HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Recreation and Parks Committee - 05/21/2018
RECREATION AND PARKS COMMITTEE
MONDAY May 21, 2018
5 PM-7:00 PM
Medium Conference Room, City Offices
AGENDA
(5:00) Call mee ng to order
Review of safety procedures
Changes or addi ons to the agenda
Comments from the public not related to the agenda
Approval of minutes from April 16, 2018 mee ng
(5:05) Director’s Report: Holly
Baycrest opening
NRPA Open house
(5:25) Founda on Update: Jennifer
(5:30) NRPA Presenta on to City Council: Jennifer
Summary for 2018 review Sub-commi ee: Volunteers
(5:50) Senior Center/program space: Holly and Jennifer
Concepts
Research
Advocacy
Mee ng with SBLT and SBL Director
(6:00) Dog Park: Minutes and sub-commi ee charge: Jennifer
DP Task Force minutes a ached
CC charged R and P Commi ee with crea ng a Dog Park Sub-commi ee
(6:20) Appointments: Jennifer
Terms ending
Statement for City Council
(6:25) Recogni on for Maggie: Jennifer
(6:35) Name the Park! Jennifer
Review the five names selected from the sub-commi ee; select a name to forward to CC
(6:45) Liaison Reports Announcements
Please no fy the chair if your report requires discussion and/or a wri en report
Bike & Ped (Rebecca) Note 1 cent add on to property tax.
City Council (Mike)
Natural Resources (Linda)
SB Land Trust Select a new liaison person
Library Board (Glenn)
School Board (Liz)
Winooski Valley Park District (George)
Planning Commission (Ka e)
Design Review/Public Art (Jennifer) Report from last mee ng
Leadership (Jennifer and Mike)
DRB (???)
Energy (Jennifer, Mike)
(6:30) Adjourn
NEXT REGULAR MEETING: June 16, 2018 5:00 P.M.
We will focus on developing a year’s plan of commi ee work!
Bike Rack:
Make a List!
May 11, 2017
Dra ToDo List of priori es and Timeline
1. Schedule R and P Department budget review into mee ng schedule.
2. Review the City Center Task Force Report with focus on R and P sec on on facili es (updated).
3. Review the Site Evalua on Matrix.
4. Review the Planning Commission revision of LDR’s and PUD’s.
5. Performance Review/Department Goals and Objec ves: Schedule review and discussion. Work with staff onmaster Plan. Refer to Annual Worksheet generated by Leadership Commi ee.
6. Finalize Orienta on Plan for 2018.
7. Invite speaker for advocacy.
8. Get Founda on up and running!
9. Con nue to maintain commitment to delivery of high quality programs.
10. City Center updates for Market Street and Dumont Park
April Rec and Park Draft Minutes:
RECREATION AND PARKS COMMITTEE
MONDAY, April 16, 2018
5 PM-7:00 PM
DRAFT
Medium Conference Room, City Offices
Minutes
In a endance: Jennifer Kochman, Mike Simoneau, Ka e Langrock, Paul Steinman, Rebecca Poque e, George
Donovan, Linda Chiasson
Regrets: Glenn Sproul, Liz Robitaille
Staff: Maggie Leugers, Holly Baker
Jennifer called the mee ng to order at 5:00pm
George reviewed the safety procedures
George mo oned to approve the minutes from the March mee ng, Rebecca seconded. Minutes were approved
unanimously
Director’s Report (5:01 to 5:20pm)
Jennifer provided a brief summary from the Founda on commi ee mee ng.
Maggie presented on the dog park task force process.
● Matrix has been developed and task force performed potential site reviews using the matrix
● Task force will be presenting to City Council
● Airport may be creating a dog park. Maggie reviewed map of location. Discussion of what South
Burlington could add as amenities to the park. Agreement is for five years.
NORC- Na onal conference, our leadership (WVPD, VYCC, and Department) will be presen ng a ½ day field trip
session next Wednesday at Wheeler Nature Park and Red Rocks Park, highligh ng this unique partnership.
Work Projects
● Senior Center meeting this Wednesday at 12:45 pm
● KNight to Remember - 75 people attended. A success
● Name our Park in stage two - voting is now happening
● Baycrest Park - Winooski Valley Park District will partner with SB on making the bridge
● Fairy House building at Wheeler in May
● Spring sports will start as soon as fields are ready
● Looking for two park rangers for Red Rocks this summer. Will not have ticket takers, but will
have a Ranger station instead. Will not be collecting daily admission fees this season.
● Brett Leonard just elected to be on the Executive team of The Vermont Recreation and Parks team
● SOBU night out - vendors have been booked.
● July 21st will be a celebration of National Recreation and Parks month with an Open Park Tour
● Senior BBQ in July
● Memorial Day celebration at Veterans’ Memorial Park
Execu ve Session - Land Acquisi on:
● Mike moved that we enter into Executive Session at 5:20pm
● The committee adjourned from Executive Session at 5:45pm
NRPA Presenta on to the City Council. Jennifer discussed the new date for presenta on for 5/7/18 at the
beginning of the agenda for the mee ng. All commi ee members are encouraged to a end.
Updates: (5:45 to 5:50pm)
● Name the Park is in voting stage now.
● PUD’s: Jennifer has reached out to Planning Commission to schedule a time to present our committee’s
resolution.
● City owned land document - Discussion about categorizing all land acquisitions, prior owner, cost, and
details to create a historical document of City owned property.
Senior Center mee ng at 4/18/19 at 12:45pm to discuss:
● Concepts
● Research
● Advocacy
Appointments (5:50 - 5:55)
● Terms ending for 3 current committee members. George, Mike and Linda all have terms that are ending
in July.
● Statement for City Council regarding appointments was reviewed.
Liaison Reports (5:55 pm to 6pm)
Mike moved to adjourn the mee ng, seconded by Paul. Mee ng was adjourned at 6pm.
Dog Park Task Force Minutes:
Dog Park Task Force (Sub-Committee) Meeting for Jaycee Community Dog Park
Minutes by Katie Lenox
Monday May 14, 2018
Medium Conference Room City Hall
DRAFT
6-8 PM
Present:
Subcommittee members:
Elizabeth Milizi, Maike Uetzmann, Linda Chiasson, Barb Sirvis, Katie Lenox, Elizabeth Walker-Bennett,
Maggie Leugers, Mark Dickinson, Catherine Young,
Others in attendance:
Ed Plourde, Maria Moore, Councilor Meghan Emery, Deeanna Plourde, Mark Dickinson
Safety Procedures:
Maggie reviewed safety procedures.
Jaycee Meeting Discussion:
Maggie will be on vacation. Holly Baker will sit in on it. Barb will write letter.
Review of Friday, 5/11 meeting:
Ten folks from the Chamberlain neighborhood were present at Friday’s meeting. They talked about background
and recommendations. Notes from meeting were reviewed including agreement (there was disappointment that
Jaycee was smaller, no neighborhood impact, all agree on need for community dog park). Differing opinions on
divisive or cohesive to community.
Review of challenges and recommendations:
Maggie combined that with Barb’s notes on recommendations and added Task Force points. These include:
training, hours, resident/non, safety, volunteers, rules, animal control, funding, entrance, sound barriers, visual
barriers, monitoring, adjustments, triggers, community involvement. (Full list on Maggie and Barb’s
PowerPoint.) Barb drafted a PowerPoint with major points from discussion. Subcommittee reviewed preliminary
PowerPoint.
Mark offered that sound travels up and out and that barking was a challenge and that was why the park was
closed. He wanted to see it on recommendations list. Subcommittee decided on a reminder slide including
challenges such as noise in order to separate challenges and recommendations.
Barb, Maike bring up separation of recommendations for all parks for Jaycee Park.
Councilor Emery shared that two ordinances came up at Friday 5/11 meeting. She said to look at ordinances for
the care for dogs and cats. Maike asked how ordinances are interpreted. Emery said that council executes and
attorney interprets; council does not interpret them, she said. Ordinances: Control of Dogs and Cats and Public
Nuisance Emery summarized and shared that state law also needs to be followed.
Barb took Jaycee notes from Friday, May 11 meeting. Maggie shared them with the group. Barb said concerns at
the heart of the matter should be the focus because some challenges rose above. (Notes from Jaycee Dog Park
Community Meeting)
Betty shared a strategy of going down the recommendations and deciding whether it is Jaycee specific or
applicable to all dog parks. Some are physical concerns and some are not (such as rights and privileges).
Ed talked about a visual barrier between the kids and dogs.
Mark and Barb discussed enforcement issues and the idea of a probationary period in case enforcement is an
issue. Councilor Emery suggested giving the council as much information as possible including possible Friends
of Dog Park, key holders.
Ed asked if there is record of violations of ordinances and is told that is public information.
Councilor Emery asked the group about Veteran’s Memorial park and said that was the initial charge of the Task
Force in November. That scored well. Barb suggested that work was for a future committee and that today’s
work is focused on Jaycee.
Discussion about trying recommendations and reevaluating.
Barb shared a list of recommendations: (not all are agreed upon by the group)
Open 7 am-dusk or 8 pm with possible “hot hours” shut down
Lock after hours (Can parks open on weekdays?)
New sign (rules not suggestions)
Limit # of dogs
Small dog area (35 pounds is Farrell Park rule; some people in the group thought that 30 or 25 would be
more appropriate and others thought that staying with 35 is important)
Have two entrances
Make Jaycee an on leash park (compromise? concession)
Friends of Dog Park
South Burlington residents only
Dog has to be licensed
Clean up after dog
# for in case of emergency (police)
Evaluation/trial period
Discussion about those recommendations followed.
Initial Recommendations
from Barb
Committee and Community Thoughts
Friends of Dog Park People need to commit to Friends of Jaycee Dog Park to volunteer
(must be done by June 15) and parameters would need to be
established (organizing meeting, key monitors, schedule, membership
list, operational guidelines, contact person)
Betty shared that self-governance is always needed at a dog park.
New sign (rules not
suggestions)
Clean up after dog
· No children under 12
· Clean up after dog
· Temporary sign indicating Jaycee is under evaluation period and be extra
mindful of barking
· Open 7 am-dusk or 8 pm
with possible “hot hours” shut
down
· Lock after hours (Can parks
open on weekdays?)
There is a considerable amount of difference in the hours of opening.
Mark’s recommendation: weekdays 8-11 and 2-7, weekends 9-
4;Catherine’s recommendation that weekends should also be 7-dusk;
Ed’s recommendation for a later weekend opening; Deanna’s
recommendation for closing at certain days; Barb’s recommendation
that it be open certain days of the week (M, W, F, Sat) 7am-8pm or
dusk
Hours of operation need to consider # of people needed to keep it
open, logistics, compromise
Maria shared that people’s hours are different and there needs to be
accessibility for all as much as possible.
Group shared that there are hours for Jaycee Park.
Keys that could not be copied.
Make Jaycee an on leash
park (compromise?
concession)
Make Jaycee on leash park with exception of fenced in dog park
Have two entrances · Create visuals and instructions for using entrances (stand back 5 feet
when entering and exiting)
· South Burlington residents
only
· Dog has to be licensed
· Katie shared that she feels very strongly that excluding people by creating
a pay to use model. (Parks and Rec values - stewardship, inclusivity)
· Evaluation/trial period · People suggest 8 weeks, 10 weeks, 12 weeks. People decide by majority 8
weeks
· Question: Who is evaluating? Point person and Friends
· Question: How is evaluation conducted? Survey monkey advertised on
Front Porch Forum
· # for in case of emergency · Ask City Council
· Small dog area (35 pounds is
Farrell Park rule; some people
in the group thought that 30 or
25 would be more appropriate
and others thought that staying
with 35 is important)
· Not in agreement - 25 - 35 are discussed
· Limit # of dogs 4 in small dog area and 8 in big dog area
Suggestion box or feedback mechanism is discussed.
Gauge levels of noise
Betty called for city-wide Dog Park Subcommittee under Parks and
Rec Department (not committee) and each park has its own Friends of
Dog Park group
Promote Humane Society resources and education as well as South
Burlington Parks and Rec dog classes
Group goes back to challenges.
Challenges Specific to Jaycee Park:
Noise
Size
Balance of needs of children’s area and dog park
Mixed use space; needs visual barrier
One main gate
General Challenges:
Improvements to noise barriers
Safety
Relationships with and proximity to neighbors
Education and training
Mechanism for complaints
Ordinances
City Council meeting June 4
Barb proposes going to June 4 for Friends of Dog Park and putting together recommendations for city wide
committee.
City Council meeting May 21
Barb can present
Statement of Appointee Requirements:
Recrea on and Parks Commi ee Statement to City Council on Appointments to Commi ee
1. The candidate should understand and be interested in engaging in the mission, du es, and purpose of the
commi ee:
Mission
The mission of the Recrea on and Parks Commi ee is to support the Recrea on and Parks Department in
their goals and efforts to provide recrea on and program opportuni es; and to acquire and maintain
recrea on facili es and recrea on open space. We do this in concert with the NRPA pillars of recrea on:
Conserva on, Health and Well-being, and Social Equity.
The Recrea on and Parks Commi ee is appointed by the South Burlington City Council to serve the residents
of South Burlington by ac ng in an advisory capacity to the Recrea on and Parks Department and the City
Council.
Du es and Purpose of the Commi ee
The Commi ee shall consult with and advise the Director of Recrea on and Parks in ma ers affec ng
recrea on programs. These ma ers shall include:
1. Review of park/facility related projects
2. Review of program offerings
3. Review of department policies, and city policies affec ng the department
4. Review of finances and proposed budgets
5. Assis ng in the development of long-range planning, including needs assessment and se ng priori es
6. Providing interface and collabora on with other city commi ees
7. Other ma ers as they arise
8. In addi on to the by-laws: We review Planned Unit Developments (PUD’s) for inclusion of recrea on,
conserva on and connec vity.
2. The candidate should understand that the work of the commi ee extends beyond the me of mee ngs, and may
include reading and revising documents, serving on a task force, a ending mee ngs of other commi ees,
volunteering for Department events, advocacy in the community, and
3. Experience in these areas is desirable: wri ng/edi ng, working with sta s cs, advocacy, research, planning, real
estate, and
4. We look for recrui ng future officers, and so experience and/or ability in execu ve func on and inclina on is
desired.
Letter to CC for Dog Park Sub-Committee Clarity:
Helen and City Council and City Management,
It was my understanding from the City Council meeting of May 7 that City Council charged Recreation
and Parks Committee with creating a Sub-committee to be the Dog Park Sub- Committee. This would
establish a Dog Park Sub-Committee anchored in Recreation and Parks Committee.
My understanding:
· The Dog Park Task Force will make a report to City Council (May 21) based on updates from the
Chamberlain neighborhood meeting, and their Task Force meeting of Monday May 14, 2018.
· At that point the DP Task Force will have completed their work, and will be disbanded.
· There is a need for on-going study of best practices, policies, and siting, and so a new committee
will need to be created.
Recreation and Parks Committee has been charged with working with the Task Force people to
develop a framework for this. We have begun to think about the elements of this:
· Membership: The Dog Park Sub-committee should be a finite number of members; they should be
appointed by City Council; they should represent the various districts of the city; and should
include one member of Recreation and Parks Committee.
· The Dog Park Sub-committee should have great autonomy to research best practices, and
consider a broad range of topics.
· The DP Sub Committee will share minutes and agendas with R and P committee.
· On matters relating to siting in City parks, and revision of City ordinances and regulations,
the DP sub-committee shall present recommendations and revisions to Recreation and
Parks Committee (and Recreation and Parks Department staff) before making a report to
City Council.
Note; Logically and practically, Dog Parks are a sub-set of Parks. Recreation and Parks Committee
and Department now have review of policies, planning, and development of amenities. Dog Park
matters fit into these matters of current practices.
It would be very helpful (!!!) if City Council would make the charge to a committee explicit and in in
writing! Something like: "On May 7 2018 City Council charges Recreation and Parks Committee with
creating a Dog Park sub-committee for the purpose of researching best practices, recommending
policies, developing and applying a siting matrix, and studying other matters as they arise, to be
reviewed by Recreation and Parks Committee before presentation to City council." (Or whatever is
your intent here.)
Thank you for your consideration in this matter,
Jennifer Kochman
Chair, Recreation and Parks Committee