Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Board

MEETING MINUTES

Monday, February 4, 2008 @ 5:15 p.m.
Cary Town Hall – Conference Room #11130

316 North Academy Street – Cary, NC 27513

www.townofcary.org

Attendance: Jeff Boucher; Robert Bush; Sal Cammarata; Tony D’Amico; Susan Davenport; Marilyn Goldman; Dennis Hoadley; Tullie Johnson; Kay Struffolino;

Jennifer Robinson, Council Liaison

Absent: Steve Smutko; Wesley Lo, Teen Council Representative

Staff: Lyman Collins; William Davis; Dwayne Jones; Doug McRainey; Helen Stanfield; Gail Taylor; Joy Cox; Paul Kuhn

I. Call to Order/Roll Call – Dennis Hoadley, Vice Chair

II. Adoption of Agenda – Dennis Hoadley, Vice Chair
ACTION: Tullie Johnson made a motion to adopt the agenda; Kay Struffolino seconded the motion. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

III. Adoption of Minutes of January 7, 2008 – Dennis Hoadley, Vice Chair
ACTION: Kay Struffolino made a motion to adopt the minutes. At the request of Robert Bush, Kay amended the minutes under the Greenway Committee report correcting the statement as follows: PRCR staff should meet routinely with engineering staff to determine the need and the cost of greenway crossings and include that cost in the engineering budget. Tullie Johnson seconded the motion. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

IV. Public Speaks Out

V. Special Presentation
►Shade Structures – Paul Kuhn, Senior Parks Planner
Paul gave a PowerPoint presentation on shade structures proposed at four existing parks. The focus is to increase shade in play areas with an emphasis on tot lots. With funding approved in 2007, staff is recommending pyramid shade structures for the following play areas: Bond; North Cary; Thomas Brooks and White Oak. Installation of the shade structures is slated for mid-July.

VI. ►Sponsorships – Joy Cox, Festival Coordinator

In a PowerPoint presentation, Joy reviewed the proposed Sponsorship Policy, which, if approved, will provide opportunities for revenue enhancement to support programs and facilities.

ACTION: Kay Struffolino made a motion that the board support and recommend to council the sponsorship policy as presented and that staff move forward in developing the implementation plan. Tony D’Amico seconded the motion. The motion carried by a unanimous vote

VI. Land Dedications – Doug McRainey, Parks Planning Manager
►Old Apex Road (07-REZ-23)
The applicant is requesting to change the zoning of approximately 5.37± acres located 1408 Old Apex Road from Residential 40 (R-40) to Residential Multifamily Conditional Use (RMF-CU).

# of Units – Maximum of 38 attached or 19 detached

Required Dedication – .54 acres for 19 subdivided units

Staff Recommendation -

· Approval of a payment-in-lieu of parkland dedication for the value of .54 acres.

· Approval for developer to convey a 30’ wide Town of Cary Greenway Easement adjacent to the 50’ riparian buffer with exact location to be determined during site plan review
.

ACTION: Robert Bush made a motion that the Board approve staff’s recommendation; the motion was seconded by Marilyn Goldman. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

►Jenks Carpenter Road Property (07-REZ-29)
The applicant is requesting to change the zoning of approximately 6.32± acres, located at 1400 Jenks Carpenter Road, from Residential 40 (R40) to Residential 8 Conditional Use (R8CU). The property is adjacent to White Oak Park and the White Oak Creek Greenway on the north side.

• # of Units – Maximum of 12
• Required Dedication – .34 acres

Staff Recommendation -

• Approval of a payment-in-lieu of parkland dedication for the value of .34 acres.
• Approval for developer to work with the Town to construct a 10’ wide asphalt trail connection between Upchurch Farm Lane and the White Oak Greenway at its intersection with Jenks Carpenter Road during site plan review.

Staff reported that the payment-in-lieu may not cover the costs of the project. Staff will work with the developer to secure what is needed to complete the project.

ACTION: Robert Bush made a motion to approve staff’s recommendation; the motion was seconded by Susan Davenport. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

►Chandler Park (07-SP-126)
A site plan has been submitted for 16.72 acres located at the southwest corner of O’Kelley Chapel Road and NC Hwy 55. The property was rezoned in 2005 as part of the Alston Activity Center Overlay District to allow for Mixed Use; the base zoning is Residential Multi-Family Conditional Use (RMF12CU). The property can be developed under the base zoning or the activity center zoning.

· # of Units – 51 subdivided townhomes; 96 multi-family

· Required Dedication – 1.46 acres for 51 subdivided units

· PRCR Master Plan Recommendations

o A proposed greenway is located through the site along the west side of the riparian buffer.

o A grade separated pedestrian crossing is proposed across O’Kelley Chapel Road.

Staff Recommendation -

o Approval of a payment-in-lieu of parkland dedication for the value of 1.46 acres.

o Approval for developer to construct approximately 720 linear feet of 10’ wide asphalt greenway trail.

o Approval for developer to convey a 20’ wide Town of Cary Greenway Easement centered on the trail.

Staff reported to the committee that there is no funding to construct an underpass under O’Kelley Chapel Road. The Greenway Committee and staff discussed the project and decided to remove “approval for developer to construct approximately 720’ linear feet of 10’ wide asphalt greenway trail” from staff recommendations.

ACTION: Kay Struffolino made motion to approve staff’s recommendation; the motion was seconded by Jeff Boucher. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.

VII. Reports
A. Committee Reports

►Athletic Committee – Jeff Boucher, Chair
Jeff reported the Committee did not meet.
►Cultural Arts Committee – Dennis Hoadley, Chair
Dennis noted the Committee discussed status of Old Cary Elementary; talked about Committee goals and, began preparation for 2008 grant funding process.

►Greenway Committee – Robert Bush, Chair
Robert highlighted the following items discussed at the last meeting:

Reviewed land dedications; reviewed priorities for capital budget and reviewed Staff Report PR08-20/Consideration of Funding Allocations for Greenways that are now considered a priority or represent a significant gap in the greenway system. Those projects include: 1) Swift Creek Greenway (connection over to Ederlee & Regency); 2) Higgins Greenway – Dorothy Park connection; 3) Piney Plains Greenway (Duncan Hills Court), construction; 4) NC 55 MU Project, construction.

The Greenway Committee agreed the following as FY09 Proposed Priorities:

1. Annie Jones Greenway Renovation Project – Design and Construction

2. Batchelor Branch, Phase II (extension of the first phase to connect to Highcroft) – Construction.

3. Black Creek I & II Renovation/Design

4. Cary Tennis Park Connecting Trail Project – Design & Construction trail through park to multi-use trial

5. Greenway Crossings – Design/Greenway crosswalks

6. Southbridge Greenway – Design and Construction

7. Symphony Lake Greenway – Construction/new bridge and more favorable alignment

►Teen Advisory Committee – Tony D’Amico, Chair
Tony noted the committee is finalizing plans for the March 15 Teen Forum. The Cary News has agreed to promote this event and WPTF has been contacted and are waiting for a response.

►Goals Committee Reports
Safety Town – Jeff Boucher
Jeff noted they are currently on hold; waiting to hear from the Kiwanis Club regarding a meeting.
Scholarship Fund – Sal Cammarata

Sal noted he is currently looking at criteria for evaluating citizens during the application process. Sal is also trying to recruit a company to kick start the Scholarship Fund with a large donation. Sal did note that calls to the RailHawks have brought no response.

B. Public Meetings

C. Staff Reports –

►Public Art for Bartley Community Park – PR08-17
Lyman Collins noted that staff’s recommendation to move forward with the two proposed art projects, the whirligig and the flock of sheep were approved, in January by the Planning and Development Committee (1/17) and by Town Council (1/24).

D. Administration – Mary Henderson, PRCR Director
►Community Aquatics Update (Work Session January 8, 2008) – Doug McRainey, Parks Planning Manager advised Board members that Council did not approve staff’s recommendation of the Hawes site. Staff was asked to look a $15 million option; an all aquatic option and other centralized sites. Staff will report back in 30-60 days. Another aquatic work session is scheduled for February 25 at 5:30 p.m.

►Volunteer Recognition Banquet (February 26 @7:00 p.m., HYCC) – Helen Stanfield, Recreation Projects Coordinator announced that the invitations will be mailed this week. This year’s theme is “A Night with our Stars”. The volunteer award selection panel will meet this Tuesday to make their selections. A vegetarian entrée will be offered this year.

E. Recreation Programs – Dwayne Jones, Recreation Manager

Dwayne referred members to the Program Updates for current activities.

►Specialize Recreation Study Update – Dwayne noted Management Learning Laboratories will make a presentation at the April PRCR Advisory Board meeting.
►Senior Center Update – Kay Struffolino provided members with a handout of recent activities at the Cary Senior Center. Kay did note that the Tax Help will begin February 4^th at the Center.
►Teen Council – Tony D’Amico for Wesley Lo
Tony D’Amico noted 29 new members in the council. Also of note, due to the increased numbers of applicants, the Executive Board made a decision to accept applications the months of June and December. In January, the teens logged 284 volunteer hours.
In February Cary teens hosted a the State Youth Conference and feedback cards indicated it was one of the best to date.

F. Cultural Arts Programs – Lyman Collins, Cultural Arts Manager
►Festivals Committee – Marilyn Goldman
Marilyn noted 241 Spring Daze artisan applications have been received. The committee voted to increase the application fee for profit concessions by $50.00.
As part of Cary’s Earth Day Celebration, an Earth Day Sculpture will be ‘a-work-in-progress’ at Spring Daze.

►Lyman referred members to the Program Updates and also advised the Board of recent staff changes at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center noting Sara Maultsby has resigned and Darrell Stover has accepted another position in Greensboro, N.C. Staff anticipates having those positions filled in April.

Lyman announced the January 24^th Grants Reception held at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center was outstanding and also invited members to attend the upcoming production of Loves Bits & Bites at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center.

G. Athletic Programs – William Davis, Athletics Manager
William referred Board members to the Program Update.

Additionally, William reported on his recent trip to Indianapolis to promote Cary’s facilities in support Cary’s bid for Championship City. The selected city will host Division 1 soccer; baseball; tennis; cross country; softball and women’s lacrosse. Scott Dupree, of the Greater Raleigh Visitor and Convention Bureau should get a response in mid-March.

The Cary Tennis Park will also be host to the Campus Championships; where 72 teams will compete; university presidents will be in attendance along with Billy Jean King. This is Cary’s second year as host.

VIII. OLD BUSINESS

►Black Creek Watershed Study Update – Susan Davenport
Susan reported the group discussed opportunities to extend educational outreach with use of the $1000 grant and that NCSU has applied for a grant to demonstrate why streams are important and to develop a logo.

This group wants to host a booth at the March Teen Forum and also at Waterfest.

►Board Appointment Process – Gail Taylor

Gail updated members on the Board appointment process; noting new members and reappointed members will be announced at the February 14^th Town Council meeting; with their terms beginning March 1, 2008. New appointed and reappointed members will attend the March 3^rd PRCR Advisory Board meeting.

IX. NEW BUSINESS
►2007 PRCR Annual Report – Copies of the report were provided to members for review.
►2008 Goals – Steve Smutko
The Board review proposed goals for 2008 and agreed to include new board members in the endorsement; new and reappointed members will be onboard at the March meeting.
2008 Proposed Goals include:
Safety Town – Continue
Scholarship Fund - Continue

Major Cultural Arts Event
Adopt –A-Park Program

Service Projects for Volunteers

Go Green

►Board Member Information Share

X. ADJOURN – The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

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