HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_PAREB_01.10.2019Minutes of the Meeting of the
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
City of Georgetown, Texas
January 10, 2019
Regular Session
(This Regular Session may, at any time, be recessed to convene an Executive Session for any
purpose authorized by the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code 551.)
A Call to Order - Jim Hougnon, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Chair
Meeting was called to order by Jim Hougnon at 6:05 pm.
B Roll Call - Jim Hougnon, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Chair
Jim Hougnon, Danelle Houck, Larry Gambone, Katherine Kainer, Scott Macmurdo,
Wayne Beyer, Michael Simpson
Staff: Kimberly Garrett, Jill Kellum, Madison Haynie
C Parks and Recreation staff member introduction and presentation - Kimberly Garrett,
Parks and Recreation Director
Kimberly Garett introduced Madison Haynie, Recreation Specialist located at Garey Park.
Madison Haynie stated she has a degree in recreation, park and tourism sciences from Texas A
& M. She stated she oversees the gatehouse at Garey Park which is the front office and she
supervises the 3 part time staff. She started with the city in April 2018 working at Garey Park.
She interned with the Georgetown Parks and Recreation department 3 years ago. It was asked
how her perspective of the park was going attendance wise in terms of the responsibilities she is
handling. She stated they are in their slower season. This last Saturday there were 600 people
that came in the park and there were 30 annual pass cards that were scanned as well. On
weekdays, if the weather is nice they still average 50 —100 people a day. On Tuesdays, the free
day, the attendance is higher but again, it depends on the weather. The Tuesday before
Thanksgiving there were 700 people that came into the park. On bad weather days they see the
annual park pass users come in. It was asked what the lead activities were. She stated the Play
Ranch and Splash Pad are the number one uses in the summer. More people are walking on the
trails and run during this season and there is more equestrian use. There were questions about
the bird viewing area. It is not quite finished but it will be open for anyone to use. It was
asked about the Dog Park and what else needs to be done. Staff present were unsure about
what the status was on this issue. It was asked about the Open House for Garey House last
Tuesday. It was well attended. It was asked about the equestrian use. Madison Haynie stated
they have had 8 trailers in the parking lot at a time; and more typically use the facility on the
weekend. Users love accessing the river. It was asked about the stargazing event. Madison
stated they had to cancel due to weather but there is an event on the 21st. It was asked about
the volunteer program. Madison Haynie stated it is going well and are hoping to have a good
presence in the park so they can help answer questions. Arleen Rodriguez the Program
Coordinator will be heading up this program. There are 3 - 4 volunteers that have consistently
volunteered since the park opened. The volunteer trainings are scheduled monthly but
currently they are doing a one on one training due to lack of enrollment.
D Update from the Friends of Georgetown Parks and Recreation - Danelle Houck, Parks
and Recreation Advisory Boardmember
Danelle Houck stated the Friends of Georgetown Parks and Recreation did not meet in January.
They will meet February 4th and they will participate in the Cupid's Chase by manning a water
station. They were very appreciative to be included in the holiday dinner.
E Project Updates and Staff Report - Eric Nuner, Assistant Parks and Recreation
Director
Kimberly Garett reviewed the project update with the board.
It was asked about the repairs for the walk across bridge and Kimberly Garrett explained as
soon as the river flow goes down and weather events stop staff can go in and do the repairs.
Legislative Regular Agenda
F Consideration and possible action to recommend approval of the parkland dedication
for the Keyes Tract. - Kimberly Garrett, Parks and Recreation Director
Kimberly Garrett stated Ben DeBellis, Director of Landscape Architecture with SEC Planning is
present to give information on the Keyes Tract. Kimberly Garrett stated the Keyes Tract is a
proposed single family residential subdivision in SE Georgetown located on FM 1460 just south
of Inner Loop. There are 134 units proposed which would equate to 2.68 acres of parkland. The
property is heavily encumbered by overhead utility easements, gas pipeline easements and
drainage. Due to these conditions, there is not an ideal 2.68 tract that is acceptable to the
City. The developer is proposing to pay the parkland dedication fee in lieu of parkland
dedication. There are two public neighborhood parks in close proximity to the proposed
development, in addition, the developer has proposed to provide a private park and to utilize
the space under the overhead utility lines as open space/soccer fields. The concepts are shown
on the attached exhibit. Staff is supportive of the request to pay fee in lieu of land dedication.
Kimberly Garrett feels good about the subdivision having private play space and open space to
play. The fees would be applied to an adjacent neighborhood park these residents could go to.
There are also sidewalks around the neighborhood. It was asked whose responsibility it would
be to mow the lawn under the utility lines. It will be the responsibility of the developer to keep
mowed. It was asked if there was a guarantee that this area would remain mowed. Bill
DeBellis stated that from the developer and sales standpoint they will want to keep that area
maintained and as nice as possible. It will then go into an HOA which will take care of that
maintenance.
Motion made by Michael Simpson, second by Wayne Beyer to recommend approval of the
parkland dedication for the Keyes Tract taking fee instead of land dedication.
Approved 7 - 0
G Consideration and possible action to recommend approval of amending the proposed
parkland dedication for Carlson Place and approving the parkland dedication for Carlson
South as one subdivision. -- Kimberly Garrett, Parks and Recreation Director
Kimberly Garett showed the location of the proposed parkland dedication. The parkland
dedication for Carlson Place subdivision was approved by the Parks Board on November 10,
2016. The original parkland dedication requirement was 5.46 acres for 273 units. The parkland
proposed was 9.42 acres, of which 2.23 acres was out of the floodplain. The total amount of
land required outside the floodplain was 2.73 acres (50% of the total required). In lieu of the
0.50 acre shortfall outside of the floodplain, the developer proposed a minimum of $30,000
worth of park improvements. Those park improvements are still being installed. The change
comes with the actual dedicated parkland.
Since approval of the original Carlson Place project in 2016, the developer has purchased the
land just to the south of Carlson Place, known as Carlson South. The developer would like us to
revisit the parkland for this area as it is now going to be considered one subdivision with shared
amenities. In addition, when adding the Carlson South land to the project, a proposed future
collector road known as Wey Hill Drive, was required to be extended through the property thus
bisecting the parkland for Carlson Place.
The parkland required for Carlson South is 6.12 acres (306 units/50). The proposed dedication is
5.96 acres. The parkland shortage for Carlson South is 0.16 acres. The parkland lost due to the
road extension for Carlson Place is 2.05 acres. This number is large due to the fact that when the
proposed future collector road comes through, staff did not support an orphaned parcel of
parkland not attached to the main park. The total parkland shortage is 2.21 acres which
equates to $27,625 in fee in lieu of. In lieu of the fee, the developer is proposing a concrete trail
connection from Carlson Place park improvements to Carlson South Parkland. This will help
facilitate park access by both areas. In addition, the developer is also proposing to provide 10
parallel parking stalls adjacent to the park. These amenities area expected to cost a minimum
of the fee owed. There has not been any deeds recorded for the parkland which allows changes
to be made.
Staff is supportive of this parkland amendment and additional parkland and
improvements. This solution provides a larger neighborhood park for the subdivision. The
developer is also proposing a private amenity center that both neighborhoods can access.
Motion made by Danelle Houck, second by Katherine Kainer to recommend approval of
amending the proposed parkland dedication for Carlson Place and approving the parkland
dedication for Carlson South as one subdivision.
Approved 7 - 0
H Discussion and possible action on recommending approval of a proposed memorial
park in partnership with the Playful Child, a 501c3 organization.- Kimberly Garrett, Parks
and Recreation Director
Kimberly Garett introduced Julie Damian and her family and stated she has been working with
them for about 9 months for a potential project for a park. Julie Damian prepared a
presentation for the board. She stated her son passed away on March 22, 2018; a month before
he turned 3. The idea for the park came because there is not a playground or park area in the
neighborhood they moved to the previous December. She and another neighbor were already
discussing how they could get their neighborhood involved in getting a playground. Then
when her son died, they wanted to know what they could do to remember him and make
something special. They want to provide a place for children, families and the community to
gather and make memories. For naming the park, they originally thought Kade Damian
Memorial Park but since then she has met so many other parents and families that are in the
same boat as them, and she thinks it should be a children's memorial park. By child, she mean
anyone that has lost a child can have a place in the park that they can go and remember their
child. This could be that they donate a bench or a tree or have a wall with plaques that might be
along a pathway where they could remember their special person. The proposed location is
within their neighborhood and along the trail so it is something the community can use. She
would like to see a restroom facility in the park. For the Playful Child Foundation, all their
paperwork was submitted in June and their first project is the park. They are hoping to find
bigger projects to go along with it to continue the mission which is healthier kids mentally and
physically through play. They want people to know that play is an essential component of kid's
healthy development. They would like to promote less screen time and more creativity through
the messy outdoor play. Also having open ended play; where they create actual play
themselves. They will promote more personal connections through face to face
communications. She stated we think of play separate from learning but they are interwoven
and one and the same. Also, build community and encourage neighborhood play. The
proposed location is at the intersection of Gabriel View and Country Club. This is owned by the
City of Georgetown. It is easy access off and on the trail system. It is walkable for the
neighborhoods. She showed some conceptual pictures of what they would like the park to look
like. They would like to see the park as a memorial park but a natural park that promotes open
ended play. They would like to see lots of color and areas built into the area. Kimberly Garrett
stated the City of Georgetown purchased a 6.5 acre tract as shown on the map by the
Georgetown Country Club to build the trail. There is some unusable space. The street
department has been using it as a lay down yard. The area is park poor as the parkland
dedication did not come into play until after the subdivision was built. The only park we have
there is Chandler Park but doesn't have any play equipment. In lieu of trying to spend money
on buying property we can use existing land we have a put the money they raise and any
money the city contributes into improvements and amenities. The closest park would be Rivery
Park that has play equipment, restroom, and pavilion. This was a good way to utilize this piece
of property that is not being used. There are approximately 2 acres of useable land and it runs
along the trail and people could access the park here.
Julie Damian stated the goal she has is 3 years to have the park developed. She stated they have
done some fund raising but were unable to do much until they received their tax ID. They have
raised $5,000 so far and have more fund raising scheduled for this year and will look for grants
over the next 2 years to raise the remaining funds. She would like to see a park designed like
the one at the Wildflower Center; their park is natural with open ended play in mind. They are
asking The Playful Child and the City of Georgetown to provide the land and continue with the
maintenance after the park is completed. The family does ask to name it after Kade making it
the Kade Damian Children's Memorial Park. They would like major input on the design of the
park. They are dedicated to raising $500,000. Kimberly Garrett stated they mentioned doing
this park in stages and the City would guide the project. Kimberly Garrett stated since the city
will be responsible for the long term maintenance and replacement it will have to be something
that will last, the city can maintain and not be costly. It was stated that in the end this will be a
city park. She also explained that the City has guidelines on naming and it does meet the
guidelines. She stated the City does have funding, from parkland dedication, in this zone, that
we have had for a while since we don't have parks in this zone to spend it on. This project
marries up well to be able to contribute also to get the park up and going faster or do more
amenities so The Playful Child's contribution could be used for the actual play elements. Then
the City could focus on the parking lot, utilities and infrastructure. Kimberly Garrett stated she
feels this is a good partnership; it fits well with what we do and the next step is to get the
recommendation from the board and go to City Council and get their thoughts on it and their
approval. Then The Playful Child can pursue their fund raising. Kimberly Garrett stated she
has been going to some of their meetings and is an advisory. This is a long term project. Board
members made comment that this is an excellent purpose for this area. Larry Gambone stated
he has concern with the naming and suggested it be named The Children's Memorial Park. He
was concerned having it name after their son with it being a City park and if that is appropriate.
Kimberly Garrett stated there is the trail named after Randy Morrow, the facilities such as
McMaster Complex, Chandler Park and that the recommendation for the name of the park does
fit the guidelines. Kimberly Garrett stated this fits the naming guidelines and City Council
makes the final decision.
Motion made by Wayne Beyer, second by Scott Macmurdo to recommend approval of a
proposed memorial park in partnership with the Playful Child, a 501c3 organization.
Approved 7 — 0
I Consideration and possible action to approve minutes from the November 8, 2018
meeting - Jill Kellum, Administrative Supervisor
Motion made by Danelle Houck, second by Katherine Kainer to approve minutes from the
November 8, 2018 meeting.
Approved 7 — 0
Adjournment
Adjourn - Jim Hougnon, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Chair
Motion made Katherine Kainer, second by Larry Gambone by to adjourn the meeting.
Approved 7 - 0
Meeting adjourned at 7:53 pm.
Katherine Kainer, Secretary
gw,e/,&
JW
,Xellum,i3od Liaison