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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-06-04 - Minutes�Itn�H'•M1' FAYETTEVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD Minutes for June 4, 2012 Opening: The regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board was called to order by Steve Meldrum at 5:43 p.m. Walker Park Baseball Fields, located at 10 West 15th Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Present: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board members Meldrum, Waite, Watson, Proffitt, McKnight, and Paul were present. Hodges was absent. Staff members Edmonston, Gipson, Jumper, and Thomas were in attendance. AGENDA: 1. FY Baseball Presentation: John Long Long talked about the renovation of the baseball fields at Walker Park. The dugouts have been revamped. They have been opened up and made taller. New canopies have been installed on field three, four, and five, and a partial on field six. Fields four, five, six, and eight were resodded. The next phase of the renovation is the concession stand. It has been there since the 1960's. It may be gutted and redone, with a second floor added for a meeting room. He said he hoped the bathrooms will also be renovated. In 2012, there were 82 teams. The traveling teams that have been formed in our area have been a challenge to keeping the Fayetteville Youth Baseball numbers up. Meldrum asked if there has been a loss in soccer numbers. Gipson said that there is an ebb and flow. People leave and then come back. Long said since the Regional Park is coming, things will have to be figured out. McKnight asked if field lines and lights would have to be moved at some point. 1 Long said other things would also have to be moved. Edmonston commented that if lines are moved, the safety issue between the fields has to be kept in mind. Long asked if there were any questions. Edmonston said she has heard nothing but good from people about the fields. Long replied that visiting teams are always complementing the condition of the fields. Long then took PRAB on a tour of the concession stand. He said that the building was old, and there were some issues with the breakers. Edmonston asked if a structural analysis would be done before adding another floor to the building. Long said he wasn't in charge of that, but he hoped so. Waite asked what their list of priorities was. Long said the concession stand was the first priority. Some others would be to increase the size of the fields, and put in some bull pens. Edmonston said the Salvation Army people are always a challenge. She said they love living in the park. Waite asked if the fields would be moved to the Regional Park. Long said he wasn't sure, but he thought some of the fields would stay at Walker Park. Meldrum said that the fields look good. McKnight commented that PRAB needs to look at how to raise funds for Regional Park. Maybe sponsor signs could be sold for the fields for tournaments. Meldrum said that would be doable for someone that could work on fundraising full time. A volunteer board doesn't have the time to do a good job. 2 McKnight said probably Regional Park is three to four years out. He suggested that the soliciting should begin now. Meldrum said Regional Park has been a long time coming. Edmonston said no funds have been requested yet. Meldrum said that other cities have asked for funding for projects. McKnight wondered if a committee is needed now. Edmonston suggested that it be held off until 2012 is over. 2. Approval of May 7, 2012 PRAB Meeting Minutes: PRAB Motion: McKnight motioned to approve the minutes as written, and Waite seconded it. Motion passed 6-0-0 by voice vote. 3. Botanical Garden Society of the Ozarks Report: Phillip Watson, PRAB Watson said that the gardens were doing well. There was $44,000 taken in at the greening. The gardens are opening earlier now. One issue is the Farmer's Market. A committee has been developed to help make decisions for the Botanical Garden, as well as the Farmer's Market. 4. 2013-2017 Capital Improvement Plan Presentation - Connie Edmonston, Parks and Recreation Director Edmonston turned it over to Jumper. Jumper said the CIP requests would go to the City Council tomorrow night. The CIP requests for Parks are: Community Park Improvements; Parks and Recreation Office Renovation; Regional Park Development; Forestry, Safety and ADA; Native Grasses Program; Lights of the Ozarks; Tree Escrow; and Fayetteville Senior Center Parking Lot and Drainage. If the CIP's are approved, several of the projects can be done. In 2012, the canopy structure in the shop yard will be renovated. In 2013, the Wilson Park pool building will be remodeled. The construction of the Regional Park will begin in 2014. The projects for Forestry, Safety and ADA are ongoing for each year. The native grasses project is ongoing every year. The Lights of the Ozarks is an annual project. For the Tree Escrow, trees are planted as funding is available. The Fayetteville Senior Center Parking Lot and Drainage projects are scheduled to be completed in 2014. McKnight asked if the 2012 budget was approved, and the next budget to be approved was 2013. c Edmonston said yes. Paul asked when PRAB will find out if the funding went through. Edmonston said the budget is being worked on. It will be presented to PRAB in September. Meldrum said that if HMR goes down, the funded $700,000 could go down. Jumper said that some of the funds that Parks will be receiving aren't included in the presented numbers. Waite asked if the requested money for the Regional Park included the infrastructure. Edmonston said yes. Watson asked if there was any way to recoup that money. McKnight wondered if tax credits would be available. Meldrum said that bonds or sales tax would probably be used. Jumper commented that showers and a better conference room would be planned for the office renovation. Jumper then talked about the Forestry, Safety, and ADA project. She said it included ADA improvements in the parks, the tree giveaway, and tree replacement. She said the trees were purchased from nurseries. There is a good one that has been used for several years. The native grasses project includes the prairie habitat. For the Lights of the Ozarks, funds are requested from the A & P. All the lights are LED. She said that the Senior Center needs to expand their parking lot, as well as improve their drainage. McKnight asked if poor construction is causing the drainage problem. Jumper said she is not sure. PRAB Motion: McKnight motioned to accept the project plans, and Paul seconded it. Motion passed 6-0-0 by voice vote. 4. Other Business: Meldrum read the upcoming events. 11 5. Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.