Cary Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Board Meeting Minutes

Monday,  December 5, 2005

5:15 PM  

Herb Young Community Center
101 Wilkinson Avenue
Cary , NC   27513

Web Site:  www.townofcary.org

Attendance:  Tom Hemrick; Jeff Boucher; Tullie Johnson; Susan Davenport; Jamie France; Toby Kennedy; Steve Smutko; Kay Struffolino; Snayha Nath, Youth Member

 Absent:  Leta Huntsinger; Marla Dorrel, Council Liaison

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

 I.  Call to Order – Tom Hemrick, Chair

                    Introduction - Denise Dickens, Public Art Coordinator

Cultural Arts Manager Lyman Collins introduced new PRCR staff member Denise Dickens to board members.  Denise is currently wrapping up a project with the City of Raleigh and will become a full time staff member in January.

II. Minutes – November 7, 2005

Kay Struffolino made a motion to accept the November 7, 2005 minutes.  The motion was carried by a unanimous vote.

III. Public Speaks Out

Citizen Request for Volleyball Facilities

Chris Frydrych requested that the board give consideration to including more lighted volleyball courts in future park designs.  Ideally, he would like to see courts included in Phase I of the proposed Bartley Park .  Chris indicated that the Town of Cary does have some of the better facilities in the Triangle; however, the amounts of courts do not meet the demand.  Chris noted that he met with William Davis, Athletics Manager and discussed plans to broaden the volleyball program.  Chris and others with a vested interest in volleyball offered to work with staff to incorporate volleyball courts into future park designs and also assist with clinics.  These improvements will attract tournaments, bring revenues and will better serve the community.
Chair Tom Hemrick encouraged Chris to continue the dialogue with William Davis; bringing proposals for upgrades to attract tournaments; be aware when new parks are developed and become involved with updates to the Town’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Faculties Master Plan.

IV.   Special Presentations – none

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

Crossroads ACCP - 05-AC-008

The request is for an ACCP for high density residential development at a density of 19 DU/AC. The maximum number of units proposed is 350.

·        # of Units - 350

·        Required Dedication – 10 acres

·        PRCR Master Plan Recommendations – N/A

·        Applicant Proposal – Payment in Lieu

Staff Recommendation - Approval of a payment-in-lieu for the value of 10 acres.

ACTION:  Kay Struffolino made a motion to approve staff’s recommendation.  Jamie

VI.   Reports

A.  Committee Reports

Athletic Committee – Jeff Boucher, Chair

Jeff reported that an emergency meeting was held and William reported the nature of the meeting was to review a players request to get off a specific team. 

Cultural Arts Committee – Toby Kennedy, Chair

Toby reported the committee reviewed a variety of public art projects including the public art for US1 /64 Pedestrian Bridge; incorporating public art with the use of fire hydrants at Cary Dog Park and art for the Walnut Street Park .

Toby deferred the festival report to Kay Struffolino and also deferred updates on the Town Center Civic and Cultural Arts District Study as it is an agenda item.

Greenway Committee – Leta Huntsinger, Chair

Doug McRainey reported in Leta’s absence. The committee reviewed guidelines for developer built greenways. The intent is to provide guidelines for the committee to use in determining when a developer would be asked to build a greenway. These guidelines will be brought back to the board for review.
The committee also discussed the wording for Greenway Rules & Etiquette signs.

Teen Advisory Committee – Steve Smutko, Chair

Steve reported the committee was involved with the following activities:

1)     Presentations by town staff on town’s departmental roles;

2)     Planning for the March 11^th Teen Forum; presenters have been confirmed and the committee is currently working on logistics for the Forum.

3)     Cary Police Department Representative to report on gang awareness.   

B.    Public Meeting Update

Town Center Civic & Cultural Arts District Study ( 11/29/05 )

Lyman Collins reported for Mary Henderson indicating it was a productive meeting with 75+ in attendance.  The consultant, Pfieffer Partners, Inc. presented the following recommendations:

wCary Elementary to become the Cary Community Arts Center ;

wEstablish a new Cary Center for the Arts;

wEstablish a Digital Media Center ;

wReconfirm the Town Center Park as a park for the arts.
These recommendations were presented to Town Council members at a prior workshop that same day and council members were receptive to the proposal.
Board members were also provided a handout with comments from the two previous public meetings (Sept 19 & Nov 29).

C.    Staff Report Update – Tom Hemrick referred board members to

the staff reports that are currently on council/committee(s) agendas.

D.    Administration

FY07 Budget – CIB Prioritization – PowerPoint Presentation by Doug McRainey, Parks Planning Manager

Doug reviewed the FY06 CIP expenditures of 1.5 million; listing the FY06 approved projects and existing project status. 

FY07 Recommended Initiatives – FY07 CIP:  $5.4 million

Parks

  Initiate Phase II design for Bartley Park

  Initiate Master Plan for Hawes

Greenways

  Utilize $1.6 million in enhancement funding to complete greenways to be determined

  Fund construction of Morris Branch, Nancy Branch pedestrian underpasses

Special Use Facilities

  Initiate design for Cary Elementary

  Finalize program & initiate design for Cary Aquatic Center

Renovations – potential projects currently being evaluated

Park & Open Space Acquisitions

  Northeast Cary

  South Cary

Board members requested additional information on recommended projects for the FY07 CIP with regard to what the projects involve and a sense of spending.  Tom Hemrick requested that a projects list be emailed for board members to prioritize.  Members wanted an opportunity to make an official recommendation for prioritizing projects.

Toby Kennedy wanted it noted that, in the past, there has been a gapping hole in cultural arts.  Toby also asked about fund-raising efforts for Cary Elementary. 

Jamie France requested that the proposed Phase I Bartley project be included in the FY 07 budget.

Steve Smutko asked for more information on the Hawes property.

            E.  Recreation Programs – Dwayne Jones, Recreation Manager
Dwayne referred board members to the program Update.

Senior Center – Kay Struffolino, Liaison
Kay provided a handout highlighting current activities at the Senior Center along with the new Senior Program Brochure and C-Tran Pamphlet.

Kay noted that Senior Center staff Jody Jameson and Sam Trogdon were presenters at the recent NC/SC Joint Recreation and Parks Association Conference.

Teen Council – Snayha Nath, Teen Representative

Cynthia Giles gave a presentation to promote attendance for the youth conferences.  The youth conferences hosted by youth councils throughout state feature topics such as leadership; team building and grant approval.

In addition to donating 125 items to the Food Bank, members also assisted with Mad Dash Babysitting (16 attendees) and Santa’s Workshop (125 attendees).  Members also volunteered at the Winter Festival promoting the Oasis program that provides assistance for water service to families experiencing hardships and assisted with the Town’s annual Tree Lighting event.

F.  Cultural Arts – Lyman Collins, Cultural Arts Manager

Lyman reported that the Town’s Annual Tree Lighting event was a success with a large turnout of 400+ and that the production, The Christmas Story, was experiencing brisk ticket sales.

Festivals Committee – Kay Struffolino, Liaison
Kay provided members with a handout with updates including the footprint for the new Spring Daze and the plan to hold a 2005 Festival Grants Reception on January 27^th highlighting the various organizations that have been grant recipients.

G.  Athletic Programs – William Davis, Athletics Manager

William reported that the Men’s ACC Tournament will take place this weekend at SAS Soccer Park .

VII.    Old Business
Cary Dog Park – Dwayne Jones, Recreation Manager

Dwayne Jones reported that the fence posts were installed last week and the fabric should be up by the end of the week.  Landscaping at the dog park is scheduled for next week.  Completion of the park is expected in ten days.

Denise Dickens will be working on the public art for this park which will incorporate fire hydrants as a design element.

Move to Town Hall - Judy Newsome, Recreation Projects Coordinator

Judy advised board members that the PRCR Department will open for business at Town Hall at 316 North Academy Street on Monday, December 19^th.  Movers will begin moving office contents on Friday, December 15^th.  Judy noted that the 2 town hall administrative buildings (including Council Chambers) will now be referred to as Town Hall.  The Police Department and Technology Services Departments’ physical address is 120 Wilkinson Avenue .  The January PRCR Advisory Board meeting will take place at the new Town Hall.  All department and staff phone numbers will remain the same.  The glass for the pedestrian bridge at town hall remains on backorder.

VIII. New Business

Volunteer Appreciation Nomination Forms – Judy Newsome provided board members with nominations forms for the ten award categories for the Annual Volunteer Banquet.

IX.   Adjourn - The meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.