HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRC minutes 090518Parks and Recreation Council
Meeting Summary
Date: September 5, 2018
Place: Environment and Agricultural Center Conference Room
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PRESENT: Tori Williams Reid; Rachel Cotter; John Greeson; Gina Reyman; Robert Robinson;
Tim Tippen; Michael Zelek
ABSENT: Katie Loovis; Haywood Rhodes; Robert Smith
STAFF: Lynn Hecht; David Stancil,
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I. Call to Order: Introductions.
II. Additions or Changes to Agenda, Meeting Summary: No comments on June notes.
III. Report of the Chair: Membership/Vacancies, Cedar Grove and Efland Cheeks both are
still vacant. There are no new applicants. Board asked to put notices at Soccer.com
Center, ECCC, CGCC, the two Ruritan Clubs and CRC.
III. New Business
a. Discussion with County Manager, Bonnie Hammersley (MST Steering Committee),
County Manager was unable to attend due to last minute conflict, plans to come to
October meeting. Stancil provided a summary of the topic to be discussed.
Hammersley wants the PRC to serve as a committee to receive updates and monitor
the progress of the MST. A handout was developed by Livingston about the latest
progress on the MST. The group will get updates with the expectation to provide
feedback. Reyman asked if advocates or others could sit in our meetings. Stancil
said meetings are public and the public is always welcome to attend. Questions and
discussion took place related to easements and selling property and the implications
of both. Stancil added that the Sheriff’s Office added to their budget patrolling trail
heads and parking lots due to potential for increased vandalism in these areas.
b. Joint Advisory Board Meeting: The biennial meeting will be September 18, Orange
County Library at 7:00pm in the library meeting room. Stancil provided a draft
agenda for perusal. There will be five breakout sessions, then, there will be a
debriefing of their discussions will be held. All will have a small amount of time to
speak about what is going on with their boards. Reid Williams will give a quick
discussion about our board’s high points.
c. SportsPlex Field house Programs- Stancil and Chris Sousa, Recreation
Superintendent, will meet with John Stock tomorrow. The concern is not to have
direct competition of program offerings. SportsPlex now also has use of the old
Charter school and are showing signs of conflicting programming with the use of the
facilities at this school.
V. Old Business
a. Mountains to Sea Trail Update – A handout from Kim Livingston was information
covered in the early part of the meeting.
b. Seven Mile Creek Natural Area –Opening October 9 at 4pm- There will be a formal
invite soon. The event will be low-key. There will be a few speakers and a guided
hike.
VI. Report of the Director
a. Updates on Other Projects, Facilities & Programs -.1) Stancil indicated he is involved
in ongoing discussion with Andy Sachs and Durham County f staff to work out
several issues and focuis on ways to better cooperate. There will also be a meeting
with the staff. 2) The County’s North Campus design process is underway. A new
detention center, this EAC facility and the Parks Operations Base will be housed
there. Construction should begin in the fall of 2019. One person came to last night’s
information session about this. There are two architects, HH Architecture is doing the
EAC and Parks Baser. Williams-Reid asked what will happen with this building.
Stancil indicated there has been some discussion about affordable housing. 3) Initial
review has come back on payment in lieu program. Presently, developers either
dedicate a portion of land or make a payment in lieu of providing land for parks and
open space. More will be reviewed on this at a later date. 4) Hecht gave an update
on the Nature of Orange Photo contest. Hog Day is next weekend. September 29th is
Local Fest at Blackwood Farm Park, a homegrown County Fair.
VII. Council and Committee Reports
a. Intergovernmental Parks Work Group. Next meeting is on October 10th.
b. Items from the Council –Rachel Cotter is going to the September 24th NRPA and will
share this information at the next meeting.
c. Friends of Orange County Parks and Recreation (FOPR): Robinson is working on
getting the paperwork finalized.
VIII. Meeting adjourned at 7:50PM. Next meeting will be October 3 at Little River Park and will
be the PRC annual cookout.