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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRC meeting notes 060519 Orange County Parks and Recreation Council Meeting Summary Date: June 5, 2019 Place: Environment and Cultural Center PRESENT: Haywood Rhodes; John Greeson; Tim Tippin; Gina Reyman; Robert Robinson; Michael Zelek; Tim Braddy; Jennifer Moore ABSENT: Tori Williams Reid; Rachel Cotter; Bob Smith STAFF: Lynn Hecht; David Stancil; I. Call to Order: The meeting was convened at 6:30pm. Roll was called. II. Additions or Changes to Agenda, Meeting Summary: May 1 notes were reviewed. No comments were made about them. III. Report of the Chair: a. Membership/Vacancies: Chapel Hill Township has a vacancy. The Board reviewed John Singletary, an applicant from Chapel Hill Township. The Board decided to wait until next meeting to vote on this position. b. Other Comments: None. Rhodes noted that Robinson wrote up notes about the Intergovernmental Parks Group and sent them to the board and thanked him for doing this. Robinson described to the new members what this group is about. IV. New Business a. The proposed Multi-Modal Trail was discussed. This was a topic discussed during the Joint Advisory Board meeting. An idea came from the 2017-18 discussions on the MST to look at a different trail concept, like a paved or greenway trail between Hillsborough and Chapel Hill. One of the tables at the Joint Advisory Board meeting discussed the Multi-Modal Trail. Tippen was at this table. Tippen was asked to develop a letter for the PRC consideration to get a feasibility plan developed through work between the jurisdictions. The Board discussed how this would possibly work. Tippen said there was a board member with Orange County Transportation who could help pen this letter. Rhodes asked that Stancil find out if the other jurisdictions have this on their radar. Robinson was averse to this idea saying that with the need for things like gyms, why should the County spend money on a study that tells what we know, that DOT and the railroads are against it. Greeson moved that Tippen put together some bullets to discuss in our August meeting and that staff check with other jurisdictions to see what they are thinking about this. Tippen seconded the motion, all voted in favor. b. A review of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Recommendations was made. In 2014, the Master Parks and Recreation Plan was adopted. Stancil wanted the group to look at the recommendations and where we are with them. Stancil went through the recommendations. 1) Continue funding for operation and maintenance of existing facilities and parks . He added that there is now a dedicated fund in the budget for park operation and maintenance. 2) Open the planned parks. Stancil noted that Fairview and Blackwood Farm Parks are now open. Other overall County needs sometimes push park projects out in time. 3) Complete the protection of preserves. Stancil added that Hollow Rock. Nature Park has opened and activity continues on this front. 4) Formalize and build multi-partner facilities. Comments included a commitment with the Town of Chapel Hill to work on Millhouse Road Park, although the planning and work for this will be done at a later time. Riverwalk as part of the MST is another part of the coordination. The department has done less well with the schools. Soccer.com Center is adjacent to the middle school with some success, but there have been parking issues. Using school gyms has been problematic. 5) Development a Master Park Plan for the MST and work toward making the connection with adjacent counties. Stancil stated that this has been done and passed by the BOCC and work is going on with this plan. 6) Build more trails and connect more open spaces (like with the Multi-Modal trail.) 7)Work to improve trails and improve healthy lifestyles design. 8)Add programs where residents have identified needs. 9) Examine the role of community centers and how we are meeting community needs. The County now has three community centers running. Reyman stated the Council should speak more about our recreational offerings, especially as they address the needs of low income folks. Rhodes wants the group to look at building an inclusive playground. Is equity being considered with all our programs? Reyman and Robinson asked to hear about recreation programs more often than just when the Recreation Superintendent speaks about the programs. c. The Orange County Comprehensive Plan's upcoming Ten Year review was discussed. This plan was adopted in 2008. The Planning Department will be starting a 10 year review process, and one of the sections is the Parks and Recreation Element, so this will be coming back to the PRC. V. Old Business a. The Soccer.com Center parking and updated master plan for facility expansion is coming, and the first draft planned schedule was introduced. If the Capital Investment Plan is passed by the BOCC, construction might begin in 2021 and finished in 2022. Greeson advised that extra entrance and exits need to be considered with the expansion. The schedule of the plan will probably be ready for discussion by the fall. VI. Report of the Director a. Updates on Other Projects, Facilities & Programs. The Fishing Rodeo was held a few weeks ago at Blackwood Farm Park. Rhodes attended and only saw small fish being caught. Stancil is proposing to name the Fishing Rodeo after Bob Strayhorn who hosted the event for many decades going back to the mid-1970s. Stancil noted there are some new staff members in Parks and Recreation, Kevin Bradsher and Robyn Glass with Recreation; and Jesse Lewis with Parks. Randy Church with Parks and Tom Davis, our Water Conservation Coordinator are retiring. River Park will be getting an art piece at the new entrance across the street from Weaver Street. Some of the folks around OWASA lands are not happy with the MST going through their lands. VI I. Council and Committee Reports a. Intergovernmental Parks Work Group. No recent meeting. b. Items from the Council—none. c. Friends of Orange County Parks and Recreation (FOPR). VIII. Meeting adjourned at 8:10PM. The next meeting will be August 7, 2019, 6:30pm at the EAC Conference Room, 306 Revere Road, Hillsborough.