Cary Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Board Meeting Minutes

Monday, May 10, 2004

5:15 PM  

Page-Walker Arts & History Center

119 Ambassador Loop

Cary , NC   27513

Web Site:  www.townofcary.org

 

Attendance:  Tom Hemrick, Chair; Greg Lytle; Toby Kennedy; Leta Huntsinger; Kay Struffolino; Dave Upton; Melissa White; Doug Meardon, youth member  

Absent:  Bob Hickey; Lisa Duke, Marla Dorrel, Council member

Staff:  Mary Henderson; Lyman Collins; Bruce Crocker; William Davis; Dwayne Jones; Doug McRainey; Judy Newsome; Gail Taylor

 

Guests:  Mark Robinson; Joe Wynn; Mike Allen; Jeff Boucher

 

A.        Call to Order:  Tom Hemrick called the meeting to order.

B.        Minutes of April 12, 2004 – Kay Struffolino made a motion to approve the April 12th minutes as presented.  The motion was carried by a unanimous vote.

C.        Public Speaks Out

D.        Special Presentation
Dog Park, Inc. – Jeff Boucher reported on the recent activities of Dog Park, Inc. noting a successful Off-Leash event at North Cary Park on April 17th.  Those neighbors on hand supported the cause.  Jeff also thanked Dwayne Jones and the Public Works Department for installing temporary fencing for the event. 
Jeff attended the April 15th Town Council meeting in hopes of securing some additional funds in FY04, Jeff noted he has not received a response from his request. 
The next Off Leash event will take place on June 5th at Bond Park in conjunction with the Annual Canine Frisbee Disc Competition.

Brooks Park/USA Baseball Site Plan Public Meeting – A public meeting was held on April 27th to present the site plan for the USA Baseball component of Brooks Park.  Town staff has worked diligently through a series of meetings with representatives of USA Baseball and the design firm to develop this site plan.  This facility will be the national training center for USA Baseball with four professional grade fields and one signature baseball field with a stadium flavor.  The facility will seat 1500 spectators (1000 bench seats w/back and 500 chair back seats). Mary Henderson noted that the site plan was ready to move forward.  Once finished, the site plan goes before the Planning and Zoning Board and then onto Town Council for approval.  Once approved, Planner Alice Webb will put the project out to bid and anticipates construction to begin in August of 2004 with completion December 2005/January 2006.  Once the project is bid, staff will then complete the operational plan and sponsorship issues.

Landscape Architect Mark Robinson reviewed the general layout of the plan.  Joe Wynn with USA Baseball explained how visitors would experience features in the park entering through a main central plaza which would be the main focal point of the complex and would incorporate public art.  Other components would include a retail area; ticketing booth; offices; restrooms; concessions; first aid along with access to the clubhouse and covered outdoor training area.
This facility would be available for town use when not in use by USA Baseball.  There will be a separate maintenance facility that will service this facility.

Board members discussed the concern over the outfield transportation buffer.  Mark Robinson noted that town planner Bob Benfield was satisfied that USA Baseball design team did everything possible to more than compensate from the planting standpoint.
Greg Lytle indicated that the Town should mitigate the impact on the stream as much as possible and he had stream water concerns.

It was noted that games will continue at the Durham Bulls Park and that the Town’s USA Baseball facility would be open to training for select teams, collegiate tournaments with a combination of free and fee-charged events.  Older youth recreation leagues will use the facility.  Ms. Henderson noted that it would be challenging to limit use in order to properly maintain the fields.  Opening of this facility is projected for the 2006 season.  Ms. Henderson indicated that staff supports the plan as presented.

ACTION:  Kay Struffolino made a motion to accept the site plan as presented.  The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

E.  Land Dedications – None

F.   Reports
Committee Reports
Athletic Committee – William Davis reported that the committee did not meet.
Cultural Arts Committee - Lyman Collins reported that the committee welcomed new members and that discussions focused on Spring Daze.
Greenway Committee - Leta Huntsinger provided members with handouts highlighting recent committee activities.  Leta noted that Bill Bussey did a presentation on the American Tobacco Rails to Trails program and further noted that he would be coming back to the Town of Cary to designate Cary as part of the East Coast Greenway system.
The committee has set in place fourteen educational initiatives that they will focus on in the coming months.
Leta reported that the Greenway Booth at Spring Daze was well attended and that the educational component, developed by committee member Sharon Ramsey, was well received.  Leta also noted that Sharon Ramsey volunteered to be Cary ’s liaison to People for Parks.
The Greenway Committee would like to draft guidelines for adopting greenways and wanted to get the board’s feedback.  Most members felt the program was a great idea.  The key would be to keep corporate signage unobtrusive.  Doug McRainey indicated that a trial program could be initiated on one greenway, i.e. Black Creek Greenway.  Mary Henderson noted that staff would check with Public Works for their recommendation on frequency of trail workdays.
Tom Hemrick sited earlier Greenway Walks hosted by naturalist Mark Johns with Bill Stice doing photos of the different flora along the greenways and asked that staff host additional walks.
Teen Advisory Committee – Melissa White
Melissa noted that the committee had planned to welcome and introduce the new members; however, only one was present.
The committee discussed ideas for the next Teen Forum.
It was noted there was only one applicant for the Lazy Daze scholarship that will be presented in May.  Mary Henderson asked how the scholarship was advertised and it was noted that it went to all Teen Council seniors.
Tom Hemrick noted that Doug Meardon and Hannah Litzenberger did a great job in their Teen Forum briefing to Town Council members.
Senior Center – Kay Struffolino, Liaison
Kay provided members with a handout of recent activities.
Highlights included: 1) Senior Games reported participation in the arts was up; however, participation in athletics was down; 2) the Gardening Group sold 180 plants at Spring Daze, earning $600 earmarked for projects in the greenhouse; 3) Summer Camps for Seniors have drawn a lot of interest and the Senior Net classes for on-line registration for events, programs and classes reported all sessions full! 
Senior Citizen Day is Wednesday, May 19 and will include lunch and entertainment.  Following the luncheon, the Senior Memorial Garden Plaza dedication will take place.
Kay provided members with the Summer 2004 Senior Program Guide.  Dwayne Jones noted that a program interest survey was included in this edition to assist staff in the development of new programs.
Teen Council – Doug Meardon
Doug reported on recent events:  Jam Fest went on in spite of rain with 8 bands participating and 200 in attendance.  Teen Council members raised $400.00 selling donated bottled water at Spring Daze and also assisted staff at the recent Rodeo event with 200 people in attendance.
The next meeting will be the end-of-school year picnic honoring seniors and will include the announcement of the Lazy Daze Scholarship recipient.
In June, members will sponsor a Dog Wash & Dry at Bond Park in conjunction with the Canine Frisbee Disc Competition.

2.  Public Meeting Update
The Bartley Park Master Plan Presentation Public Meeting will take place Tuesday, May 11 at the Middle Creek Community Center .

Black Creek Dedication/National Trails Day  - June 5 @10 a.m.
In conjunction with the Black Creek Dedication on June 5th  and National Trails Day, People for Parks, will be provide instructions and kits (pre-registration required) for Bluebird House construction.  Hemlock staff member Gigi Wainwright will assist in assembling the birdhouses and she is also working on interpretive educational features along the trails.  The materials for the birdhouses were donated and staff is looking for families to adopt and do ‘birdhouse’ cleaning in the fall.

Doug McRainey noted that another 2-mile segment of White Oak Creek Greenway has been completed (across from Davis Drive park) and dedication of that segment is planned for the fall. 

3.      Administration
FY05 Budget Recommendations – Mary Henderson
Mrs. Henderson provided members with a schedule of the FY05 Budget.  Currently, the budget is in the manager’s office and the Capital Budget will be released on Wednesday and work continues on the Operating Budget.  Ms. Henderson indicated she will detail recommendations in June prior to the public hearing on the FY05 Budget.  Ms. Henderson did note that PRCR projects have been reduced.

4.  Recreation Programs – Dwayne Jones
Cary Cycling Celebration – Dwayne reported that the cycling event went well with 400 participants and that staff is tallying the rodeo participants.  Staff would like to see the participation numbers double and is looking at ways to make that happen.

Annual Celebration of Nature/May 9th - Dwayne reported that 300 attended this event to celebrate Mother Nature.

5. Cultural Resources – Lyman Collins
Lyman reported Today Show host Katie Couric filmed a segment at the Page Walker Arts in History Center to be broadcast during the NBC coverage of the Olympic Games.  Lyman also noted The Amphitheatre at Regency Park broadcast the final episode of Friends to a crowd of 2300.  This was a free event partnered with G105.
Lyman noted that Spring Daze festival-goers were enthralled with the location of Bond Park.

6. Athletic Programs – William Davis
William reported on recent staff changes in the Athletics Division: 1) Brooks Park Facility Supervisor Jimmy Walters accepted a promotion and will be transferring to the Public Works Department opening the Brooks Park Facility Supervisor Position; 2) Linda Smith of the Athletics Staff has accepted the position of the Cary Tennis Center Facility Supervisor and her prior position of Assistant Athletic Program Supervisor is now being advertised.; 3) Interviews are scheduled for the Tennis Professional Supervisor; and 4) Interviews appointments are set for the Customer Service Representative position at the Cary Tennis Center.

Toby Kennedy asked if USA Baseball would have implications for additional staffing.  Mary Henderson indicated that one additional staff would be requested in the 2006 budget.  Ms. Henderson noted that USA Baseball will have a presence there, an equivalent of two full-time staff and that she would come back to the board with a full operations plan at a later date.

G.    Old Business
Rules of Order – Tom Hemrick asked that board members email him with any recommended changes to the current Rules of Order.

H.    New Business
CBM Forum/August 5-7 in Greensboro - Mary Henderson noted that this program was well worth attending, giving members an opportunity to interact with citizen board members from other boards across the state, learn of their projects as well as showing others how great Cary is!  Tom Hemrick and Kay Struffolino, both having attended the forum in the past, echoed Mary’s comments.  The Town pays for the registration and mileage reimbursement.   PRCR members were reminded to contact Gail Taylor if interested in attending the CBM Forum in August.

SAS Soccer Park – Mary Henderson noted that the issue of the Town managing SAS Soccer Park goes before Town Council on Thursday night.
 Wake County has reviewed options and is willing to split the deficit with the Town.  CASL doesn’t have the management resources and cannot withstand the loss of revenues.  Benefits to the Town of Cary include soccer events and events that bring economic development into Cary    

Benefits to the community would include opportunities to open the facility to many community groups, additional soccer fields (perhaps a trade-off with the reduction in the number of fields listed in the Master Plan) and the opportunity for College Cups, ACC Tournament, Final Four and other events that would bring economic development to Cary and enhance the quality of life for Cary citizens.  Also, the cross country course, one of the very best in the country is under contract with 2 years remaining.  If approved Thursday, staff will need to develop a transition plan along with polices.  Mrs. Henderson did note that the Town would need to be aggressive on recovering fees to reduce the deficit and that additional staff would be needed to manage the facility.

Aquatics Facility – Melissa White asked about a public hearing for the proposed aquatics facility.  Mary Henderson responded that the recent council/board work session resulted in the town preparing a resolution to Wake County asking for funds from the Occupancy Tax and once the funding was a known factor as to the funds availability, then the public process would begin.  The deadline for the County’s response is July and Ms. Henderson estimated that this item would come back to this board in August or September to look at options on a priority basis.  Dave Upton asked if Town Council ever has had a joint work sessions with this board.  Ms. Henderson responded that Town Council decides when joint sessions are appropriate.

I.      Adjourn - The meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m.

 

Please contact Gail Taylor with any questions about the minutes.  The e-mail address is gail.taylor @townofcary.org and the phone number is 462-3961.