HomeMy Public PortalAbout07-19-2016 Minutes PRB Regular MeetingPage 1 of 4
Minutes
Parks & Recreation Board
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
7:00 PM, Town Barn
101 E. Orange St.
Present: Chairman Todd Stabley, Vice Chairman Ashley DeSena, Kate Albrecht, Robb English,
Annie Jarabek, Noah Mace, Nancy Taylor, Chris Wehrman
Absent: Rebecca Swartz, Kim Woodell, Ex Officio – TB Rep. – Brian Lowen
Staff: Stephanie Trueblood
Item 1: Call meeting to order, roll call, and confirm presence of a quorum
Chairman Stabley called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Ms. Trueblood called the roll and confirmed the
presence of a quorum.
Item 2: Consideration of changes or adjustments to the agenda
Ms. Jarabek added an update about Eco Heal.
Item 3: Approval of minutes from June 21, 2016
Motion: Mr. Mace moved to approve the minutes.
Second: Ms. Albrecht seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Changes: Note that Annie Jarabek attended the last meeting. (Board noted as well.)
Item 4: Review and discuss DRAFT list of Park Reservation Permit-Prohibited Activities and
Equipment.
The list only applies to Gold Park and Cates Creek Park because these are the two parks that allow
reservations.
Ms. Trueblood suggested more discussion about sound amplifying equipment. She said staff in the office
had a discussion about folks wanting to be able to play music at a birthday party or family reunion but
other people just using the park on a Saturday or Sunday don’t want to hear the amplified music. If
someone wanted amplified music, that person could apply for a Special Event permit.
There was a suggestion to discuss that considering filming is prohibited, should photographers be
allowed to take professional photos like wedding photos in Gold Park. Filming is sometimes prohibited in
parks because when they set up equipment, then park visitors can’t get move around freely. There was
discussion that it’s neat to be a destination where people want to take photos.
There was interest in Sale of Services falling under Special Events Permit rather than being prohibited.
There was interest in putting Filming/Photography under Special Events.
Ms. Trueblood explained game trailers. She explained that they often parking in multiple parking spaces
and kids, usually from a reserved event like a birthday party, go into the trailer to play video games.
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There was a question of how the fee was determined for non-Hillsborough residents. Ms. Trueblood said
it matches Orange County’s fee structure.
It was noted that the form is a reservation application.
There was a caveat from a board member that pony rides would make the town susceptible to liability
because so much can go wrong in this type of park environment (dogs, running children, flying soccer
balls). The board decided to make Pony Rides prohibited. Ms. Trueblood added that the one time there
were pony rides and Gold Park dog owners let the town know that it was very disruptive to those with
their dogs in the park.
There was brief discussion that bouncy houses have been allowed and it hasn’t been a problem.
Radio signaled helicopters have been flown at Gold Park regularly. Ms. Trueblood hasn’t heard of any
problems. Some board members don’t like them and find them noisy. Most wanted to allow them,
though.
Ms. Trueblood noted the board’s thoughts on the list and will bring an updated draft list to the next
meeting.
Item 5: Continue Connectivity Plan Update: Review text updates/edits from review of existing
plans/policies
Ms. Trueblood reviewed in the packet there’s a new schedule. Tonight she is planning for the board to
review staff recommendations for text updates which she covered last month, but board members may
have more questions. Also, the board will look at changes between existing and recommended
crosswalks for 2013 and in 2016, and the board will look at the schedule for inventory and receive an
update about the community survey.
There was discussion and explanation about the contextual, older documents that are summarized in
the plan. That information can’t be changed other than updating the names of parks for continuity (i.e.
Cates Creek Park was referred to as Waterstone Park in its conceptual stage).
Ms. Trueblood shared the thoughts behind the crosswalks that are still desired and are no longer
desired (i.e. across from Cup A Joe because DOT would require a concrete island the removal of 5 on-
street parking spaces). Board members asked about other places for crosswalks (like where Queen and
Tryon streets intersect Nash Street). Ms. Trueblood explained you can only install a DOT crosswalk
where there’s a sidewalk to receive the pedestrian.
Ms. Albrecht expressed strong interest in having a crosswalk and stoplight on South Churton Street at
Cates Creek Parkway and Lafayette Drive. Ms. Trueblood explained the traffic would have to be studied
after the road opens. There would need to be a sidewalk for the first block of Cornwallis Hills. This board
was interested in indicating that line on the map as red to give it higher priority.
Ms. Trueblood asked for volunteers to explore the park districts with a list of past recommendations and
come back with updated recommendations (also note maintenance issues and note where street trees
would be beneficial so Ms. Trueblood can report to Tree Board). Ms. Trueblood noted the volunteers.
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Ms. Trueblood will email connectivity maps to the board to give them time between now and
September meeting to consider (includes bicycle routes, greenways).
Item 6: Reports and Updates
Town Board: Brian Lowen -- absent
Planning Board: Chris Wehrman – hasn’t met yet
Orange County: Annie Jarabek – Because a board member needed to leave early,
Ms. Trueblood skipped to staff updates for a moment to inform the board that
the town has been awarded ADA federal money (TAP funds) to make sidewalks
on North Churton Street ADA compatible. Also, there has been a donation of
four benches. One will go in the public right of way near Burwell School.
There was brief discussion that the OWASA meeting about the Mountains-to-
Sea Trail went much more smoothly.
Intergovernmental Parks Work Group- IPWG: staff. Ms. Trueblood said it hasn’t met
yet, but the group developing the geodatabase is making progress. UNC, Chapel
Hill, Carrboro, Classical American Homes, (not Duke Forest), Triangle Land
Conservancy, and Hillsborough are participating. This will eventually be a map
that will be available through a Website and a mobile app that will allow people
to search trails by amenities. There was a suggestion to include information
about the closest police stations and emergency call boxes. Ms. Trueblood said
there is an effort to coordinate a county-wide emergency trail marker system.
Park Steward reports:
1. Gold Park: Annie Jarabek – Ms. Trueblood said a contractor has been hired to fix
the rails.
Dog Park: Nancy Taylor – Another board member said it looks great.
2. Turnip Patch Park: Annie Jarabek – hasn’t been recently
3. Murray Street Park: Ashley DeSena – looks good
4. Kings Highway Park: Todd Stabley -- looks relatively good. Ms. Trueblood said in
September Orange County will start picking up recycling there. Ms. Trueblood
shared that the new signs had been spray painted and would have to be
replaced.
5. Hillsborough Heights Park: Kim Woodell -- absent
6. Riverwalk: Robb English – the trail is busy
7. Downtown Sidewalks/Mayo Park: staff
Added item – Eco Heal update
Ms. Jarabek shared an announcement about a July 23 Eco Heal learning session
on Millhouse Road. It will be a healing arts center.
Staff Updates
Ms. Trueblood reminded the board that the ribbon cutting for the Classical Homes
pedestrian bridge would be taking place on July 22 at 5:30 p.m. Ms. Trueblood
shared that she has had several conversations with Bill Crowther of Classical
American Homes about allowing bicycles to pass through to the Riverwalk. Mr.
Crowther is not allowing bicycles at this time and has posted signs.
A portion of Riverwalk would be shut for a couple of days for some stormwater
work.
Little School has been asked to stop chalking and painting at Cates Creek Park.
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Ms. Trueblood has been contacted by several people who want to donate benches
and is following up.
The pollinator garden sign has been ordered. The replacement signs for the sign
covered in graffiti and a broken sign at Gold Park is also coming.
The 10 new trash and recycling containers on Riverwalk, Downtown and KHP will be
out by September.
The train station funding is now back on track.
The North Churton sidewalk study is complete. The South Churton and Orange
Grove Road studies are just getting started.
The Mountains-to-Sea designation paperwork for Riverwalk has been submitted.
Ms. Trueblood has made contact with the quarry owner that owns the property
where the trail goes from Allison Street to the back side of Occoneechee Mountain.
She is pursuing talks about a change of ownership for the property.
The FY17 budget has been approved. She reviewed funding for each park. The new
planner will likely not start until November/December. Instead of conducting a
citizen’s survey this year, a contractor is working on a more formal one for next
year.
Item 7: Adjourn
Motion: Mr. English moved to adjourn at 9:18 p.m.
Second: Ms. Jarabek seconded.
Vote: Unanimous