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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRC meeting summary 06022021 Meeting Summary- Parks and Recreation Council Meeting,June 2, 2021 Virtual Meeting Members Present: Haywood Rhodes (Chair),John Greeson (Vice-Chair),Andrew Landstrom,Tim Tippin, Mikki Fleming, Cecily Kritz, Gina Reyman, Chris Colvin, Xilong Zhao. Chapel Hill/Carrboro Greenways Commission rep: Alice Armstrong Members Absent: Bob Smith Staff: David Stancil, Beth Young Chair Rhodes opened the meeting. The May 51h meeting summary was reviewed and accepted. Rhodes discussed the remaining vacancy(Cedar Grove) in the PRC. Greg Hughes could potentially be appointed by the commissioners June 15th to fill the At Large vacancy. Mikki Fleming made a motion to send Kevin Mason to the Board of County Commissioners for a potential appointment to the PRC. Gina Reyman seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously(8-0). New Business: Fairview Park—Landfill Status Report: Stancil stated that a status report on the Fairview Landfill Assessment was recently shared with the Fairview Community and the BOCC. Pre-regulatory landfill site on the northern portion of the county owned land that cannot be developed as active park land. 2017—Consultant hired to do assessment of the property.The findings are that there are elevated levels of some compounds and naturally occurring contaminants throughout the former landfill site. But not to a degree that would create a situation where the property could not be used at all. The final report is anticipated to be complete in the fall and will most likely recommend a cap and fill approach to the landfill. A fabric grid would be placed on top of the areas where landfill activity occurred and soil would be added on top of the fabric. What that will mean for the county is that you can most likely now have a soccer field and trails on this portion of the property. It will not be suitable for anything that requires going into the surface. Xilong Zhao asked about the current vegetation based on the master plan. Stancil stated that a field survey would need to be done as the master plan map is from 2012 and could have changed. Zhao asked what type of vegetation will be planted. Stancil stated that would be covered in the final report but he would expect to see native grasses and shrubbery. Zhao would like to see Cherry trees or plants that would become a pollinator area and would attract visitors similar to the sunflower fields over in Raleigh. Monarch Butterfly and pollinator type area would be very attractive. Stancil stated that one of the department's goals is to increase pollinator habitats in our parks. Chair Rhodes said if you are limited to surface type uses a second disc golf course could be considered. Reyman asked what the community had asked for. Stancil said their most requested thing is additional basketball courts and tennis courts. Chris Colvin asked how much the public is currently accessing that undeveloped area. Stancil commented that there is a trail that works its way around that area connecting the subdivision to the north. There is a stream that cuts through that area as well, there really isn't anything built up there but that doesn't mean people are not walking around. As this reports comes back in the fall the PRC could be asked to take a look at and comment on. Countywide Racial Equity Plan—Draft Framework: Stancil reported that he had emailed the draft framework to members. There will be community outreach throughout the summer and a public hearing in the fall. Would go to the BOCC for action before the end of the year. Zhao asked about what communities were included, as he didn't see the API community in the document. Stancil stated he was not involved in the development of the document but would reach out and ask the group that created the document. The PRC may be able to incorporate some of the recommendations into the August meeting discussion about the Master Parks and Recreation Plan. Cecily Kritz asked if that was information on training and what the PRC members would be able to participate in. Stancil stated that is not available yet. That should be spelled out in more detail after the public hearing in the fall. Kritz sees this a becoming part of the PRC annual plan. Taking the framework and applying it to decisions made by the PRC. Stancil replied that the intention is for the final plan to have a level of action strategy to it. Reyman—would like to see gender equity included in the racial equity plan. Stancil can include this in the questions he is going to forward to the document creator. Stancil will report back to PRC at future meeting. Old Business: Pickleball/Tennis Draft Letter: Stancil talked to the County Manager about restriping the tennis courts to add the pickleball striping. The additional cost came to $1200 the County Manager agreed with the project so the restriping will move forward for pickleball. Recreation Quarterly Report: Chris Sousa was not able to get this ready for tonight due to staff shortages. James Lyon, a longtime employee, retired in May and another staff person turned in their resignation this week. With summer camps starting it is a challenge with short staff. Sousa will give his quarterly report at the next meeting. Reyman—would like to send a note of congratulations to James Lyons. Stancil to follow up. Director Report: Project updates Budget going forward DEAPR is at about 67%of our normal summer seasonal help. Some park maintenance may not happen as frequently. But working to make sure that soccer.com will be ready to open for the fall, etc. Beginning with BOCC meeting June 15 the quarterly updates that the PRC receives from Chris Hirni on the Mountains to Sea Trail will now go to the county commissioners as well. This is the result of a request by a citizen to the Board as an informational item. Blackwood Farm Park—going through construction bids now—construction to begin the mid to end of July. Most likely will close after the July 41h holiday. August meeting topics: Recreation quarterly report. Master Plan 2014 overview/update. Chair Rhodes mentioned the chair/vice-chair elections were at the September meeting last year. May want to consider doing nominations in August with elections in September as both the chair and vice chair's term end in March 2022. Council &Committee Reports: Intergovernmental Parks Workgroup: no update. Items from the Council: Chris Colvin—asked about the funding for the pickleball striping being frozen. Stancil stated that the project funding is taken to the County Manager on a case by case basis right now. The manager gave it a green light so it will move forward. Colvin wanted to make sure a letter wasn't needed from the PRC to move project forward as was decided at the May meeting. Stancil said no. Friends of the Orange County Parks& Recreation John Greeson reported that all of the paperwork has been completed and submitted for 503C status. Loveorangeparks.org will be the domain name and the group will be working on a website. Reyman stated they will have a zoom meeting next Wednesday, she will send a link out to the board. Reyman also asked Stancil to send a listing of the positions that are going to be open on the board next year. Stancil will send that. The next PRC meeting will be held August 4, 2021 at 6:30 pm. Meeting adjourned at 7:35 pm.