HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Minutes - Recreation and Parks Committee - 05/09/2022
RECREATION AND PARKS COMMITTEE
Monday May 9, 2022
City Hall Room 301 – 4:15-5:30 PM
Meeting Minutes
Present: Lauren Wedam, Mike Simoneau, Wil Sudbay, Ravi Venkataraman, Oliver Pierson, Jon
Pence
Absent: William Barber, Christy Pilsucki
Guest: Betty Milizia
No changes or additions to the agenda.
No comments from the public not related to the agenda
Approval of meeting minutes postponed until 4:45 pm to wait for quorum.
Committee for Common Areas for Dogs Liaison Discussion- Betty Milizia
Betty provided historical perspective. Fifteen years ago, Patchen Road at back end of
Centennial Park became makeshift dog park for South Burlington. UVM owned the land and did
not approve of land use for this purpose. A committee was created for the primary purpose of
identifying an appropriate area to house a dog park. Temporary use of space near airport for
ten years. At that time, the city installed fencing at JC Park and Farrell St. Neighbors of JC Park
raised concerns and that park was eventually closed, with Farrell Park only remaining space for
dog park. In January of 2018, a task force was again established to create a tool for locating
space to house a dog park. The committee settled on a space near Wheeler Park. Dog Park
Committee was created to continue search for other options for space in the city. Current plan
is to finish the space at Wheeler. Fencing has been ordered and expected installation this
summer 2022. Betty notes that other issues have since been brought to the attention of
committee members and the scope of the committee is changing to include broader issues such
as dog owner etiquette and licensure.
Veteran’s Memorial Park Baseball Fields Briefing- Holly
Holly provided update regarding memo from Tom Chittenden in response to complaints about
Conditions of baseball fields-hard, dry, safety concerns. R & P Department is trying to find
Solutions. Tim O’Day offered services to “beef up” mounds. He has experience working at
Clemson. DPW on task to check irrigation system. Likely to need contractor to come in for
assessment (Tom Dipietro?). Anticipate large bill-it is on next CC agenda. Mike Simoneau noted
possible drop in participation and smaller size of stakeholders might make footing bill less
palatable for residents. Oliver Pierson offered counter perspective and suggested idea of
deferred maintenance. Will Sudbury asked about benchmarks for maintenance and offered
Callahan Park in Burlington and Essex as examples of surrounding municipalities. Holly noted
upcoming site visits Wednesday 11 May. Holly to forward baseball memo to committee for
review.
Committee By-Laws City Council Update- Holly
Orientation scheduled for July for new committee members. Hope is that everyone will attend.
Efforts are to contain things so that everyone is on the same page.
Common Areas for Dogs Committee Update- Mike
No further updates.
DRB Updates- Mike
Mike indicated that DRB has a running list of applications that are pending and suggested that
this is an ideal way for us to be aware of them and provide input regarding recreation
amenities/space/access. Ravi Venkataraman pulled up the list on his laptop and read off
examples of projects.
Update on Planning Commission- Ravi
Ravi provided details regarding newly established site amenity requirement for new
applications as of 24 May. This would require all new development projects to offer
public/private space amenity based on the size and scale of project. He reviewed the distinction
of public/civic spaces such as “pop up parks”
ARPA Project List- Holly
Holly reiterated the primary projects that we determined for APRA funding to include the
following: Parks Master Plan, Community Center, Trails plan, Indoor/outdoor pool, Accessibility
Plan, Drainage Plan
Equity Discussion- Holly
Holly discussed taking a look at overall equity during the next priorities and strategies and
budgeting season. The parks master plan will help with this from a facilities perspective, but
budgetary supports for free programming will need to be implemented as well as intentional
designs around program offerings in general. Community garden expansion was discussed as an
opportunity as well as well as an accessible playground.
Staff Updates- Holly
Event season starting; Weekly Food Trucks on Thursday Nights, Chalk the Walk, Touch a Truck,
Kites in the Park, Bees and Friends Ballet, Memorial Day and Camp Out all on the horizon. Also,
noted that Holly is working with several community members who have shown special interest
in several new community assets: Disc Golf, Sand Volleyball and Pump Tracks.
Adjourn