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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_PAREB_10.14.1993CITY OF GEORGETOWN Parks & Recreation Board Minutes October 14, 1993 MEMBERS PRESENT: Ms. Robin Hallett, Chair Ms. Debbie Fustin Ms. Joyce Gadison Mr. Harold McDonald Ms. Ronda Seagraves Dr. Nick Sikes Ms. Kathryn Stallard Mr. Tom Swift Mr. Robert Pena MEMBERS ABSENT: None OTHERS PRESENT: Randy Morrow, Director of Parks & Recreation Mary Lee Prigge, Recreation Superintendent Donna Kirk, Administrative Assistant I. APPROVE MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER 16, 1993 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING. Kathryn Stallard had a few questions. Roman Numeral IV - The information in the middle of the first paragraph after the heading G.Y.R.A. on the right hand side. "Mr. Pena requested funding with continued support from both G.Y.R.A." Change to "Mr.. Pena requested funding with continued support from both G.Y.R.A. and the City." Roman Numeral V - take out the word is between study and will. Roman Numeral VII - 2. "Lot 29 is being sought for additional parking." Change to "Lot 29 is being sought for additional parking or playground." * A motion to accept minutes with the above corrections and additions was made by Harold McDonald and seconded by Nick Sikes. Motion carried by unanimous vote. H. CITIZENS WISHING TO ADDRESS BOARD. Kurkjian Engineers introduced themselves - Mr. Garabed Kirkjian, P.E., R.P.L.S. and Mr. Jerry Meeks. The company submitted an interest statement and qualifications on the River Cooridor project. b: min. 102 III. RECOMMENDATION TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ON TAKING OVER THE GEORGETOWN YOUTH RECREATION ASSOCIATION. Mary Lee Prigge gave an overview of the G.Y.R.A. becoming a City Recreation activity. The board received a sample flyer and Staff Recommendations concerning G.Y.R.A. Harold McDonald asked what taking over the activities meant? Mary Lee responded that the City would take over G.Y.R.A. activities beginning this season with youth basketball beginning January, with sign -ups beginning in November. Harold McDonald asked about there being no budget and how the City intended to fund this project? Mary Lee responded with using some of the special program budget and keeping detailed books for submittal to the City Council next year for funding of this program in next year's budget. Robin Hallett asked the cost per child and if the cost would remain the same? Mary Lee responded with $15 per child and the cost would remain the same for this year. This funding will offset some of the operating expenses. Kathryn Stallard asked the anticipated operating expenses for this year? Mary Lee said the funding would include umpires, t -shirts and trophies. The coaches will all be volunteers. The staff, as far as setting up all the teams will be done with G.Y.R.A. volunteers. Kathryn Stallard said in the past the t -shirts were donated by different companies with the company's name on the t -shirt. Will this be done this year? Mary Lee said we would try to it do this year with the help of G.Y.R.A. board. The City is looking forward to this new recreation activity. Robin Hallett asked about pulling staff from other departments to help with registration for the G.Y.R.A. activities? Mary Lee said that part-time recreational staff helping was a possibility. However, we are relying on the volunteer support furnished by G.Y.R.A. Tom Swift asked what it meant "G.Y.R.A. is a non - competitive program ". Mary Lee stated that this was on the G.Y.R.A. philosophy and that Roger Pena was probably a better person to answer that question. Roger said that non - competitive means that the same team does not play together year after year. Each year the team is comprised of new players, practices and plays on Saturdays only. They do not travel, they play only in the community with competition set -up by the children participating and everyone plays. Harold McDonald stated that he appreciated having the staff recommendations in writing and that is was very helpful to the board members. The other flyers that the board received are the upcoming events for October and November. Calendars will be published on a regular basis. Motion was made by Dr. Sikes to recommend to the City Council that the Parks and Recreation Division take over G.Y.R.A. Second was made by Tom Swift. The motion carried by unanimous vote with Roger Pena abstaining. b: min. 102 IV. RIVER CORRIDOR SUB - COMMITTEE REPORT. Kathryn Stallard reported that 12 reports had been received at this time with 5 of those being submitted today. The committee has toured the San Gabriel Park area from the park all the way to Blue Hole via walking. We have made notes and Wednesday the committee went to San Antonio and Pflugerville to tour projects in those areas. Roger Pena asked what the committee's initial impressions were? Kathryn said that is was very productive to walk the Kings corridor area. The San Antonio River Walk tour downtown was not very representative of what we expect for the River Corridor as it is in the San Antonio urban area. Tom Swift asked when the appropriate time and place for making comments on the River Corridor regarding access? Kathryn responded this would be done after we choose the consultants. Robin reiterated that this would be discussed thoroughly with the consultants. The specific issues would be discussed. Tom Swift asked if there was a grading system for selecting the consultants? Robin Hallett responded no. You need to look at the sheet that Randy gave out the first night regarding some of the things that are important to look for in the consulting firm. V. RECREATION CENTER SUB - COMMITTEE REPORT. Ronda Seagraves stated that the group had met briefly regarding where to start and how to approach the project. They are scheduled to meet again to discuss programming, what types of things they would like to see in a new building and what types of rooms, gyms, locker rooms, bathrooms and that type of thing. This group will be going to Walburg and Giddings. Zion Lutheran has the type of building that we think we may be able to afford and we are going to take a look at this building. Joyce Gadison asked about the location? Ronda stated that several sites had been discussed. The church at the corner of University and Austin Ave. is available, however, the price is probably prohibitive. There is some land that is available for sale close to the River Corridor and the City owns land near the purposed athletic fields. Robin asked if we were going to try and get an inventory on City owned land from the Planning and Zoning Department? Ronda stated that this would be done. Robin stated that we should request a minimum acreage. Ronda said that there are limitations due to funding. There was a discussion of phasing facilities in as the budget allowed. Robin asked for any other questions. There were none. VI. APPOINT BOARD MEMBER TO SERVE ON SUB - DIVISION REGULATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. Robin told the board about the Sub - Division Regulation Advisory Committee appointed by the City Council. At this time a Parks and Recreation member was asked to serve on the Advisory Board. Harold McDonald agreed to serve in this capacity. Harold has an extensive background in the Century Plan. b:min.102 Harold McDonald asked the board to read back through the Sub - Division Regulations and asked for any positive and negative ideas on it. Robin stated that some issues had not been resolved to everyone's satisfaction during the last session of the Sib Division Regulations Advisory Board Committee. At this time they are reconvening the committee with some additions and some changes. This committee will be discussing just a few issues and not a complete look at all of the sub- division regulations. That does not come up for another year. Kathryn Stallard has some issues that she does have some ideas on. Tom Swift stated that in his last session he sat in on that the Parks and Recreation Board came across as anti - growth to the developers. Their view was that all we care about is greenbelt at the expense of all other considerations. If in the process as a representative on that board we could state that we are not anti - growth but we are pro - planning and that there is an enormous difference. We are just trying to speak up for those families that will be living in the sub - divisions. Robin said that these are the very reasons that the sub - committee is reconvening. Kathryn asked about the fee as opposed to land donation? She felt that the decision was supposed to be the City's not the developers decision. Robin stated that Marianne Banks and she had discussed this issue. This is clearly stated in the Century Plan as the City's choice and it is a real gray area and presents itself as an opportunity for the sub - committee to make clear. Kathryn asked if the fees collected go directly to the Parks Division budget? Randy stated that there is an account with just those fees in it. Robin stated that Susan Morgan is working on a way for Randy to keep track of each donation of money or fees as there is a stipulation to spend this money within five years. The other thing is that there is some discussion that it is not really clear, not only here in Georgetown but in a lot of other communities, exactly what radius that you bring in the funding from where that money is spent. Therefore, things must be kept in sperate accounts in order to track them. The last thing we want is to bring money in and then lose it. VII. INFORMATION FROM BOARD MEMBERS AND DIRECTOR. Tom Swift stated that the Playscape will build the week of November 15th. There seems to be an impression in the community that there are thousand of volunteers already signed -up to help and that is not the reality! The architects are requiring two to three thousand people on the sign -up list. He said that the board should take the lead in volunteering and sign up for shifts. This would send a signal to the community how important the playscape is to the community. The architects normally send five representatives but if we do not have enough volunteers they will send only one. We need names and people calling 863 -3HUG. That is the only way we can make this happen. Tom ask that the Parks Board provide the leadership. He said the crews would run Nov. 17 through Nov. 21 from 8 AM until 3 AM every day. Roger Pena said that because of his past experience with G.Y.R.A. he will be working really closely with Mary Lee. He asked that there might be a need to have a board b: min. 102 member sit on the G.Y.R.A. board. Harold McDonald asked that if sometime back the board had requested from City Council another member to the Parks Board from the G.Y.R.A. organization? Robin said there was a request for a member from the recreation providers. Kathryn Stallard asked about the status of the land below HEB and Wal -Mart? Randy Morrow stated that the City does have an option on the land and that we would look into incorperating it into the plan as the River Corridor approached that area. Kathryn asked about other areas that the City might have an agreement with? Randy said there were no others at this time. He stated that the land was not a real good location because of the way it was situated, but maybe it was something we could use as the land is on the river for future trail development. Randy reported on the eagle scout project involving handicap drinking fountains in the park. Brent has finished installing the fountains and the parks crew installed one in Old Town Park. We are saving one drinking fountain for the playscape area. The Parks Division is a finalist in the Beautification Award Division for the Downtown Pocket Parks by the Texas Downtown Association. Molly Alexander nominated us for this award. VIH. ADJOURN. Tom Swift made the motion to adjourn and it was seconded by Joyce Gadison. Motion carried by unanimous vote. b:min.102