Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Board

MEETING MINUTES

 

Monday, November 6 @ 5:15 p.m.
Cary Town Hall

316 N. Academy Street – Cary, NC 27513

www.townofcary.org

 

ATTENDANCE:

Board Members:  Jeff Boucher; Susan Davenport; Jamie France; Marilyn Goldman; Dennis Hoadley; Tom Hemrick; Tullie Johnson; Steve Smutko;  Snayha Nath, Youth Member; Councilman Nels Roseland, Liaison

Guest:  Victor Pillow, NCS Student

Staff:  Mary Henderson; Doug McRainey; William Davis; Dwayne Jones; Gail Taylor

 

I.     Call to Order/Roll Call – Steve Smutko, Chair
The meeting was called to order at 5:19 p.m.  Steve advised the board that member Lizette Cruz-Watko resigned due to schedule conflicts.  Her replacement will be appointed in January.
Steve welcomed North Carolina State student Victor Pillow.

II.    Adoption of Agenda – Steve Smutko, Chair
ACTION:  Dennis Hoadley made a motion to accept the November agenda.  The motion was seconded by Tom Hemrick.  The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

 

III.   Adoption of Minutes of October 9, 2006 – Steve Smutko, Chair 
ACTION:  Tullie Johnson made a motion to accept the minutes of the October meeting.  The motion was seconded by Jeff Boucher.  The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

 

IV.   Public Speaks Out – None

V.    Special Presentation
       ►Capital Improvements Budget – Mary Henderson
Mary gave a Powerpoint presentation on the Capital Improvements Budget highlighting current projects and the initial capital projects list for FY2008.  Mary noted that staff will bring a projects list to the January meeting for prioritization.

Board members gave the following comments:

 

-         Requested that staff look at the new boat house decking and screened area with regard to wheelchair accessibility.

-         Requested that shade cover be provided for the play area at North Cary Park as well as play areas in the other Cary parks.

-         Suggested that staff consider improving the acoustics and elevating the stage for performances held at the Herb Young Community Center gym.

-         Requested that staff begin design on the community center at N. Cary Park.  Councilman Nels Roseland noted that there will be a Town Council Aquatic Work Session on November 8th to further review the Town’s options for an aquatics facility.

-         Questioned whether it was worth evaluating Lexie Lane Park for improvements/renovations with the narrow road and general surroundings.  Mary responded that staff is evaluating other opportunities to expand; studying the potential of acquisition of adjoining land parcels to increase the size of the park and possibly transferring entrance to the other side of the park.

-         Requested whether Urban & Lexie Lane Parks were within Town Center Area Plan.  Doug McRainey noted both are within the study area of TCAP.  Mary noted that the town continues to work on acquiring land for the Town Center Park Doug also mentioned that a greenway is proposed from Cary Elementary to  connect with Higgins Greenway which will providing more access for downtown residents.

-         Requested additional information regarding pedestrian connectivity to the downtown.  Doug indicated that a multi-use trail is proposed along Chapel Hill Road that will extend to Academy Street and downtown.  He also mentioned that will link w/ the recently completed Northwoods Greenway which in turn links w/ the Black Creek Greenway.  Collectively, these trails, in addition to the greenway from Cary Elementary to Higgins Greenway, will provide opportunities for connectivity to the proposed town center park.

-         Councilman Nels Roseland noted that there was 9 million left in the budget for open space acquisition.  Mary commented that it has been a challenge working on acquiring land in the northeast and that staff was looking in the south and continuing the Town Center Park acquisition.

-         Requested the Town Center Area Plan to include sidewalks on both sides of Walker Street.  Councilman Roseland indicated that residents needed to do a survey and petition the Town.  Mary Henderson offered to check on the process and get information regarding the process.

 

VI.   Land Dedications - None

 

VII. Reports
A.    Committee Reports
      ►Athletic Committee – Jeff Boucher, Chair
Jeff reported the committee met and reviewed request to play up a league and to change teams.
A decision is being considered to cancel the slow pitch softball program.
The committee will meet in December to talk about goals.

      ►Cultural Arts Committee – Dennis Hoadley, Chair
Dennis reported the last meeting was held at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre and Becky Schmidt reported on the 2006 venue.
Committee members made recommendations on revising the Cultural Arts Non-profit ‘Funding Request Form’.  Lyman Collins will forward the revised form to the budget office for approval.
Dennis reported great participant interest, both in casting and design, for the Applause, Youth Theatre production of Once On This Island.

      ►Greenway Committee – Leta Huntsinger, Chair
Leta reported that Doug McRainey gave an overview of the greenway projects.  The committee is working on a comprehensive map showing the park/greenway projects and will bring the completed map to this board. In addition, Greenway Committee member Toby Kennedy gave a report on the Swift Creek Greenway after having walked the greenway proposing a new greenway alignment.  The committee talked about the accomplished goals for 2006 and discussed possible goals for 2007.  The Greenway Committee talked about the Black Creek Greenway Master Plan and the tasks necessary to update the plan.

►Teen Advisory Committee – Steve Smutko, Chair
Steve reported that the committee continues to move forward in planning the Teen Forum in 2007.  The focus will be ‘Diversity’ and more interactive. 

The committee talked about their goals.

B.   Public Meetings
►Walnut Street Park Public Input Meeting – 10\9\2006
Mary Henderson reported a great turnout with 60 citizens in attendance.  Staff will move forward with the design, including the public art project, planned for this new park.

►Town Council Aquatics Center Work Session – 10\12\06
Mary Henderson reported that council has requested additional information and another work session is scheduled for November 8, 2006.  Staff will bring back an expanded community pool concept plan.  The Council has made a decision not to partner with Triangle Aquatic Center. 

 

C.   Staff Reports – Mary Henderson reported that the two staff reports below were prepared to recognize and appropriate funds received from grant requests.

►White Oak Creek Conservation Project BAR - PR07-12, OPS 11/01/06

►Morris Branch Park BAR – PR07-13, OPS 11/01/06

 

D.   Administration – Mary Henderson, PRCR Director
►Additional Program Stats –Mary Henderson
Mary gave a PowerPoint presentation on program stats by division. The presentation also provided program information with regard to demographics.

 

E.    Recreation Programs – Dwayne Jones, Recreation Manager
Dwayne referred board member to the Program Update.

►Teen Council – Snayha Nath
Snaya reported on the recent activity of the council noting one of their major projects will be ‘Adopt-a-Highway’.  Members are also collecting supplies and writing letters to Fort Bragg troops in Iraq for Project Thank you.
The Haunted House program recognized $1800 in revenues.

Dwayne Jones reminded members to view the Red Ribbon posters in the lobby.  Winners will be recognized at a banquet with the mayor presenting the awards.

F.    Cultural Arts Programs – Lyman Collins, Cultural Arts Manager

►Festivals Committee – Marilyn Goldman

Marilyn reported that the Spring Daze artisan applications are now available and have been mailed to everyone in the database.

 

G.   Athletic Programs – William Davis, Athletics Manager
William referred to the program update. William did highlight:

►NCAA Women’s College Soccer Cup slated for December 1st & 3rd at SAS Soccer Park.
►The Cary Tennis Park was recognized by USTA as the Outstanding Tennis Facility for 2006.
►The Cary Tennis Park was named the Municipal Facility of the Year by RSI (Racquet Sports Industry) a leading magazine in the tennis industry.

VIII. OLD BUSINESS
►Joint Meeting:  Adjacent Municipal Boards – Mary Henderson
Mary announced that she has contacted the parks and recreation directors of Morrisville; Apex and Holly Springs and plans are moving forward for Cary to host the Joint Western Wake Municipal Advisory Board Meeting on December 4th  at the Page-Walker Arts and History Center.

IX.   NEW BUSINESS
►PRCR Advisory Board/Committees 2006 Annual Report – Chair Steve Smutko Steve reminded PRCR committee chairs to work on their 2006 accomplished goals.


►2007 Board/Committee Goals – Goal Setting –
Chair Steve Smutko encouraged board members to think about what this board wants to achieve in 2007 and be prepared to discuss at the January meeting.  Steve proposed a meeting with committee chairs to discuss the 2006 progress and talk about 2007 goals. 

The following goals were recommended for consideration for 2007:

 

-         Investigate “Safety Town” as a theme for a new or existing park;
Assist Town staff in the development of performance measures

-         Provide input to Town staff on setting priorities

-         Broaden advisory board knowledge through guest speaker presentations on timely topics.


Steve Smutko suggested initiating a monthly progress check on reaching annual goals.

 

►Board Member Information Share
Marilyn Goldman – Marilyn noted that her artwork will be on exhibit at Cary’s Whole Foods; December 1 through December 18th and, at the Herb Young Community Center in February 2007.

 

Friends of Hemlock Bluffs – Tullie Johnson announced a successful yard sale with proceeds totaling $2400.


Susan Davenport recommended a Black Creek educational bulletin board at N. Cary Park comfort station.  The bulletin board will keep citizens current on the work along the greenway.  Doug McRainey suggested incorporating this type of information in the trailhead kiosks that will be designed as part of the sign plan.

X.    ADJOURN
ACTION:  Susan Davenport made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:40 p.m.  The motion was seconded by Jeff Boucher.  The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

 

Please contact the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources with any questions about the minutes.  The e-mail address is gail.taylor@townofcary.org, and the phone number is (919) 462-3961.