Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Board

MEETING MINUTES

 

Monday, December 4, 2006 @ 5:15 p.m.
Page-Walker Arts and History Center

119 Ambassador Loop – Cary, NC 27513

www.townofcary.org

 

Attendance:

Members:  Jeff Boucher; Susan Davenport; Marilyn Goldman; Dennis Hoadley; Tom Hemrick; Tullie Johnson; Steve Smutko;  Snayha Nath, Youth Member

 

Absent:  Jamie France; Leta Huntsinger; Councilman Nels Roseland, Liaison

Guests:  Mike Curran; Sal Cammarata; Apex Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Commission:  John Brown, Director; Greg Coley, Vice Chair; Scott Lassiter; Holly Springs Recreation Advisory Committee:  Len Bradley, Director; Beth Arthur, Chair; Jeff Buser, Vice Chair; Beth Rayburn; Marty Buckwald; Morrisville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Advisory Committee:  Tony Chiotakis; Jacob Yackenovich, Chair; Nicholle Tulve; Steadman Sugg; Christina Sorensen

Staff:  Mary Henderson; Lyman Collins; Bruce Crocker; William Davis; Doug McRainey; Helen Stanfield; Gail Taylor

 

I.     Call to Order/Roll Call – Chair Steve Smutko called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. and recognized guests, Mike Curran and Sal Cammarata.

II.    Adoption of Agenda – Steve Smutko, Chair

Tom Hemrick made a motion to adopt today’s agenda.  The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

 

III.   Adoption of the Minutes – Steve Smutko, Chair
Marilyn Goldman made a motion to adopt the minutes of the November 6th meeting.  The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

 

IV.   Public Speaks Out

Triangle Aquatics Center president Mike Curran updated board members on the construction progress of the TAC aquatic facility, located beside Cary Town Center.    Members were provided handouts.

 

V.  Special Presentations:

NCRPA Awards – Steve Smutko shared with board members that the North Carolina Recreation and Parks Association presented the following awards at its annual conference in November.  Mary Henderson was the recipient of the NCRPA Fellow Award and Cindi King received the Young Professional’s award.  Cindi also was a finalist for the 2006 Employee of the Year.  Additionally, Cary was presented the Arts and Humanities Award for Cary Performs. 


VI.   Land Dedications - None Presented

II. Reports
A.    Committee Reports

Athletic Committee – Jeff Boucher, Chair

Jeff reported that the committee did not meet and the next Athletic Committee meeting is scheduled for November 18th.

Cultural Arts Committee – Dennis Hoadley, Chair

Dennis reported that the committee reviewed the 2006 accomplishments and discussed plans for 2007.
A new form was designed for cultural non-profit groups to apply for town grants.
The committee will review RFP’s for the renovation of Old Cary Elementary.
The committee will not meet in December.

 

Greenway Committee – Leta Huntsinger, Chair
Doug McRainey reported that the committee reviewed the Morrisville and Apex greenway plan and potential projects for FY08.  At the November meeting, the committee will do a final review of greenway projects.

 

Teen Advisory Committee – Steve Smutko, Chair
Steve reported that the committee continued with planning efforts for the 2007 forum and worked on setting goals for 2007.

B.   Public Meetings
►Town Council Aquatics Center Work Session – 11/08/06
Mary Henderson reported that the Town Council approved the regional venue option and recommended that it be located in North Cary, at a site to be chosen in the future.  A staff report, detailing the next phase, will go to the Operations Committee and then onto Town Council on December 14th.
Staff has been directed to focus on the site selection and set up a process for the project to move forward including an RFP for the design team; next spring the private group will have their fundraising plan; and staff will have the programming and schematics to bring back to Council.


Steve Smutko asked that staff plan to present an Aquatics project briefing, including a timeline, for the benefit of current advisory board members at the February meeting.

C.   Staff Reports – None presented.


D.   Administration – Mary Henderson, PRCR Director

No Report.

E.    Recreation Programs – Dwayne Jones, Recreation Manager
Board members were referred to the Program Update.

►Teen Council – Snayha Nath
Snayha reported that Police Chief Cunningham attended the last meeting and talked about the new law regarding cell phone use.
The annual Santa’s Workshop was very successful and it marked board member Tom Hemrick’s 10th year as Santa.  Teens plan on working to increase participation in Mad Dash Babysitting.  Teens also collected food and money for the Food Bank, wrote cards, and mailed packages to our servicemen in Iraq.

Cultural Arts Programs – Lyman Collins, Cultural Arts Manager

Lyman announced that Cary was awarded the North Carolina Recreation and Parks Association Arts & Humanities Award for Cary Performs.
Lyman also noted 60 ornaments adorned the Community Tree that is located in Town Hall lobby and invited board members visit the tree.
Lyman reported that Walnut Street public art consultant, Barbara Grygutis will make her second site visit in December to meet with the landscape architect and town staff.  A design of the public art proposed for Walnut Street Park will be available to the public in January.

Lyman noted that the Downtown Cary Streetscape Proposal Selection Committee was meeting today to discuss proposals and select candidate for Council consideration.

Lyman promoted Tinsel Town and noted that the artists had completed the fire hydrants for the Cary Dog Park and staff was coordinating the installation.

 

►Festivals Committee – Marilyn Goldman

Twenty groups applied for the Lazy Daze Grants and the 2007 Festival Budget was presented.
Two new committee members were appointed, Marie McGuire and Rob Alexander.

 

G. Athletic Programs – William Davis, Athletics Program Manager

William reported SAS hosted the NCACC Women’s Soccer Championships this past weekend and staff received many favorable comments about the venue.
William referred members to the Program Update.

 

OLD BUSINESS
►2006 Goals/Annual Report – Steve Smutko
Mary Henderson reviewed the report with board members.  Dennis Hoadley asked that the recommendation include the $1.1 million in the budget for the renovation of old Cary Elementary. 
Steve Smutko asked board members to review the report; making certain it was an accurate representation of the board’s activities.  Members were asked to email Steve with any comments or inclusions to the report by December 14th.

 

►2007 Goal Setting – Steve Smutko
Steve asked board members to think about goals and be prepared to formulate them at the January meeting.

Items suggested for consideration include:

   aquatics facility

   establishing an event titled Week of Cary/Cary USA

   Safety Town
   Black Creek Watershed project, foster the recommendations
   Cary Community Foundation, seek funding opportunities

…Set a group goal
…A project that will leave a legacy


Board members asked about the constraints of the board’s role and the feasibility of obtaining these goals.  Mary Henderson responded that staff would guide board members through the process.

IX.   NEW BUSINESS
►Board Member Information Share
Tullie Johnson reported that articles about Hemlock Bluffs appear in a recent issue of Wake Living and will appear the in April issue of Our State.

X.  Western Wake Joint Municipal Advisory Board Meeting
►Greenway Connectivity and Board Initiatives – Parks and Recreation directors and the advisory board members from Apex, Holly Springs and Morrisville joined the meeting and reported on their respective projects relating to greenway connectivity and board initiates.  The presentations were given by:  Doug McRainey, Town of Cary; Greg Coley, Town of Apex; Jeff Buser; Town of Holly Springs; Jacob Yackenvoich, Town of Morrisville.

►Current issues facing adjoining municipalities in developing joint parks and greenways:

…regional transportation plan

…coherent greenway system; seamless transition between municipalities
…consistency regarding rules and regulations on greenways across communities
…trail/greenway security, lighting; bike patrols; call boxes; GPS

…good understanding of regional and local plans

…consistent aesthetics

…partner for grants and developing opportunities for joint federal/state funding
…identify initiatives adjoining municipalities can work together to accomplish

…improve communication between adjacent municipalities
…conduct quarterly park planning staff meetings w/adjacent municipalities
…developer built greenways
…joint municipal review of site plans
…teen representatives on citizen advisory committees
…more frequent joint meetings; good consistent flow of information

…attend adjacent monthly advisory board meetings:  Cary/1st Monday; Apex/last Wednesday; Morrisville/last Wednesday; Holly Springs/2nd Thursday.

 

X.    ADJOURN
Dennis Hoadley made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:34 p.m.; the motion was seconded by Marilyn Goldman.  The motion carried by a unanimous vote.




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