TOWN OF CARY
Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Advisory Board
2003  MINUTES

Town Hall Campus - Building B
Upper Conference Room
318 N. Academy Street
Cary, NC 27513

ATTENDANCE:
 Board Members:  Tom Hemrick, Chair, Lisa Duke, Bob Hickey, Toby Kennedy, Greg Lytle, Kay Struffolino, Dave Upton, Melissa White, Liz Nacewicz, Teen Representative, Marla Dorrel, Council Liaison  

Absent:  Leta Huntsinger, Jamie France

Guest(s):  JDavis Architect representatives:  Kelli Hopkins and Paul Meder, Roy Alfred, Becky Schmidt

Call to Order – Chair Tom Hemrick called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m.

Introductions:  Melissa White, newly appointed PRCR Advisory Board member and Becky Schmidt, Manager, Amphitheatre at Regency Park

Minutes – Minutes of January 6, 2003 - Greg Lytle made a motion to approve the minutes with the corrections duly noted.  The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Calendar Updates - 
Public Meeting February 6, 2003 @ 7p.m. Middle Creek School Park, Ph II at Middle Creek Community Center
Cultural Arts Committee meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month
Greenway Committee meets the 3rd Thursday of the month
Accreditation Final Review in Washington, D.C. - February 28, 2003  

Public Speaks Out

Special Presentation

Bond Park Lakefront and Boathouse Improvements - Alice Webb
Kelli Hopkins and Paul Meder of JDAVIS Architects gave an overview of the design concept for the Bond Park Lakefront and Boathouse Improvements.  Town staff and the architects held two public meetings to invite input into this design.  The proposed design will replace the existing boathouse.  Three new structures including a combination office/concession building, a restroom building and a screened shelter will be connected by a raised deck.  Boat storage will be moved offsite; however there will be storage under the decking.  A third parking bay will be added, which will increase parking spaces to 67.  A greenway path will provide access around the proposed boathouse.  The new structures will be ADA accessible and will be enhanced by trellises and nautical flags.

ACTION:  Toby Kennedy made a motion that staff move forward with the site design with two qualifications:  1) provide pedestrian connectivity from the greenway path to Lazy Daze Playground. 2) Prohibit further parking expansion above and beyond what is proposed in this plan be envisioned for Bond Park and encourage saving, to the extent possible, as many specimen trees in the vicinity of the boathouse and the deck.  The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Land Dedications - Doug McRainey

Cameron Pond PUD - 382 Units; Required Park Dedication - 10.91 acres.
Staff recommendation:  Park dedication - 16 acre site; multi-use trails; private trail connections
ACTION:  Toby Kennedy made a motion to recommend approval of land dedication with staff's additional recommendations.  Motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Huggins PUD - 65 Units; Required Dedication - 1.85 acres.  Staff recommendation:  payment-in-lieu for value of 1.85 acres; credit to applicant for constructing greenway around pond.
ACTION:  Lisa Duke made a motion to accept staff's recommendation of payment-in lieu and greenway construction easement to connect to Bond.  The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Lowes Rezoning - Commercial Development; Required Dedication - Greenway Easement
Staff recommendation:  Greenway Easement
NO ACTION NECESSARY

Riggsbee Tract - 230 Units; Required Dedication - 6.57 acres
Staff recommendation:  Payment-in-lieu; multi-use trails; greenway linkages
ACTION:  Greg Lytle made a motion to accept staff's recommendation to accept payment-in-lieu and recommend multi-purpose trail connections.  The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Powell Rezoning - 69 Units; Required Dedication 1.97 acres  Staff recommendation:  payment-in-lieu; greenway construction
ACTION: Greg Lytle made a motion to accept staff's recommendation to accept payment-in-lieu and construction of greenway.  The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Administration

Greenway Committee - Greg Lytle, Chair   
No report given.  The new Greenway Maps were distributed to Board members.  Members were asked to communicate any comments/corrections to Doug McRainey or Meredith Bridgers of the PRCR staff.

Multi-purpose Trails (Kildaire Farm Road) - Doug McRainey
Doug advised Board members that the Town is proposing multi-use trails along  Lochmere Drive, extending from Lilly Atkins to Kildaire Farm Road and a multi-use trail along Kildaire from Lochmere Drive to Penny Road.

ACTION:  Lisa Duke made a motion to support the development of multi-use trails along both Lochmere Drive and Kildaire Farm Road.  The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Accreditation Review Report - Judy Newsome
Judy provided Board members with a copy of the Visitor Report of the Accreditation Visitation Team.  The report was very favorable noting that Cary had a very effective staff.  The key staff are all professionals within their field of expertise and demonstrate a strong commitment to providing the best possible facilities and services to the citizens of Cary.  The report noted no major concerns.  The team did identify two areas that are not grounds for denial but should be reviewed:  1) lack of criminal and sex offender background checks for staff and volunteers; 2) the creation of a long range programming plan.  Mary Barry, Judy Newsome and Mary Casey will go before the National Commission on Accreditation for Park and Recreation Agencies in Washington, D.C. on February 28, 2003.

Volunteer Banquet Awards Nomination Committee - Judy Newsome
The committee met and selected winners in the 10 award categories.  However, two coaches will be recipients of the Distinguished New Coach Award this year.  Marcia McDermott, Assistant General Manager of the Carolina Courage Women's Professional Soccer Team will be the guest speaker.  The RSVP deadline is February 19th for the February 25, 2003 Volunteer Recognition Banquet at the Herbert C. Young Community Center.

Board/Committee Applications - Judy Newsome reminded Board members that the deadline for committee applications was February 5, 2003.

Board/Commission Reception - Judy Newsome reminded Board members of the reception scheduled for March 4, 2003, 5 p.m. at The Cary Senior Center. 

PRCR Master Plan - Mary Barry - Mary thanked Board members for their involvement in the master plan process.  The January 28th public meeting went very well with approximately 145 in attendance.  Currently, staff plans to meet with the consultants on April 3rd and send a staff report to Town Council the end of May or early June.  Board member Toby Kennedy requested feedback from the April meeting and requested that the Steering Committee meet without the consultants.  Mary noted that a decision will be made relative to the meeting schedule. 

Cultural Arts - Lyman Collins

Lyman referred Board members to the program update highlighting the Riders in the Sky performance on February 5 and Groucho! A Life in Revue on February 23rd.
Board members were provided a copy of the staff report on Public Art Implementation.  Staff has requested the creation of a Public Art Advisory Board and authorization of a new position in the PRCR Cultural Arts Division.  Additionally, staff has requested endorsement of the Town Hall Campus Gateway project and the concept of public art as part of the Town Hall expansion..

Cultural Arts Committee - Toby Kennedy

It was noted that this committee will review requests from non-profit groups at their next meeting.

Athletics - William Davis

William referred Board members to the program update and noted that the Athletics Committee will hold a special meeting tomorrow night, February 4 in the PRCR Conference Room at 6:30p.
William noted that he and Mary Barry met today with USTA and USTA has selected this area to develop a prototype marketing plan.  They have selected six communities across the nation to be a demo market to enhance tennis programs.  A great opportunity for Cary to be a model for other communities in developing  programs,  marketing and advertising. 

Athletic Committee - Did not meet in January.

Recreation Programs - Dwayne Jones

Dwayne noted that applications have been received for two vacancies in the Recreation Program Division:  94 for the Herb Young  Assistant Center Supervisor position; 56 for the Senior Citizen Recreation Program Specialist position.  Staff will review the applications and begin the interview process.

Shelter Reservation Policy updates were approved by Council and went into effect January 1, 2003.  A Public Service Announcement was issued to notify the public.

Teen Council - Liz Nacewicz
Sonya Snyder served as staff liaison at the recent Teen Council meeting.  Liz reviewed recent Teen Council events and volunteer opportunities.  The Council is looking at sending representatives to the State Youth Council.  The Executive Members also reviewed and updated the bylaws, changing the board positions.  Executive Board members discussed the creation of a monthly award for the most volunteer hours, perhaps a certificate to Goodberry's. 

Senior Center - Kay Struffolino
Kay provided members with a handout highlighting activity at the center.  AARP Income Tax help will be held each Monday and Wednesday, Room 302 from 1-4p beginning February 3 through April 15.  This service is free and open to seniors and those in the low to moderate income brackets.

Old Business

New Business

Committee Chair Appointments - Tom Hemrick
Tom, prior to this meeting, talked about potential appointments with Board members.  

ACTION:  Tom made a motion for Vice Chair, Committee and Liaison assignments as follows:
PRCR Vice Chairperson - Greg Lytle
Athletic Committee - Bob Hickey
Cultural Arts Committee - Toby Kennedy
Greenways Committee - Leta Huntsinger
Teen Advisory Committee - Kay Struffolino
Dog Park Liaison - Jamie France
Senior Center Liaison - Kay Struffolino
Lisa Duke seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

Joint Board Meeting/Morrisville - There was a request from Steven Bently Chairperson of the Morrisville Advisory Board to hold a joint meeting.  Mary Barry asked what he wanted to accomplish at the joint meeting and that perhaps he be invited to attend a Cary PRCR Advisory Board Meeting.
It was noted that the Town of Apex had expressed an interest in hosting a joint Wake County municipal meeting.  Mary will contact the staff at Morrisville.

Attendance for Board Members - Board members were reminded that three absences within a one-year term, requires members to reapply, along with other applicants, should they wish to continue to serve on the Board.

Mega Mulch - Judy Newsome asked members to spread the word to any youth groups, i.e. scout troops wishing to assist in spreading mulch at Town facilities.  Interested parties may contact Public Works at 469-4090.

Adjourn - The meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m.