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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRC meeting notes 020520 Meeting Summary Date: February 5, 2020 Place: Environment and Agricultural Center Conference Room PRESENT: Haywood Rhodes; John Greeson; Tim Braddy; Cecily Kritz; Robert Robinson; Robert Smith; Tim Tippin, Michael Zelek; Alice Armstrong (Chapel Hill Parks & Greenways Commission liaison). ABSENT: Gina Reyman STAFF: David Stancil I. Call to Order: Roll was called, introductions made. ll. Additions or Changes to Agenda, Meeting Summary: no comments on the December notes. No additions to the agenda. III. Report of the Chair: Membership/Vacancies: There are now three (3) vacancies: one for the Hillsborough Town Limits; one for Cedar Grove Township; and one for Chapel Hill Town Limits. Additionally, Tim Braddy has replied that he can no longer serve, so that now frees up the Cheeks Township position. There is also an upcoming vacancy in the Little River Township with Rob Robinson's second term ending in March. Seven applications were made available for review. Greeson nominated Landstrom for the Hillsborough Town Limits position. Kritz seconded the motion and all voted in favor. Robinson nominated Zhao for the Chapel Hill Town Limits position. Zelek seconded the motion and all voted in favor. Greeson nominated Chinery to fill an At Large position in place of the long vacant Cedar Grove Township position. Robinson seconded the motion and all voted in favor. IV. New Business a. Meeting Agenda Topics for winter and spring were discussed. Stancil included an attachment with meeting topics for the next six months. Earth Evening on April 24" will also feature the revealing of the new art structure in River Park and the new park entrance and amenities. The topic of the multi-modal trail was brought up. Stancil said that staff has not received any further direction since the October Intergovernmental Parks Work Group, but that the Council could put it on for the May agenda. Greeson added that for March the Recreation Division update could be a report and staff didn't necessarily need to be at the meeting. He said that the summer camps could be a topic. b. Soccer.com Center expansion and a preliminary needs assessment were discussed. Design funding is now in place to get started for an additional 37 acres east of the property that was purchased a few years ago. Orange County is ready to send out a Request for Qualifications to the firms with an interest in developing the design. Stancil noted that known items are parking, restrooms and more fields, but he would like the Council's thoughts on the needs for the expansion design. Robinson asked about synthetic vs green field costs. Stancil said this is a major consideration, and that Marketing and operations Coordinator Travis Bogle is doing an issue paper on this. He added that synthetic fields are going in more often in most other facilities because they can be used year-round, that there are very few new facilities installing Bermuda fields. Rhodes asked about injuries on one type versus the other. Stancil says that there are varying reports on injuries and carcinogens on the synthetic turf infill material. Recent studies have downplayed the carcinogen factor. There is a difference of opinion between tournament organizers and players about injuries. To the question of how many fields, Stancil indicated 2 synthetic or 3-4 natural fields, due to the upfront cost differences. Greeson asked about if lacrosse groups were trying to use the field. Stancil says they have interest and usually get a small amount of field time, but that there is an effort by lacrosse groups to build a lacrosse complex in the area. V. Old Business a. Stancil reported on the Blackwood Farm Park disc golf meeting. In mid-December, there was a Disc Golf meeting with interested parties and some organizers/developers. Stancil and Landscape Architect Marabeth Carr will be looking at Dogwood Disc Course and maybe Diavolo course in Cary. Blackwood's construction will now begin later (2021) due to some stream buffer and wetlands identifications and full design of the amphitheater. This could affect when the disc golf course development will begin. Designers are of varying degrees of expertise and cost. b. Stancil gave a report on Phase II of Blackwood Farm Park. The design and engineering firm headed by Susan Hatchell and Associates is designing and preparing construction documents and bid specifications. As shown previously, there will be an amphitheater, office, new entrance, more parking and shelter. Due to the delays mentioned above, it now looks like spring of 2021 for construction to get underway. Stancil also mentioned that a large music festival is in discussions about coming to Blackwood Farm in the spring of 2021. c. Stancil reported on a meeting with Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation concerning their planned inclusive playground. This is proposed to be at Cedar Falls Park in Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill was looking to see if Orange County wanted to partner with them on this. The playground concept involves features for youth and adults with physical as well as mental challenges. Armstrong added that Chapel Hill will likely be building this in stages. Stancil said that our Health and Social Services Departments might also have an interest in this. d. Report of the Director Project and initiative updates were discussed. River Park's new art sculpture and new phase of development will be honored in conjunction with Earth Evening on April 24, ca 5:30-8pm. Orange County, the State Division of Environmental Quality and a consultant have been researching and identifying mitigation needs at the old landfill at Fairview Park. Stancil says recent discussion from the State is that it might be capped and filled, and not has the buried material excavated. . The final phase of the park will be affected by this, as no permanent structures can be built on a capped landfill. It was noted that the PRC needs a new person on the Intergovernmental Parks Group as Robinson's term ends in March. Kritz volunteered to serve on this group. VI I. Council and Committee Reports a. Intergovernmental Parks Work Group (next meeting April 8) b. Items from the Council c. Friends of Orange County Parks and Recreation (FOPR) - Robinson reported that he needed to speak with Reyman about future meetings. He also said he would stay involved. VIII. Meeting adjourned at 8:OOPM. The next meeting will be March 4 at the Environment and Ag Center Conference Room, 306 Revere Road, Hillsborough.