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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Recreation and Parks Committee - 02/15/2016 RECREATION AND LEISURE ARTS COMMITTEE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2016 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM Medium Conference Room, City Offices AGENDA (5:00) Call meeting to order Changes or additions to the agenda Comments from the public not related to the agenda Approval of minutes from January 18 meeting (5:15) Director’s report: Maggie (5:25) Brief reports from Liaisons to other city entities Bike & Ped: Rebecca City Council: Mike Natural Resources: Naa Planning Commission: Jennifer SB Land Trust: Edie Library Board: Mary School Board: Liz Winooski Valley Park District: George Subcommittee on establishing a Parks Foundation: Jennifer et al (5:40) Set date for spring retreat, to be facilitated by Mary Wilder (please bring your calendars) (5:50) Consider endorsement of a letter urging SB citizens to approve the ½ cent for parks enhancement and borrowing $1.3 Million against that income. (6:00) Consider approval of request for change of name of the committee to Recreation and Parks, one other minor change to Bylaws. Consider process going forward vis-à-vis Natural Resources Committee and other City entities. (6:15) Discuss questions that we would like to be raised at the March 16 public meeting concerning a proposed conservation easement on the Wheeler Nature Park. (6:30) Adjourn UPCOMING EVENTS Feb 29 Pre-Town Meeting 7:00 to 9:30 before March 1 balloting. Schedule includes 7:30 to 7:45 to discuss the ½ cent for park enhancements, and 8:45 to 9:30 candidates forum Mar 16 Public meeting 7:00 to 8:30+ to discuss the proposed conservation easement on the Wheeler Nature Park Mar 21 Next regular R & LA committee meeting, 5:00 to 6:30 Director Report 2-15-16 · Recreation Valentine Father Daughter Dance-Sheraton Hotel was a magical event with over 400 attending. Out net= $1500 Youth Basketball – is winding down. The CVRA Championship was 2-13-16 weekend. 215 participants. Highlight was having teams to half-time demo show at SBHS Varsity Boys Basketball Games on 3 Saturdays. REC Camp-Working on licensing program by State of Vermont DCF, providing lunch for all kids and tee shirt. Lunch will be provided by SBSD. Entering into agreement with Body Resolution contract to have kids participate in one day a week Nutrition/Physical activity program that will have measurable progress outcomes for each child in program over 7 weeks. Cost Recovery Work Plans-Are being developed by team that includes: Program Mission, pricing pyramid, full budgeting by program, and evaluation. · Parks Did not receive the State of Vermont Facility grant for $24,232 due to high volume of requests. Wheeler Nature Park around Wheeler House- has had significant thinning out of tree line, parking lot expansion, cleaning debris from around the house and built a foot access from the lower parking lot Swift Street. Good improvements. Reviewing Dog Park drainage issue with DPW- Getting financial estimate on engineering proper standing water drainage and moving the entrance fence. Community Gardens- Getting letter ready to send out to last year’s participants. Increasing fee by $5. Reminder we had a waiting list of 10 and expect more this season. NEW this year, Organic Site ONLY. Speaker for Garden Meeting is Charlie Nardozzi. He will speak to: What does it mean to go organic and how to manage your garden by not using any herbicides or pesticides. Date April 27, 7PM City Hall. Field Users- Meeting with all spring users about field time and increased user fees. Some resistance to fee increases, however we are working with each group to be fair and equitable as we cannot accomminidate all users. · General Spring/Summer Activity Guide-Insert into Other Paper Thursday February 11 (Attachment) Marketing/Communication Plan-Is being developed by our intern (Tyler) as we research national/local treads. We have increased our twitter following by 30%. 575 Dorset Street South Burlington, VT 05403 tel 802.846.4106 fax 802.846.4101 www.sburl.com Planning Commission REPORT Re: Consistency with Statewide Planning Goals of City Council’s changes to the Draft 2016 Comprehensive Plan The South Burlington City Council held a warned public hearing on the draft 2016 Comprehensive Plan on December 15, 2015. They have since voted to warn a second public hearing to be held February 1, 2016. During the course of their discussions, the City Council made several changes to the draft presented to them by the Planning Commission. These are each summarized below. Per state statute, the Planning Commission is obligated to review these changes for consistency with statewide planning goals spelled out in 24 V.S.A. §4302.  Include more text documenting and supporting the Form Based Code Committee and Committee work. These changes were intended to reflect the importance of the work done by the Form Based Code Committee.  Revise 1.1, Vision and Goals to include enhancement of quality of life These changes were intended to make clear that the quality of life should not only be “maintained” as previously stated, but enhanced.  Amend Strategy 4, Housing These changes were intended to make clear that the tools listed are for exploration and not to be construed as mandatory tools.  Include recommendations from Recreation and Leisure Arts Committee (RLA), per November 18th letter from Jennifer Kochman. These changes were effective in clarifying the importance of indoor programming space, and to show consistency the name of the department.  Address aquifer recharge areas and include wells This change was intended to place emphasis on protection of private wells, and the quality and quantity of water accessible to the residents who rely upon them.  Address Clean Air and Quality of Life The City Council amended the plan to reflect greater emphasis on access to clean air; it also sought to expand a discussion on the importance of livability for its residents and employees.  Amend description of Wheeler Nature Park  These changes were intended to show that the Park is intended to be permanently conserved. 2  Amend discussion of planned cross-town roads The City Council amended the plan to remove outdated text. The Planning Commission acknowledges that the following are the current statewide Planning Goals spelled out in 24 V.S.A. §4302. (1) To plan development so as to maintain the historic settlement pattern of compact village and urban centers separated by rural countryside. (2) To provide a strong and diverse economy that provides satisfying and rewarding job opportunities and that maintains high environmental standards, and to expand economic opportunities in areas with high unemployment or low per capita incomes. (3) To broaden access to educational and vocational training opportunities sufficient to ensure the full realization of the abilities of all Vermonters. (4) To provide for safe, convenient, economic and energy efficient transportation systems that respect the integrity of the natural environment, including public transit options and paths for pedestrians and bicyclers. (5) To identify, protect, and preserve important natural and historic features of the Vermont landscape, including: (6) To maintain and improve the quality of air, water, wildlife, and land resources. (7) To encourage the efficient use of energy and the development of renewable energy resources. (8) To maintain and enhance recreational opportunities for Vermont residents and visitors. (9) To encourage and strengthen agricultural and forest industries. (10) To provide for the wise and efficient use of Vermont's natural resources and to facilitate the appropriate extraction of earth resources and the proper restoration and preservation of the aesthetic qualities of the area. (11) To ensure the availability of safe and affordable housing for all Vermonters. (12) To plan for, finance and provide an efficient system of public facilities and services to meet future needs. (13) To ensure the availability of safe and affordable child care and to integrate child care issues into the planning process, including child care financing, infrastructure, business assistance for child care providers, and child care work force development. (14) To encourage flood resilient communities. The Planning Commission finds that the changes proposed by the City Council are not only consistent with the statewide planning goals, but also serve to advance them. Several of the changes- e.g. the amendments to aquifers and wells, to air quality, and the conservation easement at Wheeler Nature Park- directly reflect several of the state environmental planning goals. Several other changes are intended to provide greater clarity for the reader, a respectable objective of its own. None of the proposed changes diminish the robust work put forth by the Planning Commission over the course of several years, or the many hours of stakeholder participation and input. 3 The Planning Commission also acknowledges that the State Legislature has set forth a standard for the process by which a community engages in its planning efforts. These goals are enumerated as: (1) To establish a coordinated, comprehensive planning process and policy framework to guide decisions by municipalities, regional planning commissions, and State agencies. (2) To encourage citizen participation at all levels of the planning process, and to assure that decisions shall be made at the most local level possible commensurate with their impact. (3) To consider the use of resources and the consequences of growth and development for the region and the State, as well as the community in which it takes place. (4) To encourage and assist municipalities to work creatively together to develop and implement plans. The Planning Commission affirms that the entirety of its process respects and furthers these goals. The Planning Commission also finds that the City Council has met its duty in respecting these goals, with a fair and public hearing process. Specifically, the transfer of the document and the coordination between the two municipal bodies has enabled an open and productive conversation to assist each in understanding the basis for the substance of the plan, and the rationale for any proposed changes.