HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRC Agenda 04012026 AGENDA
Orange County
Parks and Recreation Council
Natalie Ziemba, Chair; Louise Flinn, Vice-Chair; Logan Cason, Marissa Hoer; Alissa Martucci;
Allen Parker; GiGi Rashdi, Chloe Reid (YD); Trevor Robinson; Navya Sharma (YD).
April 1, 2026
6:30 p.m.
Solid Waste Management
Board Room
1207 Eubanks Rd
Chapel Hill, NC
Time Item Title
6:30 I. Call to Order
6:30 II. Report of the Chair
a. Chair Comments
6:40 III. New Business
a. Additions or Changes to the Agenda
b. Elections of the Chair and Vice-Chair
c. Review of Draft Orange County Trails Plan
7:55 IV. Old Business
a. Approval of Meeting Summary, March 4 (Attachment 1)
b. Joint OUT Board Meeting
c. May Meeting Location (park)
8:00 V. Report of the Director
a. Updates
8:10 VI. Council and Committee Reports
a. Intergovernmental Parks Work Group (April 9)
b. Items from the Council / Sharing of Volunteer Opportunities
8:15 VII. Adjournment
Next Meeting: May 6 (TBD)
Meeting Summary— Parks and Recreation Council
March 4th, 2026
Bonnie B Davis Center, Hillsborough
Members Present: Natalie Ziemba (Chair), Louise Flinn, Trevor Robinson, Allen Parker, GiGi
Rashdi, Xilong Zhao, Logan Cason
Members Absent: Alissa Martucci, Chloe Reid (youth delegate), Navya Sharma (youth delegate)
Staff: David Stancil, Abby Mattingly
Natalie Ziemba called the meeting to order at 6:30pm.
Report of the Chair:
a. Chair Comments—Chair Natalie Ziemba had no comments.
New Business:
a. Changes to the agenda—Staff added a recognition for Xilong Zhao's service to the
board.
b. Certificate of Appreciation —Zhao was presented with a certificate of appreciation, as
March was the expiration of his second term. Zhao served on the PRC for over five
years.
c. Joint Out Board Meetings-The Bicycle and Pedestrian plan has not resumed from its
hiatus, so the joint meeting has been delayed until funding can be approved through the
Department of Transportation.
Old Business
a. Approval of Meeting Summary, December 3: Louise Flinn moved to approve, Zhao
seconded. Meeting summary approved.
b. Council Vacancies and Potential Recommended Appointments: As Zhao's term expires
at the end of March, the board examined potential candidates for the Chapel Hill City
Limits seat. Logan Cason moved to recommend Vladimir, Flinn seconded. All in favor,
recommendation approved. The Council then examined the Chapel Hill Township seat
which had several potential applicants. Allen Parker moved to recommend Acharan,
Zhao seconded. All in favor, recommendation approved. Finally, the Council reviewed
the at-large seat, which all applicants were considered for. Parker moved to recommend
Marissa, Cason seconded. All in favor, recommendation approved.
c. Trails Plan Update: Stancil provided a timeline that summarized updates since
December. The Board of County Commissioners received an update in the form of an
information item in December 2025, but staff have been on hiatus with Gensler since
the Bicycle Pedestrian Plan is on hold pending the contract amendment. Gensler and
staff reengaged at the end of February as, with the County Manager's approval, the two
plans have been un-coupled. On April 14t", the draft Trails Plan will be presented to the
BOCC without the Bicycle Pedestrian Plan. The draft plan will be informally presented to
the PRC at their next meeting on April 1.
Report of the Director
a. Project/Program Updates—Stancil sits on the J-Branch Rail Trail Feasibility Study. The
study examines the potential for the rail line that runs to UNC. Once a new energy
source replaces the need for coal to be brought in by train, the railroad is supportive of
converting the route to a trail and/or other related uses. Stancil is also a member of
the Chapel Hill Everywhere to Everywhere (E2E) Plan committee, which examines
expanding and updating the town's greenway system.
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 7:50pm
Next Meeting: April 1st (Solid Waste Management, Chapel Hill)