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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRC meeting notes 020619 Orange County Parks and Recreation Council Meeting Summary Date: February 6, 2019 Place: Environment and Agricultural Center Conference Room PRESENT: Tori Williams Reid; John Greeson; Kim Manturuk; Gina Reyman; Tim Tippin; Haywood Rhodes; Robert Robinson; ABSENT: Michael Zelek; Robert Smith; Rachel Cotter STAFF: Lynn Hecht; David Stancil I. Call to Order: Introductions. ll. Additions or Changes to Agenda, Meeting Summary: December notes were reviewed. No comments were made about the notes. III. Report of the Chair: Membership/Vacancies: Cedar Grove and Cheeks townships both have vacancies. The group was presented with two applications from folks in the Hillsborough Township. Since I the other two other townships cannot be filled at present, the group expressed interest in filling those with someone from another township. Between now and the next meeting, the board has asked that all the applications be sent to the members. IV. New Business a. Blackwood Farm Park - Disc Course Design Group Appointees: Stancil provided an update about the upcoming park construction for Phase 2 of the park, saying that a firm has been hired to work on phase two to include a new driveway into the park. Funding has been appropriated for the work as well. First to come will be a first draft of the initial schematic plans. Stancil noted that he plans to convene an open meeting to begin planning for the disc golf course, after the initial schematics are in. and he is also hoping some of the disc golf groups might even help with some funds. In May, Landscape Architect Marabeth Carr will come to speak about where staff is with this work. Park construction is to begin by December and be complete within a year from then (Fall of 2020.) Stancil asked for representatives from the PRC to be be part of this planning. Rhodes and Manturuk agreed to be on this Disc Golf committee. b. Prioritizing 2019 Work Plan items. Stancil reviewed the items on the Work Plan and where staff is with each. Staff is currently providing quarterly reports on the MST. See Old Business for River Park. The Landscape Architect will speak in May to the board about where we are with the construction on Blackwood Farm Park. There will be updates on the expansion plans at Soccer.com including discussion about artificial turf compared with Bermuda grass. Just very recently, there has been discussion about collaboration with other potential partners for indoor recreational facilities. There is a long history of using the schools, but using the facilities has been a contentious issue over the years. The new Superintendent might be a little more flexible with hope for the future. Little River Park and Natural Area interlocal agreement is up for renewal and involves full master plan to be done. There is a difference of opinion between Durham and Orange about some issues related to the management of the park. Staffing and programming issues are two issues with likely differing opinions. Reyman asked if Recreation was analyzed to the extent of park planning. The Council discussed issues related to indoor recreation needs and the summer camp registration process. The PRC would like a different presentation from Recreation from last year's report with more overview of numbers and more question and answer opportunity, and would like to also start getting highlights perhaps quarterly (which could be from various staff to share the burden). Reyman asked if money could be requested to increase activity space. V. Old Business a. River Park Update - There are discussions with our Marketing staffer, the Arts Council Director and the Town's Economic Director about a larger Performance Shell at River Park. b. Communication with other Parks and Recreation Boards. As we get information from other departments, staff will share with the board. Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation is providing information, which staff has been sharing. c. The Joint Advisory Board meeting —April, 2019? Waiting for the Town's staff, Stephanie Trueblood to provide us with this date. VI. Report of the Director a. Updates on Other Projects, Facilities & Programs. The BOCC has approved the Northern Campus Facility to begin later this year and finish fall of 2021. It will house the Detention Center, the new Environment and Agricultural Center and a permanent Parks Operations Base. News from Carrboro has indicated that the County's Jones Creek Greenway at Twin Creeks will soon have a trail connection with Lake Hogan Farms via Carrboro Parks & Recreation. VI I. Council and Committee Reports a. Intergovernmental Parks Work Group. (April) b. Items from the Council—nothing c. Friends of Orange County Parks and Recreation (FOPR): Robinson is having a problem getting an EIN #from the IRS. VI II. Meeting adjourned at 8:OOPM. Next meeting will be March 6, 2019 at the Environment and Agricultural Center, Hillsborough.