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Home My Public Portal About08-20-2019 PRB Minutes Regular Meeting Public Space Manager Stephanie Trueblood 101 E. Orange St., PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278 919-296-9481 | stephanie.trueblood@hillsboroughnc.gov www.hillsboroughnc.gov | @HillsboroughGov Parks and Recreation Board Minutes | 1 of 4 Minutes Parks and Recreation Board 7 p.m. Aug. 20, 2019 Town Hall Annex Board Meeting Room, 105 E. Corbin St. Present: Chair Robb English, Lisa Frazier (Planning Board representative), Chelsea Gailey, Cole Kenworthy, Andrew Landstrom, Noah Mace and Board of Commissioners representative Mark Bell (ex officio) Absent: Jesse Mowles-Aring Staff: Stormwater and Environmental Services Manager Terry Hackett, Public Information Specialist Cheryl Sadgrove and Public Space Manager Stephanie Trueblood Guests: Blair Bradford, Marvin Clark and Breanna McCormley 1. Call to order and confirmation of quorum Chair Robb English called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Public Space Manager Stephanie Trueblood called the roll and confirmed the presence of a quorum. 2. Agenda changes and approval There were no changes. The agenda stood as presented. 3. Minutes review and approval A. Minutes from regular meeting on June 18, 2019 Motion: Member Noah Mace moved approval of the minutes as submitted. Member Andrew Landstrom seconded. Vote: Unanimous English welcomed the new members. Members introduced themselves. Trueblood reviewed that the board did not have a quorum in July. 4. Conceptual planning for Exchange Club Park (continued) A. History of the park Trueblood noted that the history of the park was included in the agenda packet. English thanked Marvin Clark and Blair Bradford from the Exchange Club for compiling the park’s history. B. Site boundaries and significant features Trueblood indicated on a map which portion of the park is leased by Hillsborough Youth Athletic Association (more commonly known as HYAA) and what could be leased by the town. The upper parking lot, playground area and land on the far side of the creek are available for lease. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes | 2 of 4 C. List of existing conditions There was no discussion. D. Stormwater and stream conditions discussion with Stormwater and Environmental Services Division Stormwater and Environmental Services Manager Terry Hackett addressed the board. He indicated on a map where a stream runs through the property and explained that the town imposes a 50-foot riparian buffer along the stream. There is a sewer easement running along the stream. He explained that if the town impacts the stream buffer, those impacts must be permitted by the state. There was brief discussion that the area with mature trees on the far side of the stream would be good for mountain biking. Hackett explained that structures existing before the state issued rules in the 1990s about the Neuse River buffer are grandfathered in as long as they maintain the same footprint. He explained that the town can get credit for restoring a stream buffer and sometimes can obtain a grant to pay for plants to restore a buffer. He said the state is not likely to grant permission for additional impervious surface in the stream buffer. Hackett explained that the town’s unified development ordinance has significant requirements when 10,000 square feet or more is built on a site. He explained that stream buffer rules are meant to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous in streams and rivers. Hackett said that a bioretention area costs about $50,000 to install. Trueblood reminded the board that the pollinator garden in Gold Park was started as a bioretention area with pipes underneath it that drain to the Eno River. She explained that gravel is layered on top of the pipes, followed by about 3 feet of a special soil mix. There was brief discussion about a need to clear and expand a culvert under the railroad track adjacent to this property. Trueblood said that North Carolina Railroad would deny the financial burden and that it would take several years to obtain a permit from the rail division for the town to do the work. There was brief discussion that if a concrete skate park was to be built on the property, then the bioretention area could be shaped to look like a garden and fit the perimeter of the skate park. It was noted that Durham’s skate park is 9,000 square feet and Chapel Hill’s is 12,000. Trueblood asked Bradford whether she thought HYAA would be willing to share an improved parking lot rather than having a parking lot separate from a possible town-leased lot. Bradford said HYAA needed more parking. Trueblood noted that the upper parking lot area to the left of the building would be a good area topographically for a skate park. Bradford said that the land to the south of the building is rough terrain on which no one walks and that the club has no preconceived notions of what the town may want to build as a park feature. The club would be in favor of a skate park, Bradford said. Trueblood suggested that HYAA, Park Valley Pool leaders and area residents should be invited to future discussions. Bradford said she had invited the president of HYAA to come tonight, but he is not present. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes | 3 of 4 There was interest in more discussion about connectivity. Trueblood suggested connectivity be discussed at next month’s meeting. 5. Parks and Recreation-related reports A. Board of Commissioners — Commissioner Mark Bell said he has been approached by several families with children with special needs who would like accessible parks. He asked for a future agenda item on adding accessible features to existing parks. Trueblood explained that Gold Park and Cates Creek meet the federal minimum standards for accessibility but are not much fun for kids in wheelchairs. The interest from community members is mostly in adding a wheelchair-accessible swing. She explained fall zones and said Gold Park is constricted by the paved walkway that surrounds the playground equipment. Some play equipment could be replaced at Cates Creek Park to accommodate such a swing. Trueblood explained that the swing would cost about $1,500, but the total cost could grow to $50,000 to install a separate bay and to create an adequate fall zone around the new swing. Bell asked for this item to be included on the September agenda so the Parks and Recreation Board can be prepared to make a budget request for Fiscal Year 2021. There was discussion about moving this item forward as well as the master plan for Exchange Club Park in hopes of securing money in the budget for a lease agreement. There was interest in issuing a news release to seek input on the type of handicap-accessible equipment would be preferred. B. Planning Board — Member Lisa Frazier reported that the Planning Board’s recent discussion did not relate to parks or recreation. C. Intergovernmental Parks Work Group — Trueblood thinks the group will meet in October. 6. Park steward reports A. Gold Park — Trueblood said Rebecca Swartz resigned from board, so a new park steward is needed. Member Cole Kenworthy offered to serve as the park steward. B. Gold Park dog park — Kenworthy will be the steward. C. Cates Creek Park —Landstrom said the park is in great shape and offered to be the park steward. D. Murray Street Park — Frazier said it needs mulch, the grass on the slope needs cutting by the steps, and dead trees need to be removed. Trueblood explained that the dead trees were being left for one growing season to count the percentage that survived. E. Kings Highway Park — Trueblood reported that it is being used frequently. People are letting her know when there is a problem. English offered to serve as the park steward. F. Hillsborough Heights Park — Kenworthy offered to be the park steward. G. Riverwalk — No update. H. Turnip Patch Park — Trueblood reported there is a new little library, a fairy garden, and chalkboards in the park. Also, the rotten wood on the structure has been replaced. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes | 4 of 4 7. Staff updates Trueblood reminded the board that it would need to elect a vice chair at the September meeting. She reported that the Board of Commissioners had approved the new seats for a teenager and a senior citizen. She introduced Breanna McCormley, who is interested in serving on the board. McCormley said she is a director of development for a cancer research foundation. She believes she could help the board with getting projects funded. She lives in the Beckett’s Ridge neighborhood. 9. Adjournment Motion: English moved to adjourn at 9:04 p.m. Mace seconded. Vote: Unanimous