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Home My WebLink About2014-08-04 - MinutesCITY OF Tay e ARKAANNSAS Parks and Recreation Advisory Board August 4, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. City Administration Building, Room 219 113 West Mountain Street Fayetteville, AR 72701 MINUTES Members: Phillip Watson—Chair, John M. Paul- Vice -Chair, Wade Colwell, Richie Lamb, Terry Lawson, Chuck Maxwell, Phillip McKnight, David Priest, David Proffitt City Staff: Connie Edmonston, Director; Byron Humphry, Maintenance Superintendent; Alison Jumper, Parks Planning Superintendent; Alan Spann, Recreation Superintendent; Melanie Thomas, Senior Secretary; Kit Williams, City Attorney. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board members present were Watson, Colwell, Lamb, Lawson, Maxwell, McKnight, Paul, and Priest. Proffitt arrived later. No members were absent. 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call A. Addendum 1 — Add to agenda the Paige Mulhollan Waterfowl Blind B. Addendum 2- Add to agenda Steve Schneider presentation for the Bronze IMBA Ride Center PRAB Motion: 8-0-0 approval for both addendums to accept the additions to the agenda. 3. Approval of July 7, 2014 PRAB Meeting Minutes PRAB Motion: McKnight motioned to accept the minutes as written, and Priest seconded it. Motion passed 8-0-0 by voice vote. 4. Eagle Scout Project Proposal, Lake Wilson: Logan Schwartz In coordination with Park staff, Logan Schwartz will present a proposal to improve drainage at the Lake Wilson pavilion and repair and upgrade a bench and trash receptacle. Staff Recommendation: To approve the proposed Eagle Scout project at Lake Wilson. Schwartz said he was with Troop 102. He talked with Alison, and then looked at Lake Wilson. He said he saw lots of drainage issues around the pavilion, and a board on a bench is bad. The trash can area needs improvement. He said he will build a french drain around the pavilion and lay down perforated pipe. He said the rainwater will drain to the Mailing Address: 113 W. Mountain Street www.fayetteville-ar.gov Fayetteville, AR 72701 lake. He will repair the bench, and build a trash can barrier. He said he's not sure how far the pipes will extend out of the hillside. He said he won't request tools or help from the City. He has a $100 donation from both Lowes and Home Depot, and the Lowe's manager will throw in an extra $100. He added there will be no more donations. The planned workdays will August 16 and 17, as well as August 23 and 24. He said 10 to 15 people will be working approximately 300 man-hours. Paul asked how the drain would be dug. Schwartz said with picks and shovels. Maxwell asked how far from the foundation the drain would be placed. Schwartz said it will be about two feet away. PRAB Motion: Colwell motioned to accept the project, and Priest seconded it. Motion passed 9-0-0 by voice vote. 5. Eagle Scout Project Proposal, Lake Fayetteville Northshore Disc Golf Course: John Wolf In coordination with Park Staff, John Wolf will present a proposal to build a walk bridge and new steps at the Lake Fayetteville Northshore Disc Golf Course. Staff Recommendation: To approve the proposed Eagle Scout project at Lake Fayetteville. Wolf said he was from Troop 116, and he's working on his Eagle Scout project. He wants to build a foot bridge at Lake Fayetteville at the Northshore Disc Golf course. He said it will be 30 feet long, and 6 feet deep. He plans to use 30 foot telephone poles. He showed a sketch of the top, middle, and bottom view. He said concrete under the telephone poles will hold it into place. He said he plans to work on weekends and some week days. It will depend on when he can get the materials. He said he possibly can get a donation from Home Depot. Watson asked if any additional materials would be needed. Wolf said he would need 9 feet of concrete. Humphry said that could be provided. PRAB Motion: Maxwell motioned to accept the project, and Priest seconded. Motion passed 9-0-0 by voice vote. 6. Botanical Garden of the Ozarks Master Plan and Lease: BGSO Representative and Park Staff Staff Recommendation: To approve the proposed Master Plan and Lease Humphry gave a brief history of the lease agreement process. In the fall of 2012, the BGSO wanted to change their lease agreement and boundaries. They gave Parks and Recreation their proposal. A meeting was held with John Beneke, the director of the Outdoor Recreation Grants in January 2013 about the Outdoor Recreation grant. The Parks department had a stakeholder meeting in February with OORC, FNHA, the Audubon Society, the Environmental Study Center, and the Fayetteville Watershed Association. They also received two letters from AGFC. BGSO asked the City staff to come up with a recommendation. Parks investigated an environmental impact study that would cost $5,000. The current nature trail was muddy all the time and needed to get out of the mud. The north boundary was shifted with a 100 foot setback or more from the lake. The nature trail wouldn't be in the lease boundary. It is hoped to build a boardwalk using Eagle Scout labor. Parks and BGSO both made changes and compromised. Edmonston asked everyone to let the BGSO make their presentation, and then the public can come up. She asked that everyone keep it brief, and that she appreciated everyone coming to the meeting. Bill Schwab, a guest, said that he was part of the BGSO. He said he was requesting that the master plan be approved. The BGSO approved it in their July meeting. Their tagline is "Learn, Play, and Grow". Thousands of student and adults have attended classes and programs there. The new lease will allow, among other things, free admission on Saturdays. Last year the BGSO received approximately eighty-four thousand visitors. They budgeted $560,000 for programs and activities, and used no City money. The BGSO provides areas for people to meet for many programs, such as weddings and memorials. The master plan is a fifteen year project that will add several new buildings and gardens. He said that it's a well thought out master plan. Linda McMath said she's a longtime BGSO member. She said there is a site on the BGSO website that is very informative and tells all about the gardens. The Walton Foundation supports many events. There is a wide range of topics for the educational programs. There were approximately 10,880 children that came to visit last year. The Little Sprouts program has grown to ninety children. The large number of people that come now exceed the meeting space available. The BGSO wants a visitor center and gift shop. The master plan supports the educational role. She said she would appreciate the support of PRAB. Robert Rhoads said that he's the attorney for the Botanical Gardens. He helped negotiate the new lease. He handed out a sheet that compared the old lease with the new lease. The BGSO has a plan for greater educational opportunities. The parking areas can still be used by trail users. Watson opened up the floor for public comments. A guest said that he loved the BGSO and the trails, but he felt that a Corps of Engineers permit and evaluation was needed. He said financial allowances needed to be included, and possible engineering work. Humphry said the Corps of Engineers would be contacted when that point was reached. Priest asked what the cost would be for the boardwalk, and who would pay for it. Humphry said the parking lot would be $190,000. He said the boardwalk cost has not been determined, and the cost of the new bridge would be included in the boardwalk. Williams commented that the question about costs should be answered by the City Council. Lamb asked if the trail would be closed. Humphry said there were no plans to close the trail Maxwell asked if public restrooms would be build. Humphry said they had been discussed, but no plans had been decided Williams said there would be access to Veteran's Park. He added that he was appreciative to BGSO for allowing the trail users to use their restrooms. William Mertins, a guest, said that the staff recommendations and the lease suggests that the stakeholders are in agreement with it. He says that is not true. The trail is moving closer to the lake. He said the OORC and the Lake Fayetteville Environmental Center, among others, have objections. He said Parks and Recreation needs to be good stewards and protect the environment. He asked PRAB to reject the lease and master plan now until an impact study is done. He said the Corp of Engineers won't bless a boardwalk. He said if they do, he wants to see it in writing. Also, he would like to see something in the lease that will allow the City of receive funds back. He added that the recreation grant doesn't allow walled structures. Parks is saying that John Beneke said that wall structures are permissible. He disagrees. He said the trail is used by a lot of people, and fencing off 40 acres is a lot. PRAB needs to be concerned about this. Edmonston said that they met with John Beneke, who is the current Outdoor Recreation Grants director, and Parks feels confident with Mr. Beneke's statement. Williams said things were put in the lease to protect the citizens. The Botanical Gardens are one of our great natural resources. The soft trail has lots of users, and the Botanical Gardens realizes that. He said it's a difficult issue, so a creative solution was sought. The boardwalk is a better solution than building a soft trail into wetland. When Humphry walked the trail with stakeholders, a new location was chosen. Paul asked if it would be a violation of the grant. Williams said that the same person that said it was ok would indicate that there was a problem. He said if that happened, we'd talk with them and tell them that we relied on their predecessor's opinion, so don't punish us now. Paul asked if Williams felt confident with that. Williams said yes, he did. Edmonston said if that happened, Parks would have to come up with replacement property, which would be 40+ acres that had recreational opportunities. She said that had to be done for the easements on 265. Replacement property had to be found to replace a ditch. Priest asked what 40 acres would cost. Edmonston said they would have to come up with the cost. Priest questioned that if Parks violated the lease, and had to come up with 40 acres, at this point in time we don't know how much it would cost. Williams said that maybe land could be purchased and annexed around Lake Sequoyah. He added that he didn't think a violation of the lease would happen. Priest said that Parks didn't know the financial impact of this. Edmonston said that Parks will have no intention to violate the grant. McKnight said that right now the project is approved by Arkansas State Parks and Tourism. Edmonston agreed Priest said that money needs to be spent wisely, and the HMR impact needs to be looked at. He wanted to know if it would take away from future facilities. Williams said he wasn't sure how to answer that. He said that it was good to get whatever advice you can. Lamb said he was on the BGSO board, and he has a long history of using trails in the area. He says BGSO is asking to move 250 feet of trail. It's mowed and walkable. A person can look left to see the existing trail. The citizens are getting maintained trails. He said his loyalty is to PRAB, and he's recommending to accept the changes as proposed. Watson said he has walked the trail, and it was a constant give and take where the buffers are concerned. He said he wants everyone to be aware of the ideal border and where the compromise is. He would like to stay as close to the happy medium as possible. He said he wanted educated information. Edmonston said City staff composed of landscape architects and engineers walked the trails. She said they had a lot of knowledge. Watson said he was concerned that the Corp of Engineers won't allow it. Jumper said that it is permitted by the Corp and that she thinks they will accept it. Right now it's a muddy area, and a boardwalk would elevate the trail. Colwell said the future improvements would remove trees. He wanted to know how the removed trees would be used. He also asked if the trees would be replanted. Williams said that they would have to comply with the Tree Preservation Ordinance. Rhoades added that most of the building sites are prairie, but how to use the wood would be something to look into. Phil Penny said that the City needs to understand the impact. If activities can't be done, the area may be ruined. Steve Schneider said that he loves the Botanical Gardens. He said he thinks the trail should stay open forever. He doesn't think the taxpayers should be burdened with the expense of a boardwalk. He added that he didn't think the BGSO should be excluded from the financial burden. A resident of Fayetteville said that he is part of the BGSO. He said the project must be approved, and lots of professionals should weigh in on the decision. He said it was time for the master plan to be approved. Maxwell asked if there was any reason the BGSO hadn't done an environmental study. Rhoades said the suggestion came from the board and it was considered. He said that if they were mandated to do it, they would want to do it. He added that the trail is the City's responsibility. Maxwell said that an impact study might change things. He said it should have been done before the plan was presented. Rhoades said the experts said it was ok. Williams said to remember that there has been a lease agreement since 1997. BGSO will have to follow all requirements when building. He advised not to table the decision, because it's been in the works a long time. He said thanks to everyone for their hard work. Aubrey Shepherd, a guest, said he's lived in or around wetlands for 74 years. Wetlands can be destroyed. Creatures and plants live there. Wetlands shouldn't be mowed. Land is precious. Everything we do to preserve wetlands is beneficial. Ron Troutman said that he helped build the Razorback Greenway. He said that he learned in dealing with the Corp while building in wetlands, they would ask you to elevate trails. He's worked in mitigation many times with the Corp. He added that building a boardwalk would actually help the environment. Colwell said that the Environmental Education Center impacts kids greatly. He said kids remember things. This facility will help educate kids. Watson said the wetland area is a big concern. When he walked the area, part of the trail was in the wetland. Part of the trail needs to go the other way. He has no problems with the rest of the plan. He said he would like to see an environmental assessment. McKnight said that experts have come in and the boardwalk is acceptable. He added that a study couldn't be done on just 250 feet of the trail. He said the entire seven miles would need to be done. Watson said that everyone needs to be aware of the boundaries and compromises. He added that he thought the $5,000 was for the study of the entire trail. Edmonston said no, the price was just for the part of the trail being discussed. Williams said that other trails have been built already, and no changes will be done to them. He added that the land was currently under the BGSO control. The boardwalk will be elevated, and the land will be going more into nature. Paul said PRAB didn't need to handcuff themselves. Williams said that experts have looked at it and approved it. Lamb said that a study could be required. Maxwell said that we're not just talking about 250 feet that's going to be moved. He said it's almost 6/10 of a mile. Lamb commented that the entire trail is wetland. It's close to a lake. He has ridden the trail since 2003. Much of the trail has been rerouted and greatly improved. He added that no assessment was done when the OORC improved the trail. Schneider said that Mt. Kessler is having one done. Paul asked why the trail is being moved such a short distance to accommodate BGSO. Ron Cox said the concrete bridge is incorporated into the BGSO fee area. BGSO built it. The trail must cross the creek in another location. Watson said that there is a normal barrier between the water and the boundary. The wildlife needs enough room to move around. He said that is a big concern to him. Williams said that motion could be changed somewhat so that the environmental site assessment be done before the City Council votes, rather than before submission to the City Council. He said that PRAB is an advisory board, so if the other condition was put on it, the Council may think that they couldn't vote on it. He said that if PRAB will accept it as a friendly amendment that the environmental site assessment be done prior to the City Council decision, it would probably be more proper. Watson said that he would make that amendment. McKnight asked how it would impact future trails. Williams said each situation would be case by case as determined by City Staff PRAB Amendment to Staff Recommendation: Watson motioned to require an environmental assessment to be done before the City Council votes on the lease, and Maxwell seconded it. Motion failed 4-5-0 by voice vote. Priest motioned to amend the recommendation to say to have a clear accounting to what the cost to the City of Fayetteville would be for the restructuring of the lease. There was no second. Williams told Priest that the City Council will get the minutes of this meeting, so they will understand your concern. Priest said thank you. PRAB Motion: Colwell motioned to approve the BGSO Master Plan and lease as written, and McKnight seconded it. Motion passed 5-4-0 by voice vote. 7. 2015-2019 Capital Improvement Plan: Connie Edmonston, Parks and Recreation Director Staff Recommendation: To approve the proposed 2015-2019 CIP, unless an offer for purchase of land adjacent to Gulley Park is accepted. Edmonston said the Gully Park renovation is still in the making. The City purchased the Dunn property for $970,000, and the remaining $130,000 will come from the Nation Heritage Association. The City will pay down $700,000 this year. There is $270,000 in the contract for 2015, and $130,000 is pledged by the National Fayetteville Heritage Association. Colwell said that he thought it was $270,000 in 2016, and $130,000 in 2015. Edmonston said yes, that was right. Williams said that the signed offer was received today. He said it will now go to Council. Edmonston said the land addition could possibly be a dog park, or a park for the aging population. Williams said Gulley Park will expand, but there probably won't be much development for a while, unless the Council says differently. Watson asked about the two lots located on the land. Edmonston said they probably will be sold. Paul said that he is concerned that people are spending money elsewhere to go to a splash pad. Everyone asks him when Fayetteville is going to get a splash pad. He says it's needed. Maxwell asked what the plan was for the hard trail at Gulley. He said really soft chat is good and has good drainage. He added that there aren't as many issues with it. Edmonston said that idea will be looked at. PRAB Motion: McKnight motioned to accept the proposed 2015-2019 CIP plan, and Proffitt seconded it. Motion passed 8-1-0 by voice vote. Addendum 1- Naming of the Lake Fayetteville Bird Blind Edmonston said that this needs to be tabled. Parks didn't get the justifications needed. PRAB Motion: Watson motioned to table the naming of the Lake Fayetteville Bird Blind, and McKnight seconded it. Motion passed 9-0-0 by voice vote. Addendum 2- Steve Schneider, South Central Regional Director of International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA), would like to make a presentation about Fayetteville becoming a bronze IMBA Ride Center. Schneider said he was the Regional Director of IMBA. He passed out an IMBA magazine. They would like to become a bronze IMBA Ride Center. He said it was like being in the Hall of Fame in Football. Fayetteville needs to develop trail builders and funding, and maybe jump to silver status. He added that the trail around Lake Fayetteville has to stay open. McKnight asked what came after bronze and silver. Schneider said it would be gold. They are looking into a regional ride center. He said no one has applied for that. Paul asked how many issues of the magazine are published. Schneider replied that the magazine goes to places such as bike industries, wholesalers, etc. He said over 365,000 have gone out. Williams commented that Schneider's presentation would be good for the City Council to hear. He said he will arrange for a presentation. Schneider said he would be glad to do a presentation. He added that the application process is significant. He said it's a blessing to have the chance to push to the next level. Lamb asked if it would be appropriate to draft a letter to IMBA thanking them for placing a director in NWA, and thanking them for choosing Steve. Edmonston said yes, and she would do it. Schneider said he was having expert trail builders come in for a trail blazing school. He said that there are great trail builders in this area, but this will put them to the next level. He wants to have the class at Frank Sharp's location. There will be no cost to the City. The tentative dates are October 23-25, 2014. 8. Announcements Edmonston said that everyone needs to be more careful on the trails. She said she had an accident that's taken a while for her to heal. She added that another man had an accident on one of the trails, and he is paralyzed now. She asked everyone to please watch their children and pets while they are on the trails. . 9. Adjourn Meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m. Minutes taken by Melanie Thomas