HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRC Agenda 10062021 AGENDA
Orange County
** VIRTUAL MEETING**
Parks and Recreation Council
(Haywood Rhodes, Chair; John Greeson, Vice-Chair; Chris Colvin; Mikki Fleming; Greg Hughes; Cecily Kritz;
Andrew Landstrom; Gina Reyman; Bob Smith; Tim Tippin, Xilong Zhao)
October 6, 2021
6:30 p.m.
VIRTUAL MEETING
Meeting Login Instructions: See email. For public access to view the meeting, please
contact kallen(@orangecountync.
Time Item Title
6:30 I. Call to Order
6:31 II. Review of Meeting Notes/Additions to Agenda
a. Meeting Summary - September 1
6:35 III. Report of the Chair
a. New Appointment
6:45 IV. New Business
a. Chair and Vice-Chair Elections
b. Parks Division —Annual Update
7:30 V. Old Business
a. Mountains to Sea Trail
b. Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2030 Review
8:00 VI. Report of the Director
a. Introduction of Kalani Allen
b. Project/Program Updates
c. November meeting (Racial Equity Plan, Fairview landfill)
8:10 VII. Council and Committee Reports
a. Intergovernmental Parks Work Group (next mtg October 13)
b. Items from the Council
c. Friends of Orange County Parks and Recreation (FOPR)
8:15 VIII. Adjournment
Next Meeting: November 3, 6:30 pm (location TBD)
Meeting Summary—Parks and Recreation Council September 1, 2021
Virtual Meeting
Members Present: Haywood Rhodes (Chair),John Greeson (Vice-Chair), Andrew Landstrom,Tim Tippin,
Mikki Fleming, Cecily Kritz, Gina Reyman, Chris Colvin, Greg Hughes, Xilong Zhao
Members Absent: Bob Smith
Staff: Dave Stancil, Beth Young
Chair Rhodes opened the meeting.The June 2nd meeting notes were reviewed and accepted. Council
went around and introduced themselves to new member Greg Hughes. Chair Rhodes mentioned the
need to soon hold chair/vice-chair elections. Both Rhodes and John Greeson will rotate off of the council
in March or April 2022. Rhodes discussed the duties of the chair and vice-chair. Elections will be held at
the October meeting. Rhodes stated that there was an error in the agenda as there are no vacancies to
be filled and the council will be back to a full 12 person board next month.
New business: Potential Neighborhood/Mini Park Proposal -Stancil has been apprised of a
neighborhood that has expressed interest in a mini park on a two-acre parcel that the County owns
nearby.A meeting is being set up with the homeowners in the community to talk about what is possible.
Stancil pointed out that as per the Orange County adopted Master Parks and Recreation Plan you will
see that counties are not typically involved in "pocket parks" on small acreage. In cities, especially larger
cities,these parks are very popular and widely used. These spaces tend to rely on high population
density, public transportation, and water and sewer infrastructure that the county does not have in its
jurisdiction. Chapel Hill and Hillsborough both have good examples of small parks within their limits, but
counties do not typically do these. Orange County focuses on community parks, district parks and
regional parks. Stancil also noted that local governments in North Carolina cannot just give away land or
even necessarily sell it to a designated party. There is a statutory process for the conveyance of
property that requires what is known as an upset bid.This was provided as information for Council, no
action needed.
Recreation Quarterly Report(written):Stancil presented Recreation Superintendent Chris Sousa's
PowerPoint. Stancil explained that the Recreation Division has been down two key staff members and
have done a remarkable job since the beginning of Covid pivoting to provide virtual and downsized
programs. Stancil went through the slides explaining participants for each program.Tim Tippin
congratulated Sousa and the recreation staff for putting on successful summer camps with no Covid
cases. He stated it was really impressive and looks like folks are gearing up for fall programs with
recreation using a mix of virtual and in person programs. Stancil stated that Recreation did a great job
and all the precautions and measures put into place helped get campers through the summer safely.
Stancil briefly discussed the vacancies in the Recreation division.
Old Business: Parks& Recreation Master Plan 2030:The plan was adopted in 2014 and it is time to
check in on the plan. Stancil provided a document showing an evaluation of what the county was doing
as far as the plan goes. Recommendations/Progress report document: Stancil went through the nine
points and graded the progress. Stancil would like for the council to go over this document before year-
end and make some concrete decisions on things that the council want to pursue and try to make
happen.Tippin asked if this document was sent out with the agenda, Stancil said he will send it out at
the end of tonight's meeting.
Report of the Director: Project updates—the BOCC requested this summer a Mountains to Sea Trail
progress report, and this has been prepared and will go to the BOCC at their September 14' meeting,
and be sent out to council members after it is sent to the BOCC.This will be discussed at the October
meeting. Blackwood Farm Park is under construction.There was a slow start due to a question about the
septic system, but that has been resolved.The park will be closed until July 2022. Filling vacancies in the
Administration Division: Lisa Brashear who did all of the shelter rentals, community centered rentals,
and program registrations retired in July 2021. Lisa's position has been filled by Jessica Volant from
Animal Services who will be starting with us September 13t". And after 14 months as a frozen position
the person that handles the administration and logistics for PRC will be filled. Interviews have been
conducted and reference checks are being completed. Stancil hopes to have the new staff member on
board for the October 6t" meeting.
Planned October agenda items include: Racial equity plan, Fairview landfill and the state's
recommendations.
Xilong Zhao asked if Parks& Recreation received any rescue grant monies from the Federal
Government. Stancil reported not yet. He stated we have asked for several different things but have not
gotten anything. Rhodes asked about disc golf at Blackwood. Stancil is hoping to have an in person
meeting about this in November or December 2021, some funding has been identified. Chris Colvin had
a question about the county's involvement in the Greene Tract.Stancil reviewed that the county owns
60 acres of the 164 acre tract and it is designated to become a nature preserve, but the last couple of
years he has not been involved in the discussions about that acreage.This has been coordinated by the
mayors and the chair of the BOCC and planning departments of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and the county.
Our Land Conservation Manager is currently working with the Town of Chapel Hill to look at
reconfiguring the nature preserve. PRC has not discussed the plan but it would be a good talking topic
for later this year or early next year.
Council and Committee Reports: None
The Intergovernmental Parks Work Group will meet in October.
Friends of Orange County Parks met in August.They have a bank account set up and an application in
for a not for profit status. In addition to money they are also looking for participation in the group and
for fundraisers. Gina Reyman is the chair and John Greeson is vice-chair.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 pm. The next meeting will be held virtually October 61n