HomeMy WebLinkAboutMeeting Summary 03052025Meeting Summary – Parks and Recreation Council
March 5th, 2025
Bonnie B Davis Center, Hillsborough
Members Present: Natalie Ziemba (Chair), Louise Flinn, Trevor Robinson, Alissa Martucci, Allen
Parker, GiGi Rashdi, Chloe Reid (youth delegate), Navya Sharma (youth delegate)
Members Absent: Gregory Husketh, Ben King, Xilong Zhao,
Staff: David Stancil, Abby Mattingly, Kalani Allen. Guests Jessica Pearson and Mikayla
Hernandez, Gensler
Natalie Ziemba called the meeting to order at 6:32pm.
Report of the Chair:
a. Chair Comments – Chair Natalie Ziemba had no comments.
New Business:
a. Changes to the agenda – No changes were made.
b. County Trails Plan- Orange County has partnered with Gensler to develop a county
Trails Plan. Jessica Pearson and Mikayla Hernandez from Gensler presented their work
so far on the Trails Plan. They began by discussing their research on adopted plans and
community engagement research. Pearson outlined the six guiding principles that will
focus their methodology, as well as a potential schedule of activities. Pearson then
opened the floor to comments. Louise Flinn asked if the plan will focus on
unincorporated Orange County, and how municipality connectivity will be made.
Pearson will be seeking out municipal plans and ensure the plan will be cohesive with
municipal efforts. Alissa Martucci offered the safe routes to school plan as an
opportunity to increase connectivity and multimodal options along routes. Allen Parker
asked how the trails plan intend to communicate “up” to decision makers. Pearson
informed that budgetary and feasibility recommendations will be structured into the
timelines and will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners. Parker followed
up by asking what the plan can incentivize to encourage adoption. The BOCC will discuss
the final plan and will investigate further, likely asking staff to develop implementation
plans. Pearson then presented the goals reported from the survey and then continued
to discuss the projected timeline for the plan. The timeline is divided into five task areas
and outlined by month. This initiative is the first of its kind in attempting to map and
connect trails at a countywide level. Other plans are site specific or limited to the
municipalities. The Mountains to Sea Trail is the only real through trail in the County,
with many sections of the trail not being finalized. Robinson asked how the website will
be advertised and how information will be presented. Kalani Allen is developing the
website that will be housed on the Orange County DEAPR site. Information will be
updated regularly. Flinn discussed her participation with various vision workshops in the
past, and asked out the consultants intend to balance the level of commitment with
informed feedback. Pearson presented the vision workshop process and potential
activities. The workshop is currently planned for in May. Stancil noted that the potential
for an additional workshop is being considered. Hernandez explained the development
of the guiding principles. They will be the foundation of the trails plan for inclusive
engagement. The consultants will take inputs from the community and synthesize that
to find overarching insights that are then used to create the guiding principles. During
implementation, the principles are used to evaluate design solutions.
c. Reevaluating Youth Delegate Code of Ordinance Amendment- Stancil presented the
background and reasoning behind the Council’s youth delegate positions. The adoption
of the amendment underwent a formal process through the BOCC, but this particular
change would alter the final sentence and is not a substantive change. The Council
would like to make it possible for the youth delegates to stay till they turn 18, or till the
end of their senior year. The Council agreed that the addition of “or till the end of their
senior year” should be added.
Old Business
a. Approval of Meeting Summary, February 5: Flinn noticed an editing note to the
summary was not removed. The note was removed. Parker moved to approve; Robinson
seconded. Meeting summary approved.
b. Council Vacancies and Potential Recommended Appointments: Andrea Zimmerman,
the vice-chair, resigned her position on the board due to other time commitments. The
Council discussed the potential applicants from the Chapel Hill Township. The Council
agreed to recommend Margaret Moriarty. Robinson moved to recommend; Parker
seconded. All in favor, Moriarty will be recommended to the BOCC.
Report of the Director
a. Project/Program Updates – The Capital Investment Plan will be presented by next
month’s meeting. The Fairview court construction should be finalized late spring. Perry
Hills mini park is under construction after a short delay. Fairview Community Watch who
presented last month to the Council attended the joint Town and County commissioners
meeting to present their recommendations.
Council and Committee Reports
a. Intergovernmental Parks Work Group – next meeting scheduled for April 9, 2025
b. Items for the Council/Sharing of Volunteer Opportunities – none
Adjournment: Ziemba adjourned the meeting at 8:09pm
Next Meeting: April 2nd (Solid Waste Management, Chapel Hill)