HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRC minutes 030514
Meeting Notes
FROM: Parks and Recreation Council (PRC)
SUBJECT: Monthly Meeting
DATE: March 5, 2014
LOCATION: Environment and Agricultural Center – Conference Room
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MEMBERS PRESENT: Bench, Khan, Carter, Roeder, Bulkley, Dillard, Green, Reid, Robinson
MEMBERS ABSENT: Dickinson, Paulen
STAFF PRESENT: Stancil, Hecht
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I. Call to Order / Welcome New Member
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm. Round-table introductions followed.
II. Additions or Changes to Agenda: None
III. Report of the Chair (Bench)
a. Applications / Vacant Positions: It was noted that Paulen has resigned from the
council. Dickinson’s position has expired, but the Council requested her position not
be filled so she could stay connected for a few more months to work on the Master
Park Plan, and the BOCC had agreed to this proviso.
IV. New Business
a. Chair and Vice-Chair Elections were in order. After discussion, the floor
was opened for nominations. Bulkley moved that Chair Bench and Vice-
Chair Roeder be nominated to serve another term. Dillard seconded the
motion. Both candidates agreed to run again. Bench asked if there were
other nominations and hearing none, called the question to a vote. The
Council unanimously approved Bench to remain as Chair and Roeder to
serve again as Vice-Chair.
b. Review of Outside Agency Funding was addressed. The three Agencies
reviewed were: Bridge II Sports; Big Brothers and Big Sisters; and the
Boys and Girls Club. Each member was given the application information
submitted to review in advance. A scorecard with set criteria was used to
come up with a score for each agency. As a group, the board took their
scores and came up with a group consensus score for each agency. The
final score for each was as follows: Big Brothers and Sisters, 86; Boys
and Girls Club, 56; and Bridge II Sports, 86. These scores will be
tabulated with the scores given by staff members, David Stancil, Chris
Sousa and Lynn Hecht and submitted for the FY 2014-15 budget.
c. An updated meeting schedule was submitted to the board by Stancil. The
Master Park Plan and County Fair had consumed much recent time and
caused some of the changes in the schedule.
V. Old Business
a. A draft of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan was submitted to the BOCC in
February. Bench commented that the County Fair work may have slowed down this
whole process. A few commissioners asked if we really needed more trails. Green
asked about the Mountains to Sea Trail, specifically asking if the County would be
taking on the maintenance of the trails. Suggested maybe trail groups could help.
Green concerned about the political atmosphere in the Bingham Township re a
future park. Stancil recommended further surveying for specific feedback on that
topic may be possible. The master plan continues to be reviewed, BOCC members
being asked to submit their findings to Stancil. Khan asked about a park tour. Now
that there are new board members, one will be scheduled at a later date. Stancil
noted that there is a plan for an open house during soccer activities at Eurosport
Soccer Center on April 10 where more feedback can be gathered.
b. Stancil handed out a list of upcoming activities and possible projects or initiatives
beyond the Master Park Plan, to include the upcoming opening of Blackwood Farm
Park on a limited basis.
VI. Report of the Director (Stancil)
a. After much discussion with the schools, it has been determined that the County will be
paying a considerably-reduced rate for use of school facilities for our Athletic purposes. A
problem, however, remains that the school custodians expect hourly pay for the entire time
the County is at the facility. Someone from the school must be on site while County is using
their facility.
b. Blackwood Farm Park may soon be ready to open on a limited basis. Stancil has submitted
requests in his budget for part-time staff to be on the property, along with necessary
equipment.
The Orange County Fair concept and alternatively, funding to hire an events planner to plan
and price the event were voted down by the BOCC. That event is now off the table.
VII. Committee Reports
a. Intergovernmental Parks Work Group: No report – upcoming meeting March 12.
b. Friends of P&R: No report
VIII. Adjournment
Next Meeting- 4/2/2014 (Solid Waste Operations Center, 1207 Eubanks Road,
Chapel Hill)