Cary Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Board Meeting Minutes

Monday, September 12,  2005

5:15 PM  
Herb Young Community Center
101 Wilkinson Avenue
Cary , NC    27513

Web Site:  www.townofcary.org  

ATTENDANCE:  Susan Davenport; Jamie France; Tom Hemrick; Leta Huntsinger; Tullie Johnson; Toby Kennedy; Steve Smutko; Kay Struffolino; Melissa White; Snayha Nath;  Marla Dorrel, council liaison.    

ABSENCES:  Jeff Boucher

STAFF:  Mary Henderson; Doug McRainey; Dwayne Jones; William Davis; Lyman Collins; Gail Taylor

I.     Call to Order – Tom Hemrick

II.     Minutes, August 1, 2005 – Kay Struffolino made a motion to approve the minutes as presented.  The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

     Introduction – Dwayne Jones, Recreation Manager introduced new staff member Sam Trogdon, program specialist at the Cary Senior Center .   Sam worked as a graduate assistant at NCSU – Recreation Resources Service and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from UNC and his Master of Science degree from NCSU.  Steve Smutko asked if Sam would do a briefing on his thesis at a future board meeting.

     Resignation – Tom Hemrick announced the resignation of board member Melissa White.  Melissa and family will be moving to Holland .

     Tray Inserts – Members were provided with the new tray inserts promoting PRCR programs and events.  The inserts are a part of our expanded advertisement in conjunction with the department’s sponsorship agreement with Pepsi.

     Note of Record – Board members were provided packets on the Alston PDD for review.  This project will come before this board at the October meeting.  Subsequent to this meeting, PRCR review of the Alston PDD is now scheduled for the November meeting.

III.     Public Speaks Out – None

IV.    Special Presentation – None

V.                     Land Dedication Review – Doug McRainey, Parks Planning Manager

Horton PDD (05-REZ-11) 
The Horton Property PDD is a proposed 36.02-acre planned residential development.  The use planned for the PDD is single-family detached residential.  The property is adjacent to Amberly PDD and Weycroft PDD.  The master plan provides for a maximum of 98 single-family dwelling units.  The required dedication is 2.8 acres.  The PRCR Master Plan Recommendations include a public greenway (Nancy Branch) proposed along the southern of the proposed PDD.  A greenway easement will be required of this project.

The Greenway Committee previously reviewed and recommended approval unanimously.

Staff Recommendation

Approval of a payment-in-lieu of parkland dedication for the value of 2.8 acres.

Approval for developer to dedicate a 30’ wide greenway easement along the southern edge of the PDD.

Approval for developer to construct to Town standards an approximately 1,640’ segment of the Nancy Branch Greenway along the southern edge of the PDD.

ACTION:  Toby Kennedy made a motion to accept staff’s recommendation.  The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

Highcroft Village PDD
The property is located north and south of Green Hope School Road .  The number of proposed units is 360, with a required dedication of 10.29 acres.

Staff Recommendation
Approval of a payment-in-lieu of parkland dedication for the value of 10.29 acres.
Approval for developer to dedicate a 15’ wide greenway easement along the western edge of Tract 3 and a 30’ wide greenway easement along the southern and western edge of Tract 4. (15’ of the easement is located on this development and the remaining 15’ is located on the adjacent property – Wake Memorial Park .)
Approval of a 30’ wide greenway easement between Tracts 1 & 2.
Approval of a 30’ wide easement between Tracts 3 & 4.
Approval for the developer to construct a proposed multi-use trail along the north side of the proposed extension of Morrisville Parkway .

ACTION:  Kay Struffolino made a motion to accept staff recommendations.   The motion passed by a unanimous vote.

Franks Property
The purpose of this rezoning is to establish a Planned Development District (PDD) for the Southeast quadrant of the intersection of Kildaire Farms Road and Ten Ten Road .  The PDD includes approximately 60 acres for commercial and residential development that is located within the Millpond Village Activity Center .  The PDD documents spell out buffers, setbacks, lot sizes and other specific development criteria. An Activity Center Concept Plan (ACCP) is proposed to provide 110,000 square feet of retail and a maximum of 125 single-family detached and 50 single family attached products on approximately 60 acres.  The required dedication is 5 acres.

.

Staff Recommendation
Approval of a payment-in-lieu of parkland dedication for the value of 5 acres.

The Greenway Committee previously reviewed the plan.  No action was required by this committee as there were no trail issues.

ACTION:  Steve Smutko made a motion that the Town of Cary work with the developer to provide future access in the southeast corner of the proposed development to Camp Branch Greenway and a future park which is proposed east of the development.
PRCR Director Mary Henderson noted that the Town had not made an acquisition or negotiation with the property owner.  Doug McRainey indicated he would talk with planning regarding the access issue.
The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

VI.  Reports

A.  Committee Reports

Athletic Committee – William Davis, Athletic Manager

Cultural Arts Committee – Toby Kennedy, Chair
Toby Kennedy reported a successful Lazy Daze.
The committee met at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre to get an update on the 2005 season.  The 2005 season, is by far, the most successful to date with virtually no weather cancellations.
The committee also discussed the upcoming kickoff meeting on Town of Cary Civic and Cultural Arts District Study with the consultants, stakeholders and staff.

Toby also reported that council reaffirmed the Public Art Master Plan and filling the vacant Public Art Coordinator position.
           

Greenway Committee – Leta Huntsinger, Chair
Leta Huntsinger reported that the committee discussed developer built guidelines.  Doug McRainey, Parks Planning Manager is preparing a draft of those guidelines.
Additionally, the committee talked about revising rules and regulations for greenways.

Teen Advisory Committee – Steve Smutko, Chair
Steve provided members with a handout outlining the proposed structure of this committee.  PRCR Director Mary Henderson deferred discussion to later in the meeting as Committee Structure was an agenda item.

B.  Public Meeting Update – None

C.  Staff Report Update – Tom Hemrick referred members to staff reports

D.  Administration

Budget – Mary Henderson, Director, PRCR
In a Powerpoint presentation, Mary reviewed the department’s accomplishment in FY-05.  Accomplishments include:  Town’s assumption of the management of SAS Soccer Park; planning and design for a new dog park facility at Godbold Park; initiated a master plan phase for Walnut Street Park, conducted Fees and Charges Study; acquired 31.5 acres of land and increased greenways with 4.5 miles.  Mary noted that staff is looking hard on where we need parkland as land is rapidly disappearing.  It is important to buy land now as the cost is now averaging $100,000 an acre.  Many projects have been put on hold; master planning is moving forward for the Walnut Street Park . 

Mary indicated that the Capital Budget requests are due in the Fall and the Operating Budget will be due in early Winter.  There will be a work session with Town Council on capital funding in September/October.  Further accomplishments were listed by division in the presentation; along with participant numbers and customer evaluations.

PRCR FY06 Initiatives were also outlined in the presentation.

Expenditures for FY05 totaled 7.8 million (un-audited) Toby Kennedy noted that revenues accruing to the Town were not reflected, i.e. Koka Booth Amphitheatre.

Tom Hemrick pointed out the economic impact from sporting/special events hosted by the Town.

Black Creek Greenway Overlook – Doug McRainey, Parks Planning Manager provided members with a rendering of the proposed overlook structure.  The structure will have a partial overhead roof and 4 benches.  Construction on the apartments has begun and the trail/overlook construction will begin in October.  Construction will take approximately two to three months.
Tom Hemrick commented that he felt the overlook structure was not large enough to accommodate the potential expanded use.

ACTION:  Kay Struffolino made a motion to accept the rendering as presented.  The motion carried; 9-1. 

Developer Built Greenway Guidelines – Doug McRainey, Parks Planning Manager
Staff is establishing guidelines for developer built greenways in order to establish consistency and aid staff in making determinations for trail types.  The Town of Cary will consider requesting a developer to construct the following types of greenway segments:

Trail segments that are part of the approved Master Plan and which are considered high priority;
Trail segments that will link with an existing greenway;
Trail segments that are located within residential neighborhoods and which might be difficult to construct once the homes have been constructed; Trail segments that link to streets;
Multi-use trail segments along roads to be widened by developers. 

Board recommendations:  Add segment where school/park is indicated and also segment where greenways connect with bike lanes.
                                                                                                                                               
Staff will take the proposed Developer Built Greenway Guidelines back to the Greenway Committee for review and then bring them before the PRCR Advisory Board.

Committee Structure – Mary Henderson, Director, PRCR
Mary advised board members that the town code has changed and town council has elected to remove the committees from the code and to address the committee structure through a town policy.  Staff will draft a policy for these committees and submit a staff report in November and then onto Council for approval.
Steve Smutko indicated 15 members are proposed for the Teen Advisory Committee (structure outlined in a handout).  It was noted that teen liaisons to PRCR committees need to be members of the Teen Council.
Leta Huntsinger, Chair of the Greenway Committee indicated that they would like a membership of 11 with the chair and to add 3 staggered memberships.
Toby Kennedy, Chair of the Cultural Arts Committee stated that all committee members, with the exception of the teen members, should serve 3 staggered year terms.
Staff will need to address the question regarding appointments that fill un-expired terms…does that account for one year of service?
Board members noted that the Friends of the Page-Walker has direct representation on the Cultural Arts Committee, and questioned if the Friends of Hemlock Bluffs should have representation under a specific committee.

E.  Recreation Programs – Dwayne Jones, Recreation Manager
Senior Center – Kay Struffolino, Liaison
Kay provided handouts of recent activity at the Senior Center .  Kay did note a very successful fall program registration with 2,529 registered during the period of August 1^st through September 9^th.  Several classes were expanded to include waiting lists.
Also, pre-scheduled flu/pneumonia shots were offered for two days and both days were booked solid.
Teen Council – Snayha Nath, Youth Member
Snayha reported on the recent activities and that members contributed a total of 293 volunteer hours for the month of August.  Members are also giving support to Give a Child a Smile program that collects bags, totes and suitcases for North Carolina ’s foster children.  A combined meeting of both middle school and high school members took place in August which helped to promote unity.  They will continue this format for future meetings.  It was agreed to amend the Teen Council bylaws requiring members to commit to 15 volunteer hours a year to make certain everyone took an active role.  Members also discussed membership levels, i.e. gold, platinum and possibly incentives to encourage more participation.  Member service would be recognized at the annual May picnic.
Members also discussed the restructuring of the Teen Advisory Committee.

F.  Cultural Arts Programs – Lyman Collins, Cultural Arts Manager
Lyman referred members to the Program Update.

Festivals Committee – Kay Struffolino
Kay provided members with a handout from the last meeting.  The committee reviewed committee assignments and logistics for Lazy Daze.

G.  Athletic Programs – William Davis, Athletic Manager
No Report

VII.  Old Business
Citizen Board Meeting – Chair Tom Hemrick attended this year’s meeting in August.  Sessions included:  Better Communities through Better Health; Economic Impact of Parks and Recreation Programs; Land for Tomorrow Project; and, Parliamentary Procedure. 

VIII.  New Business
Reminders to board members:  Sears Farm Road Park Dedication, September 18; Volunteer Picnic, September 25.  Tullie Johnson announced the annual Yard Sale at Hemlock Bluffs on October 29^th and Steve Smutko noted an upcoming program at the North Carolina Art Museum on September 29^th on Park Design.

IX.  Adjourn