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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-08-01 - Minutes�Itn�H'•M1' FAYETTEVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD Minutes for August 1, 2011 Opening: The regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board was called to order by Jim Meinecke at 5:35 p.m. in Room 111 at the City Administration Building at 113 West Mountain Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Present: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board members Lindsey, Thompson, Meinecke, Watson, Waite, and Meldrum were present. Absent were Mason, Hazelrigs, and Bailey. City staff members Edmonston, Humphry, Gipson, Jumper, and Thomas were in attendance. AGENDA: 1. Approval of July 11, 2011 PRAB Meeting Minutes: PRAB Motion: Watson motioned to approve the minutes as written, and Waite seconded it. Motion passed 6-0-0 by voice vote. 2. Botanical Garden Monthly Report: Michael Lindsey Lindsey reported that the Firefly Fling held last month went well, with 2,500 people attending. The summer day camps have been well attended. August 26 will be a concert. The Butterfly House is close to completion. The Botanical Gardens may have damage that qualifies for FEMA funding. Meinecke wanted to know how big the butterfly house was. Lindsey said it was fairly large, but not huge. Meinecke said that it would be a great educational tool. 3. Presentation of Remaining Mayor's Appreciation Certificates Edmonston presented Steve Meldrum a Certificate of Appreciation. 1 4. Public Art Proposal: Hank Kaminsky Hank Kaminsky, a local artist, said that he would like to donate a new work of sculpture at the World Peace Wetland Prairie. He said that the sculpture would be installed to look like it was emerging from the earth. The area will be landscaped and will be covered with low maintenance vegetation at some point. It will have a concrete footing and a post. Watson asked if it would have a concrete footing with the sculpture on top. Kaminsky said that the view (picture was on PowerPoint) is from the front. He said it was like a landscape in space. Thompson asked if it would be 42 to 44 inches. Kaminsky said that the sculpture would be five feet. He said there is a similar one at the Botanical Gardens, but it's a butterfly. Edmonston said that she's a little worried about the weedeating that will be necessary. Kaminsky said he would like low maintenance plantings that would possibly grow over the sculpture. He said weedeating wouldn't hurt it. Thompson said children could play on it. Kaminsky said children are an important part of his art. Watson wanted to know where the sculpture would be located. Edmonston said it is behind Brenda's Bigger Burgers. She asked Kaminsky if he would be the person that would keep the project going. Kaminsky said that the neighbors to the north would help. Edmonston asked Kaminsky to get something in writing from the neighbors saying they would help, and submit it. Meinecke suggested that someone could take the time to prepare the soil properly. It would save dryness and misery later. Edmonston said that PRAB was the first step for the approval of this project. It also needs to go to the Art Council and then to City Council for approval. 2 PRAB Motion: Meinecke motioned to approve the sculpture, and Thompson seconded it. Motion passed 6-0-0 by voice vote. S. Park Land Dedication: Development Name: Engineer: Owner: Location: Park Quadrant: Units: Total Acres: Land Dedication Requirement: Money in Lieu Requirement Existing Parks: Developer's Request: Staff Recommendation: Developer's Comments: Justification: Annual Maintenance Cost: Alison Jumper, Park Planning Superintendent Eco Modern Flats Bates and Associates, Inc. Eco Flats, LLC 130 S. Hill Avenue SW 15 multi -family 2.92 0.255 acres $10,200 Frisco Park and Trail, Gregg Avenue Natural Area, Tsa La Gi Trail Money in lieu Money in lieu Frisco Park and Trail, Gregg Avenue Natural Area and Tsa La Gi Trail are within a '/2 mile of the development. Additionally, land dedication requirement is less than two acres. None Jumper said that it's located on Putnam and University. The developer is planning 15 multi -family structures. Meldrum said it would be nice to have a sidewalk straight north to connect to the trail. PRAB Motion: Meldrum motioned to accept the staff recommendation of money in lieu, and Watson seconded it. Motion passed 6-0-0 by voice vote. 6. Park Land Dedication: Development Name: Engineer: c Alison Jumper, Park Planning Superintendent Oakland Townhomes Community by Design Owner: Location: Park Quadrant: Units: Total Acres: Land Dedication Requirement: Money in Lieu Requirement Existing Parks: Developer's Request: Staff Recommendation: Developer's Comments: Justification: Annual Maintenance Cost: BR Commercial Properties, LLC Mount Comfort Road NW 57 multi -family 2.47 acres 0.969 acres $38,760 Wilson Park, Gregory Park, Lewis Soccer Complex Money in lieu Money in lieu, fees for 8 existing single family homes will be credited for a total amount of $31,080 Wilson Park, Gregory Park Scull Creek Trail and Lewis Soccer Complex are within proximity of the development. Additionally, land dedication requirement is less than two acres. None PRAB Motion: Watson motioned to accept the money in lieu, and Meldrum seconded it. Motion passed 6-0-0 by voice vote. 7. Regional Park Update: Connie Edmonston, Parks & Recreation Director Edmonston said that the drainage was being worked on. It's not ready for the concept plan. Meinecke asked if the drainage made a big change in the plans. Jumper said that it made it more complicated because the design had been done. Edmonston said that we will get the park at some point. 8. Other Business: Edmonston said that $100,000 has been requested for Walker Park. The Fayetteville Youth Baseball Board supports the Regional Park, but is seeking to update the facilities at Walker because baseball is in a later phase at the Regional Park. The FYB Board also wants to 11 improve the concession stand. The dugouts and benches need to be renovated, and a pitcher's warm-up area needs to be installed. The little score huts will be painted. Watson said that the little league fields are run by an outside organization, and they get payments from players. He wanted to know who was paying for what. Edmonston said that this is the second year that the Walker renovations have been requested. Many cities have contracts with organizations. Meinecke wanted to know what the $80 fee was for. Gipson said that it was an individual fee that each player paid to FYB. FYB pays $15 per player to Parks and Recreation. That is their league fee but tournament fees are separate. Watson said he had another concern. He wanted to know how taking money away from Regional Park would affect fundraising for the park in the future. Edmonston said most of the money that will fund Regional Park will come through the HMR tax. Next year $300,000 will be budgeted for the park. Watson asked if anyone had looked at grants for the facility renovations and concession stands. Meldrum wanted to know who would do the renovations. Edmonston said Parks and Recreation would probably do them. Meldrum said it was our property, and our park. He wanted to know if FYB could contract the renovations, or would Parks have to go through the normal bid process. Watson asked if Parks had discussed any renovations. Edmonston said renovations for the dugouts had been discussed. Watson said that he has looked at the baseball area at Walker. There is particle board covering concrete on the dugouts and there are structural cracks. He said he supports the renovation, but he just has questions. 5 Meinecke wanted to know who receives the tournament and player fees. Meinecke asked if PRAB had to make a decision about this before it went to Council. Watson said he would like to table it until his questions are answered. Meinecke said this situation is similar to Wilson Pool. The maintenance has to be kept up until Regional Park is up and running. He suggested that a Youth Baseball representative be invited to PRAB to answer questions. Watson said he wants PRAB to be financially responsible. That's why he has questions. Edmonston said that, in the past, PRAB had the contracted organizations come to the meeting when it was time for their contract renewal to report their current status, and answer questions. Gipson said the baseball contract is yearly now, so they can give us a report. Meldrum suggested that PRAB receive different user group contracts throughout the year to review, rather than all at one time. Waite said that he hates to take money from Regional Park, but Walker Park needs help also. The money will be well spent. PRAB Motion: Waite motioned for the council to approve the Walker Park renovations, and Meldrum seconded it. Motion passed 5-0-1, with Watson abstaining. 9. Adjournment: Watson motioned to adjourn, and Waite seconded it. Meeting adjourned at 6:33 pm. Minutes taken by Melanie Thomas. 3