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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_PAREB_10.19.2000CITY OF GEORGETOWN Parks & Recreation Board October 19, 2000 I. CALL TO ORDER Ben White, chair, called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. H. ROLL CALL Members Present: Mr. Ben White, Chair Mr. Jim Atencio, Vice Chair Mr. John Philpott Ms. Tracy Dubcak Ms. Jean Houck Mr. Wesley Kidd Mr. David Rinn Members Absent: Ms. Brenna Nedbalek Mr. Douglas Blackard Others Present: Randy Morrow, Director of Parks and Recreation Kimberly Garrett, Administrative Manager Kevin Marsh, Georgetown Soccer Association Mike Myers, Georgetown Soccer Association Walter Koopman, Aquadillos Swim Team Greg Pfluger, Aquadillos Swim Team Liz Matthes, Aquadillos Swim Team III. APPROVE MINUTES FROM September 14, 2000 MEETING A motion was made by David Rinn to accept the minutes from the September 14, 2000, meeting. Jean Houck seconded the motion and it passed by unanimous vote. IV. DISCUSSION ON LEASE AGREEMENTS FROM GEORGETOWN YOUTH BASEBALL ASSOCIATION ON YOUTH FIELDS David Rinn, a Georgetown Youth Baseball Association (GYBA) member, spoke to the board about using the Parks and Recreation adult softball fields in San Gabriel Park in order to expand their program. David is looking to see if there is a lease agreement or permit that would allow the GYBA to use those fields. The GYBA is in a position right now where they have to schedule games on Wednesdays and Sundays due to the number of players in the Page 1 of 4 league. David said GYBA would continue to do capital improvement projects at the cost of GYBA. David would like to know if an agreement could be worked out sometime in December so the GYBA could plan for next year. Ben asked if the City allowed GYBA use of the two softball fields would games still be played on Wednesdays and Sundays. David said if use of the two fields were approved, games would not be scheduled on Wednesdays or Sundays. Two years ago there were about 300 kids in the program, today there are 900 kids in the program. David said there is also some land the City owns in Dove Springs (close to Churchill Farms) that is could be used for field use. David said GYBA is looking for other non -profit sports organizations, like soccer or football, to help build some practice fields in that area. David said the Parks and Recreation Board's support is needed for this project. This land was originally purchased for the Dove Springs Water Treatment Plant. David said this land that they are looking to build fields on is part of the buffer zone for the treatment plant. Tracy asked if David has checked with TNRCC to see if that is an appropriate use of that land. David said Jim Briggs was looking into that. David said there is about 13 acres of land in the area. A surveyor is currently looking to see how many fields would fit in the area. Also there would be no lighting in the area and also an eight -foot perimeter fence would have to be installed. Ben told the board to think about the proposal and also send the information to Legal. John is concerned if this meets with Parks and Recreation staff approval and if the staff can keep up with the mowing. David said he has already approached legal and it would take 60 days to iron it out. Ben asked Randy to get back with the board on what Legal has to say and his recommendation. Tracy also asked for information from Jim Briggs about use of this land. Tracy also asked for a map of the Dove Springs area. V. DISCUSSION ON FUTURE SOCCER FIELD NEEDS FOR GEORGETOWN SOCCER ASSOCIATION Mike Myers, President of Georgetown Soccer Association (GSA), presented the future needs of the program. Georgetown Soccer Association was started about 20 years ago. The facilities that GSA currently uses are behind Annie Purl Elementary. Growth of the program has averaged about 9% annually over the past 5 years. GSA is asking the City to co- develop a new soccer complex. The program has outgrown the fields it currently uses and is renting the McMaster Fields from the City. Additional fields would allow more tournaments to be held and also have all the children playing in the same area. Mike said he just trying to get the ball rolling because he realizes the process is long in terms of applying for grants and allocating money to projects. Kevin Marsh, GSA grants and scholarship contact, said the fields that GSA is currently using are too small. This creates a management problem by trying to schedule teams, board members, referees, and players at multiple sites around town. In the long run for GSA to be effective all Saturday morning games should be in one place. We cannot manage 15 Page 2 of 4 locations, with one location more could be done. The fields that we have now are on land owned by the school board and GSA has a use agreement with GISD. There is unlimited room for expansion. Kevin said we are one of the fastest growing counties in the country playing the fastest growing sport in the country and when you add those two together you get growth. There are grant programs available, particularly by the U.S. Soccer Foundation. These grant programs are available to affiliated organizations and they give out millions of dollars in grant for people to develop more soccer fields. There are several communities in Texas that have been able to land these grants. Almost always these grant programs are done in collaboration with the local community. It usually involves city or county involvement. Kevin said with the current growth he could predict how many fields would be needed in the future. With some projections, Kevin said that within 5 years, GSA would need 20 -22 acres of soccer complex. What GSA needs is 40 -45 acres of land to be able to grow. Game fields versus practice fields are also a problem. Kevin said that the current fields could be used as practice and the new complex would be dedicated for games and younger teams to practice. Kevin said GSA is just starting to explore the possibilities. GSA has some interest and some needs and the City has some interests, requirements, and resources and maybe something can be worked out. David encouraged GSA to join hands with GYBA. There is no parkland available now or in the future unless the parkland dedication ordinance is changed. GYBA is supporting the Parks and Recreation Board's recommendation to update the ordinance. David suggested that GSA do the same. Wesley asked about grants from STYCE and USSL. Kevin said they are available and usually require a long -term lease on the land. Wesley asked if GSA has looked at land in the area. Kevin said no extensively. Randy said the good point of GSA coming forward is get the dialog going. In the future Randy hopes the council will come up with some type of funding for projects like this. Mike asked if there was anyone who would donate that kind of land to the City. Tracy said the problem is that land valuation is also a problem. GSA is still tying to clarify it's needs. GSA said starting the dialog with the City is important and they should effectively communicate to the council the urgency of the situation and the level of community support we have. Randy said keep in touch with Parks and Recreation and he will be happy to review any letters of support you write. VI. INFORMATION ON AQUADILLOS SWIM TEAM - GREG PFLUGER Greg Pfluger said Aquadillos was a summer swim team in Georgetown. The program starts the first of May and extends through the middle of July. Aquadillos is growing like crazy. The reason Aquadillos is here is to get it out on the table the fact that the program is growing and has needs. Aquadillos currently rents pool times from the City for their practices and meets. Aquadillos rents the pool in the morning and evening when school is on and once Page 3 of 4 school lets out, they have early morning swim. They try not to interfere with public swim. Growth in the past four years are as follow: 1997- 120 swimmers; 1998 - 150 swimmers; 1999- 190 swimmers; 2000 - 250 swimmers. Just trying to show growth of both program and the community. Aquadillos pays coaches, pool rental, and do improvements. Greg showed pictures of three City pools. There were 10 uses listed for the pools. Greg did an assessment of these three pools. The only pool that is the right length for swim team meets is the Village Pool. There are a lot of kids interested in swimming. Long range goal is an indoor 8 lane pool. Greg thinks that in 2001 there will be 300 kids in the program. Ben asked about Southwestern University and their pool. Greg said they were not very cooperative and they preferred the Village Pool because of the distance for meets. Aquadillos has about 70 parents that volunteer for each meet. Aquadillos use the pool for 10 weeks during the summer. David asked if they were looking for access or more pools. Greg said we do not know yet. We are leaving that door open. Randy said all of these groups should have been around when the 1/2 -cent sales tax went for a vote in 1996. Tracy commented that all this growth and all the different needs in the community, the master plan needs to be revised. VII. REPORT FROM PARKLAND DEDICATION SUBCOMMITTEE ON PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL The parkland dedication subcommittee, Tracy Dubcak, Doug Blackard, and David Rim, along with Randy Morrow and Kimberly Garrett presented a slide show presentation to the City Council at a workshop on October 10th. Other board members present were John Philpott and Jean Houck. The presentation was based on information from the whole board. The Mayor sent a thank you letter to the board members thanking them for a wonderful presentation. The recommendations will go to legal for review, then onto City Council. The committee said they would be available to give the presentation again at a City Council meeting if needed. John said the presentation was very well done. VIII. ADJOURN Tracy Dubcak made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Page 4 of 4