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HomeMy Public PortalAbout07-18-2017 Minutes PRB Regular Meeting Minutes Parks and Recreation Board 7 p.m. July 18, 2017 Town Barn, 101 E. Orange St. Present: Chairman Todd Stabley, Vice Chairwoman Kate Albrecht, Ashley Campbell, Robb English, Annie Jarabek, Board of Commissioners representative Brian Lowen (ex officio), Noah Mace and Chris Wehrman (Planning Board representative) Absent: Rebecca Swartz, Nancy Taylor and Kim Woodell Staff: Public Space Manager Stephanie Trueblood Item 1: Call meeting to order; 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 Vice Chairwoman Albrecht added a discussion about group exercise classes in town parks and whether those groups should be reserving space. Item 3: Approval of minutes of June 20, 2017, meeting Motion: Ms. Jarabek moved to approve the June minutes. Second: Vice Chairwoman Albrecht seconded. Vote: Unanimous Item 4: Update on survey of Riverwalk greenway users Ms. Trueblood reported that Ms. Swartz would give an update next month. Mr. Wehrman reported that he surveyed users during the play taking place at the Stickwork sculpture at the Last Fridays event. He did not bring his surveys to this meeting to report in detail. Vice Chairwoman Albrecht expressed interest in surveying lunch-hour users. Item 5: Discuss Turnip Patch Park Master Plan Ms. Trueblood shared the 2005 site plan and reviewed the history of the site. She shared that the Tree Board planted trees and that there is no room for more. Ms. Trueblood said someone had shared with her the idea of making a chalkboard area on the privacy fence, which is on town property. Ms. Trueblood reviewed that the pollinator garden near the creek bed has become too much for former Tree Board member Karen MacAulay to care for. Ms. Trueblood would like this board to discuss not mowing and weed-eating to the edge of the stream, which has been the practice to this point. She acknowledged that children play in the stream and suggested that part of the stream bank could be mowed to enable children to easily play in the water and part could have a buffer of plants which are not mowed as an educational opportunity. She, Ms. MacAulay and landscaper Casey Collins, who is a member of the Tree Board, have agreed that moving the pollinator garden away from the creek bed is a good idea. Ms. Trueblood pointed out a sledding hill in the park as well. Ms. Trueblood also told the board that the post and rail fence has been in place 10 years and is deteriorating. Due to the deterioration, the gate isn’t staying shut. She budgeted money for the replacement of the fence and gate this year. Vice Chairwoman Albrecht suggested including a natural play building in the master plan. There was also a suggestion to place something colorful and fun on the fence, such as interactive community art. It was noted that picnic tables would be a helpful addition. The concrete slab is too small for a picnic table but could hold a chess table. There was mention that the “Jack” horse sculpture near Weaver Street Market is so well loved and decorated for every holiday and that it would be nice to permanently install a sculpture at Turnip Patch Park. A free little library was suggested as well. Ms. Trueblood shared that Mr. Mace had built a little library that will be installed at Gold Park. There was a question of whether there could be a grill at Turnip Patch Park. Ms. Trueblood said there’s one at Gold Park that is rarely used. Commissioner Lowen said that may be because users are required to clean the grill, so people tend to bring their own. Someone suggested installing children-sized furniture in parks designed for younger children. Ms. Trueblood said she has heard from those who promote the needs of senior citizens that moveable chairs are a need in parks; however, moveable furniture is a problem for staff because they sometimes get damaged or stolen. There was some interest in rocks that children could sit or step on. Item 5A: Added item — Group fitness classes Vice Chairwoman Albrecht said that it has come to her attention that several fitness classes are being organized at Cates Creek Park and Gold Park and that organizers may not be aware they need to pay a registration fee. For instance, there is a class that takes place at Gold Park in which they bring fitness equipment that fills a picnic shelter. The group also takes up the width of Riverwalk when the members exercise. She wants to know what everyone else thinks and if town language needs to change regarding such for-profit uses. Ms. Trueblood reviewed that this board had previously decided business owners may reserve a shelter or field to conduct a class or event if staff finds the use is not contrary to park use purpose or disruptive to other users. It is written in the town ordinance that the town may allow the reservation of certain facilities when it does not conflict with the enjoyment of the park, but the language doesn’t say that it is otherwise prohibited. Board members said the town ordinance needs to be amended so that businesses are not profiting from town property without paying a fee to the town. The idea was to keep the fee very simple. It would reinforce the idea that parks are town-owned property. There was discussion that the for-profit nature of some gatherings is what this board wants to address; this board doesn’t want to discourage groups who just meet to walk, even if they are large groups. Ms. Trueblood clarified for board members that people don’t have to reserve a shelter to host a birthday party at one, but if the shelter is not reserved, they must share it with anyone else who wants to use it. There was acknowledgement that enforcement of the fee for for-profit groups would always be a problem, but having the language in the town ordinance would give staff some recourse when someone complained about a group taking up a shelter or a field in the park. Item 6: Reports and updates — (Parks and Recreation-related reports) • Board of Commissioners: Brian Lowen — Commissioner Lowen reported that in June, the board adopted the budget with no tax increase. Also, the board approved a modification to the special use permit for the condominium project at 515 N. Churton St. and a modification to the special use permit for Habitat for Humanity of Orange County’s townhome project in the Waterstone development. On July 20, the board would vote on an ordinance to allow the sale of alcohol starting at 10 a.m. on Sundays. • Planning Board: Chris Wehrman — The board would meet the following Thursday. • Orange County Parks and Recreation Council: Annie Jarabek — This council did not meet in July and has a meeting scheduled for Aug. 9. • Intergovernmental Parks Work Group: Ms. Trueblood — The work group had not met. • Park steward reports: 1. Gold Park: Annie Jarabek — She had no report. Dog Park: Nancy Taylor — Absent. Ms. Campbell said she had joined the Gold Park dog park Facebook group and determined that several users were upset the park was closed and felt it wasn’t warranted with the flood damage. Ms. Trueblood said it’s been the policy that if the dog park can’t be secured, it has to be closed. Fence contractors are very busy and she managed to find a contractor who can mend the fence in four weeks. Ms. Campbell said there were offers to help the town posted on the group’s Facebook page. Ms. Trueblood encouraged anyone interested in volunteering for the town for anything to contact her. Also, Ms. Campbell said that the dog group was asking for an update. Ms. Trueblood said she inspected the mulch before purchasing it this time. She will try to reopen the smaller side of the dog park sooner, and she will work on a news release. 2. Cates Creek Park: Robb English — Ms. Albrecht reported it’s getting a lot of use. The restrooms were a bit messy over the weekend but fine during the week. Ms. Trueblood said they get cleaned on Mondays. Ms. Trueblood said the pollinator garden has swallowtail caterpillars on them, and she is hearing from people who want to squish them as pests. She would like everyone to spread the word that these are swallowtail caterpillars and they are to be left in place. 3. Turnip Patch Park: Annie Jarabek — Ms. Jarabek reported two trees that are the same species have a lot of tent worms on large branches. Ms. Trueblood took note to remove them. Also, the park needs mowing and there is vegetation growing in the mulch and underneath the structure. 4. Murray Street Park: Ashley Campbell — Ms. Campbell said she realized it is more of a master plan topic but she is wondering whether this is the best type of park in this neighborhood. Ms. Campbell said there is interest in rejuvenating a neighborhood watch in the neighborhood and she will contact Ms. Trueblood to follow up and attend a meeting to get input for the master plan. 5. Kings Highway Park: Todd Stabley — Chairman Stabley reported that the trash can has a foul odor and that there is a lot of poison ivy. Ms. Trueblood said Public Works staff had sprayed twice. Chairman Stabley told her there is poison ivy along the power easement. There was discussion about using goats. Ms. Trueblood did not think goats would be an effective solution. 6. Hillsborough Heights Park: Kim Woodell — Absent. 7. Riverwalk: Todd Stabley — Ms. Trueblood said that in August a contractor would remove debris which was pushed against the boardwalk foundation by the last flood. Chairman Stabley reported that the director of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail had sent a letter to the Orange County Board of Commissioners stating more action needed to be taken, including expanding the scope of the corridor. Also, Mountains-to-Sea trail organizers are organizing people to hike a portion of the trail on Sept. 9. Ms. Trueblood said Ms. Campbell is working on that and Mayor Stevens will be leading a walk. • Staff updates: Churton Street Access Improvements Project — Ms. Trueblood reported that the curb and gutter would soon be poured on the block in front of Antonia’s restaurant and then the sidewalk would be poured. The project would then move south one block. Twelve weeks into the construction work, the project is on schedule and on budget. Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Project — Ms. Trueblood reported that this project, which would bring sidewalk improvements to places in West Hillsborough, is finalized and she expects to bid it out in the next few months. Item 8: Adjourn Motion: Ms. Campbell moved to adjourn at 8:50 p.m. Second: Ms. Jarabek seconded. Vote: Unanimous