HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_PAREB_10.10.2019Minutes of the Meeting of the
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
City of Georgetown, Texas
October 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 - Scott Macmurdo, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Vice Chair
The meeting was called to order by Scott Macmurdo at 6:00 pm.
B Roll Call - Scott Macmurdo, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Vice Chair
Scott Macmurdo, Katherine Kainer, Danelle Houck, Larry Gambone, Wayne Beyer
Staff: Eric Nuner, Leland Hill, Jill Kellum
Absent: Kimberly Garrett, Jim Hougnon, Mike Simpson
C Parks and Recreation staff member introduction and presentation - Eric Nuner,
Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation
Leland Hill started with the Parks and Recreation Department in 1994 when it was the Youth
Activities Center and was for children ages 12 —18. He stated he would go with his son and
play with the other kids; and was asked to fill out an application because he was good with the
kids. He stated, that is how it all started. The Recreation Center was built in 1995 and then the
adults outnumbered the kids. Leland Hill stated his primary roll is setting up for classes; senior
activities, volleyball and basketball games, clean up and keeping an eye on the kids. He also
works at the front desk and monitors the building. Scott Macmurdo asked what has been the
biggest change he has seen with the way the people used the new facility to the way they use it
now. Leland Hill stated the use of the weight room since it has expanded so much from the
first one, the use of indoor pool and the gyms. He stated the kids are there in the summer time
but with all the activities kids are involved in during the school year they are not around as
much; mostly weekends and when schools are out. Primarily now it is adults using the facility.
Scott Macmurdo asked, what did he see changing going forward and what did he need help
with or what services could be added. Leland Hill stated parking, and if it was ever enlarged
they could use another gymnasium and opening up or enlarging the classrooms. Leland Hill
stated they have what they need but they need bigger. Leland Hill stated that staff manages all
the activities the best they can. Scott Macmurdo asked if parking was going to be addressed in
Phase III. Eric Nuner stated there will be additional parking and it won't be directly adjacent to
the Recreation Center. It will help with soccer. Eric Nuner stated Leland Hill has been a jack of
all trades for 25 years. Everyone counts on him. He is always there when someone needs him.
He does a lot for that facility and the department and we are super happy to have him.
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D Update from the Friends of Georgetown Parks and Recreation - Danelle Houck, Parks
and Recreation Advisory Boardmember
Danelle Houck stated they had their annual meeting and it was not well attended. The Friends
are preparing for the Daddy Daughter Dance which is on Saturday, October 26, 2019. She
stated assistance requests have been up with memberships and some registrations for volleyball
and team sports.
E Project Updates and Staff Report - Eric Nuner, Assistant Director of Parks and
Recreation
Eric Nuner stated we had a ribbon cutting at San Gabriel Park for Phase II. The Katy Crossing
trail is behind schedule. In San Gabriel Park they are working on the punch list items. The
rodeo arena is moving along. He explained they only get a set amount of dumpsters and they
fill quickly; but the project is on schedule. Eric Nuner stated he is working with Purchasing on
projects. The poured in place surfacing for San Gabriel Park did not go to council last week.
They may take it to council on the 22nd. Because of the delay in Purchasing, the BuyBoard
contract for that vendor expired September 301h. Wayne Beyer stated he is constantly amazed
with what the Parks workers are doing especially getting ready for the 41h of July. Eric Nuner
stated we have good staff in Parks, and Recreation. Eric Nuner stated there are so many
employees with tenure and have the institutional knowledge. Eric Nuner stated the Wolf Ranch
Trail is awesome the way it goes through the area and should be done in November. The length
of the trail is about a half mile and 10 foot wide. Eric Nuner stated staff has met with the
consultant for the trail design where the connection will be.
F Presentation and review of the City of Georgetown Bicycle Master Plan - Ray Miller,
Acting Director of Public Works
Ray Miller started with the City of Georgetown in January as the Transportation Planning
Coordinator and this was the first project he took up with. Dr. Ming Zhang is the lead on this
project, and Louis Alcorn has been assisting as well as Evan Scott. The City started looking at a
bicycle master plan in 2016 and started collecting data on that. In 2018 is when they started
moving forward. Ray Miller stated they will be back in November to present to the park
boards. He showed the draft of the plan which is part of the overall transportation plan. The
planning department is working on updating the comprehensive plan and they will amend the
comprehensive plan in November and adopt the bicycle plan into it. The planning process that
UT spearheaded started with a kickoff meeting and there were several community workshops
that were held, round table discussions with stakeholders, online surveys, neighborhood
intercept surveys, field investigations and did some peer review on how other cities developed
a plan and some research. They identified in this plan strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities
within the community to establish a more cycle friendly community. He stated it is common for
recreational, as we have a growing trail system now. They gave a presentation to City Council
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in September and they asked what our current bike plan is and Ray Miller stated it is our
existing San Gabriel River Trail. There is a bike lane on Wolf Ranch Parkway and added one on
Rivery. They are identified in the plan. They identified the major barriers; IH 35, University,
Austin Avenue and the San Gabriel River are all things that diminish that cross connection. He
stated they identified some upcoming projects and there is the divergent diamond at Williams
Drive. That will have a pathway as well as Westinghouse and Leander Road. He stated
unfortunately, in TXDOT's planning the last road that will be worked on is SH 29 because of
cost. He stated they identified threats and where they are located, where they have very high,
medium and low comfort levels as far as what they felt were difficult areas for bicyclist. With
this there are consistent planning key words which are safety, connectivity, equity - providing
bicycle friendly atmosphere across the entire city, not just certain areas, and economic
development. This mission statement for the bicycle masterplan is to provide a safe, well
connected bicycle network accessible for all ages, abilities, backgrounds and help support the
local economy and improve the experience for biking for everyone in the community and our
visitors. When an area develops a good bicycle infrastructure people come to that area to utilize
and support. The goals are to promote safety, develop connectivity, enhance equities, support
the economy and foster that culture.
Scott Macmurdo asked if there was good data on the economic benefits or economic impact
from strong bicycle infrastructure vs. not. What you can say what that does to the local
economy to have a biking plan in place? Dr. Ming Zhang stated there is the downtown,
recreation area and Southwestern University with connections. In terms of overall economic
impact they did not do a full scale assessment. Ray Miller stated there is information about bike
to work programs and businesses supporting bike infrastructure; having bike parking and
things like that to help enhance that. Dr. Ming Zhang stated that as high tech industries move
north they are looking for bike friendly communities.
Ray Miller reviewed the proposed treatments; bike lanes, buffered bike lanes, and off street
paths. He showed schematics of the downtown. Katherine Kainer asked if there are extra
markers on the buffered bike lane. Ray Miller stated some delineator buttons could be added.
Wayne Beyer asked if there are speed limits. He stated he knows it cannot be enforced. Ray
Miller stated there is not a speed limit for off street trail. Eric Nuner stated there is trail
etiquette that is posted. Scott Macmurdo asked about scooters. Ray Miller stated they are not
allowed. Wayne Beyers asked about e-bikes and Ray Miller stated those are still allowed.
Ray Miller explained that this will be a tiered project. There are 3 proposed bicycle loops. He
stated currently we have about 35 miles of infrastructure and proposing to add over 50 more.
As growth continues that number will increase. Ray Miller stated that UT put together a tiered
approach and that is how the project list is laid out according to some "easy wins". Ray Miller
spoke about the Austin Avenue Bridges and the process working with TXDOT. Katherine
Kainer asked if the Northwest Blvd Bridge would have a bike lanes. Ray Miller stated it will
have lanes or extra wide sidewalks. There will be some policy recommendations and changing
of the Unified Development Code and Planning. A lot is education from staff level as well,
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incorporating these things and how they look at the projects. It will also be in the
Comprehensive Plan and Overall Transportation Plan. The plan also talks about education. It
talks about getting into the schools and doing some programs.
The plan going forward is to introduce the plan to the boards and then it will come back in
November for recommendations. They will go to Council in November for the first reading and
then the second reading in December. He stated it is online and looking for any comments.
Scott Macmurdo asked if there has been any opposition to the bike plan. Ray Miller stated on
Facebook. He stated that Dr. Ming Zhang can attest to the large population of bike riders and
advocates for it. Wayne Beyer asked how many cities have a bicycle master plan; that are all
implemented. Ray Miller stated there are several across Texas; Austin, Houston, Dallas and
smaller cities. He stated just like here we have broken down the overall transportation plan;
where you have a sidewalk master plan, and the bicycle masterplan that feeds into that as well.
He stated he was sure others have different segments of that whether is it a regional trail system
or an actual bike plan. Dr. Ming Zhang stated there are 8 -10 detailed case studies in the
document. He stated they were using comparable cities in size. Wayne Beyer asked if there is
an overall masterplan of connectivity from Georgetown to Austin or other cities. Eric Nuner
stated from the trail perspective there is a regional trail plan that is not specific for bicycles, but
are multi -use trails from Cedar Park and Leander to Hutto or Round Rock.
Ray Miller stated public input can be done online and the open house will be on the 23,d at the
Library. The plan will come back to the board in November. This concluded the presentation.
Legislative Regular Agenda
G Consideration and possible action to approve minutes from the September 12, 2019
meeting - Jill Kellum, Administrative Supervisor
Motion made by Danelle Houck, second by Larry Gambone to approve minutes from the
September 12, 2019 meeting.
Approved 5-0-2(absent)
Adjournment
Adjourn - Scott Macmurdo, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Vice Chair
Motion made by Katherine Kainer, second by Larry Gambone to adjourn the meeting. The
meeting adjourned at 6:54 pm.
Approved 5-0-2
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Katherine Kainer, Secretary
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