HomeMy Public PortalAbout02-19-2019 Minutes PRB 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
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Minutes
Parks and Recreation Board
7 p.m. Feb. 19, 2019
Town Hall Annex Board Meeting Room, 105 E. Corbin St.
Present: Vice Chair Todd Stabley, Ashley Campbell, Jesse Mowles-Aring, Board of Commissioners
representative Mark Bell (ex officio), Noah Mace, Rebecca Swartz, Chris Wehrman (Planning Board
representative), and Kim Woodell
Absent: Kate Albrecht, Chair Robb English and Annie Jarabek
Staff: Public Space Manager Stephanie Trueblood
1. Call to order and confirmation of quorum
Vice Chair Todd Stabley called the meeting to order at 7:03 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
Minutes from regular meeting on Jan. 15, 2019.
Motion: Commissioner Mark Bell moved approval of the minutes without changes. Member Ashley
Campbell seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Changes: None
4. Discussion of Hillsborough Heights Park Master Plan
Trueblood reviewed the final plan with the board. Stabley pointed out a typo, which Trueblood noted.
Member Chris Wehrman arrived at 7:11 p.m.
Motion: Stabley moved to adopt the master plan. Mace seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
5. Discussion of joint meeting with parks advisory boards
Trueblood explained that David Stancil, director of the Orange County Environment, Agriculture and Parks and
Recreation Department, cannot attend on April 16 because it conflicts with a meeting of the Orange County
Board of Commissioners. The meeting will be April 23.
Stabley asked Trueblood what she hopes this board will get out of the joint meeting. Trueblood said the point
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is to create opportunities for people to share information and ideas.
Trueblood gave a brief explanation about the interest in Orange County among residents who wish to see the
county develop a multi-modal pathway through the county separate from the Mountains-to-Sea trail, which is
a foot path. This multi-modal trail would not be part of a street.
Board members reviewed table topic assignments and advised meeting in small groups according to topics
before the joint meeting to generate a list of questions to facilitate discussion.
Wehrman shared notes from his brainstorming session with Member Kate Albrecht regarding needs
assessment and data sharing.
6. Parks and Recreation-related reports
A. Board of Commissioners — Bell reported that the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners:
• Decided not to institute convenience fees or surcharges on water and sewer bills.
• Submitted comments on NCDOT projects.
• Is beginning to discuss the planned train station.
B. Planning Board — Wehrman reported that the Planning Board had recently recommended approval of several
text amendments to the ordinance and a small zoning change at N.C. 86 and Valley Forge Road.
C. Orange County Parks and Recreation Council — No report.
D. Mountains-to-Sea Trail — No report.
E. Intergovernmental Parks Work Group — No report.
7. Park steward reports
A. Gold Park — No report.
B. Gold Park dog park — The new mulch is great.
C. Cates Creek Park — No report.
D. Murray Street Park — Campbell reported several trees had been removed that were dead or diseased and an
overgrown area next to the road was cleared. The park looks much better. She hopes something will be
planted on the steep bank. Trueblood said dead trees and invasive plants in the stream corridor were cleared
to make way for new native, pollinator-friendly, deer-resistant, wet-tolerant plants that will be purchased
with a grant in March.
E. Kings Highway Park — Stabley reported that he had visited the park that day and it looks great. Trueblood said
grading will happen when the land dries. Stabley suggested using the stand that held a life preserver for
information.
F. Hillsborough Heights Park — No report.
G. Turnip Patch Park — No report.
H. Riverwalk — The greenway looks good. Mowles-Aring will now be the Riverwalk park steward.
8. Staff updates
Trueblood reported that:
• A Scout plans to complete a chalkboard project in Turnip Patch Park.
• Another Scout is interested in building and stocking a little library at Cates Creek Park.
• A Girl Scout troop is interested in creating a little library and fairy garden at Turnip Patch Park.
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• At Cates Creek Park, the rest of the rocks have been removed from the swale and the rain garden is being
expanded as part of a partnership with the Stormwater and Environmental Services Division. The entrance
to the park had been planted with lacebark elms and native grasses, and erosion control measures have
been expanded to both slopes at Cates Creek Park.
• The stream restoration at Murray Street Park is funded with a stormwater grant.
• Kings Highway Park will be closed when the parking lot improvements begin.
• The West Hillsborough Sidewalk Connections Project is substantially complete.
• She started the paperwork process to formerly dedicate Riverwalk to become an official part of the
Mountains-to-Sea Trail. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be discussed at a future meeting.
• There are two volunteer opportunities coming up:
o 9 a.m. to noon March 16 — Removing trash along the stream for a future pedestrian connection
across from where Benton Street intersects with Bellvue Street.
o 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 6 — Planting extension of the rain garden at Cates Creek Park with the Tree
Board.
9. Adjournment
Motion: Swartz moved to adjourn at 8:23 p.m. Bell seconded.
Vote: Unanimous