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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRC minutes 050317 Orange County Parks and Recreation Council Meeting Summary Date: May 3, 2017 Place: Environment and Agricultural Center Conference Room ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ PRESENT: Robert Robinson; Evelyn Daniel; Tori Williams Reid; Betty McDade Khan; John Greeson; Robert Smith; Rachel Massai ABSENT: Haywood Rhodes STAFF: Hecht; Stancil ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ I. Call to Order. BOCC gifts to the Board were given with their thanks noted. Roll called. II. Additions or Changes to Agenda, Meeting Summary: The March summary was reviewed and approved. The Agenda was reviewed. There were no additions to the agenda. III. Report of the Chair: a. Membership Recommendations (Eno Township; Chapel Hill Town Limits; Chapel Hill Township.) Rachel Cotter was recommended for Chapel Hill Town Limits. All recommended Katie Loovis with the thought that Hiram Cicjurel-Bayard as a back-up if she turns us down. Gina Reyman was recommended to the Eno Township position. IV. New Business a. Community Center Update –All three community centers are opened and operating. There have been numerous meetings with the Board of Directors and County Manager. Both Cedar Grove and Efland Community Center need to get the Operating Agreement completed. If approved, operations would be turned over to the Associations with funding assistance from the County. Funding for the Centers is also under discussion. Each had turned in Grant applications from the Outside Agency Grants. The County Manager feels this isn’t the best avenue to go. She would rather a contract management agreement take place. This is similar to how the SportsPlex is managed. This would fuse monies already budgeted by the County with money from the grants. Instead of a Community Center position, the Centers would hire their own managerial staff with the County providing funds for temporary staff. After this year, they would not apply for the Outside Agency Grants. b. 2017-22 Capital Investment Plan—the BOCC has asked that some of the CIP projects be pushed back. The Blackwood Farm Park Operations Base will be moved back. Northern Park projects will be moved back. Millhouse Road Park work has been moved back. Some of the work at Cedar Grove Park, Blackwood Farm Park and Soccer.com are still on schedule for the next few years. V. Old Business a. Mountains to Sea Trail-proposal for connecting the MST will occur in September. Four proposals will be presented at that time. These sections connect the area on River Walk to the southern end of the County. The focus is on the section of River Walk to Seven Mile Creek. b. Site Visits to Park Sites-The PRC would like to visit more parks and maybe some of the MST proposed areas and a Southern tour on October 4. This would move the picnic to the September meeting. c. River Park Update-new bus stop work has begun with trees removed and much work and traffic congestion occurring. Other news with River Park includes a new foot bridge that will go in by fall. Also, a stage or pavilion is in the works. In addition, there is restoration of the Occoneechee Village within the park currently happening. VI. Report of the Director a. Updates on Various Projects and Facilities. Stancil spoke of work at Blackwood Farm, to include Disc Golf; the new driveway; a Bee Keeping Area; Education Walk; and Education/Learning Center in cooperation with other agencies. b. Stancil spoke of Fairview Parks New Parking Lot opening and the ceremony unveiling of the James Stewart Field . VII. Council and Committee Reports a. Intergovernmental Parks Work Group, schedule change. Daniel was there and reported on the meeting. One action is to meet only twice a year. They will now meet in April and October. They met April 12. b. Items from the Council- Massai is interested in there being a Lacrosse League. Stancil recommended that the Board draft a letter. Greenson says we play on Soccer Fields that are too big according to National Soccer Association Standards. c. Friends of Orange County Parks and Recreation (FOPR), no report. Meeting adjourned at 8:20. Next meeting will be June 7, at EAC conference room.