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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 09/26/2001Call Meeting to Order: President Lance Freeman called the Regular meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. Agenda Review: Marty Heffernan added Advertising Guidelines under Other Business and Trails Subcommittee report from Paul Hudnut after the Parks video. Parks and Recreation Video: Staff showed a video of our parks that was coordinated between Craig Foreman and our Cable 27 staff. The video has been running on Channel 27. Trails Subcommittee --- Paul Hudnut reported on the subcommittee's meeting. The group is focused on design criteria for trails in parks and natural areas. They are addressing multiple -use trails; dirt surface that will be turned into paved as funding allows; high -use mountain bike trails; and trails that would be used for interpretive and passive recreation. The long-term vision would be to categorize the trails system, address their impact, and build a vision to connect natural areas and parks. The group will continue to meet on a monthly basis. Lance asked if there were any other Board members who would like to participate in these subcommittee meetings. They meet on the third Tuesday of the month over the lunch hour at 281 North College Avenue. Citizen Participation: No citizen participation. Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Paul Hudnut, seconded by Paul Van Valkenburg, the Board voted unanimously (6-0) to approve the minutes of the August 29, 2001 meeting. Community Horticulture Center Update Marty updated the Board on the parking lot issue. It will stay in the location where Jim Clark showed us last month, which is located directly across the street from the government building. We will save about $40,000 by narrowing the parking lot where it Parks and Recreation Board t tes September 26, 2001 Page 2 crosses the ditch. This reduces the length of the box culvert. There will be 63 parking spaces. The schedule for the project is to put it out to bid on December 1 and begin construction on February 1. In the event that we don't receive affordable bids, we will construct a large greenhouse but not the building. Rolland Moore Park Draft Management Plan Marty explained that the Parks and Recreation Lead Team is reviewing each community park and rating them. We are now focusing on Rolland Moore. Craig Foreman gave the Board a review of the park and explained the zones in the park. Staff has addressed the following concerns: • The ballfields need the state-of-the-art dark sky level lighting. The lights were installed in 1984 and are outdated. • There are parking problems throughout the park, especially during softball games • The non -programmed area was never designed into the park. We never finished the undeveloped portion of the park. The water feature is not a desirable area and we could enhance that area. • Tennis courts need repair/renovation. • The sand volleyball courts and the basketball courts were added after the park was built. The basketball courts are highly used and the sand volleyball courts aren't in the best location. • Accessibility for sidewalks is needed. • Spring Creek Trail conversion from asphalt to concrete. • Rolland Moore never had a theme developed as we are doing with Fossil Creek Community Park. Mike Gavin commented on making a better trail from the senior center to the park for additional parking. Paul Van Valkenburg said that the sand volleyball courts could have been better planned in another area of the park. Craig and Marty agreed. Dean asked about the racquetball courts. Craig said that they are in good shape, but the doors need repair. Ross asked about the tennis court lights and thinks that they need to be replaced. He said that riding on the trail at night the lights on the tennis courts are blinding. Craig said staff will address this concern. Lance added that the passive area in the park is non-existent. Marty agreed and said that there could be so much more to offer at the park. Fossil Creek Community Park Update Marty informed the Board that on September 13, the City held a Development Review Administrative hearing on the Fossil Creek Community Park. Approximately 28 people attended the hearing and voiced their concerns. The SouthRidge neighbors are concerned Parks and Recreation B*Iinutes • September 26, 2001 Page 3 about the traffic impact and Huntington Hills neighbors expressed concerns about a portion of the lake being covered to accommodate the soccer fields. Last night, City staff from Traffic, Engineering, and Parks and Recreation met with the neighborhood. Over 60 neighbors attended the meeting. Some of the neighbors who live in the patio homes adjacent to SouthRidge Golf Course were concerned about the traffic impact on Lemay Avenue. Staff addressed their concerns and reported that two signal lights are planned. The new alignment of Lemay will be safer. A core group of Huntington Hills neighbors that border the park had concerns about us filling in a portion of the lake. We offered alternatives that were not satisfactory with the neighbors. They asked us to move "Adventure Island" into the core portion of the park. They are concerned that the location of "Adventure Island" will draw cars to their neighborhood for parking to access the Island. Marty explained that we did eradicate the prairie dogs on the park site two weeks ago. North of the creek in the natural areas the prairie dogs have been saved and they will be relocated to other natural areas that can accommodate them. We are now ready to start construction on the park. Lance asked how much are we going to compromise and we can't let 15 people in the entire community be a driving factor in design changes of a community park. Mike Gavin said that we have gone through public process and it isn't fair to ask for changes in the project now. To compromise now is not acceptable. Lance said when they built their houses, they knew they bought property next to a community park. Marty explained that this morning staff reviewed the requests and evaluated any compromises that would work for the neighbors, but the alternatives take us farther away from the passive areas of the park and changes the dynamics of the park. We (Parks and Recreation) follow the same rules as the developers have in the construction process. We have to meet code on all counts. There are two pathways to the park from the Huntington Hills neighborhood. Lance said ask those neighbors to show us the violations of the code. Mike Gavin said we met the requirements for the design process of the park. Marty said that in our position we need to provide the best possible park to the community without causing undue harm to the neighbors. He appreciates the input from the Board. The hearing is at 7:00 in 215 North Mason on Tuesday, October 2. Northside Aztlan Community Center Replacement Marty informed the Board that we need to make a recommendation to City Council regarding the location of the replacement of the Northside Center. There are a variety of issues associated with the location of the Northside. We looked at all the sites where we Parks and Recreation Board P des September 26, 2001 Page 4 could possibly build the replacement. The Board agreed in 1998 that the existing site would be the best site, but would keep it open to other sites if they became available. (Copies of these minutes are attached). Current Location: Craig illustrated where the current building is located. According to the City Plan and the existing site, the building has to be close to a street with parking beside it or behind it. We are trying to determine if we construct on the existing site, would we have to close the facility for two years. The new building would be 45,000 square feet. The existing one is 15,000 square feet. Willow Street and Its Plans: There could be problems with the alignment of Willow Street, Linden Street, and Highway 287. The Brownfield Study indicated that there is sub -surface contamination under Willow Street. Building on a Landfill: We don't want to repeat the problem that we have in the existing building. Drilling through the old landfill could be a problem and the increase in the construction could be 20 to 30 percent of the structural component of the project. One question is could we alter City Plan to build it closer to the trail and river? There could be a way to design it and construct it closer to the trail. Mike Gavin said that the City does own to the river. Marty said that the City is also looking at building a new Police headquarters and they are looking at this site and it would be a good compliment to our building to have their presence that close. Lance asked how much is allocated for this project? Marty replied $8,000, 000. Lance said this is not his favorite site. Many concerns are facing us, including environmental concerns and closing the Northside for two years. Lance said his preferred site is across the street from 215 North Mason (Block 33). He would like to look at some alternative sites. He thinks we need to study all the sites and take a hard look at the costs associated with constructing on this contaminated site. Mike said that when it was constructed the need in that area was met at that time. However, we should look north of the river. Marty asked the Board to give this some thought between now and the next meeting. Mike asked about Legacy Park? Craig said that it is in the flood plain and it was given to us from the Federal Government for a "park". Dean Hoag asked that we check on the Legacy Park restrictions. Marty said our greatest deficit in recreation is gymnasium space. Paul Van Valkenburg said that if a neighborhood identifies a recreation center as their neighborhood space, then that is a good thing because it brings the neighborhood community together. Lance said that it needs to be both a neighborhood recreation center and a community center. Park Planning and Development Project Updates Craig Foreman gave the Board an update on the following projects: Parks and Recreation Bolviinutes September 26, 2001 Page 5 People of the Clouds Neighborhood Park (Ridgewood Hills neighborhood). Staff held an open house last week and we received many compliments from the neighborhood input. The Thompson School District isn't going to develop their adjacent property for at least six years. We will design and come back to the neighborhood with options and out to bid in the spring. Lance said that the meeting was very impressive as staff from all of Parks and Recreation were there to answer questions regarding park maintenance, recreation, and park planning. Harmony Park Pre -Bid was held this week. We are hoping there will be some good competitive bidding on that park and start construction this winter. Trails Conversion: Conversion from asphalt to concrete trails from Lee Martinez Park to the west side of College has begun. Gateway Park: The engineers have redesigned a new, safer road, which will begin construction next month. We will have safe access for construction of the park. Next spring the road will be paved and plans are to open the park in May. There won't be any safe access until spring. It will take most of the winter to get the infrastructure in place. Other Business: • Lance said that the Skate Park opening was great. He said it was a positive and exciting asset to our park system. He also thought the YAC opening went very well. • Marty reviewed the Parks and Recreation Advertising Policy. He explained no permanent advertising is allowed other than on the scoreboards. The policy does not allow any alcohol or tobacco advertising. Temporary advertising is allowed during an event. The guiding principle is that we need to minimize advertising in our parks. • Ross asked about the Pineridge trail rehabilitation funding? Marty said it funded through Natural Areas. • Trash Cans for the Parks: we are in the process of coordinating the painting of trash cans with the kids in art classes. The Board would like to see nicer trash cans in the parks. Adjournment: On a motion by Ross Cunniff, second by Mike Gavin, the Board voted to adjourn at 7:50 p.m. espectfully submitted, ackie Rael Executive Administrative Assistant Parks and Recreation Board Ivy' tes September 26, 2001 Page 6 Meeting Attendance: Board Members: Ross Cunniff, Mike Gavin, Dean Hoag, Paul Hudnut, Lance Freeman, and Paul Van Valkenburg Staff: Craig Foreman, Marty Heffernan, Bob Loeven, and Jackie Rael