carole Jones, Park Planner, met with Mr. Evans and the plan was revised. Mr.
Evans will present the revised plan to the City Council at the Agenda Session on
September 25.
Bitler asked about the upper area. It wasn't originally included.
Jones replied that several people had asked about it. It will probably be included.
When Jones and Evans looked at it, they discovered the trees were not as high quality
as the lower area. Also, Evans said the upper area was more eroded than he thought.
Bitler stated that he thought they were going to get this project done in the dry season.
We are already in the rainy season.
Jones said that Evans believed that project can be completed by the end of 2007.
Davidson asked what would happen if we don't remove the trees.
Bitler said they would erode out.
Biendara stated that some of the trees are gorgeous, but the park needs to be saved.
9. Regional Park Update: Connie Edmonston, Parks & Recreation Director
Edmonston stated that the regular monthly meeting was canceled. She will have an
update at the October PRAB meeting.
10. Budget 2008 Proposal: Park & Recreation Staff
Edmonston, Coles, and Wright talked about the Parks and Recreational Budget. See
attachment.
Colwell asked if there would be any restrictions turning part time positions into full
time positions, such as insurance.
Edmonston replied that all had been taken into consideration. She also said the Parks
Staff was considering a ten dollar per person increase in soccer and softball
registration.
Davis asked what would the percent increase would be for soccer
Wright replied that since the age groups are charged differently, the percentage would
be different. For a fourteen year old, it would be about a ten percent increase.
Davis was wondering whether the feedback about the increase was positive or
negative.
Wright replied that there was no feedback at this time. Staff wanted to present it to the
PRAB board first.
Hatfield asked when the last increase happened.
Wright replied that it was three or four years ago, the exception being for summer
camps. He said that this increase would have little effect on lower income children,
because Pagnozzi helps out a lot in that area. He also said that Fayetteville gives more
bang for the buck compared to other cities. We offer combined registration for fall and
spring programs for one price, compared to other cities offering only one season for a
comparable price.
Bitter said that he remembers last year that we requested more people to help maintain
the trails, and also another park planner. He wanted to know why that didn't happen.
Edmonston replied that it hasn't happened because the money wasn't there. She said
last year each division was requested to cut their budget. That was the area that Parks
and Recreation chose to cut.
Bitter wanted to know how the Parks Department would keep up with park and trail
maintenance and planning without adding people.
Edmonston stated that we have saved a lot of money by using our park planners rather
than contracting out the jobs.
Davidson wanted to know how Parks and Recreation will handle the increased work
load without an increase in staff. He asked what Plan B was.
Edmonston stated that the maintenance for all the parks and trails would have to be
prioritized.
Hatfield was wondering about the actual number of participants in each sport.
Wright replied that the number reported on the budget was the actual number attending
each recreational activity.
Coles stated that the Parks and Recreation Department has expanded and adapted, so
now there is an expectation for everything to be maintained at its current level.
PRAB Motion: Davis motioned to accept all parts of the budget, and Davidson
seconded it. Motion passed 7-0-0. Mauritison was absent for the vote.
11. Other Business: Walker Park Neighborhood Master Plan
Jumper discussed the Walker Park Neighborhood Master Plan (see attached flyer). The
Kick Off is September 21, 2007. The Hands On Design Workshop is September 22,
2007. September 23-27, 2007 is the Open Design Studio. On September 24, 2007, there
will be an Open House, and September 27, 2007 will be a Work in Progress.
Four PRAB members volunteered to rotate attending the Botanical Gardens monthly
meeting starting in September. The volunteers are:
Biendara- September 18, 2007
Davidson- October 16, 2007
Bitler- November 20, 2007
Colwell- December 18, 2007
12. Adjournment 7:45 P.M.
Minutes taken by Melanie Thomas
