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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-03-04 - MinutesNft a e ay-1.1e Alt%A H'â€ĒM1' FAYETTEVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD Minutes for March 4, 2013 Opening: The regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board was called to order by Steve Meldrum at 5:30 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 Mason, Meldrum, Waite, McKnight, Leonard, and Lawson were present. Sass and Watson were absent. Staff members Edmonston, Humphry, Jumper, and Gipson were in attendance. AGENDA: 1. Presentation of AR State Soccer Association's Volunteer of the Year to Dr. Jim Cherry: Chase Gipson. Gipson presented the award. 2. Approval of February 4, 2013 PRAB Meeting Minutes: PRAB Motion: McKnight motioned to accept the minutes as written, and Leonard seconded it. Meldrum deferred. Motion passed 6-0-0 by voice vote. 3. Tabled from February 4th meeting - 2012 Annual Parks and Recreation Department Report: Connie Edmonston, Parks and Recreation Director According to Article II, Chapter 33.018 (B) in the Fayetteville Code of Ordinances, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is to prepare an annual report to City Council. Once the annual report is approved by PRAB, this document will be forwarded to the City Council. 1 Park Staff Recommendation: To approve the 2012 Annual Report to be presented to City Council. PRAB Motion: McKnight motioned to accept the 2012 annual report, and Paul seconded it. Motion passed 7-0-0 by voice vote. 4. Eagle Scouts' Project Proposal: Clayton Bell In coordination with Parks staff and the Ozark Off -Road Cyclist, a bridge and boardwalk project on the nature trail at Lake Fayetteville. Bell said that two other projects will connect with the boardwalk and bridge. It's one big project. Part of the project is split between him and another future Eagle Scout named Ben. Telephone poles will be used. They will be placed 8 feet apart, with two on each side and 2 feet apart. He commented that there will be lots of wood in the project. He added that his part of the project will be 120 feet, and Ben's will be 92 feet, for a total of 212 feet. Meldrum asked when the project would begin. Bell said they will go to Swepco to their junkyard to get the poles. They plan to get the poles to the worksite by March 8. They will have to cut the poles themselves. Meldrum asked what the completion date would be. Bell said his part had to be done by May 18, because that was his 18th birthday. The goal is to have it done by May 10th. Aubrey Shepherd, a guest, said he was concerned with using new telephone poles in or around water, because there was some risk. McKnight said the poles are old, used ones. PRAB Motion: Proffitt motioned to accept the project, and Paul seconded it. Motion passed 7-0-0 by voice vote. 5. Rugby Presentation This presentation was deferred to the April meeting. 6. Spiral Wetland Project Proposal: Robert Ginsberg Robert Ginsberg, the project manager, gave the presentation. He said the purpose of the project was to promote art, nature, and sustainability. It would be part of the Artosphere project. The floating garden will have interconnecting sections. The sizes will be 2 4 x 8, 4 x 4 and 4 x 3. The sections will be anchored to the bottom of the lake, and won't interfere with fishing, the fish habitat, or boat traffic. Divers will be used to help with the layout. They are planning to place it 25 to 30 feet off the dam. He said that floating garden plants will be beneficial to the lake. They help purify the water as well as helping with algae. The chosen plant will be a native. Stacy Lay is the artist of the project. The Walton Arts Center is responsible for managing the project. It will remain installed six months to a year. McKnight wanted to know how the plants could be controlled if they turned out to be invasive. Also, he wanted to know if anti - goose wire clips would be used. Ginsberg replied that Stacy has found a product similar to a wire brush mesh that will attach to a bee mat. Maxwell asked what a bee mat was made of. Was it petroleum? Ginsberg said that was a good question, but he didn't know the answer. He said that Stacy will be very responsible in finding a non-invasive plant. He added that she will be giving a presentation on the project at Crystal Bridges. McKnight said he thinks it will be a neat project. Ginsberg said that the project will have some interesting views. Maxwell wanted to know how much Ginsberg thought the project would move around. Ginsberg replied that it would depend on the lake level. Paul asked if the weekly boat trip around the perimeter for maintenance would be Byron's job. Ginsberg said no, that would be WAC's responsibility. Edmonston said Parks would make sure the plant choices are environmentally friendly. Meldrum suggested that they partner with the Lake Fayetteville Science Center to determine the water quality. Ginsberg said he would love to, but the center is trying to keep up with what they've got. He said he could possibly use the U of A. c Meldrum asked if there was any backlash from the fishermen. Ginsberg said no. PRAB Motion: Maxwell motioned to approve the Artosphere Spiral Wetland project proposal as long as Parks staff has approval of the plants, and is able to have a six month review. Paul seconded it. Motion passed 7-0-0 by voice vote. 7. Botanical Garden of the Ozarks Grievance Request: The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks (BGSO) has filed a grievance concerning the construction of the soft trail system on the south side of Lake Fayetteville that is within BGSO's non -fee leased area. See attachment. According to the lease agreement between BGSO and the City of Fayetteville, Section 13.0 — Resolution of Conflict — establishes a committee consisting of 4 members: 1 appointed by the City, 2 appointed by BGSO and 1 appointed by PRAB to resolve the difference. "If no resolution is reached within a reasonable period, then this committee shall refer the matter to the City Council, whose decision shall be binding to both parties." See Mayor Jordan's response letter. Park Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends for PRAB to appoint Byron Humphry to serve on this committee. Byron currently serves as the Parks and Recreation Department Staff representative on the BGSO Board of Directors. Meldrum said, per the agenda, that Humphry will be appointed to the committee. McKnight said that he thinks that puts Humphry between a rock and a hard place. Edmonston said that the Mayor recommended him. She added that Humphry has worked on the project and has lots of background. Meldrum commented that he thought Humphry was one of the better people to be on the committee. He has lots of knowledge about City projects and would be a good fit. Leonard asked if Parks had ever been in a comparable situation. Edmonston said only in the public meeting process. 11 Paul said he didn't have time to dig into the grievance. He asked for a summary. Edmonston explained the items. McKnight asked what the lease edits were. Edmonston said that's what they are asking to change in the lease. Parks will be receiving the lease master plan when they are ready. Maxwell asked what the timeline is for the previously approved master plan. Edmonston said Parks will get the five year plan. A date was not given to the gardens. She said they are also supposed to give an annual report. Paul asked if the Botanical Gardens is a 501 C3. He also wanted to know if they operate under the revenue they make. Edmonston said yes to both questions. Leonard asked if requesting a 25 year lease was common. Edmonston said yes, when looking at a big project. Paul asked how the Botanical Gardens got started. Edmonston said a group of people interested in the project got together. They came to PRAB for approval and then the City Council in 1997. Paul asked about the ratio of donations to revenue from ticket sales, etc. McKnight said approximately 21% was in ticket sales, events, weddings, etc. They had 68,000 visitors. Edmonston said the public schools made up part of those visitors. Paul wanted to know if the walking trail would still be free. McKnight said it probably would. The gardens would have a separate area for fee charges. Meldrum said the issue at hand was about Byron being appointed to the committee. 5 Lawson asked if the trail was there when the gardens were developed. He figured it wasn't like the trail just appeared. Edmonston said the trail was there. It was the first trail built at Lake Fayetteville. Paul says he's assuming that the present City Council can't bind another council in the future. Leonard asked if Humphry has experience in legal problems. Edmonston said yes. PRAB Motion: Paul motioned to appoint Humphry to serve on the Grievance Committee, and Proffitt seconded it. McKnight voted no. Motion passed 6-1-0 by voice vote. S. Other Business: Gipson said another youth softball league was being formed at the Fayetteville High School. The Booster Club is supporting it. They are offering U6 — U12 girl's fast pitch softball. He said this new league was a surprise to Parks. They will use the high school softball fields. Parks has tried to contact them, but have had no response. McKnight asked if Parks had its own program. Gipson said yes, and said it's growing. McKnight asked if the public schools were supporting this. Edmonston said yes. McKnight asked how this league would affect the Parks program. Gipson said it was difficult to say at this point. Parks let people know that this wasn't the Parks league. Meldrum said he was struggling with the Fayetteville Public Schools creating a league that competes with the Parks program. 9. Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 6:37 pm. Minutes taken by Alison Jumper, Connie Edmonston, Chase Gipson, and Melanie Thomas. 3